Spirit of the place: NOTHING DIES...IT ONLY CHANGE FORM

(As continued from the last post...)

Dad's condition in hospital slowly improved, although he was on continuous oxygen and any exertion brought on long periods of shortness of breath.

He disliked immensely being there (his first and only admission in his life).He couldnt sleep and wasn't impressed by the hospital food.He just wanted to come home.

On the 13th day we were told he could go home.

I was driving him home and he said to me "I feel like a King!"...He was that happy to be out of there!
Having managed to get to his favourite chair at home...he had a big smile on his face!
Dad died that night at 0150 in his own bed with Mum and I at his side.

Nicolaas Jacobus Prins 20th Feb 1931 - 01 July 2009

My Dad as I remember him before he became unwell.

Quote above..bit hard to read but says...... Nothing Dies ...It only changes Form.

Mum and Dad were married 52 years ..Had 3 children and 7 grandchildren.
My daughter Rachel and her partner Jeremy were in Italy when Dad died...she so wanted to come home immediately but we convinced her not to as Dad wouldnt have wanted that...he knew how hard they had saved and planned for this trip..
My daughter Carina and brother John and his family, flew over from New Zealand.This gave Mum and I immense support.

Carina.

Mum, John, Juliette, Luke and Alannah

Ron, Ben, Me, Juliette, Alannah, John, Carina, Mum and Luke.(Ben's wife Toni was taking the photo!)

We received beautiful floral tributes from family and friends that were very much appreciated.

The funeral was held 7th July at Alambie Gardens Nerang...It was a beautiful service which celebrated the Life of my Father.We were even honoured with the presence of Dad's GP Dr Islam.

My brother John read a philosphical saying that my Dad had sent him years ago that he had kept and treasured.

It goes like this...

Thank God For Today.

This is the beginning of a New Day.

I can waste it, or use it for Good.

What I do Today is important because

I am exchanging a Day of My Life for it.

When Tomorrow comes,

This Day will be gone forever,

Leaving in its place,

Something I have traded for it.

I want it to be a Gain, not a Loss,

Good not Evil,

Success not Failure,

In order that I shall Not Regret,

The Price I Paid for Today.

For Yesterday is but a Dream and

Tommorrow is Only a Vision,

But Today,Well Lived,

Makes every Yesterday a dream of Happiness,

And every Tommorrow a vision of Hope.

So now Mum is adjusting to a new way of life...'Going it alone' if you like.

I stayed on for 3 weeks after the funeral to help her with the myriad of issues that need to be dealt with post death.

My daughter Rachel changed the end of her trip itinerary so she could spend a few days with us..unfortunately Jeremy had to start work again so couldnt stay also, but Mum and I went up to have a 'catch up' with him and Rachel for a few hours as he waited for his connecting flight.

Rachel and Jeremy at the Airport.

So now I'm back in Beautiful Wonga...

My mother is coping with her new life and here I must say a heartfelt Thank You to Susan, her neighbour, who has been a true friend, giving support, encouragement and understanding and who taken Mum under her wing...

My Mum doesn't drive and so the car will be sold...she has to adjust to public transport etc. Susan has been showing her 'the ropes' and has even managed to coax Mum into 'working' (voluntary) at the Animal Welfare League Shop just up the road.

Double Trouble...Susan and Mum.

Whilst Iv'e been away the Annual Wonga Nut Festival was held...where the theme is to create something using the endless supply of Wonga Nuts at this time of the year.

Here are some pic's of some of the amazing entries...

Wonga Nut Pie

Life is a Box of Chocolates!

Wonga Nut Pills

Wonga Nut Sundae

Ce Ce's Wonga Nut Happy Shack!

Part of the days activites is the Wonga Nut bowls competion...

Anne above throwing her Nut!

Spectators Marilyn and Ce Ce.

Ridley.

Al.

The day after I arrived back the celebrations were on for Christmas in July.

Anne and Joe

Hans

Tony and Marilyn

CeCe and Daina

Ooops ...Santa's loosing his trousers!

Present Time!

Ho Ho Ho!

Lynn and Me

So I am having a week off ...Some Me Time...

Hans organised a couple of nights away for some rest and relaxation for us both...

We stayed in a Magical location called Possum Valley...Altitude 1000 metres...

Ironically, this is where we stayed with my parents on their last trip up to Far North Queensland...that time we stayed in Maple Cottage.

There are only two cottages on this 156 acre property in the Rain Forest...the nearest dwelling being 5kms away...so you could say its a secluded location!

This time we stayed in Black Bean Cottage...

Paul...the guy that owns this beautiful property built Black Bean Cottage using no power tools at all...

The cottages are powered by his own hydro and solar systems and gas for cooking.

Wild life abounds!...Possums at night entertain you on the deck, Drakes and Ducks,various parrots and Rosella's, Wallabies, tree Kangaroo's, a forest of leeches and in the stream that runs around the deck the elusive Platypus which I was very fortunate to be able to observe and photograph.

One of the Delightful Platypus's!

BlackBean Cottage.

BlackBean Cottage early morning...

The kitchen

The Lounge

One of the bedrooms.

During our stay a very inquisitive Llewyns Honey Eater would arrive on the deck and check out what was happening...It would sit on the window sill of the kitchen window watching you whilst you were cooking!

My friend Jodi had sent me a photo of my Dad in a parcel, which I unwrapped whilst having a coffee just after our arrival...I had stood the frame on the table and the Llewyns Honey Eater came over to look at Dad!...a Magic Moment!