and it's all down to 224

Days 211-224

Well another fortnight, another post. I am falling a little bit behind with my posting because I have been pretty busy. When I am not busy, I am sick. I think all of this business is wearing me out. I think I need to put some more time aside for just relaxing.

Day 211:

I was early for French so I sat and enjoyed some 

cookie dough with choc chip flavoured iceceam balls.

Day 212:

A guy at kickboxing gave me a mouth guard tonight 

because he was afraid of knocking my teeth out. Last time

we trained together he gave me a split lip and 

felt so terrible about it.

Day 213:

Today I collected together all of the money from piggy banks in the house

 to take to the bank. The bagged ones are from my sisters 

collection to deposit also. Slowly we are funding Japan.

Day 214:

I brought Dallas a calming collar to help settle her down during thunder storms.

 It has a lovely lavender smell. 

Day 215:

Two of my friends finally tied the knot at this lovely old church.

Day 216:

My plus one was a little hung over from the wedding so he played 

with the old train set on the dirty floor.

Day 217:

I was a little worn out, so I gave myself a boost with a 

mixed berry and vanilla yoghurt smoothie.

Day 218:

We had some fun using a tripod and the quick shutter option 

to take photos of the milk pouring and mixing into the tea. I have

 wanted to do these photos for quite a while.

Day 219:

I was sick so I stayed home after work.

 It was a rainy day but my flowers loved it.

Day 220:

A second night sick at home. I was well enough for work but nothing else. 

Day 221:

It was finally the weekend and I was feeling better. 

We met friends out for dinner and drinks. 

The bar had giant heater lamps on the roof top level.

Day 222:

Saturday I enjoyed a long day of shopping and eating 

with some girls friends in the city. I was very happy with

 my purchases and scored lots of bargains.

Day 223:

We had another family get together at my nanna's house and we collected 

some lemons from her giant lemon tree before leaving.

Day 224:

I had made some vanilla chai ice cream to take to my nannas the day before, 

so to finish my Monday night I had some with sprinkles.

I have been noticing lately that a lot of what I do revolves around food. If I am meeting up with a friend or with family, lunch, morning tea or dinner is involved. So a lot of my photos have been capturing those moments. I sense that this is going to be a theme for the rest of the year as I have a lot of birthdays coming up. Then we will be at the holiday season with a lot more eating involved!

Until next time.

Love, love Elle.

and Brisbane, Australia - Part 5

Brisbane, Australia.

Day 8: Mt Mee and surrounds.

The weekend rolled around again and it was time again for another drive into the country around Brisbane for some more sight seeing. This time we headed north west into the mountains with a few planned and unplanned stops along the way.

The first place we stopped at was Old Petrie Town. We made a wrong turn and decided to check it out before heading back in the right direction. We had a nice wander around and the blacksmiths invited us to watch them pour some molds, even though they weren't open for a show. They also were kind enough to help us with directions to where we needed to go and off we went with a few gifts in hand.

Stilt house at Petrie Town.

From here we continued to Bullocky's Rest at North Pine Dam. The view was stunning and it didn't feel as if we were in Queensland. It reminded me of a previous holiday to Victoria and Tasmania.

North Pine Dam

Another beautiful overcast day.

From here we continued along some amazing winding country roads. We found an antique store to explore and then pulled over to a fruit cart to pick up some fresh pineapples.

The best pineapples.

When we were selecting our pineapples a car of Irish tourists pulled over to buy some as well. They were a bit surprised when we told them that the pineapples are sold under an honesty system. You choose your fruit and put the correct change into the box. We used the pineapples that night to make Pina Colada Grilled Pineapple Skewers. We didn't have the coconut yoghurt, so I mixed coconut milk powder, as per the instruction on the pack, but stirred it into Greek yoghurt. I also just used plain brown sugar, no name brands here. I also created my own version with strawberries and used a balsamic vinegar mix on top.

Fields of pineapples.

I was pretty excited to see another Queensland icon. Pineapples growing!

Our next destination was Dayboro for some shopping and some lunch. We had lunch at the Crown Hotel, where we both ordered a pie and chips. The meal come with some amazing gravy and the pie was also fantastic. We wandered up and down the streets and in and out of sweet little antique shops, clothes stores and home ware shops. I purchased a fantasic handmade apron from the local arts and crafts store which i absolutely love. Before leaving we popped into the bakery for a sweet treat. 

The Crown Hotel.

From here we went in search of the Mt Mee lookout. We followed the Mount Mee Road from Dayboro to D'aguilier, stopping along the way and making a couple of wrong turns in search of the look out. We finally found it but we both decided that we enjoyed some of the views along the way better.

The view from our wrong turn.

Wild flowers

Amazing country side.

Me in the way of the view.

I love old rusty fences.

The view of the valley.

Me and the view.

The GPS had this track as a road.

We wandered up it to say hi to the horses.

These horses have a stunning view to enjoy.

Finally, the view from Mt Mee lookout.

After returning back to Brisbane, my friend and I headed out later that evening to visit the Mt Coot'tha lookout to enjoy Brisbane by night.

Brisbane.

Day 9: City Botanical Gardens and fly out day.

Well it was my final day in Brisbane, so my friend and I headed back into the city for one final time. We  headed in for brunch and to visit the City Botanical park for a walk and round.

