A love story

My friend Mel died in March of this year.  It was at the time I was going to Wales so I didn't make much mention of it and I was unable to attend her funeral.  On Thursday the Tasmanian Keep Australia Beautiful Organisation recognised Mel for the incredible person she was.

Another friend, also called Mel, let the world know the goodness of Mel K and her far reaching legacy.

You may remember that I have mentioned Mel and The Fonz in the past.  Mel championed the use of dogs as weed detectors, and started the ball rolling by training Fonzy.  When Mel was contracted to work with Enviro-dynamics , Fonzy was part of the contract.

waiting in the wings at the event,

 on stage with his new owner to receive his award.

Mel received an award posthumously.

Mel's partner, Matt, takes photos during the slide presentation

We chosen ones trooped up on stage to receive Mel's award, and blubbed our eyes out.

Matt captures the award

Fonzy relaxes

then basks in a bit of well deserved glory

Mel's very proud father, Rob, says goodbye to The Fonz.  It's a long time since I've had such an emotionally draining day.  But we're all so proud to have known and loved Mel and Fonzy.

It was also Steve's birthday.  But that's another story.

More churchy culture

Going back in time a bit here.

the lure

I knew it was a beautiful (decommissioned) church

we were watching

and they played

And they played well.  Great fun.  But oh so difficult to sit there and not dance.  It should have been set up like a bar, bubbly cooling in the font.  It was also a bit disturbing - I fell in  love with the bass player who looks like my grandson Kit, but the violinist looked like the murderer in  The Sixth Commandment

The next day was Remembrance Day.

the lovely bugle player, David, strolls from the Last Post

 

Maria Voices were amazing as usual.  Amongst more traditional numbers, they sang a thought provoking song written by guitarist Andrew called, I think, The Call.

And local historian, Kath, did it right with poppies.

Sunday brought an early birthday and Christmas celebration for Soiree Anne, who will be away for both.

we graced the EastCoaster - the usual eatery of choice

Anne, sitting next to me at the end, had given me a red, flouncy top, so I whipped up a skirt to go with it.  Anne was impressed but reprimanded me for not going to the hairdresser (who has a wrist injury, in case you're wondering).

gratuitous garden shot

Sunday drive plus mental health week sundries

 Being a Van Diemen's Band groupie, I couldn't resist the chance of a recital at Richmond.

We all politely queued up outside the doors of St Luke's Church and were most impressed when they opened sharp at 10.30am, just as the promo said they would.

There are many things I like about attending events on my own.

No compromises!  I worked out where I wanted to sit, ie first row behind the reserved pews.

Harpsichord, violin and organ - 2/3 my not favourite instruments but these are all Baroque originals and sounded All Right!   It also wasn't my favourite VDB concert.  A bit long.  Even the organist stood up and bowed 2 segments before the end of a Papa Bach piece.  The harpsichord player soon put him right.  However it is always a delight to hear Julia Fredersdorff, VDB Artistic Director.  She is a virtuosic player and really good fun.

Parking around the church was at a premium.  These clever people avoided the teeming Richmond streets and parked downhill of the church - a good trick to remember if you don't mind dirt roads.  I had parked some distance away, on the residential side of the famous Richmond Bridge.

Strolling back to my car, I enjoyed the ye olde worlde ambience and had the opportunity to visit the Peppercorn Gallery which is currently holding some of Georgia's work.

looking over The Bridge towards where I'd parked

I also had the opportunity to drop into the Brinktop Winery which opens only at the weekend.  It was absolutely jumping and warrants further investigation.

Briefly returning to wrap up Mental Health Week:

the Weily Fox was nearly as useless as me gunwise

not that we're laughing at her

This was actually taken by The Fox as we packed up after the event.  Cheryl, our mayor and former Australian representative in Olympic Shooting events, sports her Dangerous Woman carry-all.

We were all given an orange clay target as a keepsake.  I carelessly put mine above the wood heater,

discovering it blown to pieces in the morning - something I'd failed to achieve while shooting.

happy memory of Maria Voices belting out sea shanties during the intermission of Fisherman's Friend movie

I was sent to report on the Sleep Workshop - even The Weily Fox can't be everywhere.  Tash, the presenter, was very good as was the PowerPoint Presentation(!).

And we all got a Trauma Teddy to take home with us.  There are good people in the world.

I get along without you very well.

A message from my garden. 

So lovely to get home to a garden that makes its own way.  Mostly self-seeded.  I just weed out what I don't want.

Chihuly

Georgia had told me about the Chihuly Exhibition at the Botanical Gardens and there was no escaping it on my arrival at Adelaide Airport.

So, back on the J2 and another walk along North Terrace, this time all the way along to the Bot Gards.

The entrance avenue displayed these imaginative collections of potted plants but the way to the exhibition wasn't clear to me until I glimpsed this:

From there it was 'follow the fairy lights'.  It would have been magic to be there at night but I found the drizzly rain rather pleasant for glass viewing.

and not just for glass viewing

another striking glass-less image

umbrellas add even more colour

spot the duck on the rill

I was waiting for people to pass out of photo range.

but I could wait no longer

A quick look around the always inspiring Diggers Shop.  I was particularly taken with the finials that fit on top of 4 garden stakes to make a stylish pyramid.

Then into the Museum of Economic Botany, past one of their usual displays

and into the Jam Factory pop up shop.  The Jam Factory is famous in Adelaide for its quality art works, including blown glass.  These dishes are in the $13,000 range - I think genuine Chihuly.

Back to the garden

and this mind boggling piece of glasswork.  A number of us gathered to speculate what happens in high wind.

I tried so hard to get the 2 blue images together but this was the best I could do.

Overcome by human achievement, it was restful to just look at nature's handiwork.