busy in Bunna and beyond

The busier you are the fewer the photos.  It doesn't seem appropriate to take photos at the Coffin Club even though the aim is to demystify death and dying.  The information provided was very good and the afternoon tea fare ridiculously unhealthy.

We don't get to see Georgia often these days as she works fulltime, and then some.  She did drop in to share the cider that I was given as a thank you from Russell and Laura's wedding.  I supplied baskets and gumleaves.  As I write, George has just started a 6 hour shift in Orford somehow involved in the election.

Last Sunday was the Village Market.  Jill PD and I graced it briefly to get some beetroots.  Steve volunteered to buy the veggies but I knew he would never think to buy beetroot.  As it happened, I arrived just as Steve was carrying out his assignment, and Georgia was also there.  This was a special moment.  I have never lived in a place where I am likely to run into family.  Another reason why St Davids is so special to me.

Steve's beard and the most amazing brussel sprouts

The next day was Breakfast Program at the school, then lunch in town with Madam Cyn. We went to a Punjabi restaurant in Moonah.  Moonah is becoming a multicultural food mecca and I have long wanted to explore it.  $13 at lunchtime for 2 curries, rice, unlimited roti and a gulab jamun to finish off.  And not a drop of alcohol.  Cynthia gave Jill a bag of food that kept the 3 of us going for days.

 a quarter of the paella intended for Jill PD

There was also roast belly pork with crackling and string hoppers with coconut sambal.

Tuesday was zumba and then lunch with Anne of the Stone Cottage. We had steak pie with mashed potatoes, carrots and those brussel sprouts from the market - cooked to perfection.  Delicious apple crumble with no oats, and cream for dessert.  And a bottle of red.  Wednesday was a biggie with a meeting of the school lunch mob and the Canteen Association.  The  young women from the Canteen Association were most impressive.  We dear oldies were given online Food Safety training to do.  In the afternoon the FoTRs gathered to pick up rubbish around town and then meet at The Spring Bay Hotel for a self-congratulatory feast.

I had kept Thursday free with a number of possible options to suit my mood.  It was a cold windy day and I decided to just stay home

Jill gazes wistfully out the window

and do nothing (although I did some lawn mowing) until the big event, ie a William Barton concert with the TSO  at The Odeon in Hobart.  I did my usual trick of leaving the car at Rosny Park and catching the bus into Hobart.  It's so quick and easy.  I got there in plenty of time and soaked up the atmosphere as the concert hall filled and the orchestra assembled.  William Barton was amazing and I felt proud to be Australian.

The drive home was slow.  Fortunately the moon was bright, which I think means fewer animals out and about, and I made the journey without mishap.

Friday was yoga, tai chi and Suicide Awareness Network in the afternoon.  Then I completed my iviewing of Keeping Faith in preparation for Series 3 which started last night.  Today was given to reading, voting, mowing the lawn and completing my Food Safety training.  I've even got my online certificate but for some reason it won't download for me to show you.  The training is designed by an English company and is charmingly preoccupied with rice pudding, crisps and pickled onions.

Home - something to write about

On Monday I had School Association treasurer duties to perform, ie banking money raised from the Easter Raffle and Mothers' Day stall.  The closest Bendigo Bank is either Sorell or Swansea, so I chose Swansea of course.  Jill PD accompanied me as Security.  We stopped a couple of times for wees, poos, scallop pies and a good look around.  It is a beautiful drive.

I have been wanting to give a Garden Report but there is not a lot to report photographically.  We've had some potatoes, fartichokes, beans, small onions and the inevitable (sorry FF) rhubarb.  But there are also leeks enough for Friday night pizza.  The apple crops were good this year but codling moths also enjoyed themselves - another lesson learned for next year.  The pears, however, have been plentiful.  I have learned how to ripen them, and they are delicious.  It is the last of the crop and, of course, they're all ripening at once.  I've been tempted to dry some and will do so if we have a similar harvest next year.  But today I decided to make a pear, fetta and walnut tart for lunch.

Not bad at all.  I love having the rocket and mache to nonchalantly garnish.  The Floosie sent me a Monty Don garden quote which I love:

" The whole point about gardening is not to learn how to garden, but is to find solace, is to be happy, is to make beauty, is to have spiritual communion, is to have fun and muck about. How we do that really, really doesn't matter".

I'm sure Monty is my soul mate... though I think the quote applies to life and not just the garden, if you are lucky enough to live in a place of peace and plenty.  I suppose that is paradise enow.

In other news:

we Friends of Triabunna Reserves are very relieved to see a Pied Oystercatcher back in Tribes

I am sporting reddish legs myself in celebration

I bought the uggies in Adelaide.  They are made just up the road from Pearl's place.  A lovely adventure to meet the people who actually made them.

coasting

One of the many good things about travel is the chance to think.  My journeys up and down Adelaide's west coast made me realise that it is the vast open sea that fills me with a sense of peace.

Hallet's Cove Beach looking north

looking west

and very civilised looking south

In Tasmania on the East Coast, islands and peninsulas break up the seascape.  To me, this somehow looks less tranquil but more sacred.

Here are some of my favourite SA things.

spot the magpies?

2 really pretty plants, probably natives, in planter boxes at Brighton Station

Pearl's place

wine made by Pearl's rels

the city's mix of old and new

the recently opened gateway from the Adelaide Railway Station to the banks of the Torrens

across to the cricket ground

back into the railway station

But let's not forget what the trip was about:

I usually get lunch specials from Sunisa's Thai restaurant down the road from Mum's nursing home.  This time I finally got to take Mum into the restaurant.

The menu took a bit of study.

Mum had her first Green Curry.  She was moderately pleased with her choice - the vegetables could have been cooked longer...

books borrowed from the Atrium at the nursing home

Pearl and I returned to the  Indian restaurant at Henley Beach.  My plan was to have the chocolate samosas again.

Foolishly, I thought I'd try a non-alcoholic pina colada instead of wine.  After biryani, beef curry and garlic cheese naan, there was no room for samosas.  Next time.

And then it was time to return to Tassie, leaving Pearl's at 6.30am.

lovely to watch the day dawn

by the time I got my phone out, the chap had stopped playing

Never know where a grand piano is going to turn up these days.