Revival

A message from Brigid ....

I have been a blogger since 2005. At the height of my blogging busy-ness, I had "a small stable" of blogs on different topics: social and political commentary; desert spirituality; food; waste and ....

A few years ago I called time and ceased blogging altogether - although there was an occasional post. I had called it quits. I am an aged woman these days with a couple of serious illnesses. I am not allowed to drive. I am no longer active in organisations. I think it fair to say that I am housebound. I am active on Facebook, although I am not there as often as once I was. I have decided to embark on a re-entry into the blogging world ... beginning with The Trad Pad and, possibly, a return to my food blog, Oz Tucker. I have always used a lot of photographs on my blogs ... and I miss not being out and about with my camera.

The Trad Pad has been my blog for the lovely things of life. The controversial or political has seldom intruded. Occasionally, the spiritual has found its way in, but I kept spirituality for the blog, Desert. I don't yet know if I will revive that. I will stick pretty much to food and the lovely things of life. If I have some regularity with those two categories, I feel that I will be doing well. I hope that, with this blog new friendships can be formed and old friendships renewed; new lovelies discovered; new reflections can enter into the meaning of modern life. I would love to hear from you - particularly if you have suggestions for new topics to enter into the conversation. So, it is a new year. Let's see what it has in store, what it can bring to us. And I hope that those who share the spirit of The Trad Pad can spread the message of a world of beauty, the creativity of humanity, and the joys of simplicity and tradition. ~~~ February, 2017

Friday, August 20, 2010

Shabby Vintage Junk Extravaganza ! - How a suburban scout hall was transformed by white fluffy paper balls and creative stalls

Trad Padders will recall that this time last week was the first day of the Shabby Vintage Junk Extravaganza.

The energetic Tamara with her resourceful dearly beloved, Mr SVJ did some video-ing of, more or less, the whole shebang. What I like is that we see the Ashburton Scout Hall in all its pristine glory - before puffy white balls and all those stalls. What a transformation. And listen to that rain on the good old Aussie tin roof.

Herself (my daughter, Shelley) can be seen in Video #1 helping Tamarah make big white fluffy balls.


SJV #1

SJV #2


SJV #3


SJV #4

RECOVERY AND RE-CREATION IN CROYDON

Yesterday was dentist day in Croydon. 
So I thought I would cover some of the things I like about Croydon.

 After coming out of the dentist I did recover with some
hot chocolate and some soup which I have written about here.

A browsing essential is The Red Parasol, 163 Main Street, Croydon.
At the moment, it is a purchasing essential.
Red Parasol is in Sale mode.


But let's take a look inside.

Beautiful dressing rooms.
Vintage clothes are the specialty here
and to have somewhere lovely to try them on
is a great bonus.
Myers and Target don't give you this.


But it is not only clothing.
The Red Parasol has all sorts of interesting...
things, bits and pieces, treasures.


At Mister Picture, 89 Main Street,Croydon
they are displaying in their window
these marvellous drawings by an artist 
called Phoenix.
Needless to say, these pictures are much better
when seen in person without the reflections.

Julia Gillard.  Current Prime Minister. After to-morrow?

Tony Abbott.  Current Opposition Leader. After to-morrow?

And finally, I paid a visit to Vinnie's.
Vinnie's at Croydon is one of my favourites.
And I purchased these cork-backed floral mats for $2 (for the three).
There is a whole shelf full there of cookery books
which includes the original Margaret Fulton Cook Book
and
Toward Self-Sufficiency: country skills for city dwellers
by Bill Connor
I think both these are worthy of consideration by Trad Padders
so please hie ye hither.


And there is much more to Croydon.
A side street filled with boutiques for you to discover,
for a start.
For pretty much the whole story,

Wednesday, August 18, 2010

Friendship - good ones hold across time and geography


Dear Trad Padders, you will note the picture in the post below of Gray. His son is Josh who has just become my Facebook friend and sent me a beautiful newsy letter to bring me up to date with the doings of his own family.  Browsing through an old post I found this poem and I thought how apt - so here it is for Graham and Pauline; for Josh and Helaina and family and for Gemma.


The Best of Friends
© Jill Wolf

When friendships undergo a test
It's often found old friends are best;
The sampler on the parlour wall
Has these few lines which say it all;
The best of friends can change a frown
Into a smile when you feel down.
The best of friends will understand
Your little trials and lend a hand.
The best of friends will always share
Your secret dreams because they care.
The best of friends, worth more than gold,
Give all the love a heart can hold.

