Canberra

I went to Canberra to be with Lady Jayne whose husband, Bill, had just gone into a nursing home.

While I was waiting in the foyer of the home, a resident played piano from this song book.   They were the songs my Dad used  to sing and which my Mum remembers.  Anything after The Beatles is far too new for Mum.

we stocked up on provisions

visited old places

visited new exhibitions

drank coffee while trees grew at The Arboretum

had an amazing seafood platter at  B&B's favourite restaurant

blue plates for the cold serve

paprika red plates for the hot

There was so much we had to  leave some!!!!

Steve rang me to say he'd seen some earrings on a 'social' somewhere that he thought I may like for my birthday.  They were at the Beavers Gallery so we took her Ladyship's carriage there.  It is a lovely gallery with interesting tree sculptures for the garden.  Despite the patient help from the gallery assistant and photos beamed across the universe, we were unable to identify to which earrings Steve alluded...  So I bought these ones.

We had adventures, but most of Lady Jayne's time was spent with Bill.  I stayed home and contented myself  Dining with Proust .  I learnt more about In Search of Lost Time than I had from reading the actual Proust - admittedly in translation, and I'm only on book 3.

one day I may whip up some of these

I flew home on Thursday on this tiny plane.  It was a Link flight, direct Canberra to Hobart, and flew low so I had clear views of sea, islands and coastline.

Very sadly, Bill died on Saturday night.  He was a much loved husband.

ciao for now

Off to Canberra for a week tomorrow to visit Lady Jayne.  Thought I'd better give you a domestic update before I go.

the garden is flourishing with all the rain

the sunflowers tall and flowering

Steve planted 4 mixed chillis - a banana chilli perhaps?

If so, I once had these stuffed with a spicy rice and salmon mix.

a small sample of the tomatoes

The Weily Fox and I have slaved over the Suicide Prevention Network strategic plan,

while conducting her favourite science experiment.

Same gin, same tonic.  How is it so?

On Sunday Jill PD and I walked the clifftop to Spring Beach.  This is always a spiritual experience for me.

Maria looked particularly goddess-like

While I've zoomed in here to bring Maria Island closer, this is how it seemed on the day.

As we approached the beach the sound of the waves was exhilarating.

You'll just have to trust me on this, but there were fairy terns and a pied oystercatcher on the beach.

Yesterday Steve had further dental work in Hobart.  This time I decided to spend the one and half hours in Bellerive.  The Pup and I parked at Kangaroo Bay, much changed since we lived there but impressive and much used. 

I am very impressed with the landscaping using local native species.

I was also impressed by this sign highlighting how artists have long used Bellerive / Kangaroo Point as a place from which to paint Hobart and Mt Wellington / kunyani.  Mrs History and I had commented on this back in the day.

The floating restaurant in Bellerive seduced me with a scallop pie and Thai salad for $17.  It was garnished with 3 battered scallops, which Jill PD and I shared.

I had to take this photo for Fleurieu Floosie, formerly Mrs History.

And I have read this book on the recommendation of Madam Cyn.  It is beautiful.

Saturday holiday

Getting a tad historical here.  Feeling a bit fragmented at the moment - seem to be jumping all over the place.  But today I have devoted to Catching Up, and so far it's going well.  The Saturday referred to was a couple of weeks ago.  There was an exhibition at the Allport Library & Museum which I wanted to catch and it was ending early March.  I decided to take the bus in.  It's so civilised.  Catch the bus at 10.05am at the end of the road, enjoy scenery from high bus windows, arrive Hobart CBD approx 11.30am, and no worries about parking.  The return bus is at 4pm.  Perfect.

First get some sushi in a brown paper bag:  brown rice rainbow veg; crispy tofu; seaweed inari.  Delicious.  Fuelled up for The Allport.

The exhibition was small but beautiful.  Rodney Gardner's paintings, mostly of Launceston, are the smudgy watercolours that I think best capture the mood of Tasmania.  He also has portraits of contemporary palawa leaders juxtaposed with portraits of Aboriginal people from Baudin's exploration of Van Diemen's Land.

I explored the Allport Museum where I discovered some treasures.  Above is a painting of Bellerive by an unknown artist in the 1920s - note railway pier.  I couldn't believe I had not seen this before.

And there were Peron's sketches of structures the Baudin exploration found on Maria Island.

note looming photographer in foreground

Well satisfied, I trotted up Davey Street

passed St David's Park - note your taxes at work - to Hampden Road and Markree House. 

photocopied handout at house - but good info

I love Arts and Craft houses.  This one is a joy and I was totally overwhelmed by the furniture and architectural detail.  I could only take in the ground floor and will have to make a return visit for the upstairs.

shades of Edna W

It was a lovely garden to wander around on a warmish day.

Next door is Red Knights.  The two houses are complementary, one having been built for the Baldwin family, the other for The Aunts.  The gardens were connected by a rose arbour, sadly no longer there.

I walked back via Salamanca Market, buying a rose quartz and amethyst because my Chinese horoscope for the Year of the Tiger predicts I will need them to protect my health this year.

Then it was back to the bus-stop to read my book for 10 minutes before the prompt arrival of the bus.  I was also amused by a very stationary big gull.