Yakety yak

Prepare yourselves for a thesis on "The Domestic"... one of my favourite topics.............................
Now that women have a great deal more equality in the Western world and are spending less and less time at home, the previously undervalued domestic skills that are being lost are now much more highly valued. There is a new celebration of the domestic and a tidal wave of interest in craft blogs, fabric sites, knitting classes, cooking shows on TV and film.
My friends and relations are no exception to this and have taken pleasure in showing me how the revolution is progressing in Melbourne and Sydney.
My new best friend Ro Cook is one of these talented women who has successfully combined the two worlds of domestic arts and business. She's been such an inspiration and one of the reasons I stayed longer than anticipated in Sydney. Ro got some work sewing for a theatre production company in Sydney and was making more money per hour than I ever have, suddenly I realised it was possible to make a living from sewing, my confidence was greatly restored and I felt I had a worthwhile skill. Part of the remit was to sew a linen lining onto a yak skin!!! We had such a great time, her sewing and me yakking (well she did quite a lot of yakking too).
Ro had to buy fabrics for the job and she took me to some of Sydneys best fabric shops. Here are some photos of the fabrics at Remnant Warehouse for you to dive into. Something about the colour and texture of textiles has a beneficial effect on me. It's almost magical how restorative it is.
The other restorative factor has been Jim Conway and his wife Helen. Laid back and lovely, these two. Most days Jim would let me have a cry and a reminisce about Ricardo.
They took me to the Leichardt organic farmers market on Saturday morning for sago puddings, sugarcane juice, steamed lemon myrtle muffins and shiny apples.
Then Helen and I went to yet another fabulous swimming pool. (I hope I don't make you all too jealous with all the sunshine going on here.) This time it was the Dawn Fraser pool. The oldest pool and swimming club in Australia.
A heavenly view on a hot day. The pool lies in a small cove in Sydney's harbour and is tidal so at times there is a beach with sand for sandcastle making at the swimming pool.
There was no one around at this upper level changing area that reminded me of a Victorian cricket pavilion.
and no one eating a Vegemite sandwich at this picturesque pit stop.

Sad, wet or mad?

A week or so ago I came to Sydney on the train. An 11 hour trip of empty seats,
plenty of time to read
and rain, rain, rain. I've never seen country Victoria look so green nor the rivers so full.
But 11 hours is a long time to think all by yourself even if you are accompanied by good books. No one to play cards with, no one to laugh quietly about the other passengers with. The rain was a perfect reflection of how I felt.
So I was thrilled to be met at Central station by one of Richard's brothers in all but biology, Mic Conway. Here he is with his beautiful AND talented wife Ro and the ever patient and shameless Gypsy.This was the view out of Mic's van.
The fabulous view of the Glebe bridge.
I have been staying with Mic's brother Jim and sister-in-law Helen. The Conway brothers have been treating me like royalty and I have been so very grateful. First up Mic took me to the Leichardt pool, 50 metres of pure paradise on a hot summers day. Luckily Mard had given me a fabulous Esther williams bathing suit so I was into that water quick smart.
The next day Helen took me to the Redleaf pool. A perfect pool in Sydney's Double Bay. No sharks because of the fence around the pool. Quite a walk down very steep steps so by the time you reached the top you felt like going back in again.

Then a few days later the lovely Kerry Dwyer
took me past amazing gardens and a winding path
to another spectacular pool at Coogee. This time an ocean pool. (Those bathers have really been getting a work out)

Some kids had been snorkeling in the rocks and found these living bits of seaweed. Beautiful black sea slugs.
Later that night after swimming with Kerry, Jim & Helen took me out to a film preview that their friends the Pigram brothers play music in and helped produce called "Mad Bastards". It screened at the Sydney Uni quadrangle. A remarkably English building on a very un-english balmy night. The film was great if a little hard to hear because of the echoing site, but the Pigram Brothers playing beforehand was a rare treat.
We indulged in a little celebrity spotting!!!

As Molly Meldrum used to say "Do yourself a favour" and listen to this wonderful youtube clip of the Pigram brothers. Let it transport you to North Western Australia.

Relaaaaaaax

Sorry I've been absent from the blog for a while but it's actually been quite nice to have a rest from the computer. I've had time to read, and my friend Mardi has provided me with some great books. To start with... Alex Miller's "Lovesong" and next up will be "The swan thieves" by Elizabeth Kostova. For this very reason I have booked a ticket to go to Sydney by train, just think of the luxury of 10 whole hours on a train with a couple of good books.
Mardi has the most amazing heart shaped life here in Eltham, Victoria, Australia with her wonderful husband Macgreg and indeed as a portent of what was coming, she was born with a heart shaped map on one arm.
The wonderful Macgreg is a truly renaissance man and can turn his very talented hand to anything. There are amazing bits of sculpture all over their property like this...
and he's building a bungalow for daughter Sunday May out in the backyard..
It has been incredibly hot here and there has been a lot of swiming in the pool but today it's a beautifully cool 20 degrees and so the pool has been abandoned for more indoor pursuits.
Here's their dog Blue (the perfect mix of Blue Heeler and Jack Russell) getting snuggly on the couch.
and the very gorgeous Olive Honey lazing about with Lamby...

Thank you my wonderful 2nd family for giving me the precious gift of a little bit of time to relaaaaaax.

Upside-down-under

I have only now had time with a computer at Suzanne Ingleton's (Roxi's Mum) in Castlemaine, to actually post these photos that I took before Christmas when I went for 3 glorious days to my favourite place in the world...Wilson's Promontory National Park.

I went with my wonderful sister and my sisters in all but biology, Mardi and Sally and their extended and very precious families. Here is Mard, leading the way for me with her beautiful liquorice allsort towelling back pack on that she made.
Blue sky anyone?
Here we are walking on a cool morning to Tidal overlook.
THE GIRLS
It's been wonderful to be surrounded by people who all sew and are as obsessed by fabric as much as me. One of the reasons I snapped Richard up so swiftly was that he could sew.
These guys are seasoned campers and even brought.......the Christmas decorations.

It was quite cold though for the first night or two and I wore every piece of clothing I brought with me, including my showerproof coat to bed each night. (Thanks Clarribelle for the lend of your MOST beautiful soft, warm and comforting scarf)

How's this for camping perfection?

From 3 to 28

For those of you who haven't seen me for a while I just thought I'd update you on where on earth I am. I'm struggling actually, (slightly dazed, jet lagged and hot) to know WHERE on earth I am.
For weeks I've been freezing my bum off in Norfolk with ice and snow (not that I'm complaining as ice and snow at this time of year still seems so exotic to me). Now I'm perspiring copiously in Singapore, staying with my friends Mary and Andrew on my way back to Melbourne for Christmas.
This is the walk we went on this morning through the jungle.



After the walk it was time for lunch. Tofu that tasted like fragrant citrus, slender eggplant in an aromatic chilli dressing and those most wonderful salty fish, ikan bilis washed down with a glass of iced lime drink.
Then off to the beauty parlour for a pedicure...
Still need the wax....