Around here - Jacaranda's

So this week both my kids received Senior Awards and we we allowd to go to the ticketed event and it was also online at the same time.  So was very grateful as it's the last year for my son and it's the first time I have been to the school in the last 2 years due to events not being held because of Covid.  In 2020 the school celebrated it's 60th year which they had lots of plans for the year to celebrate throughout the year and of course all they could do was post Facebook memories and stories about the school.  

This week Melbourne came out of their 6th Lockdown.  This last lockdown was going to be a snap 7 day lockdown which ended up being 77 days.  Gosh they have done it tough.  My MIL said she has not had the family around since April and also does click and collect groceries with just popping into Aldi for 5 mins to pick her own fruit and veggies really early when no one is there.  I can't imagine it to be honest and I'm very happy that restrictions have now eased for them.

Queensland on the other hand has had a really normal lifestyle and I'm very nervous about the borders opening and everyone heading North.  I agree we can't keep the borders closed forever however the statement is "Delta is coming to Queensland" is a scary thought.  Myself, my kids and all my family are all double vaccinated so we are protected however I still don't want to get Covid no matter what.  If Queensland is 70% double vaccinated we will open the borders on the 17th December, 2021 which is great for everyone for Christmas but also equally scary if any of my family catch Covid for Christmas.  It certainly has been a very trying 2 years for many people all around the world.

It's 9 weeks until Christmas and 10 weeks until 2021 is over.  I still remember leading up to New Year's Eve 2000 it seems like yesterday however there goes a quick 21 years.  I was working for an IT company and with Y2K approaching  we were as busy as ever for the 2 years leading up to 2000.  My family and I were in Pottsville in NSW for NYE which was one hour ahead of Queensland so if anything happened we could ring our Brisbane friends.  My Mum bought all this 2000 memorabilia like plastic champagne glasses, funny glasses and the like.  As you get older the time goes much quicker.

Anyway onto brighter pretty pictures of the lovely Jacaranda trees that are in flower in Brisbane.

Around Here

Around here we are in Term 4, Week 2 of 2021.  Six weeks unit my oldest graduates and it's coming very fast.  Sadly due to Covid and Health Advice the Senior Awards Night will be online for the parents and we will receive a photo of our child accepting their award.  As the Senior Awards includes Grades 10, 11 and 12 there would be many kids and many parents so I understand big assemblies are still not happening in our schools.  I believe Graduation will be okay with 2 people per student which is what happened last year.  I'm very grateful that my kids have been at school all year with the exception of a few days of lockdown which would be less than a week of school time.

On the 15th September I celebrated my Birthday with my Tradition of a photo of myself with my kids and four cupcakes [I get to eat 2 as I'm the Birthday girl] and handmade cards from my kids.  This is the 16th year of this photo series which is very dear to my heart.  Here's a blog post and pictures from previous years.

Today is "FREEDOM DAY" in New South Wales today and the city is opening to vaccinated people as they are at 70% double dose.  Shops and bars opened at midnight and even Kmart was open and people got out for the first time in 106 days in lockdown to shop, eat and drink.  I can't imagine being in lockdown for that length of time.  I can do without the shops and bars however with a 5km radius I wouldn't have seen any of my family members for a walk so that would most definitely be the hardest part.  Hopefully the Covid numbers won't go back up again as they are now under 500 daily cases.

Victoria on the other hand are just about reaching 2,000 cases a day and rising and they have been the most locked down city in the World.  Not a great title to have and I don't think they are at the peak of cases yet.  They too will be easing restrictions when they reach 70% double vaccination.

Queensland is still closed to New South Wales and Victoria and honestly I'm a bit scared when they open up as Covid will arrive in droves.  We have managed our Covid cases in Queensland really well and our lives are pretty normal.

My sister lives in Perth, Western Australia and we were supposed to go to my nieces Wedding in April 2020 which got cancelled.  She did get married in November 2020 however we couldn't go at the time and the risk of the costs 2 weeks hotel quarantine was not affordable.  Western Australia has it's borders closed still and it sounds like they will be closed until April 2022.  Who knows when we will be able to go visit my sister and her family.

Here's a few photos of other things in our lives and hoping you all have a good week.

I made Elaine Boddy's of Fodbodsourdough crackers using 100gms of sourdough starter which I would add some salt and even rosemary to them next time however they were pretty simple to make and great to have with a dip.

Sourdough Crackers using Elaine Boddy's recipe.

Afternoon light on my Kmart fake flowers.

Afternoon shadows in the kitchen/lounge room.

A big tray of Nachos for a weekend dinner.

Pretty flowers in my pots are thriving.

My Rosemary Bush is thriving.