Nearly There

The Spirit of Tasmania has much to recommend it from various eateries, gift shops, a cinema, casino, and various other services and forms of entertainment. Honestly couldn't tell you about any of them. I drove my car on- board, found my seat and effectively went to sleep. I did stir when be left Melbourne and again somewhere in the middle of the night when I thought about how very dark it was (with the exception of the ship's lights) and then didn't stir again until the lights came on about 5.30 am as we weren't far off docking.

From there I waited my turn, drove off the ship, followed the big green signs and was off.

Functional - yes. Comfortable - yes. Anything else - couldn't possibly say.

Maybe when I go on it next time I will get to appreciate a bit more of on-board life.

Food and Eating When Not Lcoal

For all of my soapboxing about food when I am at home, I fully concede that the rules don't apply when on the road.

When I was in Western Australia a cheese sausage was a usual option. Nutritional value: zero. Ability to be called food:  well doubtful at best. Would I ever eat one in any other circumstances - hell no!

And then there was the sausage rolls from the Williams Roadhouse (southern roadhouse not the one oat the northern end of town). Homemade, huge, filled with real meat and flavor. Nutritional value: zero. Caloric value: calories don't count when you are on the road.

In New South Wales I discovered the joys of "Service Centres" which are a collection of fast food outlets, a fuel station, toilets and sometimes even a shower randomly placed down the highways (being that most towns are by-passed these days).  And it is in these havens of celebrations to all things wrong with the world that I have discovered my lastest road food - Subway. Nothing organic, nothing local or free-range, just a multi-national doing its job.

And I make no excuses for my indulgence - my choice of sandwich has been the pizza (hold the marinara sauce) fresh with swiss cheese, all the salads including jalepenos, salt and pepper and chipotle sauce. I know salami and chipotle make no sense but that is one of the joys of road food.

I am A Lousy Tourist

I am surrounded by beautiful villages and towns, wineries, eccentric architecture (yes the house pictured is in Warburton) and hundreds of otehr things to see and do but what do I choose? People watching :-)

Yes I am taking great pleasure in just people watching. There are no "extremes" (like Bellingen's bath-mat man) that I have seen today but I have certainly seen a wide range of ages, stages and cultures and that always pleases me when I am in the country.

Ironically, before I moved to Bellingen I would have described a few that I have seen today as having "alternate dress" but now they don't even rate a mention.

And just for the record, I did see a massie 'fro but no dreads.

Image: "Eccentric Artists Home" by DarrenClarke

The Yarra Valley, Warburton and Fire

2009 was a bad year for bushfires in Victoria, specifically around the Yarra Valley. I didn't live there but did work at the time for Centrelink, Australia's social services agency, and was a part of the team that had, as its job, to contact everyone in the area.

Now some people contacted us - there were specific hotlines set up - the rest we did our best to call. As well as the $2000 emergency payment that most were eligible for, we also checked if they had other needs that we could assist with.

 For some it was assistance with food or clothes (millions of dollars (and tons) of items were being donated from across Australia and trucked into the area) , others wanted to find out if such-and-such was okay, or to find somewhere to say. We did our best to put them in contact with relevant NGOs and other agencies. We (Centrelink) also offered counsellors but mostly people just wanted to talk and talk they did.  I blogged some of them at the time.

It was hard, it was gruelling, at times I shed many a tear as the person on the other end of the line did the same. I went home and dreamed of their stories. This went on for weeks. The first anniversary commemorations on the radio and tv bought it all back and the nightmares started over again. I avoided all of the following years' commentaries.

I was thinking of none of this when coming down the highway last Friday. That was until I spied a big green sign that had an arrow to Flowerdale, one  of the affected towns. I hadn't realised I was so close, or that I was staying "in the zone".

Even now four years later there is evidence in the area of the destruction brought on by those fires. Yes there is a lot of regrowth in the forests, the towns appear to have been rebuilt and, on Good Friday, were particularly vibrant and active but I could see the scars of blackened tree trucks. My anxiety levels were up and I was on alert for the whole drive to where I was staying.

Warburton was one of the towns on the edge of the disaster. Relatively it was untouched but only becuase of a late change of wind,.

Warburton is an amazing community - full of art and life and color. Looking out of the window of where I am staying, or at any of the many many trees growing throughout the townships brings me the sense of delight that trees invariably do.

But if I look up at the mountain, heavily forested with trees, I can only "see" flames consuming it, my hands sweat, my breath quickens, my blood pressure rises, tears well up and I feel very unsafe.I can hear the stories as loudly as I could on the day of the calls

I have lived at the foot of the tree covered mountains around Bellingen for 7 years and never had this reaction. I sit and imagine now the Bello mountains and I feel happy thoughts, the same reaction as they always. It isn't "mountains" that distress me, it is these mountains.

