Golly gosh

How time flies!!  Since I last blogged I've been to the dentist, got new tyres for the car, letterboxed referendum info, weeded Spanish Heath with Friends of Triabunna Reserves plus had a Gathering at The Springy, soireed at The Ladle Cortege and lunched at The East Coaster (we went for cocktails but the one we like best has risen to $28 so I opted for bubbles).

There was also Judy and Malcolm's concert at Friends School auditorium.

We were not a young crowd.  Suzie and I were amongst the younger set.  Some people struggled to climb the stairs to their seats.

But it was well worth it.  The singing was sublime.  Many of the choir members were silver coiffed.  I was bewitched by the shades of purple they sported in the glow of the downlights.  The programme did include Peer Gynt.

The following weekend was of a different ilk.  A Suicide Prevention Network conference

on Steele's Island, a rather speccy place.

In addition to the formal info and ideas swapping, we were treated to a pottery class under the sun

and a High Tea for 10 people that was almost obscene in abundance.  And a curse for diabetics.

Georgia brought some of her newly fired pots to show us before Friday pizzas.

I'm sure she'll be equally dazzled when I get my pottery back from Red Ochre after firing.

uni digs in Elizabeth Street, Hobart

In an amazing historical event, Steve and I drove into Hobart together.  Steve and Jill PD went off somewhere and I went to the Town Hall for a Van Diemen's Band lunchbox concert.

How I love these events.  There's the mingling with my grey-haired peers, and the virtuosic performances.  All for $10.

This concert was also to show off the new artwork by Deborah Wace on the harpsichord lid.  They are all Tasmanian wildflowers, some now extinct.

Back in Tribes there are signs of Spring:

walking to Suzie's place for tai chi

Suzie's driveway

My own garden has surprised with the emergence of some tulips I thought I'd got rid of.  I must admit I do like these small but still elegant ones growing amongst the wasabi leaf plant.

I came across this book by a circuitous route.  Gabrielle Carey co-wrote Puberty Blues with Katty Lette some time ago.  She died only fairly recently.  I'm chuffed that she was as captivated by Elizabeth von Arnim (aka Mary Beachamp) as I am.

I am currently very happy with my garden

broadbean flowers in afternoon sun

and house.  Photos for me to enjoy while I'm away in Adelaide for a cuppla weeks to celebrate Mum's birthday.  97!!

Heart and soul

Well, the week started with an invitation to a birthday party in St Davids next April!!!!  Of course I said yes. I've been unable to think about much else.  It is intended to be a family gathering and I'm so excited at the prospect of catching up with my remaining cousins.  Some are in their 90s now.  Cousin Christine, who will be turning 65, and I are among the younger ones.  I have spent much of the week revisiting my Blog Blodwyn and having such a wonderful time.  Not just reliving my holidays but reading the comments and feeling so close to yous.  Especially Corinne who sadly is no longer with us.  She often crosses my mind and I miss her, her sense of humour and her love of language, and it's been lovely to 'hear' her voice again.

Not withstanding the wallowing in nostalgia, I did have a cuppla adventures this week, though it's been otherwise a low vibe week, missing Zumba on Tuesday from not feeling well, and having a tooth extracted on Wednesday.  Bit of excitement on Wednesday night when The Floosie did her Fleurieu radio show.

Monday I set off for lunch with Madam Cyn and noticed that the native shrubs in our hideous carport are finally doing what I've always wanted them to:  flowering at the same time, with the hardenbergia nearly reaching the carport roof.  Hardenbergia is also known as Native Wisteria and my dream is that it will cascade from the rafters like a Tiffany leadlight window or the cottage in Grantchester.  Actually the perpetually blooming wisteria around the Grantchester rectory drives me nuts.  I'm sure it must be plastic.

The horticultural wonderment continued when I parked at the Cynbin and noticed the view of the Tasman Bridge through the gum trees.

Then I noticed the snow on Mt Wellington / kunyani.  Hobart continues to be a beautiful city.

After lunch I drove back to Triabunna via what I consider to be The Long Way, through Brighton.  It is the way I used to drive home from Bridgewater when I worked there in 2014/15.  Many people consider it a shortcut into Hobart because it bypasses Sorell.  I am not convinced.  But the countryside is lovely and I had to stop to photograph the single file sheep parade.

Despite living mostly in virtual Wales this week, I read this Heather Rose book which is in  much demand at the library so I thought I should pass it on ASAP.  I really enjoy her novels and it was illuminating to read the adventures and, ultimately, the philosophy of this Tassie born girl.

Having left Wales behind for a while, I am now reading Maus.

Ella told me about this book and I'm so glad she did.  It is not a book I would have picked up ordinarily, it being graphic and me being a snob.  Ella is studying Illustration at uni and explained to me the amount of work involved in producing a graphic novel.  It's obvious when you think about it, but I never had!

 The book was a high school text book for Ella.  No wonder that family is so well informed.

I have also just started Come in Spinner.  I learned about this one, written in the late 1940s, from my re-reading of Caddie.  There are times in my life when I just want to scream with gratitude for being born when and where I was, and the comfy life I've been able to live.

