Month: July 2013

A few years ago I read about a blogger who was an avid reader (and I cannot for the life of me remember her name) who thought it would be a fun idea to record the names of the states where the books she read were situated.

Her aim was to read a book situated in each of the states of the USA but 3 months into her quest she had to enlarge her spreadsheet  – and revise her plan – because she was beginning to feel restricted in what she could read.

She said that after a while the fun and pleasure she got from reading had changed – she had to actively source books to fit in with her plan – she couldn’t just pick up a book and read it – she had to discover the location first and kept finding that lots of the books she fancied were set in a state she’d already  ‘been to’ – or they were set in other countries.

Consequently she scrapped her plan to do this over 12 months and just took the novels as they came.

What do you think of this plan – would it work for you – would you be inclined or so dedicated to carry through with the idea?

 

I suppose I’m lucky in that if I want a book to read 3 of the regional libraries are within 3 kms of my house – in different directions.  As well as the ‘big’ one I spoke about previously I often use what I call the ‘little’ library which sits in the shade of gum trees in a small suburb right at the foot of the Dandenongs.

(All photos enlarge with a click)

Inside it has all the same features as the other  – ‘cept for the moving book return and nowhere near as many books – and has still retained that personal feel that libraries should have.  Yes, we grizzle about the dreaded ‘check out your own book’ sytem but we do have a librarian (well more than one) who is more than willing to give you the time of day 🙂

The little library has a warm and cozy feel about it which the other seems to have lost.    Looking out of the big window you certainly feel connected to the community – it’s right there across the road in the small strip of shops.  The windy path takes you to the local GP’s practice, a pharmacy and the infant welfare centre.  Beyond there across the road is the Vet and the pet shop where Kiera’s meat comes from.

This is Montrose library

Our World Tuesday

This is what I saw on a cold winter’s day several weeks ago when I pruned the roses A few little green shoots Just coming up – a hint of things to come 🙂 Then a few weeks later on a sunnier day – looking far more vigorous and healthy Then there were the bulging buds – a bigger hint – the beginnings of what was to come Well they’ve arrived – they promised and they are delivering It’s almost as if they are saying – ‘We’ve arrived and to prove it we’re here’ Even tho we are still having cold wet winter days Sights like this have to be a hint that Spring is not far away Don’t you think??

Todays Flowers – flowers from around the world can be found here http://flowersfromtoday.blogspot.com.au/

Mona’s Picturesque Floral Love
http://monaspicturesque.blogspot.fi/

 

On a day when there was just a chance of showers The Golfer and I took a drive – along the Maroondah Highway to a little spot a short distance past Healesville.  Just a quiet country drive – after all the weather man had said there was just a chance of showers – and it was just to get us out of the house.

Maroondah Dam (Resevoir) was built in the 1920s – is capable of holding 22,000 megalitres – the surrounding grounds have been made into a park and are open to the public –  http://parkweb.vic.gov.au/explore/parks/maroondah-reservoir-park – it’s a great place to go for a quick visit or for a whole day.

Thats where we were heading – to see what, or if any, of the spring flowers were in bloom – to walk up the Rose Stairway to the top of the dam wall – and to see how much water is actually in the dam (always a talking point).  Should be ok as the weather man had said there was only a slight chance of showers.

All photos will enlarge with a click

So we arrive (in the rain) and realise there weren’t many cars in the car  park and there’s not a soul to be seen.  Of course the roses had been pruned but disappointingly none of the Azeleas or Rhododendrons were in flower so it was a bit bleak and wintery looking.  Oh what the heck we are here for a walk and walk we will lol

Yes it was that grey and miserable looking at the top, the mist hung everywhere  – and after that long hot spell over summer the water level is defintely down on last year.

What’s the weather like where you are – do you do country  drives  just to get out of the house ?

 

There was just a small chance of showers
So we went for a drive
Just a little way up the road
Into the Valley
(All photos enlarge with a click)

Into the Yarra Valley that is
http://www.visitmelbourne.com/Regions/Yarra-Valley-and-Dandenong-Ranges.aspx
Past the vineyards where the roadside Wattle was beginning to bloom

Along the Maroondah Highway
Past the wineries that line either side of the road
(And are hard to photograph travelling at 100kph/62mph lol)

Past the sheep grazing in the paddocks on the roadside
Who are also hard to photograph in a fast moving car lol

Past the vineyards where the pruning gangs
had been working  – maybe in the past week
(in the rain)

There was nobody to be seen
so it looked like they were enjoying a day of rest
Even tho’ the weather man had said
There was just a small chance of showers 🙂

Skywatch Friday can be found here – http://skyley.blogspot.com.au/

It was the last thing I wanted to do
But when it slipped from my hands I realised I just had to
And then before I knew it one thing led to another
I had to enlist The Golfer’s help for a short while
But it was worth it

Clean Curtains – Sparkling Clean Windows
Very Clean Floor – visible and invisible
Clean Walls – Clean Paintwork
Tidy Shelves

The things you have to do
when something drops down the side of the washing machine 🙂

Have you moved any furniture recently??

