MERRY CHRISTMAS

Haven't blogged for a while, not much of interest. 


So, to everyone who stumbles upon this blog - 


MERRY CHRISTMAS AND HAPPY NEW YEAR.


I hope that you have a great break and that the New Year is good for you.

LAUGHING STOCK...

We are just back from visiting friends on the coast. Bruce is a bird lover and has just tamed some local Kookaburras. They patiently waited on the handrail for hours for the daily feeding ritual.

 At first one then as the news spread the family turned up for their share...

For those not familiar with the Aussie Kookaburra they are part of the kingfisher family and have a very distinctive "laugh" and they generally laugh at dawn and are meant to herald forthcoming rain.


youtube has a number of videos of the Kookaburra - here's one


http://youtu.be/S0ZbykXlg6Q

ALL REVEALED

Last night we had an "Unveiling". Some friends were in Rome recently and happened across an antique shop. There, in the window was a beautiful marble statue of a young lady. They liked it very much but thought at 160kgs was a liitle large and heavy for their luggage. Trip over and back home they were still pondering the missed chance to purchase this "beauty". They had kept a business card, but sadly it couldn't be located amongst all the travel treasures. And, they thought that the statue would be a great addition to their new nest!


Q. How do you track down the shop without contact details?


A. Easy, onto Google maps and by retracing their steps through Rome they tracked down the shop and its name and contact details.


A quick call ascertained the statue they saw had been sold, but the sculptor would create a similar "beauty". A deal was done and the said statue shipped to the New World. So, last night was the unveiling, obviously delighted owners revealing her to their adoring friends. Photo below, but other less tasteful photos have been kept private to protect the guilty!

CULTURE COMES TO THE COUNTRY

We have been followers of the Archibald art prize for more years than I can count. We visited the Art gallery of NSW along with thousands of other "Culture vultures" every year to appreciate the variety of paintings submitted and, more often than not, wonder in amazement at the judges curious decision. There's a packers prize awarded by the staff in the packing room as the paintings are left for judging, to me their taste has often been superior to the so called judges.


Anyway, this year we discovered that the paintings were touring and were being exhibited at the Lake Macquarie Gallery. Lake Macquarie Art gallery!!! we exclaimed. Yes, sure enough, a google map in hand we set off to meet some friends there for a "squizz". It was great, a great venue by the lake, few people, and time and distance to really view and appreciate the paintings. Again some were of dubious quality - at least to us, but the winner this year painted by Ben Quilty of Margaret Olley was outstanding. It captures her aged and quirky appearance perfectly. It was worth the trip!

GOING UNDER !

Well, this is what you can expect when we get over 100mm of rain in 3 days. In the 10 years we have been here the old timber bridge between us and civilisation has gone under three times. Once seriously when the floodwaters almost breached the banks and flooded the metropolis of Broke and another two times at about the level in the photo below. The Wollombi Brook (cute isn't it!) has a very large catchment area and parts of it get much more rain than we do, in the immediate vicinity. It can take a few days for the floodwaters to reach us and it generally takes a day or so to recede. There are plans to replace the bridge with a higher concrete version which, whilst quite practical, locals would prefer the old one to stay. Sentimental aren't we?

Not quite sure yet how the vineyard has survived, on initial inspection things aren't too bad but it can take a few days for the nasties to appear - mildews etc. 

Couldn't spray this morning, too windy and the ground is a bit soft and the tractor at risk of bogging.So, hopefully I'll get a chance to get a spray on tomorrow. More rain due later in the week!! At least the frogs are happy!!

WEATHER WOES

Just when we thought things were going so well, weatherwise at least! We had good spring rain that has produced some wonderful growth in the vineyard and we thought we had escaped any disease, BUT, the latest lot of rain - 50+mm, in the past few days and prolonged dampness has started the mildews. Just a little, but with forecasts of more rain and a wet summer ahead, God only knows where we'll end up. It's all controllable at the moment - as soon as the rain eases and the vines dry we'll be spraying. We have heard that some vineyards in Pokolbin have botrytis already in their immature bunches!! It may be one of those vintages we would all like to forget. For the moment though we're in good shape and everything is under control.

You should be able to see the rain spewing from the guttering and falling on the stairs.

IT'S COOL TOO ...

We had a last minute call from the Goldsmiths as the temp rose last weekend for a dash of grandparental bonding. They bought a lovely lunch and we repaired to Pokolbin after lunch for an ice cream. Seems half of the HUnter was there too as we indulged. It was "Gumnut's" first sorbet and one that he clearly liked - or should that be licked!!

"Pumpkin" was there to lend a hand, although from her expression the whole experience was a little fraught!

A bit like taking medicine for some! 

Maybe it's better if I do it myself!

I can take it any time - four hourly, if necessary!!

EGGS FLORENTINE ANYONE?

