The Silly Season

Well that confirms it, the silly season must be upon us again. “And what’s wrong with that?” you may say. And you’d be absolutely correct. Nothing wrong with that and so if you can’t beat them, join them I say. And that is precisely what happened last weekend.

You see, last weekend was the occasion of a visit from some of our trusty offspring and mates, come to help with the Christmas decorations, listen to Christmas music and generally eat, drink and be merry. Usually, we also have egg nog, the making of which is Eve’s job. As she is slacking off and having a good time in England and Europe, I decided I might as well have a go at it.

I would have seen the signs of impending doom had I noticed that the recipe from the internet didn’t even have the main ingredient in it. No, not eggs, brandy! That was the first omen.

Second, was the fact that I intended to use an electric stove, big mistake. The bottom line is, that even though at the exact moment it started to curdle, I, as quick as a flash, got out the trusty electric mixer and tried to beat the curdled concoction into a smooth mixture, reminiscent of Eve’s. Unfortunately that didn’t work.

The glasses remained ominously full for ages and I couldn’t blame anyone. Some gallant ones actually finished theirs but no-one asked for seconds. I could say, “better luck next time”, but I fear there may not be one. My Scottish heritage baulks at wasting six eggs at a time.

PS Eve has sent me step-by-step instructions for egg nog and another batch may be attempted. Check in for regular updates.

From hopelessly incompetent season back to silly season. The saga of the Australian Gingerbread House, complete with roof, windows, doors, fence, mailbox, plants, snowmen and a santa stuck in the chimney. (see pics) Not to mention the verandah, the roof of which took some fancy engineering with advice from construction guru, Brenton.

You must understand that there were stages 1 - 5 to this build. The first being THE PLAN, through to stage 5 which was the taking of its position of prominence on the bureau. (After the evicting of some of the crystal.)

Have a fun Christmas everyone!

Sunday Musings

I’m feeling sorry for myself at the moment as I have developed a cold, again, and I cannot take the ‘old favourite’ drugs of choice that used to be available to me and enabled me to enter the sublime, drug-induced otherworld of a dry nose, comatose head and numbed throat, a place where there is no coughing!!!! I miss it so much. So I sit here feeling sorry for myself and sipping my vitamin C drink.

Here’s an idea! Perhaps I could take my feelings out on someone else. Laurence is sitting next to me... but maybe not. Looking out our study window, I see two darling, young, black birds poking around the lawn having an evening meal. I am also listening to some rather good Latin/American-type music with a newly washed, brushed and fluffy Missi-moo on my lap. I had a great time singing in church this morning and I have spent the day relaxing, in and out of the beautiful sunshine we had today, etc, etc. The prospect of a glass of champagne and a hot bath with Laurence on the agenda for tonight... Maybe I should stop complaining.

Great news for those interested. Lyn Flewelling is at the editing stage of a 4th Nightrunner book and Diana Gabaldon is writing her 7th Outlander book and both have promised there will be more to come. Both series of books are centred around truly passionate lovers, in Lyn’s case they are male but in Diana’s they are most assuredly male and female. Both love stories are decidedly wonderful and I look forward to the new novels.

Christmas is nearly upon us and our pantry has a new section marked ‘Christmas stock’. This is a most exciting improvement over our Christmases past of last minute panicking, long queues and parking problems, and will take the pressure off the days coming up to Christmas.

A few pics above or below as the case may be, I have no control over this (well I’m sure I have if I knew how the hell to do it), are from our visit to an open, historic garden during Bathurst’s Garden Festival. The property is called Blair Athol and their were 4 Mercedes cars in the garages. The garden was gorgeous and a good 5 minutes from our house. I love Bathurst!

Visit to Sydney

During the school holidays, we had a wonderful time in Sydney, due mostly to the efforts of Chelsea, Daniel and Leanne. Thanks guys, we had a great time.

Somewhere here there is photo of Laurence and I, taken by Chelsea, whilst enjoying an afternoon in her company at beautiful Manly. (Gotta love it!) We had a great time walking, eating and drinking and taking in the beauty that is the wharf side of Manly. The weather was amazingly generous, considering it was the school holidays.

Also included are photos of Daniel and Leanne taken from “THE BOAT’ which now abides in his newly cleared out garage and enabled us to have a great day on the Hawkesbury.

There is an excellent photo of Laurence doing what he likes to do. I was going to say, ‘what he likes to do best’ - but that’s not it!!!

The weather was great, company excellent, food and wine superb, and apart from the nervousness because neither alpha males had their boat licenses, we had a great day. The Maritime Services Board chose that particular day to have a marketing campaign and had a fully-outfitted tent at Apple Tree Bay complete with uniformed officers with clipboards in hand, walking around interviewing all boaters and because of the amount of traffic (due to an abnormally lengthy period of really bad boating weather, which meant every Tom, Dick and Harry was out for the day) they saw everybody.

Everything turned out alright as our guys answered all the questions with great alacrity and composure, not rousing any suspicion in the enthusiastic officers. Get your licenses please!!!

