WARWICK/TOOWOOMBA

Warwick is a city we enjoyed last year, so decided to make it our headquarters while we completed a few chores, one of which was to have a computer chip in our vehicle at a specialist in Toowoomba, which is reputed to improve the performance and reduce the amount of fuel used. Staying in the Rose City C/Park for 6 nights was quite economical, reasonable facilities, though a large proportion of permanents.
First priority was to watch the wedding of William and Catherine, I loved Diana for her naturalness and totally abhor the way she was treated and find her son so like her and feel affection for him, so I am delighted about the marriage; stayed up later than usual but it was worth it. I made sure I read all about it in the next 2 day's newspapers, while John was watching motor racing - and so we spent that weekend.
Monday went to view Glengallan Homestead nearby and learn the history of how it boomed and busted over the decades and with various owners and farming activities - it would have been beautiful if it had been able to be finished as it was designed to be.

Tuesday was John's birthday - spent quietly - I made him a birthday cake, then we set off the explore more of Warwick the city and had lunch at the charming Belle Vue Cafe which had been in business for 101 years, we enjoyed fish and prawn burgers. The walls were painted with scenes from the surrounding farming countryside, the dishes and cups on which the food was served were ornate, all totally charming, we tootled about the countryside a bit more then back home for a cuppa and birthday cake.

Wednesday was the trip to Toowoomba, left the car for the computer chip to be done, we walked down into town beside the waterway that runs through the city which was shown so dramatically flooding in January.
Along the way sitting in a garden bed jammed between 2 saplings was 1500 litre water tank which we remembered seeing on TV being pushed through the bridge by the force of the water. Of course there were signs all over of flotsam caught in fences and businesses being refurbished but generally Toowoomba was picking up and of course there were lots of places not in the way of that huge deluge of water.
We took a round trip along the Warrego Highway through the Lockyer Valley, turned off at Grantham and drove through, getting some idea of the heatache suffered by the people, some of whom were camping or in a caravan on their premises, of others there was no sign.
Along the way we stopped at the Ma Ma Village Store and had locally made icecreams, this place was imaginatevly decorated with many hanging pots, posters on the walls, we took some time to delight in it's individuality. We are coming to realise that all over Australia there are interesting, quirky, entertaining little spots, just waiting to be discovered.