Christmas 2025

Christmas 2025

Christmas brings our cherished time to celebrate our many connections with friends and family throughout the world, as Bob and I have  been able to do through our Christmas cards for the 57 years we have been married.  We especially want to share our gratitude for yet another year of peace, comfort and  many  joys. 

 We very  aware that much of the world is troubled by and coping within increasing climatic, political, economic, and social chaos.   This, as well as our increasing challenges of living with ageing bodies and minds and decreasing energy makes each day much more precious to us as we consciously work to accept the increasing uncertainty of the future and to live with gratitude for the joys and wonders of each day.

First, a quick family update.

Craig, now 50, is happily living in downtown Toronto, Canada, on the 17th floor of an apartment building and enjoying a very simple lifestyle with his partner Karen that seems to suit them very well.  He has been enjoying finally having his light plane pilots license. Both of them enjoy the freedom of being able to work from wherever interests and Karen's family commitments take them.

Janet, now 45, is just completing her 7th year in St Arnaud's New Zealand where she is enjoying working as a Biodiversity Ranger for their Department of Conservation, and having the privilege of living in a peaceful natural environment close to an interesting and varied job, with lots of time away from computers!

And Zac, our 30 year old neurodiverse friend and boarder, has lived with us now for over two and a half years and is a valued and quiet, member of our family.  He lives very independently, and regularly plays recorder, flute - and ping pong- with Joyce and enthusiastically joins us on walks in nature, sharing his keen eye and love of little creatures.  

On a sadder note, was the totally unexpected death of Bob's younger sister Noela in March at the age of 73 when her husband, Jack found her dead in bed in the morning. Janet was fortunately able to fly in from New Zealand for the funeral and a short visit with their daughter Terri. Certainly a lesson for us all on the unpredictability of the future, though since Noela was having increasing pain and trouble with the veins in her legs and ankles, her 'early' death spared her from what might have well been a very uncomfortable future for her.

2025 has been a bit of a catch-up year for us on household jobs and decluttering since Bob has had lots more home time having finished his many year contribution to the Bribie Butterfly House. – However, at the moment the clutter is definitely winning!! This summary of our year shows how simpler, often home-based activities continue to bring us joy and meaning to our lives. 

The following, bit rambling summary from Bob's brief daily diary gives a taste of our more relaxed, and still very enjoyable life style, as we seek to balance somewhat decreasing energies with the need to keep physically and mentally active, and involved in the community.

December started with a bit of rain and then came all the Christmas events – Butterfly House volunteers, Bob’s Dads Army golf group and Bribie BUG cycle group. The four days leading up to December 25 we camped at Peach Trees (NP near Jimna north of Kilcoy) and then Christmas with Bob’s sister Noela and husband Jack and their daughter Terri and son Tommy on Noela and Jack’s farm by Toogoolawah.

January was a rainy month with the main activity moving Joyce’s worm farm from the bin area at the end of our collective driveway to under our elevated water tank in the back garden. According to Joyce this has been a great success with oodles of active worms.

February continued to be rainy so we rebuilt our bay-window garden and cut three palms from the street-front garden. Sawing the palm trees into lengths for the rubbish tip probably convinced us it was time to call-in the professionals to do one or two shrub-and-tree control sessions a year even if their tree-and-branch muncher is a TRIFLE NOISY. Bob started to hand-make a portable router table using and old hand router which occupied him on wet days but was ultimately declared a failure and the router is headed for the council tip.

March welcomed the first local cyclone for decades but it lost so much energy wandering down the coast from North Queensland it was ultimately just a rain depression when it came ashore just north of us on Bribie. On the 12^th we were all shocked when Terri arrived at our door to say Bob's brother-in-law Jack found Bob's sister Noela dead in bed in the morning. Both Jack and Noela looked a little fragile at Christmas but this was totally unexpected. We attended the funeral at Buderim a week later and consoled ourselves at the Ginger Factory in Yandina on the way home. Our daughter Janet flew in from New Zealand for a couple of days and visited Terri after the funeral before flying home for work. We did get a couple of short kayak trips at Ningi lakes and the Bribie passage before the month ended.

April brought more rain and showers but we managed a 3-day camp in the hills at the Woodford Festival site where they have built a large chemical-free swimming lake. Joyce’s friend Denice came too staying in a “glamping tent” while we slummed it in our normal tents. A week or so later we dared another kayak in the Ningi lakes and just got finished our paddle before heavy rain pelted down.

