The Happy Wanderer returns

Referencing the Floosie whose South Australian adventures always excite me.  One day I'll join her in her South Australian discoveries.  I love wandering.  I enjoy the buzz of public transport and sitting in airports with other travellers.  As a child, 'I love to go a wandering...' was one of the songs the family sang as we holidayed in our kitted out Bedford van, and as we walked the lanes and clifftops in Wales.

These days I tend to beat the same path from West Beach to Christies Beach when in South Australia, but there are other adventures to be had.  Shortly after arriving, I received an invitation to an exhibition opening at Carrick Hill, and this one was special.  David, my sister's partner, had a work in the Heysen Sculpture Biennial which was to be held once only at Carrick Hill while The Cedars is under repair / maintenance.  I had been to Carrick Hill once before with Mum so it was a trip down memory lane for me and a revelation to The Pearl.

an amazing house and garden

we both loved this apparently joyous copper sculpture,

though it was inspired by bushfire in the Mallee

There is a point where you can look downhill to the magnificent house

or uphill to this magnificent river gum, spotlighted by yellow thread.  Pearl and I were both stunned by this.

But onwards to the main event - David's sculpture.  It is beautiful up close

and much bigger than you think!  This was such an unexpected and wonderful evening.  The lavishness and generosity of the catering was outstanding and, though it's not obvious here, the 'art crowd' were out in full, fabulous arty uniform.

I spent 3 days visiting Mum, driving Pearl's car and eating her food.  Then it was off to Canberra,

via the efficient Eloise at Marion who cured me of my aversion to Flight Centre and didn't mind me taking this photo.

Canberra was a whirl with

National Gallery of Australia,

lichen on a tree beside The Lake,

more outside sculpture with truncated Carillion beyond,

Lady Jayne and Lucy under the moon at Questacon,

falling water at Tidbinbilla Reserve,

the healthiest lilac tree I have ever seen at Rock Valley Homestead,

offcut art at the botanical gardens

and Lady Jayne's beautifully restored gardens.

'But was there any food?', I hear you ask.  There was

a considered bubbly or two in the curated arbour

(my selfie skills are not improving),

a delicious red Pearl bought at the d'Arenberg Cube at McLaren Vale

and kindly brought along for the red guzzlers,

dazzling desserts at the Arboretum restaurant,

and perfect banh mi in the City.

I loved this restaurant with its Vietnamese accoutrements.  Possibly kitsch, but a joy to remember those long ago trips to Vietnam and Vietnamese friends.  Happy wandering indeed.

And then back to Adelaide

for Pearl had a birthday party to attend as a character from Alice in Wonderland.  We decided she was the Mad Rabbit.  I made my last jaunts to Mum and took the long way home on my final visit to check out Benny Avenue between Christies Beach and Port Noarlunga.  Many years ago I looked at a small shack for sale on Benny Avenue.  Sometimes I wish I'd bought it.

view from the end of the street

same spot looking south to Port Noarlunga

same spot looking north towards Christies Beach

Pearl and I kept to tradition and dined at the Swedish furniture shop that must not be named, 

and then it was on to the airport for an Adelaide farewell

and a pleasant wait to board for Hobart

with the sun setting as I arrived home.

Are you going to Orford School Fair?

It has been busy, mostly mowing the lawns with a bit of chipping thrown in.  You have to seize the sunny day for these activities, and these have been pretty rare.  The rate at which the grass grows is incredible.  It take 3 battery recharges for me to mow all the grassed areas.

To re-charge my own battery I went to a TSO strings concert at Spring Bay Mill.  I fantasised arriving at The Mill, getting a bean-bag up the front, getting a glass of bubbly, and being in heaven - and that's what happened!

The next Friday I went to a TSO Brass in the Cathedral concert at St Davids in Hobart.  I was so excited at the prospect of hearing Big Brass in the cathedral.  But I did not get so close to heaven this time.  The mistake was mine:  I had imagined being virtually alone in the cathedral and I had confused Gershwin's American in Paris with Rhapsody in Blue.  Still it was an amazing event and I drove home in the dark and fog without seeing a creature on the road.  In fact  I only saw 3 cars on the entire drive home.

The Sunday saw both the Village Market and the annual Seafarers' Memorial and Blessing of the Fleet.  Jill PD and I watched from a distance.  This is a very difficult service for some locals because they have lost relatives at sea.

Boating life went on with reflections playing on the fishing boats

and the Maria Island ferry departing on schedule.

The blessing of the fleet was doubly disappointing - no bronzed Greek gods diving for a crucifix in the water, and the scattered flowers straight from the shop and still in their wrapper.

