and so it goes

Last Monday Her Majesty drove Mrs O Henry and me to the cutely named Mum and Me cafe, just north of Tribes.  Mrs O has not been well and was getting a little stir crazy so we ventured a little further than usual for the après tai chi coffee.   

The view from the cafe is soooooo Australian

It has rained ever since,

such that Jill PD and Steve went into lock down as well as Rock Down.  I've never seen Jill read a magazine before.  The rain has been perfect for the garden - mizzling.

the Luise Augusta rose - last for the season, I suspect

the dichondra is doing exactly what I hoped it would

a keen eye may just be able to spot the newly planted Silver Wattle in the foreground

broad beans coming up in the chippings / mulch pile

2 correas planted and so far survived being stomped on by Jill PD

rain on the drooping casuarina

myrtle berries which freshly picked taste a little like blueberries

And so we come to Sunday.  Jill and I had a romp on Spring Beach while the swimmers gathered at Raspins to avoid the waves.  They soon left because Raspins is currently under seaweed, presumably a result of the weather.  The fickle swimmers decided on coffee at Wattle Banks in lieu of a dip.

Later on Sunday, Mr O Henry drove Mrs O and me into Hobart on the dreaded Weilangta Road, our only route into Hobart with the Rock Down on the Tasman Highway.  The W is a dirt road and, with all the rain, is really only suitable for 4WDs.  It's a tricky road at any time but Mr O is blessed with a 4x4 and also used to work at council, so knows the road pretty well.  He was appalled at the state it is in.

Anyway, we made it to St Mary's Cathedral where His and Her Majesty were singing Andrew Lloyd Webber's Requiem with the Singers of Southern Tasmania and a huge orchestra.  It was amazing!  Parts Bolero, parts 1812, parts Flower Duet.  Golly gosh.

I was looking forward to seeing the cathedral as much as the performance.  They were both stunning.

Today is a public holiday in Tasmania.  I worked at the Pop Up Book Stall until just after 2pm then hot-footed (actually I drove, though I was hoping to ride my bike) to the site of our newly installed Friends of Triabunna Reserves interpretation sign on the bank of Vicary's rivulet.  Today was the day of the Great Unveiling.  Mel and Val set things up while Bruce tried out the chairs.  The Big Reveal went to plan, and then we gathered for bubbly and wonderful platters prepared by Val.  The wind and rain held off as the forecast said they would, and then, as the guests were leaving, the sun broke through.  The first time we had seen the sun in days.  Wild rejoicing.

the light was amazing

the portents included a rainbow,, pelican, white egret and black cockatoos

A perfect ending to our little do.

Absolutely unrelated, but Steve found this photo on the Cottage School website:

children reading in what used to be our dining room aka The Margaret Preston Room.  Our former Bellerive house is now part of The Cottage School.  We always hoped it would be used this way.  The school is currently advertising for a Principal, if you're interested.

Tomorrow is brekky program at the Triabunna School, then zumba.  It is a good life.