The Trad Pad

The Gate of the Year : The King’s Speech, Academy Awards, and the bookies’ odds #film #poetry

2011-12-31T08:00:00.000+11:00

This post was originally published on The Trad Pad on 2 January 2011. Happy New Year everyone ... particularly to those who did it tough this year. Please take on board the thoughts of Minnie Louise Haskins

~~~~~~

Happy New Year! May the year be kind to you and bring you blessings, wisdom, peace, and prosperity! The last day or two has exhibited some coincidence. Firstly, Hay Quaker published, in toto, the poem The Gate of the Year by Minnie Louise Haskins.

Minnie Louise Haskins

Picture from here

I said to the man who stood at the gate of the year,
"Give me a light that I may tread safely into the unknown."
And he replied, "Go into the darkness and put your hand into the hand of God.
That shall be to you better than light and safer than a known way!"
So I went forth and finding the Hand of God
Trod gladly into the night.
He led me towards the hills
And the breaking of day in the lone east.
So heart be still!
What need our human life to know
If God hath comprehension?
In all the dizzy strife of things
Both high and low,
God hideth his intention.

Perhaps readers have heard this poem, or part of it, before. It was made famous by the Christmas Speech of King George VI delivered in 1939. You can hear the actual speech – it is quite moving given it is made at the time of the first Christmas of World War II – here.

Picture from here

Secondly, I decided to get out of the house for the first time since Christmas Midnight Carols and Eucharist at All Saints, Mitcham and go to see the much lauded movie, The King’s Speech. It is the story of the relationship between the Australian speech therapist, Lionel Logue, and King George VI.

The movie is being tipped as a frontline contender for an Oscar. In spite of competition from The Social Network in the bookies’ odds as set out here, it is hard to see how this movie could lose with its high proportion of former Academy Award winning actors. The UK still produces the best actors – particularly in ensemble work as demonstrated in The King’s Speech – in the English speaking world. However, it does an Australian heart good – particularly one coming from Queensland – to see and hear Geoffrey Rush mixing it admirably with such a talented cast. To think, this great man of Australian movies was growing up across Brisbane from me in the 1950s!
Those sitting around me in the packed movie theatre were clearly as impressed as I.
I was however surprised at the ending. I don’t think, in such an historical movie, it is giving away much to describe the ending of this movie. I thought the movie somehow would finish with the 1939 Christmas Speech. This is arguably the most famous, most remembered, and most quoted of all the King George VI’s speeches. This doesn’t happen. The movie concludes with the King’s Speech at the beginning of World War II.

Listen to the original speech here.

ANZ LitLovers LitBlog - Germinal by Emile Zola - the book and the movie

2011-11-18T08:39:00.001+11:00

I am a frequent reader of Lisa Hill’s ANZ LitLovers LitBlog. Perhaps you won't keep up by reading every book from every post - but at least you will have a good idea of what you should be reading. You will be in the know.

I subscribe to the blog and get a missive in my email every day. To-day's looks magnificent: Germinal by Emile Zola An epic tale. But, Gerard Depardieu fan that I am I think I will hunt down the movie after seeing the trailer below.

Make a difference this year: buy your Christmas Cakes, Shortbreads and Gift Hampers from Bumblebee and support some good causes

2011-11-17T15:49:00.001+11:00

Memories of Mellah and Chocolate Mousse

2011-11-12T12:41:00.001+11:00

Over at Miscellaneous Mum, Karen is indulging herself with Chocolate Mousse. For me, chocolate mousse always brings back memories from my long ago childhood in the 1950s of what may be one of Australia's first 'instant' desserts, Mellah. You can pop down to the comments of Karen's post to see my comment.

I went searching the net for Mellah and there is barely a mention - but I did find this...

Jenny Dowell goes to Just Grounds, Lismore ... and then there's the mural

2011-11-12T12:09:00.001+11:00

On Twitter, one of the people I follow is Jenny Dowell who is the Mayor of Lismore in northern New South Wales which is a very beautiful part of the world. This morning Jenny has been out and about purchasing fruit at the local market and drinking Fair Trade coffee.

I have saved the picture of the mural separately and enlarged it -

because I think it's wonderful.

Please note the kangaroo in the foreground.

Storm - Ringwood - 20111109

2011-11-09T19:53:00.000+11:00

Storm photos

Taken approximately 7.40pm

Rain started 7.44pm

Destruction - China First Thermal Coal Mine to destroy Bimblebox Nature Refuge - submit your comments by 7 Nov 2011

2011-10-27T18:41:00.001+11:00

HELP PROTECT BIMBLEBOX NATURE REFUGE

As a friend recently said to me,

'How many pages does it take to say "we're gonna dig a damn great hole?" '

Waratah Coal has finally confirmed that its proposed 'China First' mine would destroy Bimblebox Nature Refuge. The Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) clearly states that 52% of Bimblebox would be open cut, and the remainder subject to major subsidence and interference from underground longwall mining. It would set a dangerous precedent for the mining of Queensland's precious conservation areas and contribute 3.3 billion tonnes of CO2 to the atmosphere, on top of a myriad of regional impacts.

NOW IS THE TIME TO HAVE OUR SAY.

The period for public comment closes on November 7th. We have prepared a submission for people to send in, and have information for people who want to write their own. It is vital that we send a message loud and clear that we will not allow our nature refuges to be dug up for the sake of more coal profits.

Please visit the Bimblebox website HERE to find our how to make a submission.

I really appreciate your time.

Many thanks,

Paola Cassoni

www.bimblebox.orgbimblebox@gmail.com +61 7 49853474

Bimblebox Nature Refuge

Alpha QLD 4724

Australia

Click to enlarge

Further Reading:

Resourcehouse Limited

Bowen Business Information Forum - PowerPoint type presentation in .pdf format

China First now a major project

Billionaires 'China First' Qld coal mine move

Clive Palmer scores biggest export contract worth $60b

China denies $US60bn coal deal with Clive Palmer's Resourcehouse

Palmer plans coal $6.5b behemoth

Palmer's Resourcehouse gets $1.2bn funding (Lateline transcript and video)

Bird may halt Palmer mine project

Australian Mining - Clive Palmer

Can a sustainable food culture allow the non-stunning slaughter of animals?

2011-10-27T12:45:00.000+11:00

Should non-stunning slaughter of animals be part of a sustainable food culture in Australia - or, for that matter, the world.  Please give serious consideration to Lyn White's message below.

~~~~~~~~

As you know, a big decision will be made this week when primary industries ministers from around the country meet in Melbourne to decide whether to close the loophole on non-stunned slaughter in Australia.

I'm writing to invite you to an important rallyorganised by Animals Australia on Thursday evening at the MCG, where the ministers are due to discuss their decision on this issue. Already 14,000 Animals Australia supporters have written to these ministers imploring them to show mercy and remove the exemptions that are allowing some abattoirs in Victoria and South Australia to cut the throats of fully conscious sheep. We need your help to send one last and all-important reminder as the ministers arrive for their dinner meeting, that caring Australians are depending on them to make the right decision.

Where: Gate 2, Melbourne Cricket Ground
When: 5:45pm, Thursday, 27th October (finishing 7pm)
What to bring: Just yourself, we will have plenty of posters for people to hold
More information: Call the Animals Australia office on 1800 888 584

Miss, of all the cruelty I have seen inside abattoirs, non-stunned slaughter of animals represents the single greatest cause of distress, pain and suffering I have born witness to.

Fortunately we understand that several ministers are already of the opinion that non-stunned slaughter is unacceptable, which means there is real hope to end this brutal practice in Australia. This rally may be the tipping point that gets the others over the line.

Please join our experienced campaigners for a peaceful gathering on Thursday evening and help us ensure that all animals in this country are extended this most basic legal protection.

I hope you can join us,

Lyn White
Campaign Director

P.S. You may be aware that the official meeting of the primary industries ministers will be held on Friday morning. We are rallying at their Thursday evening dinner meeting as it is expected that their position will be determined at this time. I hope you can attend, but even if you can't, you can have your say on our website right now.

Musk Farm and Wombat Hill - great Australian gardens

2011-10-26T11:28:00.000+11:00

Food history: Australian Family Recipes 1868 to1950

2011-10-05T10:34:00.000+11:00

I love a bit of food history. Food history is not only quaint and historic recipes. Possum Pie, Beetroot Beer and Lamingtons: Australian Family Recipes from 1868 to 1950 by Victoria Heywood is a social history of lives gone by. As of the first of this month, a wonderful contribution to Australian food history has hit the bookstands.

Click to enlarge

Victoria came across many weird, supposedly edible, things in 17 years travelling the world as a journalist, but none so strange as some of the dishes she encountered back home in Australia when researching Possum Pie, Beetroot Beer and Lamingtons. In a writing career spanning 20-odd years, Victoria has written extensively about food, sex, health and travel for magazines and newspapers both here and abroad, and is the author of numerous other books. One that would be of interest to Oz Tucker lovers is:

More about this book here

Bring the family down for a FREE sausage sizzle and

some other tasty treats from original Australian cookbooks

and hear Victoria Heywood chat about her new book:

Where - Westgarth Books, 77 High Street, Northcote
When - 12-1 pm, Saturday, October 15, 2011
Phone - 9482 7117

World Matters 2011 Writers - Missing Peace @ Montsalvat - 14, 15, 16 October 2011

2011-10-02T13:21:00.000+11:00

Diamond Valley Oxfam, Montsalvat, ELTHAMbookshop
Present
The 7^th Annual
World Matters 2010 Writers - Missing Peace
14, 15, 16 October

Venue: The Barn, Montsalvat, Hillcrest Avenue , Eltham

The Great Hall, Montsalvat

Session 1 - Friday 14 October 7.00-8.30pm

Superb storyteller Elliot Perlman is known for Three Dollars, The Reasons I Won’t Be Coming, Seven Types of Ambiguity. He discusses his epic new novel The Street Sweeper dealing with memory, love, guilt, heroism, the extremes of racism and unexpected kindness.

