Monday 5th December - The Journey Home and some recollections and thoughts
We left our packing until this morning. Space considerations demanded it. We had booked a shuttle bus from a firm called Kings and Queens and they had phoned yesterday to tell us that they would pick us up at 13.05. Di and I did some last minute leaf sweeping and housework and then the bus arrived just on time. The driver loaded our luggage into a trailer and we said our sad goodbyes to our darling daughter and grandchildren. Ollie seemed excited that we were going on an aeroplane and asked if he could come too. This is the saddest part for us. Leaving little Ollie who is old enough to appreciate our love and concern for him. We will miss his exuberance for life, his humour, his curiosity, his uncomplicated expressions of affection. We will miss him coming into our bed every morning with his empty bottle, his "Greycat' and his "Lamby" and his demanding to watch nursery rhyme videos on the iPad. We will miss playing with him, building "Twax" with his wooden railway, practising catching and kicking, taking him to the park and beach. We will miss his closeness as he sits in your lap listening intently as you read him a story. We will miss putting him to bed, his endearing habit of running around the house kissing and hugging everyone goodnight. We will miss his toughness and the way he so quickly bounces back after after any hurt: a quick cuddle, a little sob on your shoulder, a little complaint about the "ouchy" and what caused it and then back into the fray as though nothing had happened. We will miss his love of learning and marvelling at his ability to pick up words and numbers so quickly. And of course, we will miss our darling little Toby who is growing so quickly. He has gained a cm a week since birth and is now 59 cm and around 6 kilos. He is an easy baby. He doesn't cry very much, he is content to lie and look at the light when he is awake, he is a good feeder and sleeps for long enough periods to allow you to get on with jobs. At 5 weeks old, he only takes one feed in the night.
Anyway, Tash promised that she would bring the children back to the UK sometime in June and July and possibly stay for two months. Will would accompany her but would have to come back after only two or three weeks as he needs to work. We had said our goodbyes to Will last night as he went off to work at about 6.30 this morning. We kissed our lovely daughter and then we were off waving to them standing on the road outside their rented house. There were two other people on the bus with whom we chatted. We made another stop at Gosford to pick up two more people and then we were off down the Freeway to Sydney. We stopped at a ferry terminal to drop off two people who were going on a cruise around New Zealand and then we headed for the airport where one lady alighted at the domestic terminal leaving just three of us to go on to the International terminal. The journey had taken just over two hours, arriving as we did, at about 3.20.
We checked in with little fuss, the queues bring very short. We had three bags to check in plus a child car seat that Tash wanted us to return to the UK for use when Ollie visits us in the Summer. They had brought it to Australia when they emigrated last November but had found that it didn't conform to Australian regulations. I had to take the car seat across the hall to a special cage for outsized luggage, but this was done with the help of the lady who checked us in so was no problem.
At about 4.45 we went to the observation deck cafe where we bought a small beer to drink with some ham and cheese rolls we had brought with us, and then we went through security. We had to remove our shoes and go through a body scanner and I had to have my leg swabbed for an explosives test. We only had to wait a few minutes before we were being called for embarkation and we duly boarded at about 5.10 pm.
The BA 747-400 plane took about 8 1/2 hours to fly to Bangkok. On the way, we were served an excellent beef dinner with sparkling wine and nut starters and red wine to accompany the beef. Our seats were fantastic, we had been assigned to row 12, the front row which had about three feet of legroom and which was where the serving trolley always started. I watched a couple of movies, Columbiana and Cowboys versus Aliens, and even got a little sleep before we reached Bangkok where the co pilot landed the plane in what was possibly the smoothest landing I had ever experienced. There was literally no impact whatsoever and it was not possible to distinguish the flying from the taxiing. Here we had to disembark with all our hand luggage and take a very long walk down an immense hall and then go through security again before walking down the immense hall again and collecting at a gate before being loaded back on to our replenished aircraft. I have to say that I find this practice irksome. What is the necessity? Why not take us off into the collection area and then load us back on without the long walk and extra security check? This is especially inconvenient for disabled people like myself and, I suspect for aged people like Di's parents who may well be making the journey with us next year. I will make enquiries to see if it's possible for them to sidestep this unnecessary walk.
The second leg of the flight took just under 12 hours and we arrived at Heathrow about 15 minutes ahead of schedule at 5.50 am. Once again, we were served dinner, snacks and then about two hours before landing, breakfast. I must say, the quality of the food and service was excellent. I seemed to sleep a lot during this leg and it passed seemingly quickly. I tried to watch another film, Another Earth, but it didn't grip me and I gave up, opting instead for some reading and ipading.
