Flight of Dragons ?

I am used to Predawn noise in the street - Rubbish Collections, The Bus rumbling past, even the Neighbour leaving for an early morning call out.

But today it was different - A Roaring Noise from Above which HAD to be investigated!

While I was eagerly trying to snap photos on my Phone (and berating myself that my Canon with it's telephoto lens is packed away), another Balloon snuck up from behind.
Only alerting me to it's presence by the roar of the Gas heating the canopy.

That made at least FIVE in today's Drift!

I wondered if the neighbour across the road had any idea there was a Balloon hiding behind their Chimney?

It is not the first time we have had Balloons in the area - normally we see them in the distance.

But in September 2006, they were so close and so low, we jumped in the car to see where they were going...

We were delighted to find them landing on the local Football Oval.

We happily chatted to friends who were also woken by the noise overhead, taking plenty of photos to show the sleepy-heads that stayed behind.

It was a Good start to the day!

(Maybe one day I will join them.)

Playing Tourist - DOCKLANDS

After Christmas in Australia is a great time to get Out and About.  Families have taken their Children to far away places for the School Holidays, (Possibly down the Beach) so everywhere else is fairly quiet.

Apheresis Plasma collection

It was with that in mind I decided to join (newly Retired DH) on his regular Fortnightly trip to The Blood Bank.

So while he rolled up his sleeves and Gave his Donation - I curled up in a Corner with a Cuppa and a Good Book and read for an hour.

Once that was over we went for a long walk and explored the other side of Southern Cross Train Station.

We walked across the Bridge and past MARVEL Stadium with it's fully close-able roof for all Weather Sport and Entertainment use.

It has had other names...
Colonial Stadium (2000–2002) Telstra Dome (2002–2009) and Etihad Stadium (2009–2018)

Regardless of what Badge it wears - To the Locals - 

It will always be known as "Docklands".

When I was working in the City in the early 1970's this was definitely NOT the place for a Young Lady to be wandering around!

Today it is Quite different!

With a LOT of work and re-development it is now "THE" Place to be.

Office HQs, Restaurants  and Luxury apartments sit on the edge of the Yarra River where once Ships unloaded their Cargo for the Town of Melbourne.

This week there is a Special Visitor moored at the Harbour -

The Sea Shepherd's Flagship, the MY "Steve Irwin." She has had many adventures, but is now is in town prior to being retired.

It was a beautiful day for a Walk and Walk we did!

All the way to the Melbourne Star and Back into the City, where we jumped on a Tram to the end of the line and walked home....

It was A LOT of steps...and all 13,121 of them in Heels!

2018 - The Year in Review

It seems that this has become a yearly ritual - to go back and look through my Blog, choosing just one stand out thing to represent each month of the year we have just experienced.

I find myself saying "WOW - Did I REALLY do all that in just one year?" And then I remember all the things I didn't write about. . . . . 

SO - Here's to 2018!

JANUARY

The year did not start too well with the loss of a beloved Friend to Suicide

and 12 months later we are still asking WHY?

Dr. Brad Stringer

FEBRUARY

All of February was spent making and remaking Flowers for a Wedding Cake.

MARCH

Not much to write about in March as I was ill for most of the month.

I felt like the past few years finally caught up with me.

But we did manage to do a bit of work in the Garden.

APRIL

"My Istanbul"
The applique quilt I made my DS and DDIL for their wedding
 was chosen to be displayed in the "Best of the Best" collection at the
Australian Quilt Convention


MAY
The Garden begged for some more attention.
A tidy up and new pot plants were added until
we can get into it more seriously come Spring.

JUNE
Another busy month which finished
with a lovely evening out at the Melbourne Recital Centre
and a stroll along the River at Southbank.

JULY
I mainly spent July in the Kitchen - baking
but the most memorable event was the
Total Lunar Eclipse

AUGUST
An International Visitor gives us the opportunity
to take a trip along what must be the most photographed road in Australia.
The Great Ocean Road and the 12 Apostles



SEPTEMBER
Another Loss - This time a Favourite Aunt

OCTOBER
Back to Quilting - Making a Start on
Arabic Tiles by Jinny Beyer

NOVEMBER
Living up to our 4 Seasons in a Day Weather
Showing Off My Melbourne
to my Friends from AL - USA

DECEMBER
Congratulations to finish the Year
DS#2's Engagement to his #1 -GF

AND Congratulations also to
DH - Who (after trying all year) has FINALLY been able to Retire!