Chair: Sally Warhaft, Journalist and Commentator

Session 2 - Saturday 15th October
10.00am: Registration and Morning Tea
10.15am: Welcome: Stephen Lavender, Diamond Valley Oxfam
10. 30am: A Noongar Voice
Miles Franklin, Commonwealth Literature Award and Premier’s Literary Award winning author, Kim Scott, shares his colourful, warm optimistic view of the indigenous heart of our country and the need to honour the languages in which we first learn to speak. Kim will discuss his recent novel, That Deadman Dance, and children’s picture books Noongar Mambara Bakitj and Mamang.
Chair: Morag Fraser
This session is supported by Nillumbik Reconciliation Group

12. 00pm: Lunch Time Launch:
The Boy and the Crocodile

Teaming up with artists from Arte Moris, a not-for-profit art school in Dili, East Timorese children have painted scenes from the Legend of East Timor, a parable about the kindness of strangers narrated in Tetum and English. Proceeds from the sale of the book go to the Familia Hope Orphanage.

This session, which includes lunch, will be held in the Great Hall and costs $15.00
Supported by East Timor Women Australia who will run

a fund raising handicrafts stall at World Matters

Session 3 - Saturday 15 October
1.15pm: Growing Up

Listen to unexpected stories that emerge when cultures clash and the mix of identities that make up a life. Elaine Kennedy’s Waiting for a Wide Horse Sky details the plight of migrant factory workers in South Korea. Tanveer Ahmed’s Exotic Rissole is an irreverent, funny memoir spanning rural Bangladesh through to western Sydney, looking at the complexities of managing tradition with modernity.

Chair: Jane Sullivan, Literary columnist, The Age.

Session 4 - Saturday 15 October

2.30pm: Futility of war

‘The war’, wrote one of its fiercest opponents and 19th century diarist Charles Gerville, ‘was founded in delusion and error.’ Chief political correspondent for SBS, Karen Middleton, An Unwinnable War, philosopher-historian Ian Bickerton, An Illusion of Victory, academics Fay Anderson and Richard Trembath, Witnesses to War, present their views and research on the mythmaking, propaganda and the tensions between political and military decision .

Chair: Carole Wigg, Medical Association for Prevention of War

3.45pm: Afternoon TeaSession 5 - Saturday 15 October

4. 00pm: Family Disturbances

Novelists Tony Birch, Blood, and Francesca Rendle-Short, Bite Your Tongue, discuss the worlds without sanctuary where characters find the strength of innocence amidst violence and genuine evil. Presented within a world of obsession and trauma the writers ask whether any of us is immune to the forces of destruction.

Chair: Morag Fraser

Session 6 - Saturday 15 October

5.15pm: Poetry for Humanity

This perennial and highly popular session at all World Matters presented by Adelaide based Friendly Street Poets Elaine Barker, Ros Schulz and Serbian born Jelena Dinic. These empathetic poets couple their concerns for humanity with great poetic skill and strong personal voices in their profoundly moving, sometimes dark, writing that quietly and at a deep level open up their subjects for reflection and contemplation.

Participating chair: Elaine Barker

6.15pm:Twilight refreshments

Session 7 - Saturday 15 October

6.30-7.30pm: Singing History

John Lander, former Australian Ambassador to Iran and Permanent Delegate to UNESCO, sings songs
that are personal musical reflections in situations of conflict and disaster including the Song of the Children of Chernobyl which world premiered in Minsk. John will be accompanied by one of Australia’s finest pianists
Matthew Field.

Session 8 - Sunday 16 October

6.15pm: Morning tea and Registrations

10.15am: Welcome

Stephen Lavender, Oxfam and Helen Coleman, Mayor, Shire of Nillumbik

10.30am: The Voice of Reason

Professor Ian Lowe, The Big Fix, Living in the Hothouse, pre-eminent scientist, environmentalist, cultural commentator and president of the Australian Conservation Foundation, thinks we have a chance, but we have to act now. Ian’s new book is an environmental and community call to arms – through logic rather than fear-mongering.

Chair:Morag Fraser
Supported by the Victorian Climate Action Calendar

Session 9 - Sunday 16 October

11.45am: Missing Peace-Spotlight on Sri Lanka

“We all have to take positions when the temple bells ring.”

A child soldier with the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam, Niromi De Soyza, Tamil Tigress, activist Jeremy Liyanage and photographer Michael Baranovic share their insights and the compelling need for freedom amidst oppression.

Chair: David Feith , Teacher,Globalisation, Monash University

1.00pm:Lunch $15.00

Session 10 - Sunday 16 October
1.45pm: Singing For All He’s Worth

Essayists Raimond Gaita, Arnold Zable and Morag Fraser pay warm and thoughtful homage to an extraordinary life and a late-blooming creativity that was as heroic as it was humble. Melbourne citizen Jacob Rosenberg, liberated from the Lodz ghetto lived to become a unique poet and writer of novels and memoir.

Session 11 - Sunday 16 October

3.00pm: Our World in Poetry

A good poem is one that the world can’t forget or is delighted to rediscover. Australian Poetry from 1788, is a landmark anthology of Australian poetry with over 1000 poems from 170 Australian poets, including translations of Aboriginal song poems, as well as short critical biographies. This afternoon we hear poets Geoffrey Lehmann, Ian McBryde, Emma Lew and Craig Sherborne.

4.00pm: Afternoon Tea

Session 12 - Sunday 16 October

4.15pm: Digging up a Past

Whereas it was once assumed that Australia was settled by humans only in the past few thousand or even hundred years, research dramatically proclaimed that in fact Aborigines had been living here before the human race inhabited the Americas. Among the individuals who proved that Australia did have an ancient history, Emeritus Professor John Mulvaney, AO, CMG has been the most persistent and successful. Digging up a Past is a lucid engaging story of Australian history coming of age.

Session 13 - Sunday 16 October

5.20pm: Banning Islamic Books

In 2005, a few days after al-Qaeda terrorists killed many people in the London tube, newspapers in Sydney began a campaign against what they said were terrorist books on sale in a bookshop in Lakemba. Shortly afterwards Attorney-General Philip Ruddock, attempted to get eight books banned by the Film and Literature Classification board. Richard Pennell, Pam Pryde and Emmett Stinson discuss the dire consequences of knee jerk reactions and laws that attempt to muffle dissonant voices.

6.00pm:Twilight refreshments

6.15-7.15pm: Raga Dolls Cost: $15.00
“ it’s good to be reminded of a mythical world of honour,beauty, optimism and even a little wit.”

The Raga Dolls Quartet, co-founded in 2000 by composer and violinist David Osborne and piano
accordionist George Butrumlis, has long championed such a world. Come and listen to their vibrant original new Australian music and retrospective reflections on an age where domestic music-making and small scale ensembles abounded.

Festival Pass:

$60 includes 13 sessions, morning and
afternoon tea and twilight refreshments

Daily Pass:

15th, 16th October: $30.00
Each Session: $7 unless otherwise stated

Students:

$40 Festival Pass; $5.00 per session.
Lunch $15
Prepaid, early bookings are essential:
ELTHAMbookshop@bigpond.com
970 Main Road, Eltham 9439 8700

PLEASE NOTE:

Meera of the Eltham Bookshop has written to me saying:

Please let fans of your site know

that if anyone quotes your blog the cost for each session will be $5.00.

With regards,

Meera

Miss Eagle says:

Don't stand upon the order of thy booking

but get thee to thy booking now.

This program is tremendous.

If you don't believe me,

then you haven't delved into the links I've provided!

elthambookshop@bigpond.com
970 Main Road Eltham
9439 8700

Firing up the oven for Focaccia alla Pugliese

2011-10-01T08:34:00.000+10:00

@tammois is looking for a good excuse to start the fire to-day. I suggested Focaccia alla Pugliese was an excellent excuse and offered to send the recipe. She has taken me up on the offer, so I scanned the pages and thought I would post them here as well. Please pop over to her site Tammi Tasting Terroir. I think you'll love her.

