Manly Farmer's Markets

There is always a market at Manly on Sundays, but the BIG market is Jan Power's Manly Markets on the 3rd Saturday of each month.

The atmosphere at the Farmer's Market is great with musicians, crowds, lots of different products to test or buy. You could spend hours there.

Want to have a stall there? The best thing to do would be contact Jan Power's office, so best go to the website.

The next one is on November 21st!

The Moat at Fort Lytton

This could be a scene from way out in the bush, but it is in fact only feet from the Caltex Oil Refinery beside Fort Lytton, at the mouth of the Brisbane River.

Fort Lytton Re enactment

According to the brochure about the Heritage Parks of Moreton Bay, including Fort Lytton National Park, the area is the site of remnants of a colonial coastal fortress and quarantine station.

It is near the southern side of the mouth of the Brisbane River, just 18 kms downstream from the city.

The site "played an important strategic role in guarding against attacks from enemy ships and preventing diseases spreading from a thriving population."

The Park is open each Sunday, and on the first Sunday of each month, there is a reenactment and some of the cannons are fired.

It is an interesting place along with the Museum, and a pleasant picnic area too, being right on the river.

For more information Ph (07) 3393 4647.

Seen Cafe - Be Seen there.

Like good coffee? This place is a little hidden, but is a "hidden gem" with great coffee and food. Seen Cafe is at 150 Bay Tce, Wynnum.

On Wednesday mornings, proprietor (and author!) Jeanette Marie likes to welcome new arrivals to the Wynnum area, so if you are "new" or are seeking new friendships, call in for a cuppa and a chat.

You will see the coffee bags with the strange little characters on them, at the entrace to the Cafe between Clara and Edith Streets, Wynnum.

Check this number for details on opening hours - 3162 9792

Fort Lytton

This is an historical place that is seldom mentioned, though no doubt hundreds of people visit when it is open on Sundays, when volunteers take visitors on a guided tour of the fort.

To find out more about the Fort and their visiting hours go to their website and see for yourself. Unfortunately there is no public transport to the Fort, but it is a pleasant drive and if you have time before or after your visit, you might venture down to the Port of Brisbane.

Unfortunately the Visitors Centre at the Port is only open from Monday to Friday from 9 am to 4 pm, and that is well worth a visit, but sadly on the day the Fort is open, the Visitors centre is closed. perhaps to the visitors centre and see what is going on there. For details visit the Port of Brisbane website.

There are major re -eneactment events annually at Easter, and that is always a most interesting event.

Halloween at Manly

Halloween has become a big event in Manly, and last night was probably the most successful of the Halloween events. Thousands of people lined Cambridge Parade for the parade which started at 6.10 pm. Many spectators were dressed in costume, and the array of vehicles, and characters that drove, walked or marched was impressive.

It took around 30 minutes to pass and at the end the streets and footbaths around Manly were busy. Some folk were still coming, and others were trying to get home through the throngs of people.

A great event.

Wynnum Wading Pool

With the warmer weather, the Wynnum Wading Pool has been very busy!

This is the venue for an interesting collection of motorised miniature boats, and they make a grand sight plying the waters of the Wading Pool.

But the children have found the cool waters of the pool, a great place to play on the hot days.

With the picnic area, tables and seats surrounding the area, and being adjacent to the water play area, and a number of restaurants/cafe's nearby, it is a great place to take the children.

They can ride their bikes or scooters, play in the sand on Pandanus Beach, or walk on the path that travels along the edge of the water.

A great place to take the children!

Adventures continue

Although they are not all mine. I will update though, as it does give some idea of the topsy turvy life I can lead I guess.

I've had two Skype conversations today - one with my friend who is now in Korea, finding out how complicated life can be there. I was of course supposed to be there last week, and my students met, as they do from time to time, and were hoping I would be there with them, but as the plans changed, that was not to be. My friend then was going to meet with them, but that didn't happen either. She has spent some time in Jeonju, and was headed to CheonAn today.

The accomodation which was supposed to be organised for her (or me) a week or so ago, is still not ready. There's a mattress to buy, and a desk, and so on. I don't know if she will stay there tonight - it does sound a bit "iffy" as we would say.

From China I was in touch with a student from the university in Shaoxing - we always talk about me going back there. She is a working girl now, but still wants to show me around her home town which is not far from Hangzhou. I am looking forward to seeing her and her family.

I was reading a website which is a network of teachers in China and recognised the name of someone who was in our writing group. She went to China some months ago, but went through an agent. It turns out this guy is a rogue and he had her booked into doing so much extra work. She had not got her Z visa before she went to China, so was rather restricted in what she could do too. However, she has been able to negotiate a better plan but still is not happy. She was initially required to mark 8000 assignments in one year! How would that be!!!

Anyway I have heard from her and she is OK, but not sure of her next move - back to Australia or something else in China.

Then I received a message from someone who had discussed with me a program in north China, and teaching nurses English so that they could come to Australia and train/work here. The project fell through though. She is back in Australia - but needs to update her quals - things have changed in the few years she has been out of the country. So she is betwixt and between.

Meanwhile I have been working on lesson plans to teach at a college in Brisbane tomorrow. I was due to go and sit in on a lesson, but the teacher has called in sick, so I got a call to delay my arrival tomorrow. I've found it somewhat challenging to do a lesson plan - with so many unknowns. I don't know the students, am not familiar with the English program they are doing, and will be "winging it" as they say.

Then came the snakes!!! MM has been working on the front garden - a long overdue project that is all but complete today. Planter boxes have been built and are in situ, and he was piling the dirt from a pile that has been sitting on the front lawn for several years. Growing with each mowing as the clippings were thrown onto it. Seems Mrs Snake chose this place for her nest and he came across a dozen or so baby snakes. They were around a foot long and scurried all over the place as he spaded the dirt into the new planter boxes.

Meanwhile, in preparation for the meeting of the Society of Women Writers tomorrow (yes, I was going to fit that in before going to the College), where we have to swap one of our favourite books after writing about 50 words about it. Only 50? OK.

The Book I have chosen is one that I have bought (and given away) on many occasions. It is a book called "Random Acts of Kindness" which set me on a course with the Kindness Foundation in Australia. I confess I have lost touch with the organisation, after being their quite active Queensland represtentative. A long time ago I think. Maybe 10 years ago.

In any case, I found their website and saw that the founder of the Australian Kindness Movement has been ill. I have sent a message giving him my best wishes for a speedy recovery. I've also learned that it is Kindness Week in November - in fact Australian Kindness day is November 5th.