Possums,Harry Potter and Currawongs

What a day! We were woken up this morning by a tremendous clang and bang. After a wary moment we assumed the possum trap had been sprung and the culprit caught. Boy, was he annoyed, obviously trying to hurl himself out of the cage but....Ray finally fetched the ladder to investigate and we had caught one very annoyed currawong. Obviously coaxed by the choice bit of apple inside, it was beautifully caught, and we had to contact the possum person to rescue it. Apparently he freed a bird on Wednesday, obviously caught whilst we were out and about. So, we suspect no possums in the roof, just other critters. Bait is to be laid. I will keep you posted when we finally have a night without thumping and rustling. It is amazing how one can share one's premises with creatures, and not know about it for absolutely ages. Years, probably. Well, these humans are fighting back to reclaim their territory. Mind you, the possums still boot scoot across the roof!

What a cold snap we are having in Melbourne. Icy cold mornings, even severe fog this morning that kept aeroplanes - and passengers - earthbound. I haven't felt cold like this for ever. But then, we haven't had a 'real' winter forever either!

Have just come back from viewing another episode of Dr. Who! Who (whoops) would have thought that I would become a fan at my age! But, those daleks are interesting!

Well, I have just placed a picture that will test your ingenuity. It is another shot of our garden, with plants in bloom, including the Grevilla superb! Sorry about its positioning, but I still have a lot more to learn, as you can tell. I think I know what to do next time, but I really thought I had altered the way it was taken! justgoes to show, doesn't it.

We are off to Mildura for a few days shortly, and I am quite looking forward to it. Hopefully it will be a tad warmer than it is here. I really enjoy visiting this place, with all its fruit trees, especially delicious oranges, gardens - the Inland Gardens are a treat - lots of native plants and a magnificent rose garden. Not that roses will be out just now! And the dried fruit, and the wineries.. An altogether good experience. Also, one of my favourtie antique shops! We will probably stop off to visit with friends who own a flower farm (they grow for the flo rist trade) and see what delights that they have in bloom at the moment. The specialise in native flowers, some of which always seem to be in bloom, not matter what the season.

We have our Harry Potter book!!! Yay!! But, I think I might let him read it first, as I have a couple of library books to complete. I shall just delay the pleasures of finding out what happens to Harry and Co. Snape is a goodie!

Cheers all

Favourite place 2

This, I think, is one of my most favourite places in the world, that I have seen. Glastonbury Abbey, in Wiltshire. Aeons of worship have made this one of Britain's most sacred places. And you can actually feel the sanctity (in the nicest way) I have been here several times, in different seasons, in rain and in sunshine, and each time I feel I want to stay here forever. The peace just seems to engulf one to the point where the outside worl is forgotten. Even the rain on theis last visit didn't worry me. Thre greeness, the ruins, the trees were spellbiding. It must have been magnificient before Henry Vlll dissolved the monasteries all around Britain, We have been to a number of sacred sites around the country, but none captured me or affected me as deeply as Glastonbury.

Forget the myths and legends which abound about the place. The gravesite of King Arthur and his Queen Guinevere was 'discovered' here in medieval times. A fortuitous discovery if one is a sceptic about some things mythological. But, it inspired the people of the time, and brought in a lot of money to the abbey, after which they were able to continue building.

The wonderful Glastonbury thorntree, which flowers twice a year instead of the usual once, and shich supposedly struck root when Joseph of Arimathea plunged his staff into the ground. It is wonderful to ponder on this small tree, knowing that it is a cutting of a cutting &c of the original. But it never fails to send a frisson down my spine as I think of ancient times, and that perhaps Joseph did bring the Christ to Britain as yet another legend has it!

The little town itself is full of atmosphere, and is a strong centre of alternative religion and healing. WE spent some time at Chalice Well some years ago, and again I found myself totally immersed in peace and beauty. Oviously the centuries of worship has worked its way into the very fabric of the building and even the atmosphere, not to be dislodged my any form of moderntiy, which just seems to blend in.

