We made the 90 km trip down to Glen Innes for the opening ceremony on Friday, 1 May.

About 10 km south of Glen Innes is a huge granite rock overlooking the New England Highway. It was named St Swithin’s Bluff in 1842 by a couple of early settlers. It is now referred to more simply as Bluff Rock.

The area surrounding the rock is infamous for a massacre of indigenous people around 175 years ago in retribution for the killing of a shepherd and sheep on a nearby property. The event and evidence is shrouded in time and narrative. But it is said that numerous aboriginal people were either shot or thrown from Bluff Rock. There is a plaque in a park on the roadside telling of the event.

We did not linger long at Bluff Rock, the opening ceremony was scheduled for 11am, but the story continues to add to the quantum of these sorts of places that we have come across during our travels.

This year the Celtic Festival is dedicated to Scotland, next year it is Ireland and the Isle of Man.

The ceremony took place in the Town Square outside the 1887 Town Hall, flags of all the Celtic Nations flying together with the Australian, Aboriginal and NSW flags. Quite a sight.

The Lord Mayor and other guests receive the Celtic nations flag bearers, piped in. They were followed by various Clan representatives in full celtic dress with their banners.

We then had the Australian National Anthem and The Flower of Scotland, performed by Australian Celtic Women.

The crowd dispersed and so did we, headed back to Tenterfield.

We changed lodgings from the Peter Allen Motel to Annie’s Place, an AirBnB. Friends from Brisbane were joining us there for a couple of nights and the Festival on Saturday.

Along the way we called into Deepwater, about halfway between Glen Innes and Tenterfield. Deepwater is a small village, it has a pub at one end and another pub at the other end. So you know when you have arrived and when you have left town, whether you are driving north or south.

Our target though was not the pubs but the Deepwater Brewing Company on the outskirts of town.

Their craft beer and lunchtime pizza is gaining wide recognition. The beer was ok and the pizza was excellent! While in town we checked out the heritage listed Railway Station.

Tenterfield called and on we went to Annie’s Place.

Or it did four days ago when we had a bus trip from Glen Innes out to a property called Ben’s Falls for a Celtic Festival inspired lunch. This was the first of four drives we made down to Glen Innes from Tenterfield. The festival is now over and we are recovering in Glen Innes for a couple of days. So the next few blogs will be a catch up of what has happened.

Ben’s Falls is a retreat, wedding function, party type property about an hours drive north west of Glen Innes. A fairly remote spot on the way to the old tin mining town of Emmaville. The property is built on the side of a ravine looking down into a big water hole below some water falls. The falls are dry at the moment, but would be spectacular when the river was flowing.

There were about fifty people at the lunch from all parts. It was supposedly a Scottish culinary experience with a modern twist to the food.

So there were some interesting canapés, a venison with a touch of chutney nibble, steak ‘n ale won ton, then a colourful salmon tartlet.

Alternate drops of lamb or pork chops followed with roasted root vegetables, greens and gravy.

A little cheese and desert bar concluded the food.

There were a couple of Festival guests in attendance, one was Ali Stoner aka the Rovinghaggis.com she has been a contestant on Masterchef. The other guest was Roberta Muir, another cook. They both gave a chat on modern day Scottish food.

Allthego managed to win one of the lucky draws, Homealone was thrilled to have another Italian (Sardinian) cookbook to put some where.

Looks interesting though, and autographed by Roberta Muir with a personal message to me! Very impressive, although I believe unautographed cookbooks are scarcer and more valuable.

It was a great lunch in an impressive location. We made it back to our motel in Tenterfield in time for a late snack for dinner. The next day would be back to Glen Innes for the Official Festival Opening Ceremony in the Town Square.

We are here in Tenterfield for a few days prior to the start of the Celtic Festival in Glen Innes, about 90km south.

Tenterfield has a few claims to fame, but two standout.

It was here in 1889 that the then Premier of the Colony of NSW gave an impassioned speech (the Tenterfield Oration) for the establishment of the Australian Federation. He is known as the Father of Federation.

The School of Arts, built from 1876, where the speech was given has been turned over to commemorate Sir Henry and the Federation movement.

There is an interesting collection of flags inside, each of the colonies through to the Aboriginal flag of today. Tit bits about each of them. Allthego got a surprise in finding out that our current flag was only adopted by the Parliament in 1953. It was the ultimate outcome of a competition that started in 1901! In the 50 years it took it seems we used the Red Ensign as our flag (?) Things back then took their time, why are we surprised that times haven’t changed?

