The stash

But first, St Patrick's Day which fell on a Friday, ie Pizza Night

Guinness served decorously

my wine, boxed undecorously,

but brought to the door by Don the Postie

first present to arrive but not opened until the 18th

incredible basil and coriander

a vase for japonica blossom,

and tea towel for my one day caravan

legend from a legend - 

transporting me back to those balmy 40 degree Mildura days,

bunkered in Sandrine's new house

Seventy on a Saturday

My birthday was a long time ago but I haven't had internet access since about that time, so here's the start of a catch up.

early birthday morning self-portrait

we didn't do Christmas Lunch last year cos I was driving to Adelaide, so we had it for my birthday

I don't recall a birthday cake, but a good thought nevertheless

The day was low key and relaxing, as Saturdays should be.  I had my own cunning plan for celebrating 7  decades which shall be revealed, internet allowing...

Back at the mochyn yn hedfan

I have been home for over a month now.  February is the month when everything takes off, especially at The Flying Pig.

briefly achieved my 'grandma with strawberries' fantasy

realised my sewing paraphernalia sat nicely on this page from the France foodlover's pilgrimage book

strolling wildlife after Georgia had her paddocks slashed

wildlife in our garden

meeting Georgia on her way home from work for a swim

(this isn't actually us.  They appeared while I was waiting.)

croc infestation on our deck

Mrs O'Henry and Her Majesty hunting zucchinis while Mr O'Henry is away

my new boots, necessary for

weeding at Pelican Walk with Friends of Triabunna Reserves

haunted by swans.  A challenging read.

presentation of photo artwork for new Years 11 and 12 building at school

opening of Dorothy's Retrospective Exhibition last Saturday

Jilly gets solar powered

Clean Up Australia Day at Ada Street Reserve on Sunday

Easter lilies at Community Health Centre where we do tai chi, and will now do zumba from tomorrow.

We also had a very happy St David's Day on March 1st.  Georgia and I lived on welshcakes for 3 days.

Au revoir, Geelong, not So Long

The drive south from Mildura is far from my favourite.  I could bear it when I worked in Mildura and left on the eve of the Labour Day long weekend to travel to Portland. Once I got to Hopetoun, I knew I was in for the pleasures of the Hs - Horsham, Hamilton and Heywood.  Not so the road to Geelong - Birchip, Donald, etc in the Mallee / Wimmera - wheat country that I find frightening.  I heard it described recently as a desert, and that is how I experienced it.  Perhaps the Gobi was too much on my mind.  Sun on the stubble does not entrance me.  I can think only of agribusiness, monoculture and supermarket ads.  The pastries (totally wheatless, I'm sure) were quickly consumed and had to provide comfort until I reached St Arnaud.  From there, the country changes and I could breathe again.  I still had to negotiate Ballarat, but I did it.  I eventually got to Geelong and tried to find the ferry berth, hoping I could change my booking and leave that night.  Of course, I was in the wrong lane of the Princes Highway in peak hour traffic when I saw the Spirit of Tasmania turn off.  First rule of life:  Don't Panic.  After a small panic, I took the next right turn and found  myself in country I had visited previously when I got lost leaving the ferry some weeks before.  Every cloud... But the boat was fully booked that night so I had to find a place to stay.  The staff at the ferry terminal were very helpful and helped me find a motel on the Princes Highway so I would have a direct run the next day.

the Rippleside Motel is classic 1960s but cheap and perfectly located (for the geographically challenged)

walking into Geelong the next day

some pretty streets

a beautiful regional art gallery - just my size

an amusing artwork

The ferry was scheduled to sail at 6.30pm and I was there waiting by 3pm having had a big day in Geelong, concluding it is a great place and needs a return trip for a few days' exploration, but taking no chances.

After a satisfying buffet dinner, I retired to my favourite recliner beside a salt stained window as the sun set

and watched the moon through much of the night.  It is only a shortish drive from Devonport to Triabunna and does not require a lot of sleep the night before.