 Lake Gkula - Woodfordia Inc

May and still it rains sporadically. Janet visited for ten days so we had a five-day visit to Girraween NP the other side of Stanthorpe. Coldish and wettish afternoons but we had a comfortable cabin this time and enjoyed morning walks and bird watching. The next weekend we dropped in at the Brisbane Grammar School Open Day and met the Toogoolawah family there for a reminisce of Bob and Noela's school days. 

Joyce and Janet at Girraween

June sees winter strike with 12C mornings with still some rain. Cold and dark dawn bike rides to golf. Rain water tank moved to garden main entrance by house front door and part of a driveway fence panel turned into a bicycle gateway. Fancy tarpaulins bought to house bikes and Joyce’s outdoor bed. Professionals in end June to trim and munch driveway shrubs to fence height plus a bit.

July comes and rain goes for the year after a rain bomb dropped 50mm on the last day of June. Commissioned bike shelter undergoes minor fixes and enhancements. Caught up with Lees and Camerons in Brisbane visits. Bike group Xmas in July get-together dedicated to Barbara Poen, a member killed while cycling just a few days before the gathering which she had organised. Her accident remains an important reminder to us all about the need to be aware and visible while cycling. Three days camp at Archer Creek with our friend Sue Carpenter.

August starts with Craigs 50^th birthday and a family worldwide WhatsApp catch-up. Project started to make a small folding table for picnicking and other uses. Lunch with Robert and April, Melbourne friends at Glass House Mountains Cafe. Another kayak outing in the passage off Banksia Beach.

September and finally we fix the bike carrier lights with new trailer plug and socket. Another 3-day camp at Woodford Festival site Broncos finish 2025 season in 4^th place. Bob got NEW SHOES – same brand and size too.

October starts with meeting Angela at ATTAX who will handle tax returns from now on as Bob has (WHAT JOY). Bob serviced his bike at 99Bikes Maroochydore (What did they do to the seat post, not fixable with our tools, so Bob reassembles with the rubber hammer!). Great talk on frogs and another on owls at the Bribie Festival (now Joyce wants an owl house). Finally some rain.

Jig saw puzzles continue to be a main form of entertainment – and we are increasingly valuing the way they exercise our perception and memories in a gentle way, as well as being a fun social activity and challenge.  We are fortunate that the local bookstore has a jigsaw puzzle exchange, where for $1 we can return finished puzzles and get new ones.  This is a sample of the many puzzles we have enjoyed over the year.

Moraine Lake AB where we spent our honeymoon...

Joyce is continuing to enjoy being part of the Laughter Group (now in its 18^th year!!), a yoga group, a Christian meditation group, and the Labyrinth meditation group – as well as recorder playing weekly with a small group in Bli Bli (100 km away), and the Bribie Orchestra as well as at home with Zac when our time and energy permits. She has been singing with a local U3A group which is much more accessible than the Birralee Recycled Choir she has enjoyed for the last few years in Brisbane. She has also enjoyed regular trips into Brisbane to catch up with friends, and 3 solo bike trips up the Bribie Ocean beach at full moon to camp and to see the erosion at the top of the island (70 km round trips made possible by her E Bike!!).  The most recent of the breaks has just been 'repaired', temporally at least, and the project recorded on Facebook - (20+) Facebook.

And to close - a couple of photos that seem to capture the changes that 2025 has brought to us, and to our world.  In October last year, Joyce and a team of helpers built a Celebration Tree out of cardboard,  paper mache and natural materials as part of an Ephemeral Exhibition in the Labyrinth.  Like everything else in the world, including us, it was created to be able to return to the earth.  The bottom photo shows the tree mid Nov 2025 with a different sort of beauty after a year in the weather. 

Celebration Tree October 2024

Celebration tree Nov 2025

We are planning a quiet Christmas in New Zealand with Janet, taking the time to enjoy being together in this very special place, and to reflect on how amazing our life journeys together have been.

And a Lakota prayer which seems to summarise what is important in life.  It supports the thought that 

" I can not change the world or make it a better place. I can, however, change my world and make it a better

place".

Great Mystery (Great Spirit), 

Teach me how to trust my heart, 

Teach me how to trust my mind, 

Teach me how to trust my intuition, 

Teach me how to trust my inner knowing, 

The senses of my body, 

The blessings of my spirit. 