We collected our luggage without mishap and were met by a taxi driver Susan had arranged for us. Susan and James are good friends of Natasha and Will and have had several stays with us in Devon. They are useful as they have a large courtyard at their house in Bray and always allow us to leave our car there when we travel through Heathrow. Unfortunately, our battery was flat and James had to give us a jump from his car. It didn't take too long and we were soon on our way through a dry but cold Southern England. We had gone from the relative warmth of what was, in fact, an unseasonably cold NSW at about 15 degrees C, to a 4 degree England in about 22 hours. We had left Sydney at about 6pm on Monday and arrived at Heathrow at about 6am Tuesday. Taking into account the 11 hour time difference, the actual journey time was about 22 hours. With the two hours road trip in Australia and the four and a half hours road trip in England, plus the waiting times at the airports, the whole journey took us 33 hours. That's 11,000 miles in 33 hours which gives us an average speed of 333 miles per hour! Not bad.
Sunday, 18 December 2011
Sunday 4th December - Farewell lunch at Empire Bay
Sunday 4th December - Farewell lunch at Empire Bay
After breakfast, Tash and Will went to the shops to buy some blinds for the new house while we looked after the kids. I went to get coffees with Ollie. We both walked. It was a pleasant start weather wise and lots of people were taking the opportunity for a Sunday morning stroll. So Ruby's, the coffee/book shop was quite busy and it took us about 20 minutes to get our coffees. Ollie was getting a bit wild by then and I had to try to distract him with the shop's collection of motor toys. Trouble is, they are on display but not meant to be played with; a concept that Ollie couldn't really get his head around. Also he failed to see why running continually up the metal wheelchair-access ramp making it clang loudly, should be annoying to the patrons. He spent most of the last five minutes in my arms. Eventually, we walked home just as the weather changed again. It was spitting by the time we delivered Di's coffee. Then it hailed! In NSW in early December!
When Tash and Will returned we drove to Empire Bay where we all went to a pub for a farewell lunch. We met Trent and Jo and family and also Angus and Leonie. We sat on a covered terrace for the children's sake, but eventually we were driven inside by the cold and wet. It was raining quite hard at times during the afternoon. After saying our farewells, we returned home for an evening of rugby - Australia vs Wales. A good match, quite close in the first half, but Australia did run out the deserved winners.
After breakfast, Tash and Will went to the shops to buy some blinds for the new house while we looked after the kids. I went to get coffees with Ollie. We both walked. It was a pleasant start weather wise and lots of people were taking the opportunity for a Sunday morning stroll. So Ruby's, the coffee/book shop was quite busy and it took us about 20 minutes to get our coffees. Ollie was getting a bit wild by then and I had to try to distract him with the shop's collection of motor toys. Trouble is, they are on display but not meant to be played with; a concept that Ollie couldn't really get his head around. Also he failed to see why running continually up the metal wheelchair-access ramp making it clang loudly, should be annoying to the patrons. He spent most of the last five minutes in my arms. Eventually, we walked home just as the weather changed again. It was spitting by the time we delivered Di's coffee. Then it hailed! In NSW in early December!
When Tash and Will returned we drove to Empire Bay where we all went to a pub for a farewell lunch. We met Trent and Jo and family and also Angus and Leonie. We sat on a covered terrace for the children's sake, but eventually we were driven inside by the cold and wet. It was raining quite hard at times during the afternoon. After saying our farewells, we returned home for an evening of rugby - Australia vs Wales. A good match, quite close in the first half, but Australia did run out the deserved winners.
Saturday 3rd December - Fishing at last!
Saturday 3rd December Fishing at last!
Today was the day when I finally got my birthday present from Will and Tash. They had bought me a day on a fishing charter boat with "Central Coast Charters", but the company only ran the trips on Saturdays and today was the first availibility since my birthday at the end of October. We were up at the crack of dawn to get down to Ettalong jetty by 6 am. We duly did and we were motoring off by 6.30. There were about 12 people fishing from the boat which was easily able to take them. And I was so pleased that the seats faced the sea, being used to the boats back home which generally had a bench around the side so that you sat facing inwards and in order to fish you either had to stand or twist uncomfortably to drop your line over the side.
