afternoons with Beatrix Potter

When I was a fulltime public servant and recently crowned Wicked Defective Step Monster, I used to fantasize of sitting alone under a big tree and reading Beatrix Potter books.  Forty years later, the time has come.  I don't have a big tree anymore but I have my solarium aka my bedroom where the sun beams most afternoons.

Not being pressed for time these days, I've also been taking the opportunity to read this wonderful 500+ page biography of Beatrix Potter.

It is exceptionally well written and thorough.  Beatrix was a survivor of Victorian expectations of an only daughter in a well off family living in London.  She performed the role of dutiful daughter demanded of her but yearned for the freedom to choose her own life.

Her filial duties included accompanying her parents on their long and frequent holidays, including to relatives in Wales.  She often wrote illustrated letters to young family members and friends, and it was from these that her Tales evolved.  She studied the natural world, particularly fungi, and tried to get a resistant science fraternity to accept her findings.  As her children's books became published and sold well, including in America, this most enterprising woman had the idea of spin-offs - toys and puzzles - well before our now ubiquitous 'merch'.

Beatrix and the technology of the time didn't quite get into films and DVDs but she made herself a wealthy woman.  She returned constantly to the Lake District and eventually bought Hill Top Farm.  She married late and wisely.  William Heelis was a well regarded local solicitor who could provide expert knowledge as Beatrix sought to extend her Lakeland land holdings.  Beatrix became an expert  sheep farmer and conservationist.

Beatrix and William on the day before their wedding

Beatrix said her favourite Tale was the Tailor of Gloucester,

and claimed she definitely sided with Timmy Willy, the country mouse.

History revisited

Energised by Mrs History's visit, I presented the idea of a Bellerive Heritage Volume 5 to the Bellerive Historical Society and there is definite interest.  It's 30 years since we published Volume 4!  So there's something to work on...

I was invited on a jaunt to Sorell for the opening of the restored Carriage Shed from the days of the Bellerive Sorell Railway.

It was all done exceptionally well though sadly I did not get to partake of the cake.

I wasn't going to show you the Groovy Sorell Mayor launching the revamped Shed but changed my mind when I realised my photo included the writing on the wall support.  The Shed is still basically a tin shed but re-purposed to hold community exhibitions, concerts, etc.  The mayor envisages a silent disco.  I think it is wonderful that that there is still pigeon poo on the ceiling beams and builders' jottings from the original build and the refurbishment.

Rebecca White, our local federal Labor member, is a local and looked dashing in red.

And it was lovely to catch up with Carmel who used to be Mayor and worked hard on so many projects for Sorell.  She is also a little devilish.  The object she has just got out of that bag

is a toy train which made a beeline for this lady.  Sorell Council has 9 councillors, 6 of whom are women.  I think it shows.

Later that week it was off to Parliament House for a tea party to celebrate Heritage Week/Month.  Still not sure which because I saw no other events advertised.

I had never been inside before.  The security to both get in and out is mind boggling.

Here the Chair of the National Trust addresses us.  The Minister for Heritage and a million other things was very upbeat about the economic benefits of heritage for tourism.  The chap is from the bookshop at Campbell Town which I really must go and have a look at.  I was appalled to hear that he has second hand copies of Bellerive Heritage for sale.

History in the making.  Georgia has a couple of pieces of work in the School House Gallery at Rosny Barn.

We attended the Exhibition Opening and I am rather taken with the black cockatoo print by Sally Beech, another Tribes girl.

Continuing the Gallery Crawl, last night Georgia and I attended the opening of the Tasman Artisan House at Sorell.  You can just see some of her work on the shelving to the left.

Fred, with his back to us, makes ocarinas - should you be in the market for one.

we'll meet again... 🎜🎜🎝🎶

 Great excitement as a Lady and Her Dog surveyed the ferry crossing from Hobart

to moor at Bellerive.

But wait - is that Anna Wintour readying to disembark????

It's obviously a celeb.

No, it's that other editor and publishing genius, Mrs History, visiting the East Side as content and editorial consultant for a prospective Bellerive Heritage Volume 5.  Intense discussion was held over a light lunch

and continued over a light dessert.  Is it all work, work, work for this woman?

After such an intense day, is it surprising that the doyenne of publishing and arbiter of taste, let slip her guard to allow the clamouring paparazzi a sunglassless photo opportunity?

In truth, as the ferry pulled away, I found myself singing Vera Lynn's We'll Meet Again, partly because Jill R and I have that  kind of relationship but also because we had met up with long-lost mutual friends who had seen me at the Anzac Day Memorial Service in Triabunna.  The theme was 'Women in Service' and Maria Voices sang Lynn's song.