How can a 2 hour 40 minute plane flight change things so much? We left Venice on a stormy 31 degree day and landed to a chilly 19 degrees and a decidedly Autumnal feel in the air. Everyone spoke English (well sort of) and there was a familiarity and sense of solidarity that came from being back in the UK. We picked up our hire car at the airport and headed off to adventure. This is where things came a little unstuck. No internet meant no GPS and despite advice that “you can’t go wrong – just follow the A90” we did actually go wrong and got completely lost. The A90 goes on forever and splits off in various places so not as easy as we first thought. Add to the fact it was getting dark and we were REALLY eager to just get there. We stopped people the old fashioned way to ask for directions and eventually found our street. Pulling over at a bit of an awkward angle to try and see the numbers meant we had to reverse out into the traffic and this is when things got silly. We couldn’t find reverse. Literally. The MOTH had specifically requested a manual for his driving holiday and as he often hires one in Oz I wasn’t concerned. Until now. We tried pushing the gearstick down and lifting it up. For at least 15 minutes. I nipped into a gym and harangued the poor bloke at the desk to look the car up on google to see how it worked but no luck. In the end we switched on our phone and our overseas charges and rang the hire company who explained there was a little knob at the top of the stick that came up separately from the rest and BINGO we were in business. Needless to say by the time we checked in we were completely wrung out and desperately needed dinner and wine! We looked for a pub but they all seemed to be full of large groups of guys on a mission so we took refuge in a local bistro and filled up on carbs until all was well with our world again. A quick trip to Tesco to get an internet bundle for our phone made us feel much more relaxed for tomorrow’s drive out of Edinburgh and we slept like babies.

Little did we know the bundle hadn’t actually been activated and we would run out of mobile data within hours and even after various top ups it never did work leaving us at the whim of public wifi and sporadic connectivity for 12 days. We had thought before leaving Australia that it would be good to disconnect from our phones a bit but it turns out we really needed it for almost everything and I will most definitely ALWAYS buy a local sim from now on when overseas for any length of time. Luckily the NC500 road is well signed and you can’t go too wrong once you’re out of Edinburgh. Our first stop was Culloden – where the final battle of the Jacobite uprising in 1745 went horribly wrong and 1500 men were killed in an hour at the hands of the British. Drummossie Moor looks relatively tame nowadays but was a total bog on that fateful day and the best laid plans of the Jacobites were foiled. There are some ancient clan stones depicting mass burial graves of Camerons and Campbells etc and it really brought home how hard things must have been there back in the day and just how tough The Scots were. A very interesting and moving afternoon for my very own Cameron man.

From there we drove up the coast to Dornoch and our lovely hotel for the night – Links House – located on the doorstep of the Royal Dornoch Golf Club. The hotel was hosting a large group of golf mad Americans whose plans were turned upside down with the death of Queen Elizabeth and her planned funeral. This meant everything was shut – either for the day or for a few days depending on the Royal connections. For us it meant we couldn’t visit the Glenmorangie Distillery or Dornoch Castle as planned but we couldn’t have chosen a nicer place to be to watch the funeral on TV. Our car had a flat battery so whilst waiting for the cavalry we holed up in their library soaking up all the pomp and pageantry of what was a very special moment in British history. For me it was a gift as I was finally in the right time zone to feel properly immersed. The whole day was so well executed from the solemnity of a lone bagpiper to the splendour of the gun salutes ricocheting around the country. The whole day was timed to 80 on the metronome apparently – a beat to march to and one I continued to hear in my head for a few days afterwards. The local shops all had little tributes to Her Maj in their windows with many references to Paddington Bear, marmalade, corgis, horses and various other quirky meaningful things which I found very sweet and rather comforting.

With our car back on track we headed North to Thurso and the beautiful Forss House. En route we stopped in Wick to have a tour around the Pulteney whisky distillery which was fascinating and even though I was sure I hated whisky, the tasting surprised me and as it turns out I am actually a fan of the whiskies that are aged in sherry casks! We also learned that a bottle of whisky bottled 20 years ago is no older than when it was bottled – they can only develop and age when they are in barrels so keeping a bottle for years does not change it like a wine does.

