G’day again to all my blogging buddies, September disapeared in a blur of doctor’s appointments and hospital visits. With no time to do my monthly blog. We were so pleased we had moved to this easy care apartment and we could concentrate on getting Jack well again with no garden or leaky roof maintainence to worry about. 
We are a 10 minute tram ride from the new Gold Coast University hospital, that Jack calls “the GC university hospital resort” The facilities are world class and the care from doctors and nurses is the best. Slowly, through October, Jack has made a remarkable recovery. Now we are starting to use the facilities available for us. Jack is going down for a swim, while I sit on life guard duty reading my book. 
During October I’ve also been busy rearranging the “art room”. A large wardrobe along one wall has been reassigned as a storage area.
Shelves were installed by Jack and the piles of art gear were brought from the son’s place to be stored in this cupboard. It did my creative soul good to see all our “stuff” easy to see and “get at”
Still a small area left for hanging clothes, as this room also doubles as our guest room with a settee that folds out to a double bed, and we were delighted to have my son and wife, from New Zealand, for a short but happy visit. 
At the casino we won $220 on the pokie machines that paid for our lunch…
After all the hectic time I can now, at last, find time to do some art again and catch up with my blogging record. (The settee in the bottom corner of this photo opens out to a very comfortable double bed.)
We also have lorikeets coming to visit us. I find it amazing that they can fly this high. Jack puts out a saucer of water and honey for them.
We also have time to go round to our son’s place to immerse ourselves in his beautiful garden. Lovely to sit in the “zen” corner and reflect on how lucky we are.
So here I am back in the on line blogging world. Ju-lyn, “touring my backyard< and Brian, “Bushboy’s world” host this monthly challenge, which prompts me to keep an ongoing record and keeping up to date with the monthly happenings in other areas of the world. Pop over to see them.
Living in Paradise... 
Goodness! I have been out of the loop for quite a bit of this. I was not aware of the hospitalization. The last post I remember involved a window washer flying in onto the balcony. Now it is lorikeets. Well, at least it is not wallabies! That home really looks awesome! It just looks so different from the former home. I suppose that it is about two thirds of the way through spring there. It looks like that in the pictures. It is just beginning to feel like autumn here, and is still four hours from November. In fact, it is about eight on the night of Halloween!
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Hope you enjoyed Halloween Tony. Up here in the clouds and well secured, the trick and treaters can’t get to us!!! A wallaby would have a BIG jump to get up here, but we are so pleased to see a few birds. Yes one more month of spring then they are saying we are going to have another very wet summer. But, of course, it won’t affect us up here.
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I loathe Halloween. I have my reasons. I am pleased that it is over. Trick or treaters are not so bad though. At least they have innocent fun with Halloween, and I never noticed anyone costumed as a wallaby. We got our first rain storm today, after our long and dry summer. I can not imagine a rainy summer because I have never experienced it.
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I agree with you about Halloween, another reason we like living on the 30th floor total security summer is our rainy season,but they tell us it will be wetter than normal and already dams are full and ground saturated from an unusual wet winter. They are now doing controlled releases of water from the dams to make room for the expected summer deluge.
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Have the traditions associated with Halloween become more American only in the past few years? I get that impression from other cultures, including some european cultures.
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Certainly seems that way, pushed along by commercialism
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That is unfortunate. No one here realizes that All Saints’ Day was ever a Holiday, and that Halloween was merely the day prior. (It is like celebrating Christmas Eve in a very tacky manner, while forgetting about Christmas.) However, Dia de los Muertos is still celebrated today by those of Mexican descent. So far, it has not been ruined by Halloween.
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Pleased you now have time for blogging.
I enjoy looking back at all the positive events.
We are so fortunate it has been a testing few months.
But we have landed on our feet.😎🥰
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Up and at ’em Jack, lots of adventures in front of us now.
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You two are amazing.
Love this post.
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Thanks Dawn, good to hear from you.
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Lovely to see your new home, and of course Jack back again thriving.
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I’m pleased we are getting out and about again Dawn. Slowly but we get there.
