Closer to the sun

I resisted the slight temptation to do a solstice swim yesterday but promised myself I would see the sun rise from the beach this morning.  Cloud prevented this, but it was a gorgeous stroll.

brave souls gathered on first slightly  longer day

and took the plunge

I ambled on to Marla Singer, my current go to for hot chocolate.  I love that I can do this, plus buy a croissant and paddle back along the beach, greeting numerous dogs along the way.

I have just returned from Adelaide so have been luxuriating in Bellerive.  The bad news is that council has approved 8 units to be built on the land next door.  This will require the demolition of the beautiful red roofed house, and will occlude my view of the mountain, beach, water and city lights.  Currently you can just see my unit window (above the undulating roof) from the beach

but this will be obliterated by the new development soon.  Win some, lose some...

I have been to the movies a cuppla times to distract myself.  Inspired by my current ballet orientation, I went to see Ballerina.  Which was appalling.  I also saw Karate Kid Legends.  This I thoroughly enjoyed.  I was attracted to it because it was set in New York and I thought it would be nice to see NY again - plus a little bit of Beijing.  All in all, it was a romp down memory lane for me.  All those years of being part of a martial arts family.  I emerged from the cinema ready to take on the world.

I have also been to the most perfect Celebration of Ken Schroeder's life.  Ken was the partner of Georgia and Jake's Mum.  She created the perfect tribute to him.  Beautiful photos and music, including a small chamber orchestra.  Strangely, it was another elating experience.

And then there was being a roadie for Georgia as she set up for a Tasmanian Made Winter Market on the Boardwalk at Wrest Point Casino.  Such beautiful work - but I have no photos.  I was so exhausted from rolling up bubble wrap that I forgot.

Other pleasures:

amusement at the library with this display - Harry Potter on the mantel piece

Corinne would have called these library books 'uxorious'

walking the long way back from the chemist to see the small cove between the beaches

flathead from my local supermarket - memories of fishing with Mum and Dad

8pm view across the river to the city

I read this library book while in Adelaide.

It is poorly written and edited, but the writer is an herbalist and I like much of her information.  It was she who suggested an 8pm walk each night to assist sleep.

I also saw this book and have an hold on it from my local library.

And so to the Adelaide trip:

Had to arrive in time to see Willowa race at McLaren Vale, starting at the Social Institute

note the orange socks

and that's all I managed to take as she crossed the finishing line...

Willowa didn't win but these are the gorgeous women who did.  I loved their camaraderie and whimsey as they, somewhat irreverently, played on the podium.

We set off for Canberra the next day.

early morning view from overnight cabin at Hay

geocaches galore, to Heather's delight

even at the Dog on the Tuckerbox

We were in Canberra to visit Bron.

We were allowed to view photos from our Easter Trips on the big screen in the Tickety Boo Bar

and relive some of the madness of those days

There were other delights:

resident fish, some basking

some trying valiantly to escape

nearby street libraries

Tuggeranong lake

Tuggeranong Arts Centre

an exhibition titled Walking With The Gardener

delicate shoes that remind me of fish frying in a pan...

a trowel that takes me back to the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York

on a slightly different scale

and then there was the magnificent meal we had on our last night

and the desserts we shared

Walking back to our motel that night provided one of the  most magical experiences of my life.  The road is quiet at  night and probably 50 wallabies / kangaroos were out feasting on the verge.  Walking through their midst was like a dream of Australian living, something I may have imagined as a child when we were planning to migrate.  I truly felt Australian.

The next day Heths and I shared the long drive to Mildura and Chez Sandrine.  We were greeted comme d'habitude.

perfect for our evening arrival

Happy days followed

as  Sandra did all the work

when Heths gave us a break from geocaching, though she traitorously made us hunt them down on the King's Birthday

If you don't hear from me again, you'll know He was not well pleased.

I was well pleased with this car sticker

I liked Sandra's coffee

which was rare for me who usually prefers instant (zut alors!) so on the day of our leaving we breakfasted at the cafe where she buys it.