We had the obligatory stop at John O’Groats for a photo and we swerved by the Castle of Mey which used to be the holiday home of The Queen Mother – still shut due to the funeral – arriving in Thurso to a beautiful bedroom and extraordinary bathroom complete with a freestanding copper bath! Lots of fishing tack and flies and a crazy clock wall on the stairs all helped contribute to this hotel’s country charms. The gardens were lovely and breakfast was fit for a King. The Full Scottish is something I literally couldn’t deal with – replete with haggis, black pudding, sausage, bacon, eggs, mushies, beans, potatoes, toast and tea it was just too much (the MOTH had a valiant attempt of course) but I really loved the local Scottish salmon and also the traditional Scottish porridge drizzled with honey. We had to whittle our meals down to 2 a day and breakfast and dinner became the pattern over the next week keeping things a bit more manageable and a remote chance that our jeans might still fit us at the end of our holiday.

The next segment of our road trip was spectacular. The wilder west side of the highlands is truly magnificent. The sort of views that incur a swift intake of breath when you round a corner and see it stretching endlessly in front of you in every direction. Every loch was surrounded by green hills, purple heather and orange gorse and the blue skies did nothing to detract from it. Sheep dotted the land and occasionally tumbled onto the roadside as they searched for some juicy morsels. Goodness knows how they ever round them up as they straggle far and wide over the countryside which in bad weather would be very harsh country I imagine. We stayed tonight in one of our favourite places of the trip – The Scourie Hotel. Initial impressions of the village weren’t the best. The local pub had shut two weeks previously and there was literally nothing there except a small village shop where we bought a packet of crisps and spent 2 hours in our car reading until the hotel opened!!! Many other travellers were in the same position and we were just super lucky that we were booked into the hotel which was the only place within cooeee to get dinner that night! Our room was delightful and the hotel so cosy with wood fires burning and groups of avid trout fishermen walking in with their waders and their day’s catch – all discussing the merits of their day and full of conversation…a very convivial atmosphere and a delicious dinner to boot!

We decided to have a night in an old fashioned hunting lodge. Shieldaig lodge in Gaerloch was gorgeous – set in a 26000 acre estate tucked away down a meandering road adjoining the bay it had a tranquility that comes from having been there since the early 19th century. This means it also has decidedly dodgy wifi and some dubious plumbing but the views from the beautiful bay windows made it all worthwhile! They also have a falconry and archery section at The Estate with a mixture of owls, buzzards, falcons, hawks and eagles to hang out with. We had booked a time to fly some of these majestic creatures but realised if we wanted to make it to The Cameron Museum in time we couldn’t do both so sadly the falconry got cancelled but there was a real sense of old school timelessness at this hotel which made us very relaxed.

The next day we headed off to Fort William and Cameron Country. One of the main reasons for this road trip was to discover The Cameron Museum and find out some more of the history of our family which originates from the area. The MOTH apparently felt an affinity immediately and had a sense of belonging, so it was worth it! The museum was a long way up into the hills situated just 15 miles north-east of Fort William, this is the ancestral home of the Chiefs of Clan Cameron, whose members have lived in the Lochaber area for around 700 years. Achnacarry Castle, the ancestral home of the chiefs of Clan Cameron, was crucial to the allied campaign against the Axis powers during WW2. The castle was used to train elite commandos from Britain and the US as well as France, the Netherlands, Norway, Czechoslovakia, Poland and Belgium from 1942 to 1945. More than 25,000 men passed through Achnacarry from when the commando centre opened in 1942 and until it closed in 1946. Many Commandos still see Achnacarry as a spiritual home; just as it always is for those, from any corner of the earth, who proudly bear the name Cameron.

