Jenni published this post about how important it is that we look after what we regard as World Heritage. I agree with Jenni that it would be a crime to lose these wonders of nature.
Following on from my recent articles in regards to the current danger facing the Great Barrier Reef I would like to take a little step further South, all the way to Tasmania if you will join me. Here too our government is trying to have the World Heritage Listing for the Tasmanian Old Growth Forests revoked to allow logging and fire bombing in the same manner that they are trying to do to allow dredging and dumping in the reef.
I suppose the Reef has held my attention simply because it is where I live, it is right beside me every day and while I have been working on other articles and with other groups regarding logging, wood chipping and Fracking I have devoted the majority of my ire against the powers that be in terms of danger to the Reef which I can now see is a little shortsighted…
I just had another look at Peter’s post about Easter Sunday, the 8th of April 2012, which happened to be our son Martin’s birthday. I just loved looking at all the pictures again. Reblogging it on auntyuta gives me the opportunity to share it with my blogger friends. I think the pictures are very lovely! 🙂
After our not so French coffee break we continued our drive up the mountain road. Thanks to GPS, installed in the car, we were always sure where we were and where we were heading. Martin had no trouble finding the place we wanted to go to, while Uta and I enjoyed the scenery. Suddenly we were stopping at the drive way
We could hardly see the house for the trees. Somewhere up the hill it must be, we thought.
Somehow we found a way up there and sure enough the reception committee was waiting for us.
We hadn’t seen our Grandson and his young family since the Christmas holidays and they had moved to a new location. There are still a lot of things to do for Tristan and he looks like a pioneer of time long gone. Still, he found the time to read his girls a story and…
Two years ago, in 2012, we were in Melbourne over the Easter period. I reblog now my post from 2012, also adding some extra information about Poyntons Nursery.
This is about Poyntons Nursery:
Poyntons Nursery was established 75 years ago on the banks of the Maribyrnong River in the Maribyrnong valley in the heart of Essendon. Situated on 3.5 acres with ample parking, we remain a one stop destination for all your gardening needs. Our staff are fully qualified and take pride in providing their knowledge, advise and passion for all things Horticultural.
The Nursery is a constant source of unusual and hard to find plants and our buyers are meticulous in maintaining the quality that Poyntons are renowned for. Whether you are looking for a particular plant, professional advise or simply some inspiration, venture in, you won’t be disappointed.
Enjoy a meal or maybe coffee in our A La Carte cafe situated high on the hill with views of the city skyline. The Boulevard Cafe also has an extensive wine list for your enjoyment, with all wines available to purchase for that special gift or occasion.
Situated below The Boulevard Cafe on Level 1 and on the gound level (adjacent to the pots display), you’ll find our two homeware shops, Poyntons Outdoor Living and Poyntons Interiors. Both provide a fabulous range of current trends in homewares, gifts and furniture.
If you have never visited us before or if you are a regular, we welcome you to come and visit our Nursery.
“Poyntons Nursery, your own Botanic Garden”
In April 2013 we were also in Melbourne, visiting this beautiful Nursery with Martin and his daughter Lauren. I copy here what I wrote about this visit last year:
Essendon is part of Melbourne. We went there to a beautiful Garden Centre called ‘Poyntons’. We admired all the wonderful displays and flowers and shrubs for sale. We went a bit further up where the cafe is situated. We had lunch there but no desert even though there was a good selection of cake available. They had some specially brewed local beer. Also freshly squeezed juices. Where we were sitting in the cafe we had a good view of the river Yarra. Our son Martin and granddaughter Lauren came with us to Poyntons. Martin drove the car there. Ample parking was available in a separate parking area.
Easter Monday was our last day in Melbourne. Not far from where our son lives in Essendon there’s a nursery, called the POYTONS NURSERY. Martin drove us there. This really made my day. It is such a lovely place. It has a NURSERY, A CAFE and a GARDEN ROOM.
First of all we made it to the cafe. Afterwards Martin selected a huge blueberry plant from the outside nursery.
www.poyntonsofessendon.com.au
At the cafe I had a pot of tea and a wonderfully fresh fruit salad with a selction of about seven different fruits. I shared it with Peter and Martin since it was more than enough for the three of us. P and M had some cake and coffee. The display of cakes looked heavenly.
