Hi Dear Friends, The body is home, not sure if the rest of me has caught up or not. I have had several bits of semi urgent lifestyle things to sort out which always drives me nuttier than usual but it is done - now I can start and catch up with what has been happening.
It has been wonderful if freezing down in Mooroolbark, in the outer east of the great city of Melbourne. I love it down there and just may head back that way in the future - time will tell.
It is very similar to Christchurch (NZ) where I come from and I really enjoyed all my outings with eldest son seeing all the lovely autumn colours just breaking out down there - we don't grow those trees up here - too hot for them. We made a visit to a long time friend who has just moved into a secure until in a retirement village and so great to catch up with her briefly and see her new abode. Very tempting - maybe I had better buy a lottery ticket or two to finance that.
The next day I met up with another friend who drove me to a wonderful fabric shop where I had a ball choosing cot sized cover patterns to be quilted and sent on their journey to needy families. Can't wait to get started in a couple of them at least. (sorry no photos yet they will happen sometime) I also picked up needed sewing and quilting needles and other bits and bobs.
Wednesday Kevin & I went on a long drive - considerably longer than bargained for due to Road CLosures - dratted nuisance. We eventually arrived at our destination - the small Town of Marysville. 10 yrs ago it was all but wiped out by bush fire so I was keen to see it again. The quilting/sewing/knitting group I went to every week used to have a year gathering up there so it was sad to see it not long after the fire with barely a structure standing.
Slowly it is rebuilding but there are still many empty sections ("lots" I think some people call them). A row of new shops has replaced the preious ones, but alas no quilting/embroidery shop at all. We had a fabulous lunch at a café they knew from before the fire, it is brick exterior so was still standing. It is a "Home Bakery" so a yummy lunch and rest then we set off for home. Again "road closed" signs in our face (same road but other end of it) so off Kevin went on an unpaved road. WOW hillside after hillside of skeleton trees. Everything grey and bare. They were mainly the Blue gum trees which grow to 30/40 ++++ height and all that is left is the bare trunks with the branches near the tops, no green although apparently many are regrowing from the roots up. Mind boggling for sure.
I did do my shopping in my favourite village, went to my favourite picture framers and gave him GS 21st birthday gift which the family will pick up next week. Then into the wool shop. Didn't find all I wanted but saw some awesome wool I almost bought but managed to keep my purse closed.
On the knitting front it was lovely on an evening to sit in the most comfortable chair in the house (courtesy of DIL) and Keren and I sat and knitted happily. I almost finished a baby bolero which has been sitting around most of the summer.
All in all a wonderful week away and so glad I chose to come home on the Saturday. It was 5c and pouring down rain when Kevin & I left the house at 6.45am for the airport. Apparently it "staggered" to 11c before heading back down again. Too cold for me after the 30 ++++ temps we have here. Arrived home to 31c and 83% humidity - yuk.
So I am back and catching up slowly.
