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Fleurieu Floosie has advised me that her new computer won't let her leave comments on my blog, so that's it, no more comments.  Boo hoo.  She was the last one to be able to, so all your voices are silent now.  But I shall struggle on womanfully (even though there is not a lot to report).
Here's last weekend:  Jill PD and I doing one of our favourite short walks along Maclaine's Estuary.

beautiful ripples as the tide turns

our friend the white faced heron

silver wattle living up to its name

People are thinking social again.  It's like the community is slowly waking from hibernation.  Yesterday I met Cheryl at the Eastcoaster and we started planning Wear an Old Fur Coat Day for the Winter solstice when the restaurant will be able to have 20 patrons.  So it will be invitation only, starting with the tai chi group - somehow the idea arose from there.  Tomorrow Steve and I are going to look at Ian's garden.  Today Mrs O Henry and I went to Her Majesty's place (not palace) and had a stroll around the grounds.

quince tree

poa grass, wormwood and other surprising cohabiters

outside the domestic garden

I could happily live here.

Beautiful everywhere

The house is not that far out of town and the road would be lovely to cycle one day...

the gentle sounds of domesticity

Jill PD in her early morning hatbox

Some mornings we all have a little lie in.  Since quarantine I've reduced my listening to ABC Classic.  Not because of any dissatisfaction but because I love to listen to the sounds of home.  Often in the early morning the last lines of the Ralph McTell song* comes to me

...to wake up at home in the house on the shore

with you by my side in Wales

The Flying Pig is not quite that, but it's near enough and far closer than I'd ever dared to dream.

I've been spending a lot of time in the garden.  A new idea for this little plot came to me when I realised it receives the afternoon sun the longest.  It is a piece where I have been unable to pull up the layers of carpet underneath so a sitting place is the ideal solution.  From there I can worhsip my newly developed 'magic squares'.  They are currently alternating between productivity and farrow.  The lattice indicates the 'pea square'.  The bamboo canes are for broadbeans.  I have worked the soil for these squares with aged manure, compost, blood and bone, gypsum, comfrey leaves, woodchips and weed tea, so the magic better work!  These legume crops will hopefully nitrogenate the soil so I can grow spectacular corn, or somesuch, in Spring.

using artichoke leaves to form a path between rows

Meanwhile the raised gardens continue to grow the garlic, leeks and onions I planted, plus self-sown corn salad, miner's lettuce, wasabi leaf and the occasional radish.

Funnily enough the thing I miss most in these isolated times is the passing parade of campers next door.  There have been machine noises which make me think that Gina and Alistair are preparing for a return to the accommodation business.  But it is not total isolation.  After tai chi we walk to the coffee van on the marina where there is usually a small gathering of people we know, often including the local policeman - and all staying at arm's length.  And you may just notice a young chap hosing down the bow of a fishing boat.

* Wonderful Country from The Boy with the Note - an Evocation of the Life of Dylan Thomas in Words & Music

Daphne du Greyhound

There have been various daphne references through this blog and Fleuriue Floosie's so I thought 'Let's have a Daphne Extraganza'.  And here she is.

sometimes she looks like Jill PD

sometimes she looks pornographic

the way greyhounds have been bred means they are unable to sit and find it most comfortable to lie on their backs or sides

the food devotion I think is learned 

an adaption to living with my dog mad family

Photos courtesy of the doting Willowa who sent these to me and says:  Just a small selection from the life of Daphne xxxxx

when the road is a friend

Monday I returned to work at The Gatehouse - currently as the gardener.

I only work an hour at a time, so then was off to a friend's house for tai chi.  I have always loved this pathway leading from Melbourne Street to the back of the pub.  This tree looks Japanesey to me

and I stopped to take a closer look.

The mulberry tree behind the Spring Bay Hotel has split but looks as though it will survive - half of it, at least.

After a restorative (and covid compliant) tai chi, I happened to notice the Fish Van was open so partook of flake and chips for lunch just to stimulate the local economy.

Later that same day I went to the Poshest Shed in Triabunna for afternoon tea with Anne.  Fortunately she gave me some figs to take home so I could break my hi-carb diet.

On Tuesday I drove north a little way to look at a house that I have always loved and that has just been sold.  The 'Sold' sign is not yet up so I thought it was probably ok to sneak in and have a surreptitious look around the garden.

The sound of the waves breaking on the beach was hypnotic.

It wasn't until I saw this photo, enlarged for the blog, that I realised the house reminds me of the ill-fated (for us) house on Delta Road, Curlwaa - my Orange Grove that was not to be.

The owner of this house went for a protea grove.  Gardens which have been loved and left make me wistful.

The house is on the highway and tantalisingly glimpsed as you zoom past in the car on the way to Swansea.  But this time I parked up the road, walked back and, ridiculously, it was like walking the road to Caerfai.