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Wow! This post actually showed up in my WP reader. Saints (or whomever) be praised. I am so happy to see this post from you and Jack. I send so much love and admiration to both of you. I miss Matidla, your garden, and both of you.
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So lovely to hear from you Cindy. I still think of Matilda with great fondness and wonder if she is still trundling around Australia. Now I have our sons garden to visit I don’t miss the work involved with our garden. Hope all is well for you.
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Life is beautiful, isn’t it? Especially when you’ve dodged the blows and come out the other side, as you two have the amazing knack of doing. Love the way you’ve organised your space, and the visiting lorikeets, Pauline. Wishing you a healthy, happy November!
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Yes Jo life is very beautiful and so much to appreciate. Jack on the move now, slowly, and starting to have short outings around the area. Really settled in, it is such a friendly, happy and positive community. About 300 people, our tribe!, live in this complex and not met one grumpy person yet. Hope all is well in your corner of the world. Hope to catch up with your blog soon.
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Goodness, Pauline, I hope Jack is back to his old self soon. How lovely that you got to catch up with your family too.
Your art space looks very inviting and when you get tired, you can have a snooze on the sofa.
I wonder if your butcherbirds will track you down?
Stay well and keep creating, Pauline.
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Jack is well on the road back to his “old” self, a newer better version!!! Starting to slowly explore around this area now. Yes that sofa is very handy to lay down and “meditate”… Actually we did have 2 butcher birds drop in for a fleeting visit, also had a kurawong and a ladybird land on the rails one day…
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The bird visitors must have been such a treat, Pauline.
Great news about Jack.
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They are regular visitors now 🦜🦜
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How lovely that you have both settled in well and are using all the great facilities. May you will have continued good health and happiness.
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Next step is to get a physiotherapist to give us a programme to use the gym we have in the complex. So, small steps but getting around and exploring this area now.
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Well done, you two. All those setbacks, but you’ve still forged ahead with your new aerial life, practically and artfully. Onwards and upwards personified, and in every sense. All the very best to you.
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Love it Tish “aerial life” so true…Jack making quick recovery and come back. Will now be able to get around and explore this area, lots to see.
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Oh, no, whatever happened to Jack? So glad he’s out of hospital and home again and you are able to make the space work for you. I don’t think I would get anything done with views like that. Stay well the both of you and enjoy the last month of spring. It’s good you still have a fabulous garden in which to relax without all the work.
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It was a prostate operation Jude. But thankfully all went well and he is now well on the road to recovery. Not having big garden to look after takes a load off the shoulders, but, of course, having James’ garden to visit is a real bonus. Hope all is well for you, will get around to visiting your blog soon.
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So glad that Jack is recovering well. And that you have an excellent health service. James’ garden is gorgeous, he must have inherited Jack’s green thumb.
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James loves his garden and it shows. How’s your family in Brisbane? Hope they are all well.
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They are all fine thanks PP. Boys growing up so fast! And Julia cultivating her garden. Looks like another wet summer ahead though.
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⛈☔️🙄
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I love how positive you are even in the face of health issues. Sounds like he is on the mend, so great news.
Your new home is gorgeous, particularly your cute birds that come over to visit.
Nice also to have family visiting 😀
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Jack well on the road to recovery Gilda and getting out and about now. It is lovely having the birds visit. Also had abutcher bird and kurawong drop by.
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Glad to see Jack is getting good treatment. He looks so cheerful even in a hospital bed. And you have certainly made your new home into a little paradise.
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Loving it here Anabelle and with no big garden to look after we now have lots of time to explore.
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Looks like you have been there forever! Well settled now. Great that Jack also a fit and now can make most of the facilities.
And Lauri and Kerry would have been nice catch up.
Lots of love.. will chat soon.
Jackie Carroll
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Love this place and as you can see room for visitors. Look forward to a chat soon.
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Somehow I seem to have missed your posts Pauline, and I wasn’t aware that Jack had been unwell. He looks pretty chipper in the photo though, and well on the road to recovery.