Teach me to trust these things

so that I may enter my Sacred Space

and love beyond my fear

and thus Walk in Balance

with the passing of each glorious Sun.

Our 2025 Christmas Card

Christmas 2024

Newell Christmas Blog 2024

Christmas 2024

Christmas brings our cherished time to celebrate our many connections with friends and family throughout the world, as Bob and I have  been able to do through our Christmas cards for the 56 years we have been married.  We especially want to share our gratitude for yet another year of peace, comfort and  many joys.  We very  aware that much of the world is troubled by and coping within increasing climatic, political, economic, and social chaos.   This, as well as our increasing challenges of living with ageing bodies and minds and decreasing energy makes each day much more precious to us as we consciously work to accept the increasing uncertainty of the future.

Thank you for enriching our lives in so many ways.

First, a quick family update:

Bob and I have happily lived on Bribie Island for over 20 years.  As you will see from the blog, we have decided our travelling days are over as we have been very fortunate to have been able to have quality time in many parts of the world over the years, and have decided that it is now time to enjoy our remaining days closer to home.

Craig, now 49, is happily living in downtown Toronto, Canada, on the 17th floor of an apartment building and enjoying a very simple lifestyle with his partner Karen that seems to suit them very well.  One of his pet projects is to get his light plane pilots license - a much more complex goal these days than it was when his uncle Alan Davidson flew many years ago in Calgary.

Janet, now 44, is just completing her 6th year in St Arnaud's New Zealand where she is enjoying working as a Biodiversity Ranger for their Department of Conservation.

And Zac, our 29 year old neurodiverse friend and boarder who has lived with us now for over a year and a half has become a valued, if very quiet, member of our family.  He lives very independently, and regularly plays recorder, flute - and ping pong- with Joyce and enthusiastically joins us on walks in nature, sharing his keen eye and love of little creatures.  

December 2023

This month was marked by the loss of Joyce's much-loved electric bicycle (which had travelled over 15,000 km, a fair bit on beaches) when it was stolen from where it was parked locked next to an inner-city church - and the purchase of a very similar, but in much better condition, replacement under our insurance policy.  

Joyce's old bike that was stolen

Joyce's new bike

Another addition to our 'family' was with a combined Xmas present - a folding two-person kayak that easily fits in the back of our car and can be easily carried by two (less easily but possible by one).

Our folding kayak (a Haven TT) made of 'plastic cardboard'

. 

 Joyce with kayak in our wagon

Took a while (15 min to half an hour) to get this far :-).

We did fly to New Zealand a week before Christmas to be with daughter Janet. We flew into Blenhiem at the north of the South Island where Janet was waiting in her car for a roundabout tour through the mountains back to her house in St Arnaud.

Earthquake beach elevated from under the water.

Into the mountains we went.

We enjoyed Christmas in the peace of the hut in the distance. 

Then we continued into the gorge between ranges.

Finally out of the gorge.

January 2024

The first week of January we spent with Janet in St Arnaud (Nelson Lakes National Park) helping around the house and a bit of walking and kayaking.

Lake Rotoiti is within easy walking distance of Janet's home

 Lake Rotoroa is the other major lake in the Nelson Lakes National Park.

On our return home to Australia we quickly resumed our often almost too busy lives. 

Bob worked in the garage or at the Butterfly House (President 5%, Hydroponics 95%) along with playing golf (dawn 9-holes Mondays and Fridays) and enjoying a day out with Joyce and Zac on Thursdays taking Joyce about 80 km N  to Bli Bli where Joyce and Zac play recorder with a group of 3-6 friends while Bob just enjoys a quiet day out, or helps our hostess Anna with odd jobs around the house.

Joyce is active in several groups on Bribie: laughing, yoga, a weekly meditation group, the Bribie Orchestra (with Zac), and a group at the Art Centre labyrinth.   Over the year she has enjoyed frequent trips to Brisbane to sing in sessional choirs and Scratch choral events, and visit friends travelling mostly by train, and often with her bicycle.  She also cycles 20 km up the ocean beach to camp overnight with the full moon weather permitting - a very special experience.

Sadly, the general busyness of life, plus decreasing energy has meant we have mostly stopped cycling with The Bribie BUG (Bicycle Users Group) which we have been active members of for many years.  We both still use our e-bikes to cycle extensively on Bribie whenever we can and enjoy the many friends that we met through the group. 

 Water iris in backyard pool.

