Chinese New Year - The Year of the Snake.

We have been celebrating Chinese New Year.  We went shopping at Tsing Wah Chinese grocers for a few purchases, and I have put up my Chinese decorations, and been busy cooking Chinese meals.  Also, we have been watching Asian movies to celebrate this week.  We have watch The Hunted with Christopher Lambert, Skyfall - James Bond and Crazy Rich Asians. 

My Asian Doll and Moth Orchids display.

I added some Asian ornaments to my vase display in the Loungeroom.

New Blue Willow placemats with my Asian plates and 

spoons I bought in Penang all those years ago.

Panda salt and pepper shakers and red lucky money envelopes.

Hanging decorations in the BBQ area.

Homemade dim sims - just like in the cookbook.

Happy New Year symbol from Tsing Wah.

My Chinese Man and Lady I received as a birthday

 gift from my Auntie Beryl so long ago now.

The Old Chinaman who belonged to Richard's grandparents. 

Ready for the next meal.

Lucky Buddha Beer.

My Fortune Cookie.

The Memorial for the Trail of the Tin Dragon.

Wet Enough to Bog a Duck.

More details from the Trail of the Tin Dragon.

Trying to convert the Chinese.

Pig Ovens.

Joss Houses.

The Joss House in the Queen Victoria Museum in Launceston.

Photo from Google.

This temple hold the contents of a number of Chinese 

Temples from north-eastern Tasmanian mining towns.

As these temples gradually closed down, their contents were kept 

and eventually donated to the Museum.

The Guan Di Temple is still a working temple and offers a unique

window into Chinese religious practice in Tasmania during the 1880s.

The collection includes decorated plaques, incense burner

and other ceremonial items.

Information from the QVMag website.

Australia Day BBQ 2025

We had a lovely catch up with everyone for Australia Day with a BBQ at our place.  I love decorating for celebrations.

The coffee table decorated for Australia Day.

Serviettes all done and Vegemite and Cheese Shapes ready to serve.

Yummy Chocolates too.

The table is all set ready for our guests.

Table all set in the BBQ area.

All chatting and catching up.

Richard busy BBQing.  Homemade sausages for Australia Day.

We started sweets with Jelly Shots.

Then White Chocolate Cheesecake.

and Lamington cake.

Australian animal shaped biscuits with 100s & 1000s.

Admiring Gerrard's new toy.

Time to go home after a wonderful catch up for Australia Day.

Glamping at Scamander

We spent a lovely few days Glamping in Scamander and touring around the East Coast to St Helens and Binalong Bay before heading home via Pyenganna, Weldborough and Derby.  The weather was wonderful and we had a great time.

We travelled through Avoca and Fingal on the way to Scamander.

This is the silo at Avoca, we zipped past too quick for me to get a photo, 

thank you to Google for this picture.

St Patrick's Head which looks like a pyramid, on our way to St Marys.

We arrived in Scamander before noon, so had to fill in some time.  We went for a drive to St Helens, and then along to Stiglitz and Akaroa for a walk along the beach.

Akaroa near St Helens.

Some of the Glamping tents at Scamander.

This one was our tent, it had an ensuite and heat pump.  Luxury camping.

As you walk into our Glamping tent is the four poster bed 

and kitchenette the other side of the room.

Our outside dining area.

We had bought a crayfish while we were in St Helens.

We barbequed it and it was so delicious for tea that night.

Next day to Binalong Bay.  It's been quite a few years since we where there last.

Mr Percival at Binalong Bay.

We went for a little bush walk to Skeleton Bay, near Binalong Bay.

Lovely area for a bush walk.

Skeleton Bay.

Skeleton Bay was named after the skeleton of a 

large whale that was found at the head of the bay.

Thank you Google for that information.

We stopped at Lease 65 to buy a dozen oysters.

The  boat went out while get more supplies while 

we were making our purchase.

Fishing boats at St Helens.

Fish and Chip shop at the wharf, St Helens.

Yummy fish and chips from Skippers fish shop.

We went for a walk along the beach at Scamander 

and all the drift wood had been put into piles.

The sky came over very dark, but it didn't rain.

Richard went surf fishing.

But we didn't eat fish for tea that night.

More piles of drift wood.

The next day we fossicked at Shelly Point on our way home.

It's a gorgeous spot for a walk.

One of the Oyster catchers on the beach at Shelly Point.

Richard checking out the tidal pools at Shelly Point.

On our way to Pyenganna.

We stopped to buy cheese.

Some of the Man Ferns growing along the side of the road on our way to Weldborough.

We stopped at the Chinese Cemetery Memorial at Moorina.

Fascinating history of this area.

Trout Rock Derby.

Yummy Oysters Kilpatrick for tea at home.

The end of a wonderful little holiday.