I'M EXPERIENCING THE SUMMER HERE - from boxing day it's been so crowded, all the streets lined with SUVs, lots of fishing boats anchored in the bay, people in bathers and hats carrying chairs and towels wandering all over the road. i don't know how the shop copes with the sudden influx, they only have one coffee machine and limited space.
I've been swimming in the mornings with the Salty Bitches at Indented Head, up at 6 when the sun's coming up.
AFTER A NICE NEW YEAR'S EVE in torquay at jenny and rob's with just six of us, bbq dinner and lots of talk, i decided to head up to the murray and see my old house, the flood and friends. Sue and derek very kindly put me up in their separate cottage, perfect so we could all do our own thing and come together in the mornings and evenings.
cool and misty weather as i headed off towards ballarat
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| a new bird - Robert's Pippin, a sweet little bird seen in low scrub by the lake. |
I had lunch with Sonja and Helen at Fossey's Ginporium like we always used to. So good to see them. Visited Marg at her home, she was as colourful as ever - sadly her vision is getting really limited.
On the last morning derek drove me all around the outskirts of wentworth, up the Darling and over to my house. it was all pretty emotional but it felt so good to be back there, waking up to gorgeous melodious birdsong in the mornings. weather was very warm but with cool mornings, perfect sunraysia days. I'm so glad i went and i managed the drive home in one long hit, driving from 9.30 to 6.30 with a couple of short breaks and my arm held up, a bit achy towards the end but so was my bum 😁
the front yard of my house looks like a lawn but it's about 2m of water with duck weed growing all over it. there's sandbagging and a boat at the front gate. Cadell st is underwater further up
the studio on the right. everything is loving the water
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| A mural in Birchip on the way home, i loved driving through all the familiar towns along the Sunraysia Highway again. I left at 9.30, got home by 6.30, rising full moon at 9.30 |
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JUST AFTER CHRISTMAS i decided to visit don, an overnight stay on impulse. it was lovely to be on the open road again and to test out my crook shoulder on a long drive. my exercises have been strengthening my shoulderblade/collarbone and i'm feeling more confident. the drive turned out to be fine and i had a good night with don, a walk up to lake lonsdale which is huge, spreading out all over the neighbouring farmland. it looks fantastic. i really want to see the murray while it's near peak height after the floods
CHRISTMAS AT SUSAN'S is always just right - a lovely setting, just family (this year with an extra friend) often a walk through the botanical gardens and this year a walk to eastern beach and a swim with sunny, luke and etta.
And Soul Sister Swing sang at Carols by Candlelight the night before
