The Past Week (b)

Aunty B lives in an early 20th century weatherboard cottage in a coastal suburb of Sydney. It is only three streets away from where my paternal grandmother lived so it is all very familiar to me. Her home is really lovely, has a beautiful garden and we both enjoy staying with her very much. There are certain things we do each time ... walk to the shops along the back streets, take some flowers to the bushland cemetry where Mum is buried next to Aunty B's husband (along with many other relatives), visit Uncle G and Aunty D, eat fish and chips by the beach and take a walk along the harbour foreshore.

We had decided that on this visit our harbour walk would be at night so we could watch the city lights, so as the sun was setting we took the bush path past Forty Baskets to Dobroyd Point. It was a perfect evening, the birdlife very vocal as they went about roosting for the night, the track deserted and the views spectacular. We ate our picnic tea watching the Manly Ferry pass to and fro between Manly Wharf and Circular Quay and with our torches lighting the way we returned in the dark.

As we walked towards a huge gum tree our attention was drawn to a high branch and on it six kookaburras were snuggled together, all facing the same way with their downy feathers fluffed out. We could only see them from their undersides but gazed at them, thankful for this special treat - they looked so very cute. I had never seen them grouped like that before and wondered if they were young ones not long out of the nest but is it the right time of year as we've seen magpies and swallows actually nesting now? (My Dad has since told me that a pair of kookaburras usually raises about four young and they stay as a family group until the young are well and truly mature. We must have seen last year's hatchlings...they looked like they were almost old enough to fly out into the big, wide world.)


The harbour waters looked inviting with the reflected light, so we decided to walk into Manly as well. This section was a paved path, easy to negotiate in the dark, which passed by some stunning homes - new, old, creative, bland but all with fantastic views. A couple of friends were playing their guitars down by the water's edge, many were out on balconies, some had bar-b-ques underway and Manly was buzzing. It was such a beautiful evening to share with my darling.

The Past Week (a)

So much has happened during the past week of our holidays and being computer-free I was unable to write about it each day. So here we go in retrospect ...

From Canberra we continued to drive north. As this is our annual trip to catch up with friends and relatives, the route is familiar, and we have tended to establish some favourite routines. Something we do each year is to stop south of Berrima (a pretty little town in the Southern Tablelands of NSW), my darling sets off on his bike for an hour or two while I visit 'Berrima Patchwork' which is full of gorgeous samples, lovely fabrics and the necessary patterns. This year I still had not spent my birthday money so this was the perfect place. I bought some fabric and "Flowerbed", a pattern book by Bronwyn Hayes, and plan on stitching one of these embroidered bags. There are many other tempting items in the book ... maybe one day.

We met up at Mittagong and enjoyed a picnic in the park. Tulips grow readily in this area and I loved the colour of these.


After getting lost in Sydney (we didn't have a map this year and there had been some road changes including a new freeway) we arrived safe and sound at my aunt's.

Happy Birthday

Today is my darling's birthday and it has been a wonderful day. First of all we set off from my brother and sister-in-law's home on the central coast of NSW. As my darling is a cyclist we followed the quiet, scenic route down to the Hawkesbury River, he riding with me driving to meet him but I wasn't all he met ...


It was a diamond python and he eventually encouraged the snake off the road - I came across him doing so.


The creature was at least 7 to 8 feet long and as they don't hurt you we wanted to make sure it headed away from harm.

We contined along on this lovely spring day to the southern tablelands area where we stopped for a snack (gluten free date and chocolate slice with a yoghurt smoothie - delicious) at Bundanoon at the 'Old Bike Shop Cafe'. Our aim was to reach Bungonia Gorge for a birthday picnic lunch. It is a stunning place and we hadn't been there for about 25 years so our time there this afternoon was very special.


It is a dry area but the scenery is stunning.



We continued on to Canberra to spend the birthday evening with his family - a lovely end to a perfect day.

Holidays

My darling and I have set off on our annual trip north to visit relatives. It is a long journey but the countryside is pure 'Australian' and the country towns, if we take a detour, are just lovely. Our first stop is with his parents who still live in the beautiful bushland suburb of Canberra where he grew up.


His mum had heart surgery two years ago and now goes on a hilly, bush walk each morning to keep fit and well. She is amazing as she strides out. This morning we accompanied her and saw many beautiful birds nesting including gang gangs and rosellas. The wattle blossom was gorgeous and the gums quite stunning like this scribbly gum.


