BACK IN THE WATER

BRRR! it's bloody cold!  but the body kicks in and we keep moving, this morning there was an interesting red floating light in the water, just another safety feature alongside a hot drink before going in, gloves, i wear two caps for warmth and quite a few swimmers have lights on their heads.  it gives a whole different mood to being in the water and it's quite dark when we go in, it's atmospheric.

and then there's the wonderful feeling of deep warmth in the body that lasts all day.  so beneficial

HOME AFTER A GREAT TIME

THE DRIVE HOME was sunny again, i stayed again at the Seven Creeks, it's so homey and comfortable, true old fashioned pub, untouched by interior designers,  lots of lamps all around the dining rooms, really good rooms. yesterday was my first day home and i just knitted and watched episodes of succession - my way of debriefing before getting back into everything.  I got paint for the bathroom on the way home so i'm ready to start that job next week.

the time at hotham was valuable, i've got some valuable feedback on both romeo and juliet and my little 'skip' book.

off to swim again this morning - it'll be bloody cold!!

i did a little 2 hr portrait of isobelle while nuri watched

    we walked up to the village on the morning i was leaving, roads are clear of snow

swimming again -  it was pretty cold, this was friday, 

now it's monday and i'm heading down now

     Joy - our resident mermaid

A DAY OF SNOW

AFTER THE SUNNY DRIVE, we had a full day of snow and ankle deep coverage.  we trudged up to the bar in crunchy snow for a mulled wine, made snow angels, built a snowman.  a fun day in the midst of a lot of creative work.

                     

                  a confused and slightly melancholy snowman

MT HOTHAM

THE DRIVE UP - i decided to do it in two days and stayed at Euroa at the lovely Seven Creeks Hotel, built in 1901 and pretty much original inside, lots of big rooms, wood panelling, verandahs all around, half of them built in to create lovely rooms with large couches and books.  Great dinner and a crazy bed!

breakfast in a great little cafe and a chat to a local about her 

10 pound pom experience

THRU BEAUTIFUL MYRTLEFORD and up the mountain, a combination of amazing autumn colour then the stunning panoramas of the mountains, those blues and purples are breathtaking  - at the same time the winding climb is pretty tense, i had to call in to harrietville to hire chains to carry in case of snow on the road.  

I'm really hoping it's fine for the trip down because i'm not really confident of being able to take the chains off when the snow stops.  quite a hairy

drive really

THE MOUNTAINS - the camera just can't capture the vastness

i was surprised by these striking scenes of dead white trees, like fragile pinfeathers covering the slopes. it would be easy to run off the road just being sidetracked by the landscape

VERY HAPPY TO ARRIVE - the chalet is huge, room after room, a kitchen that would accommodate multiple cooks,  a dozen chopping boards, scores of saucepans - in fact, whatever you need it's there by the dozen 

Isobelle's as gorgeous and welcoming as ever, only one other person, Karen when i arrived but by dinner time there were five other writers.  We all had a wonderful dinner thanks to Isobelle and Karen, and spent the evening by the fire.

DAY TWO  we awoke to a dusting of snow which gradually increased throughout the morning until you would have to call it a snowfall - windy and snowing.  the scenery outside the chalet has changed completely to almost monochrome except for the fabulous trunks of the snowgums, something i've always wanted to see.  it's hard to believe they're natural, the patterns and colours are truly incredible.

we rugged up in the afternoon and trudged up to the general store/bar for a mulled wine - perfect! everything looks pristine, snow clinging to the trunks and leaves of the trees, the ground covered, my little car under a white blanket

lovely reflections at night in the living room

FREE!! NO SLING, NEW BATHROOM :0)

TRENT FINISHED UP on Saturday May 13 so i enjoyed using the new bathroom all weekend, a bath, a shower, just standing and admiring it, imagining it after i paint all the walls. I visited the nurse on the tuesday and she was really pleased with my shoulder and gave me the OK to drive!!  FREEDOM! 

Wednesday morning i went down and had a swim for the first time in two weeks.  Boy! it was swearingly cold at first entry, but as usual it became invigorating and it was a stunning morning

SUNNY & ETTA came down for the day, it was a lovely family day, raking autumn leaves, etta explored into the far reaches of the garden, fed the fish, we went to the beach at Portarlington. after that i decided to drive to Mt Hotham to join Isobelle at her writers' retreat.

PICS FROM MORNING WALKS

Trent has

 repurposed

my old bath for his

girls, looks like it's

a big success, an

outdoor warm spa

 :0)