The weather was reasonable. It didn't rain, it wasn't too hot, or cold, or windy, there was a slight swell, but even so, the fishing was very slow. It was encouraging to see others catch something and very soon, a young man pulled up a large blue morwong or deep sea bream, known locally as a "mowie". Another man landed a "Sergeant Baker" which they threw back as apparently, they make poor eating. I watched as others brought in the occasional fish, including Will who landed a snapper which was just about large enough to bag.
We had been fishing for four hours before I finally connected and reeled in a mowie of my own. Will had another snapper on and I put down my rod to film the landing. Just as Will's fish was coming aboard I had to grab my rod which leapt towards the side. I really believe that it would have gone in had I been any slower! Over the next two hours I followed it with a Sergeant Baker and a small snapper, both of which went back. Bird wise, I saw lots of shearwaters, almost certainly wedge-tailed, and two or three pomarine jaegers, some crested terns and silver gulls. We were not far enough offshore to get anything else. So that was it. Not much of a tally - 3 for me and 2 for Will. In my limited experience of boat fishing (2 Lundy Trips and 2 Skipness trips), this was a very poor day's fishing. Ah well it was fun. We returned to shore at about 1.30pm and I had an afternoon's baby sitting whilst Will and Tash went round to the new house to get on with some painting. Whilst we were fishing Di and Tash had taken the children to Nararra where, much to Ollie's delight, they all went for a ride on a miniature railway. Di did some shopping in the late afternoon and I made dinner. What did we eat? Why delicious fresh caught fish, of course! My mowie wouldn't fit under the grill so I used the barbecue. Di bought a couple of smoked trout to make up the quantity which we probably didn't need as the mowie was very meaty and gave us all a generous helping along with Will's snapper. We had steamed vegetables, including asparagus and broccoli as accompaniment.
Today was the day when I finally got my birthday present from Will and Tash. They had bought me a day on a fishing charter boat with "Central Coast Charters", but the company only ran the trips on Saturdays and today was the first availibility since my birthday at the end of October. We were up at the crack of dawn to get down to Ettalong jetty by 6 am. We duly did and we were motoring off by 6.30. There were about 12 people fishing from the boat which was easily able to take them. And I was so pleased that the seats faced the sea, being used to the boats back home which generally had a bench around the side so that you sat facing inwards and in order to fish you either had to stand or twist uncomfortably to drop your line over the side.
The weather was reasonable. It didn't rain, it wasn't too hot, or cold, or windy, there was a slight swell, but even so, the fishing was very slow. It was encouraging to see others catch something and very soon, a young man pulled up a large blue morwong or deep sea bream, known locally as a "mowie". Another man landed a "Sergeant Baker" which they threw back as apparently, they make poor eating. I watched as others brought in the occasional fish, including Will who landed a snapper which was just about large enough to bag.
We had been fishing for four hours before I finally connected and reeled in a mowie of my own. Will had another snapper on and I put down my rod to film the landing. Just as Will's fish was coming aboard I had to grab my rod which leapt towards the side. I really believe that it would have gone in had I been any slower! Over the next two hours I followed it with a Sergeant Baker and a small snapper, both of which went back. Bird wise, I saw lots of shearwaters, almost certainly wedge-tailed, and two or three pomarine jaegers, some crested terns and silver gulls. We were not far enough offshore to get anything else. So that was it. Not much of a tally - 3 for me and 2 for Will. In my limited experience of boat fishing (2 Lundy Trips and 2 Skipness trips), this was a very poor day's fishing. Ah well it was fun. We returned to shore at about 1.30pm and I had an afternoon's baby sitting whilst Will and Tash went round to the new house to get on with some painting. Whilst we were fishing Di and Tash had taken the children to Nararra where, much to Ollie's delight, they all went for a ride on a miniature railway. Di did some shopping in the late afternoon and I made dinner. What did we eat? Why delicious fresh caught fish, of course! My mowie wouldn't fit under the grill so I used the barbecue. Di bought a couple of smoked trout to make up the quantity which we probably didn't need as the mowie was very meaty and gave us all a generous helping along with Will's snapper. We had steamed vegetables, including asparagus and broccoli as accompaniment.
Friday 2nd December
Friday 2nd December
We did our last visit to the gym today. Di did Zumba, I used the gym and Ollie went in the creche. When we got home, Tash went round to the new house to get on with some painting. We stayed at home and babysat and did some housework. In the late afternoon, I relieved Tash and went back to the house with Will and did a couple of hours paint roller duty! Meanwhile Di prepared us a lovely chicken and cous-cous dinner.
