The New Order

Now that Mum is in a nursing home, my plan is to go to Adelaide more often but for shorter periods of time.  And fly instead of driving to avoid the risk of being caught in Victoria.  So here I am at the Hobart airport trying to juggle a baguette, coffee and a selfie,

and not doing a very good job of having my mask over my nose.  Naturally I got better at the mask thing as I sat in airports and planes.  I can now even read while wearing a mask without my glasses fogging up.

I stayed in Mum's house which only involved a walk to the O-ban, bus ride, walk to the railway station, train ride, short walk to the bus station, bus ride and cross the road to the nursing home.  Two hours each way, so it's lucky I like travelling on public transport - something I don't have much opportunity to do in Triabunna.  The photo above was taken from the train somewhere around Marino.  I was trying to catch the curve of the ocean and the ships on the horizon - but not very successfully from a moving train.

Last Sunday, the Floosie and I rendezvoused to lunch and catch the Clarice Beckett exhibition.  We strolled Rundle Road looking for a bookshop that, we discovered, is no longer there.  This provided the opportunity for me to show FF some of the Adelaide I know and love, like the Botanic Hotel looking very inviting.  But onwards to the Art Gallery of South Australia.

The Floosie looking miffed

that I look so interesting...

the tantalising entry to the exhibition

 

the first painting discussed by our guide

Our guide was excellent, as was the exhibition.  Clarice Beckett was a painter of the 'every day' and did not conform to the style fashionable at the time.  Consequently her father did not appreciate her work or encourage it.  Despite his wealth, he refused to build her a studio and she had to paint en plein air or at the kitchen table.  Her work is perhaps more beautiful for this.

Appreciating another's work is one thing but the gallery cafe still calls.

We shared a pot of rather exquisite tea specially blended to honour Ms Beckett.  And then it was back to the exhibition for an independent viewing.  There was so much lovely work.  It was rather spell binding.  Which is not to deny we had our irreverent moments.

I particularly liked this work because it captures the time of day that I like best.

Here we have one of the few portraits - Clarice's sister Hilda who was responsible for the preservation of 100s of pieces of Clarice's work after her death at the age of 48.

The exhibition was very thoughtfully curated and emphasized the domestic and local nature of her work.

This is a photo totally unrelated to anything except as a reminder to me to keep fruit trees small.  This is a garden I passed every day on my way to the o-ban station, and have been keeping my eye on for years.

 

The very wise flower barrow in Rundle Mall. I am attempting to grow ornamental kale in one of  my garden squares.

The visit was, of course, tinged with sadness.  Mum has left the home she has lived in since 1964.  I have stayed in 'my' bedroom for the last time and it will not look like this again.  My niece and two mates will be sharing the house soon.  This is good news, for it will be well cared for.

But I think this was the last time I will stay there.

Curiously this book was for sale at the local library for 50c, obviously a 'must have'.

The last day came and Pearl picked me up and drove me to the airport, stopping en route for our traditional lunch at Ikea.  Knocked us back $10 in total for the two delicious meals.

I finished this book at the airport.  Not my favourite Donna Leon but about the closest I'll ever get to Venice, I suspect. 

adios from Villa Cerdo Volador

 Excuse my Spanish.  Off to Adelaide this evening, back in 2 weeks.

view from the kitchen window including flyscreen

view from the back door

Angel Face climbing rose

It hasn't climbed very far in 2 years - but that's what The Flying Pig is all about...

So many lovely things to come home to.

pagan pleasures

I vowed to  myself that I would swim on Easter Sunday morning cumquat may.  It is a day of joy and new beginnings, and particularly propitious when the moon is beautiful and daylight saving ends so the mornings are beautiful too.  It was a perfect day and followed a very warm day.  Locals reclaimed Spring Beach after tourists had made it 'like Bondi' the day before.

the beautiful Bailey waits patiently while her Mum swims, while Brodie takes a wider view

I had never seen sandbars at Spring Beach before.

Back home it occurred to me to show you the kitchen with washing machine moved in

and then I made an apple omelette for lunch.

Big day yesterday:  the demolition of the laundry began - firstly the removal of the see-through roofing sheets outside the kitchen window.

Things progressed, and diminished, from there.

This was the state of play at the end of the day.

Jill PD was a bit perplexed but we were thrilled with the light streaming in and the views of greenery from every window.

Today I noticed these acorns on the walkway through to Mrs O Henry's place for tai chi.

The Green Man looks out.

Here's The Flying Pig by late this afty.  Job done.

The view from the carport.

A girl can't help but contemplate a swimming pool.  Fish pond?  Sunken bath?

The pig flies on.

and so this is Easter

This is my first Easter in Triabunna!  Easterers have been gadding about at this time of year since 2010.  Last year was cancelled due to covid and I spent Easter Sunday in quarantine in Launceston.  So this was to be the year I went to the fabled Fish Fest at Okehampton Beach - except that's been cancelled and the footy club is holding a tightly controlled bbq at the oval instead.  I haven't even tried to get tickets.  So far the only Eastery thing I've done is try to sell raffle tickets for the school raffle.  I was spectacularly unsuccessful because the last thing my friends wanted to win is a hamper of Easter Eggs.  The school raised over $1000 from the raffle, so someone wanted Easter Eggs.

I lie a bit because Louise gave us each an Easter Egg at Zumba and one of The Helens bought this cute cake at The Eastcoaster when we went for apres Zumba coffee.  That's my half eaten egg you can see.

The house modifications have begun with the washing machine being plumbed into the kitchen.  The laundry is scheduled to be demolished on next Tuesday.  This all requires a bit of re-organisation in the house and, while seeking 'a place for everything', I found a stash of photos.

 

I stared long and hard at this one and convinced myself it was taken in Hanoi.  Then I noticed the pink rabbit and a little girl who looked a lot like Ella a long time ago.

Yup, it was the day Georgia, Ella and I went to Nutcote, May Gibbs' house

on Neutral Bay.  I was obviously fond of the rabbit.

And perhaps the garden too.

Fleurieu Floosie offered to buy me Welsh Poppy seeds for my birthday and sent me a link to order them from.  Fatal, of course.  I ordered a few more things and redesigned my Magic Squares.

There's also those 90 daffodil bulbs to plant.  I made a start today on what is to be known grandly as The Bulb Lawn.

I have also been attending to my civic duties, helping with the placement of this interpretation sign for Friends of Triabunna Reserves.

You probably don't need 2 photos, but I was taken with the reflections in the estuary, and you can see Lauren is back in action.

Thursday, Georgia took possession of her Triabunna house.  She hasn't actually seen it yet but we have the keys.

It calls for a celebration.  Also the first selfie I've been able to take.