RETURN TO WENTY

I HEADED OFF TO WENTY after my hospital stint - to recharge my batteries and catch up with dear friends.  I stayed with Sue and Derek in their terrific cottage next to the main house.  The week was full of dinners with old and new friends, i had a lot of time to wander around the neighbourhood, full of pomegranate and orange groves.  And I visited friends i haven't seen for ages.

I just love being there - the landscape, sky, vineyards and the wide open space of the outback, i just feel so at home there.

I stayed with Don in the Grampians on the way up and the way back. Claire was there with jules and we have a slap up barbecue dinner with fabulous food.

I returned home completely replenished, that place just fills me up!

    THE THREE AMIGOS -  Sue and Derek with French friend Bruno, a              photographer visiting Australia

 

   Good to see there are some pristine silos left!

    

    

   a beautiful drystone wall near St Arnaud

    a new bird - at don's, a yellow-faced honeyeater

On the way back i went via Murtoa to see the Stick Shed, an amazing building I've wanted to see for years. It's only recently been open every day after being was saved from demolition by a group of passionate locals who lobbied for its huge historical and cultural value to the community.  built in WW11 in 4mths to house the wheat we couldn't export, it's the only one of 40 still standing. supported by 560 unmilled mountain ash tree trunks, it feels like a cathedral inside.  Vast and very beautiful

     CHRISTMAS IN THE MALLEE :0)

Willie wagtail nesting in 

sue and derek's bamboo

     

   CHRISTMAS IN BEAUFORT

Niece Claire and Jules at Don's

GREAT TO BE BACK IN THE WATER!!

BEEN TO HOSPITAL AND BACK

Had a nice weekend with Sunny Luke and Etta here and the christmas bbq. Sadly susan had covid but jenny and freddie and sean were here and after a completely ghastly week of dark grey skies, howling buffeting winds and rain, sunday cleared up to a lovely warm sunny blue sky day.

We spent the morning at the beach, took the kayaks out near the Ozone and back, then fired up the barbie and enjoyed the weather.

Tuesday i headed into Jenny's and she took me to the Epworth, had the scopes done and results are that there's nothing drastic but no real explanation for my upset insides.  i guess i'll be investigating dietary causes.

It feels good to get it done though and i'm back in the water early, up at 5 and down to the boat club by 5.30.  gorgeous skies and very good to see everyone again.

I'M BUSY collecting images from sketchbooks and photos from old computers for my book.  Starting to think about layout.

HMMM, QUIETLY GOES MY LIFE

 

I'VE BEEN LAYING LOW - still waiting for the scopes at the epworth.  Have started a new project after giving up on Romeo and Juliet for a second time.  I just don't like any of those characters - it's been making me feel sick trying to get something out of it.  

    morning walk up to the pier, three gorgeous pelicans flew                overhead and took over the lights

                                  MY BEGONIA HAS GONE BERESK!!!

I'm not swimming much but a couple of afternoons i've been out around the wreck, it's beautiful out there and the birds just stay and watch me as i glide by

HAPPY TO SEE the crimson rosella discovering the birdbath in the backyard.  till now he's been inhabiting the liquidambar out the front, investigating the front lawn and nature strip and poking his head in the nesting box where the eastern rosella has been for the past couple of months.

I'VE FINALLY SORTED OUT THE SPARE ROOM spurred on by my dropping Romeo and Juliet again and pitching my idea for a book about my 10 years on the river, an account with photos, sketchbooks, etchings 

I'm excited by it and Erica's said to go ahead and get something together to show them so this is now my writing room.  at some stage i'll get a day bed to go under the window for guests

HELLO MELBOURNE

these crazy birds drive me crazy, i can hear them squawking as i write - often they start up in the middle of the night.  but they make a good pic :0)

heaps of swans around right now

A wine at Noble Rot with Janet, had to photograph 

her on this seat - it's her colour

my red roses - lovely flowers but i'm giving them

to janet. they're not for my garden

 LUKE'S JUMPER - tick!!

The fabulous blue sky above us as Gail and I enjoyed 

G&T tastings and pizza under this wonderful tree in 

the gardens at the Whiskery with my $50 voucher :0)

CAL'S GROWING UP. - sporting a new cut by rene

     my new garden - it'll be my private bedroom garden

     ETTA'S COOKING SKILLS CONTINUE TO EXPAND  . . .

november 17  A LOVELY LUNCH at Basil's Farm with jenny D (in her fabulous new cabriolet with automatic opening roof.  great food on a fine day and a fabulous view over Swan Bay