We did our last visit to the gym today. Di did Zumba, I used the gym and Ollie went in the creche. When we got home, Tash went round to the new house to get on with some painting. We stayed at home and babysat and did some housework. In the late afternoon, I relieved Tash and went back to the house with Will and did a couple of hours paint roller duty! Meanwhile Di prepared us a lovely chicken and cous-cous dinner.
Wednesday, 7 December 2011
Thursday 1st December - Picasso exhibition
Thursday 1st December - Picasso
Di and I went to Sydney today. Di had seen an advert for special priced tickets for entry to an exhibition of Picasso artwork with lunch included and had bought us tickets on line. Will dropped us at Woy Woy station and we caught a train to Sydney Central where we had to change platform to catch another train down to the Museum of New South Wales where the Picasso Exhibition was on display. The museum is near the Opera House and just opposite the Botanic Gardens. We were there in about two hours and went straight into the exhibition. It was awesome; they had ten rooms of Picasso's works from all stages of his life. There were also extensive notes on the works and on his life choices. Jeez, the man got through some women! The paintings and sculptures all came from Paris where, we believe, the museum that normally holds them, is being refurbished. Getting round the exhibition took us about an hour and a quarter and then we went to the restaurant for lunch.
Lunch was in a airy room with views of the harbour. We both chose the same meal: scallops and a kind of black pudding followed by a fish course based on Spanish mackerel fillets. Spanish mackerel is a very different fish to our own version. It is much bigger and not so oily.. There was a free glass of white wine included. We resisted any extra courses or drinks, choosing instead to return to the art gallery and see some of the other exhibits before walking back to Central station via the Botanic Gardens. We had first been here in 2000 and had fond memories of a bat infested cafe. We were not disappointed as the trees all around the cafe in the lark were still thick with huge fruit bats that hang like mini Count Draculas with their wings folded around their bodies. When they open their wings they reveal an orange brown fur and a foxy little head with large ears. We sat and drank a coffee watching them and the cheeky currawongs and ibises which were quick to raid each table for left- overs when the customers departed. The ibises are not really suited to landing on small tables and they sent all manner of items including menus, cups and plates flying. We watched amused as concerned diners shooed the huge birds and grabbed breakables before they crashed to the floor.
Finally we took a leisurely stroll through the gardens and onto Circular Quai where we joined the usual crowds in the late afternoon sunshine before reaching Central Station and finding our platform for the journey back across the Hawksbury River to the Central Coast. The journey took exactly an hour and twenty minutes. Natasha was waiting to pick us up outside the station and drove us home to an evening of relaxation and dining with the family.
Di and I went to Sydney today. Di had seen an advert for special priced tickets for entry to an exhibition of Picasso artwork with lunch included and had bought us tickets on line. Will dropped us at Woy Woy station and we caught a train to Sydney Central where we had to change platform to catch another train down to the Museum of New South Wales where the Picasso Exhibition was on display. The museum is near the Opera House and just opposite the Botanic Gardens. We were there in about two hours and went straight into the exhibition. It was awesome; they had ten rooms of Picasso's works from all stages of his life. There were also extensive notes on the works and on his life choices. Jeez, the man got through some women! The paintings and sculptures all came from Paris where, we believe, the museum that normally holds them, is being refurbished. Getting round the exhibition took us about an hour and a quarter and then we went to the restaurant for lunch.
Lunch was in a airy room with views of the harbour. We both chose the same meal: scallops and a kind of black pudding followed by a fish course based on Spanish mackerel fillets. Spanish mackerel is a very different fish to our own version. It is much bigger and not so oily.. There was a free glass of white wine included. We resisted any extra courses or drinks, choosing instead to return to the art gallery and see some of the other exhibits before walking back to Central station via the Botanic Gardens. We had first been here in 2000 and had fond memories of a bat infested cafe. We were not disappointed as the trees all around the cafe in the lark were still thick with huge fruit bats that hang like mini Count Draculas with their wings folded around their bodies. When they open their wings they reveal an orange brown fur and a foxy little head with large ears. We sat and drank a coffee watching them and the cheeky currawongs and ibises which were quick to raid each table for left- overs when the customers departed. The ibises are not really suited to landing on small tables and they sent all manner of items including menus, cups and plates flying. We watched amused as concerned diners shooed the huge birds and grabbed breakables before they crashed to the floor.
Finally we took a leisurely stroll through the gardens and onto Circular Quai where we joined the usual crowds in the late afternoon sunshine before reaching Central Station and finding our platform for the journey back across the Hawksbury River to the Central Coast. The journey took exactly an hour and twenty minutes. Natasha was waiting to pick us up outside the station and drove us home to an evening of relaxation and dining with the family.