A cup of coffee from Iain across The Ditch

2011-09-27T12:40:00.000+10:00

I hope @Iain 2008 doesn't mind but he sent me a nice cup of coffee in the form of this post below which has come from his Twitwall. Iain lives across The Ditch and you will find more of him here.

~~~~~

Iain2008 Following

Life is Like a Cup of Coffee

posted 10/09/10

"A group of alumni, highly established in their careers, got together to visit their old university professor. Conversation soon turned into complaints about stress in work and life.

Offering his guests coffee, the professor went to the kitchen and returned with a large pot of coffee and an assortment of cups: porcelain, plastic, glass, crystal, some plain looking, some expensive, some exquisite.

He told his guests to help themselves to the coffee.

After everyone had a cup of coffee in hand, the professor said, 'If you noticed, all the nice looking expensive cups have been taken up, leaving behind the plain and cheap ones. While it is normal for you to want only the best for yourselves, that is the source of your problems and stress.

Be assured that the cup adds no quality to the coffee.

In most cases, it is just more expensive, and in some cases, even hides what we drink. What all of you really wanted was coffee, not the cup. But you consciously went for the best cups... And then you began eyeing each other's cups to see who had the best one.

Now consider this...

Life is the coffee; the jobs, money and position in society are the cups. They are just tools to hold and contain Life and the type of cup we have does not define, nor change the quality of life we live. Sometimes, by concentrating only on the cup, we fail to enjoy the coffee.

Savor the coffee, not the cups!

The happiest people don't have the best of everything.

They just make the best of everything.

Live simply.

Speak kindly.

Care deeply.

Love generously.'"

Source: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U3NgzQ9Pcsg

Like it? ReTweet it! Share This!

The story of Meetup

2011-09-12T07:28:00.000+10:00

Those of you who have your own blogs may know about meetup. It is a wonderful net tool for organising people to get together for meetings, a drink, whatever. And while bloggers may love to communicate on their blogs, many of them like to meet up with similarly interested bloggers in their neighbourhood...so there's a tendency to use meetup. In my mail box to-day dropped the wonderful and somewhat emotional story of how it all started............

Fellow Meetuppers,

I don't write to our whole community often, but this week is special because it's the 10th anniversary of 9/11 and many people don't know that Meetup is a 9/11 baby.

Let me tell you the Meetup story. I was living a couple miles from the Twin Towers, and I was the kind of person who thought local community doesn't matter much if we've got the internet and tv. The only time I thought about my neighbors was when I hoped they wouldn't bother me.

When the towers fell, I found myself talking to more neighbors in the days after 9/11 than ever before. People said hello to neighbors (next-door and across the city) who they'd normally ignore. People were looking after each other, helping each other, and meeting up with each other. You know, being neighborly.

A lot of people were thinking that maybe 9/11 could bring people together in a lasting way. So the idea for Meetup was born: Could we use the internet to get off the internet -- and grow local communities?

We didn't know if it would work. Most people thought it was a crazy idea -- especially because terrorism is designed to make people distrust one another.

A small team came together, and we launched Meetup 9 months after 9/11.

Today, almost 10 years and 10 million Meetuppers later, it's working. Every day, thousands of Meetups happen. Moms Meetups, Small Business Meetups, Fitness Meetups... a wild variety of 100,000 Meetup Groups with not much in common -- except one thing.

Every Meetup starts with people simply saying hello to neighbors. And what often happens next is still amazing to me. They grow businesses and bands together, they teach and motivate each other, they babysit each other's kids and find other ways to work together. They have fun and find solace together. They make friends and form powerful community. It's powerful stuff.

It's a wonderful revolution in local community, and it's thanks to everyone who shows up.

Meetups aren't about 9/11, but they may not be happening if it weren't for 9/11.

9/11 didn't make us too scared to go outside or talk to strangers. 9/11 didn't rip us apart. No, we're building new community together!!!!

The towers fell, but we rise up. And we're just getting started with these Meetups.

Scott Heiferman (on behalf of 80 people at Meetup HQ)
Co-Founder & CEO, Meetup
New York City
September 2011

--
Add info@meetup.com to your address book to receive all Meetup
emails

To manage your email settings, go to:
http://www.meetup.com/account/comm/

Meetup, PO Box 4668 #37895
New York, New York 10163-4668

SEASONS: THE WATTLE IN BLOOM ~~ 2

2011-07-31T06:33:00.000+10:00

Over at The Nature of Robertson,

my friend Denis has written about the entrance of Spring.

Last year, I published here my homage to the Wattle -

and my thoughts about the arbitrary nature of the dating of Spring.

Here is a fine instance of a Wattle in bloom in time for a revised Wattle Day,

August 1 if the powers that be want to take notice.

I was smitten by this species of Wattle so .....

an email to Denis asking for identification.

Here's what Denis said ~~~

It is a prostrate form of Cootamundra Wattle.
http://www.malleenativeplants.com.au/acacia-baileyana-prostrate-form-cootamundra-wattle/

This plant has been grown so widely that aberrant forms have appeared (naturally)

and then (and this is the real point) have been recognised as worthy of cultivation,

so they have come into commerce.

There is a lovely form which has purple tips.

But in many areas the true form has become a garden escape,

and ends up being eradicated from nature reserves

around Canberra as a weedy species.

High Tea at St Stephen's

2011-07-30T17:01:00.000+10:00

Last Sunday afternoon, a gracious friend of mine took me to a High Tea

St Stephen's Bayswater.

The afternoon was organised by an NGO called

Australia Aids South Africa.

As the name implies, the organisation works to assist

AIDS victims in South Africa.

The hall at Stephen's was packed.

There was wonderful music from talented local people.

As well as my friend and her lovely family,

I also enjoyed the presence at our table of

St Stephen's vicar, Father David.

Each table had its own host.

The host (or hostess if you prefer) provided all the beautiful

napery and tableware.

I thought this was a great idea -

since it split so much of the organisation, responsibility and work.

Beverages, it should be noted, were not limited to coffee and tea!

I did enjoy the champers in beautiful fluted glasses -

and the flowers and chocolates, too.

I think the afternoon was a marvellous social success.

I am sure the hard work was rewarded, as well, with financial success.

Thank you, Australia Aids South Africa.

Come to a Forest Picnic. It's the International Year of #Forests

2011-07-28T10:19:00.000+10:00

2011-07-26T17:15:00.000+10:00

Every year, Voiceless holds law lectures across Australia's capital cities on Animal Law. Voicless brings to Australia significant legal practitioners from overseas who have impacted greatly on the practice and development of animal law. Animal law in Australia has a long way to go to provide adequate protection for all animals - in particular, industrial animals.

Voiceless - with its marvellous commitment of resources to this cause - gives invaluable service in this regard.

The information in the graphic above is for one event in Melbourne. To find out about all events across Australia please go here.

Retronaut-ing

2011-07-26T07:25:00.001+10:00

I have discovered this most wonderful site. It is an adventure, a trip down memory lane (although some of the memories are much older than those reading this), a wonderful resource. Come be a Retronaut.

This is your Life. Do what you love, and do it often.

2011-07-25T13:05:00.001+10:00

From here.

#Sustainablity shopping? Shabby #Vintage Junk Extravaganza 3-4 June 2011 #recycling

2011-06-02T09:44:00.000+10:00

This is the second year that the Shabby Vintage Junk Extravaganza has been held. The leadership for this event is provided by the indefatigable Tamara. Many of the favourites from last year will be there again this year along with some new participants.

Please let me declare my interest. My daughter, Herself, was one of last year's participants and will be there again this year. She has masses of stuff to offer. See one of her collages below. And there is the most charming old-fashioned rocking horse.

To find out more about last year's wonderful Extravaganza, please go to one of my other blogs, The Trad Pad.

Please note: this year there are Early Bird Tickets. This gets you in for a special one hour of shopping prior to the main opening time. It is the Early Bird who truly catches the worm, so if you pay for that premium ticket you will get the premium pick. I do know though that the stall-holders have so much stuff that stalls won't be emptied by 1pm.

World Poetry Day - Dorothy Porter and Andrea Goldsmith #poets #writers#

2011-03-21T13:52:00.000+11:00

Picture from here

To-day is UN World Poetry Day.

Let us take time to remember Dorothy Porter - arguably Australia's greatest female (or need we mention gender) poet in recent times. Go here for a discussion about Porter's love poetry by her partner, Andrea Goldsmith.

Andrea Goldsmith

Picture from here

The Monkey's Mask (A Mask Noir Title)

Love Poems

Reunion

INTERNATIONAL WOMEN'S DAY CENTENARY 2011 #iwd

2011-03-07T23:14:00.001+11:00

Wishing women across the globe

PEACE, JUSTICE, AND WELL-BEING

on the occasion of

the centenary of

INTERNATIONAL WOMEN'S DAY 2011

Picture of Emmeline Pankhurst Badge with Suffragette colours from here.

World Book Day : John le Carre : the Bodleian Libraries : Dr Zhivago #worldbookday #bodleian #lecarre

2011-03-03T11:29:00.000+11:00

To-day is World Book Day. Find out all about it here.

What is fascinating this year - if you are a John le Carre fan and a fan of his most famous character, George Smiley - is that he has presented his literary archive to the Bodleian Libraries at Oxford in England. The intention is that the Bodleian will become the permanent home of the archive.

You can see images of some of the manuscript for Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy here.

You can see images of some of the manuscript for The Russia House here.

I recall the movie of The Russia House quite fondly. You see, I have been in love with Boris Pasternak since I read Dr Zhivago at the age of seventeen. I have always kept a copy of the book on my shelves – and, in fact, have two at the moment. You see, I don’t want to be without Dr Zhivago’s poems which are at the back of the novel.

I am not much of a traveller in foreign climes and have never visited Russia. I always promised myself, that if ever I did visit Russia, I would visit Pasternak’s grave at Peredelkino. In The Russia House is a scene in which Sean Connery’s character, Barley Blair, spends a Sunday at a lunch with the literary lights of Moscow at Peredelkino. After lunch, he visits Pasternak’s grave.

So, in a sense, courtesy of John le Carre and Australian director Fred Schepisi (whose family used to own a pub at the old gold mining town of Ravenswood near Charters Towers in North Queensland), I feel like I have been to the grave. I have paid my homage.

Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spy

The Collected George Smiley Radio Dramas:

Eight BBC Full-Cast Productions Starring Simon Russell Beale (BBC Radio 4 Dramatisations)

3 Titles By John Le Carre:

"The Russia House," "A Perfect Spy," "The Honourable School Boy"

Doctor Zhivago

The Poems of Doctor Zhivago

Art Blart and Anselm Kiefer and The Norns

2011-01-05T12:18:00.001+11:00

Urd Werdande Skuld (The Norns) 1983

Oil, shellac, emulsion and fibre on canvas
support: 4205 x 2805 x 60 mm
painting

ARTIST ROOMS Acquired jointly with the National Galleries of Scotland through The d'Offay Donation with assistance from the National Heritage Memorial Fund and the Art Fund 2008

AR00036

Between 1980 and 1983, Kiefer made paintings that revisited images of Hitler’s monumental architecture. Using old photographs and architectural plans, Kiefer transformed symbols of Nazi authority into derelict building-sites. In this work, the vaulted structure contains the unseen presence of the Norns, the three figures of fate in Germanic mythology, named Past, Present and Future. Their names are scratched into the ceiling, while below a glowing fire points to salvation and regeneration. Drawing on the artist’s fascination with Norse folklore and Wagnerian motifs, the work reflects his attempts to reconcile his country’s recent history through the myths of Germanic legend.