I know this is the first time I have been to the area - either before or after the fires. What I wonder is that if I am having this reaction from my peripheral contact, how is the healing process going for everyone else who was directly affected.

Give me floods over fire any day.

PS I write this up from the safety of Tassie - I handwrote bits as I was traveling but now I have my first solid computer time. Even as I type my anxiety levels are up and I am weeping.


Image: "Bushfire near Kinglake" from Science In Public

Bye Bye Bellofoodbox

My beloved bellofoodbox has been a huge part of my life for the last year or two. Just a little background - it was started by a devoted band of volunteers to help promote the quality, affordable produce (with a preference for spray free or organic) that was grown locally (within 100 miles of Bellingen) for economic, social and environmental reasons. Since it started off, the success of buying local has been pretty incredible - instead of two and a half local outlets there are now six or seven and it was decided by the committee that bellofoodbox would best be operated by the Bellingen Green Grocer.

All in all this a great decision - BGG operates with similar ethics to bellofoodbox, has agreed to keep the markups the same (to ensure that the fruit and veg is really affordable), and being an actual shop front it will allow clients to either top up the produce in their boxes or to buy other local, sustainable products like milk or to just get a yummy juice. The down side (and the only one) is that they super little band of volunteers and our team leader Leigh, are going our separate ways so far as Wednesday afternoons are concerned.

So today was our last day all together. Which corresponded with my last day in town so it was bittersweet. Having said that, there was much laughter to be had. There was the usual pick of one or two strangely shaped items of produce - this one was an emoticon apple - turned up one way it had a huge smile, up the other was a sad face (no photo of that one, there are lots of weird fruit and vegetable shots out there), there was the inventive use of a damaged apple to  create an incense holder and open particular conversation the contents of which can't be posted here. There was also a couple of birthdays to celebrate. And that doesn't even include our incredible customers that come bouncing in to collect their bounty with a happy face, an interesting story or a quick joke.

On the downside, it was our last day together. While we work incredibly well together, in all circumstances, we are a disparate little group that don't usually see each other anywhere else - except random moments when driving around town followed by wild waves out a window which the other person may or may not see.

I know I am going to Tasmania so this would have been my last day anyway. I know that the changes are really, really good for the project. But, as I said, it was a bittersweet day.

When I announced I would be travelling south it was mentioned, as a throw away comment, that I need to start my own foodbox program in Tasmania. If it could be half as good as the experience I have had with our local one, I would be made not to.

So thank you, best of luck and farewell bellofoodbox and all who have sailed with here xx

The Car Shrunk

Bellingen is an amazing little town when it comes to weather - it gets more than its fair share of floods, the moisture of the floods and the inevitable sub-tropical sunshine afterwards can produce a wide range of molds and fungi, there are heavy mists that rest in the gullies and lift in finger-live tendrils as then day warms up. And most magic of all happened last night when I parked my car on the road instead of under

the carport and it shrunk. Well that is my story and I am sticking to it!

You can see by the photos that there should be plenty of room for my little piles in the back of a Hyundai Accent - or there would have been if it hadn't shrunk! Oh, and there is the desktop computer and associated hardware as well lol.

Okay, so maybe my spacial awareness is a little wanting, or a little optimistic. Either way it was time for cull number 4 of what I am defining as important to take with me. Which I did technically have a whole morning to do but decided to avail myself of the local hospitality and to have the opportunity of a drinkie after bellofoodbox and stay one more night and take off on Thursday so I have even more time :-)

Adventure now starts tomorrow instead of tonight.

PS: Please forgive my screwy use of tense in this post, I have been drafting it all day in my head and plans have changed but the mental editing didn't always lol

Going for a Little Drive

Life sometimes throws you a curve ball and I am going to smack this latest one out of the park .... all the way down south to Tasmania.

I leave on Wednesday. The cleaner has been, the carpets have been cleaned, the car has been cleaned and checked, the books have been rehomed, the going away party has been held ....  and my living room still has waaaaay to much stuff in it.

My mantra for the past few weeks has been: if it doesn't fit in the car it isn't coming. Then, when I realised I would be back this way in October I have made some concessions and have taken up an offer by a wonderful woman to store a few things with her.

I thought I had pretty much done my cull but there is still to much for my little car, now I shall be doing my secondary cull. Okay so maybe I don't need 12 sarongs but .... sigh ....

I'll Meet You There

I look to the future because that's where I am going to spend the rest of my life.

