Lena

One of the few good things about being single and living in the UK is that Europe (and the opportunity to get there) is so close. Without thinking twice (well actually with a great deal of angst) I gave in to my niece Lena's wishes and met her in Rome.
It was so good to see some sunshine and so good to see her that I didn't really care if I saw any ancient art or architecture at all.
Lena has always been great fun with a dry sense of humour and an observant and sensitive way about her. It was an absolute pleasure to hang out with her as she showed me the sights of Roma.
Without her cheeky sense of naughtiness, I would never have climbed up to the top of the stairs at the institute of architects and gone onto the roof!
Would never have let myself wander the streets looking for the best ice cream....
and coffee.....
bread...
and pizza.
While following along in Lena's shadow though, I did get a glimpse of the ecclesiastical side of Rome, in shops like this...
and this I remembered that I loved studying Art history at Art school and these amazing figures in the Four Rivers Fountain by Bernini on Piazza Navona were unbelievable up close. How clever to show someone taking off their shirt beside a clear pool and the detail on that palm tree was incredible.
I'd seen photos of the Colosseum so many times before but I never realised it was beside a hill.

Secret sisters

I've been hiding out in the workroom since I came back, trying to just knuckle down and work. It's been fine actually as the weather's been crappy and I've been loving listening to the radio from Australia and the UK. This morning on Woman's hour they interviewed these very talented sisters so without further ado, I bring you the the Secret sisters

The old Dart

Thanks to Richard's Mum and Dad who came as ten pound Poms to Melbourne on the 17th of September 1960 (a year after I was born), my heart is forever divided into two hemispheres. The flippant decision I made in 2003 to live in England had rippling consequences that I had no idea of when I said yes so easily to Ricardo's proposal of marriage on the far south coast of Australia in Eden after our brief 3 weeks of knowing one another.
My trip this time to Australia was subconsciously a trip to answer the question "Where in the world should I live". I feel that having only lived in England with Ricardo the Magnificent; if I moved back to Australia, my time in the UK would turn into a fairytale of happiness and calm. A Brigadoon that no one in Australia could ever fully understand, with Richard as the leading man in a world that simply disappeared after his death. What I found in Australia however was the same care and concern that I have here in East Harling and it's made it even harder to answer the question that goes round and round in my head every day.
Here are the last photos I took while I was away. This one first of all of my little shadow, confidante and therapist Olive Honey.
Haven't seen much of this lately!
Is it being on holiday that provides a sense of ease or is it just a case of the weather. Here is Roxi proving that life is just a bowl (or arm) of cherries. Another sunny day, swimming at North Melbourne pool.

Here she is with her diamond Python Lix.
The fabulous tomato stall at the Vic Market.
unbelievable seafood.
Unbelievable cakes too at Brunetti's in Carlton. (We had one of these for our engagement party and I'd kill for a piece right now.)
Bircher muesli and fabulous coffee at Heide's Café Vue with my darling Sis on her birthday.
The Christmas beetle that crossed our path on the walking track near Sue's house.
Here too are the last photos of Singapore with its amazing abundance of good food.
and its wonderfully multicultural side streets. Although if you look closely you can see that one of these garlands is made of lawn clippings which would be mighty uncomfortable and probably necessitate....
This...So its farewell to friends and family and amazing food and warm evening walks.

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.