(From the online caption April 2009)

Description from here

I subscribe to a blog entitled Art Blart. That is where this image of The Norns has come from - and there are other images there, too, by the same painted. The artist is Anselm Kiefer. I find his work striking and meditative. More images of his work can be found here, and here.

Anselm Kiefer: Heaven And Earth

Anselm Kiefer

Anselm Kiefer/Paul Celan: Myth, Mourning and Memory

Anselm Kiefer: Maria Walks amid the Thorn

Anselm Kiefer: Sculpture & Painting

Dreams are not negotiable #realisation

2010-12-28T11:30:00.001+11:00

To one and all - all the rich blessings of the Christmas season

2010-12-25T11:09:00.003+11:00

From Drop Box

The coal miners of Pike River, NZ and their families are in my thoughts

2010-11-22T09:52:00.000+11:00

Please go here to leave a message.

Mine says:

Thinking and praying for those below the ground and those above.

Peace be to you and may your men come home to where they belong

Film night to raise funds for TEAR’s Pakistan Flood Relief fund

2010-11-17T10:45:00.001+11:00

OSAMA - Inspired by a true story, this film which centres on three generations of women, deeply affected by the advent of the Taliban's rule in their land. "Osama," is a Golden Globe award winning film. It was the first feature film to be made in post-Taliban Afghanistan. Some review comments: “a powerful film”…. “ offers valuable insights into a foreign culture that few of us have more than a cursory knowledge about” …. “great films like Osama, thoughtfully considered, give us the ability to withhold blanket judgments and come that much closer to the truth”
· Note: The film is rated M. It is not suitable for children under 15 years of age.

Picture from here

· John Tresidder is TEAR’s Pakistan coordinator. He will have been back from Pakistan from less than one week. He will give an up-to-date description of the post-flood situation in Pakistan, how TEAR is involved in the re-development of communities and how future funds will be spent.

· Pakistan Christian Fellowship has kindly offered to supply supper for the evening, so there will be plenty of tasty snacks to enjoy during the evening.
· Suggested donation: $15 (all funds go to TEARs Pakistan and North India Flood Appeal)

WHO:

ETAG (Eastern TEAR Action Group) are organising the night.

WHERE:
Blackburn South.

Because this is being held at a private address,

Miss Eagle is not including this in the post.

If you are keen to come and need more information,

please email misseaglesnetwork(at)gmail(dot)com.

WHEN:

Saturday 20 November, 7:30pm – 10pm

WHY:

“In the past I have witnessed many natural disasters around the world, but nothing like this”

(UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon).

In the worst flooding in 80 years, up to 2.6 million people in Pakistan have been made homeless. The waters have swept through 124 districts and have led to the widespread loss of houses, crops and livestock, as well as civil infrastructure such as roads, bridges, water and irrigation systems and schools. While the world’s media has largely moved on from the situation in Pakistan, the reality of re-building from one of the worst natural disasters in history continue for millions of people. This night will help raise much needed funds as well as provide an opportunity to hear an on-ground account of the current situation.

NOTE:

BYO Bean bag or comfy cushion (not essential but will help with seating arrangements!)

Further reading:

Pakistan floods and the timber mafia

Pakistan flood damage 9.7 billion dollars: World Bank, ADB

Will the Pakistan floods strike again

Pakistan's floods are not just a natural disaster

Pakistan's floods: is the worst still to come?

International Union for the Conservation of Nature Pakistan

The Gift - Stacey Kramer

2010-10-29T16:45:00.000+11:00

Stacey Kramer's bio

It's only words, and words are all I have.....

2010-10-26T11:48:00.002+11:00

Stephen Fry - language and fonts
~~
From our beloved BeeGees:
It's only words ...
...and words are all I have to take your heart away.

These words, found in the classic BeeGees song Words, are at the heart of this blog. I'm not influential, even in the Blogosphere, but if I have anything it is language, words...and a few photographs of doubtful quality. But words can make all the difference can't they...when babies go from gurgles and coos to whole sentences; I love you; I'm sorry; what a great idea!

Indeed, words are all most of us -

but, sadly, not all of us -

have to take a heart away.

New for old - developments in photography

2010-10-18T06:52:00.000+11:00

Kelmscott Manor: Attics - from here.

Kelmscott Manor – this is where the picture is from – was the home of the wonderful William Morris. The photo of the attic is from a story of interest to photographers everywhere. Please go here.

Picture from here

Stephen Fry commends Hugh Bonneville to the Twitterverse

2010-10-17T10:26:00.000+11:00

The inestimable Mr Fry has informed one and all on the Twitter that the Beautiful Bonneville is now tweetable.

Blog Action Day on WATER : Global Handwashing day - The Wiggles & Nelson Mandela

2010-10-15T09:55:00.000+11:00

To-day, as you can see, Trad Padders, from the post below is Blog Action Day and the theme for this year is WATER. I am trying to kill two birds with one stone so I am combining the Water theme of Blog Action Day with a little soap because to-day is Global Handwashing Day.

A little water and a little soap can make a huge difference in saving lives and helping us to ward off disease. I love the emphasis on the kids because we want them to grow up strong and resilient, don't we.

The first Global Handwashing Day was in 2008.

Our very own Wiggles wrote a special tune.

It is catchy and easy to teach to your kids.

And here is the video for 2010

Please value water.

It is our life.

Please support the human right to water and its understanding.

Article 31

In Australia, water was unbundled from land

by a COAG Agreement in 1994.

This made water a tradeable commodity -

when once it was part of the Commons -

it belonged to all of us.

This definition of water rights comes from Wiserearth:

Definition: Water rights are the legal rights that define ownership of water and water sources (surface and subsurface), the use of water and the priority of water use. Water rights allocate water to different users and can be contentious in areas where water supplies are insufficient for the demands upon the supply, and where people are denied or deprived of access to water. The right to water is increasingly considered as a basic human right that has to be reconciled with legal water rights already in existence. Unfortunately, privatization and commodification of water often undermine this right by cutting off supply to those who cannot afford to pay.

Blog action day on Friday 15 October : we’re blogging about WATER

2010-10-13T07:45:00.001+11:00

Blog Action Day 2010: Water from Blog Action Day on Vimeo.

I wanted to let all bloggers know about an important online event I'm taking part in on October 15th, called Blog Action Day.

Each year bloggers from more than 100 countries come together and blog about a single important issue, and this year's topic is clean water.

The event includes thousands of blogs - including the White House blog and The Official Google Blog - and they're looking for as many blogs to participate as possible, regardless of their size and focus.

So, Trad Padders, if you blog I hope you'll think about joining me for this event. If you want more information, check out the Blog Action Day site at http://blogactionday.change.org/.

So to those of you who blog - look forward to seeing your post on this coming Friday.

Duncan's wild flowers and photography at Ben Cruachan

2010-10-11T10:32:00.001+11:00

Be still my beating heart - but Duncan's doing it again at Ben Cruachan. Beautiful pictures of wild orchids and other wildflowers in amongst complaints of he Dry in his part of Gippsland. Some of us have our eyes open and brains switched on more than others, don't you think, Networkers?

Spicks & Specks–the bits they left out

2010-10-06T21:21:00.001+11:00

The picture above is from here.

I have been a Spicks and Specks fan since Night One. That surely shows what excellent taste Miss Eagle has.

To-night, the edition has been a bit different – literally, out of order. We have been shown all the edited-out bits. I have been helped along by a friend turning up with some Pepsi to which I added some Bundy left over from Sunday’s Rugby League Grand Final! I have to say in what a wonderful frame of mind the Bundy & Peps and the naughty bits left me.

Adam Hills, and the anchors Myf Warhurst and Alan Brough, are, IMHO, absolutely brilliant. They have tickelled my funny bone for years now and continue to do so. To-night they sent me into hysterics, a coughing fit, and perhaps an unredeemable apopleptic health event. The ruling triumvirate are brilliant – and their guests….

Perhaps my favouritest guest is Denise Scott, a woman of similar. if imprecise, vintage. She is impossible! In the nicest possible way, mind you. Although I am in love with Hamish Blake.

This set me to thinking. I think Spicks has moved up a notch. There is now room for the Grown-Up Edition (GUE) which MUST include the impromptu left out bits. Impromptu is more fun, don’t you think?

The day no birds would sing…

2010-10-04T18:01:00.001+11:00

…and no bees will buzzz.

Picture from here

It seems this week that I have a focus on the birds and the bees. Perhaps it is just spring. I think that’s the reason. Spring has an expectancy, a longing. We love to see the blossoms, we love to hear the birds coming out from the rain and singing, and we do like to know that the bees will do their vital part in the continuation of this precious cycle.

I would ask you, Networkers, to pop across to Duncan’s blog where he says

As I walked through the bush I saw and heard no birds, and failed to see the flowering shrubs and plants that used to delight the eye, and as things stand I can only see the situation getting worse with further losses of biodiversity.
Birds and plants are not the only groups suffering of course, In the sixty five years I’ve been observing nature in the local area, native mammals have disappeared, frogs and reptiles have declined, and native fish and other aquatic life have taken a big hit from reduced stream flows and the introduced European carp.

Have we done this or is this just nature doing its thing? Is this changing climate or a change in the cycle? Let’s not ask questions. Instead, let’s put our energies into thinking about our behaviours, what we consume from the planet – to the extent that there is not enough water, air, food for the birds, the bees, the fish and us. And please read Duncan’s blog.

The Wisdom of Birds: their songs, their sex life...and us

2010-10-03T16:30:00.000+11:00

When I walk up Leicester Street in Carlton from Victoria Street, before one reaches the Green Building there are terraced units. One of these has a postage stamp of a 'garden' with a lot happening in it.

Usually, I am walking up there to a meeting in the early evening. Yesterday, I walked up Leicester Street en route to a conference in Queensberry Streeet just before 10 am. The 'garden' was a hive of activity because of visitors - sparrows going to and fro. Reason? To greet other members of their species in aviaries on the front patio. Trees, birds, chatter. In spite, of the imprisonment of some, the whole scene was - to this member of a foreign species - quite joyful.

This provides my intro to this charming encounter arising from a Tweet by my desert blogging buddy, Robbo:

and here it is:

Make up your mind whether you would like

a bullfinch, a nightingale, a well-equipped male bird,

or even Professor Tim Birkhead himself.

Blogging the beautiful: Floriade and Canberra gardening.

2010-10-03T11:26:00.001+11:00

http://canberrasgotstyle.blogspot.com/2010/10/frocktober-1st-floriade.html

Didn't make it to Floriade this year? Not to worry. Just drop by MacRambling and take a peek at her beautiful photographs. The ones on the post can be clicked on to get really drooly big pix. Talk about blogging the beautiful. And she has a companion blog, MacPlanting: a Canberra garden journal.

You might then like to pop over to A Growing Delight and so hello to that keen blogger and photographer, Frances, who also has some marvellous Floriade photos.

Other blogs 'doing' Floriade:

Just a word: blogulosity

2010-09-28T07:14:00.000+10:00