George Burns

Photo: "Happy Happy Joy Joy" by x-muse

The World Isn't Flat

Taken from the airplane on the way to Perth.

I'll Wilt!

The forecast for Perth this week:

Tuesday    Sunny.  Min 12     Max 30
Wednesday  Sunny.  Min 15     Max 35
Thursday   Sunny.  Min 19     Max 36
Friday     Sunny.  Min 19     Max 35
Saturday   Very hot. Sunny.   Min 19     Max 39
Sunday     Very hot. Sunny.   Min 21     Max 42

Aaaarrrghhh! Okay so I will actually only be in Perth for Wednesday and start heading south on Thursday but you have got to be kidding!!!!

Photo: "Three Years" by orbatid

New Challenge

I began writing my next book last night. Not as part of the November challenge but just because I am ready. I am looing at publishing 10 copies (give or take).

I will let you know how I am going as things progress.




Photo: "the novel" by TanPen

Yep, I Did It

I have enrolled in my BA (Literature). I don't actually start studying officially until June but there are some novels I can read in the interim. I am going to try and do two units each session (four sessions in a year) which apparently translates through to a full course load. See how it goes, as I am just doing this for fun, there would be no problems in dropping it down to one if it all gets a bit too much :-)

I must have progressed in my personal growth this year becuase even the vague thought of studying used to send my blood pressure soaring and the possibility of a genuine panic attack being imminent. Now all I feel is excitement.

Photo: "Real Student Life" by lesleyx

What Happens to a Dream Deferred?

On my list of things to do in life is get a BA in Literature - I actually got accepted into UWA when I finished high school but deferred for a year and ... well it more of a luxury choice than something "practical" so that was the end of that.

Up until now - while I was having a quick break from the workload last night I stumbled across a BA that I can do externally - and not only can I major in Literature, but I can pick up other units in sociology, politics, history or art. Most of the course is through Griffith University (I have heard of them but I don't know much about them but how bad can they be lol). And I can take up to 10 years to complete it.

Now that I have been addressing my "fear of failure" is this a golden opportunity that has landed in my lap at the right time? Is this the chance to live a dream for no other practical reason than "I want to"?

Guess Who is Coming to America?

Dance dance dance :-)

Yes I am pleased to officially announce that I am going to America. Yippee!!!

To back-track just a moment, I did plan a big 6 week trip in January/February this year catching up with Miss Weasley and family, meeting my penpal Rob and his family and dropping by our own Pita but all of that had to be shelved if I took this current job. Now it was a big choice but the old work-place is so toxic and I was being "targetted for removal" so it was a chocie I had to make.

This trip won't be my six week spectacular - I will spend about 6 days on Obama-scented soil and that will be in Dallas with Miss Weasley and the kiddlies who are no longer kiddlies. The big trip will have to be next year :-)

In any case, dance dance dance ... this will be my first overseas trip and a huge step out of my comfort zone but dance dance dance ... I am going to America :-)

More Tattoos

I have started work on the right foot now - and I must admit I am very pleased with the results. I think three more sessions and I will have both feet finished - which means the tattoo adventure will end. Unless of course I find somewhere else that won't wrinkle much as I age, can be covered and I can see it .... hmmmm ....

Just a note: I used my birthday money for this one based on not being able to find a bookcase I liked (and was willing to buy), not being able to find a new bear and a tattoo is permanent and something I really wanted.

Extra note: I am having problem with swollen feet recently so they are swollen for reasons other than the tattoo :-)

What A Day!

My last full day of holidays and it has been awesome :-)

I dropped into work to check the roster and ended up saying hi to the lovelies - and meeting the new faces, found that one has been fading away to a shadow without my cooking (his story). Very exciting.

I have organized my new glasses - not the ones I posted though. To be honest they were a bit 'not me' to I found some which are still funky, but a bit more "Pearly". And I got two pairs (including lenses) for less than the price of one of the frames that I had photographed.

I have collected this fortnight's books - incredible bonus books this time (again).

And then I went and got stage two done on my tattoo - yes now I have "passion" with little flowers around. And I figured that some colorful flowers would be just fine but James made them into regular little works of art as well!!

So where are the photos I hear you ask? Well they are coming (yes I left the camera at home - doh!) but I should have the books out of the car by tomorrow, I am hoping to be able to pick up the glasses on Wednesday and the foot should look clean and perfect in a few days. So photos will appear in due course on that rough time line.

Talk about ending on a blast :-) So Mountaingirl is not only dancing, but she is dancing int he rain! A perfect way to finish the day.

