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Sunday, August 31, 2014

Denise Covey: Where I Live and Why I Like It


My guest today is a world traveler if there ever was one. Denise Covey is often on the go to foreign countries. Her blog posts about her travels are always entertaining. With over seven hundred followers, I'm not the only one who enjoys her blog. Her posts, especially about writing, generate many comments. She definitely knows how to run a blog. So, here is some information from Denise about where she lives and what she likes about it.
My Place – Paradise in Australia.

Geographical Information:
Country: Australia
State: Queensland
City or Town: CITY – Brisbane. VILLAGE – Peregian Beach
Neighborhood: West End
  
1.     Is there any place in your area that’s considered a pilgrimage site, such as a religious shrine? 
The closest you get to a pilgrimage site in Queensland is the Suncorp Stadium just up the hill from my place. Here is where the mighty Bronco’s Rugby League team thrash all comers in gladiatorial contests. Another religious site is The ‘Gabba, where the mighty Aussie Cricket Team thrashes England in the Ashes test.

suncorp stadium

2.     Is this where you were born and/or grew up? If not, how did you come to live here?
I was born in Outback Queensland, but moved to the coast as a child. My parents chose the Sunshine Coast (100 kilometres north of Brisbane) and this is where I grew up. My husband and I built a large beach house at Peregian Beach when we settled down after travelling all over Australia. Now we work in Brisbane, so we live in the Big Smoke (as the city is referred to over here) and spend the odd weekend/holiday at the beach. Best of both worlds.

No problem finding a private beach at Peregian

I love the koalas in the trees near the beach house


3.      What do you like best about where you live?
We bought a Heritage property terrace about a year ago which we have renovated and finally found a home for all the antiques we’ve collected over the years. We love living in West End, which is an avant garde suburb, just across the Brisbane River from the inner city (where we used to live). West End is peopled with alternative-lifestyle characters, health shops, indie bookshops, street music and fresh-food markets—a heady mix—and just a five-minute walk from our door. We rarely use the car!

West End style

Markets along the Brisbane River


4.      Do you plan on living here the rest of your life?
Probably not. It suits us while I tutor English at the State Library of Queensland which is also close by. Our plan has always been to move back to Peregian Beach and live the bohemian lifestyle in between overseas’ trips…eventually.

One day I'll get back to my sunset-watching bench again

This says it all - Australia = Beach. Walking to Noosa National Park



5.      Do you have family in the area, or have you ventured out on your own?
All of our four children live in Queensland, which is always a bonus.

Peregian Beach at sunset...fishing. That is Coolum Beach township you can see - Peregian Village is over the dunes behind the fisherfolk

The people along the sand
All turn and look one way
They turn their back on the land
They look at the sea all day.


6.      For tourists, what would you recommend seeing?

Film and Television students along the river this morning

The Cultural Centre, which includes both a traditional and modern art gallery, a museum, the State Library, the Performing Arts Centre which puts on world-class theatre and plays, the South Bank which is a fantastic collection of restaurants of all persuasions, funky people exercising along the river, wonderful views of the city…I love My Place! And do take a CityCat up and down the Brisbane River. It is a fantastic thing to do, day and night. Plenty of neighbourhoods to explore along the way.

The Cultural Centre in the background. Here is a recent Night Noodle Market on the river



7.   If you’re a writer, have you included where you live in the settings of any of your stories?
I’ve set my first, unfinished novel in and around Noosa, which is an iconic beach community ten minutes from Peregian Beach. I’ve used Brisbane as a setting for some short stories (one a very recent post). Outback Queensland is great for setting tall tales of the bush as even though I’ve never lived there as a grown up, I’ve travelled the length and breadth of its vastness and feel a deep affinity. This is my favourite flash fiction on the outback I wrote a few years ago if you'd like to read it.

In Noosa, surfing is king


8.  Would you recommend others to move to where you live?
To me, this part of Queensland is paradise, but the pace would be too slow for a New Yorker, for example. The heat and beach make for a relaxed lifestyle. Most hyperactive Australians choose to live in Sydney, Melbourne or Canberra, all much more upbeat, or they escape to New York or London. But…if you like the lazy, laid-back lifestyle, rather than the crazy lifestyle, South-East Queensland is the place. Downside: it’s about 20+ hours in a plane to access the hubs of the world—Paris, London, New York.