I love to find fabulous new words and to-day I have discovered one, courtesy of that linguistic maestro Stephen Fry. I have tried to find a definition for blogulosity by way of a Google search, but to no avail. Here is the context in which the illustrious Mister Fry uses it:

So here is the first of a series of blogulosities in which I try and share a personal delight.

I have discovered though that this word might not have originated with Stephen Fry. There appear to be a few blog entries ahead of his usage including this one.

But I love the word. Say it out loud. Let it roll off your tongue. First the explosive consonant "b", the two palatal consonants "l", the sibilant "s", finished with a satisfying tip palatal "t". It is music.

A kindred spirit: Vegetable Vagabond

2010-09-23T09:37:00.000+10:00

Trad Padders, isn't it a lovely feeling when we meet a kindred spirit - someone whom you want to ask home to play, have a cuppa, pull up a chair for a chat. Thanks to my dear friend Belinda, of Belinda's Place, I have discovered Kate living at Cygnet, in Tasmania. Her most recent post is called A Brief History of the World - and it is brilliant.

And if you pop to this post, you will find not only a post about fibre weaving but inspirational pictures of the most wonderful fences straight (or crooked) from nature.

Of course, Miss Eagle is a sucker for anyone who loves and lives community and works at it - as clearly Kate does as her blog links attest. So please pop over and say hello and say that Miss Eagle sent you.

World Matters 2010 Writers - Disturbing the Peace @ Montsalvat -Oct 27 and 30 -31

2010-09-18T08:37:00.001+10:00

Diamond Valley Oxfam, Montsalvat, ELTHAMbookshop
Present
The 6^th Annual
World Matters 2010 Writers - Disturbing the Peace
Oct 27 and 30 -31
Venue: The Barn, Montsalvat, Hillcrest Avenue , Eltham

Melways Ref: 22 A8

The Great Hall, Montsalvat

Official World Matters Literary Festival Website

elthambookshop@bigpond.com
970 Main Road Eltham
9439 8700

From a Funny Picture Book to Chasing the Rainbow and Utopian Man

2010-09-15T17:33:00.002+10:00

Do you remember this, Trad Padders?

So many Australians recall this book as part of their childhood.

Herself (born 1964) remembers all the funny or peculiar people.

Edward William Cole penetrated our lives and our leisure.

And so Lisa Lang wrote a biography.

Now she has taken all the material she acquired for this non-fiction work

and turned to a fiction work...

Utopian Man

Angela Meyer has reviewed the book here

and she launched the book last night at the

Melbourne City Library.

As Meyer says:

It must have been a leap to take all that research and construct a narrative out of it – to get inside Cole’s headspace, to capture the emotional dimensions of real life – of his family and friends. But [Lisa Lang] is very successful in doing so.

Utopian ManLisa Lang
Allen & Unwin
9781742373348
2010 (Australia)

Stephen Fry - International Treasure and Twitterer beyond compare

2010-09-15T12:03:00.003+10:00

Do you follow, like mois, Stephen Fry on Twitter? If so, a few hours ago, you probably felt like you had your Twitter clogged with consecutive Stephen Fry tweets. There was a reason. He was being interviewed for the Evening Standard, which he explained before the interview began - but if you came in the middle you wouldn't have known that, perhaps, and couldn't understand exactly what was being said. To see the questions being asked, you had to go to the interviewer's Twitter.

There is no doubt about Fry. He confesses he loves everything new - and he must be breaking all records to chalk up firsts relating to Twitter.

Instrumental in overturning that scandalous libel decision in the UK which meant even Parliament could not discuss the decision.
Arguably the first person to make money from Twitter, by promoting his recent London event which promoted his book and which was telecast live to numerous centres across the UK - to popular demand as was his recent Melbourne appearance.
Possibly the first to conduct a newspaper interview on Twitter - but will await confirmation

We have heard of people being National Treasures, I hereby nominate Stephen Fry as the very first International Treasure. Welcome at my place anytime!

For those who don't participate in the Twitterverse,
Stephen Fry is one of the most prolific Tweeters in the world.
At last count, he was being "followed" by 1,776,170 people.
So, if Stephen Fry, says something
that's an awful lot of people to take notice.

Related Reading

The Fry Chronicles

Stephen Fry in America: Fifty States and the Man Who Set Out to See Them All

Moab Is My Washpot

Stephen Fry in America

The Liar

THE TREE: A FILM FUNDRAISER FOR PEACE BRIGADES INTERNATIONAL

2010-09-11T12:30:00.000+10:00

Picture from here

THE TREE

A great film for a great cause!

Peace Brigades International.

All funds to help us protect human rights defenders

in Colombia, Indonesia, Mexico, Guatemala and Nepal.

6.30pm - Cinema Nova, 380 Lygon Street, Carlton, Victoria

Thursday 7 October 2010.

Tickets: $18 full / $15 Concession

Festival De Cannes, Official Selection Closing Night Film
Director Julie Bertuccelli’s adaptation of

Judy Pascoe’s bestseller Our Father Who Art In The Tree.

Filmed in the open Australian bushland,The Tree will open your mind. Alternating skilfully between the supernatural and down-to-earth reality, the filmmaker immerses us in the lives of a devastated family, with grace and a delicacy that is illuminated by the presence of Charlotte Gainsbourg. - Marine Cluet, La Tribune

Join us for drinks and refreshments at the Back Bar at the Cinema Nova before the film starts.

Bookings essential!

Pre order your tickets at fundraising@pbi-australia.org or 9016 3769

Our Father Who Art in the Tree

Maria, Mildura and the Murray in a mini flood

2010-09-10T06:44:00.001+10:00

From Drop Box

I have received a small collection of photos from Maria Reidl, that great Water Warrior, of the iconic Murray River at Pinkie Point, Mildura in what Maria describes as a "mini flood". The real thing has yet to arrive. Currently somewhere near Echuca! Make safe your houseboats!

Tobie Puttock and Cook Like an Italian come to Readings @ Hawthorn

2010-09-09T12:42:00.000+10:00

Picture from here

Dear Trad Padders,

Please get out your diaries. We're off to Readings, 701 Glenferrie Road, Hawthorn again on Monday 27 September for a 6.30pm assignation with the delightful Tobie Puttock.

To welcome the beginning of Foodie Month at Readings Hawthorn, they have Tobie Puttock talking about his third cookbook, Cook Like an Italian.

I love Italian cuisine. While I am vegetarian, unless the dish specifically features meat - like Osso Bucco - Italian food is easily converted to meat-free. A lot of the cuisine is derived originally from self-sufficient and sustainable home-garden produce and is easy to replicate at home and so it is good to see Tobie bringing his personal passion for cooking Italian food, and more importantly, for cooking simple Italian food – perfectly – to our very own kitchens.

For the past few years while teaching people to cook in his kitchen at Fifteen Melbourne, Tobie has been yearning for something more… something to inspire him. So he went to Italy!

Cook Like an Italian is the result.

An amazing culinary journey through wonderful Italy.

$20 per ticket includes tastes from his cookbook, and wine by Scorpo.

Tickets from Readings Hawthorn.

In search of the rushing, gushing Yarra River - Part 2

2010-09-08T10:51:00.000+10:00

The Yarra River at Warrandyte at 3.30pm (approx) on Monday 6 September 2010

These pictures were taken from the walk below the Riverside Cark Park. As you can see, the water was only about 50cm below the walkway. Would not have taken much more to break the bank on this side. The other side does not have a low embankment.

Please note the height of the bridge. Even strong bridges can be damaged by drivers as one can see in the picture. But there was a bridge before this bridge...

This memorial post commemorates

the artist Walter Withers who was

a member of the famous Heidelberg School.

Here is the Withers picture of the Old Bridge, Warrandyte.

Please note the wattle tumbling down the hilly embankment.

If you look closely in my pictures above,

you will see wattle on that embankment -

not as profuse as portrayed in the painting by Withers,

but there still.

The Heidelberg School had something of a colony at Warrandyte at one time - although it was not the best known colony of this unique group of Australian artists. The legacy, though, lingers on. Warrandyte is still a place that attracts creative people.

The day was getting darker.

Lunch should have happened hours ago.

A lovely old building summoned and I pulled into the carpark.

Smoke rising into the eucalypts from a stone chimney is a welcoming sight.

First stop, a long overdue browse at The Linen and Larder...

and in through the beckoning doors...

Linen and Larder is bursting with good stuff -

homewares, gifts, clothing, and stuff for eating and eating upon.

A return journey with credit card is required.

Perhaps some thoughts for Christmas.

You will find L & L here:

THE YARRA STORE
Linen & Larder
321 Warrandyte-Ringwood Road
Warrandyte, Vic 3113

Tummy was still calling ... but a little louder ...

and so to next door ...

... and the Stonehouse Cafe Restaurant.

It has hints of yesteryear - but the decor needs a few additions.

I would suggest a deal with Linen and Larder for the interior.

There are two large banks of windows

opening out on to a verandah under the gum trees

with greedy, nosy sulphur-crested cockatoos a-visiting.

These windows - set into their stone walls -

could do with a couple of school benches under them.

A perfect place for newspaper and coffee.

But back to my tummy ...

I asked for a bowl of hot tomato and herb soup ...

and the bread was s-o-o scrumptious ...

... with some hot chocolate ...

Tummy was well looked after - then home.

In search of the rushing, gushing Yarra River - Part 1

2010-09-07T14:58:00.003+10:00

I had a lovely day out yesterday.

It was full of the unexpected and pleasant surprises.

Large tracts of Victoria are under water at the moment.

A vast contrast from the worst drought since white settlement

and the deathly bushfires of last year.

The radio said that the Yarra River was expected to flood

at Yarra Glen.

I didn't want to wait till the Yarra actually flooded.

I wanted to see the Yarra gushing and rushing

with the water of the yet-to-be flood.

And I did.

This is the story of my day in search of the pre-flood Yarra.

The map at this site will give you a bit of an idea of where I went.

As I left the outer eastern suburbs of Melbourne behind

and hit the Melba Highway,

everything was green

and there was water, water everywhere.

Dams were full to the brim.

A few drops more and they would overflow.

Water was lying at the edge of the road

and the Yarra billabongs were spreading.

The photos above and below were taken
from Skyline Drive looking back to Yarra Glen.

Looking for Sugarloaf Reservoir Park was quite an exercise.
I think there is a job going begging in the Victorian public sector -
Commissar of Signage.
I find the signage poor in and around Melbourne -
sometimes beyond belief.
It doesn't compare with the signage in Sydney -
where the traffic moves so quickly
and the layout of the city is so convoluted
one would never survive without clear signage.

I turned off the Melba Highway at the appropriate sign.
Not to see another sign on a major road for the rest of the day.
I later was told I did not go far enough along
the Yarra Glen to Eltham road before turning off.

I had two sets of "clear" instructions
neither of which delivered the desired result.

After wandering hither and yon -
yes, I didn't have a clue where I was -
I found Sugarloaf in the distance.
The photo below is the result.

My camera is fairly humble -
a Kodak EasyShare DX7590
(5.0 mega pixels and 10X optical zoom) -
and I am an even humbler photographer
(for this read ignorant and unskilled).

If I were clever,
I could probably customise settings
but I am not clever enough to figure all that.
Given these limitations,
I was rather pleased with this photograph.
I was a great distance from the water,
and I couldn't tell how well the zoom
was handling what I was asking of it.
I consider myself fortunate to have
recorded not only the water
but the dam wall and, somehow, the CBD in the distance.

Once I discovered this back part (well I think it was the back part of the reservoir), I followed a road which ran alongside the high Melbourne Water perimeter fence. So you don't lay awake at night wondering, I have to tell you that there is a fair degree of security around our water storages. I went past all sorts of signs and many, many locked gates. And after this journey, I eventually came to a half-open gate.