Mother's Day ramble

I was torn between blogging or painting my toenails.  My toenails are breathing a sigh of relief.  First of all, I hope you're all having the Mother's Day of  your dreams.  Jill PD and I went for a ramble this morning.  The Gatehouse is not currently open, but Jill and I often still walk that way in the mornings.

Yesterday and today there are interesting fungi

which Jill blithely kicks over while I'm trying to photo them.

The Gatehouse gardens are looking most luxuriant.  I have been asked to do some gardening there while I am otherwise unemployed.  I love the Kangaroo Grass in the foreground and am trying to get it to take over patches of my garden.

On the way home, I could smell the Daphne in the school grounds

and somehow took this picture without realising.  Some of you will recognise the service station and Eiffel Tower.

Back home, I thought I should show the Floosie that the myrtle is a tree

and the berries look a little like olives.  I use them instead of juniper berries when I'm cooking venison, ie not very often.

I have had this book in my car for ages for emergencies like getting stuck in traffic jams.  I've had a soft spot for this story because it's the one where James Bond gets married, and in the film he married Diana Rigg, ie Emma Peel my childhood role model.  The chances of traffic jams are pretty remote at the moment so I thought I would read it to delay the reading of Poldark which I had with me in quarantine.  I am reluctant to start it because I have 5 of the series and know I won't be able to stop once I start.

Of course, a 10c book takes no time to read and fortunately Her Majesty (of Tribes) loaned me this one on loan from her sister and bought at full price.  But well worth it, from my perspective.  So I've had a lovely, and unearned, Mother's Day reading about places I know and love.  It's a ripping yarn so far.

apologies to all those who thought I was suffering in quarantine

lunch so far

I'm not that kind of girl (mostly).  A cold and rainy day so venison stroganoff on gnocchi with loads of mushrooms for lunch.  Possibly slow-cooked quince in honey, cream and a smattering of local walnuts for dessert... or would that be too much?

To the house of a friend

Fleurieu Floosie sent me this photo while I was in quarantine

It made me think of this photo on a fridge magnet that CK Beagle gave me years ago.

For some reason, long forgotten, it is on my Mum's fridge.

I must admit that, as much as I enjoyed my Launceston retreat, whenever I thought of St Davids I also thought of walking the cliff tops.  I didn't have a device with access to the internet, but now, thanks to the woman living my life in Wales, you can join me.
http://www.jackiemorris.co.uk/this-is-where-i-live/

http://www.jackiemorris.co.uk/for-rachel-with-love/

http://www.jackiemorris.co.uk/walking-with-elmo-for-joshua-aged-7-years/  Cat lovers will particularly enjoy this.

I thought that Maes y Mynydd meant field of larks but, having checked, now know it means Mountain Field.  Regardless, it always makes me think of larks.
https://iview.abc.net.au/show/lark-ascending-tasmanian-symphony-orchestra
This concert was the last performed by the TSO before the restrictions came in - but there was no audience.  I love this music.  And I love the soloist's dress.

Sunday 26/4 - Freedom

Of course I was dressed, breakfasted, cleaned-up and had done the final packing by 8am, so gingerly stepped outside.  It has occurred to me since that I may have been able to emerge at midnight and gone for a stroll.  At last I could see where I was.  The Stables!  I chatted to the security guard - there was one on duty 24/7, and then to one of the chefs / cooks who I think is part of the family business and lives on the premises somewhere above my room.  Gradually other quarantinees gathered so I took the opportunity to explore a little further.

Unbeknownst to me, I'd been living in the stables - and Ye Olde Worlde what's more.

The building with the red brick wall houses a gym and carpark.

My theory had been that the hotel had formerly been a bank,

but I hadn't realised how large it is - or that it had stables.

It's all rather gorgeous.

In fact it is grand, with a billiard room.

And my Stables are attached to this intriguing building.

Over the road is the James Boag's Brewery.

Who knew?

This was all revelatory stuff to me.  I knew I was in Room 42, The Grand Hotel but that was it.  I definitely want to stay there again when it's possible to travel.  It will be a great place from which to explore Launceston.  Though I'm sure the streets will never again be as empty as they were that early Covid 19 morning of the Sunday after Anzac Day.  https://thegrandhotellaunceston.com.au/   Adventure awaits.

The bus turned up and we clambered aboard.  We had to pick up a passenger at the Grand Chancellor and another at some retirement home near the Country Club.  Neither of them was ready, which was a little annoying.  Then we were on the open road travelling north to Devonport to pick up our cars.  Again it was a beautiful trip in the bus, with the added advantage of knowing I would be driving it again, but southerly, in a little while and could look out for the cheapest petrol.

Little Azaria aka The River Rat was waiting patiently for me.  I decided to eat the chocolates at home, was relieved when the car started first time and was out of the blocks to be the first to check out with security and pick up my luggage from the bus.  Yippeeeeeee homeward bound!