Easterish

Pearl returned home on the Tuesday and Lady Jayne arrived on Wednesday.  The Easterers were just about together again.  We visited old haunts.

Where the river meets the sea at Port Noarlunga.  A lot of frolicking with first husbands happened here.

Pearl showed us where this beautiful staircase now winds down to the beach.

A West Beach marina.

We took the Glenelg tram into the Adelaide Market to stock up on provisions for New Year's Eve.  I was in my element, though it was rather ho hum for Pearl and Lady Jayne who have everyday access to such abundance.  We spent an indulgent NYE watching the Adelaide fireworks with some of Pearl's neighbours, and Lady Jayne and I saw the New Year in, something neither of us have done for a loooong time.  We even kept a vague pledge to return to Port Noarlunga for a swim on New Year's Day,

joining the local talent,

me

The Pearl

Lady Jayne keeps wisely to the shade.

though not in the yellow, blue and olive green terry towelling bikinis of yore.

The next day was all about culture.  Back on the Glenelg tram and off to the Botanical Gardens and Art Gallery.

via Adelaide Uni, our alma mater

turtles at the Bot Gards enthralled  young and old

The Art Gallery seems to have been rejigged a bit and has a fresher look to my eyes.  I was a bit stunned to see all these works of Clarice Beckett on one wall.  The Floosie and I went to an exhibition of her work which had an entire downstairs gallery devoted it to it.  You can see her blog post of it here.

It was lovely to see these works on display in the main gallery and not relegated to 'Indigenous Art' or some such niche spot.

The Adelaide skyline seems different every time I visit.  This is the view from the Art Gallery's original entrance on North Terrace.  I would be  unable to place it had I not taken the photo myself.

After all that culture you need to replenish the brain with a good fish feed.

So we went to Glenelg Marina in search of a seafood platter.  It took us a while but we found it at a restaurant called The Wharf.  It was expensive but delicious.

Pearl knows a secret parking spot where there are always parks, plus a pleasant walk to the restaurant strip on the marina.  It was a very silver evening as we walked to the car.  We returned to the restaurant the next evening to try their beef ragout with pumpkin gnocchi.  It was a huge serve but too salty for me,

but we struggled womanfully.  And thus, after an indulgent and nostalgic week, we parted ways.  Lady Jayne back to Canberra, me off to Encounter Bay, and the Pearl finally allowed to enjoy the comfort of her own home.

Yule log

On Christmas Eve last year I drove to Devonport and boarded the ferry for Geelong.  I was in need of adventure, 2022 being a flatish year.  To avoid confusing Father Christmas, many people choose not to travel on Christmas Eve, so Spirit of Tasmania fares were discounted and I treated myself to a cabin with porthole.  Glorious.  I munched gingerbreads, chocolates and rum balls, as the lights of Devonport receded. 

Geelong hoves into view

Christmas Day was hot and I faced the forthcoming drive to Adelaide with some trepidation.  My first test was to find my way out of Geelong, home to the new ferry terminal.  As you know, I'm not very good at that stuff and it took me an hour to find the right road and, even then, I had to compromise by  driving to Ballarat because I couldn't see the turn off to Ararat.

I had promised my travelling companions that we would stop at Dadswell Bridge to  have a drink with Christmas Koala.

Bobbin and Flowers were blown away by the gargantuan beast but thankful for the shade.

Despite its imposing presence, the koala offered no succour.  The cafe was closed.  We stopped somewhere for petrol and iced coffee and drove on wishing for Christmas miracles like air conditioning and a working fuel gauge.

We arrived Chez Pearl in the evening,

hot, tired, disheveled, but thankful there was a bottle of bubbly keeping cool in the sleeping bag in the back of the car.  Pearl was away on an adventure of her own.

Flowers and Bobbin made themselves very much at home and we enjoyed a convivial evening sipping bubbles, eating cornchips with truffled triple cream brie, and opening presents.  Father Christmas had found us after all.

I awoke on Boxing Day to find Pearl's place boxed in by cars and people trudging in 40 degree heat to buy stuff at Harbor Town sales.  My day was dedicated to keeping cool, visiting Mum in the blissfully cool nursing home, and a long bath.

HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!!

 

It's the Year of the Rabbit

and I have a new origami kit.

And so this is Christmas

It's been a social time.

Mama Minestrone cooking up a storm for school lunch

when she could be making Christmas puddings

Went to The Eastcoaster for bubbles and Korean Squid with Cheryl Swim,

and again for Ella's 22nd birthday

sometimes I stayed home to eat and watch others work

Van Diemen's Band and choirs at Spring Bay Mill,

always the start of Christmas for me.