Butterfly House hydroponic benches to grow food for the hungry caterpillars.

May 2024

We had an enjoyable 3-day camping trip to Joyce’s friend Christine Currie on her property Mandala near Cunningham’s Gap exploring the surrounding country and their house built from two containers with added veranda with a view. We also explored their creek not far away. 

Mandala's local creek.

July 2024

Janet made a quick visit from NZ close to her birthday and the three of us enjoyed a special trip to Binna Burra (mountains near NSW border) staying in a luxury unit. The first picture is sunrise from the bed in the main bedroom. We hiked and lazed and celebrated her birthday with dinner at their restaurant.

A view to wakeup to at sunrise.

 

Walking in the mixed rain and Eucalyptus forest.

Janet's not-so-little friend.

August 2024

Besides our wedding anniversary (56 yrs), Bob's birthday (81 yrs) and son's (Craig) birthday (49 yrs) the other notable event was Bob resigning as President of the Butterfly House after 8 years of volunteer service as bit-of-everything worker, treasurer, and president from the start of construction. He will continue constructing and commissioning the seven hydroponics benches (two months more). Meanwhile we have been at home catching up on maintenance and upgrades for the elderly (us :-)).

September 2024

A dentist caught up to Bob’s long time absence. Two molars were removed and two teeth had fillings upgraded. Chewing now has a somewhat reduced efficiency.

To add insult to injury the doctor diagnosed Dupuytren's disease in Bob’s right hand fingers 3 & 4. It seems there is no known cure. Surgery and drugs give a period of relief but the disease wins in the end. Bob's decided try one will be frequent massage and a degree of tolerance.

October 2024

Tax time again. Home processing with help from the taxation authority's MyTax app always leads to some success but with 3-4 days of hugely stressful labour. We are getting older and can do without this stress. Next year will be off to a tax agent – more expensive but at least tax deductible and largely stress free.

We had a welcome visit from one of Janet's New Zealand friends Robbie Thompson, who as a builder generously offered to do any small jobs we needed help with.  After repairing our back yard pergola, and stabilising one of our rainwater tanks, Robbie suggested we should increase the safety of our stairs by adding another railing and non-slip safety tape.  This has led to us thinking seriously about potential hazards in our bathroom - and adding a railing to the bath tub and a fold -down chair to the toilet.  Joyce couldn't resist the artistic possibilities of these improvements - which certainly enrich our lives every day.

A second handrail to help us up-and-down.

The text reads 'Simplicity' - an important goal in our lives.

Another major event in October for Joyce was an exhibition of Ephemeral (not made to last) art in the Labyrinth in conjunction with the Bribie Nature Festival. This exhibition built on several other artworks that we had created in the Labyrinth over the past few months.  The shiny veils which brought us much joy  had to be taken down as their manufactured commercial glitter (which makes them so attractive) didn't fit the theme of the exhibition which was Nature and Art - but the large veil was replaced by our Celebration Tree.

Celebration tree - celebrating the links between Nature and its many unseen creatures

Detail of Celebration Tree

Kookaburra on large veil

Large veil

Whispering Trees by Ange Vernardos, who curated the exhibition

November 2024

Christmas looms closer so it is time for Bob to write and set up our annual blog, while Joyce designs and makes our Christmas cards.

We have been using jigsaw puzzles to our minds and teach tolerance to frustration :-)  Here are a couple of our favorites

And that is it for 2024. What 2025 will bring we all await with some uncertainty. 

And finally some thoughts from this year's Christmas card.

Best wishes from Bob and Joyce

Festival Fun Flags 2010

 

Christmas 2023

Hi Friends,

2023 has flown past, with both of us happily busy - but very few photos, as we generally stayed close to home.

Janet came from New Zealand to spend a week before Christmas camping with us in the Bunya Mountains, then Christmas with Bob's family at their farm near Toogoolawah, then back home for the New year.

Our only camping trip as a family was to Springbrook National Park in March while Joyce attended a 2 day silent meditation retreat.  We were joined by Zac, 28 year old autistic and  musical friend of Joyce's who has since moved in with us since he could not find other accommodation in the Sunshine Coast nearer his family.  The move has been successful for us all, and we are enjoying having him live with us.

