a life more ordinary

A life of adulation is a glorious thing but it has its drawbacks.  For instance, I had no chance to eat or drink at The Afternoon Tea.  Chat chat chat.  I would be gloriously svelte if I kept it up but a girl's gotta eat:

goodies from the Saturday market on Kangaroo Bay

Oscar cooks up a storm at Georgia's

Jilly and Miya enjoy a Georgia-cooked breakfast

After fond farewells at the airport (the indispensable Mike, BHS President having driven us there), Mrs History departed and I prepared for a few days indulgence in Triabunna with my other Jill.  Jilly, Miya, George and I graced the Dogs Breakfast at Orford and forgot to take any photos.

Jilly sleeps in, blessed by the early morning sun

This girl's gotta read too:

Read this one while I was at Georgia's.  Written in 1922 by the author of the Pooh Bear books, it's a ripping yarn not totally fathomable until the murderer explains it all in a convenient letter.  Exasperating but good fun.

Pearly Girl told me about this one after the author spoke at her U3A class.  All the protagonists through various centuries have Scottish names starting with M which I found confusing.  It's a worthwhile read centred around museum acquisitions and where they should belong.  I thoroughly enjoyed it and all the M heroines.

Having read this one,

I had to read this one to see why, some years later, it left Kate Grenville unsettled.  Both are magnificent books.  'Unsettled' should be read by all Australians to understand our heritage.  'The Secret River' is the sort of story we like to read about Australian history:  well written research woven into a tale of convicts done good.

My local library provides all* these literary delights  plus

fluffy baby native hens

and proud parents

Oscar, Georgia and I watched the 'Princess Bride' together and I have it to read too.

And also at Georgia's

beautiful wisteria

and I have discovered that I too have wisteria, a wispy wisteria.

*  The AA Milne book actually came from my local book cupboard, or street library as I've learned they are termed officially.

The Triumphant Return of Mrs History

As befitted her megastar status, Mrs History was awaited at Hobart Airport by her chaperone and host, Ms History.

Mrs History was a little fazed to learn that her chauffeur's car looked like this:

and was currently stationed in Triabunna.  However a late night taxi ride to Bellerive proved exhilarating, and a supper of cakes calming.

Naturally, sans voiture, many walks were the order of the following days.  To some extent this had been planned to allow Mrs History to assess and reacquaint with Bellerive, but the high velocity winds transformed them to forced marches.  An unexpected invitation to attend the 60th Birthday Celebration of Eastlands Shopping Centre gave respite from the wind and introduced Mrs History to the local bus service.

the Mesdames de Histoire and 3 lovely chaps...

captured listening to this chap, presumably the CEO of CCC

Mrs History was engaged to address the Bellerive Historical Society later in the day and the wonderful BHS President stepped up to offer us a most welcome lift.  I was on standby during her  presentation and foolishly forgot to take any photos.

However the following day the Society attended an afternoon tea at Government House to celebrate the Society's 35th Anniversary, and there were photos galore.

proof we were there

Some have questioned why I wore  my dressing gown.

Mrs History is presented to the Governor of Tasmania, Barbara Baker

I had been called up just previously and nearly died of shock.  Neither of us knew we were to receive a gift from Her Excellency and make a short speech.  I have  no idea what I said.

here we are with the addition of Mike, current BHS President

here's the whole gang, including Clarence City Council luminaries

It should be said that Jill and I started the Society in 1990 and were thus being feted.  Above is the manager of the Clarence Cultural Centre and Kathy, our current BHS newsletter editor.  I suspect there will be photos in the next newsletter.  The event is also well covered on the Governor's Facebook page .

And here's the gift with which I was presented.  Mrs History's is also Huon pine but with an orangey / amber inset.

The following day we rendezvoused with Mike and Daniel, the treasurer, at BHS HQ at the Community Arts Centre in Bellerive Village.

We are pretty good at starting historical societies but here's what we do best:

celebratory cocktails at the Italian restaurant

What a wonderful time we had.