Yes, Tuesday is Music Night at the Victoria Folk Music Club but due to lots of ‘happenings’ our Tuesdays have been quiet for quite a long while, it’s possibly over a year since we were last there.   The little hall at Ringwood East is quite cosy and has heating as well as an open fire – it’s just getting out our front door that can be the problem in the winter and to be honest the weeks are moving so quickly from one to the other at the moment if it weren’t for a flyer on the wall at the library reminding me we might have missed/forgotten about this months ‘concert! 
http://www.vfmc.org.au/concerts.html

I love the first half of the evening – anyone can take the floor.
 Just pay your fee and you can entertain us with a couple of tunes or whatever
(Spot acts from 8pm provide opportunities for anyone to gain valuable stage performing experience)

Often there are a range of ages but it was a mature group this Tuesday past
(Tuesday 9 July 2013)
These three gents have years of experience between them
and still take their music very seriously. 
(click to enlarge)

After an interval complete with hot drink and supper
the top professional acts for the evening were
Journey Bound

“Journey Bound is a versatile musical vehicle that likes to cover lots of different genres in a single bound, including gospel, folk, pop and even a little bit of rock. They are are Wendy Snook, Colin Smith, José Garcia and Sharon Start” 
http://www.journeyboundmusic.com/biographies.html

Do you know that in the right hands a recorder sounds great lol

And The HillWilliams

“The HillWilliams have been playing bluegrass and traditional country music since 1995, appearing at many local acoustic venues and the Yarra Junction Fiddlers Convention, Harrietville Bluegrass Convention, the Mount Beauty Music Muster and Scotland’s Guildtown Bluegrass Festival. Mick Harrison plays banjo, Dave Carr mandolin, Nigel Croydon on guitar & vocal, and Amanda Braxton-Smith does vocals.”

Fabulous sound by musicians who love the noise they are making and have fun while they are doing so 🙂  Also they don’t need microphones and other electrical gear to make themselves heard either !!

It was a great night and we came home glad we made the effort
– Enda Kenny is on next month so there is a big circle on the calendar already – he is one not to be missed!!

When the achievement of a young 19 old representing his country for the first time is number one item on the national news. –
http://www.abc.net.au/news/2013-07-12/agar-thanks-hughes-for-crucial-support-role/4815512

photo – reuters

THE greatest innings by a No 11 batsman in the history of Test cricket ended just two runs short of the most astonishing century on debut as 19-year-old Ashton Agar last night turned the Ashes Test at Trent Bridge entirely on its head.

source – http://www.theaustralian.com.au/sport/cricket/ashton-agar-revels-in-ashes-batting-rescue-job/story-e6frg7rx-1226678156349

Not even falling two runs short of a century on debut could dim the smile on Ashton Agar’s face, and England spent the evening session at Trent Bridge trying to recover from seeing the teenaged No.11 whisk away control of the first Test.

source – http://www.theage.com.au/sport/cricket/ashton-agar-the-ashes-hero-debutant-saves-australia-with-record-test-innings-20130712-2ptlj.html

Read more: http://www.theage.com.au/sport/cricket/ashton-agar-the-ashes-hero-debutant-saves-australia-with-record-test-innings-20130712-2ptlj.html#ixzz2YmtryiX8

Of course this is only the first game in a summer of cricket and there is a long way to go till the end of the last test in August at The Oval – plus there are many games in the UK after that according to this schedule – http://australia.cricketworld4u.com/.

So lets give him a pat on the back and wish him  luck in the rest of his cricket career
Go Ashton – you’ve even got me running around this morning with a smile on my face 🙂
http://www.foxsports.com.au/other-sports/ashton-agars-history-making-knock-has-breathed-life-into-ashes-series-says-glenn-mcgrath/story-e6frf56c-1226678243637

PS – He even has his own page on wikipedia – http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ashton_Agar

 

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You know what they say
– laugh and the world laughs with you – 
Cry and you cry alone

Now you wouldn’t want to be lonely would you?? 

These are the two books I’ve just finished reading

Behind the sun by Deborah Challinor

Irreverent and streetwise prostitute, Friday Woolfe, is in London′s notorious Newgate gaol, awaiting transportation – to Australia.  There, she meets three other girls: intelligent and opportunistic thief, Sarah Morgan, naive young Rachel Winter, and reliable and capable seamstress, Harriet Clarke.  In the land behind the sun, the only thing they have is each other …

Lord of the Flies by William Golding

During an unnamed time of war, a plane carrying a group of British schoolboys is shot down over the Pacific. The pilot of the plane is killed, but many of the boys survive the crash and find themselves deserted on an uninhabited island, where they are alone without adult supervision.

I didn’t think they had anything in common but after a while I began to see
that they relate to a group of people in sitiuations completely foreign to what went before.

Comparing both books I found that:
The characters find themselves on an island
they have to find ways in their lives to survive
they know they must support each other
they are shocked and disappointed with some of the things others in the group do and say

One is a brand new publication – the other has been available for nearly 50 years
Both of these books had me wondering what was going to happen next
I thoroughly enjoyed both of them 🙂

If you have read either of them – what did you think

 http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lord_of_the_Flies

http://www.deborahchallinor.com/Pages/BehindtheSun.aspx

I don’t often show the right hand side of the kitchen windowsill – it has a fly screen on the window and the view can be a hazy.  But would you look at that  – dishes on the draining board means Catherine has actually stood there long enough to do some housework!!