We were blessed to see The Governor quite close up.

Wednesday night, finally, was The Orford School Fair.  This is a lively community event and Friends of Triabunna Reserves were invited to have a stall.  I am always thankful and stunned by the skills the members bring to our group.  From virtually nothing we created an attractive stall and display space.

Did I think to take a photo?  No, of course not.  But here's our logo.

And here's the Maria Voices with Gina upfront for Big Yellow Taxi - which should perhaps be the anthem for The Friends of Triabunna Reserves.  It's wonderful when you know everyone in the choir.  One day I may join...

Yesterday I spent a cuppla hours at PUBS flogging books.  As usual, the time went very pleasantly.  I got into conversation with a lady who paused talking and said that I really reminded her of Miriam Margoyles.  Meant in the nicest possible way.  I am intrigued by MM but she is 81, a little older than I.  Once people said I reminded them of Felicity Kendall.  I can even remember that.

The garden has been neglected apart from pulling up weeds and mowing grass.  Finally, after about 4 years, I have one gooseberry - which will ripen while I'm away.

At least the lily of the valley and solomon's seal are going to plan, though the l.o.v. does not have much scent.

A little bit of reading.  I ordered this book from the library after my other self, Jackie Morris, mentioned it in her blog.  I was a bit scared to start it because it is about a mermaid caught by brutal men and I thought I would get too angry and hatefilled, but it is a good and very different read.

Finally, I am off to Adelaide this evening.  Two days in Adelaide to visit Mum then a road trip in The Oyster with Pearl to Canberra, via Sandrine in Mildura - all floods permitting.  Return date currently unknown.  I will be away for Halloween so here's a message for you I photographed last time I was in Adelaide.

Fairly random

Things are happening, but not with many photos.

Vivien gave me a tea-towel with one of her designs when she visited recently.  She said some people use them as hand towels, an idea I seized on.  I had 3 others of her work filed away because they were getting too wrecked as tea towels.  All washed now and ready to dry clean hands in the bathroom.

I had some Friends of Triabunna Reserves' business to attend to at Pelican Walk last week.  En route I noticed these tulips in The Honey Lady's garden.  I'm not a great fan of tulips but, en masse and in the evening sunlight, they looked stunning.

Sadly we had a funeral to go to yesterday.  It was held at a funeral home on Rosny Hill.  The view of Bellerive from the carpark is amazing.

I have been doing some serious reading,

and some not so serious reading, although the topics touched on in both are of great importance to me.

I made a pledge to myself some time ago to read all the Charles Dickens books in order.  I reluctantly started The Pickwick Papers out of duty but find I absolutely love it.  It seems to me that there are allusions to events in Jane Austen and Henry Fielding's writing, and probably to dozens of  writers that I don't know.  Social commentary and events occur that become  major themes in later novels.  And also complaints that continue today, eg disgust at the old buildings that are being pulled down and the ugliness of the modern buildings that are replacing them!

In praise of my blog

I don't have many readers of my blog these days.  Blogs are a dying medium and sometimes I wonder whether to continue BUT THEN a question arises about some event in the past and I scroll through past posts seeking information and PROOF (for those who remember the Hugo Weaving film).  I don't always find what I'm looking for but I love seeing my life flash before my eyes.  The blog acts as a journal, particularly a garden journal.  And so I shall continue, even if it's only for me and my garden plans.

Flowers from Georgia's garden to remind me of the Sip n Paint sessions she took at the Darlington Vineyard during Great Eastern Wine Week.  I didn't attend any of her sessions but I heard rave reviews, and have seen quite a few paintings of the daffodils.

I couldn't resist Chard's re-opening, even though I need absolutely nothing.  I told Cheryl (who owns and runs Chard) that I was not there to buy but to enjoy her inspiration and design.  Her sense of style is amazing.  She divides the space into small rooms a little like Ikea and decorates them with online finds at incredibly low prices.  It is an upmarket recycle shop.  I think it is also an addiction for Cheryl.  She leased out the shop due to health problems but no-one does it like Cheryl!  When the lease expired, she took it back on.

Then there was the Sunday  Steve summoned me to The Village to meet a German Shepherd pup.  Be still my heart.  Heike lives with Liz and Carl J on Bruny Island.  She is one lucky puppy.