Here are the names of some of the cakes that were available: Mixed Berry Cheesecake, Gluten Free Orange Clementine, Gluten…
Minnamurra Rainforest Centre says: “Visit Minnamurra Rainsforest wher nature is easy to reach.” They are open 7 days 9 am to 5 pm. You can find out more when you go to:
Our plan was to go to Minnamurra Rainforest early in the morning on Easter Sunday, the 20th of April. We had booked lunch for 1 pm in Wollongong. That meant we all had to get up early to have breakfast before 8 am. We were all very good and got ready on time. We were the first visitors at the Centre arriving there just before 9 am. Well before midday we were back home again to get ready for lunch in Wollongong.
We were very lucky again with the weather. It was a perfect day for a walk through the rainforest.
This snake greeted us on a wall of the Visitors’ Centre.Peter found something to hang on to!Oh yes, I quite like it!Here we met up with our son Martin and his daughter Lauren.
They had gone all the way up to Minnamurra Waterfalls. Peter and I had remained on the lower level, taking quite a few photos of the forest. Here are some of the photos:
Here I googled some tourist information:
‘”It’s an incredible feeling, to stand among the trees in this ancient patch of rainforest and imagine a time when it covered most of the land around here.”
Visit the multi award-winning Minnamurra Rainforest Centre and experience the splendour of the rainforest.
Chat to friendly staff in the Minnamurra Visitor Centre – they’re experts on the area so will be able to give you plenty of useful information – and check out the interpretive signs and Aboriginal artefacts on display. You might also find that perfect little present or souvenir in the Centre’s gift shop.
Then it’s time to wander the network of elevated walkways through the rare remnant rainforest that once reached throughout the Illawarra. Feel your senses awakening as you listen to the birds, feel the spray of the waterfalls and spot rainforest residents – perhaps the superb lyrebird, eastern water dragon or swamp wallaby.
There’s also a picnic area by the river, so pack your hamper and enjoy a barbecue in this splendid environment.’
Location: shown on Minnamurra Rainforest Centre map
Getting there: Minnamurra Rainforest Centre is located in the foothills of Jamberoo Valley, west of Kiama on the NSW South Coast. To get there from Jamberoo, drive west on Jamberoo Road and turn left onto Jamberoo Mountain Road. Take the first right onto Minnamurra Falls Road, and you’ll find Minnamurra Rainforest Centre about 3km along to the end of the road.
Road access: Sealed road – 2WD vehicles.
Opening hours: The Minnamurra Rainforest Centre is:
Open 9am–5pm (Monday-Sunday).
Closed on Christmas Day
Facilities: picnic tables, gas/electric barbecues, flush toilets, drinking water, cafe/kiosk, carpark, lookout, trackhead/access point, venue
Vehicle entry fee: $11 per vehicle per day. For passengers travelling by private transport (bus or taxi), the fee is $4.40 per adult and $2.20 per child.
“The five Buddha’s of Confidence, Longevity, Wisdom, Inner Beauty and Peace grace the shrine with 10,000 smaller Buddha’s, showing that everyone can achieve Buddhahood.
Li-Bu-Wei Buddha
Amitabha Buddha
Tuo-Pao Buddha
Miao-Se-Shen Buddha
Gan-Lu-Wang Buddha
This Buddha’s symbolic direction is east. He signifies confidence and fearlessness. The hands are in a mudra of appeasement or consolation. With the daily occurrence of violence and natural disaster around the world, many people find it difficult to face the future. The tranquility gained from following the Buddha’s way better enables one to remain calm; like a mountain unmoved by ravaging elements, one can approach each day without fear. This Buddha’s symbolic direction is west and his hands are in a mudra of concentration. He signifies infinite light and boundless life. Amitabha Buddha presides over the Western Pure Land. Praying to Amitabha Buddha improves one’s constitution and increases longevity. With sincere and continued practice of…
Sydney and surrounds is bathed in beautiful autumn sunshine. We are so lucky that after all this rain during the past few weeks the skies cleared up.
The Pagoda of the Nan Tien Temple near Wollongong.
Yesterday, on Easter Saturday, we went to the Nan Tien Temple. We had planned on having a vegetarian lunch in their downstairs Tea Room. The extended car places near the Temple were all taken. It was absolutely amazing how many cars were parked everywhere. We had never seen the place this packed full. It turned out there were celebrations going on for Buddha’s Birthday. However we found out later that the birthday had already been on the 8th of April. Never mind this, more celebrations are planned. The next celebrations are going to be on the Mothers’ Day Weekend.