Natural Bridge near Springbrook

We enjoyed a visit from Joyce's brother Alan and his wife Linda from Calgary in early April, and were able to include a visit to a very special spot near Maleny - the a large sculpture by Andy Goldworth located in the middle of the rainforest a couple km walk from the nearest road. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=okpsgcG2MzE  - an extraordinary, and moving granite sculpture costing about $500,000!!  We have been watching the fig tree - or rather several generations of fig trees on top of the sculpture struggling to grow through some very dry periods - and finally looking like the still small surviving tree might survive and even grow its roots over the sculpture as originally enivisioned - if we don't have the very hot, dry summer which has been predicted!!

Bob's energies this year have gone mainly into the Butterfly House (still) when they decided they wanted to grow food for the caterpillars on site - and the most effective way would be to raise the existing pot plants onto metal shelves, and build a hydroponic system on a low shelf under them.  This has taken a massive amount of designing and construction, mainly by Bob so far, as volunteers are still difficult to access.  

And Joyce has kept busy with her involvement in 2 meditation groups - one based in the Labyrinth at the Art Centre, which is now celebrating its 7th birthday.  She has also managed to fit in a couple of camping trips with friends, and a 8 week - one night a week choir in Brisbane, Birralee Recycled which gave both the enjoyment of singing with a large group with an excellent conductor and accompanist, and the chance to visit several friends in Brisbane, and some adventures by bicycle en route to the choir.  Continuing minor health issues led to some serious thinking about the importance of focusing on quality and not quantity of life - and now that a first version of thinking about this complex issue are in writing - she is happy to relax more, and just let the future unfold, confident that she can make appropriate decisions when necessary.  See https://quality-not-quantity-of-life.blogspot.com/2023/09/quality-not-quantity-of-life-sept-2023.html if you are interested in exploring these ideas further.

 I have just discovered some talks and podcasts  featuring Ian McGilchrist, an English philosopher, who shares some very intriguing and exciting thoughts that help explain mankind's current dilemmas in a useful and positive manner.   Ian proposes that humanities' behavior can be explained by the interaction of our left and right brains - and that we currently have lost contact with the much more nuanced and sensitive right brains.  You might enjoy exploring some of Ian's work for more thoughts on the way we use our brains affects how we view our world, and consequently how our whole world is unfolding.  

 A couple examples are: 

https://www.thegreatsimplification.com/episode/85-iain-mcgilchrist   and

The Brain, the Sacred and the Soul - Iain McGilchrist and Thomas Steininger of Evolve - YouTube   Well worth a watch!! 

 

                    The End Approaches

Is this a misguided refusal to believe mankind is omnipotent and that we can 

live forever as individuals and as a civilisation while destroying our 

environment...

Or a simple statement of our current predicament?

A realistic evaluation of the now rapidly evolving results of our refusal to 

protect and cherish our environment.

Our separation from nature will soon destroy us all.

How can we respond to the looming death of our life support, and hence us, 

and our civilisation?

By shutting our eyes and hoping it won’t happen?

Or by living fully and openly for our remaining time be it days, weeks, months 

or possibly even years,

Celebrating the mystery and beauty of life

Cherishing the wonder of each day

Rejoicing with gratitude in all we have.

Which do you choose to do?

Remembering that what we see as endings are also new beginnings,

both for ourselves, and for the earth.

Christmas 2022

Christmas Blog 2022 

 Here is a brief record of our year. 

 December 2021

Christmas 2021 was pretty much followed our recent tradition with four days camping about 200 km NW in the Bunya Mountains, this year at the Burtons Well campground at the northern end of the Bunyas. This is a relatively open grassy area with a few shady trees if you get to them first, which we did. By that time we setup camp had supper and walked out to the sunset. We were soon overtaken by a stack of people from the south end so we took a picture and retreated to bed. 

Disinfecting station to stop spread of fungi in Bunya forest

The next day we left early for Cherry Tree via the lookouts. First bit of rainforest was 'infested' with whipbirds, a very welcome bird of wild areas, but then the open eucalyptus forest was open, sunny and hot. The new rerouted track was especially hot. At Cherry Tree (6 km) Bob had sore feet, so Joyce returned by the road and brought Misty our faithful car, to the rescue.

 Day 3 was a drive to Paradise Carpark and a slow walk to Little Falls and back. Back to camp for lunch and rest and took off for the sunset with only a few others this time, probably due to light rain on the way and a dark return to a Joyce fire. Fungi everywhere all shapes and sizes. 

Christmas Eve was a drive to Dandabah to walk the Scenic Circuit. Good walk but tired and a bit sore. Lunched in D’bah picnic area down at the bottom before driving back to Burtons Well. 