I sat captivated by a row of elegant stemmed glasses that kept disappearing.  Eventually I realised they were an optical illusion caused by the shape of the bottle necks...

It is now nearly a week later - big problems with my laptop which, $95  later, don't quite seem to be resolved.

Sandra packed us a yummy lunch that we ate at Moorook, one of my favourite  places on the Murray,

and then home to Heth's where we were welcomed by the amazing aloes on her corner.

We had coffee Vietnam-style in a buzzy Glenelg cafe.  Then it was time for my direct flight back to Tassie, fortunately with no Icarus incidents.

B living

I've been too otherwise engaged to start on a History of the Second Bluff but I was delighted when a Triabunna friend recognised the Esmond Dorney house just down my Esplanade.  I have been thinking of submitting a short article on this house to the Bellerive Historical Society newsletter.  We'll see.

You may be surprised to hear that since my last post I have taken up Fitness in the Park and ballet, both on a Friday.  Saturday of last week I met friends in Bellerive Village and we dined at Marlo Singer.  This turned out to be just my kind of eatery - lots of small and very different dishes, many of them based on seafood.  I strolled home in a very contented state of mind and, as I turned the corner to my unit, was confronted by a wallaby.  I had heard that a wallaby visited my neighbour's garden at night but had been sceptical...  

I think I have mentioned the teeming bandicoots before.

from my kitchen window

this may be Brunetti

not sure if this is Boudica, Bridget or Bardot

Sunday was Mothers' Day.  A friend was singing with her choir just outside the Ninja Stadium (formerly the Blundstone Arena) to uplift walkers in a Mothers' Day Fun Walk.

I walked down about 10.30am and caught the end of their performance.  They had been bravely singing since before 8am in bracing conditions.  

I also passed this bass and sax combo, their Mum sitting by, quite rightly proud.  Not being inundated with gifts and visitors, I decided to watch And God Created Woman in the afternoon.  I thoroughly enjoyed the film - Bardot and environs absolutely stunning - until the end when Bardot as Juliette just needed a good slap around the face to make her a dutiful wife.  I was hoping she'd take off with Carradine for a good, though likely short, time.

Tuesday saw the last VDB Lunch Box concert for Autumn

a couple playing so harmoniously together and a guitar player looking just like Steve

then a drive to Triabunna for Bond at the Tivoli.

Not a film I would make an effort to see elsewhere.  I enjoyed the casino and M scenes but find the action scenes laughable in their implausibility.  And how quickly injuries heal!

I've mentioned the wayward cardboard bed previously.  I was notified that it had returned from WA and was now on its way to Sydney.  I was incredulous by this time.

So imagine my  joy on returning from ballet class on Friday to find a parcel had been left, albeit looking a little coffin-like.  After a celebratory cup of Earl Grey, I tackled the instructions.

the instructions

I stayed calm and, to my joy, my new phone can scan.  A deft and nimble young man proceeded to show me how to lift the bed out of its box, unconcertina it and lock in the braces.

not like that you idiot

like that

He found it much easier than I did.  Lifting it out of the box on my own was a struggle, as was getting the construction correct.  When I studied psychology in the 1970s, the lecturer in Perception used to refer to Just Noticeable Differences.  I think I understand now.

Anyway, I did it.

The blood bank had requested my plasma so Saturday saw a trip to Hobart.

a choir singing in the mall

new interests...

old loves

No photos from the blood bank.   They only managed to get 200ml of plasma from me.  We were aiming for 400ml.  But they kindly said anything over 100ml is useful.

Feeling slightly old and decrepit on the bus home, I noticed through the window these boys at the Eastlands bus stop.  I was struck by the different branding on their very similar clothes, their preoccupation with their phones and total lack of interest in catching the bus.  They brought to mind Venice's 'baby gangs' in the Brunetti book I'm currently reading.

And then the calming walk to my lovely home.