Mounts Glorious and Nebo

Wednesday we tried to tidy 'our' room (the home cinema, which was not being used as such and for some reason did not feature in advertising photos or write-up) and keep a low profile when the real estate agent viewed the house. Desi was keen (if not entirely hopeful) to move to a nearby 10 acre block with flatter ground for her horses; this move has recently taken place! We are told that their new place also has a collection of mature fruiting trees on good soil, and a small house. It will be interesting to learn how the children 'enjoy' leaving their separate rooms, swimming pool, etc!

We thoughtfully declined the chance to go to the Strathpine shopping centre with Desi and family, and were most pleased it suited Terry to come over and visit. After enjoying morning tea overlooking the pool, Terry offered to drive to nearby Mts Glorious and Nebo. Although not terribly far Mum, struggling with nausea-inducing winding roads, indulged only in the magnificent view when we stopped at the Mt Glorious Cafe and Restaurant.

We lured Terry on a short walk, out of sight of his car

We did not experience the exuberant Mt Glorious kookaburra

View from Mt Nebo 

(only a few hours walk from Mark and Carrie's Brookfield abode, but a very long way by road)

It had been a lovely day out, and on the way back we took a look at the many graves with German surnames in the pleasantly situated Dayboro cemetery.

Sunset again

Thursday was the day of Valma's funeral. We had now stayed longer than intended with Desi and Ross, but they were always most gracious hosts. Mum made the most of the last opportunity to photograph our surroundings (especially as the, to her, unsightly pool umbrella had departed the previous evening); Mum was about to unwittingly leave her camera by the pool as a result of wanting the experience of helping Ross cover it for the day to minimise evaporation in the heat.
Harry, Zoe and Meg went to their neighbours and we left early for the 170km drive, via Brisbane's western suburbs (passing Toowong Cemetery and Government House), to Toowoomba. It was lovely, but sad under these circumstances, to see Desi's mum Florence and brother Todd again.

The framed photo near Todd shows Desi as a bride next to Todd's Holden car

The intention behind Mum's visit to Australia was to catch up with long unseen family and friends, so she was disappointed not to have been able to do so with Val. The funeral service at the graveside in the Haden-Goombungee cemetery (where Mum's maternal Hoffmann grandparents were also buried) was very private. In April I had sat opposite Graham and Valma and next to Lynette (who took the photo below) at June's 80th birthday celebration.