too old, too fat, too slow

It's been an interesting week...  I have been scrabbling around for a cuppla weeks trying to organise strata insurance for the block of units, one of which I own.  The insurance company that we have been with forever (through its incarnations) has got out of strata insurance.  It notified us of this before the policy expired but a bit more time would have been welcome.  Fortunately all the owners agreed on a policy today, so hopefully that's that - apart from the need for everyone to pay up.  The policy expires this Sunday.  Fingers crossed.

There has also been drama at the council with a restructure, and I learned yesterday that I would no longer be Gatehouse Officer after January 2021.  It's been great fun (but it's just one of those things).  I wonder what's next.

Thank goodness for gardens, though, to be honest, my garden's current abundance is proving a bit stressful too - finding freezer space for broad beans and peas.  The garlic is drying in the laundry, so it's lucky that wasn't demolished for the now aborted 'extensions'.

Here are the pretty bits.

Gold Bunny

poppies coming to a close

Sarah's daisy and self sown snapdragon, ixias in the background

this border has done well this year but it will be gone next year

curry plant about to bloom and self-sown nigella

self-sown iris and nigella - happy colour happenstance

good old Daphne finally in flower

Luisa Augustine

more self-sown nigella, in the sage plant this time

poppies, cornflowers and artichokes

pig and teapot

osso bucco with gnocchi and home grown peas and asparagus

I feel better now.

back on dry land

I mentioned a pied oyster catcher in the last blog post.  They are on my mind.  One day last week there was a shrill commotion going on outside and I was intrigued to see a pair of oyster catchers in our back garden and then on our front wall.  This is most unusual behaviour.  Some campers next door explained that the two chicks were on their side of the fence and the parents were trying to get them to my side of the fence.  I have learned that it is best not to interfere in such matters and let them be.

Later in the week I saw the re-united family running down the road but one chick was limping badly and trying desperately to keep up.  On Sunday Mel phoned to say that the injured chick had apparently been abandoned and could I help her keep it off the road.  Which we did, while Mel phoned Eric the shorebird expert to see what we should do.  He said to take it to Bonorong Wildlife Centre.  First we had to capture the terrified little chap.  Eventually we got it and off it went to Bonorong for a consult.

The next day the news was not good:  the foot was infected and the bird was euthanised.  Then on Monday, Mel phoned to say that the other chick had been run over outside the school and would I help bury it.  So off we went again.  Neither of us is good at dealing with dead animals but we did our best.  Pied oyster catchers mate for life and it is earlyish in the season so we are hoping that perhaps they will lay more eggs.  It is all very fraught!!

This is a better story.  I escaped to France for a while.  The book relates escapades from the 1970s, doing what I had hoped to be doing back then - though not with twins in tow.

Thursday I caught the bus into town again.  I do enjoy the ride - $10.40c each way - and so relaxing.  I looked around the shops this time and, curiously, had to take a photo of this underwear.  It so reminded me of the '70s summer of Maglia terry towelling bikinis - mine yellow, Lady Jayne's olive green and Pearl's sky blue.  There was a rack of blue ones but I thought I had drawn enough attention to myself by then.

Yesterday was Remembrance Day and I contemplated the poppies in my garden.

Her Majesty and I went to the service at our local RSL.  Here you can see some Triabunna school kids singing.  These are the little darlings we prepare lunch for each Monday.

Talking of lunch, it was also Mrs O Henry's birthday so after the service we went to the East Coaster for lunch.  I had the mussels - the dish Mum and I have shared in St Davids and Spain.  Good memories.

Jill PD and I took some garden poppies to the (horribly named) Wall of War on the way to close the Gatehouse.

Then I thought better of it and placed them on the adjacent sculpture.

Hazelnut Swirl

 Guess where we went on Wednesday?

Yes, Maria Island.  A boat trip with Eastcoast Cruises to circumnavigate Maria.  We pulled in for a bit of commentary where the ferry pulls in at Darlington

and then we left the wharf behind and travelled north

towards Bishop and Clerk.

Most amazing weather.  Warm and little wind.  Looking towards Freycinet.

There are so many extraordinary geological phenomena that I decided to do a dedication to Mr Doherty who tried valiantly to give us an understanding of these events in high school.

bit hard to see, but there is a slim waterfall coming out of the rock and feeding the greenery

These are the Fossil Cliffs where whole fossilised organisms can be found.  To me, it looks like a built structure.

stalactites where the calcium carbonate leaches from the sandstone and over the metamorphic rock

entrance to a cave which reminded me  of Caerfai and the seacave haunted by The White Lady

going along the northern end of the island now

another amazing geological phenomenon and cave

 now along the island's east coast with yet another type of rock

into a cave which brought back memories of Halong Bay.  I love the colours.

this cave does a horseshoe bend, but is a bit narrow for the boat to enter

Whalers Bay, where we have morning tea

and some of our crew notice a sea eagle behaving strangely.

It doesn't move as we approach and the consensus is that it is injured.  It does finally take flight.  I think it had its eye on a pied oyster catcher nest or brood.  That tiny bird shaped dot between the mounds is an adult pied oyster catcher.

We cruise along the long white sands of Reidle Bay and are just heading out to sea again when we spot whales,

humpback whales, who seem to surround us.  There has been a great increase in the number of whale sightings this year, and I don't know if this is a good or bad thing.  Our fellow passengers go crazy.

We round the southern end of the island at Point Peron and head up the more familiar west coast.

note the owl face at the Painted Cliffs

Then we're back at Darlington

and homeward bound, after an amazing 6 hour cruise.  I had constantly felt the excitement of being on holiday that I had felt as a child.  Steve and I both rated it as one of the best days of our lives - one out of the box.  And my favourite from the Dairy Box selection is the Hazelnut Swirl.

Coming back into the harbour we saw this intriguing sign which begs further investigation, possibly by bicycle.

Triabunna hoves into view

and we climb the gangplank to dry land.

We both decided we would take the trip again although we'll have to pay full price next time.  This was a trip organised by my friend Jane to help out a local business and we got a very reduced rate.  It was lovely being on board with all mates, and Michael, the young owner and boat driver, is totally endearing with his love of the sea and Maria Island.

But then again, Steve and I are thinking it could never be that perfect again...