It is the perfect time of year to travel as the spring weather is just right and the landscape still green after winter. Our next stop is with my aunt in Sydney.

morning views

We have been away for a few days but thought I would write a little of that time.


Lately I have pondering the impact the view from a bedroom window can have upon our well-being, as I believe the first glimpse of the new day is so important and the older I get, the greater is the effect. Above is the view from our bed, literally, yesterday morning, it is at our cottage and we never tire of it, we absolutely love it. Whatever the weather or the season we marvel at its beauty and it sets us up for a wonderful day...

After a pleasant breakfast outside on the verandah


we set off for a walk to a nearby rainforest. It is a remnant of the temperate rainforests which originally covered this area of southern Australia. Most of the forest has been cleared for farming and below is the view up towards the back of our cottage (it is on the crest of the hill, right-hand side)


Just before entering the forest you can see for miles towards the bay,


and our dogs just love it here - they're always 'smiling' and sometimes refuse to get into the car for our return to the city.


It doesn't matter how often we walk this route we always enjoy it so much. On this particular journey we stopped for a snack and to our delight a lyre bird came by, scratching in the undergrowth. Tall mountain ash tower in the forest and many ferns grow down by the creek. It is all very beautiful.




Time takes on a different meaning here, we can gaze for hours out through our bedroom window and the world becomes a better place. I know we are truly blessed to have this special home and constantly give thanks for it.

Gentle words

This past weekend I attended an excellent seminar at Melbourne University with some of my colleagues. The American presenter spoke to us about teaching and motivating children with learning difficulties which was helpful and thought-provoking but it was the final 5-10 minutes that made the most impact.

Relating personal stories, he spoke with great emotion about one of his past pupils who had persevered with studies and got a job, married and had children, but tragically he was in his office on 11th September, 2001 on the 110th floor ... leaving behind his pregnant wife and two children.

Greatly moved by his words, we wiped away tears as he continued to share his concerns about what America has lost, emphasising that this young man would never have wanted vengeance.

I left after that with thoughts milling around in my head ... who would want vengeance? Would I if one of my loved ones had been killed? What does revenge achieve? What has it achieved during the past five years? Who has the right to take it?

After pondering for the last few days, I believe that it is best if we leave it in God's hands. I know this goes against all our human instincts as we want the one who wronged us to feel our pain, to know what it is like to suffer, but really does any good come from vengeance? Surely God who is all-wise, all-knowing and who holds eternity in his hands can be trusted to ultimately bring justice - whether we are aware of it or not.

Also I wonder if doing what we can to avoid hostile situations developing in the first place is the best option. The Bible gives us a clue how to do this. "A gentle word turns away wrath". I have quoted this many times over the years not only to myself in unpleasant circumstances but to the children if someone was being mean to them, or to my darling before he entered a difficult meeting. Uttering understanding words that show we empathize is so simple but can effectively diffuse a situation that could get out of hand. Let us all endeavour to use powerful, gentle words ... we may never know the long term good they may bring.

Night life

Last week my darling and I went to have dinner with our charming son as he is currently house-sitting in the city.
As it was night we couldn't really spend time in the garden but here is a photo of his view of the city lights. We enjoyed spending time with him in his 'own space' very much.

Today is my day off and as dear daughter is not at work either we're heading off to the bay together. It is grey and drizzly outside but never mind I know of a great second-hand bookshop we can visit as well as a lovely coffee shop for morning tea.

Crumble cake

Now that I know I cannot tolerate wheat and dairy, I adjust many recipes and have decided to put the personalised recipes here for future reference.
Today I baked what I describe as Forest Fruit Crumble Cake and although it doesn't really look very attractive it has hidden delights.
The instructions are as follows:

FOREST FRUIT CRUMBLE CAKE
1 3/4 cups plain flour (I use F.G. Roberts gluten free but charming son has made it several times for friends with normal plain flour and they loved it)
1 cup castor sugar
2 1/2 teaspoons baking powder
1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
Put into a bowl and stir with an egg whisk until well mixed and aerated.

3/4 cup diluted natural yogurt (I know it's dairy but I can eat it)
1/3 cup sunflower oil
1 egg
1 teaspoon vanilla essence
grated rind of one lemon
Measure all these into a jug and stir with a fork.

1/4 cup plain flour
1/4 cup brown sugar
1/2 cup chopped nuts (I tend to use either almonds or pecans)
1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon nutmeg
Put into a small bowl and stir together for the crumble.