In spite of warnings to trespassers, I - lost in search of a pre-flood experience - entered. I went down a bitumen driveway and came to a large concrete area. At one end of this was a multi-story building. But I couldn't resist walking across to the fenced off section at the other side of the concrete apron. And there I was - high above the Yering Gorge. And the water was rushing and gushing.

Camera was quickly put into action and, just as I had taken these, a man came to see what I was doing. I explained to him about looking for Sugarloaf, the poor signage, seeing the Yarra in flood, etc. And he gave me directions....

....and I did make it to the Sugarloaf Reservoir Park....

and here is some explanatory signage

Click the above photos (3) to enlarge and make legible.

The picture below is of a section of a narrow peninsula jutting into the reservoir

which is covered in low blooming wattle.

and then there was the getting out -

and, if the getting in was a mystery, so was the getting out.

And it had its adventures too...

.... I found a castle in the hills.

A modern version - but, I think, a castle nonetheless.

One finds all sorts of things on roadsides in the bush.

The quaintest are usually letter boxes.

This is the most curious.

One can imagine baskets left there

to receive the bread, the parcels.

But...what is the story with the picture frame?

Hopefully this is a successful partnership.

Bush flora.

Driving down the bush road,

I spotted the beautifully rusty wheelbarrow.

I could not resist.

Pulled up the car right in the middle of the road,

because - with the Kodak zoom lens - I thought

I could get a picture from the road.

Next thing, a woman came into view.

I walked over and explained how I had found the wheelbarrow -

or it had found me.

Introductions done - she is Deirdre.

Her cottage garden is small.

She would like to plant her favourite daphnes

but there is no room.

Nillumbik Shire Council has some tight controls.

The amount of land given to non-indigenous plants is limited.

Deirdre has planted out a number of wattles -

but these are wattles indigenous to the area.

As well, the shire dictates the height of houses.

Deirdre's house fits well into the landscape -

almost hugging the ground in comparison

with the bush around.

I told Deirdre about my Yering Gorge adventure,

and she told me how her Bend of Islands home

overlooked the gorge and took me to the verandah

so I could photograph her view.

Yering Gorge in the Bend of Islands -

photographed from Deirdre's verandah.

And, across the old white bridge above,
I exited the Bend of Islands
through some beautiful green Victorian bush.

The story continues to-morrow

with the rushing, gushing Yarra River

at Warrandyte.

The Wheeler Centre: literary and functional

2010-09-05T18:17:00.000+10:00

On Thursday and Friday, I was at the Public Interest Journalism and New Media Conference held as part of the Melbourne Writers Festival. It is otherwise known as New News 2010 and is sponsored by the Public Interest Journalism Foundation at Swinburne University.

The Conference was held at The Wheeler Centre which is in the precinct of the State Library of Victoria. The establishment of The Wheeler Centre is in response to Melbourne's status as a UNESCO City of Literature. Melbourne was the second city in the world - and the first in the southern hemisphere - to be honoured by UNESCO. The first was Edinburgh.

So for those of you who may not have visited Wheeler, I took some pictures... just to give you a feel of the place.

External signage above Little Lonsdale Street

The Foyer

Copper door with copper architrave

The Auditorium

The Green Room was used by the conference for informal conversations with guest speakers and "Unconferences" - you could put your unprogrammed offering on a white-board.

Green Room - Southern end

Green Room - Northern end

Green Room - Kitchen doors

and, finally, I thought this banquette was designer cute and smart

You sit carefully in/on this banquette - because it has no back support. When you sit on the one or two upper curves (depending on size) the curves either side become arm rests. So as well as eye-catching, it is quite functional. I was able to sit quite comfortably (and I am a larger size) and have a conversation with the person sitting next to me.

All in all, the Wheeler Centre provides

functional spaces for the City of Melbourne.

Arabella Forge and Frugavore: eating well and understanding where your food comes from

2010-09-02T06:21:00.001+10:00

Trad Padders, I want to draw attention to a new book which will hit the bookshops next month. You might like to put in your request to your local Public Library to purchase the book hot from the press. Publication details are:

Pub date: September 2010

RRP: $29.95

ISBN: 9781863954891

Imprint: Black Inc.

Format: PB

Size: 180 x 180mm

Extent: 240pp

In this book Arabella Forge covers all the territory of good, sensible, affordable and ethical food and eating. She is well qualified. Arabella is a Melbourne-based nutritionist. She teaches regular cooking classes at CERES Environmental Park and Organic Wholefoods, focusing on traditional techniques. She has featured as a speaker at Slow Food forums and speaks frequently on radio about issues relating to food and health.

Mark your diaries, Trad Padders, because Arabella will be in conversation with Catherine Deveny at Readings Hawthorne bookshop on Thursday 16 September at 6.30pm. The event is free but Readings do like you to book so please RSVP by email: events@readings.com.au or phone: (03) 9819 1917.

There is a Frugavore website here and a Facebook page here.

2010-08-30T14:37:00.000+10:00

I won't be there on Sunday...too up market for moi...but perhaps you can go and report back? Wotcha think?....

Want to go UP market? SUN 5 SEPT @ Melbs GPO

Picture this.

You're at a LUXURY SHOPPING EVENT and while you're grabbing a designer bargain from Melbourne's QUEENS OF DESIGNER FASHION CHIC-O-NOMICS, you're sipping on a glass of bubbles, nibbling on canapés and being treated to a make-up consultation AND a personal styling session! Oh, and all the while, you're juggling a gift bag BRIMMING WITH GOODIES!

Sound awesome? That's cause it is and it's THIS SUNDAY, 5 SEPT from 2.30pm - 5.30pm @ Alto Event Space at Melbourne's GPO. But numbers are limited!

As part of Melbourne Spring Fashion week, Miss Money Penny is offering you the chance to shop from 40 glam stalls for items that are Brand New with Tags, Just Slipped On, or Vintage Designer fashion - for a fraction of the retail price!!!

Tickets are just $50 and 10% less if you enter 'SB01' when you book. To secure your ticket to this exclusive event, book online TODAY!

Edgar's Mission needs help and voluteers. Please help.

2010-08-23T14:03:00.001+10:00

Mahatma Gandhi got it right when he stated "The greatness of a nation and its moral progress can be judged by the way its animals are treated."

And if you’ve ever visited Edgar’s Mission Farm Sanctuary, you’ll know exactly what I’m referring to.

As many of you will know, Edgar’s Mission is run solely by Pam Ahern. Surviving on the smell of an oily rag, Pam and all the animals at the Sanctuary, rely heavily on the support and much appreciated assistance from their volunteer network in order to continue to spread the message of compassion and kindness.

We’re calling on you to lend us a much needed hand.

In a little under 6 weeks, on Sunday October 3, 2010, Edgar’s Mission Farm Sanctuary will celebrateWorld Animal Day. Recognised all over the world, World Animal Day is the day when the world celebrates humankind’s relationship with the animal kingdom. And at Edgar’s Mission, we love to do it in style!

World Animal Day is our biggest open day of the year. But to get the Sanctuary looking spick and spam in readiness for the big day, we need your help! Aside from our regular monthly volunteer days - thesecond Sunday and third Saturday of every month – we’re putting on a few extra volunteer days if you can possibly spare the time to assist us.

And really, what better way is there to get up close and personal with such wonderful creatures like Hamish – the handshaking porcine, Ryan - the cheeky comical goat, Timmy - the friendliest sheep in the world and of course, Tippi – the most gentle cow you will ever meet!

As someone, who two years ago was touched by the compassion and spirit that transcends that of Edgar’s Mission, I can assure you that Volunteer days give you such wondrous opportunities to really get to know these animals. But they also give so much more. They give you an opportunity to learn new skills, meet like minded people and give back to the community.

As such, we are looking for volunteers to assist on:

Saturday 28th August (extra)
Sunday 12th September
Saturday 18th September
Saturday 26th September (extra)
Friday 1st October (extra)
Saturday 2nd October (extra)

And of course, if you can spare any time on any second Sunday or third Saturday of any month of the year, we certainly won’t turn you away! (Check out our website www.edgarsmission.org.au for more details).

If you can assist on any of the above listed dates, or on any other volunteer day throughout the year, please contact me via e-mail - tash@edgarsmission.org.au or phone 0419 729 902.

And of course, if you are free on Sunday October 3rd, we’d love to see you at the Sanctuary. Come support our day!

And, thanks for all you do for the animals.

Cheers,

Tash

Natasha Reus
Volunteer Coordinator

If we could live happy and health lives without harming others ...why wouldn't we?
www.edgarsmission.org.au

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

2010-08-20T10:45:00.003+10:00

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

2010-08-20T10:11:00.002+10:00

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,

please go here.

Friendship - good ones hold across time and geography

2010-08-18T09:17:00.001+10:00

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

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!

2010-08-18T08:55:00.000+10:00

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

2010-08-18T07:46:00.001+10:00

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.

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

2010-08-17T18:27:00.001+10:00

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.

Shabby Vintage Junk Extravaganza ! 13 and 14 August 2010 - #2

2010-08-12T17:04:00.001+10:00

Yesterday, dear Trad Padders,

I told you about the Shabby Vintage Junk Extravaganza.

Well, to-day was move-in day.

Don't ask me if Tamara (who is organising all this) and her dearly beloved Matt slept last night. I know that Herself was over there until well after midnight helping put up wonderful white tissue paper balls on the rafters of the Ashburton Scout Hut in High Street Road, Ashburton. The Scout Hut is still a Scout Hut but now it is a Scout Hut with pizzaz and quite a large helping of swish.

To-day, I saw wonderful stuff being unpacked and displayed.

There are ten stalls but a cornucopia of variety.

Shabby is there in spades

with all that would gladden Rachel Ashwell's heart.

Vintage and retro is there in all shapes and colours.

Wonderful linens and handcrafted stuff -

that would delight not only the modern woman

but her mum and grandma - are all over.

And junk is there as its glorious self

and re-jigged in marvellously creative ways.

Talk about re-jig, re-use, recycle.

And for those of you who love your food,

I have singled out for special attention

Mrs Beeton's Cookbook

which comes complete with

handwritten recipes and etcetereas.

Just look...

So please come to-morrow and Saturday.

8am until 5pm Friday

8am until about 3pm or so on Saturday.

There are not many opportunities like this to purchase

from a multiplicy of specialist stall holders.

Please ecourage the efforts of

Tamara, Alicia, Sam,

Shelley, Andrea, Robyn,

Callee, Jane & Kaz

See you when you are shabby shopping

at the Shabby Vintage Junk Extravaganza

Shabby Vintage Junk Extravaganza ! 13 and 14 August 2010

2010-08-11T12:53:00.001+10:00

I have been sporting a sidebar badge for the Shabby Vintage Junk Extravaganza for quite a while now, as you can see. It is on this weekend and the redoubtable and indefatigable (don't you luv the way they trip off the tongue) Tamara is all talk about it over at Shabby Vintage Junk.

Things are on the go here as Herself has been organising since way back when. And things are still on the go. The handles and knobs above will be there. As will some of the stuff below.

One whole living room is jam packed with stuff and has been for quite a while.

But my guess is Herself will be coming down to the wire
with some things......

See you there Friday and Saturday!

MISS EAGLE CUDDLES A DINGO AT ELTHAM

2010-08-02T09:37:00.000+10:00

Miss Eagle

snuggling with Barrowless Boy

- one beautiful domesticated dingo