Wiltshire itself is full of all sorts of ancient history, some of which one accepts without fear or prejudice, and some areas which make one feel a little uneasy. Stonehenge, whilst being a little awesome, never fails to astound me, and my own personal theory is that something very small is missing from the place, and when and if, it is found the mystery of Stonehenge will be solved. All the modern druids in the world will never understand or solve the mystery of this very ancient place.

The Valley of the White Horse (Uffington) is a place that really spooked me when we drove through ti. I had terribly fearful feelings until we were well and truly out of there. Again, an ancient religion held sway in this area.

But enough! I bakc in 2007 and am now going down to the family room to watch the wquare box and the Midsomer Murders.

The ferry from Dover Castle

Here it is, from the castle walls. I was impressed anyway.

We found Kent a delightful county. We had been there before but hadn't done it all. The old castles, the gardens - especially at Sissinghurst Castle - where we stayed at the farm for four nights. Thiisis the first trip we have done at a leisurely pace, and it was just wonderful, as I felt I was able to take it all in.

Favourite place

Dover Castle was one of the best place son this trip. A number of friends had been over the years and raved about it, whilst I was saying "ho-hum', We thought we had best go for a looko this time and wow! what a blast! I was totally blown away when we went into the 'secret' war tunnels, where much of the planning during the second world war happened. There was a fabulous communications system, and variuos rooms for the different forces and their commaneders. Also a hospital, deep under the ground int he white cliffs of Dover. The look out points, holes drilled into the sides of the cliff, gave a fantastic view across the channel, and anybody would have been spotted. How very clever those Brits were, in their wonderful hidey hole. There is also a superb Saxon chapel on site here, with a beautiful interior. Stained glass etc. The views from the castle walls across the channel were just fantastic. There were even a couple of ferries docked whilst we watched.
As you can see, it was a very fine day, but we spent a lot of time outside looking for a sheltered spot to protect us from a very cold wind. But, I love Britain, regardless of the weather.

Our garden

This is part of our back garden, taken in summer when the shrubs and trees were over their blooming. Somewhere in amongst all the trees the possums live, but it is nice to have an almost bush haven on site.

As you can see, the Australian bush garden bears no comparison with the English or other northern hemisphere gardens.

I will take a photo when everything is out so that you can see that we do have colour at certain times of the year, and usually there is a wattle or eucalypt in bloom. (Obviously out of shot!)

We were absolutely ecstatic yesterday to discover that our front garden features on the front cover of one of Ray's garden club newsletters. I didn't recognise it, but he did - eventually! I am going to try and get a colour version of the newsletter, because the photo was taken on a warm spring day when there was a profusion of blooms around.

Happy gardening to all you gardeners out there.

Sunny days, possums and rain

Hello out there in blog world! We now have a possum trap in situ on our roof, near the inlet the possums have been using to settle inside our roof each day, and in the wee small hours of the morning. I wonder if there will be anything in it tomorrow!

It was a perfect day here in Eltham yesterday. Cold, but warm sunshine when one could find a corner to bask in it. I took myself off to Warrandyte on the Yarra River, and spent a little bit pf time enjoying a cup of coffee in the sunshine. Fortunately I had put the washing out (how exciting I can hear you thinking!) but, the dark clouds were gathering as I was leaving Warrandyte. it didn't actually rain, so he and I spent some time planting things in the garden, and nearly freezing in the process. My digits were numb!

Today? Well, very dull and gray, and raining at the moment. We are still catching water in a huge wheelie bin, but by the time we need to empty it the ground is too wet, so Ray swings in another wheelie bin to store the overflow! All this means that, with our recycling programme here in Eltham, I don't have access to a couple of bins, essential for doing the right thing by the environment. Honestly!

Friend Gina and I had coffee this morning, and managed to set the world to rights. We wish!

Am going to try and post a picture of our garden, now.