The MOTH also felt an affinity with the local pub and the Friday night dart competition where he “had to rest his knee” while I went off to explore part of the 100 km long Caledonian Canal which connects the Scottish East coast at Inverness to the west coast in Corpach near Fort William.  There are 29 locks, four aqueducts and 10 bridges in the course of the canal. It was quite a busy little place and made for a very pleasant walk in the afternoon sunshine. The darts competition was going off when I returned and a couple of burgers, some chippies and a few wines later we left feeling almost like locals!

On the recommendation of a fellow guest in Corpach we drove about 10kms out of town to the Glenfinnan Viaduct to witness the passing of the steam train more famously known as The Hogwarts Express. People came like rats out of a sewer to see this now classic experience and it was really special! It’s located in a beautiful little corner overlooking the top of Loch Shiel and it definitely brings out the child within you as we all waved like 5 year olds as the train puffed past us proudly tooting its horn!

Then after all the planning and driving, the NC500 was done and dusted and we were back to the big cities with a night in Glasgow and two in Edinburgh to finish off our trip to Scotland. The amazing scenery, majestic views, friendly locals, fabulous old hotels and gorgeous local produce had come and gone and now we were back to looking for street addresses, parking meters and keypad entries to hotel rooms. Glasgow was gritty but vibrant and we spent an afternoon at The Pot Still – an amazing whisky bar in the centre of town with over 800 whiskies available and kilt wearing barmen to boot! The MOTH finally bought a puffer jacket just in time as it was COLD in Edinburgh with an icy wind that chilled your bones and as we were walking everywhere we needed all the help we could get. The open top bus tour tested our spirit and even though it was a great way to explore the city we were SO desperate to get off and find somewhere warm to eat by the end of it!! We found some ancient pubs with walls so thick no wifi or air-conditioning could penetrate it and the whole pub could barely hold more than 6 small tables making for a very competitive lunch hour getting people through the doors! The local Cullen Skink proved to be a perfect lunch dish – a type of smoked fish chowder that hit the spot on a cold day and bangers in onion gravy served in a giant yorkshire pud had its merits too! Cammo had lots of fun in all the kilt shops trying the Cameron tartan and finding out the fascinating etiquette involved with everything kilts! They take an awful lot of material weighing about 7kgs and costing around $1000 to make and send to Australia. There are whole shops dedicated to all the accessories required for a casual/formal or clan kilt – sporrans, kilt pins, socks with flashes, garters, belts and buckles, vests, jackets, brogues and even a sgian-dubh which is a small knife that is worn in the sock when wearing a Scottish kilt. All of these come in casual or formal, hunting and sporting types meaning the options are endless! Thus far he has resisted getting one but a mere whisper of a Scottish type wedding would have him ordering one in a flash!

Edinburgh was a terrific city with lots to recommend it – plenty of history and all very accessible. We could walk everywhere from where we were staying in the West End. The Royal Mile, although touristy was gorgeous, and I could just imagine how solemn the recent procession would have been through these streets as the Royal Family followed the coffin of the Queen through Edinburgh from Holyrood House to St Giles Cathedral where she laid at rest for 24 hours whilst her family stood vigil – a very moving event. It was bustling again by the time we arrived of course and the tourists were definitely back in force. Goodness knows what it must be like here in July and August – crazy!! It was here that we parted – the MOTH to return to The Meadow and I hopped on a train down to South Wales where my sister and Mum picked me up amid much shrieking and hugging and over the top exuberance – it had been 3 years since we had all last been together so this was going to be a very special week catching up on life! We hardly stopped talking for the first day – somehow speaking and listening simultaneously as only girls can and it was so lovely to be back in a home situation with a washing machine, non stop cups of tea and yummy homemade meals punctuated by trips to the local shops, a fabulous Michelin starred restaurant (The Beach House at Oxwich Bay) walks along the prom on a sunny afternoon, a night at the movies followed by an Indian meal and many, many conversations whilst snuggled up on the lounge with a glass of wine! Good times indeed. A trip to Warwickshire to visit extended family was lovely as was getting together with my Great Niece and Nephew who have grown up SO much since I last saw them – time really does fly! Family get togethers are precious and should ALWAYS be included at every possible opportunity. After a fantastic week of being spoilt by my sister and with my cup full I packed up for the last time and headed to London and the long flight home. Luckily they are planning a trip out to Oz in March so the goodbye was slightly less awful than it may have been although I never ever get used to it! Thank goodness for technology keeping us so connected. After 7 weeks I was ready to return to real life and my little white house in The Meadow.

