Australia for Anna's wedding

Arrived in Melbourne just before 10 pm  after a good flight from London via Dubai.  Treated myself to business class so was in fairly good shape.  Stopped over at the Park Royal Hotel right by the airport and they treated me to an upgrade - a kingsized bed with a view.  Shame I was only there the one night.  Caught a delayed flight to Brisbane on Tuesday afternoon and was met by my sister Ady and my niece Anna.  Staying with Anna and her fiance Leon until we go to the Albert River wine area for the wedding on Saturday.  Met up with their dogs Maddie, Boomer and their three legged cat Luther.

View from the Park Royal room.  Weather the same as the UK

Maddie with ball and Boomer

On the way back from the walk

Anna and Luther

Off for lunch at Mount Glorious this morning - Wednesday.   Anna, Ady and I went on to Phoenix Sculpture gardens in the afternoon after a great lunch at Cloverlea restaurant.  The gardens were closed but we were allowed in to walk around.  If you are in the area it is definitely a place to visit.  So peaceful.  There had been a tv crew in the morning for a programme which will be on Channel Seven in Australia.

Jason and Leon

Leon

McAfees lookout

Lunch at Cloverlea cafe

Magpie

Phoenix Sculpture Gardens

Lots of inspirational notices around the garden

Anna's other body

Ady on stepping wood stones

A bug on the sculpture

Finally captured a cockatoo in flight on the dog walk in the evening.  Still burnout on the wing so will keep trying.

On Friday we all drove to Mount Tamborine.  Ady, Shonae and I in one car.  Dropped Shonae at Mountain Edge Studios where the bride and bridesmaid and bridesman were staying.  Went on to Wallaby Ridge Retreat where I was staying with Ady.  Ady's husband Jose decided to break up the marriage 2 months before the wedding so there had to be some adjustments - minor understatement but will not go into family details on the internet.

Wallaby Ridge Retreat is in a beautiful spot.  We had a cabin with wallabies sneaking into the garden to eat the bamboo. There is a swimming pool and spa which we did not have the time to use.  I managed to photograph a sunset and sunrise.  This is somewhere I would return to if I have the chance to stay in the area again.  Robin and John are very kind and generous hosts.  Robin supplied us with a breakfast hamper as I had a few issues with Booking.com in changing dates.

Welcomed by a wallaby

Our cabin

Bamboo thief

Sunset

Our neighbouring cabin with sunset

On the morning of the wedding, Ady and I drove back to Mountain Edge Studios to have hair and make up and generally make ourselves useful - on in my case - get in the way!  We left the car there as it was taking Anna and her father to the wedding venue.  A mini bus picked us up and then the groom's party and on to Albert River Wines.  It was a very beautiful ceremony - no photos were taken by the guests as requested by the bride and groom.  I was asked to take Leon and his mum before the wedding which I did.  However, I was glad the photographer had the time to take the photograph too.

Anna and Matt in conversation

Shonae

Anna Hodges

In conversation with phones

Before photo

Lani modelling that look

Mark needed some warpaint

Ady's before photo

Getting ready

Hair piece

Airbrushing

Hair backs

A most beautiful bride to be

Flowers in your hair

Ady

At the venue, Albert River Wines

Leon and his mum Cheryl

Sandra, John, Leon's dad and Ady

The table Ady and I sat at

Jose's cousin Lorna's shoes

Lorikeet in the bottle brush

Wedding snaps

Ben comfortable in his skin

Dan changed his suit for Lani's dress with Jason in the background

Sunrise at Wallaby Ridge Retreat

Lots of dancing during the evening and we were taken back to our accommodation by mini bus.

We had to wait for the car to arrive on Sunday before starting back to Brisbane.  Stopped off at Curtis falls on the way after coffee at Carunga village. The falls were not that impressive but we saw a lizard  on the way down to the falls.

A dragon on the way to Curtis Falls

Curtis Falls ICM

Shonae and Anna at breakfast in Samford

Picking up the dogs and cat from the pet resort

Luther chilling out with Leon

Luther chilling out with Anna

 Now a chill out day at Anna and Leon's.  Fetched the dogs and cat from the pet resort.  Anna and Leon go to the Gold Coast on Wednesday for their honeymoon.  Ady and I will go to North Stradbroke Island or Straddie as it is known by the locals.  Hoping to see whales.