Tasmania finally

On the Friday I met Liz in Triabunna and checked out the house that is ours subject to the sale of River Bank next Saturday...  A humble abode but object of many plans, wishes and dreams.

 Saturday I strolled into Salamanca Market to meet my friend Jean who I had last seen over 30 years ago.  We talked non-stop for 2 1/2 hours until our chauffeurs collected us.  I didn't have a look at the market at all.

 Jake, Sarah and I drove to Bellerive - I had a bit of business to conduct at the unit.

Then we had an explore of the Fort where Sarah was entranced by a Christmas beetle.  The fort is a magic place to watch the end of the Sydney Hobart Yacht Race.

On Sunday I checked out an exhibition at the Rosny Barn.  I love this space and always enjoy their displays - fell in love with a green bakelite radio.

and could have stayed there all day.

Returned to Battery Point and went to the beach with Jake and Sarah and then dropped in on Oscar.  Up at 4am the next morning to catch plane back to Mildura and work - tired but very happy.

Hobart 2 - Bellerive really

After walking to school with Sarah and Jake, I strolled through Salamanca Place before catching the bus to Bellerive.

 I took this as a fashion direction not voting instruction.

 Sad news on alighting from the bus at Wentworth Street, Bellerive.

The Goughs were our neighbours in Queen Street and their shop was a gem.

 Bellerive Beach is as beautiful as ever though I was intrigued by the apparent sculpture

 which, I think, is in fact to do with a new stormwater runoff.

 The view back towards my unit.

It really is my sort of place.

Hobart 1

I arrived on Wednesday evening.

 Jake and Sarah's house in lovely Battery Point.

 The park at the back of the house.

 The garden at the back of the house.

And the same with the nearly full moon.

Next morning we walked to Sarah's school, looking out for the cats

and having a chat en route.

The Stranger

and other New York stuff.  Steve and I had a bit of a Billy Joel festival a couple of weeks ago, so I was not overly surprised to look up during my Sunday phone call to Mum to see

 

Cuppla looks

Photo on left (can't separate them - they're Karen Walker sunglasses, images accessible from http://www.thewomensroomblog.com/2014/01/31/karen-walker-does-it-again-for-spring-2014/ ) is an ultimate look as far as I'm concerned.

And I know a beachbabe fashionista who could easily get away with this...  And make the coat too.

I think it's a photo of Scarlett Johansson (sp?).  From same link.

It's hot and I'm amusing myself.

Australia Day weekend

It's Australia Day and Sunday so I had to wash the car.  I'm at Mum's and used a bucket and chamois and shared the water with a very parched garden.  I have been very good at keeping New Year Resolutions in the last few years and am very pleased with the results.  The car washing one is the one I can't achieve.  Last year I managed one wash - in January.  I'm only trying for 2 - 4 each year because I think it's a daft waste of time and resources.  However...  It's also the anniversary of this blog.   I don't have access to a computer as I write (using a notepad and beautiful pencil - to be transposed later [now]) to check how long it's been running.
It's proving to be a beautifully lazy day.  Mum's reading a book set in Pembrokeshire and I'm reading The Hobbit which my Dad read to Helen and me as children in England.
Yesterday evening we went to Brighton to see the sculptures.  We had fish and chips on the forefront amidst the buzz of promenaders and dogs.  Lovely to feel the sea air and the buzz.

 Here's the winning entry.

Here's Mum at the most important entry - David's.

Here's one with a sense of deja vu - plate glass...

Perhaps not the most visually pleasing - Weighting for Godot.

Amusing, n'est ce pas?

One for Bronny and her Mum - Everlasting Love.

My favourite - a bendy dog.

One of Mum's favourites.

One of the media's favourites.

 And my particularly arty phone shot into the sun.

Whiling away time while waiting for the fish and chips with dozens of other people.

Our Mercato bought lunch on Australia Day. Little ripper.

National Hat Day

 If Ari Seth Cohen says it's National Hat Day, who am I to argue?  He's from NY.
Lady Jayne has got into the spirit: 'I had on my usual straw hat this morning to walk Gilby and an old McLennon (sic) Cup hat to water my treasures. I have donned Bill's Pakistani hat in your honour.'
Which reminded me of a photo I'd seen recently while searching for something else.

Me in the Philippines a few years ago.
I didn't buy the hat but was convinced to buy one of the skirts hanging on the fence.
And looking through the archives, I found this.
  

The Big MSG Shaker.
I wonder if it's still there.
As I wonder if there are still fields of plastic bags 'recycled' from other parts of the world.
Looks may fade but cynicism never.