The other claim to fame is that it is the birth place of one of its favourite sons, Peter Allen who died in 1992. Many songs to his credit. Probably, the two best being ‘I Still Call Australia Home’ and ‘The Tenterfield Saddler’. The later being the immortalisation of his grandfather George Woolnough, who was the Tenterfield Saddler for something like 50 years.

The workshop is still there, classified as an historic building, now a museum.

Lots of old saddle and leather stuff and Peter Allen and Tenterfield memorabilia.

A couple of other famous people also feature in the town’s history. Banjo Patterson was married here in 1903, to a local pastoralists daughter. The wedding was in the 1885 built wooden Presbyterian Church.

Fred Ward, the bushranger Captain Thunderbolt, wandered around these parts in the mid 1800s. We had a little wander to one of his claimed hideouts among the granite boulders just out of town along the Mt Lindsay Road.

There are many old commercial buildings and homes in the town, generally repurposed but retaining their facades.

Among them is the Royal Tenterfield Hotel, originally built in 1849 as the George Inn. It has been added to and remodelled in various styles over the years.

Recently restored with a modern interior twist. We had a pre dinner drink there after walking around the town. Back to the Peter Allen Motel for the evening.

We are back from the few days at Rainbow Bay, have had no flack from Rainbow Beach SLSC about not showing up for dinner. We have had a little under two weeks to get ready for our trip down the New England Hwy to Glen Innes for the Celtic Festival.

Besides being a couple for fifty years we have been living in the same house for 41 years. If the walls could talk!

One of the ‘problems’ of being in the same place for so long is that it grows on you. This includes plants and trees. Long ago we planted two Jacaranda and one Poinciana seedlings down the back. They grew and grew, too big! A huge branch came down in the October 25 storm and a neighbour’s tree of similar size also fell and smashed fences.

So they all had to come down and the fences replaced. This work was completed just before heading to Rainbow Bay.

Wood rather than gold seems to be appropriate for a 50th! We now have to get about cleaning up and replanting.

But first that trip to Glen Innes!

In preparation for all things Scottish our travelling party got together for a planning session over a Ploughman’s lunch. There was a bit of planning at the end of the eating.

Cullen Skink to start, followed by Aberdeen Sausage, Pembroke pies, Haggis (chicken?) skewers, assorted cheeses and condiments. Ah, why go to Glen Innes?

So, we have headed off to Tenterfield for a few nights ahead of the festival in Glen Innes. We got away early as planned at about 12.30pm for the four hour drive to Tenterfield.

Along the way we stopped at the NSW/QLD border for those compulsory border snaps. Wondering whether you will ever return!

We reached Tenterfield and booked into the Peter Allen Motel. An original name for a motel…….

A Big night at the Star Gold Coast was in store, about a forty minute drive from the lodgings at Rainbow Bay. Lots of people in the house. We got there at 6pm in order to try out the Buffet before the Elvis show at 8pm.

You are allowed an hour and half to attack the offerings, had to book to get a seat. Allthego was a little set back on the night when he found it was $100 each, must be something special on offer. But alas not really, the prawns were excellent, mussels too and Allthego tried a couple of oysters (not bad for oysters) and crab legs.

The crab legs were a battle to get into, a bit watery too. No lobster! Homealone focussed on the prawns. Then there was an array of other stuff, seafood chowder good and some nice southern fried chicken wings. Roast lamb. Bread and Butter pudding and custard to finish.

We had our fill, but probably not recommend it to others. Not unlike a big RSL club, but twice the price.

Then off to the show in the Casino’s theatre, it was a full house. Mostly older folks, a late twenties chap jumped up in front of us and said in a loud voice that he was probably the youngest there.

Dean Z was the Elvis tribute performer, had an eight piece big band and four backing singers with him. Announced that this was his 19th Australian tour, has been coming out every year from Missouri to do the circuit. Put on a good show for a couple of hours, the drummer was something to drum for!

The only thing Dean did that was a bit off was kissing too many ‘girls’ in the front row and also giving away too many sweaty scarves. Overdid it a bit. But some great songs from the Elvis song book.

Got back to Rainbow Bay about 11.30 for our last might on the coast. Headed back to Brisbane the next morning, Rainbow Bay buzzing as we left.

Stopped at the lookout on Greenmount headland. Nice views up and down the coast from there.

The units we stayed in had a picture on the reception wall of Rainbow Bay in what was probably the late 1940s early 50s, big camping ground with what looked like army surplus tents and basic little trucks and cars. It was taken grom the headland I believe, so I took a comparison photo of the scene today.

