Over 30 degrees C at 7.30 am

Not going to be a good day. 40 is for cast. I was out watering at 6.30 am and it was not nice. The last of the roses for a while I think. I have been slowly making this little fellow but I don't have any feathers, I will see what I can find today when I go in to shop. (Early!). He is another of Jill Maas designs. I am so glad she made the pattern. I know she said I could do one, and perhaps I could but so much easier to follow a pattern. The Melbourne family called in briefly on their way home yesterday. Granddaughter not well so where I thought maybe they would stay they got an earlier ferry and just wanted to get home. As today is going to be awful better not to be travelling.

The last few days

Days over 40 degrees, thunderstorms which caused fires, some still going, we watched cfs vehicles unloading last night from the ferry and passed more this morning coming from the ,a inland to help. Cruise ships and ferries in the bay. 3 cakes baked, thank goodness for the air conditioner. This morning cooler and a trip to Pennington Bay. Such a lovely place but too windy to get down to the beach so took photos instead. We both feel a bit as if we have been run over by a bus now the cooler weather is here.Johns birthday and he is having problems with his allergy reactions. Dust and smoke doesn't help. I am slowly packing, on the 10 am ferry tomorrow morning. Out to the pub for dinner tonight. Not our usual Kangaroo Island experience which is a shame but I still love being here. Yesterday morning going put to the new False Cape Winery cellar door was a bit scary, there was no way to tell if there was a fire or not the sky was so overcast but we made it and bought a couple of their lovely wines, the new cellar door is really nice. So yes we managed a few things. I hope we will be back, over 60 years since we honeymooned here and we keep returning.

On Kangaroo Island

We arrived here on Sunday morning, having been up since 5 am. Forgot lots of things but most importantly my insulin! I know I got it out but what a mess. Thank goodness now is well as they faxed my script to the pharmacy in Kings cote. So a trip to the big smoke, caught up with friends and now feel a lot less stressed. A very hot day but we did manage a walk at a tech amber bay this morning in a different a short painting done too. That should be Antechamber, Internet is a bit slow.

Busy busy.

I am baking so it must be getting near to Christmas. On a very hot Sunday we went to bring your own food and drink at a neighboring shearing she'd function for our local MP. I had promised John an egg and bacon pie, something I rarely make these days but that cold, and a glass of bubbly went down well. I made the biscotti today, another Christmas tradition to take to Kangaroo Island. That time is getting scarily close, next Sunday as we will be home for Christmas. Have organised the house sitter. Am wrapping parcels. This little succulent is so beautiful when it is out. Aiece struck from one friend has, but.. it only shows when it is hot and sunny. I don't mind it is beautiful. I still have to get the Christmas decorations up, they are so to speak "found" just not sorted. Perhaps tomorrow. I have walked this morning so must be feeling better, just wish my sugar levels would sort themselves out.

Yesterdays walk

I am not getting a lot done, seem to fall asleep a lot. I am getting to the rather panicked stage, a bit more than a week before we go to Kangaroo Island. Things to do but I think a lot of them will be done on the Island. I still feel off, so if nothing gets done and I go with only the clothes on my back, well that is what will happen. I am finding Christmas very stressful this year. Making lists. loveing my beach walks.

Walking at Pt Elliot

Well it seems I have a urinary tract infection so I am now on antibiotics. I hope I feel better soon. Yesterday we walked over at Pt Elliot, loved the colour on this dead branch. There was wind and some white horses but was a lovely walk. A bit too much sea weed to walk on the beach but at last I was out and about. well a bit, feeling tired still though. I think I am having to think that Christmas presents for the family will be very low key as I am just not up to making much. Perhaps once the antibiotics kick in I will feel more like doing things.

Finally walking again

We managed a walk this afternoon. Very cool with quite a southerly wind blowing. I had rather a depressing morning with my diabetic support lass as things dont seem to be quite right in some areas. I think I am still getting over the past week or so but that dosent really make me feel very confident. I get so tired and really a bit depressed about it all. Did manage to see a dear friend while I was coming out of the surgery and she has been in hospital with a nasty bowel obstruction. Too many of us at the moment with problems. I suppose it is an age and stage thing but I would just like to feel not so achy. Not sure if that is a word. I see my gp tomorrow so it will be interesting to hear what he thinks.

Monday

I did this really bad little painting to remind me of our stay in Sydney. The view from the front verandah of the lovely blue jackeranda tree and the gymia lilies that grew there too. We have had a busy few days and after a 6.30 start to have a blood test at 7 am I have felt very tired all day. Yesterday we went to lunch at the golf club with friends, more 80th birthday celebrations. Although some were older and some younger. A lovely meal but I was very naughty and had a chocolate nut sundae to finish with. It was huge, needless to say we had soup for our evening meal. Today it is freezing cold and very windy. My arthritis is bad and I really don't want to do much but I suppose a walk later will happen. It was nice to get a bit of rain as I won't have to water the garden

Book launch

This morning we went to the launch of this book, it looks interesting but I haven't had a lot of time to do more than a quick look through. I don't get out and about much any more so it was interesting to go but speeches always seem to go on for longer than one hopes. The trouble is that my lovely trip away has set off my arthritis and I am not exactly enjoying my body at the moment. We have managed a few short walks but I come home so tired and I must say, a bit bad tempered. With any luck things will settle down again soon. The weather is mild to cool, we had a bit of rain yesterday and was promised more today but so far nothing. So nice not to have to water for a few days. I bought some plants this morning and hope to be able to plant them this afternoon. At least there is no heat for a few days.