~~~~

Miss Eagle was over at Eltham on Saturday -
as Trad Padders will note from the wattle below.

Enjoying relaxed refreshment in Eltham Square

was Julie Fechner of Dingo Care Network

with Barrowless and Shiralee.

I had heard about these people and their dingoes over at Eltham and the controversies surrounding Australia's own native dog so I got into conversation with Julie. I asked if I could take Julie's photograph and she agreed. She then insisted that she take one of me. I was most reluctant since the dog didn't know me. I was a stranger. But that was no problem as you can see. Beautiful, beautiful animals. And as you can see, Julie and friends do a lot of work to restore confidence in the the beauty and value of the dingo.

Related Reading:

Montsalvat Guide: A Guide to the Place and Its Founder

My story: tales from a pioneer of Montsalvat.

(Montsalvat is a significant Eltham landmark)

Dingo: Australian Natural History series

SEASONS: THE WATTLE IN BLOOM

2010-08-01T06:51:00.002+10:00

This tree was photographed in Eltham, Victoria on 31 July 2010

One of the things that annoys me is that we post-1788 settlers, don't pay sufficient attention to the seasons. Decades ago, when I first visited, Kakadu in the Northern Territory and heard that the Aboriginal people of the area counted six seasons not four, I began to wonder about this.

I know that farmers and keen gardeners notice local differences. I once listened to a group of old fellows from my church talking about gardening and the differences between planting and growing at Box Hill and Upper Ferntree Gully. But do we rationalist, mechanistic modernists take this sort of knowledge seriously.

Spring, in the Southern Hemisphere, is listed for 1 September but how arbitrary that is. The wattle is listed as a winter flowering plant. And yet Australia has a special day, Wattle Day, on 1 September each year - past the flowering time for wattle but - surprise, surprise - marking the first day of spring.

So you see, I think we have things quite wrong. Wattle Day would be better celebrated on 1 August - and Australia would be better placed to mark Australian Spring as commencing on that date too.

So let's give a thought to where we live. We might have to centralise certain dates for the whole of the country - but lets acknowledge Mother Nature at work where we live and the different seasons and time zones of weather she has made for us. It might just be the beginning of a whole new way of thinking about Australian ecology.

New Gluten Free Bread at Sharon's place this coming Sunday

2010-07-27T17:31:00.001+10:00

My friend Sharon has written to me as follows:

Could you please advertise by word of mouth or sending on this email as a Community Health announcement:

Coeliac disease is an autoimmune disease. It is a permanent intestinal intolerance to dietary gluten. The will be a free demonstration of a new Gluten Free Bread which is fructose friendly too this coming Sunday at my place.

This picture of gluten

free bread from here.

Now Trad Padders, I don't want to plaster Sharon's address and phone numbers publicly so...if you want to go to this could you please email me at misseaglesnetwork(at)
gmail(dot)com for the details.

2010-07-23T12:40:00.001+10:00

This week I was in Turner and Lane and discovered an idea that was new - at least to me. It was one of those "why didn't I think of that" moments. The idea was in T&L's children's room but the idea, IMHO, could be adapted in other ways. A "My Kitchen" version could be natty and cute.

These boards come in two sizes. These are the large size and there is a smaller one. The "boards" are painters' ready stretched canvases. They could be painted over in a range of pastel colours to suit and still be as sweet. Across the top are narrow gros-grain ribbons and some light two-ply string to which is attached those little clothes pegs usually used for hanging cards.