Full view now blocked by trees, camping ground gone of course and plenty of high rise.

Some crystal clear water and placid seas, great view along the water up to Coolangatta.

Back to Brisbane to await the Eels v Canterbury NRL game on Sunday.

Big unexpected (by some) win for the Eels. Allthego ever confident! It topped off the 50th celebrations nicely, over dinner with the family. Mitchell and Piper though in Houston hoping for a Canterbury win.To no avail!

The weather continues to be great, sunny blue skies, calm seas and a light breeze to help cool things down. It has been a little bit of a food trip this time rather than wandering around looking at things.

Bacon and eggs for breaky, some left over prawns and avocado for lunch whilst looking out the window at the surf. Tempting to have a swim.

All very restful here after two or three hectic weeks of tree removal and fence building by contractors at the homestead. Now finished. Just have to clean up and re establish some gardens and lawns. Down here at Rainbow Bay this is all far from our minds!

We had planned dinner at the Rainbow Bay Surf Club last night. This is a bit of an institution here and locals are upset about the Council’s redevelopment plans for the site. Redevelopment not only leads to smarter facilities for the Club but also higher rents and then higher prices for the members etc etc. no longer that nice noisy, homely place they all love.

Anyway, we had booked and arrived a little early but eager for our table on the verandah overlooking the beach with the Gold Coast City lights in the background. The young lady advised us though that there was no booking recorded, the place was pretty full. Allthego started to get slightly agitated saying that he had booked by phone the night before. But no, there was no booking in the booking book. We got an inside table instead, which was ok but no view and plenty of noise. At the table Allthego checked his phone for the booking confirmation, found it and went back to the young lady to see if anything could be done for us. She said no and in any case the booking was for the Rainbow BEACH Surf Life Saving Club, which is well north of Noosa. A couple of bystanders thought this confusion was amusing, Allthego slinked sheepishly back to the table. Never done that before…..

In any case the Rainbow BAY chicken schnitzel and parmi were excellent and it was pleasant evening at the Club.

We awoke the today to another clear sunny day, this was our big day fifty years ago. Thirty degrees promised today. I don’t remember what it was like fifty years ago, but it would certainly have been chillier in Orange. A slow morning before lunch looking out the windows.

Lunch today was some slow cooked lamb and chicken baguettes at the Black Dingo Cafe on Pt Danger, overlooking Duranbah Beach and the mouth of the Tweed River. Very pretty spot, lots of people enjoying the views.

Back to the unit for some more feet up time and afternoon tea. The sea proved irresistible to Allthego and it was off to the beach for a swim. Homealone remained behind to view from the balcony. The water was warm but the surf scrappy with a very strong sweep down the beach. A good time though.

We head off tonight to the Casino for dinner and then an Elvis tribute show in the theatre. Haven’t seen Elvis for a while.

Particularly, this year!

I need to first seek readers’ indulgence for recording some celebratory events we are doing in the midst of this terrible war in the Middle East and the consequential local petrol and diesel dramas. We are also using the blog as a diary to record what is going on over the next few weeks.

Allthego and Homealone have knocked up fifty years of wedded bliss. It only seems like yesterday! A few screen shots follow , not the best…

The big event took place in Orange, NSW back in April 1976. Of course most of the older family are no longer with us and the younger ones who were there are mostly in different parts of the country.

A few weeks back we had planned a van trip down the New England Highway and back to Brisbane on the Pacific Highway to revisit a number of the motels we stayed in on the honeymoon. Still have the accomodation dockets, $10 a night with a $2 breakfast at the Walcha Motel an example. It is still there and looks like not much has been done to it. That trip is now off, the fuel situation makes planning hard and the van is also caput! To be written off due to just discovered hail damage. Now planning doing a mini version in the car.

While organising this trip Allthego has produced a wedding photo book, perhaps a bit late. Back in the 70s one mostly stuck photos behind plastic type sheets in a photo album and put them in a box where they gathered dust! Over time they deteriorated. We had some slides of the honeymoon too which also suffered from time and poor storage. We had some restoration work on a few of the wedding photos and Allthego did the best he could with some of the slides. At least the people came up ok! Got to find a box now to put the book in.

Enough though of the past for the moment. We are currently down at Rainbow Bay, near Coolangatta, for a few days ahead of the big day on April 17. We seem to be staying in a place near where Homealone stayed when she was an eight year old or so. Ah memories. We have stayed around this area before s few times, great little spot.

The Rainbow Bay Surf Life Saving Club calls tomorrow night for dinner.