A bikie/biker friend - well, just call him a speed hog!

I had to record this on the blog.  This is my old mate from Tennant Creek days, Graham Buxton.  The story that goes with it is here.  Please note that Gray is no teenager himself!

Remembering Burke and Wills

To-day a memorial plaque will be officially launched to commemorate the departure, 150 years ago, of Robert O'Hara Burke and William John Wills on a journey of exploration.  The Burke and Wills saga is well embedded in the Australian consciousness - not least because it was an unmitigated disaster and an example of how not to conduct exploration in Australia.

I live in Melbourne and Burke and Wills are big here.  I sort of knew that before I came to live here.  However, I am frequently confronted by the mass adulation of the B&W pre-expedition and their memorialisation post-disaster.  There are statues here and there but I was really gobsmacked by a very, very large artwork at the State Library of Victoria which portrayed the adulation of the crowds of Melbourne as they farewelled these yet to be heroic men.

I hate to be a party-pooper but I am a North Australian living in exile in Melbourne and where I come from Burke and Wills are regarded as prize dills.  We don't think they knew very much.  We don't think they needed to perish.  We think they were amazingly arrogant and ignorant.  While they were doing a perish not too far away Aboriginal groups were thriving.

If any memorials are being built to Burke and Wills to-day they should be done in the context of the ignorance and arrogance of the post-1788 white settlers.

The State Library of Victoria is entering into the commemorations with an ongoing exhibition which began in  May and will run through to October this year under the title of Burke and Wills: Terra Incognita.  To-morrow and Friday there are workshops related to the exhibition from the Curator's viewpoint. Gerard Hayes will discuss items on display including contemporary portraits of Burke and Wills, their last notes and firearms used on the expedition.  Bookings for the workshops are essential.

And for everything you ever wanted to know on the B&W 150th, please go here.


Tuesday, August 17, 2010

GIRLS' DAY OUT AT MORNINGTON : BAY HOTEL : POMME: MORNINGTON ANTIQUES CENTRE


Herself and I had a girls day out to-day. We drove to Mornington. First of all, we stopped for lunch at the Bay Hotel.  You can see the bistro section - which was beautifully warm and toasty - on the right of the collage above.

We checked out the menu:

We had certainly picked our day because we were able to avail ourselves of the Monday/Tuesday Special which meant that if we picked a "starred" item we got it for $15 with a complimentary glass of wine.  I know I don't dine out often these days, Trad Padders, but I hadn't come across a cleverly marked menu such as this.  Along with the stars, the menu sported tiny 'v's for vegetarian and 'gf's for gluten free.  I am vegetarian and I appreciated this thoughtful touch and I am sure the gluten free brigade would too.

I ordered Mediterranean Pappardelle which, ordinarily according to the menu, has chicken.  I asked for the dish without the chicken and they were happy to oblige.  So my pappardelle came with roasted vegetables, pan seared with olive oil, tossed through the pappardelle and sprinkled with feta and toasted pine nuts.  Herself - who is a carnivore - ordered the Hopkins River Beef Burger.  I didn't have the wine.  Herself had mine and I had a coke.  She seemed well pleased with her vino.  I noted that The Bay promotes local Mornington Peninsula wines with other Australian wines bringing up the rear.  So, as you can see, we had good provender.

Our real purpose for the day was to visit the Mornington Antiques Centre.  But before we set off for there, Herself wanted to make a visit to the local Bed Bath and Table.  We couldn't find close parking in the main street and had to turn out of the main street only to find ample parking and more shops, including major chains like Target, behind the main street shops.  We got out of the car and Pomme caught my eye.  I figured in could do BBT back home any time.  And off I went to Pomme...


The chairs at the front of Pomme are bright and cheery
and the store will cover these chairs to the fabric of your choice.
 Display of art and design, jewellery and homewares
is beautifully done at Pomme.  Go see for yourselves.
 These delicate hanging pendants are filled with tiny treasures.
Behind them, are enchanting artworks of Belted Galloway cattle.
I purchased something for my sister's forthcoming birthday -
but I won't let out the secret here.

Then we were off to browse the Morninton Antiques Centre...
And we did walk away with some goodies.
Herself bought a beautiful print of pink roses.
I brought home a chest of drawers which I hope to transform
and two wooden cutlery holders for pens & scissors & etceteras.
Perhaps that will be the subject of the next post.

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