And so this is Christmas

It's been a social time.

Mama Minestrone cooking up a storm for school lunch

when she could be making Christmas puddings

Went to The Eastcoaster for bubbles and Korean Squid with Cheryl Swim,

and again for Ella's 22nd birthday

sometimes I stayed home to eat and watch others work

Van Diemen's Band and choirs at Spring Bay Mill,

always the start of Christmas for me.

More carols the next night,

free this time.

It's lovely when you know everyone in the choir.

Here, Gina and Robyn rock out Santa Baby.  Rob waits to resume MCing duties.

Father Christmas gave the children bubble machines.

Georgia and I were very grateful for Ella's youthful looks.

There  have been other feasts along the way but I was too busy eating to take photographs,

with one exception:

Pizza and Christmas Pud with Georgia and Ella last night

(after an oyster and bubbly bash with The Cousins yesterday afternoon)

And so, for now, I will leave you with red and green.

and wishes for a

Very Merry Christmas

and a

Fabulous 2023

(not forgetting Chinese New Year on 22 January.  Bring on the Bunnies)

🐇🐇🐇🐇🐇

🐇

Diddley squid

You may recall that I was off to the Squid Festival last time I blogged, the free screening of 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea to be more precise.  I was particularly interested because I had stayed in Nantes with my friend Helene, and this is where Jules Verne was born.  I think I visited the Jules Verne Museum while I was there, but that was back in 1983, too far back to remember.

Triabunna was eerily transformed.

The turn up to the screening was very disappointing but I thoroughly enjoyed the film and marveled at the special effects for a 1954 production.

When I got home (after a stroll home under a spectacularly clear sky laden with stars) and reported to Steve, he got very excited and found his much loved childhood book.

And so I experienced the film again, noting that Esmeralda the Seal in the film is Snoopy in the book.  Jill PD and I both think Esmeralda steals the show.  The next day I joined a bush foods walk around the esplanade.  Friends of Triabunna Reserves endeavour to maintain the indigenous plants here on the foreshore.  It was amazing to hear that these plants, which we take somewhat for granted, can all be put to good usage if you have the knowledge.  It has made me all the more committed to the Friends group.

A full day of exhibitions, lectures and squid related events followed.  I did not attend these, though the later reports were very good.  My feeling is that the event was more popular with Hobart people than locals.

The Saturday night saw Jill PD and I meander to the marina.  Walking down Melbourne Street towards the water we were greeted by an amazing sight and sound.  Sail billowing, a yacht cruised towards us and ethereal music filled the sea.  An unforgettable experience.  The singer and musicians continued on board as the boat circled the marina, the sail a constantly changing canvas.  Spell binding.

I'd like to say I stayed in that enchanted space, but in fact I haven't done much because I haven't felt well - tired and tooth achey - but covid negative.  We have continued weekly tai chi at the Community Health Centre, which has been extravagantly decorated for the season.

we would look beautiful if we didn't have to wear masks

fortunately we know the ropes - the signage artfully hidden

The weather had been cold, wet and windy so not much happening in the garden, though I do have broad beans and raspberries.

this is about the most interesting sight in the garden!

Gooseberry fool

I've eaten my one gooseberry.  I had forgotten how exquisitely they are flavoured.  I hope there're more next year!  I've also eaten 2 raspberries, with the promise of  more.  Apart from those, there are only broad beans to eat.  But I am grateful for

abundant Gold Bunnies

opinionated grandsons at Thanks Giving

fine food and friends and

being allowed to wear my uggies to Thanks Giving.

There's also

the truly amazing and generous Maria Voices choir

at Remembrance Day

Steve spent a night in hospital last Sunday to get some new blood so Jilly PD and I took it upon ourselves to fish and chipnic in the rain at Luther Point on Monday.

(There'll be a short break in transmission while I meet my friend Anne

for lunch at the pub.  I may have a food obsession.)

Here I am at the pub waiting for Anne of the Ladle Cortege. (You can actually see  her in the Thanksgiving photo).

(lunch was delicious)

When I'm not eating, I try to make time for reading.

I have become a huge fan of Heather Rose

This one dances around topics and places of great interest to me but left me dissatisfied.

