November 2018 (3)

I went into Adelaide a cuppla times just to absorb the Christmas spirit.  I think the mall decorations are outstanding, presumably a Council effort because the tableau were free standing and not in store windows.  There are also forests of good fake Christmas trees.  It made me proud to have an Adelaide connection.  I should have gone in to see them at night.

There are also some quirky permanent pieces.

Mum, Pat and I went to Marino Rocks fish and chippery and ate in this time.  It was a lot more expensive but well cooked, and the staff really looked after us.

Mum and I had our own Christmas lunch on my last full day.  Salads from Captain Hook (including seafood salad), everything else from Mercato.  All our favourite things.

I could eat like this forever,

especially with tartufo for dessert.

Outside, one branch of golden apricot globes was protected from the parrots

and I festooned a branch of the plum tree with these inflatable Christmas baubles.

Some people went to much greater lengths, and heights.

The next day Gertrude was very excited to go to her new island home

and was quite surprised at the warmth of her reception.  A little Calvin and Hobbes.

And here's my garden on that first day back.

The End

November 2018 (2)

In addition to Erik the Lizard at the front, Eddie Lizard out the back (who may in fact be one and the same) and Max the Cat, we had a family of magpies visit on a regular basis.  They became quite tame which is endearing but alarming given Max's visits too.  You may be pleased to know that those Watsonias at the top of the picture have been cut down and used as mulch around the garden edge.  I spent quite a lot of time in the garden and the magpies often accompanied me.

I met H Bells and Willowa for lunch at the market.  That's when I had the not so good takeaway coconut salad.  Helly has to bring her own food because of her allergies.  Willowa is vegetarian verging on vegan.  So we eat in the food court area.  However we then visited their favourite icecream parlour and I had an amazingly delicious gorgonzola, pear, fig and walnut icecream.  Who knew!

I have mentioned previously the fast disappearing unassuming but dignified houses and gardens.  This one is on Second Avenue.

This one is on the corner of Second Avenue and OG Road.  It holds a special place in my heart because it's where I first became aware of Italian productive gardens.  It's hard to believe that the owners are still those from the 1960s

but maybe.

Regardless, they continue to garden in the same style.

One Saturday H Bells and I rendezvoused at the Payneham Library to experience the annual Cactus and Succulent Show.  They have got it down to a fine art - give you a box when you enter for any goodies you may wish to buy, snake around the tables and pay cash or card at the checkouts at the end.  Most impressive.

As were the plants and displays themselves.  Below is my favourite.

It was all a bit overwhelming.  Not so much for me because I couldn't buy anything to take back to Tassie.  There was a lot of pondering for some.

This was an intriguing idea, used to decorate the morning / afternoon tea tables.  And mostly I shop for ideas.

Still reeling from the Succulent extravaganza, Willowa took me to the St Paul's College fete where she was doing a Tae Kwon Do demonstration.  A private wildlife centre was displaying some of its wares.

Watching the warm up was like old times at Viet Vo Dao.

Willowa was the star of the show to this unbiased observer aunty, breaking tiles with kicks to both sides.

Then she had a spar with a chap who looked quite benign in comparison.

And then, of course, it's time for a nice cool down.

I went to yoga at Encounter Bay on three Tuesdays.  The second time the Floosie excelled herself with these - eccles!!  And so prettily served.

And one day I did one of my rainy day visits to the Botanical Gardens with the channel spated.  Many years ago I danced Wu Tao on the right bank.

Still more adventures to come.

butt

life continues in Tribes.  On Saturday we had the Suicide Prevention Network Memorial Day at Spring Beach.  It is always a beautiful event.

Some sounds more welcome than others...  I, being the treasurer, paid the piper and I must admit he did an excellent job (if you like that sort of thing - which most people do, finding it both stirring and soothing - like a martini).

lovely to see a man emptying the rose petal basket

not clearly evident here, but optimistic seagulls on the Lions sausage sizzle van

Saturday arvo there was Christmas Carol culture at the Triabunna Community Hall.  Her Majesty the Sun God is up front on your left hand side.