It was announced on the speaker system that people could register their children between the ages of two and seven. From 12,30 on these children would be given a special birthday celebration party in the courtyard. Everything for free! Later on we saw lots of food- and gift-stalls near the courtyard. We did not get any food there for we had already eaten an excellent lunch in the tea-room.
Peter chose a noodle dish.Lauren had a Laksa dish.
My choice was first of all some Cappucino.
The coffee arrived well covered in chocolate together with a dish that looked liked minced meat but was vegetarian of course.
I had ordered a curry dish with rice which was delicious. Sorry, I forgot to take a photo of of this rice dish. I took some photos of these interesting glass teapots that contained some exotic teas.
We went for a walk further up the hill towards the Gratitude Bell. Peter took a picture of me near this bell. Martin did give the bell a try chiming it. The sound is very pleasant and carries over large parts of the surrounding area.
This is Martin near the Gratitude Bell looking towards the Pagoda.Here I caught Peter as he is walking near some tall bamboo plants at Nan Tien Temple.Port Kembla Beach was deserted on Easter Saturday Morning.This is our son Martin going for a swim in Port Kembla Pool.
The wind on that morning was very unpleasant. Lauren did not go for a swim. Peter and I decided too that we would not go into the water.
The previous day, on Good Friday, we had Caroline and Matthew staying with us and also Monika and a lot of her family, including little Lucas.
Lucas liked to play again with some toy cars.
Here he is with Great-Granddad.Time to have some marzipan covered Nut Cake that Peter made.
Caroline did bring some home baked apple and plum cake along, and Krystal and Monika had also baked some cake!
Our Frangipani bush started flowering just in time for Easter!
Some time ago I woke up from a dream that puzzled me. I was asking myself why on earth would I dream such things. I thought about it for a while and later on made the following notes in draft:
“Not being able to read the street names in a directory.
Not knowing Peter’s phone number.
Getting on a bus not knowing where it was going.
Going to sleep on the bus, waking up after one hour.
Having no idea to what place the bus took me.
Everything looking totally unfamiliar.
Having asked for the toilets finding out they are on a different floor and can only be reached by climbing up some pipes which I cannot do!
Originally I left a party where I felt I could not talk to anyone. I just did not know what to say to anyone.
I wanted to look for a toilet somewhere else, thought I’d be back soon and didn’t mention to Peter that I was leaving. Later on I felt awful that I had not told him where I was going. Our house with a toilet was supposed to be close by. So why on earth did I board a bus? No idea.”
I guess I had no idea where the bus had taken me. Everything around me looked totally unfamiliar. I wanted to find out where I was. This is why I tried to find in a directory where the hell the bus had taken me. I was thinking I should ring Peter and let him know where I was. Then I realised that I did not have his phone number. The mobile phone number is so very long, I never bothered to remember it. So this meant I could not ring Peter.
I woke up from this bad dream when I realised no way could I climb up on these pipes to reach the toilets. And I felt I had to go to the toilet. But this is how the dream started. I had that urge to go to the toilet. I have no idea why I ended up on that bus instead of going home to visit our toilet there. Going to sleep on the bus did bring me even further away from toilets. How did I know I had been asleep for one hour when I did not even know which route the bus had taken?
This is all so confusing. Who where these people at the party? Why couldn’t I talk to them?
Thanks for the update, Jenni, and I hope you get your very big nap now. 🙂
The pub story is hilarious. Love it very much! 🙂
I think I am going to reblog this post to spread the good humour.
Cooktown – that large piece of tin is the roof from the pub which is a good few kilometers away from this spot
Even though Cyclone Ita was downgraded to a Category 4 as it hit the coastline it did some fairly impressive damage as it swept its way inland travelling south-westerly. Winds have dropped from 300 km/hr to 180 km/hr according to the last update but the rain and winds are still an issue.
So far the Cape and the surrounding islands have suffered the most damage at the hands of Ita but it was still strong enough when it got to Cooktown last night to make quite the impression according to reports that are coming in.
It may no longer be a category 4 or 5 but the winds are still more than enough to make a very large mess as it moves down the coast.
Cooktown – that large piece of tin is the roof from the pub which is a good few kilometers away from this spot 
Poor Pub – but the…
AuntyUta 