And our guys did us proud, first of all Laurence’s truly masterful reversing of the trailer down the ramp and Daniel’s rather cool driving the boat perfectly onto the waiting trailer. Leanne and I did a special cheerleader-type victory dance on shore. We couldn’t help ourselves. Lots of the other guys were pathetic at reversing and maneuvering trailers and boats. One such, Mercedes driving, male took at least 13 goes at reversing his trailer down the ramp and he had help. Very unsexy! Our guys shone out in comparison. I know Brenton is also an expert at this. Go team!

The photos promised but not delivered because they didn't fit

More from Bathurst

Typing one-handed with Laurence’s ugg boot on my left hand to warm it (the hand, not the boot). And no, it doesn’t smell. Laurence has always had very civilised feet. Although as far as the rest of him being so civilised...

I arrived home and was parking the car in the garage when surprised to see two all waggling, all dancing beings with smiles on their faces. My comment to Laurence, “Do you want your tummy rubbed too?” He answered with such exuberance I thought his head might fall off. How can a person resist?

On an entirely different theme...

The time: 4 October, the Thursday morning before race weekend
The place: Aldi Supermarket

Speaking with a Dutch immigrant who loved living in Bathurst and had grave reservations as to our immigration policy and the fact that we are over-polulating a very arid country. She was also worried about certain cultures who were not integrating into our society.

My reply was that the Boss had everything in hand, but then she replied with an opinion that seems to be coming more common these days, although it has always been apparent, and that is that the Boss does not seem to be around and the world is deteriorating quickly.

The Boss not around?

We all want to see God doing something in the world, but I believe...

We are not here to see miracles, but to be miracles.


And yet another theme...(is this person versatile or what? - its a rhetorical question, so no comments please)

The pictures below, or above, I don't seem to be able to control where they go, are from our garden and our trip to the Oberon Daffodil Festival. Its beautiful up there at the moment, but can be dreadfully cold. Our friend's property had snow for more than 5 days.

On the way back we took a short cut which, to my dismay, quickly became dirt, although Laurence took it in his stride being the excellent driver he is. Don't you find good male drivers sexy?

Anyhow, you will see there is a picture of an echidna we saw wabbling across the dirt road and we stopped. I got out to make sure no-one came over the hill and squished him while he finished his trek. Laurence got his camera out and took a picture (below/above). Cute hey? He had his head buried so we couldn't see him. Aaaarh!

Ps He didn't really think we couldn't see him, he was protecting his most vulnerable part, his head. Who would want to go near those quills?

Pps The other photos are some more shots from England. This is very appropriate as I am at this moment listening to Land of Hope and Glory and span style="font-style:italic;">Jerusalem and Laurence saying what he always says when looking at his photos. "It would have been a nice shot without that person in it". What a dear. How much simpler the world would be without people in it to spoil his photos.

Ppps The photo of me on the bench reading was taken in the charming village of Kingston home of the very gorgeous, brilliant and charming Timothy (and his parents Ben and Eve).

New Premises for Dance

Plenty of 'brag value' in these shots!

Musings on The Nimrod, The Enigma Variations- Sir Edward Elgar

On listening to this beautiful music, a description comes to mind -
the music is, at once, heroic, beautiful, happy, thrilling, content yet immeasurably exciting.

It talks about love, passionate love- love that is secure, forever, triumphant and fulfilling.
The source of inspiration, the day-spring.
And all the more impressive when mutual.

I am grateful, and well satisfied with it.

Another gem from himself

None of these...
all of these

A raised voice, a scathing tongue
A lifted hand, a delivered fist
A closed door, a turned back
A silent word, a cutting retort

Marriage is none of these... as Love is none of these


A soft sound, a melodic tune
A palm open, a caressing touch
A lighted candle, a face approaching
A deep tongue, a steadfast breath

Marriage is all of these... as Love is all of these

laurence

England

The Great Trek to the Home Country

Laurence took photographs of cloud then sketchy houses and streets appearing through the misting clouds and then a river with bridges... his first sights of London since he left there in 1958. What a moment for him. And for me too, just quietly.

So much happened. Everyday an exciting destination, or two, was scheduled. It was like going into fairyland, into the world found in the story books of my youth, all green with streams, and stones, so many stones and charm to wow us at every turn of our heads. And architecture and history almost too much to take in. And all seen in great company and, of course, the totally cute Timothy.

As you may already know we travelled to so many places but I don’t feel like doing a travelogue at the moment, so I’ll get to that later as the mood takes me.

The first afternoon there we took a punt up the River Cam under the able control of a student with a gorgeous, gorgeous accent. His commentary was interesting, but that accent!!! After this we spent some time in the first of many English pubs we were to visit, they are all over the place and all quite charming.

Thanks for making this possible guys!

Some of the 1500 or so photographs Laurence took with his trusty little digital and Ben and Eve’s beautiful Olympus, above... Kings College Cambridge with a cameo of Timmi (notice who is making him smile)

Musings for my Children and Others

Musings for my Children or Anyone Who Wants to Listen

I often ask the question; does this kind of relationship, this kind of love, this kind of passion, come to everyone? If not, why not and what have I done to deserve such an incomprehensibly valuable gift?