Of course I don’t mind too much when it’s a lovely sunny day like Sunday was – and after this brief interlude in domesticity I was out the door and like a shot.   The previous post tells you what I did and saw but when I told you I’d picked the first Spring Bulb I didn’t mention there were a few others bits flowering as well.  Not enough for a flower basket (well I haven’t actually got one but it did paint a pretty picture didn’t it lol) but they did have to be carried indoors very carefully for the Kitchen Window Sill.

As well as the first tiny unnamed jonquil (similar to paperwhites), I found a single bit of Hebe, an early bud from one of the Camellias, a couple of Azalea blooms that had survived the rain and much to my delight the Bergenia plants are starting to flower.  Is this a sign of Spring or are these just plants that love Winter?  I’m hoping it’s my first thought 🙂

And of course there are the resident felines to consider – curly and his friends had been admiring the view since the beginning of last month so I gave Big Ears a treat and put him on there to keep them company.

Did you see Santa and the shells were also still sitting in the same place on the right hand side – not enough dust in the air for me to have to wipe it down therefore they have sat there un-noticed all this time lol

How’s your window looking these days – are there enough flowers to make you smile at the kitchen sink?

Linking to Today’s Flowers 
blooms from all around the world can be found here

Well it’s been a couple of the coldest weeks of the winter so far – nights that had me cuddled up to The Golfer – and days that were almost like summer.  Freezing overnight and up to 17c/ 62f some afternoons!
http://www.farmonlineweather.com.au/news/melbourne-struggling-to-stay-warm/24827

One of the day started with one person leading the country (Julia Gillard) and finished with another – not a brand new one but a recycled one (Kevin Rudd) – all done legally and with no blood letting either (well that we could see that is!). 
http://www.brw.com.au/p/leadership/recycled_rudd_kevin_about_back_now_TC18yB432psJtBmhjrAyhK

All is square in the Rugby League scene after the second State of Origin match – this time round Queensland beat NSW so the decider will be played in Sydney on July 17.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2013_State_of_Origin_series

Rugby Union has been in the limelight with the Wallabies (Australia) taking on The British and Irish Lions.  It was even stevens after two tests and the series went to the Lions after the Sydney game – The Lions only tour Australia every 12 years so there is a bit of a wait for those who can’t get overseas to see them play before then. 
 http://www.guardian.co.uk/sport/2013/jul/05/lions-2013-union-australia 
http://www.rugby.com.au/lions2013/

Now we all know the population is getting top heavy with more older people than younger – lots of government services are starting to feel the demand – it seems that demands are also going to be felt in other parts of our community.  Lots of our ‘prison community’ will be elderly and last week this idea of ‘Prisons for the Elderly’ was suggested.  How do you feel about that??
http://www.theage.com.au/victoria/ararat-mooted-as-twilight-jail-for-elderly-offenders-20130623-2oqrf.html
http://www.abc.net.au/news/2013-06-24/ararat-council-wants-to-build-prison-for-elderly/4775082

With all the high winds we’ve had over the past week or two next door’s old oak tree had finally lost all its leaves – and I’ve discovered that there is one messy part of the garden near the side fence to be dealt with.  That fence line looks so bare yet when the tree is in full leaf you hardly notice it.  We need some dry days so I can finish raking all the leaves and moving the bits and pieces back to where they normally live.

I had started the clean up this morning and look what I saw – spring bulbs are on their way up.  There are heads on some and I even picked one bloom that had flowered. 

Not much else in the garden except my trusty helper – and she tends to ignore me half the time lol

 

Thanks for all your recent comments – hope life has been good for you this past couple of weeks!

All photos can be enlarged with a click

It was the summer of 1954 – there was a new kid on the block.  Mum and Dad got the son they had waited many years for – us girls got a baby brother.

He arrived the day my little sister Patsy turned 4 – having to share your birthday with someone else can be a bit of problem for some people – I’m not sure how she felt about it then – but I’ve never heard Patsy make mention of it and how she may have been affected over the years.

And just by chance, I recently discovered our Gt Gt Gt Grandfather was also born on July 1st – mind you his birthday was in 1807, 147 years earlier 🙂

It wasn’t until later in life I found out that I shared the same birthdate as my grandfather – wish I’d known earlier – I would have loved to have felt more connected to him.  He lived across the water from us in Belfast and we only saw him on very rare occasions.

So this is Us at the Pool July 1954

Move forward many years – this is Us in the Pub Summer 2000.
Slight difference eh??
Notice we are in the same order – Bobby the neat and tidy one, me the oldest one, Patsy the curly haired one and Jeff who turned out to be the biggest and tallest one of us all !

Now its difficult for us all to be together under the same roof at the same time – what with one in Australia and another in Cyprus.  Two still live close to each other and do get together at the pub to celebrate their birthdays but not on the same day tho’ lol