Calm waters

My friend Corinne has died.  These have been turbulent weeks.
Corinne was an Anglophile and a Francophile.  She loved language and was curious about the world.  We have had such good times together.
I picture her richly dressed and stately, floating down a peaceful river.

The Hospital Tour

When I became Maggie Mars, my friend Corinne said that I sounded like an aging rockstar.  With that in mind, and in the footsteps of 'You Know My Name', 'Little Black Dress', 'Bittersweet' tours, I bring to you The Hospital Tour.  I arrived in Adelaide 2 days after Mum's birthday.  She was in pain from her hip so we spent the next week and a bit visiting doctors, xrays, specialists and hospitals, as well as hiring a wheelchair and trying out walking frames.

We did manage to have the first basil, mozzarella and tomato of the season at Mercato's, though.

On another day my friend Pru and I walked the lovely Colin (who was obviously worn out) and little Otto along Semaphore Road till we found the cafe that was just right.  Otto is a 3month old Border Collie and looked like a fluffy black and white hedgehog.  Stupidly I left it too late to take his photo before his Mum came to take  him home.

Another day I walked over the river (via a bridge...) to Lochiel Park, a new housing development with a claim to green credentials.  Here's the waste water wetlands.

Here's a Robertson's Thermometer Screeny looking thing that is actually a book cupboard where anyone can go to take or leave books free of charge.

The house opposite Mum's backs on to the linear park and I was enchanted to see that Mum's neighbours have created this little extension to their garden at which, hopefully, anyone can picnic.

Here am I in pensive mood captured unbeknownst to me by Willowa.  Parts of her mother and grandmother are also visible - which sounds particularly grim.  And that is the sum total of my photos.  Mum is still having tests and consultations before she decides whether or not to have a hip replacement.  If she decides to go ahead, I shall be returning to Adelaide soonish.

On getting back to Hobart for work, I discovered the rhododendron that overhangs my wall is finally in flower.  Fingers crossed I'll be back to more regular blogging soon.

Missing in action

Sorry about neglecting the blog.  Have been very social lately and am off to Adelaide tonight and won't be back till week after next. XXXX

Weekly posts???

I'm sure things will change but at the moment it's looking like weekly blog updates.  Perhaps it's because the weather is good and signs of Spring are everywhere.  This week I stayed in Bellerive on Thursday night because I was lunching with friends on Friday.

[sorry, can't get this photo to show.  Took it on my iphone so perhaps it's not compatible]

So I had the pleasure of walking along the beach in the evening.  When I got home late Friday afternoon, I had the pleasure of these little guys coming up under the carport.  I've been told that the previous owners did not like flowers but I'm starting to suspect that they did not like self-seeding flowers.  Quite a few bulbs are coming up in the garden.

Jake and Sarah arrived shortly after me on Friday.  We had a lovely cuppla days which I wish I'd photographed...  Today Steve and I drove to Swansea to wish his sister happy birthday.  On the way home we stopped at Cressy Beach to eat our pies.

Other visitors had made a little sculpture.

I inadvertently selfied and didn't realise till I downloaded the photos.

It would be easy to think this is a Welsh beach - except for the wattle.

And this is very nearly a Welsh cottage,

though the gate to the property has an Australian touch.

We took another diversion to find an oyster farm and processor.  In their midden I discovered some fine scallop shells to replace the one I gave my friend Pru as a going away present.

Here's some oyster farmers coming in after a hard day's work.

Bit of excitement on the way home with intrepid camera man Steve capturing the cherry picker with guys working on the opposite side of the road...

Here is Steve relaxing some time over the weekend.  I want you to note the blackbird on the shed behind him.  This is a piece of artwork which he made in Wentworth and which he affixed to Shed 3 last week.  It looks really good.  Today when I returned from my maths tutoring, Steve announced that I had a parcel from Portland.  That could only be Southern Belle.  I saw the packaging and immediately knew what would be inside - a Gold Bunny rose from Treloar Roses just down the road from Jill.  I have planted the rose beneath the blackbird - liking to keep all my symbols and charms together.  It was nearly dark by the time I'd finished so photos will be provided next time.  Another great weekend.

Magical weekend

My weekends start on Thursday after work.  Frantic drive to Triabunna for rehearsal.  Devote Friday and Saturday to setting up for the big show.  Thanks goodness it was one night only.  But it was fabulous, and I proved myself competent. And I may do it again...

With The Show out of the way, I shall have more time for origami.  Got some lovely patterned papers in the mail on Friday and have started to revise my skills with butterflies.

Naturally they did not stay on the shed wall.  The frost got them.  But that is the fate of installations, and butterflies, I suspect.

While on things sheddy, a photo of another of our sheds at sunset.  It has occurred to me that it is probably no longer appropriate to call this blog 'Tirra Lirra' and it is no longer about life on the Murray and Darling Rivers.  'Three Sheds in the Sunset' is a possible new name, as is (and I rather like this) 'I Saw 3 Ships A-Sailing'.  If you look back to Sarah's photo of the cake, you'll see that the logo for the Glamorgan Spring Bay Council is 3 sails.  I like this logo and I love seeing it as I drive home for the weekend and know that I'm nearly home.

Today Sis decided that we should walk to the shop in the opposite direction to the walk I previously blogged (A Trip to the Chemist 3/8/14).  So here we go.  Sis, the trail blazer, takes us past the pine tree

and to the free camping area at the back of the pub.  She is eager to go to the fish and chip van but I insist we go between the hotel and the Georgian buildings that used to be marine barracks.

The lucky people who bought these buildings have started working on them, including mowing the grass.  The hills you can see are the ones which were briefly under snow earlier in the week.

There is so much more to report for this weekend but I'll leave it there.  Have to get ready to drive to work early tomorrow morning.  Also have to think about the squid, caught today, our neighbours have given us for tea.  A whale swam under their boat and cruised around with them for a while.

it's all about the journey...

so thank goodness for mobile phones.  I've finally downloaded my phone photos.

My last photo of Mildura - a gallery in the mall.

 Drive, drive, drive to Adelaide and meet Helly, Tamasin and Willowa at the Central Market.

 All good things must come to an end

and its drive, drive, drive to board the Spirit of Tasmania in Melbourne.

My first day back in Tassie - a quick photo of the port of Devonport as I head south.

 Well, southeast actually to the home we share with 2 (at least) blackbirds.

 I make myself at  home

and am enchanted to find I can spy on the campers at the caravan next door.
(Be warned.)

The new Glamorgan Spring Bay Council Offices are only a literal hop, skip and a jump from our place, so Sarah hopped, skipped and jumped with us to the Opening Ceremony and took a photo of me and the cake.  Perhaps she'll be a reporter?

Steve knew the musicians serenading us through the ceremony.  He and Sarah soaked up the atmosphere while the peasants ate cake inside.

And now a quick peak at my Bridgewater job.  The LINC room decorated with children's art.

A tree planting ceremony for one of the projects I'm involved with.

And more views of beautiful Bellerive.

 I've got it pretty good.

Lastly, the ad (the original was actually square) for an event I attended on the way from Triabunna to Bellerive one Sunday.  Not quite St Davids Cathedral but perfectly adequate for me.

gosh

Snow in Tribes just visible over one of our many garden sheds.  The Glamorgan Spring Bay Council workers should all be snuggy though with their new solar panels - 120 of them.