My Dear Lady Jayne

Lady Jayne's comment on the previous post reminded me that I'd taken this photo a while ago - many resonances for the Easterers.  And then I took it into my head to search for the Stones singing Lady Jane - and here it is https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XirG-qwMCMc .  Golly gosh.  And that took me back to Wolf Hall.  Sunday nights are exhausting at the moment.  Grand Designs, Poldark, Wolf Hall and then Arts Up Late (or similar).  Last Sunday featured Peggy Guggenheim  and the week before Bangarra, my favourite dance company.  Thank goodness I don't have to work on Mondays.

BTW

Fleurieu Floosie was correct in saying that Monet had irises in his garden, according to my Monet book.  Sadly this is a photo from said book and not my garden.  Yesterday en route to lunch at the Ocean Child I dropped into the Bot Gards yet again, this time concentrating on the Japanese Garden.

Who knows, may be one day.  I've got plenty of ideas to work on in the meantime.

PUBS on Sunday

I'm sure I've said to you before that there is always something to do around here.  This weekend it was PUBS, the pop-up book stall at the Orford Hall.  I was rostered for Sunday and had a lovely time.  I need absolutely no books so did well to come home with only 6.

Not bad for $20.  Mine was one of the bigger spends because it included the hardbacks.  We raised over $2000 again and all this is ploughed back into local community groups. I think this is wonderful.  Earlier in the week we got this flyer in the letterbox:

I had no idea that our monthly film evenings are also a fundraiser, in fact I'd wondered if they meet costs because the raffle and lucky door prizes are so good.

I know it's not megabucks but I'm proud to live in a community where so many people work towards keeping it vibrant.

Show time

I was going to dazzle you with photos from the Seafarers Memorial and Blessing of the Fleet service held last Sunday.  It was also Market Day but I had decided to leave Steve to do market duties (selling his cards and calendars).  I have wanted to go to the Blessing of the Fleet ever since we've moved here.  I love that Triabunna is a working fishing port.  But when I got to the wharf at the advertised time I was advised that the service had been moved to the Old Council Chambers because of the cold, blustery weather.  I thought this rather a spineless and landlubberish move.  The Chambers were packed with people (the boats had stoically remained at the wharf) and the service had started when I got there so I missed the preliminaries.  I was intrigued that a friend of mine from the Walking Group was conducting the churchy part of the service.  I was also intrigued when strains of Rod Stewart's Sailing wafted from the sound system.  Fortunately they didn't show the video - hold on to your hat. Alan Blow gave an interesting talk on legal aspects of death at sea and this time we did have visuals when one of the poor sailors from The Derwent training vessel fainted and slithered down the wall still at attention.  All in all it was a good show and I hope to catch it next year in more clement weather.
In the absence of photos from that event, I offer up these.

 Where can we be?

Stalwart Tasmanians and former Tasmanians will know.

 Particularly someone who had a garden rotunda somewhat like this,

Yes,  you've been on a tour of the Botanical Gardens in the rain Monday before last.
And as for Show time, last Thursday was People's Day at the Royal Hobart Show.  Fortunately for those who work on Thursdays it was a public holiday.  Jake came up to help in the garden and we achieved heaps.  I'm sooooo pleased.

Even started on the re-taming of these trees.  Jake suggested a before and after photo.  Here's the start of it.

Enchanted October

Japonica in flower and leaf

Coming together - red poppies and irises

One of Steve's glass sculptures beyond

Self-sown broadbeans

some of many artichokes

going towards the backdoor and kitchen

to cook artichokes for lunch

The Enchanted April is one of my favourite books.  I read it at least once a year.  Coming home to the garden after being away I was overcome by that feeling of abundance that Spring brings.  And I realised for the first time that October is April in the Southern Hemisphere.