This is us at Cape Cod, on a very cold, very gray day. It turned into a very wet day as we were making our way home. We didn't get to see the 'smart' parts of the Cape, which were apparently some miles across the Cape from where we were. However, it was interesting to see it, even though most of the day was spent getting there and home again. Got to say, I was very pleased to be back at my cousin's home in Dedham, Boston, and the warmth. We did have a lovely meal at an Irish pub, almost empty, but the service was great (of course) and we enjoyed the meal. It helped make us feel less cold, of course.
Gina has spent most of this afternoon teaching me how to upload photos onto the blog and I am telling you, it took forever. The actual loading was quite fast, but we waited probably fifteen minutes at least, for the system to tell us that the photo was done. Not being computer experts, we are hoping some clever reader will be able to tell us what went wrong, or if it just my machine. I seem to have a 'Uri Geller' effect on technical items, so maybe that's all it is. I shall have to get someone else to do my posts.
It has been very cold here at Eltham today, it only reached double figures at 3pm this afternoon, then not very far into double figures either. Mind you, it is nice to be experiencing a cool winter, after all the years of mild weather. (I am justifying complaining about the cold here!)
I still managed to get into the garden and pot up some flowers for instant colour. Ray and I have moved a planting urn onto the upper level in front of a trellis we erected last year. It is to be a focal point until the fast growing pandorea takes over. It won't belong, as pandoreas are notoriously vigorous in their growing habits. I figure it will look lovely from our back window and from next door's garden as well. I will post a picture of it when it blooms, which will no doubt happen in the spring. There are some flower buds appearing already.
It has been a busy day today. First the plumber, then the possum man, to tell us that yes, we do have a possum in the roof, which accounts for all the odd noises we keep hearing overhead. He will place a possum cage on the roof near the entrance it has found into the roof, and hopefully catch it so that I can give it a great lecture and let it go once the hole is blocked up. We have also had people in to quote on painting the outside of the house. I guess all this expense means that we won't be going overseas again in the forseeable future. But never mind, I have decided that I really do like my home and have reached the age where comfort is very important in this cold weather.
For non-Australian reader, if any, the possum who has taken up residence is a ringtail. Not very large with a long curly tail with which it uses to get around the trees. They are very cute little crreatures, with lovely pink, woofly noses and long whiskers, and great liquid brown eyes. But not so cute when in the roof, and eating plants. Still, the possums were here first.

Fairbanks house (Douglas) Dedham USA 1630 c

We went to this house when we were staying with my cousin in Dedham, Boston in March this year. It is positively ancient, and as you can see, has lots of curves in places where curves should not be but, it was very interesting. And a lovely sunny day, but very cold for all that.

More musings

We have been into the National Gallery Australian collection at Federation square, and it was just wonderful. I had no idea that our impressionists were so very prolific. I hope to be able to post some photos for you in the not too distant future, when Gina gets around to help me do so.
We took ourselves to the Gallery Members lounge for a quick cuppa and biscuit before we hit the display gallery, and I was amazed at the number of children, in company with grandparents, who were in the lounge. I took my coffee and sat near the window that overlooks all the activity in the building, and everywhere I looked there were children in cafes, in restaurants, and just generally being with their families, all of whom were looking rather stressed. I suddenly realised that, in today's society, there is no area of life where children are not around. Don't get me wrong, I don't mind this at all, as I love children and tend to take my grandchildren around with me during the holidays, but there is nowhere for an adult to go to for a quiet moment when out shopping ,or browsin or whatever. Which then led me to feel sorry for parents who never get a break from their little ones, because not everybody has extended family to take over when a quiet moment is needed. Perhaps I am being a bit over reactive here, but I feel that a society is growing up who will never know the pleasure and excitement of doing something new, because it will all have been done by the time they are 10! My own elder grandchildren have done everything, including the cruise and air trips to various parts of the country...and good for them but, goodness me, I had my first plane trip when I was 22, and my first cruise when I was 32. I haven't been on another cruise, but decided that the confinement of a ship was not for me, despite the multitudinous activities provided!
Some time ago, we took my two younger grandchildren to one of our state parks, to get up close and personal with kookaburras. We discovered a spot some time ago, where one could have a pleasant time in a quiet bush surrounding, sitting at a rustic table and enjoying afternoon tea. Fruit scones and thermos tea. Quite pleasant really, until....
Four kookaburras landed on the picnic table and began to make a grab for the food. The little boys were nervously delighted and I was seriously annoyed when one great bird fluttered onto the edge of my mug, immersing one of his feet in my tea, and looked hard at the hand in which I was hiding remnants of my scone. Not moving, the look said, until you give me that scone. Lost my scone and couldn't drink my tea, to boot! Oh well, I did want to be up close and personal with the natives!
It is a true winter's day here, very grey, cold and dare I say, miserable. But, we are still enjoying the rain that is falling beneficently from the skies, nourishing our thirsty gardens. The plants don't mind at all how frequently it rains, as they have had enough of drought conditions. I see in our newspapers that our police are interviewing four more doctors over the aborted terrorist plan for London. That is a truly scary thought, that medical people could take lives so rashly and terribly! I did notice in London when we were there, that the threat of attack hasn't stopped people from travelling the world. Not even me!
Cheers to you all!