I'm only into the first few pages of this and am struggling a bit.  You may know it.  It's an early 'thriller' first published in 1939.  I saw holloways in Devon featured on telly while staying at Pearl's, and was very intrigued.  Rogue Male partly takes place in a holloway , according to the program I saw.  It better do.

This is much more my sort of thing.  The book is colourfully illustrated by the author.  Naturally, places in Paris get a mention but it is really about applying the spirit of adventure and curiosity to where you live.  A clever little book.

It's not quite The Louvre, but I did notice recently how pretty is this view from the toilet door to the kitchen...

Yesterday Jill PD and I tripped around town carrying out a few little chores.  At first we thought we could hear mermaids singing (thank you Seven Skins of Esther Wilding) but the music was coming from this boat at the marina.  I suspect it was a practice for The Squid Festival that starts tonight.  I am off to a screening of the 1954 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea in a few minutes.

The Happy Wanderer returns

Referencing the Floosie whose South Australian adventures always excite me.  One day I'll join her in her South Australian discoveries.  I love wandering.  I enjoy the buzz of public transport and sitting in airports with other travellers.  As a child, 'I love to go a wandering...' was one of the songs the family sang as we holidayed in our kitted out Bedford van, and as we walked the lanes and clifftops in Wales.

These days I tend to beat the same path from West Beach to Christies Beach when in South Australia, but there are other adventures to be had.  Shortly after arriving, I received an invitation to an exhibition opening at Carrick Hill, and this one was special.  David, my sister's partner, had a work in the Heysen Sculpture Biennial which was to be held once only at Carrick Hill while The Cedars is under repair / maintenance.  I had been to Carrick Hill once before with Mum so it was a trip down memory lane for me and a revelation to The Pearl.

an amazing house and garden

we both loved this apparently joyous copper sculpture,

though it was inspired by bushfire in the Mallee

There is a point where you can look downhill to the magnificent house

or uphill to this magnificent river gum, spotlighted by yellow thread.  Pearl and I were both stunned by this.

But onwards to the main event - David's sculpture.  It is beautiful up close

and much bigger than you think!  This was such an unexpected and wonderful evening.  The lavishness and generosity of the catering was outstanding and, though it's not obvious here, the 'art crowd' were out in full, fabulous arty uniform.

I spent 3 days visiting Mum, driving Pearl's car and eating her food.  Then it was off to Canberra,

via the efficient Eloise at Marion who cured me of my aversion to Flight Centre and didn't mind me taking this photo.

Canberra was a whirl with

National Gallery of Australia,

lichen on a tree beside The Lake,

more outside sculpture with truncated Carillion beyond,

Lady Jayne and Lucy under the moon at Questacon,

falling water at Tidbinbilla Reserve,

the healthiest lilac tree I have ever seen at Rock Valley Homestead,

offcut art at the botanical gardens

and Lady Jayne's beautifully restored gardens.

'But was there any food?', I hear you ask.  There was

a considered bubbly or two in the curated arbour

(my selfie skills are not improving),

a delicious red Pearl bought at the d'Arenberg Cube at McLaren Vale

and kindly brought along for the red guzzlers,

dazzling desserts at the Arboretum restaurant,

and perfect banh mi in the City.

I loved this restaurant with its Vietnamese accoutrements.  Possibly kitsch, but a joy to remember those long ago trips to Vietnam and Vietnamese friends.  Happy wandering indeed.

And then back to Adelaide

for Pearl had a birthday party to attend as a character from Alice in Wonderland.  We decided she was the Mad Rabbit.  I made my last jaunts to Mum and took the long way home on my final visit to check out Benny Avenue between Christies Beach and Port Noarlunga.  Many years ago I looked at a small shack for sale on Benny Avenue.  Sometimes I wish I'd bought it.

view from the end of the street

same spot looking south to Port Noarlunga

same spot looking north towards Christies Beach

Pearl and I kept to tradition and dined at the Swedish furniture shop that must not be named, 

and then it was on to the airport for an Adelaide farewell

and a pleasant wait to board for Hobart

with the sun setting as I arrived home.