Photo: "Big Mamma" by ingrids

A Passionate Moment

My left foot has had a particularly incredible day.

Firstly, my new toe ring turned up yesterday so the middle toe is no longer naked - never a good idea to have naked toes, especially in winter :-)

And then I got my tattoo!! Yippee, dance, dance, dance.

Now my foot is neither bruised nor dirty (and I now realize I desperately need a pedicure) it is just the ink from the tattoo process. I can't wash it for a few days but the excess stuff will all come off in due course.

I forgot to ask James (yes I think I can now be on first name terms with the man) to start with the 'P' just in case I wanted to chicken out but I was pleasantly surprised with the pain level. I would generally describe it as being irritating but not actually hurting. Admittedly when he did the 'P' at one point it felt like I was having an injection (but not a needle in the foot - pain level similar to getting a needle in the arm) but that wasn't really worth worrying about at all. And since then, nothing - no aching, no pain at all.

So my foot is doing a happy dance and I am now trying to come up with a word to go on the right foot ... and then there are the daisies and then ... well that should take me up until Christmas so I will make further plans then lol.

Blissful Day

Some days are just worth remembering forever. Today was one of them.

I started off in Coffs Harbour - I even spent a little money on myself (I treated myself to new pyjamas and 2 new bras - yes I live on the wild side).

I then picked up my Booking Sunday books. I paid for a box and a half of them but have walked away (including bonus books) with 5 boxes so it will take a while to get them all out of the car.

I then met up with the gorgeous Abbey. We chatted at the beautician, had coffee (I had my first chai latte - most delicious), got my tattoo, returned for another coffee, visited the local gallery and then headed back Coffs way, stopping in at the Lake Russell Gallery.

We laughed, we chatted, we admired art (and we figured out we don't have a lot in common in that area - and it doesn't matter lol) ... it was just beautiful. The weather was a cloudless blue winter's day. The company was divine. A lovely girls day out :-)

PS: The photo is taken in the grounds of the Lake Russell Gallery.

Mudcake Magic

Now to me a real mudcake is a dense chocolate cake with a layer of 'mud'. The mud is not frosting, cream or even ganache. The closest way to describe it is a variation on a mousse.

Anyway, soon after the cake hit the Australian shores the mud disappeared ... well for most cafes it never actually appeared which was the easy and logical option for those playing to what I considered to be the uninformed public.

I was in Nambucca today and, having some time on my side, I treated myself to another coffee and cake. Yes that is two times in two weeks - what is the world coming to? lol

I risked it all and ordered the Lindt's mudcake (yes I know it isn't slave-free chocolate but it was the choice I made anyway).

I waited at the corner table on the deck directly overlooking the river, today's newspaper keeping me occupied for the few minutes it took for my order to arrive.

Of all the days to forget the camera! This was a dish so well presented it could have been served to royalty or Gordon Ramsey!

The perfectly proportioned slice was placed in the centre of a large white plate. One one side was a fluff of real cream topped with a butterflied strawberry. On the other, strawberry coulis was gracefully swirled over the white surface. A very gentle dusting of icing sugar was the final touch.

I would have been happy to stop there - content that my money had been well spent but that was never really going to happen.

I took a bite and my mouth found heaven. The warmed cake looked like a cake but was less 'cakey' and more of a mousse - yes this was the glorious return of the mud. And what mouth-watering mud it was. Tastebuds swooned while visions of sugar-plum-fairies danced in my head.

All of this, the river, a gentle breeze, pelicans and a most acceptable coffee for the grand total of $9.

Does life get any better?

Black Dog Days

The black dog (no, not Chelsea lol) has been chasing me for a few days now and I am almost willing to concede to has caught me but before I do I thought I might start being a bit more proactive in keeping him at bay.

I stopped in town this morning to do a couple of things and found that in one store I would have a wait of about 20 minutes before my transaction could be completed. I decided to invest that time in me and went a few doors down to a lovely coffee shop. I treated myself to a long black and a piece of cake - something I just never do.

While ordering I noticed that they had new artwork on the wall (they obviously promote local artists on a rotating basis) and again I thought to myself that my stuff was just so much better. Being in proactive frame of mind, I asked my service person how the artwork was chosen. To cut a long story short I now have an invitation to bring my portfolio in to see the boss on Monday.

Now we are still struggling to get photos of the paintings so I don't actually have a portfolio yet but I figured I would drop by, in between naps, and, putting on my best front, have a chat with the boss and invite him for a personalized viewing of the actual works - and yes I will even bake cookies and bring out the 'good' coffee.

It has given me a boost, it is being proactive (both for me and my art) and you never know, it might just work :-)