Wednesday, 30 November 2011
Wednesday 30th November - R and R, photo editing and possums.
Wednesday 30th November - Where was the rain?
I had been dreading today because the weather forecast was very clear: there was going to be TORRENTIAL rain all day today. Then it was downgraded yesterday to heavy rain. Today they said it would start in the late afternoon. It did. I counted the drops. About three! Not fair! Some folk do actually plan their week around weather forecasts!
Anyway, we pressed on regardless and Di and I took Ollie to play in the Leisure Centre creche whilst she did a yoga class and I happily sat in the cafe for two hours, drinking coffee and playing with my iPad. You will remember that today was a rest day for me because my stump was as sore as hell and I have to recover before an expensive trip to Sydney tomorrow. Will worked on his accounts and specs at home for most of today.
We returned home at about 1pm and I walked down to the high street with Tash to buy some lunch. The Chinese coffee shop does some awesome pork rolls so we thought we'd give them a try. I watched, fascinated as a lady buttered a large bap, added pork pate, two slices of pork luncheon meat or similar, several slices of roast pork, various types of salad, pieces of chilli, soy sauce, mayo and then managed to get the top on and slide the whole thing into a paper bag. They charge 4 dollars fifty for this delicacy. They are, needless to say, very popular round here.
During lunch Will spotted a furry beast in the garden and I grabbed a camera to get some half decent shots of a really cute possum in the backyard. He disappeared into the eaves of next doors' shed which is presumably where he lives. Fancy that! A possum there all that time and I never knew!
After lunch, I set-to, editing Steve's photos and at about 3 pm, Tash and Will had finished with their computer and I had access to a proper Photoshop program so I could choose the best shots, crop, straighten, improve contrast, remove offending objects and even people and generally make a mockery of that old adage, "The camera never lies". They went off, Will to work and Tash to the new house leaving me to work on the photos and Di to manage the children. Well, in fact, I did have a couple of cuddle breaks with Toby and a session of catch practice with Ollie in the garden. I finished at around seven and had dinner with the family but even then I spent several more hours arranging the files, burning discs and writing letters of explanation. Will will deliver the finished project to Steve tomorrow when Di and I will be getting some culture in the National Museum of New South Wales, in Sydney. As I finish this, at around 01.00am on 1st December, the rain is starting to fall at last and is pitter-pattering outside my window. I wonder how our little possum is coping?
I had been dreading today because the weather forecast was very clear: there was going to be TORRENTIAL rain all day today. Then it was downgraded yesterday to heavy rain. Today they said it would start in the late afternoon. It did. I counted the drops. About three! Not fair! Some folk do actually plan their week around weather forecasts!
Anyway, we pressed on regardless and Di and I took Ollie to play in the Leisure Centre creche whilst she did a yoga class and I happily sat in the cafe for two hours, drinking coffee and playing with my iPad. You will remember that today was a rest day for me because my stump was as sore as hell and I have to recover before an expensive trip to Sydney tomorrow. Will worked on his accounts and specs at home for most of today.
We returned home at about 1pm and I walked down to the high street with Tash to buy some lunch. The Chinese coffee shop does some awesome pork rolls so we thought we'd give them a try. I watched, fascinated as a lady buttered a large bap, added pork pate, two slices of pork luncheon meat or similar, several slices of roast pork, various types of salad, pieces of chilli, soy sauce, mayo and then managed to get the top on and slide the whole thing into a paper bag. They charge 4 dollars fifty for this delicacy. They are, needless to say, very popular round here.
During lunch Will spotted a furry beast in the garden and I grabbed a camera to get some half decent shots of a really cute possum in the backyard. He disappeared into the eaves of next doors' shed which is presumably where he lives. Fancy that! A possum there all that time and I never knew!
After lunch, I set-to, editing Steve's photos and at about 3 pm, Tash and Will had finished with their computer and I had access to a proper Photoshop program so I could choose the best shots, crop, straighten, improve contrast, remove offending objects and even people and generally make a mockery of that old adage, "The camera never lies". They went off, Will to work and Tash to the new house leaving me to work on the photos and Di to manage the children. Well, in fact, I did have a couple of cuddle breaks with Toby and a session of catch practice with Ollie in the garden. I finished at around seven and had dinner with the family but even then I spent several more hours arranging the files, burning discs and writing letters of explanation. Will will deliver the finished project to Steve tomorrow when Di and I will be getting some culture in the National Museum of New South Wales, in Sydney. As I finish this, at around 01.00am on 1st December, the rain is starting to fall at last and is pitter-pattering outside my window. I wonder how our little possum is coping?
