Hello Autumn

Well Autumn has arrived after a seemingly non existent Summer and nothing has really changed. We are still getting unprecedented rainfall and after months of rain there is literally nowhere for it to go. The ground is totally saturated meaning even a little shower can send it over the edge again. We are so squelchy underfoot and there is an unpleasant ‘rotting vegetation mixed with cow poo’ aroma wafting around the countryside. My garden is either loving it or hating it depending on which flower you’re talking to. Gardenias are happy chappies but my lavender is a dank black mess of drowned plants. The veggies turned their toes up early in the piece and even the roses are looking a bit sparse. Basically as soon as it’s dry enough I will be pulling out loads of plants and even more grass runners that have overtaken entire flower beds triffid style. Winter will hopefully give me an opportunity to get on top of things before we kick off again in September with Spring.

When the weather eventually breaks the local roads will finally be able to get the heavy machinery in to fix them. At the moment and for the next few weeks or maybe months you can only get to Kangaroo Valley from Berry with an escort. They meet you on the hour going into the valley and on the half hour leaving it and so far it seems to be working. As beautiful as KV is there is always a downside to being an enclosed valley and the road up to Bowral is also shut for at least 3 months meaning a long detour via Jamberoo or Macquarie Pass. Things change daily with landslides so there is no popping up to Bowral for a day pottering about the shops and having a nice lunch for a while yet.

We did have a reason to brave the weather and go to Sydney recently for the 1st birthday of our little Oliver. That first birthday is a special one and is as much a celebration of the parents making it through 12 months of night feeds, teething and new sleeping routines as it is getting to know a new little person, their likes and dislikes and seeing their emerging personality, the new dynamics of a family of four and the love between two brothers beginning what is hopefully a lifelong mateship. So it was that the two families and all the many little cousins came together on a rainy afternoon to celebrate and it was a wonderful few hours of craziness with a beautifully put together afternoon tea and fabulous cake courtesy of Livvy. It was a real labour of love as she had to hire a strong dehumidifier to stop the icing having a meltdown in all the rainy weather….talk about going the extra mile although as you can see the icing animals really made the cake so I can see why it was needed!

We all got to have some one on one time with little Ollie who thoroughly approved of the get together and especially the cake!

The MOTH finally got to catch up with his Melbourne based boss in Sydney and as an early 70th birthday treat they booked into Oncore by Claire Smythe, a restaurant on the 26th floor of the new Crown building at Barangaroo. She is an English 3 Michelin star chef and has bought her unique food to Australia. No foams and earphones here but a lot of intricate work and wonderful taste combinations according to the lucky birthday boy! In a lovely gesture they got a goody bag to take home containing a malted sourdough roll, home made butter and jam all beautifully wrapped and with heating instructions. The sourdough starter came out from the UK with the head chef Alan and is currently 20 years old! I love that they chose to give something so simple and last weekend I made a mushroom omelette for lunch and heated up my roll to accompany it. It was utterly delicious and that simple lunch was seriously one of the best things I’ve eaten in the past couple of years proving that simple things done well win every time!

We finally jagged an evening where it wasn’t pouring down to hold a pizza night to thank the neighbours for all their help when the MOTH had Covid. They were all so helpful and caring, even coming and mowing our lawns (not an insubstantial effort when you have 2 acres) and running to the chemist/supermarket or newsagency for us. We may only have 7 houses in our lane but they are full of good people and we count ourselves lucky every day to have such good neighbours. Here are the boys trying to solve the problems of the world over a few drinks with a tummy full of pizza!

I finally got brave enough to sign up for an art class! After my Mum and Sister bought me a watercolour workshop a few years ago which I thoroughly enjoyed, I have been looking for something similar and when I saw a local Kiama based artist that I like was running a class for 6 weeks I jumped at the chance. I had some money from my 60th (refunds from the Rod Stewart concert that got cancelled) put to one side for something special and this has proven to be just the ticket! Every Friday I pack up my bits and bobs and head to Kiama where we use the studio in the old stone coach house and I’ve learnt SO MUCH. The day whizzes by and I find myself totally immersed in it with no room to be thinking of anything else and I love it! Kerry is a very patient, encouraging and helpful teacher and the rest of the girls are so lovely too – I guess everyone starts somewhere but as they exhibit and sell their work you can just imagine that my paintings look like they have been done by a 5 year old in comparison to theirs!!!! http://www.kerrybruceart.com.au

The war in Ukraine continues to shock and sadden us as well as frighten us a bit. Putin is such a narcissistic egomaniac that he really could do anything at anytime – just because he can and to supposedly prove to the world what a big powerful man he is. However the majority of the world has sided with Ukraine which may be perceived to be the underdog but has shown the world what a strong, proud race they are and with their fearless leader in the trenches with them seemingly capable of small miracles against the might of the Russian army who are becoming increasingly disillusioned and more aware of the true reality of the situation as they leave the confines of the Russian media currently brainwashing the ordinary Russian folk. It is all so sad and unnecessary and such an immense waste of life, livelihoods and cities….