return of the rainbow fairies

The light is dancing off the crystal in the lounge room again.  This delights me but also makes me realise that the sun is getting lower in the morning and summer is coming to an end.  I also realise how much I'm looking forward to the changing seasons.  Already the leaves on the poplars are starting to turn yellow.  I remember watching the golden poplars becoming bare branches as I moved in last year.  This blog is very useful to me as I attempt to understand the blur that was 2025.

Life has settled into a most pleasant routine.  It feels like being rich and pampered.  The solarium has been a great discovery - the sun beams into my bedroom in the afternoon.  I make myself comfortable and read.  Jill makes herself comfortable and sleeps.  It stays this way until the sun sets behind kunanyi / Mt Wellington.  Of course all of these natural cycles must have happened when I've lived previously in the unit but then I was working and didn't notice.

I have read heaps of books - though often the sunshine lures me into sleep too.  Here are 3 significants:

I'm always interested in developments in neuroscience so thought I'd give this one a go.  I've always had an aversion to Steve Biddulph.  We're about the same age and live in Tasmania.  Perhaps I'm jealous of his success in the mental health field.  Anyway, this book is well worth reading.  It's advocating trusting our more primitive brain.

I love this one.  Short stories written from so many different Tasmanian Aboriginal / palawa perspectives.  Some are very amusing.  Another book all teachers should read and share.

This one I finished today.  Published last year when the author was 84, it is very reassuring!  Although I have to say that having a groovy 83 year old friend in Mildura and a new sprightly 92 year old friend in Bellerive, I haven't been that worried.  What I found comforting is that I am doing the things Sophy Burnham suggests.  Which could be worrying given I am so much younger... 

Oscar and I went to a pop-up dinner at The Barracks on Valentine's Day.  The food was exceptional.  Of course, as usual when I'm enjoying myself, I didn't take any photos but here's the menu:

It was all magnificent and may be done again with a Winter Menu.

Not much more to report.

proof that we've had some warm weather

I've still had no sign of a blackbird in the garden but the baby butcher bird seems at home.

HAPPY 🐎 YEAR 🐎 OF 🐎THE 🐎HORSE

a Fire Horse no less!

🎂Birthday Week🎂

 January is for public holidays.  February is for birthdays.  🎂First, Georgia's birthday:

birthday flowers in a Georgia-made vase

a melange of birthday cakes

However, in Spain 🎂

Rosa Norte drives from Spain to France for her birthday picnic

🎂Sarah was still in Korea for her birthday so no report as yet.

Jilly and I were in Tribes for Georgia's birthday but also to mind the store on the day after.  George and other local creatives have opened a gallery as part of the Spring Bay Maritime Museum.  It's in its infancy and sometimes there aren't volunteers available.  So in I went.

The building used to be an abalone canning factory, so a bit of industrial art.

in close-up

I am most taken with this museum item.  I have deduced it is one piece of rope and I'd kinda like to replicate it.  My grandfather was a rope-splicer in the Rhondda mines.  Perhaps it's in the blood.  There are of course lots of beautiful creations from the local artists but I couldn't really capture them.  You'll have to come and look yourself.  I sold some works which makes everyone happy.  And talking of happy,

Jill PD got her fix of nieces and nephews in her sister's paddock,

also putting her sleuthing skills to work.

Not being one to miss bubbly and good food, I returned to Tribes last Saturday for more art.

Well, actually I'll have to return to view the artworks because the food was soooooo good, including the biggest crayfish I've ever seen, I got distracted.  But, as you can see from the poster cum bookmark (for the eagle eyed), the artworks are stunning.

Here are the artists and MC Tom

John sits with Georgia's Totem behind him

I was witness to the epic creation of Totem and was very pleased that Georgia explained to the audience some of the pitfalls of ceramic firing.  It is too easy, and common, for us to look at a piece of work and baulk at the price, forgetting the years of learning, expense and disaster that have preceded it.

Today is Monday - 🎂birthday of the Hobart Regatta started in 1838 and also a Public Holiday.

down to the beach before 10am

all is calm, all  is bright

 and then

the shattering fly past

and tricks

then back to normal

🎂   🎂   🎂

I took this photo a couple of months ago but forgot to post it.  It shows some of the boat traffic on the Derwent these days.