The bottom left has little nic-nax like covered buttons glued on. Clearly, the choice is the decorator's. Bottom right has the names. Now, my only query is how does one cut out fabric letters sharp and neat? Will someone please tell me how? Because I think if I am to replicate these cute items, this is the one place where my efforts would fall down.

Grow your own heirlooms, organically and simply - with Belinda's help

2010-07-22T10:04:00.002+10:00

That friend of mine Belinda from Belinda's Place is something. This organised, organising, methodical woman is in the category of Urban Homesteader. She does it all from the Mud Palace at Ferny Creek in the beautiful Dandenong Ranges on the outskirts of Melbourne, Australia. You can follow her doings and don't-ings in the aforesaid blog. So for all you need to know, the contact details are above. For the rest follow her on her blog.

Meet Bert the Bloke - one beautiful puss.

2010-07-21T18:40:00.002+10:00

An introduction is warranted!

This is Bert the Bloke - one beautiful cat.

Peppered through this blog are photos of

Rose the Spartacat

and

FootFoot the Miniature Fox Terrier.

In recent times our two beloved friends

left this world - just six weeks apart.

Rose went first, aged 6 years, due to kidney tumours.

FootFoot died of old age, aged 16 years.

Increasingly, in the months prior to his death,

I cuddled him to his end and so did Herself.

Finally, one night while sleeping with Herself,

he breathed his last and was gone from us.

Our decision was not to rush

to replace either of these beloveds.

However, after a couple of months,

Herself decided we would get a cat.

No ordinary kitten, mind you.

She was determined to go to the RSPCA

and get an older cat whom no one wanted.

There was such a cat - Bert.

He is about 5 years old

and needed to go to a home

where he would be the only one.

He came to the RSPCA because

in his original home other cats picked on him.

We don't know why.

He had been ill and in the RSPCA clinic because of cat flu.

Otherwise he lived in a cage with three others.

He has settled in well here.

He is reserved but interested

in the household's peeps and doings.

He is so pretty and poses beautifully.

His fur is the silkiest I have ever touched.

He is well at home

and we love this man about our house.

Earth's loveliness

2010-07-21T09:49:00.002+10:00

Michelangelo by Daniele da Volterra

Picture from here

My soul can find no staircase

to Heaven

unless it be through

Earth's loveliness.

The development Edna Walling designed

2010-07-20T10:53:00.000+10:00

Dear Trad Padders,

If you scroll down the sidebar you will come cross my links which are categorised. One whole category is dedicated (with many links) to one woman: Edna Walling. By the time you work your way through those links you should have a good idea of who Edna Walling was and why she and her work are so admired.

In the long ago, Edna undertook some real estate development. The development was named Bickleigh Vale and is situated in the the outer eastern Melbourne suburb of Mooroolbark. In Edna's time, this area would have been rural or semi-rural. To-day it is suburban and, unless you know where to look, it is easily missed. The development is situated around Bickleigh Vale Road, off Pembroke Road in Mooroolbark.

The road is a dirt/gravel road. I think it is likely to be a "local road" where the local residents take responsibility for their own road. It wanders between tall trees which appear, remarkably, never to have seen a bushfire. Many of the houses are timber so I think the residents are probably very fire conscious since the old timber homes would probably burn like paper.

Recently one of the houses came up for sale and it had a great promotion in real estate section of The Age, one of Melbourne's major dailies. I include some of these for your interest and titillation. BTW, one needs something more than bottletops to purchase n this neighbourhood.

Related reading:

The Vision of Edna Walling: Garden Plans 1920-1951

The Unusual Life of Edna Walling

Gardens in Australia: Their Design and Care

A Gardener's Log

THE GARDEN MAGIC OF EDNA WALLING

The gardens of Edna Walling

EDNA WALLING'S YEAR: Ideas and Images from All Seasons
Australian Roadside
Letters to garden lovers
Happiest Days of My Life
Cottage and garden in Australia
Gardens in Time : In the footsteps of Edna Walling

For the love of Frida - and Salma

2010-07-19T17:15:00.001+10:00

On Friday night, I went to the Shane Howard concert - which you can read about here. I was on my own - and it is amazing how women chat and befriend one another easily - as I did with the owner of this remarkable black jacket. It is a homage: to the wonderful, unique and extravagant Frida Kahlo. And not only to Frida, but to the wonderful portrayal of her by the beautiful Salma Hayek.

And who could forget the remarkable tango from the movie.

BTW, my friend of the evening said that she had imbibed well before embarking on the paint job - which was done in poster paints so she dare not wear the jacket in the rain!

After the Winter Solstice, harbingers of Spring

2010-06-27T11:27:00.001+10:00

Herself brought these in from the garden.

Yes, dear Trad Padders, I know there are no snowdrops here and it clearly relates to a northern hemisphere spring - but I think this poem fits my mood.

THE hardy little snowdrop

Delicate... yet so strong

The ground's still frozen hard

When they come along

It's one of nature's mysteries

How they choose a brand-new site

Suddenly they pop up

It seems like overnight

They were never planted there

But oh! Such delight

White heads nestled in the green

It's such a lovely sight

They bow their heads like little bells

Against February's savage winds

Yet welcome in the springtime

As this brand-new year begins.

RAY JOHNSON, Chapel House, Newcastle.

The Trad Pad

The Gate of the Year : The King’s Speech, Academy Awards, and the bookies’ odds #film #poetry

ANZ LitLovers LitBlog - Germinal by Emile Zola - the book and the movie

Make a difference this year: buy your Christmas Cakes, Shortbreads and Gift Hampers from Bumblebee and support some good causes

Memories of Mellah and Chocolate Mousse

Jenny Dowell goes to Just Grounds, Lismore ... and then there's the mural

Storm - Ringwood - 20111109

Destruction - China First Thermal Coal Mine to destroy Bimblebox Nature Refuge - submit your comments by 7 Nov 2011

Can a sustainable food culture allow the non-stunning slaughter of animals?

Musk Farm and Wombat Hill - great Australian gardens

Food history: Australian Family Recipes 1868 to1950

World Matters 2011 Writers - Missing Peace @ Montsalvat - 14, 15, 16 October 2011

Firing up the oven for Focaccia alla Pugliese

A cup of coffee from Iain across The Ditch

Life is Like a Cup of Coffee

The story of Meetup

SEASONS: THE WATTLE IN BLOOM ~~ 2

High Tea at St Stephen's

Come to a Forest Picnic. It's the International Year of #Forests

Retronaut-ing

This is your Life. Do what you love, and do it often.

#Sustainablity shopping? Shabby #Vintage Junk Extravaganza 3-4 June 2011 #recycling

World Poetry Day - Dorothy Porter and Andrea Goldsmith #poets #writers#

INTERNATIONAL WOMEN'S DAY CENTENARY 2011 #iwd

World Book Day : John le Carre : the Bodleian Libraries : Dr Zhivago #worldbookday #bodleian #lecarre

Art Blart and Anselm Kiefer and The Norns

Dreams are not negotiable #realisation

To one and all - all the rich blessings of the Christmas season

The coal miners of Pike River, NZ and their families are in my thoughts

Thinking and praying for those below the ground and those above.

Peace be to you and may your men come home to where they belong

Film night to raise funds for TEAR’s Pakistan Flood Relief fund

Related articles

The Gift - Stacey Kramer

It's only words, and words are all I have.....

New for old - developments in photography

Stephen Fry commends Hugh Bonneville to the Twitterverse

Blog Action Day on WATER : Global Handwashing day - The Wiggles & Nelson Mandela

Blog action day on Friday 15 October : we’re blogging about WATER

Duncan's wild flowers and photography at Ben Cruachan

Spicks & Specks–the bits they left out

The day no birds would sing…

The Wisdom of Birds: their songs, their sex life...and us

Blogging the beautiful: Floriade and Canberra gardening.

Just a word: blogulosity

A kindred spirit: Vegetable Vagabond

World Matters 2010 Writers - Disturbing the Peace @ Montsalvat -Oct 27 and 30 -31

From a Funny Picture Book to Chasing the Rainbow and Utopian Man

Stephen Fry - International Treasure and Twitterer beyond compare

THE TREE: A FILM FUNDRAISER FOR PEACE BRIGADES INTERNATIONAL

Maria, Mildura and the Murray in a mini flood

Tobie Puttock and Cook Like an Italian come to Readings @ Hawthorn

Dear Trad Padders,

Please get out your diaries. We're off to Readings, 701 Glenferrie Road, Hawthorn again on Monday 27 September for a 6.30pm assignation with the delightful Tobie Puttock.

In search of the rushing, gushing Yarra River - Part 2

In search of the rushing, gushing Yarra River - Part 1

The Wheeler Centre: literary and functional

Arabella Forge and Frugavore: eating well and understanding where your food comes from

Edgar's Mission needs help and voluteers. Please help.

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

RECOVERY AND RE-CREATION IN CROYDON

Friendship - good ones hold across time and geography

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

Remembering Burke and Wills

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

Shabby Vintage Junk Extravaganza ! 13 and 14 August 2010 - #2

Shabby Vintage Junk Extravaganza ! 13 and 14 August 2010

MISS EAGLE CUDDLES A DINGO AT ELTHAM

SEASONS: THE WATTLE IN BLOOM

New Gluten Free Bread at Sharon's place this coming Sunday

Grow your own heirlooms, organically and simply - with Belinda's help

Meet Bert the Bloke - one beautiful puss.

Earth's loveliness

The development Edna Walling designed

For the love of Frida - and Salma

After the Winter Solstice, harbingers of Spring