Walking in Springbrook National Park

Helen walking behind falls on the Twin Falls Circuit

This week we crossed our fingers that the weather would be kind and headed to Springbrook National Park for some bushwalking. We did Purlingbrook Falls first and they were putting on a magnificent display. This is the upside to all the wretched rain we've had this year. There were waterfalls racing down mountainsides everwhere we looked.
'We' means my new walking buddies, Helen and Jenni.
The picnic area was completely isolated, being a school day, so we lunched in peace and quiet at Purlingbrook then headed to the Canyon. We walked the Twin Falls circuit which is only about 4 km long but it was even more spectacular than Purlingbrook. We walked behind the falls which was amazing as there was quite a torrent pounding down. The spray spread over the track and the rainforest and made me feel like I'd landed in a movie set. . We needed our umbrellas to keep from being drenched as we walked through the waterfall but this was the only time we needed them all day. Although we could see rain over the Gold Coast it never made it to hinterland until we got back in the car to leave for home.
I took some spectacular photos to share but the technology is defeating me and this is the only one I could upload  - nothing new about that I'm afraid. You get the picture (pardon the pun).

What's new at GOMA

Okay, so maybe the APT exhibition (Australia Pacific Triennial) isn't all that new, in fact it's 20 years since the first one and this one, APT7, has been around since about December but it was new to me. It's also the first time I've done a guided walk through an exhibition. It was well worth doing as it gave us insights into what the artists' thinking was and why the elements of the exhibition were important. As the name suggests, the exhibition occurs every three years so make the effort to get there before it finishes on April 14 because you won't get another chance for 3 years.

New Farm and New things

New Farm was the centre of all things new this weekend, starting with a quick scramble up the jungle gym after a coffee in the park on Saturday and moving on to some culture in the Powerhouse on Sunday where I listened to Robyn Archer talking with Richard Schechner. He describes himself as a jewish boy from Newark, which is true, but he's also a professor of theatrical studies in New York and a mover and shaker in theatrical circles all over the world.

Ebony and ivory

Last week I dusted off the old piano I've been housing since my last feeble attempt to learn to play and began taking lessons with Yolanda, a teaching colleague from back in the 80s. I've made a deal with myself that if I learn to make sounds that other people can recognise I will shout myself a new piano. I think my money is fairly safe. Last time I tried to learn I asked two friends to 'name that tune' as I was playing 'House of the rising sun'. They argued about whether it was Happy Birthday or the Titanic song. Fail! Luckily I take failure well and am back on the 'piano bike'. Maybe having more time to practise will make a difference. Stay patient Yolanda :)

Pick the real dragon

You've seen this view on a million ads for Forest Lake but have you ever been there? I hadn't until today.  There's an easy, but lovely, walk around the lake of, I'm told, about 4,000 steps. If you want more exercise than that there's equipment scattered around the circumference, including a climbing wall. There are lots of little sculptures subtly resting on some of the rocks. The birds you see sitting on a rock between the two dragons in this photo are real. Today Peter and I combined this new adventure with a previously mentioned adventure 'Hunt the shopping centre'. We explored the Forest Lake Centre which has all three of the big supermarkets.

To market, to market

Eagle Farm Markets

So, who's been to the Eagle Farm Markets? I hadn't until last weekend but what a find! They remind me of shopping in the markets in Melbourne, with good coffee, hidden corners and all sorts of interesting food to try or buy. This is no flea market but a cornucopia of interesting and tasteful wares.The markets are open every Sunday from 7:00 am to 12:30 pm and cost $2 pp to enter, but that includes the cost of parking.

Never too old to learn

This week I attended my first classes at the University of the Third Age. 'What's that?', I hear you ask. The best description I can think of is community learning for old people. There's no age limit to joining classes but as they're all held during working hours it's pretty much limited to retirees. The image attached is my homework for my first 'Anyone can draw' class. 'Where's the naked Adonis?' I screamed. No, nothing but ovoids. The point, of course, is to pay attention to the detail and to copy exactly what you see. This is the result.
My second class is called 'Food for thought' and is all about food and nutrition. We learned about carbohydrates this week and why it's better to have complex carbs than starches. All interesting but not fascinating. The things I really learned in my first week of learning is that teaching skills do not come naturally to  non-trained teachers and that mullets are still not a good look.

What's new?

My blog is supposed to be about a year full of new experiences but what defines a new experience? In the last two days I've done two things that feel new to me but some might argue that an experience has to be unfamiliar to be new.  Blogger's perogative! Yesterday I had lunch at the Noosa Surf Club with old and dear friends. First time at that venue but cetainly not the first time I've had lunch with friends. The view was extraordinary and would have been fantastic on a clear day. Today I went to Mt Omaney shopping centre. It was the first time I've ever set foot in that suburb of Brisbane even though it's not that far away. I have a challenge to find shopping centres that have at least two supermarkets and one cheap shop (like Crazy Clarks). I've done the Hyperdome, Sunnybank Hills, Mt Omaney, Carindale and Garden City.  Any suggestions?

Stop and smell the roses

Today, my friend Peter (who is full of ideas for unusual places to go) took me to a place that sells nothing but artificial flowers. Who would have thought that there are enough people in Brisbane who buy fake plants to make it worthwhile opening a store full of them. I loved it, even though a lot of the plants could be found cheaper in Crazy Clarks, and have proudly carried home something to liven up my courtyard. I wonder how many people will notice the fake among the real. If you stop to smell my roses you'll be disapointed.

Don't feel defeated

My first post to my very new year blog had limited success as only two people were able to comment. Why those two people and no one else? Computers are bloody minded objects that sense fear but I'm ploughing on regardless. Hopefully I've fixed the settings so anyone can respond, not just the chosen two.
On a brighter note, I can report on a new experience which is the purpose of my blog. Today I found myself doing a few hours work as a volunteer at the University of the third age. (Where? I hear you asking - courses for old people, run by old people). I only turned up to talk about the possibility but was given a job immediately. So, three hours work for no pay - a new experience! Until next time ...

In the beginning

 People are often defined by the job they do. I used to say 'I'm a teacher' or  'I'm a curriculum writer'. But when you stop working that part of you disappears. Now I say, 'I used to be a teacher. I used to be a curriculum writer'. Now I don't know what I am. Retired! So, this year is a brand new year and I have the opportunity to be whoever I want to be. I want to make it a year of firsts, a year of new things and new beginnings - a reinvention of myself. 
My plan is to do something new every week and I have created this blog in the hope that my readers, should there be any, will keep me on task, hold me accountable and give me some good ideas when the well runs dry.
My first new thing is creating this blog.