Mix the liquid into the first lot of dry ingredients and add
1 cup berries (I use frozen forest fruit).

Put batter into a lined 20cm tin.
Sprinkle crumble mix over the top.
Drizzle 1 1/2 to 2 tablespoons sunflower oil over.
Spread another 3/4 cup berries on.

Bake for about 50+ minutes in a moderate oven.
Check if cooked, remove. Cool in tin.

* I find the F.G. Roberts flour is different somehow and the crumble and fruit topping collapses into the batter when baking giving it more of a fudgy texture - delicious.
* With other gluten free flours I find the crumble and fruit seem to stay on top and sometimes burn.
* I mix half yogurt, half water to dilute.
* I keep the oven a little under moderate - slightly slower cooking (even undercooking rather than overcooking) seems to suit the cake better though it may take longer.


It is a grey, rainy day here, wonderful for being cozy inside - I'm by the fire as I write - but not too good for cake photography. It gives the general idea though.

Parcel Post

Yesterday a parcel arrived in the mail from a dear friend and the contents were like a little party for one. I took the goodies outside and spent a pleasant hour or so savouring the delicious edible and readible delights. Above is the sweet little card which accompanied them.

Included was a magazine, 'This England', Summer 2006 edition. My darling and I had spent a number of weeks of summer 2006 in England and a highlight was walking the Thames Path for about 10 days from its source near Kemble in the Cotswolds to Windsor. It was a very special time for us and as I opened the magazine this poem was printed:

AN ENGLISH ROVER
Give me the fragrance of an early summer's day,
A stick to grip, and the open road,
The far hills and a light load,
And fancy-free I'll tramp my cares away.

Give me the friendly word and the honest smile
Of men who work the chequered board
Of brown earth and the green sward,
And heart singing I'll tramp the winding mile.

Give me the sprawling inn yet sleeping in the sun,
The open door, the cool cellar
Mine host and good ales amber
To stay while of the golden day begun.

Oh! give me the hidden things around every bend
Of this green land where beauty lies
Alone in sudden sweet surprise
And alone I'll go with none to mar or mend.

Give me the evening star of the day about to die,
Blue shades deepening, bird's last note,
Nomad's fire, tang of wood smoke:
Then sleep at peace beneath an English sky.
Peter Coleman Kent

This seemed like a summary of our wonderful walk - including the sleeping 'beneath an English sky' as we would do this in the open fields, or in the shade of a tree if feeling a little weary in the warm sunshine. We were there during the heatwave while Melbourne experienced record low temperatures.

This is a lovely pastoral scene of the tiny Thames taken on the first day.

Swirling-along

This past weekend, being the first one in September, was not only the first weekend of Spring but also Father's Day. As our children are all involved in individual pursuits, my darling and I travelled to our cottage on the glorious Saturday morning to return on the wet and rainy Sunday afternoon ready for the family celebration. Our cottage is in the most beautiful countryside (the view from the front is with 'Ambling Along', above) and we always feel so blessed and refreshed for having been there. More on the cottage another time ...

Our dear daughter and her prince as well as our two lovely sons gathered with us to share a special meal. Afterwards I mentioned that I had started this site (with the help of our delightful son). All were interested and our charming one said I had become all 'swirly' now that I was older and had more time to spend enjoying the simpler things of life (I'm still in my 40's so not too old). Dear daughter agreed commenting that when they were younger I was always busy caring for them, so now I can meander a little along life's path. I like the idea very much - I may even change my title phrase. I was interested that the children had noticed a change and glad that I am slowing down a little to take pleasure in the abundance of life.

This was quite a special Father's Day as not only were we celebrating the wonderful father my darling is, but also the 'father-to-be' and the 'grandfather-to-be' as dear daughter has a precious baby due at the end of January.
Life is so full of many joys.

Spring

We have experienced some gorgeous weather as we entered Spring this week. The wattle blossoms are absolutely stunning as well as the heavily laden camelias.

As a 'follow-up' to our very special walk along the Thames Path this English summer, we have continued to step out and I try to walk the 10 kilometre journey to where I work at least twice a week. It's fascinating what you notice when on foot rather than stuck in a car. Part of my journey is along the cycle path by Gardiner's Creek before it meets the Yarra River (where the above photo was taken). Another section includes a stretch of concrete footpaths along quite a busy road, not my favourite, but just look at this section. Obviously the concrete was poured during autumn as the leaves from the tree branches above dropped onto it. I think it looks quite beautiful.