For fuller coverage of Mrs History's stay see her blog

Bluff luxury

Jill is making her presence felt

the Blue Horse and couch looking distressed, but not our Jilly

We now do a local walk twice daily.  A favourite is to Howrah Beach, the other side of Second Bluff.  There are a number of ways to get there.  One of them goes past this tempting little book cupboard.

of course this imposing house and humble letterbox amuse me

And then you're at the beach.

a generous idea

looking towards Howrah

 out to sea

looking back to Second Bluff, Bellerive

enticing steps that end at a fence!

my friends the pied oystercatchers

scallops caught at the former Gough's Butcher

(trying to replicate a dish I had with Mum at Porthgain in 2010)

Georgia and her sculpture at the opening of The School House Gallery Exhibition

the magnificent Gaia

our friend John's sculpture - the shape of the bone in one of his legs - and  his frank statement

and my sweet garden with rhododendron backdrop

a week of welcome and wallowing

hmmmmm  I titled this blog post nearly a month ago... so will try to do a catch up.  It may be best if I start with today in honour of the Floosie who will be here next week to engross the Bellerive Historical Society with tales of how we started the Society 35 years ago.  She'll be here for a few days and I can't wait to rediscover Bellerive with her.  Today I went to a travel promotion at the Bellerive Yacht Club and afterwards Jilly Pup and I stretched our legs along the forefront.

looking towards Victoria Esplanade and Bellerive Village from the new jetty

looking to the left, Bellerive Village and a glimpse of the Floosie's former home, Glenfield

and looking towards Hobart, The Spirit of Tasmania IV and, I think, an Antarctic vessel

So now let's go back to where this post was supposed to start.  My Mum died on 30 August 2023 and would have turned 97 on 2 September 2023.

there were candles for both days

but cakes only for Mum's birthday

one of Mum's magnolias obligingly bloomed on the day

The Van Diemen's Band Winter Lunchbox Series has finished

sitting behind the same lady with beautifully cut hair, but at 2 different concerts

the final concert was magnificent with music written by Quinn (hair in bun)

and sung by the VDB Voices.  All the singers are baroque instrumentalists who have chosen to explore the link between the  human voice and those earlier instruments.

which freed me up to attend Malcolm's Tuesday Lunch at the Village and stay on for the Triabunna Tivoli.

I thoroughly enjoyed the film, and Georgia won the lucky door prize - a bottle of Veuve Clicquot.

Sarah has visited after school

and taken Jill PD for a romp in the 'meadow' opposite.

Jill PD and I drove to Kingston during Adult Learners Week to see Jean Green Bean and Botaniko in action at the library.

here are some Botaniko members hard at work capturing their botanical treasures on paper

the Bean looking coy before her own work

and looking supremely confident after presenting her commissioned painting of The Cloth of Gold Rose to the Governor of Tasmania a while ago

Afterwards a very patient Jill recovered from the library on Kingston Beach, a dedicated Dog Beach.

snow view from bridge over Browns River, Kingston en route to dog beach

There has, of course, been reading too.

I have omitted to tell you that I have retired from my ballet career.  I don't think it was doing my body any favours...  But I saw this book during that short lived career and had to read it, not just because of those shiny shoes but also because Hildegard von Bingen considered herself a feather on the breath of God, which I think is a lovely idea.  I can't actually remember much about the book but Sigrid Nunez also wrote The Friend which I do remember.

 

I saw this book in my favourite Adelaide library and opened it expecting to be appalled - not being a maximalist.  But I loved it so ordered it from my local library so I could wallow in it.  It is the most inspirational gardening book that I have seen in a looooooong time.

I'd seen the tv series and now, having read the book, understand events much better!

More beautiful, apparently effortless, writing from Charmian but the drudgery of domestic life starts to kick in once the family is settled in its own house on Hydra, and Charmian's life is much the same as it would be in England or Australia.  Tourism and the film industry also start to take their toll on the island.

I don't know where I read about this one but I put a hold on it at the library.  I have to admit to be fascinated by the sex lives of some gay men.  That lifestyle is totally beyond my comprehension.  There is more to this story but I don't  understand the ending or the title.  It is far too modern for me.

This is something I do understand.  The power of an Espresso Martini.  Thank you Weilly Fox!

The other news is I am now fully moved into Bellerive and have Jill PD in residence.  Steve is living happily in Benalla.