Day 96 - Sound Advice

The Australian lack of respect for authority is seen as one of our national, defining characteristics.


However, there are some directives that really are in our best interests.


I know what you're thinking though...you really want to jump!

Day 95 - Rainy Day In Paradise

A rainy day in Paradise, but it didn't stop us wandering around the Fraser Coast.


When you were a kid, didn't you have the best fun on rainy days?


Going swimming in the rain, playing cricket in the rain, just running outside while it poured down - all free, all fantastic.


We had brekky at a lovely cafe overlooking the marina.

Day 94 - Fraser Island

Little did we know that Easter Saturday is the busiest day of the year on Fraser Island.


Busy, busy, busy - but we still had a fantastic day.


It was our first time on Fraser so we did all the usual tourist sites, and we loved every one of them.





Our favourite was Lake McKenzie, because the water was so pure and blue, the sand so fine and the surrounding bush land so green. Perfection.


I managed to get bitten by a swarm of sandflies, and my legs look like I've contracted a plague of some sort - not even antihistamines are sorting they out!

Day 93 - Blowing The Cobwebs Out

We recently decided to try to travel to new places, just to break the routine of home, work and even holidays.


Some people love doing the same thing every year, usually it involves friends they don't see any other time so that makes sense.







But I'd rather go somewhere I hadn't been before, find a couple of new favourite places, create some memories and have different experiences.


And so we did.

Day 91 - The Co-Tenants!

Although their part of the new South Bank digs aren't finished yet, it will be exciting having the Qld Symphony Orchestra in the same building.


If funding continues, of course.

Day 90 - Grand Stand

You don't see many of these around Brisbane, footy/cricket grandstands.

Where I was born in central Victoria, there's one in every decent sized rural town.

They are places for fans and family to congregate to barrack for their team, but it's also an important gathering place for the community in general.

I love seeing this one at Bulimba. Not sure who it's named after or when it was built.

I enjoy the old look of the stand contrasting with the huge new skyscraper in the background.

Day 89 - The Molkies

James (aka @Cluemark) who controversially took out
"Highest Profile Appearance in the Background of a TV Shot"

It's Brisbane's answer to The Logies and the answer is "Hell, yes!"

The Molkies are a fantastic yearly event held by my great friend and TV commentator Steve Molk, awarding the best and worst shows and stars on Australian TV as decided by you.

This year's Gold Molkie winner was comedian Adam Hills who made a very funny acceptance speech.

Kyle Sandilands won the "Brown Molkie" for "Person You'd Switch Stations Not To Watch". Surprisingly, he didn't personally accept the award.



Host with the Most - Steve Molk

By Twitter handle - @AEROred, @Merlotlover & @kellyhd

You can read the list of winners and loser winners on Steve's website.

Security had these people removed.

Day 88 - Materialist Mecca

The local shopping centre has opened a massive renovation and yes, it's very pretty.


Fans of "The Gruen Effect" on the ABC will know that shopping centers are designed to entrance us, to make us forget where we are, how much time has passed.


This is done via bright lighting, a slightly confusing layout and ambient music. Tick. Tick. Tick.


Kenz was very excited about the Build-A-Bear shop (my wallet not so much), but otherwise I've seen them all before.


There's nothing new in there, no shops that aren't part of a franchise, nothing that entices me because it might be unique or interesting, it's just more of the same old same old in a jazzier setting.


Sure, there are shops that haven't been in that centre before, but been there, done that.


The new front entrance is huge, three story high panes of glass across the front, lots of open space, a small play area and the new library area downstairs.


Craig was less than impressed with the glazing job on some of the shop windows - said it was incredibly sloppy.


The old area though looks shabby now.


Like a moth-eaten cardigan you once loved compared to the new woollen jacket you just hung up in the wardrobe.


The photo is taken from the third floor looking into the new entrance area.

Day 87 - Thar Be Dragons!

Went to see the new "How To Train Your Dragon Arena Spectacular" tonight and it was fantastic fun.


The cast was having a ball, the sets were clever, colourful and inventive.


However the real stars of the night were the dragons.



Brightly colored, fire and smoke breathing, flying around the stadium, tromping across the stage - they made you want to believe they exist.


How lucky we are to live in an era where this sort of experience is possible.

Day 86 - Sign Of The Times

Let me state from the outset that I am not a cyclist.


It's not that I don't like cycling, it looks like relatively good fun.


I don't have any great desire to wear Lycra, but that's more about my concern for the comfort of others than myself.


I don't cycle because too many drivers see them as targets.


So until the oil peak crisis starts to hit or Brisbane drivers quell their bike rage, looks like I won't be using the bike lanes.

Day 85 - Roll or Fold

No, I'm not talking about toilet paper, "roll or fold" refers to towels.


My mother is a "manchesterphile" - she can't walk past towels in a shop without pausing to lightly caress the towels, admire the colours, rub the softness of them against her cheek and then fold them back up again.

Day 84 - Empty Reflection

Is there any more pathetic sight than an empty shop?


I took this early this morning, the shop used to be a franchise homewares store, but it closed down a few days ago.


What caused it? The retail downturn? Not the right position? Crappy stock? All or none of these?

Day 83 - Tim & Faith

They're both a little bit country, but he's a little bit more rock'n'roll!


Craig and I went to see Tim McGraw & Faith Hill last night, and they were both sensational, very different but wonderful in their own right.


Faith Hill is incredibly talented and just gorgeous.


Tim is a good ole boy with rips in the seat of his jeans, songs that tell a story and a "let's party" attitude.

Day 82 - At The Polling Booth

Every polling day I make my way to an out-of-the way booth in a little corner of my electorate.


It's never busy, and there's always a minimum of people trying to force "how to vote" material into your hand.

Day 81 - Hair!

About six weeks ago I did the unthinkable.


I coloured my own hair.


Although I used to do this all the time when I was in my twenties, since getting older and running out of melatonin, it's become a job for a true professional.

The man who touches and retouches me like no other, is Harley.

Day 80 - Waiting For The CityCat

 You get a fabulous view of the city at night and one of the best ways to do that is on a CityCat.


I like the look of the ramps at night, all lit up whilst being surrounded by the inky black of the water.

Day 79 - Mock Orange or Jasmine

What I know about plants could be summed up in the words "green" and "photosynthesis".


Everything else is a mystery.


There's quite a bit of this growing around my house, and I'm not sure if it's mock orange or jasmine or something else entirely.


Can any gardeners help?

Day 78 - Mmmmmm Donuts

So bad for you, and yet so good.

Day 77 - It Is A Keeper

I have lots of music, books and DVD's but I've never held onto magazines.


Except these from Delicious and In Style which I can't let go of yet.

Day 76 - Talbot

This is our station mascot "Talbot", named after the ABC's first Managing Director, Talbot Duckmanton.


He has that name because Spencer Howson cheated, or got someone to cheat for him, during the naming competition.