We went to The Pancake Manor and after a short wait in line we sat down in this converted chapel for breakfast. It wasn't until I read the menu did it hit me that I had been to a pancake parlor with the same menu just a year before in Sydney, Pancakes on The Rocks.

St Luke's Church now converted into the restaurant.

Me looking rather chuffed with my order.

I went the Regular stack Bananarama; Three buttermilk pancakes served with grilled bananas, butterscotch sauce, cream and vanilla ice cream. Of course I finished it all. I don't like it when food defeats me. Then we wandered (waddled) down to the gardens for a stroll around.

Lilly pads and ducks.

The Brisbane River.

Arbour.

A cute, old, little fountain.

We then found a nice spot to laze on the grass for a while and just enjoy the clouds float by.

My view from the ground.

From here we had a wander through the shops so I could find a souvener for my plus one, and then we wandered to Le Bon Choix for some macrons and cake before heading home so I could pack and rest before my flight.

Another drinking fountain outside of Le Bon Choix.

The view areoplane form my seat.

The flight was uneventful. I recommend taking your own in-ear headphones, as they ones they lend you are pretty pathetic. They barely cut out any noise and you need subtitles on the movies.

Well, that is it. My Brisbane holiday. I had an amazing time, and ate a lot of food and I can't wait until I get to return and hopefully head north to Cairns and see the Great Barrier Reef.

Until next time.
Love, love Elle.

and Brisbane, Australia - Part 4

Brisbane, Australia.

Day 7: Moreton Bay and the city by night.

Friday was a day for exploring by car. I borrowed my friends little manual and headed back to the park she had taken me to on the first night in Brisbane. It was a stunning, overcast morning and the view across the bay was breath taking.

Historical Shorncliffe Pier.

Selfie with the pier in the back ground.

Unfortunately no one is allowed on the pier anymore. It was only recently refurbished but it is currently under attack from marine borer insects, so it is unsafe to walk on. It would have been a lovely view from out there in the bay.

Perfectly framed.

I walked out along the breakwater as far as I could.

On the breakwater with the pier in the background.

Jetty and breakwater at Moora Park.

Perfect weather for photos.

I took a nice long wander from Moora Park around to Arthur Davis Park and back. On the way back to the car, I walked away from the bay towards Sandgate to a cute little cafe called Sakura Coffee and Tea House, where I enjoyed a banoffee pie tart and a milkshake for morning tea.

Walking back to the car.

The tide was out in the bay.

I hopped back in the car and followed the Morton Bay scenic drive around, following the signs with the manatee on them as I went. The next stop was across the bridge to Pelican Park for a view back across the water to where I just was.

A rainbow starting and finishing over the water.

Seagulls gliding in the wind.

After watching the rainbow for a while I jumped back in the car and drove around further towards the buildings on the right of the photo just above, to Woody Point jetty.

As you can see the weather is tuning bad beyond the jetty.

I did not notice this at the time.

I walked the length of the jetty and back then I was off again in the car to the next destination just around the corner.

My idea of a perfect 'Queenslander'.

It is a little of nerdy of me for getting excited about finding such a cute Queenslander. Where ever I went, I was keeping an eye out for a really nice one, and to me this is it. Perfection. I just parked the car and I was making my way down the road when I spotted it.

I made my way down towards the waters edge to see the shipwreck HMQS Gayundah. I was standing there trying to take a photo of it with my phone when it started raining, and then pouring. I hadn't had a chance to get a good shot so I started walking, and then running, back to the car to grab the umbrella my friend had let me borrow. After getting the umbrella I made my way back down the path and back to the wreck.

I love the spotty umbrella. It's heaps cooler than my boring purple one.

Rusted wreck.

My next stop along the tourist drive was at Scarborough for lunch at another adorable cafe. This time I found The Sugar Deli. It had an old fashioned feel about the place. The decor was quirky and cute and the food was stunning. They had a fire going to warm us all up and to dry us all off. I had been drenched making my way from the car to the cafe, the umbrella just could not stop the onslaught of rain.

You can't go past mismatched crockery.

Beautiful pie with delicious thick cut chips.

A hot chocolate and a chocolate mudcake with blueberries.

After my amazing and over indulgent lunch I needed a walk. The rain was nice enough to stop for me, so I walked from Tingira Park, past Jamieson Park and around the protective land around Scarborough Marina. My shoes where so drenched at this point that I found it more comfortable to leave them behind at the car and walk barefoot along the path. It was kind of relaxing strolling along with no shoes on.

Jamieson Park and a very tropical feeling.

The very end of the breakwater.

Scarborough Marina.

From here I headed back to my friends house to dry off and change, to head into the city with her boyfriend to meet her for dinner and a walk around the night markets on the South Bank of the city. We wandered through the City Botanical park where we spotted fruit bats flying over head. I was laughing and smiling like a kid as I was trying to follow them as they swooped around above me.

The sun setting.

Dusk in the City Botanical Park.

It was pretty hard trying to photograph the bats.

Memorial steps.

The view of Brisbane from the South Bank.

I didn't find anything to buy at the markets. There were some really cute stores, and one I went back to a few times, but I couldn't find anything I wanted. I had something too specific in my head, which can be dangerous when shopping, since nothing but that would do. We stopped for burgers and then icecream before heading to the nearest train station and then heading home.

Ice cream at Movenpick for dessert.

Until next time.

Love, love Elle.