Flowers and Bobbin are happy to be home.  Flowers is content with her old cottage, Bobbin having established a penthouse with a large deck on which they happily reminisce their latest adventure.  And plan a longer stay in Geelong and environs next time.

Paris pied à terre

I left Pearl's place earlyish, trying to beat the 40C heat.  I was gobsmacked at the new road leading north.  Who'd have thought that daggy, crowded South Road would become a concrete behemoth as it leaves the city.  At 7ish on a Saturday morning I had the road virtually to myself, but I could imagine tanks rolling in, gargantuan military hardware and goose stepping uniformed marchers.  Certainly took my mind off the forthcoming heat.

Quite a few kms out, it resumes being the highway I knew and loved as I regularly drove to and from Wentworth over 8 years ago.  It was my first opportunity to see the Riverland after the big floods.

I stopped for a look-see at Banrock Station, one of my favourite vineyards with its mud brick buildings and wetlands.  There was water as far as the eye could see, totally obliterating the 'wetlands'. The winery was in full swing with families happily breakfasting.  It was still early!  I was making good time.

My preparation for the Gobi Desert paid off and, for some reason, my non-functioning aircon managed a zephyr of cool air.  I pulled into Little Paris way ahead of schedule.

You may remember this book that I blogged about late last year.  Sandrine is a francophile who epitomises the philosophy it espouses.  She knows and uses every good thing that Mildura offers.  But it was very hot so for 2 or 3 days we did little but enjoy the airconditioned comfort of her new house.

a welcoming drink (Sandrine loves Italy too)

I got quite good at making these.

we also ate well

Flowers and Bobbin loved the art nouveau touches

I  loved my ensuite with the shower of my dreams

Sandrine walks early each morning.

I joined her later for breakfast on the terrace.

Madame S is also a garden designer.  She had the garden started well before the house was built.  The window sills provide the perfect tomato ripening ledges. I spent a wonderful cuppla days reading gardening books and the adventures of people living in Paris and on a barge in Amsterdam.

I also reacquainted  myself with this one which I had given Sandrine sometime ago just in case we never get around to the Santiago pilgrimage.  I have  now got it out of the library and am having some cunning ideas...

Of course we did venture out to cool venues sometimes.

We went to lunch at the Visitor Information Centre cum library cum aquatic centre to try their wonderful dumplings which we discovered weren't being made that day, the chef having been taken to hospital with chest pain - not food poisoning.  The panini, fortunately, were excellent as was the news that the chef is ok.

We bought breakfast pastries at Stefano's cafe where we met a man fascinated by a bum shaped peach.

Then on the Tuesday, the long anticipated drive to Wentworth to checkout our former home, Riverbank.

It is still strange to me to be in our once minimalist New York Room, now the rather frantic https://curlytree.com.au/pages/about-us .

Riverbank still looks the same from Wharf Road,

and I was very excited to meet the man converting the Wheeldons' shed into the gorgeous riverside house I always thought it could be.

We also saw the portable levee in place.  Steve and I had often wondered how this would work but the Darling never rose high enough while we lived in Wentworth.

The wharf is closed and poor John Egge sits paddling his feet.

The flood waters are now receding.

Wentworth has a rather abandoned air, admittedly it was another 40C day and people were probably bunkering down.  I got the feeling that businesses are following the  council offices and moving to Buronga / Gol Gol.  Perhaps Wentworth is becoming a riverside housing estate.

neither of these businesses are now in Wentworth

I recalled my true self,

and my true home

but not before we used up some Frangelico left by a former visitor with the instruction to mix it with lime juice and soda.  Very strange.

Also following instructions, I made a cheery toadstool from the origami pack that Pearl had given me as a farewell present, and left it with Sandrine's umbrella - rain was forecast. Once again I packed my car as though crossing the Gobi, but rain came overnight with some slightly cooler weather.  After a pit stop to pick up nourishing pastries from Stefano, I was on the road again, Geelong bound.