There is no doubt in my mind that it is not common, although I don’t doubt that many people know about it.

I guess, this is a similar scenario as why it is some of us are born into loving families, into prosperity, with good health etc, etc while a huge part of the world’s population are born into unhappiness, poverty, war, deprivation, bad health or handicapped in some way. Where is the logic, and who decides?

This rates with my persistent beef with God, as to how He allows the innocent, children, animals etc, to be at the mercy of uncaring, cruel and depraved humans. I realise that having this ‘beef’ is very courageous of me, just the idea of having a ‘beef’ with God, but I’m sure He knows my heart on this and realises the pain I feel when confronted with cruelty.

Paul says in the New Testament that now we see dimly, but THEN we will see clearly. So, nothing to do but be patient.

Now, where was I?

At the moment, I am completely obsessed with a Sting song ‘If I Ever Lose My Faith’, a song which I sing alternately to God and to Laurence. Well actually not to laurence's face, figuratively I mean. The sentiment is, that without faith, there is nothing for me. God, I have faith, is totally to be relied upon even though I don’t understand all that much about the way he works.

Laurence, I can say I have faith in because I know him so well. Ye ken what I mean? (The use of this Scottish idiom is my new fetish and helps me sense a connection with my past, so you’ll just have to put up with it.) I know him well and trust him to respond in a certain way.

Constancy, you see, is a very underestimated quality these days, but that doesn’t make it any the less valuable. Of course there are very bad kinds of constancy such as being cornered in a cruel, controlling relationship or stuck with something unpleasant ordisturbing in life, but that’s not what I’m talking about here.

Constancy of love, passion, devotion, trust and protection, is a precious thing to be treasured and appreciated. It is the product of a long, honest relationship and brings with a feeling of safety, something which appears to be a dwindling commodity in our modern society.

Well then, perhaps that is enough 'deepness' for today. Remember to be grateful.

Where

I arrived home after church a few weeks ago to find this beautiful missive Laurence wrote for me.

Where

Where is the excitement from the rolling ocean
without the sound of waves meeting the sand?

Where is the peace from a babbling brook
without the sound of movement between pebbles?

Where is the love from a heart
without the sound of a beat against a chest?

Where is the emotion from music
without the sound of notes reaching the mind?

Nowhere to be found if you are not playing.

Nowhere to be found if you are not speaking.

Nowhere to be found if you are not in body.

Nowhere to be found if you are not in thought.

Laurence

A Fabulous Weekend

Whoever said "nothing happens at Bathurst" doesn't know what he's talking about.

My nearest and dearest and I spent Saturday night watching a great ballet program (from the Australian Ballet) at the Entertainment Centre. A classical program featuring Les Sylphides, a Strauss thing, the Graduation Ball and the final act of Tchaikovsky's Sleeping Beauty. Sydneyites eat your heart out - we left home 25 mins before it was due to start, parked across the road from the centre and paid $45 for the tickets. And the ballet was excellent!

But, the best was yet to come... at the Sunday afternoon concert featuring world famous pianist Simon Tedeschi playing Grieg's Piano Concerto. This was a long awaited for event of great anticipation which did not disappoint. We went early so we could sit in the front row with a view of the keyboard. The experience was cathartic to say the least and I caught myself checking my pulse rate at the end of the first movement as it was so enthralling.

The performance was technically perfect of course, but also extremely powerful and sensitive. The guy is a talent and a half and the orchestra, a local one with help from some ring-ins, rose to the occasion under the baton of our wonderful Precentor, Michael Deasey. What an afternoon!! We got to talk to Simon after the performance courtesy of our friend Antonio Deasey.

Sorry, no photographs taken for this section, but Simon has CD's (check the iTunes Store).

From the Soapox Episode 1

This is a little scary as I am getting no professional help from my 'team of experts'... so here goes.

I just finished reading HP The Deathly Hallows; I know I'm a little late, but I have excellent excuses. Firstly, it was ordered for me from Amazon by my nearest and dearest and, of course, I couldn't get it on the release date. And, secondly, when a sympathetic librarian friend of mine dropped in a copy last Sunday, said nearest and dearest grabbed it and proceeded to hog it for the next few days. This was very strange indeed as it was the first time he has ever picked up a copy of the HP's let alone actually read one. Although he has been dragged to every single movie and forced to eat HP lollies and listen to HP movie trailers as I played them over, and over, and over... What a good sport my N&D is!

In any case, I loved the book and will probably do my usual trick of rereading it asap. Thank God JK restrained herself and didn't knock off everyone close to Harry; "Good on you JK! The world is thankful".

Today it is cold and mostly grey in Bathurst, but we have no complaints as we 've had a good amount of rain and the countryside is thankful.

We were busy last weekend putting some colour at the back door, nice and close so we don't have to go outside in the cold to see them. Pictures below. Laurence requires I put a disclaimer in. HE DID NOT TAKE THESE PHOTOS AND IS NOT RESPONSIBLE FOR THEM IN ANY WAY OR FORM.

I can't understand the fuss, my shadow is there on purpose so one can see that a person has taken the picture, makes it more personal don't you think?