after the race

I'm talking about the Tour de France this time.  It is the only sporting event I watch and Steve and I have had a nightly watching ritual.  But now it is over and last week was back to normal.   My yoga teacher is back so it was yoga, zumba, yoga, school and then on Friday Steve, Jill and I took a trip to Bicheno.

The rocks are wonderful and reminiscent of Port Eliot.  The town does not have the charm of Port Eliot and we chose the trendiest looking cafe on the main road just so we could say we'd given it a go.

It proved to be fabulous.  We had a garlic pizza with a trio of dips.  The pesto was superb.  Just like the pesto I made one year in Wentworth and Bronwyn, Corinne, Heather and I ate one late lunchtime with gnocchi on our terrace overlooking the Lady Bay vineyard.  Magic memories.

More on the Great Race

Mel and Snowy went back to the races on Sunday.  Some kind person shared these photos with Mel.
Firstly me at the start of the race, Jill looking as though she's made for this sort of event.  Which she was for about 40 seconds.

And here's Snowy and Mel coming in to the finish line while Jill and I were out there somewhere rambling.

Snow and Mel became the Novice Champions on Sunday and have a sash, ribbon and hip flask to prove it.

Jill seemed pretty happy with her Sunday too.

Go Snowy

Who is this fine chap in his cardi?  Meet Snowy.  Yesterday Snowy, Mel, Jill and I went sled dog sporting - dog powered sport.  Our gang is all novice so we were put in with the Juniors and Pee Wees.  This is the type of contraption Mel and I had to use:

Here's some of the competition for Snowy and Jill:

I took the photo below to show that it was snowing but it just looks bleak.  Lots of omens here.

Our course involved going around this lake, just under a kilometre.  Jill and I were last to start with Mel and Snowy 30 seconds ahead.  Briefly.  Jill thought it would be much more interesting to have a look at the lake so took the high road and I went over the handlebars to astonished cries from the gallery.  Fortunately the Rescue Vehicle didn't run over me and, after getting re-organised, we resumed the race.  Race doesn't seem to mean much to Jill (which in one sense I'm quite proud of).  I desperately scooted through ankle deep mud while Jill took a delightful botanical stroll, often having to raise a trot to catch up with me.
This is how it's supposed to be done.

Notice Bolt's keen start here.  Of course he has a name to live up to and some rather racy running boots.

This Open Class of race takes you over hill and dale.

But even the beautiful Bolt was not assured of victory, beaten by Abbie to the diehards' complete surprise.  And look at this for perfect form.

I think of Angel and weep.  Many of these dogs are rescued huskies / malamutes.

They're so keen to run that each dog needs someone to restrain him / her while they listen to the start countdown.

This is the sort of racing that appeals to me, sort of Boudica-like.

Imagine the thrill of that.  And no scooting.  Genuine dog-powered.  And the winners?

Well obviously ol' blue eyes, Mikey.  Who is not Lexington nor a rescued dog but an adored little pup out for the day with his Mum and Dad and has to be restrained while they are racing.

Reading weather

On Wednesday I returned my library books and, though I have plenty to read at home at the moment, books tumbled off the shelves and into my arms.  After a brief walk along the beach which is reforming after disappearing in a huge storm, Jill and I returned home very pleased with the books, the beach and the cosy warm.  I spent yesterday curled up with The Paris Vendetta which races from Sweden to Corsica to London and Paris.  It was the perfect Bastille Day read until I heard the news of the Nice attack.
I thought I'd share with you some of my other recent reading.

I read this book years ago and thought of it when Steve was in hospital after the stroke.  I tried desperately to find it but couldn't find any trace of it back then.  It turned up at the Orford Book Sale a few weeks ago - 50c no less.  It was gratifying to re-read it.  One thing I had totally forgotten from the first read was the pleasure he records from driving a mini moke.  And I remembered all the fun we had in mine.
This was the book I took to read in Adelaide.  It also came from the book sale.

Steve and I have been to the Japanese Gardens in Cowra a couple of times.  Despite this book's lurid cover, its an excellent read and I'm keen to return to Cowra sometime with all this new knowledge.  And then there's this one:

Tamasin and I walked over to Lochiel Park late one afternoon.  There's a community book cupboard there where you take a book and leave a book.  I used to read a lot of Japanese authors in the '70s and was excited to read this one (once I'd recovered from the Forced March my Adorable Niece conducted along the Torrens as night fell).  I discovered that Ishiguro was born in Japan and moved to England when he was 6!!! so not a story about Japan at all.  But a poignant English story and one of the best books I've ever read, amazingly constructed, beautifully written and thought provoking.
And for something completely different and very calming, you may like to look at these photos from Georgia's sister in law and family who have recently moved to Sweden.
 http://chelseaparsons.com.au/alg-time-alegenhus-bjurholm-sweden/

The Bruiser is back

I have returned from my 10 days in Adelaide.  It was an unusual trip in that I didn't visit friends, go into town, saunter down North Terrace or browse Ikea.  The weather was horrible so I did what I set out to do - spent time with Mum.  Saturday was Election Day.  Dodging the rain, I walked to Mercato.  My new rule is that I walk to Mercato unless Mum is with me.  I was tempted to photograph the queues waiting to vote on Payneham Road but settled for this:

Later in the afternoon, Mum and I chased up the owners of our Easter cottage, Redruth, and I'm pleased to say we'll be Eastering there next year as well.  We also tracked down Beaumont House which featured on  Gardening Australia recently.
On the Sunday Mum and I drove to Macclesfield to have the tapas lunch at Longview Winery.  It had been a while since I'd been there so I allowed 2 hours to get there.  We got there in 38 minutes which I still can't believe.  Fortunately there is a market at Macclesfield every Sunday.  The market is nothing to get too excited about but it has a cafe attached which is warm with amazingly cheap food and shelves of books.  Naturally we didn't want to spoil our appetite so just had a peppermint tea and a cappuccino in the company of bikies, tourists and locals with some delightful children playing with a thoughtfully set up toy box.  Then on to Longview

which had a new fountain.

Here's Mum with the remains of the cheese platter, the 4th course.  Jill the Dog made an appearance.
I walked to Marden a number of times.  The river and overflows got wilder each time.

Looking from the overflow bridge towards River Torrens and OG Road.
I saw the Christies Gang a number of times.  Tamasin and Willowa came with us to Port Elliot and The Flying Fish.

Little piggies.