Back in business

My laptop has been in for repairs.  In its absence I've realised how much it is part of my life.  I can use my phone for most functions but it is like being Gulliver in Lilliput and, while I'm sure it is possible, I can't blog.  So here's a catch up.

Firstly, we've had a bit of summery weather

as evidenced by the glimpse through the carport of a Cinzano parasol in the caravan park.  And in further proof of summer

goodies from other people's gardens

rampant dahlias and sunflowers at the school

and a cactus flowering in my garden for the first time since we moved here.

I had to spend some time in Bellerive because of issues with our block of units - hopefully to be soon rectified.  I'd forgotten what a lovely place it is to live.

from the end of the road

shades of my Mum and Dad

an exiting bandicoot

From the end of the road there is a cliff top walk.  I haven't walked it for years and was surprised at how cared for it is now.  Fencing to keep people safe, but with gates so that the more adventurous can access the rocks and sea below.  It is not the sort of wild coast that I love, but a very good compromise in a suburban area.

The caravan park strutted its stuff for Australia Day.  Many tents / annexes were adorned with flags, and the owner sported a flaggy t-shirt.  A cuppla friends and I, and Henry the Dog, got buffeted around Triabunna as we picked up litter for what we entitled Australia Clean Up Country Day.  I can't say the gods were with us.  The wind was so strong it kept blowing the rubbish out of our collecting buckets, and we'd have to chase it to pick it up again, and sometimes again and again.

I have, however, been rewarded by an influx of granddaughters.

There's Miya, Georgia's new kelpie.  Ella is also here from Melbourne, preparing for her third year at uni.  I give her the occasional driving lesson - not that Triabunna and environs provide the ideal preparation for Big City traffic.  And Sarah has arrived from Seoul and may stay to study Year 11.  She is with her Dad in St Helen's.  I went up for an overnight stay.

Don't expect face-on happy snaps with either of my granddaughters - well maybe not for a few years.  They're just not into it.

Maybe because I get them to show me exciting places like the Tip Shop.  On the way there we saw this intriguing dog park.  People with mixed feelings can sit on the fence.

Fortunately Sarah is also besotted with dogs and St Helens seems blessed with them, particularly dachshunds, though we suspect these mainly belong to tourists, which are also plentiful.  One chap told us that he'd counted 7 dachshunds staying at the caravan park.  We chatted to a huge number of dogs, including mother and daughter Irish Terriers, a handsome breed I'd never seen before.  Our favourite though was Lucy.  Lucy is dalmationish and lives on a boat.  We bumped into her and her human as they carried out their boaty chores around town.  Later we watched as they left for home.  You have to look carefully to see her beaming at us from her runabout.

I wanted to see Binalong Bay.  I have fond memories of gazing into rock pools bejeweled with tiny starfish.  Hmmmm we didn't find the rockpools but enjoyed the rocky inlets, safe places for children learning to swim.

beaches reminiscent of Wales...

Sarah savouring the anticipation of playing her just arrived piano

I can't think of much more to report other than my reading.

It's unfortunate that this book has such a schmalzy cover.  While there is a contemporary western romance running through it, the story is about Rumi and Sufism in 13th century Turkey.  Makes you think!

Theas Astley also makes you think.  Her sentences can be long and need unravelling but it is so worth it.  They bite.  This story follows the life of a man in a Mad Men world.  Astley is so knowing!  I'm savouring the anticipation of reading more of her books.