Another day up the coast...

Recently, (at the beginning of the month) I was lucky enough to spend a few days at the Sunshine Coast.  Circumstances saw DH and I heading back there just for the day, again  last Friday.  Firstly though, we had a funeral to attend. The widow was DH's cousin by his first marriage but both of us had used Michael as a Financial Planner a number of years before we retired. We felt it was important to pay our respects. It was a huge funeral and we only got a seat when some young people offered us a seat. (Pays to have touches of grey in one's hair :-))

The Albany Creek site was hosting more than one funeral at the same time....this is where we had to park...in a paddock to one side. All organised and supervised by staff

The lovely lake at the complex. This area is now being used for burials.

So even though it was a sad part to the day, it was a very beautiful service... after that we headed north.

A former pupil of mine who now lives in Tasmania was visiting family at Maroochydore and we took the opportunity to catch up with her. Olga was diagnosed with stage 4 ovarian cancer earlier this year and her whole life has been turned upside down. I wrote about Olga here and how I wanted to make her something. I made a mohair throw for her and posted some photos of her with it here.

The beautiful view from our table...that's Point Cartwright in the distance...

Olga showed us the beanie which was given to her to wear after the chemo made her hair fall out...she has really needed it in Tassie!

Olga is at present undergoing a new chemo regime and is feeling a lot better. Of course I wanted to see her and spend some time with her. So we did! We took her to the Maroochydore Surf Club for a long and leisurely lunch. Olga is so brave and we spoke at length about her health and also of her plans to travel with husband Terry in their bus.  Adjustments have had to be made and as she said...'our 10 year travel plan has now got to be a 5 year plan'...DH and I had discussed beforehand that we must not tire Olga out but she was having none of that! We gave her a lift to another friend's house as DH and I  headed off to have afternoon tea at another former student's house.

This is Sharyn with her mother Carmel...and me of course! lol

The golf course just near Sharyn's house...

Some wallabies on the golf course...

Sharyn lives at Pelican Beach, Caloundra and she was in my Year 7 class in 1979. (Olga was in my year 7 class in 1976) Her mum was visiting so that was a delightful surprise. As well, Sharyn's brother also dropped in while we were there. We all chatted away forgetting the time until it became obvious that sunset wasn't far away. So it was time to head for home after a beautiful day catching up with old friends.

And lastly some photos from my archives...

Olga, aged 12. Taken from class photo

 The last photo was taken during 75th celebrations of the school where I taught. The Courier Mail, the main Brisbane paper sent a photographer out to take a series of photos. This photo shows students who had dressed up...I've drawn a rectangle around Sharyn. (I'm in the photo too...back right hand side with the boater hat :-) )