Every now and again you realise just how self sufficient and lucky we are! I sat down to lunch today and tucked into two beautiful eggs from our girls and some spinach fresh from the garden. We often offer guests this dish for brekky when they stay but it's special to enjoy ourselves from time to time. The fresh eggs really poach well and keep their integrity. Sounds good doesn't it "Eggs with integrity" , beats eggs without it!!

Summer veges starting to look good and the last of the broad beans were picked this morning. More toms to go in as well as some beans and zucchini etc.


Having fresh asparagus tonight, it's almost gone feral this year with the rain and heat. I didn't think I would ever be tired of asparagus but we're getting close at the moment. Still it's pretty much the same with home grown veges, they all seem to ripen together and need to be eaten fresh. This has produced a wonderful garden barter system with other like minded vege harvesters around here. We seem to be able to swap amongst ourselves when the supply gets greater than the capacity, and interest, to consume!

HEATING UP

The temps rising! Why is it that we spend our Winters and Summers wanting it to be warmer or colder? And then when the heat arrives you want it cool again! No answer really except that the extremes are pretty extreme in these parts. Down to -6 in Winter and over 40 in Summer, mainly January. This month though we've already had some mid 30 days and today is no exception. At least the humidity is low!

It says there's rain on the way, maybe a late arvo thunderstorm, but it's very dry and we spend our days trying to re-hydrate the gardens. An inch or two would be great (that's 25mm or 50mm in todays terms but doesn't it sound better in the old imperial!)


Too hot for work outside now so I may get a chance later in the day if things start to cool down!!

WHO'S ONE THEN?

With eight grandchildren to add years to the ageing process - well, admitting to two or three was always good fun, BUT eight makes me feel quite ancient. Hard to track all the birthdays but with a very capable assistant we manage to keep up with them all. So, we traipsed to Gosford today, 2 hours away and on the coast for a birthday bash for little "Gumnut". Coffee and lots of hugs and kisses for all!

Happy birthday "Gumnut" Whilst I may feel old I do feel GOOD!!!!

GARDEN GLORY

Not much to blog about at the moment except that we have had the most amazing Spring weather this year. Rain and nice cool days, and the plants have responded as never before. I think the pictures say it all.

There's so much more but this gives you the idea.

FAMILY FUN

We packed a lot into 4 days! Yum Cha, picnics, coffee and some interesting Footy finals. And, of course, Grandparents day which is blogged separately.


Picnic at the local park, a cheeky monkey and some adventurous twins!

Some games

And ... of course, a clean up before bed.

Four days went so quickly, we're home now and the garden and animals have all survived, with the help of our neighbour.

GRATEFUL GRANDPARENTS

The prime reason for our Melb sojourn was to perform Grandparent duties at Charlotte's school. Having Grandchildren spread around the country it is not easy to get to all these days, but we were thrilled to share Charlotte's day with her.

The school had gone to a lot of trouble to entertain us (oldies) ...


we helped with scrunchies and pasting and played games in her classroom. 


Thanks to Charlotte and family for having us and allowing us to share the day with her.  Mama and Bop!

HEIDE HO

Just back from Melb and some terrific blogs ahead.


To start we went to Heide, a Museum of Modern Art but historically an absolutely fascinating part of Australia's art and social history. Wandering the original house and gardens you just wonder at what the situation was like there when artists like Sidney Nolan and others (see extract below) were painting and living their bohemian life. To me, having visited Melb many times I can't imagine why we didn't visit earlier. A real must do when you're there. More details at heide.com.au

And .. the beginnings and setting where Nolan painted his "Ned Kelly" series of paintings.

Early history

The museum is situated on a site that was originally occupied by a dairy farm, the farm house was built in the 1880s-1890s. The Yarra River and surrounding hills east of Melbourne provided an ideal setting for many artists, writers, poets, etc, exemplified in the formation of the Heidelberg School at Heidelberg, Montsalvat in Eltham and various artist camps in locations such as Box Hill and Warrandyte. Thus, the area was frequented by artists since the mid-19th century.

In 1934, the farm was purchased by John and Sunday Reed, passionate supporters and collectors of Australian art and culture, and named after the nearby town of Heidelberg. The Reeds established one of the finest private libararies in Melbourne at Heide, containing many of the most important and lavish art magazines and journals from Europe and America. Access was open to all Heide visitors and provided much inspiration for visitng artists, writers, musicians and the Reeds' other creative friends.^[3] A loose grouping of Australian artists who became known as the "Heide Circle", began living and working at Heide, counting amongst their number many of Australia's best-known modernist painters.

A number of modernist artists came to live and work at various times through the 1930s, 40s and 50s at Heide, and as such it became the place where many of the most famous works of the period were painted. Albert Tucker, Sidney Nolan, Laurence Hope and Joy Hester, amongst others, all worked at Heide. Nolan painting 26 of his original 27 Ned Kelly works in the dining room of Heide I.^[4]

The Heide Circle continued in their primary commitment to Figurative Modernism through the 1950s and 60s, with several of the artists forming the Antipodeans Groupand taking a stand against the new abstract art. The Heide Circle became well known for the intertwined personal and professional lives of the people involved. Sunday Reed conducted affairs with a number of them, with the knowledge of her husband.