Christmas day we broke camp and had a very enjoyable lunch with Noela, Jack and Graham at the Toogoolawah farm for Christmas.

 The next day we enjoyed a Zoom get together with Craig and Karen in Toronto and Janet in New Zealand - the wonders of modern technology!!

 January 2022 

,

The wet weather begins!!  Main focus was keeping the  Butterfly House (BH) going through leaks, short power outages and occasional walks and bike rides and a few golf games. 

February 2022

 The rain becomes more serious.  More rain and rain and local spots beginning to flood including the golf course. More BH work on new account apps, irrigation controller and attempts to improve humidity control in the breeding lab the last with limited success – just too much rain. Dehumidifiers expensive and estimated availability is September at best. 

We had a total of about 1 metre rain over this period – a lot of water, but much-needed by the Island after a few dry years.  Our home is fortunately above flood level on our low sand island - but won't withstand too much sea level rise (though neither will the rest of the island!).

Lotus flower in nearby park (not native!!)

 Mid month we kayaked about 15 km for a three day trip up the Passage that separates Bribie from the mainland to Mission Point.  The trip turned out to be not too well timed as we battled mosquitoes and sandflies,  rain, and wind in abundance. Coming home on the third day into the tide and a strong wind was hard work, though avoiding the worst of the wind led us into some interesting and previously unexplored corners.  Bob got to the sand banks at Whitepatch half way back, had to just lay there for a while till he could get enough energy for the last few kilometers paddle home.

March 2022 

The rain and flooding of the roads cleared enough for us to drive north and a bit inland to Eidsvold lunching at Ban Ban springs (almost grown over with tall grass). To the west of Eidsvold we camped at Tolderodden Conservation Park on the Burnett River - small but quiet with walk up a hill. Packed up camp and back to Eidsvold then north to Monto and NE to Kalpower State Forest to set up in the quiet bush campground. We woke at night to a BIG STORM just after we retired with serious lightning QUITE CLOSE. Early the next morning, we biked  NW to Barrimoon, the start of the  Rail Trail, which we found after taking a wrong turn and getting thoroughly stuck in the mud for awhile. The Trail headed north and gently down through six tunnels in the mountains. These were quite dramatic with  microbats and moths in the darkness, and some very interesting echoes and sound effects. 

  The next day we went on to Cania Gorge Tourist Retreat – lunched and swam, all very civilised – then bicycled up the road to NP Picnic Area for cheese and crackers supper. Lazy day bicycle and walk to Gorge Lookout and couple of caves and back to swim and birdwatch at feeding station and walk to Big Foot. Next day bicycled to Cania Dam (26 km return). . Next day broke camp and breakfast in Picnic Area and walked to Two-Storey Cave, and  headed home, camping at Bunya Westcott to break up the driving. 

After three days of BUG (bike group) and BH business for Bob,  we were off again with Joyce and her friend Denice to a meditation retreat on Springbrook inland from the Gold Coast.  Bob enjoyed the Springbrook Campsite for two nights and up and down and through waterfalls, in retrospect a bit too ambitiously for his aging knees. 

 April May 2022

 The rest of March and April and May was BUG accounts and BH accounts and audit papers and a bit of repair to the flashing motorbike headlamp and green led eyes of the monster on a letterbox at the BH.

 All this was in WET WET WET weather, and not much golf with the course flooding. Joyce began slowing down with increasing hip/leg pain. 

June July 2022 

Early June, Janet arrived for a long-delayed visit from her home in St Arnaud, New Zealand (South Island about 100 km S of Nelson). We enjoyed with a few days at Bellthorpe Stays and its rainforest walks which gave Bob a break from his other duties, though Joyce was slowed down by constant pain.

We all enjoyed jig saw puzzles when Janet was here

A welcome get well gift from the Bike Group

On our return, Joyce started oxycodone, then on morphine patches for pain relief, which, along with osteopath treatments  finally started a positive trend.  We also enjoyed jigsaws and making a 1920's style dress and hat for Janet who was attending a wedding back in NZ.  Once Joyce's pain and inflammation started to go, the morphine was ramped down and finally stopped.  She has replaced the opoids with urine therapy - drinking and massaging with one's own urine.  She has found this ancient, and widely used technique invaluable in handling residual pain, and restoring her energy and enthusiasm for life - well worth a try if you are faced with any physical or mental health challenges.  Lots of information available online! e.g. here, and  https://thewallachfiles.com/urine-therapy-uropathy-your-bodys-own-best-medicine-a-powerul-infection-fighter/, and  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2Oxqzzh15HQ

 While she was here, Janet visited locally and in Bundaberg, and went on a road trip out west to Birdsville, then spent a couple more weeks 'working at home' before returning to NZ late July. 