More carols the next night,

free this time.

It's lovely when you know everyone in the choir.

Here, Gina and Robyn rock out Santa Baby.  Rob waits to resume MCing duties.

Father Christmas gave the children bubble machines.

Georgia and I were very grateful for Ella's youthful looks.

There  have been other feasts along the way but I was too busy eating to take photographs,

with one exception:

Pizza and Christmas Pud with Georgia and Ella last night

(after an oyster and bubbly bash with The Cousins yesterday afternoon)

And so, for now, I will leave you with red and green.

and wishes for a

Very Merry Christmas

and a

Fabulous 2023

(not forgetting Chinese New Year on 22 January.  Bring on the Bunnies)

🐇🐇🐇🐇🐇

🐇

Diddley squid

You may recall that I was off to the Squid Festival last time I blogged, the free screening of 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea to be more precise.  I was particularly interested because I had stayed in Nantes with my friend Helene, and this is where Jules Verne was born.  I think I visited the Jules Verne Museum while I was there, but that was back in 1983, too far back to remember.

Triabunna was eerily transformed.

The turn up to the screening was very disappointing but I thoroughly enjoyed the film and marveled at the special effects for a 1954 production.

When I got home (after a stroll home under a spectacularly clear sky laden with stars) and reported to Steve, he got very excited and found his much loved childhood book.

And so I experienced the film again, noting that Esmeralda the Seal in the film is Snoopy in the book.  Jill PD and I both think Esmeralda steals the show.  The next day I joined a bush foods walk around the esplanade.  Friends of Triabunna Reserves endeavour to maintain the indigenous plants here on the foreshore.  It was amazing to hear that these plants, which we take somewhat for granted, can all be put to good usage if you have the knowledge.  It has made me all the more committed to the Friends group.

A full day of exhibitions, lectures and squid related events followed.  I did not attend these, though the later reports were very good.  My feeling is that the event was more popular with Hobart people than locals.

The Saturday night saw Jill PD and I meander to the marina.  Walking down Melbourne Street towards the water we were greeted by an amazing sight and sound.  Sail billowing, a yacht cruised towards us and ethereal music filled the sea.  An unforgettable experience.  The singer and musicians continued on board as the boat circled the marina, the sail a constantly changing canvas.  Spell binding.

I'd like to say I stayed in that enchanted space, but in fact I haven't done much because I haven't felt well - tired and tooth achey - but covid negative.  We have continued weekly tai chi at the Community Health Centre, which has been extravagantly decorated for the season.

we would look beautiful if we didn't have to wear masks

fortunately we know the ropes - the signage artfully hidden

The weather had been cold, wet and windy so not much happening in the garden, though I do have broad beans and raspberries.

this is about the most interesting sight in the garden!

Gooseberry fool

I've eaten my one gooseberry.  I had forgotten how exquisitely they are flavoured.  I hope there're more next year!  I've also eaten 2 raspberries, with the promise of  more.  Apart from those, there are only broad beans to eat.  But I am grateful for

abundant Gold Bunnies

opinionated grandsons at Thanks Giving

fine food and friends and

being allowed to wear my uggies to Thanks Giving.

There's also

the truly amazing and generous Maria Voices choir

at Remembrance Day

Steve spent a night in hospital last Sunday to get some new blood so Jilly PD and I took it upon ourselves to fish and chipnic in the rain at Luther Point on Monday.

(There'll be a short break in transmission while I meet my friend Anne

for lunch at the pub.  I may have a food obsession.)

Here I am at the pub waiting for Anne of the Ladle Cortege. (You can actually see  her in the Thanksgiving photo).

(lunch was delicious)

When I'm not eating, I try to make time for reading.

I have become a huge fan of Heather Rose

This one dances around topics and places of great interest to me but left me dissatisfied.

I'm only into the first few pages of this and am struggling a bit.  You may know it.  It's an early 'thriller' first published in 1939.  I saw holloways in Devon featured on telly while staying at Pearl's, and was very intrigued.  Rogue Male partly takes place in a holloway , according to the program I saw.  It better do.

This is much more my sort of thing.  The book is colourfully illustrated by the author.  Naturally, places in Paris get a mention but it is really about applying the spirit of adventure and curiosity to where you live.  A clever little book.

It's not quite The Louvre, but I did notice recently how pretty is this view from the toilet door to the kitchen...

Yesterday Jill PD and I tripped around town carrying out a few little chores.  At first we thought we could hear mermaids singing (thank you Seven Skins of Esther Wilding) but the music was coming from this boat at the marina.  I suspect it was a practice for The Squid Festival that starts tonight.  I am off to a screening of the 1954 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea in a few minutes.