Lovely to see the lorikeets on the balcony as you’d probably miss the birds in your old garden, but great to still have a garden to visit and sit in when you feel like it.
I love the view from your art space.
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I didn’t do a post last month. Only the second time in 4 years that I missed a month. I find it interesting to look back,like having an on line diary . Hope you are not getting the floods around you Jane.NSW is really getting hammered at the moment. Stay safe.
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Thank you, Pauline. We had floods a week ago when the river became about 800m wide, but fortunately it flooded the playing fields and only one or two houses. A lot of roads are damaged and most full of potholes. My garden is constantly soggy and a few plants have given up, but other than that we are fine.
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Pleased to hear you missed the worst jane. At least you won’t have to do any watering for a while.
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So happy to read that all is well with you both. How lovely to have a family visit. 🤗
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Yes not seen them for 3 years due to covid lockdowns. So pleased that is all behind us now.
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[…] Pauline at Living in Paradise […]
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I want to thank you for the way your blog has brought us friends.
Regardless of distance we can share our thoughts and interests.
You have included me and I am pleased with their carding comments.
I am off all medication and bouncing back.
Because of you and all the caring people.😎
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The WP community is part of the joy of blogging
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A lovely photo of you in your Art Room, Pauline. So lovely you have slowed down enough to enjoy it. Young Jack in the pool is an inspiration – you both are. Happy Days!
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Thanks May for those kind words. With no garden I now have more time to do other things, so I am enjoying my art.
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Absolutely love your post. I’m so happy that Jack is recovering so well and people usually do recover better once they’re home. I know how difficult it is to have space for those things essential for your life…like your art supplies. You and Jack did a really good job with the closet. Love that the lorikeets keep coming back and the Zen garden is one of absolute beauty. I’ve never won anything before so it is so nice to hear you did and had lunch because of it…paid for! I’m doing much better these days. I’ve met an exceptional man I’d not have believed I ever would. We’re getting to know each other and I do believe in the next year my life will continue to change but in a much happier way. Take care my friend.
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Thank you for your lovely comments Renee and I am so pleased to hear you have met a soul mate. Life is so much happier with someone to share it with. Best wishes for the future
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Thank you so much. Some things I have always believed are simply not meant to be and after a lifetime of hoping I came to believe that perhaps, acceptance is key. But now…well, I have no words. Best wishes for the future for you as well.
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It’s so great to see you and Jack in these photos; Jack in the resort, and Jack in the pool while you enjoy being near. The thought of the lorikeets finding you is no surprise – and how sweet that they now have a reward for their efforts to fly to your perch! Even with challenges, you both remain positive and set an example for all of us.
Love, Lisa
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G’day Lisa, yes it is quite a major change of lifestyle, but it has come at the right time for us and we love our new space up high. Hope all is well for you 💕
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Good to see you settled and well.
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You moved at the perfect time, didn’t you? So glad to hear Jack is doing well now and what a treat to have a pool and exercise facility in your complex. Your view is magnificent and having the birds visit makes it seem like you are in your own nest, high in the sky.
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Timing was perfect Brenda for so many reasons, our health, the market and our age. We just caught the end of the real estate market boom. It has fallen right away now with rapidly rising interest rates. We love our new “nest”.
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[…] Pauline at Living in Paradise […]
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I see this now. I am so sorry Jack was ill, but love to see him swimming, and love your desk with the view. Wishing you both Health & Happy Holidays.
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Thanks Cindy I have not had much time for blogging during the past few months, so have not kept up with my blogging community. Hope all is well with you.
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Hello Pauline ! As ever I’m always catching up .
Great news that Jack is on the up and up and enjoying some swimming physio well done Jack ! Good to hear all the positivity in your post and see your home taking shape Pauline especially love your light filled art corner 🙂 Here’s to lots of creativity in 2023 Happy new Year to you both xx Poppy
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G’day Poppy, lovely to hear from you. How has your year been? Hope 2023 is looking good for you. 2022 was very much up and down, but loving it here in our new lifestyle, hi-rise apartment. Finding more time for art now there’s no garden to look after. All the best to you for 2023 🤗
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