Musings

I am still not getting the hang of this pastime as quickly as I should. Ended up commenting on my own blog a few minutes ago, but am hoping I eventually got it right.
It is lovely and wet here in Eltham, and too wet in other parts of Victoria. The terrible floods in Gippsland have been horrendous and one sometimes wonders why nature gets it so wrong sometimes. But all that water is a beautiful thing after our most awful dry.
Our garden is looking rather lush now, and we have been cheerfully planting out more shrubs in the hope that they will establish before the summer is with us again. Why is it that time moves so quickly as one ages?
I have taken up knitting again, with a vengeance. Have completed two jumpers for Ray in the past few months, and have another almost completed. Have been totally astounded at how expensive yarn is to buy these days - 'the drought' - said the lady in the woolshop. Yeah, right!
But, a friend has put me onto the Bendigo Woollen Mills, who sell yarn at less than half the price I paid, so that will be my next trip I think. About two hours from Melbourne, in Central Victoria. For those of you who don't know Bendigo, it is a wonderfully historic city, and, with Ballarat, was the centre of the goldrushes back in the early 1800s. There is also a fabulous Chinese museum in Bendigo, as there was a large population of Chinese who followed the gold rushes, and I think our country may have been the poorer without them.
We are hoping to go to Mildura in a couple of weeks. Ray and I both love it there, and we certainly enjoy the inexpensive citrus fruit. I remember our last trip in Spring last year. I was almost drunk with the perfume of the orange blossom which seemed to pervade the air for miles around. Even better than apple blossom!
I said in my last post that I love apostrophes. I meant to say exclamation marks!!
Had a lovely lunch at Federation Square yesterday, and was quite amazed by the number of Americans around. After we had passed an American lacrosse time, I suddenly remembered that it was their 4th July celebrations. A email from my American cousin this morning confirmed this anyway. It is awful how we tend to forget dates important to other countries. It will be bastille day soon, and hopefully I will be able to indulge in some lovely French pastries. When I was still working, the head of the French faculty always purchased these beautiful pastries, and cakes, for the staff and students to purchase on Bastille Day. Lovely. I have to go out and collect my own these days!
We had our four grandchildren on Tuesday, and it was lovely. It was also nice when they went home and I was able to collapse into a chair with a nice cuppa.
I am reading the biography of Isabella Stewart Gardner at the moment, the woman who left her home and collection of art etc. to the people of Boston. Ray and I visited there in March, and it was absolutely wonderful. What a fascinating character she must have been, and she knew and entertained many of the literary and artistic greats of her time. Whistler and Henry James spring to mind without the book in front of me.
I belong to a book group, which meets once a month for lunch in a private home, and we gossip and dine and here and there discuss the books we have read. What a great variety there is. I try to read at least one enlightening book per month amonst all the Clayton's reads (you know, the book you read when you are not reading?). I thoroughly young adult literature too, which is a hangover from my school library days. I have just finished reading a recently published thin book, called 'The tuckshop kid' which talks about juvenile diabetes. Each chapter is preceded by a tuck shop list, and I realised that I should have been paying more attention, because each list shows an improvement in the hero's diet. A good read for 10-14 yo reluctant readers or for anybody who likes to read. I feel that adults miss out on so much good reading because they think they are too old for young adult books. Not true at all!!! So out you go to your libraries folks, and try some of the young adult reading.