Thanks for inviting me, Richard. It's been a pleasure to share a little of my life. So there you have it. My Place. Sure, travel is my passion, but I always return home.



Thank you, Denise, for allowing us to see where you live.

And please take a look at Denise's blog: Denise Covey

33 comments:

Jo said...

Sounds like a great place to live. Don't know how you could bear to be in the city.

Hart Johnson said...

It looks wonderful to me. I love the mix of beaches and city. There are a handful of places I've always felt some unexplained attachment for and Brisbane is one of them, so if I ever have enough extra cash to get to Australia, that is on my list.

Nas said...

Thanks for spotlighting Denise here, Richard.

Great reading this post Denise. I've visited your beach house, your inner city flat as well as your new heritage house-all are great places to live!

Kelly Steel said...

Love this post with photos, Denise!

Denise Covey said...

Ha, Richard, looks like you got your comments sorted. So a few previous comments have been lost, but this is much better.
Thanks for inviting me here today and allowing me to highlight my little paradise.
Denise

Denise Covey said...

I adore both the city and the beach. Didn't always, but now I do.

Denise Covey said...

I hope you make it down to this gorgeous part of the world one day Hart.

Denise Covey said...

And it was super having you in all, Nas. Little India, will never forget it.

Denise Covey said...

Thanks Kelly. Will pop over to see what you're up to soon.

Unknown said...

Wow, just wow! I love the Koalas in the tree. I would move there just to see that.

Denise Covey said...

So I replied to everyone, but the replies don't show up...

Jo-Anne's Ramblings said...

Told you Denise that I would like the post and I did but as I said you are bloody marvellous and more people should read what you write

Stephanie Faris said...

It looks so charming! I don't think I'll ever make it to Australia, since it requires a ridiculously long flight and I don't like airplanes. So I'll have to be content with seeing it through pictures like these.

Denise Covey said...

Koalas are endangered, but there are more to see in Queensland than anywhere else.

Denise Covey said...

Jo~Anne, thanks. A long time since anyone called me 'bloody marvellous' and I like it.Thanks for your comment on my writing too. Don't we all wish more would read what we write, but there's a lot of competition.

Denise Covey said...

Yeah, that flight is a nightmare, but I think it's worth it.

Elizabeth Varadan, Author said...

I enjoyed this post so much. I've never been to Australia. It sounds fascinating.

BTW, Richard: I've left you an award on my blog.

Lynda R Young as Elle Cardy said...

You make me want to move to Queensland, Denise :)

JO said...

Ah Brisbane - loved it. I was there when the jacaranda trees were dropping blossom all over the place. And did a trip to Fraser Island. What a great place!

Denise Covey said...

Its amazing when those jacarandas are doing their thing. And Fraser Island, what a unique environment.

Alex J. Cavanaugh said...

You have a beach house - very cool.
I think I'm to the point I could handle the slow...

Optimistic Existentialist said...

I would love to watch an authentic rugby match in that stadium someday...and also to see a koala in the wild :)

Tanya Reimer said...

It sounds like a very unique world! Got me curious, for sure. Thanks for sharing Denise.

Carol Kilgore said...

Denise, I'm totally enthralled with your Australia. The country has been on my wish list to visit for a while, and your area sounds perfect. Texas is hot and laid back, too. Except for Dallas. They're a little odd for the rest of us :)

Hi, Richard. Thanks for stopping by my blog today. I'm a new follower!

Denise Covey said...

So Carol, if you get over here, give me a call.

Denise Covey said...

Thanks Tanya.

Denise Covey said...

And why not? You dream it, it can happen.

Denise Covey said...

If you want slow, it's the beach here...

Denise Covey said...

Ah, Sydneysiders would be bored silly.

Denise Covey said...

It is Elizabeth.

Unknown said...

You live in a great place. Always something happening.

Denise Covey said...

Lady Lilith, it's a vibrant community that's for sure.

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