Tuesday 29th November - taking photos for MudgeCorp
Tuesday 29th November
After breakfast we drove Tash, Ollie and Toby to the Leisure Centre and then set the SATNAV for the address in Ourimba where we were to pick up the tripod from a couple called Frank and Janet. It took us about half an hour to get there. It was a beautiful location along a remote lane. The owners had 15 acres which included a magnificent lily pond which Janet showed us. She had huge Koi carp and swamp hens walked on the lily pads. We handed over the thirty dollars and then reset the SATNAV for Steve's office in Gosford.
We arrived there at about 11.45 and I went in to be met by Steve's secretary Melanie who made me a cup of tea and gave me a bowl of nuts to browse while I waited. Melanie asked me to photograph the reception area. Then Steve asked me to photograph the office team.
After about half an hour, Steve took me off in his car to photograph various buildings including a sports pavilion and several private houses in the Central Coast area. We ended up at one built on the side of a very steep slope in Avoca Beach. Here I waited for about half an hour until all Steve's workers arrived to have a group photo standing behind the MudgeCorp banner on the scaffolding.
Steve then drove me to an art gallery near his house and I joined Mia, Di, Tash, Ollie, Toby and Mia and Steve's kids Casper and Frida in a lovely Japanese garden complete with Koi ponds, bridges and pagoda-style roofs. Ollie was naughty and was told off several times because he has a pathological need to throw stones into water. Here there was a formal elegant beach made from large granite chippings and a huge pond full of large and expensive Koi carp. He became like an automaton, a voice in his head screamed no, we screamed no, we threatened, cajoled but his body was in the grip of higher power and as soon as you released him, he stooped, grabbed and swung. We grimaced as sharp stones plopped into the midst of tightly packed Koi. Luckily no harm was done and we headed back to Mia's house which was only about 100 m away. We sat in Mia's kitchen chatting and snacking on crisp bread and feta cheese. Casper showed me his Swedish bird book. I was totally impressed. It had about 100 common birds with photos and descriptions but also a sound module which played each bird's song.
I got home that day with a very sore leg (the stump this time) and determined that I would take it very easy tomorrow as we are going to a Picasso exhibition in Sydney on Thursday and I need to rest it.
After breakfast we drove Tash, Ollie and Toby to the Leisure Centre and then set the SATNAV for the address in Ourimba where we were to pick up the tripod from a couple called Frank and Janet. It took us about half an hour to get there. It was a beautiful location along a remote lane. The owners had 15 acres which included a magnificent lily pond which Janet showed us. She had huge Koi carp and swamp hens walked on the lily pads. We handed over the thirty dollars and then reset the SATNAV for Steve's office in Gosford.
We arrived there at about 11.45 and I went in to be met by Steve's secretary Melanie who made me a cup of tea and gave me a bowl of nuts to browse while I waited. Melanie asked me to photograph the reception area. Then Steve asked me to photograph the office team.
After about half an hour, Steve took me off in his car to photograph various buildings including a sports pavilion and several private houses in the Central Coast area. We ended up at one built on the side of a very steep slope in Avoca Beach. Here I waited for about half an hour until all Steve's workers arrived to have a group photo standing behind the MudgeCorp banner on the scaffolding.
Steve then drove me to an art gallery near his house and I joined Mia, Di, Tash, Ollie, Toby and Mia and Steve's kids Casper and Frida in a lovely Japanese garden complete with Koi ponds, bridges and pagoda-style roofs. Ollie was naughty and was told off several times because he has a pathological need to throw stones into water. Here there was a formal elegant beach made from large granite chippings and a huge pond full of large and expensive Koi carp. He became like an automaton, a voice in his head screamed no, we screamed no, we threatened, cajoled but his body was in the grip of higher power and as soon as you released him, he stooped, grabbed and swung. We grimaced as sharp stones plopped into the midst of tightly packed Koi. Luckily no harm was done and we headed back to Mia's house which was only about 100 m away. We sat in Mia's kitchen chatting and snacking on crisp bread and feta cheese. Casper showed me his Swedish bird book. I was totally impressed. It had about 100 common birds with photos and descriptions but also a sound module which played each bird's song.
I got home that day with a very sore leg (the stump this time) and determined that I would take it very easy tomorrow as we are going to a Picasso exhibition in Sydney on Thursday and I need to rest it.
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