Merry Midwinter

This weekend we celebrated ‘Merry Midwinter’, an annual festive meal that our family has enjoyed since we returned from our five year sojourn in England. As winter progressed during our first year back, the children thought that Christmas really should be approaching and that a summer Christmas just wouldn’t feel right. Thus ‘Merry Midwinter’ began and has been celebrated ever since.


A few years ago I decided to make and hang some bunting at our meal but it just didn’t happen but finally, this year it did. I wanted a wintry feel – it certainly was cold outside – and I kept thinking of the following poem. I taught it to the children during our home-schooling days in the 1980’s and I write it from memory so it may not be entirely accurate …

Come here, little robin, and don’t be afraid,
I would not hurt even a feather.
Come here, little robin, and pick up some bread
To feed you this very cold weather.

The winter has come, but it will not last long,
And summer we soon shall be greeting,
Then remember dear robin to sing me a song
In return for the breakfast you’re eating.

With this running through my mind, I decided on blues (a colour I don’t use very often) and a bird theme and used some images from a bird book I had given my father when I was very young.


I didn’t purchase anything for the bunting – year of abundance – and upon searching for some left over tulle from when I made dear daughter’s wedding veil I discovered a fabric remnant from my childhood. Mum had it stored in her box of material and as a child I was always attracted to it, so when my sister and I sorted through her things when she went into the nursing home, I kept the piece. I was pleased to be able to use it.

This weekend was also the beginning of three weeks holiday – hooray! I love my work but I also enjoy the regular holidays, so a double celebration.


So from our cosy fireside to yours - Merry Midwinter to you all!

Shopping ...

On the 8th March this year I decided that I would no longer shop at the two big grocery chains here in Melbourne. I can’t actually remember if there was a ‘final straw’ but I think it was rather a combination of things.

I often found supermarket shopping completely draining, it was if I walked those aisles on auto-pilot, I tended to go into an automated daze as I filled the trolley then queued at the check-out. I felt like a number, one of thousands going through the motions, and not an individual. Considering I spent precious time each week, time out of my life, buying groceries for my family, I wanted it to be more rewarding, pleasurable even.

The largest shopping mall in the southern hemisphere is in Melbourne and I was horrifed to find the two supermarkets there were both the same – where was choice? I was also alarmed at the number of small petrol stations closing as these two grocery chains entered the fuel market offering money-off vouchers (4 cents per litre – about 3% discount at the going rate). I wondered how many other small business were suffering or even closing because of these giants and so the big, but easy, decision was made and since then I have purchased elsewhere.

How freeing!
How pleasant to interact with the butcher, greengrocer, or baker. How lovely to be recognized as one of their customers, to chat about events great and small while being served, to be treated as a person, an individual. I love it.

Although it took a little while to discover the best sources, it now comes easily and as a consequence I believe the quality of our food has greatly improved. Each small business owner, from the Polish man at the delicatessen making sure I sample the produce before I buy, to the greengrocer who will happily carry my purchases to the car if necessary, takes pride in providing the best. They can tell me exactly where the food comes from and most provide locally grown, free-range or organic. It takes a little more forethought and preparation and I tend to shop more frequently, purchasing less at a time (often on my bike) but it is definitely worth it.

I don’t know if my little ‘stand’ has much impact on the commercial world but I can certainly recommend the benefits it can bring. Try it – it will put the spring back into your shopping step and healthier, tastier meals on your table!

St. Kilda

Monday was a public holiday for the Queen’s birthday so my darling and I set off for St. Kilda. Over the weekend we had cycled everywhere but decided on public transport for our outing to the bay. Unfortunately track work was being done so it was a frustrating trip by bike to the station, then train, tram, bus and tram again before we arrived.


The day was bleak – good weather to be by the water – and there is always an array of delicious cakes to fortify!


Luna Park was busy and I hadn’t realised that the roller coaster, built in 1912, is the only one in the world that has a man standing on it to operate the brakes.


It was good to be out exploring but we took a different route home…

Winter sunset

We have just returned from the clear air, huge vistas, chilly nights, restful atmosphere and quiet joy of the cottage. Last night's sunset from our back fence was, once again, just breath-taking.


As I looked to the left the peaceful cows, having just been milked, added to the glorious scene.
We are truly blessed.

Winter begins

Although today is officially the first day of winter and there is a chill in the air, it is beautiful and sunny. So I have decided to post the ‘last of autumn’ images I have recently taken before the starkness of winter takes over.

Early morning at the cottage was delightful with a weak sun rising,


and the dew lay heavy on the roses.


Daisies are blossoming


and the fallen leaves are lying thick on the ground.


I often think of life passing in seasons and as my sister-in-law turns 50 today … HAPPY BIRTHDAY … is our generation now approaching our ‘autumn’ years? My niece is also celebrating – today is her 18th – maybe ‘summer’ is beginning for her. Last weekend we were at a lovely family gathering as an aunt and uncle celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary and a number of relatives enjoying the ‘winter’ years were present. Of course we have little Belle to remind us of ‘spring’ and the promise of new life.

How blessed we are to experience the changing seasons.