I actually took the photo because the conductor had on leather trousers, though not shown to best advantage here.  When we dissected the event at Zumba on Tuesday, Her Majesty had to remind us that there also was some singing.

We all stood up for the final number and I took a shot down our row because we were all Tai Chi-ers.  The whole gang was there except for our inspiration and fearless leader Jackie.

When the crowds had dispersed and we were helping with the packing up, I took a quick photo of my toenails and those of Her Majesty and Mrs O Henry.  I'd noticed on the beach while we were tai chi-ing the day before how stunning our toenails looked glinting on the sand.  Somewhat gloomier in the Hall with the suggestion of the morgue...  Just need a tag on the big toe.

In other news, a big pear has landed at our local coffee house.

In old news,

some of the Zumbettes worked on the Great Eastcoast Clean Up in the week before I left for Adelaide.

Not a bunch you'd want to meet on a dark night.  Talking of which, on Tuesday Jill PD and I walked to the supermarket to get some cream for the broadbean extravanza I was cooking that night.  Jill insisted on returning the long way around via the back of the pub.  We weaved our way through the monstrous SUVs and caravans taking advantage of the free camping, and there was the town goat once more blocking the right of way.  Fortunately Steve had asked me to buy some apples so I seduced the goat with an apple while Jill and I leapt over its tether and continued home.

November 2018 (1)

The drive from Melbourne to Adelaide is developing a pattern.  Drive, drive, drive to prove I can make it to the Westgate Bridge and the road to Ballarat.  Keep driving to Dimboola to buy a coffee then breakfast at Pink Lake.  Yoghurt and Tribes honey and walnuts in the jar.  Aeroguard very necessary, despite constant wind blasts.

(mysterious markings in the sky again)

Ramsey Avenue was looking splendiferous on my arrival.  The jacarandas looked a little straggly but by the end of November they were magnificent.

Our first jaunt was to Marino Rocks cafe where we were very pleased with the quality of fish and chips wrapped in paper.

Here's the view from the carpark.  It was quite a moody day and we enjoyed a hailstorm while we munched.

I meanly took this photo for Fleurieu Floosie to show her what a passionfruit vine should look like...  (She has since reported that her plant has lifted its game).  Klemzig is changing so quickly but I'm pleased to say there are still some classic and dignified homes.

And here's the classic and dignified River Rat alongside The Oyster, Pearl's new car.  The venue shall remain anonymous so as not to outrage Lady J but I shall report that, surprisingly, I had a very nice curried chicken - a Diwali special apparently.  We also looked as some furnitury type stuff.

I was delighted to find this new foody place at the Central Market.  I perched on a stool and ate the most delicious fresh and tangy coconut salad.  (On a subsequent trip I had it takeaway but this was not so good).  Eat in!

I also discovered this, to me, new aspect of the Adelaide Arcade - a glass floor to show the rather flash staircase to former Tea Rooms.  These are the surprises that make me love cities.

Lunch on the verandah with the much loved but not invited Max who lives nextdoor.  He met his match.

Erik the Lizard also became part of the scenery for a while having taken up residence under the beautiful ramp that David built.  Disappointingly he disappeared a few days before I left (ie Erik).

Finally I remembered to photo the yoga place to which FF and I repair on Tuesdays for respite from domestic duties.  It is the instructor's house with the dedicated yoga space seen here to the left of the front door.  I love the look of the house and garden.

We took to driving to Port Eliot after yoga for more spiritual sustenance.  Here's the Post Office from which I posted Steve's large and bulky card for his 70th!!!!! birthday.  I whacked on $2.50 postage on Tuesday and he received it on Thursday.  That new CEO Postage deserves every cent of her $3m.

 

And this wasn't just any Tuesday but Melbourne Cup Day.  It certainly stopped Port Eliot.  Only 2 shops open, fortunately including the PO nestled in a cafe.

The Floosie loaned me this book, an early Upfield and not a Napoleon Bonaparte mystery.  Not my favourite Upfield but exciting to read it on The Day.

More adventures to come.