Friday morning I awoke to this amazing sight - a rainbow at dawn.  I wouldn't have thought it was physically possible.

Unbeknownst to me, while I was in the back garden capturing the rainbow finishing at the council offices, Steve was in the front garden taking this:

Despite the warning and cowering shepherds, Anne of the Ladle Cortege and I proceeded to lunch at The East Coaster.

The day had turned dull and we needed a little pickmeup.  The wine was from  McLaren Vale and I think I'll be visiting the winery next time I'm in South Australia...https://serafinowines.com.au/

Le jardin revisité

French, not because of Le Tour but because of la tour d'Eiffel virtually opposite our place.  The work on it is now finished and it looked magnificent one evening as I was driving home.

I haven't written much about the garden lately because there is not much to tell.  I have been reducing the area of productive garden and gradually converting it to predominantly Tasmanian eastcoast endemics.  I don't seem to have the time or energy to be growing lots of vegetables, and I do like the idea of making my garden as wildlife friendly as possible.

Fortunately the garden has a mind of its own so it's sent up broadbeans, silverbeet, mâche and heartsease on its own initiative.

I  altered this small area to be just garden stones and poa.  I'd forgotten about the jonquils, and the artichokes obviously decided to return.

I have learned that it is perfectly acceptable and useful to combine natives and exotics.  The japonica and Silver Princess may not do much more for the wildlife than provide nectar for birds, but they feed my soul.

I am proud of my poa and lichened stones, though can't say I've seen much wildlife hanging around.

All this backyard conversion requires a lot of of pruning and then chipping.  The pile never seems to diminish.

You may recall that when we first moved into this house, over nine years ago, I said the first thing I was going to do was take the heads of these palings to make a standard picket fence.  It will never happen, plus I think that these pickets are probably more appropriate.  Regardless, I like the lichen.

So let's open the gates (we keep them closed these days so Jill can use the doggy door safely day and night) and stroll along Melbourne Street towards George's place.

The footy oval is just about opposite Georgia's  house.  Last weekend there was a big match on and the oval was lined with cars.  I thought of taking a photo but was too lazy.  I believe there will be a big match next weekend and I may drop in to imbibe some atmosphere.  I doubt I'll stay long.  It's all a bit peripheral to me but the heart of Triabunna for many.

Back to the Tribes I love.  The evenings have been beautiful.

Today I finished reading this wonderful book.  I loved Eat, Pray, Love and read it twice at a time when it was just the sort of book I needed to read.  This book is nothing like it.  It is huge in scope, well researched, intellectually challenging, exciting and gratifying.  I wish I'd written it.

Variety week

 For some the week started comme d'habitude (we talk like that during Le Tour).

Sunday morning in the sunroom, possibly after a night watching bikes

I can't actually remember that Sunday, though that may have been the day I started giving Ella driving lessons.

Tuesday saw me sacrifice zumba to visit Malcolm's place with Friends of Triabunna Reserves.  Malcolm's property borders The Pines, one of our strangest reserves because it is Crown Land filled increasingly with self-seeding radiata pine.  Locals often use it as a tip, and it has an eerie atmosphere.

We're returning tomorrow to attack some Spanish Heath and boneseed.  Our reward is soup and delicious sourdough bread at The Village.

Wednesday was civilised scary.  I took my sewing machine into Hobart for repair, only to be told that there was nothing wrong with it.  I'd just forgotten one small step necessary to raise the feed-dogs.  Hmmmm.  So I thought I'd drop in to Bellerive and see if I could get a copy of John Houghton's book on the Bellerive Sorell Railway for a friend.  Bellerive Village has changed so much since we lived there.  I no longer find it charming.

The newsagent does still stock our Bellerive Heritage series but had long sold out of John's railway book.

I consoled myself with the Winter InStyle - unobtainable in Triabunna or Orford, and required reading for a lifestyle like mine.

I had left the car in the carpark behind our old house.  It was amusing to see this sign indicating the  house where we used to live.  We always referred to it as 01 Queen Street because a young Georgia had painted the number on the top of the letterbox while facing the street.

From memory, Thursday was wildly windy so I gave myself permission to do nothing but read Heather Rose The Museum of Modern Love.  I love her writing and am boggled that one person seems to know so much of the tangibles and intangibles of life.  It really challenged me to think.  Being in virtual New York for a couple of days was refreshing too.

Friday was tai chi only cos yoga's on hold for 2 weeks.  Later the Weily Fox and I had a meeting with a local councilor to discuss some community health stuff.  We tossed around ideas during the course of which the councilor mentioned a woman with whom I think I have something in common, ie an ex-husband.

A walk to the shops showed signs of Spring, so I finally spent some time in the garden.

first flowers in Daffodil Alley

the japonica looking good

garlic emerging

hellebores, etc

And I finally got to blutack this card above my bedroom door as a reward for cleaning and tidying my room.  Back in the 1970s I saw an etching of goldfish that I desired with all my heart.  It was $600+ and way out of my league.  I like this little card nearly as much.