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Alex had a good chuckle at Nana's glasses |
we're both sorry to hear about your mother's condition.
but we all know & understand that before too long we'll all be there, one way or another, in her situation, so we best prepare ourselves.
for our part, we're reading good books,(especially sally), listening to interesting music, (especially me) & both of us fighting the good fight.
imogen heap is playing in sydney, australia soon.
i'm not sure if her concert date will coincide w/ your arrival, but if you catch her act, i'm sure she will do her best to help keep you young w/ her musical messages & brilliant creativity.
http://youtu.be/iqjWodek8ZM
Hi again Filmer!
Thanks for remarks about Mom. Enjoyed listening to Imogen Heap but we won't be able to make her concert, (even if we could obtain tickets), as we are only overnighting in Sydney this coming Thursday, May 10th, to leave for Japan on May 11th, arriving May 12th. Back to Vancouver on May 31st. I gather her concert is on May 29th. Too, too bad as it is at the Sydney Opera House. What a great venue!
Hello Glasgow!
Welcome home from Glasgow, Glasgow! Loved your characterization of retired colleagues. Glad to know that Imperial Britain is still exploiting the workin' man in the colonies! Have just posted some Kangaroo filets as we both apologize for lack of ham at Easter! Trust you are both well. (I gather Catherine may have mentioned Mom's heart attack.) Sorry that it has taken me a bit to send along a message. Funnily enough, of late, I have been wondering how you were. What with extended travel and all, one really seems to be in a Twilight Zone of sorts, quite removed from all the "normal" connections of home. However, today, couldn't help but think of you. (See below!) After another of Kathleen's wonderful omelettes, (fresh eggs from their chooks out back). with toast made from home-made bread, slathered with home-preserved marmalade we drove into Castlemaine, about 20 minutes south of where we are staying, to stroll through a monthly Artists' Craft Market. Some very interesting and extremely imaginative crafts on sale. Cora Lee found a lovely pearl pendant and asked, nonchalantly, if I'd found an anniversary present yet! Bought that and two jars of natural oil, artisan skin unguents, (to keep her forever young), from a delightful woman who could sell haggis to a vegan! Now I just have to worry about her 65th birthday in July!
After market, we went around the block to the Theatre Royal, built in 1857, the oldest, continuously operating cinema in Australia, to see Salmon Fishing in Yemen. Simply loved Ewan McGregor as the salmon expert. Must admit that I had not expected it to be such an extremely entertaining, well done film. Give it a go if you have the chance. To make showing even more enjoyable we had seats on the ground level where the row seating has been removed. Instead of individual seats there are a series of comfortable leather sofas with foot stools. One can order lattes/espressos, etc., or beer or a bottle of wine to sip while watching. Two-thirds of floor area is given over to a dance floor as venue is used for all sorts of other events: receptions, birthday parties, and the like.
Back home to go for a glorious hour and a half walk, (on sealed road as opposed to through the bush on a track), up nearbye Mount Alexander. Stunning views of surrounding countryside and I could not keep from marvelling at the incredible boulders, many in formations like those at Hanging Rock, not all that far to the south. In fact, we walked past a number of working granite quarries. Once home we went down the road to have drinks and appetizers with friends and neighbours, Sara and Allan. Lovely couple and it was a treat to meet more of the close knit, welcoming farm/orchard/sheep and cattle raising community.
That night we watched Animal Kingdom, a chilling crime drama, based on a Melbourne criminal family. Again, extremely well done, powerful but quite disturbing, of course. Off to look for eggs and load up wheel-barrow with more firewood before we drive into Castlemaine for some groceries for tonight's dinner. Both Kathleen and Steve are working, (Melbourne/Bendigo), tomorrow so we are fixing the meal, Jamie Oliver's Favourite Beef Stew, a recipe Cora Lee pulled off the Internet. Will have it with wine we purchased from Water Wheel, winery in Bridgewater, small town about 30K from Bendigo. I bought a case of their remarkable Petit Verdot, six bottles of 2008, 15.5%, six of 2009, 13.5%, $16/btl, $150, discount for a case and cash! Time to start making a dent in the case!!!
Fond regards to you both. In case you have nothing to do when on call at the hospital, have included some of our experiences at Kakadu. We certainly enjoyed Cairns as well. We were actually staying at Palm Cove, about 23k north of Cairns itself, and found the community a delightful place, our day trips to the Daintree and the Great Barrier Reef more than wonderful. (Given time constraints, Internet access, and the like, I have yet to pull together, "edit", the notes I made about those exciting excursions. I had plans to do just that, here at Old Oak, intended as a week of respite before Japan, but our days here have been almost as busy, (Not that I'm complaining!), as when we were moving about this glorious country. At any rate, should you be so inclined, please find my account, such as it is, of some of our time in Darwin and Kakadu. Not sure if I sent this entry along or not. Apologize if so. Guess the delete key was intended for such eventualies! Cheers, Cora Lee and Patrizzio!
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| Pierre knows how to make himself comfortable doesn't he? |
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