The trip

I trotted off to Adelaide the Friday before last.  Well, actually I flew, and started reading a library book called Carpet Ride to Khiva which I highly recommend if you're interested in Islamic design, weaving and Uzbekistan.
Saturday, Helly, Tamasin and Willowa came to Mum's, Willowa only briefly because she was off to a TKD black belts' dinner.  Sunday they came again.  Helly, Tamasin and I worked in Mum's garden while Willowa and Mum worked on getting the 9-letter word in the Sunday paper puzzles.  Later I walked to the Indian restaurant on the OG Road to check out its hours of opening.  The area is changing quite radically.  Lots of the houses I remember replaced by 2 houses or McMansions. Four Trust Houses bowled over and replaced with a small village. Still some lovely gardens, lavenders of all types in bloom, and the remaining Italian gardens neat, promising and productive.  It has only been in recent years that I've realised how influenced I was as a teenager by the gardens at the top of Second Avenue. OG Road now boasts many diverse food takeaways, at least one gym, martial arts classes and a dance school, all catering for the large number of flats' residents, I presume.
Monday Mum and I discovered a new sushi place in Campbell Town, directly opposite Mercato.  What a dilemma.  I suspect The Beagle's guiding hand lead us there on this day.  That evening Heths, Mum and I ate Indian out.  Heths and I had eaten there previously but this was Mum's first foray into tandoori and curry, and she was very happy.

Tuesday:  sorry but the very poor taste Sandals in the Bin riposte always make me laugh.  Very self-indulgent.  Mum had her haircut and I had my usual pedicure at Marden.  Pictured are the thongs I get to wear home as my toe nail polish dries.  Now I've worked out I can import photos, I'll have to send you a shot of my summer nails.  In the afternoon the physio visited Mum to see how she is going with her rehab after her trip in the bathroom.  All good there.  I celebrated by going into the city, hence the Haighs bag doubtless spotted by the eagle-eyed.  It's lovely being a Senior who can spend the saved bus fares on marzipan bars.
Well, Wednesday was the Day of the Great Storm so we hunkered down for a good read.  This was cut short by the power blackout in the late afternoon.
Thursday was the day we intended to go to Port Eliot but we decided to play safe and stay home. More reading.  Helly, Tamasin and Willowa brought around a delicious chocolate and strawberry cake - Mum's late 90th birthday cake.  Tamasin had knitted Mum a beautiful purple jumper with scrumptious moss stitch sleeves.  Later, Tamasin, Rufus Poodle and I went for a walk along the swollen and raging Torrens River.  Parts of the Linear Park pathway were closed off and under water.  With the wind and sleeting rain it was exhilarating.
Friday we showed great restraint and decided not to go to PE, settling for Mercato instead.  Mercato now has a bar and cafe and it was absolutely jumping at lunch time.  With such a diverse crowd it's an event in itself (well, it is if you come from Triabunna).  Later I walked along the river again, crossing to the Campbell Town side by the O-bahn bridge, the other bridges being under water.

Finally on Saturday we got to Port Eliot.  The Flying Fish was virtually deserted.  The footy grand final was on.  We had a peaceful and delicious lunch, enjoyed the sunshine, and caught the last few minutes of Roy and HG's take on the footy as we pulled into the driveway at Mum's.  The 2 dachshunds over the road celebrated by taking on a passing dog out for a stroll with its owners. Much barking, yelling, swearing and sobbing ensued but I think everyone was relatively unscathed.
Sunday it was time to go home.  Mum promised to keep doing her physio exercises.  She had the rugger to watch as she feasted on Mercato delicacies.  I had a window seat on both flights which had a calming effect after an unattended bag was noticed at the security check area.  The waiting, snaking lines became silent as we all stared at the red bag standing on its own and staff attempted to find out who it belonged to.  Some chap eventually claimed it.  He must have forgotten it and proceeded through security without it.  I had no idea I would feel such a grab of fear.

break in transmission

I apologise for this break.  I have been away but that is not the only reason.  Before I went to Adelaide I discovered that Google and Picasa have parted ways and most of my photos have disappeared.  I have been mourning them, particularly my house and garden ideas.  And am not quite sure how to proceed with getting photos into the blog posts.  So I'm working on it.  Listen to A Walk in the Black Forest in the meantime.