And last week, amazingly my friend Vivien arrived from Sydney for 5 days in Hobart.  We were childhood friends in England and have seen each other three times since, and not for the last 20+ years.  She had exhibitions and galleries to attend but the Wednesday was ours.  I picked her up in Hobart and drove via Richmond to Triabunna via The Darlington Vineyard, venue for Georgia's Sip n Paint that afternoon.  Meet and greet with Steve and George then up the East Coast to Swansea, for lunch at Salt Shaker overlooking the beach.  Seafood chowder and wine for two, of course.  Then back down that magnificent coastline for a quick look at the view of Freycinet from Boomer Creek Vineyard, and on to Hobart via Sorell this time.  Then a facetime (or similar) chat with Rosemary in Spain from Vivien's hotel room.  A fabulous day, and a careful night time drive home.

I took my own Wine Week adventure last Saturday.  I have been watching the construction of a beautiful building on a gentle rise just before Swansea for some months.  I thought perhaps it was the house of the people who run Tasman Sea Salt  but it turns out to be a new cellar door winery at Mayfield.  It was a $120.00 adventure but proved well worth it despite being a white and pinot winery which, sadly, is what the East Coast grows.

The view from the carpark is enticing - shame about the cars!

farmier this way.

very farmy this way

We had bubbles and salt enhanced canapés at the winery then set off for our first walk across the fields to the newish Tasman Saltworks.  A rosé (from memory) at the saltworks, an explanation of the salt making process, and an experiment in flavour boosting with cherry tomatoes and chocolate. [Unfortunately this has made  me remember that Steve bought me some salted caramel Lindt chocolate yesterday at my request.  Hypothesis supported.]  Above you can see the shadows of the photographer and corner of the salt shed.   Off we trotted like sheep to our next destination. 

Fortunately we all wore stout boots, as advised, for this part of the expedition took us to a narrow beach with the tide coming in, and up and down rocks.  This is the sort of jaunt I love, though challenging with a glass in hand.

We clambered around the headland to the relic of the Mayfield jetty.  There a table was set up with platters of oysters, fresh and kilpatricked.  Fresh oysters!  The biggest, plumpest I have ever seen.  A cold and crisp chardonnay accompanied.  Unfettered by companions and manners, I launched into the fresh oysters.  Absolute heaven.  Then it was a bit more beach walking and bush bashing back to the winery where pinot and pizza awaited.  A magnificent 2 hours.

Back home in Tribes

It's nice to be  home and feeling well again.  I'm still a bit deaf - leading to some amusement when I asked a student at school lunch today whether they were going to the beach or a swimming pool this afty.  I thought she'd said they were going swimming, apparently she'd said they were going surfing...  These kids really do have some great subject choices.  Though, admittedly it is cold and wet today.

The photo below was taken a cuppla days ago, but with similar weather.

I love that Triabunna is still a working fishing port

a section of Georgia's garden

my daffodil alley

a view of my garden that you don't get to see often,

but that I spend a lot of time thinking about

and planning for

a rather dark photo of the quince tree getting ready to spring into action

 

a view of the productive garden

though not terribly productive at the moment

And then, of course, there's reading.

I don't understand how someone living in the USA can write so  knowledgeably about England, but Elizabeth George seems to.  This book centres around Female Genital Mutilation in England's Nigerian and Somali communities.  I learnt a lot.

This one restored my equilibrium.  Books, boats and nice men.  Delightful.

Mother

Today is Mum's 96th birthday.  The day I saw her on the verandah of the nursing home, all rugged up for the wind and cold, reminded me of this photo from our trip to St Davids in 2010.

We were walking on the road to Whitesands (Porth Mawr) and had just crossed the bridge where Dad saw the ghost of a hooded monk many, many years ago.

I also have to report, while on the mother theme, that I wore Mum's fur coat to the FrocknFur.  

Someone said I looked like the Queen Mother.

And, on one of the rare occasions when I got to see Mum in the nursing home this visit, someone asked me if I was Mum's sister...

Under the doctor

That's what we say in these parts.  I'm now on antibiotics and presume I'm getting better.  Certainly not worse.  The weather here has been very kind since I've been back, encouraging lots of time in the garden and on the deck.

hoping the spiders will catch the codling moths

a new plan is forming for this area

a walk to the chemist earlier in the week revealed this shop had closed down,

a walk to the post office the next day showed it is re-opening soon

The FrocknFur (and Feathers) event at Scorchers to raise money for the RSPCA was planned before I went away.

It also happened to be Robyn's birthday

Louise took time off from Grandma duties.

Georgia snuk into just about every photo.

Her Majesty the Queen of Hearts (and Judy Dench doppleganger) holds the raffet tickles aloft.

We raised $180.00 for the RSPCA.  I'm hoping we can channel it into a special program to care for the pets of victims of domestic violence and homeless people.  Not everyone has it as easy as us, or our pets.