Pipit and Potager are two restaurants in the Tweed shire who pride themselves on local Northern Rivers produce. We tried Pipits in early March before the COVID lockdowns, as we had heard interesting reports of their innovative ways with food. Pipit is in Pottsville, a sleepy coastal village along the Tweed Coast. The chef Ben … More Pipit and Potager – Eating in and out in COVID times
Every Saturday we cycle to Billinudgel to collect the weekend papers. Last Saturday was Anzac Day, 25th April so beforehand we made our own dawn service at the beach. ANZAC Day (Australian and New Zealand Army Corps) is commemorated across Australia and New Zealand to remember those soldiers who have lost their lives in defence … More Cycling to Billinudgel on Anzac Day
What better way to celebrate 50+ years of friendship than a retro reunion. Moving into the 8th decade is not always possible for some! People start dropping off! So it was with great celebration that four of us who had been at university together decided to arrange a 4 day retreat. We had attempted this … More Retro reunion
COVID-19 is reshaping the world as we know it, stopping many of our social interactions around physical exercise, so walking is the one therapy to keep us all sane. I love walking and am happy to do it alone, the rhythm of the footsteps providing a great space to think. In fact, I prefer to … More Walking therapy in Wollumbin
A summer of music began when a drought fund raiser brought together four community choirs in the Brunswick Heads Public School Hall one Sunday afternoon in November for Sea Song. The choir that really had rhythm was the Raise the Roof Gospel Choir. The event raised over $1000 in donations and it felt good as … More Music on fire in the Wollumbin Caldera
Our last full day on Lord Howe Island dawned clear and calm with a cloudless blue sky. We had decided to do the Chase ‘n’ Thyme tour with Peter Phillipps who collected us outside the Broken Banyan in his little tour bus. Peter had the gift of the gab and told rather bad jokes, including … More Adventures in Paradise 3 – Chase ‘n’ Thyme and playing catch up
Cyclone Uesi, a Category 2 cyclone was scheduled to hit Lord Howe Island at 4pm Thursday. Barbara gave us a Bureau of Meteorology update, showing the path of Uesi passing directly over Lord Howe with wind speeds predicted to reach 150km/hour at 1am, Friday. She recommended having enough provisions for 2 days as we were … More Adventures in Paradise 2 – Cyclone Uesi on Lord Howe Island
Lord Howe Island is an ancient volcanic plug sitting in the Tasman Sea about 2 hours flight in a Dash-8 aircraft from the New South Wales coast. We had planned our holiday there in February to maximise warm conditions for snorkelling. Even before we arrived, it became an adventure. After our aborted flight on Sunday … More Adventures in Paradise 1 – arriving on Lord Howe Island
We left South Golden Beach as the rain gauge topped 60mls at midday. Torrential rain followed us all the way to Brisbane as a tropical low hovered over the central east coast of Australia. Much needed rain was falling all up and down the eastern coast and ranges. Dousing fires that had been burning for … More Brisbane Adventure in the Wet
Turning 70 is certainly a milestone so I suggested to my adventurous daughter that we hike the 12 Apostles Walk together as a celebration. Revealing this piece of information to some people brought out horrified exclamations of ‘I couldn’t think of anything worse’ – this, after I revealed the weather forecast – or ‘why would … More Hiking with the Twelve Apostles Ladies
Come wandering 