A great few days away at the International Welsh Show in Sydney

I feel a bit as if I have been run over by a bus, 3 am Friday, 4 am Saturday, 8 am Sunday and 2.15 am Monday were all rather tiring. I havent been to Sydney for years and years, had forgotten how big it is. We stayed with M and D who live out in a lovely valley in the mountains at Wyong Creek (near the big bushfires but luckily the weather had cooled and they had all slowed down a bit) . From the airport to their home seemed to be a long, long way. Beautiful area but oh needs rain. Sarah was helping to wash the mares and foal and then lead the foal at the show. I didnt do a lot as for me this is a long day. M and D had other friends staying too so not a very early night. An hour and a half drive the next morning to get to the show grounds, early morning, looked lovely, loos a fair way away and that made my life a bit interesting. Found a seat, bit far from the rings but under cover with a group of New Zealanders on one side and young Welsh people on the other. I caught up with people, not perhaps as many as I would like as I cant stand for long, my stick does help a bit. Some really lovely ponies there and it was great to hear our Rivington prefix over the loud speaker every so often. Congratulations to those who made it. I didnt always agree with the judging but it is always ones own opinion on the day. My other daughter Tabby and her daughter Celina had made the very long drive over with the Cob stallion and a filly. We were so pleased that the stallion was 2nd in a class of five, and good ponies at that. The little filly was 3rd in her class. A very long day so much so that they tried to judge the Supremes in the dark and finally sense prevailed and they went up to the indoor arena. Although we had paid for dinner as Sarah was leading for someone and we were so tired we just wanted to get home. Nearly midnight when we did. Next morning we headed off to see Stud that seemed to be a million miles away, some lovely ponies when we got there, more New Zealanders visiting too. A great day but I was in bed by 8pm. Next morning the early start to get the 6.20 plane home. Felt so sorry for M and D as the amount of driving from their lovely place too and from the airport was huge. I got home and after unpacking and washing collapsed. I am still doing that today although we did do a cold walk on the beach this morning. I think another couple of days may see me back to normal. I hope but I am left with memories of lovely people, beautiful ponies and a brilliant if exhausting few days.

Flowers

I have some very talented daughters. Tabby has been doing some weddings on their property and has been doing the flowers. That talent comes from her grandmother, not me. She told me she had some flowers if I wanted any so we called in today on our way home from an Adelaide funeral and these are my flowers. I really love to have fresh flowers in the house. The funeral was for Johns 2nd cousin, I think, his cousins son, aged 95. A dear man who I enjoyed very much but he had had enough. Sometimes I think we live, or are kept alive for too long.

All a bit disturbing.

I I'd this little painting last week while listening to the latest on the worrying fires on the east coast. Having lived through a lot of bad fires in my life, but luckily not been burnt out, I still find bad fire days disturbing, in our younger days on the farm John was often out fighting them leaving me to look after things at home. Always watching for smoke and feeling rather helpless. Now we live in the town but still close to paddocks and as I get older the more worried I become. So stupid. At least for the moment the weather is cooler, although another very hot day is for cast for next week.

Walking the beach this morning and the cliffs yesterday

The wind has stopped and this mornings walk on the beach was lovely but yesterday on the cliffs I thought I would be blown over them the wind was so strong. My hay fever has made walking for too long rather difficult but this morning all was calm and lovely. I am still hand sewing little things I do like to give a little hand made Christmas ornament to friends. Keeps me busy too.

Finished.

She has taken for ever but finally she is finished I got a bit fed up with her and put her aside butyes I did get shoes on her.A worrying day with strong winds and heat. Hoping our pony friends in the Eastern States will be OK over the next few days.Too tired and so glad we will have cooler weather tomorrow.

Walking today

No wind so a lovely walk on the beach this morning and an even better one on the cliffs above Parsons Beach. Love my walks there, but also the beach ones. Make me feel alive. Warm but not hot and so lovely to have no wind. My heart goes out to those who are attempting to cope with the bushfires. I cant believe that people have been allowed to build homes in some of those areas, I suppose we are all too aware of the dangers here in the southern states. NSW and Queensland are not normally as dry as they are this year but even so.

Hay fever

I took these photos when we were in Adelaide, the lovely buildings on North Tce and the basket woven fish at the museum. I am having a bad attack of hay fever. I tend to forget I get it and blissfully wonder why I feel so awful until John reminds me. We have had days of high winds and high pollen counts and I dont dare go outside for long. My nose runs, my eyes are sticky and on the whole I dont feel well. So much to do too. Back to feeling sorry for myself.