What Will 2019 Hold?
Whatever it is - I Wish you all
a Happy New Year!

Seasons Greetings To All

Today started like most Days

Get up - Have a Cuppa Tea

Discuss what we want to do for the day

And then let the Day unfold on it's Own.

A Quick trip to the Cemetery to leave flowers for Loved ones that are no longer with us.  

Followed by a random decision to stop for Coffee - Just because the Coffee Shop was open on Christmas Morning. 

Read the newspaper (as you do) and came across a Thought Provoking Letter which was as challenging as any Sermon I could have sat through on this Day.

From there it was back home to Gifts under the Christmas Tree.

Lunch - which for the Second Year in a row, was High Tea instead of the Traditional Northern Hemisphere Fare.  

Much Better for a Hot Day.

Followed by the traditional "Everybody (except Mum) relaxes and snoozes off the meal" time. 

But then SOMEONE decided that 

They would like to go into the City (after Dinner when it is dark) so they can have a Selfie in front of the Christmas Tree.

"It's Not just ANY Christmas Tree.

It is Big and made out of Snowflakes!"

And we can make use of "Free transport Day" .

So Who am I to argue with such Logic?

And that is how I found myself at the end of Christmas Day on the Steps of St. Pauls Cathedral taking Photos of Flinders Street Rail Station all decked out in Christmas lights.

Just as well we "Let the Day unfold on It's Own"

Backyard Progress - -

Back in November I wondered if our Backyard Project would be finished by Christmas.

We have sanded and washed and plumbed and dug and moved stuff several times.

I have dangled precariously from scaffolding with paintbrush in hand while simultaneously holding a conversation with the neighbours curious grandchildren.

(Occasionally accepting help when vertigo threatened to under-mine the project.)

Last weekend we placed recycled House Bricks along the edge of what will become a new Pollinator Garden Bed beside the Garage and finally moved the soil off the path back to where it belongs.

So with great delight DH announced
"Hey - We almost have our backyard back!"

Hmmm - nice thought

but still a long way to go.

What do you think about connecting the paths that run into the Deck with some more bricks so those pot plants don't have to be moved when you mow?

A few more Bricks off the rubbish pile put to good use.  And it does look so much better,

Then there is still dirt to relocate up to the DDs nature strip (Oh THAT is another story!)

And a Garden to Plant.
And a Rubbish Pile to deal with.
And THEN and only Then we can talk to the neighbour about replacing that back fence!

Did we make our deadline?
Christmas Day is Tomorrow and the Backyard Project is "Finished Enough" for the immediate Family to Visit.
A few Pots in strategic places will "Make Look Good" and can be easily moved when we need to start the Next Project.

But That can wait until AFTER Christmas!

Thinking of You - Strasbourg

 

A year ago our Daughter has just wound up her Year at Strasbourg University.

She was so happy to stay a little longer to fulfil a long held dream of seeing the Christmas Markets.

Today Our Thoughts and Prayers are with this Beautiful City and Her People who were so Welcoming.

Argggh - It's December already

I do this every year - 

Every year December comes around EXACTLY when it should, 

so why does it 'sneak up' on us?

I can't get into the swing of the Festive Season until the last Birthday of the year is Past.
THAT happens on the 3rd December.
I spent all day Monday making Black Forest Birthday Cake - and when I was  finished I was too tired to cook Dinner....

Why? they ask, does She wait until the last minute to bake a Cake?

Unlike these Two who decided to watch Spring turn to Searing Summer through the back door - I had other things to do.

There was Christmas Break-up Lunch and Demonstration at Cake Decorators to attend.

I didn't feel like going but then I never do and once I am there I am glad I went.

It was a fun demonstration. Instructing us on making adorable figures for a Christmas Cake topper.

And then we had some Transport problems which started off with a Fire, which closed Sydney Road and the 19 Tram line for almost 24 hrs.

There was also an issue in the City Loop which stopped all trains going through at the same time a Sell-out Bon Jovi Concert finished.

Trams were packed and sometimes held up. (Note: If you are going to get yourself arrested - It would be greatly appreciated if you don't do it on the tram line!)

So why was it a problem for Us?

We were waiting up for that "Pick us up at the . . ." Call from DS#2 and his GF who were in the City on a Special Date.

Dinner, MSO Concert, Romantic walk along the River, Ice Cream and - a Proposal!

It was a VERY late night!

* * *

Ah Yes - It Is December already!