In 1964, the Reeds commissioned Victorian architect David McGlashan to design a new residence, initially intended to be "a gallery to be lived in". It is designed with simple L-shaped walls that interlink to form a sequence of internal and external 'rooms' in Mount gambier limestone, white terrazzo, treated pine and glass. The Reeds moved into Heide II in 1967 and it served as their residence for some time.

In the mid 1960s Heide's much loved kitchen garden was created by Sunday Reed in a bare cow paddock.

SMALL WORLD

Just have to let you all know about this amazing experience today.


I am currently going through some old family "boxes" sorting out things for my Ancestry addiction. In one of the boxes was a citation that I found when we first moved to Wahroonga. It is a CMG awarded to Admiral John Bryan Stevenson. I emailed an ex naval friend who passed on my email to a friend of his in the Naval Historical society. In turn, he passed my email onto a Jo Morrice (who coincidentally worked at Barker - I think as the Burser, while I was there and remember him quite well). Jo, as it happens knows the Admiral's son JP Stevenson (of Melbourne fame) who is now 90 and lives in Burrado not far from Jo!! Jo also served with Steve on one of his Captaincies. 


Jo gave me his phone number, I called a little while ago and had an amazing conversation with him. He was extremely bright and recalled many memories of the house. He had lived there as a child and later after he married.


I can recall being told by my parents after they bought the house that a small area at the rear corner of the house had been called "The bridge" by the former owners. We called it that as children and also through our ownership, even after it became our ensuite! Steve confirmed the story was true. 


Steve asked what had become of the house. I explained that it had been sold and moved to a new site in Millfield - not far from us here in the Hunter!!


Truly amazing.


I will be packing the citation and sending it to him shortly. He wants to see us next time we are in the Southern Highlands. I'm sure there will be many more stories and memories to share. I think it's made an old (90) man very happy.

Sorry about the sideways pics, haven't mastered the turning system yet!

PROTEST

Well, for the second time in my life I have joined in a public protest! The first time was about a year ago when a coachload of Broke people headed to Sydney and protested outside the AGL AGM. It was a great experience and our actions have actually forced AGL to have their AGM in Melbourne this year. So much for grey and activist power!


The reason, of course is Coal Seam Methane Gas. We have been threatened in this area by AGL and their lying and conniving ways for over 5 years. The wine industry in the Hunter is truly threatened by CSG mining in this area. AGL seem to be hellbent on proceeding here, despite increasing public pressure and an awakening Govt interest. BUT, we are yet to see the Govt keep their pre-election promises and follow the SA and WA Governments and legislate to exclude the "iconic" wine producing areas from CSG exploration and production.


Here I am with our "Grim reaper" in Gunnedah on Wednesday. We had another busload of protestors there for the Food Security conference. Thanks too to Alan Jones who is championing our, and the many other threatened areas in Australia, cause.

GREAT TRIP

We're back home, in our own bed - always a great feeling, but with some great memories of our trip to Wagga Wagga and Jindabyne.


Wagga was great, full house and lots of family fun. The licorice factory was a big hit with the kids and adults alike who all came away with new goodies.


Bethy thought her black gloves, as well as keeping away the cold, were pretty scary.

And, Pumpkin was keen to show her musical talents - looks good anyway!

So off to the markets on Saturday, loaded with a haul of Knights meat we headed to Jindabyne to see Judy's new house. Just finished, and very spacious and comfy. Watched the rugby and survived a serious case of the "wobblies" - just hope we can do better against the All Blacks this weekend! A great piece of Angus rib eye fillet on the BBQ, thanks to Mr Knight.


Didn't realise it but it was a big deal that weekend that they were opening the floodgates on the dam and flooding the Snowy river. Quite spectacular.

So, safely home on Monday, animals survived and glad to see us.


Thanks everyone for a great time.

HANDS FULL

Oh dear, two blogs in two days!


Got a spay on this morning in between wind gusts! More rain due so needed to get some protection on.


Quiet family day with Tim, into Singo to get a few things including a patch for a flat pram tyre. Mum took a shot of us but Tim had his hands full of wriggling children.


Feeling lousy with the flu but hope with some medication I got today that it might improve.

So there you you go, tis one took a fraction of time the first did!

WELCOME ABOARD

HI HO YOU HEARTYS!!


Going to have another go at blogging!


Tim here at the moment with his mob, good fun just back from the icecream shop at Tempus Two! Yummmy.


Strong winds today, really giving the spring blooms a shake. Garden, never-the-less looking great at the moment.

Well, somehow I made it, thanks Tim for your help.

More posts soon.