 

Joyce's beloved E bike (now with 12,000 km in 2 and a half years) was not functional for much of the time Joyce was incapacitated, perhaps in sympathy.   Its carbon-fibre drive belt broke (not supposed to happen) the first time Janet rode it.  A new belts was only available interstate and proved troublesome to install and tension properly, requiring a few trips to the bike shop in  Brisbane by Bob and Joyce. The rnal car pickup (to surprise and amusement by the pickup attendants).  Bob also started coming as chauffeur on Joyce's weekly Thursday recorder-playing trip to Bli Bli while Joyce was recovering and has continued as it gives Bob a day away from the Butterfly House and his other duties.

 August September 2022 

Bob bought a vertical-hydroponics kit from “Mr Stacky” for the BH to test out whether we can grow Sweet Potato on site with idea of using the unit for greens at home after testing. Sweet Potato bit has worked well and it has become a BH feature so we may not see it home :-(. 

                                                                                    

 A dehumidifier was purchased by the BH with another La Nina threatening.  Works well but the tank was a bit clumsy and heavy for the Lab ladies. PeterA and Rod (BH maintenance crew) were eventually able to a good job implementing Bob’s design changes.

 Joyce‘s desk chair became very tatty so Bob decided a new one was a good birthday/xmas present. After checking out designs at Officeworks  TWO comfy armchair-style swivel desk chairs. Joyce home-made and fitted fancy felt covers. 

Bob's!

Joyce's

 October 2022

 The BH potting area patio roof which Bob negotiated through grants and Council was finally delivered and completed (bar final inspection) and is loved by the BH nursery crews. The BH was broken into one night with $3000 of power tools taken from the tool and pump sheds. Holes were cut in the security fence and shade house but nothing appears lost from the latter. 

November 2022 

We attended a BioBlitz (a citizen-science ecological survey of an area), 200 km N in Rainbow Beach with Bob and and Joyce's recorder-playing friend Zac.  We explored Rainbow Beach Friday, went on an organised Fungi Walk on Saturday and then we walked on to Lake Poona, went to an evening talk by a VERY enthusiastic lady on composting and the importance of invertebrates and microorganisms for soil health, and went on an Insect Walk on Sunday, and drove home on Monday.

The next weekend we returned to Springbrook with Joyce and Denise meditating and Bob camping (with numerous horse-flies). We had great views from the rainforest End-of-World lookout which was closed in with mist and rain on our previous visits. The views contrasted with the very ancient Antarctic Beech trees very much threatened by Global Warming. 

In contrast to Bob's determined efforts to keep the Butterfly House going (presently as president), his Social Golf group (as treasurer) and the BUG bike group (also treasurer), Joyce's activities are more just social.  Two much-valued small meditation groups, a laughing group (now in its 15th year), a recorder trio/quartet, and the Bribie Island Orchestra (bass recorder!!), as well as leading 'Road Less Travelled' bike rides, and full moon rides (and camping up the beach whenever possible) help remind her that it is the connections and  relationships in life that are important, not the possessions!!!

And we will close with the message from this year's Christmas card:

Life

A time to be

A time to grow

A time to play

A time to leave

 

A time to leave??? What a strange greeting for a Christmas message, the time for rejoicing at new birth. And yet, as life can be seen as a journey from just being, through growth, and play – the leaving becomes a time for excitement as the goal is approached.

Bob and I continue to live the magical life of the modern retiree, happy and comfortable in our Australian 'Fool's Paradise' only barely aware of, and scarcely affected by the increasing turmoil on our planet – climatic extremes and instability, a collapsing and moribund financial system, and increasing suffering and death of all species, including our own. This year, relatively minor health issues which seem almost inevitable with aging have taken more of our energies, though not enough to lessen our joys from friendships and nature.

However hopefully beneath the peace and happiness of our life is gratitude for being alive at such interesting times, and an awareness of the sacredness of the shortness of the time remaining to us all.

We wish you much joy as you negotiate our uncertain future.