Arriving at Parma train station we were relaxed – we knew this station well and had no qualms we would soon be pulling into Verona station and onto our next adventure…..how wrong could we be?

Little did we know that this was the chosen day for a countrywide rail strike and that chaos would be the word of the day! As train after train became cancelled up on the board we struck up some conversations with young students who were all trying to get to Bologna as we were and thankfully they had both the internet and spoke English! As it turns out no one knew what the hell was happening and therefore we just had to wait until a train finally arrived and we all piled on. Bologna was an hour closer to Verona at least and had more amenities but it was completely packed with people languishing on the platforms – some sleeping on their luggage and very long queues to speak to “officials” We joined one and was told that we may have a chance of a train to Verona at 6pm – 4 hours away! What can you do except wait and have faith….You can imagine how many people were attempting to board that train when it finally came! We managed to get one seat between us and swapped every 30 minutes until FINALLY we pulled into Verona station and made our way to the taxi rank which snaked around the train terminal like a giant python – now what we asked? Apparently the Italian Music Awards were being held in the Arena at Verona this weekend and the place was heaving with people – an hours wait for a cab and we finally arrived at the Piazza Erbe and to our accommodation. Just in the nick of time as it turned out as the key code was to expire in the following 30 minutes! We dumped our luggage, changed and went in search of a much needed pizza and a bottle of wine. What do you know – we finally ate like locals at 9.30pm!! It was heaven and a certain person was even happier when he found out our apartment was right next to a wonderful gelateria….

From our veranda we looked out at the bell tower of Verona – you can see it from everywhere in the town and was a handy navigational tool for us when exploring! The brickwork and plaster is characteristic of Verona as were the huge, beautiful blush pink marble pavers that constituted the main walkways – so pretty. Our apartment is where The Scaglieri used to live when they ruled Verona from 1262 to 1387. It’s a lovely building with the most beautiful terrazzo floors and thankfully a lift! You could barely squish 2 people into it but we were very grateful for it! We were the large windows to the left of the building as you look at it on the 2nd floor and we loved being in the middle of all the action (especially as they had double glazing to block out any unwanted noise) – perfect for 4 nights.

When we woke up the next morning in our gorgeous classic apartment we could see what a great position we were in. Situated in the Piazza dei Signori we were just enough off the main drag to feel smug whilst only being a 5 minute walk from everything. The first thing we did was to check out the market that had mushroomed overnight on our doorstep. Touristy gifts as well as fresh food including these amazing fruit pots. They were bursting with sweet ripe fruit and a perfect start to the day with an espresso on our veranda. A few minutes’ walk away we had shops, restaurants, outdoor cafes and the infamous Juliet’s Balcony. Our friends Kathy and Ralph from Oz were also here for a few nights, and we had arranged to meet up for dinner as they were just around the corner. They had booked an apartment overlooking Juliet’s balcony and had no idea how popular this place would be with the public – it is literally pulsating with people from 7.30am – 7.30pm every day! Considering there is no proof that this had anything whatsoever to do with Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet it is quite incredible. Apparently around 500 people a year write to Juliet asking her advice??? There is a dedicated staff of people behind the scenes who reply – a real life advice column apparently. Anyway, it is a lovely little courtyard once it is shut to the public and we enjoyed a bottle of rose on the steps pondering how some things become so famous while others don’t!

The next day we went exploring on foot which is ALWAYS the best way to discover things and found ourselves over the river and catching the cable car to the hilltop fortress overlooking Verona. It has the most magic views for miles and really shows how the city grew from the inside out towards the river which completely encompasses it making it easy to defend back in the day. The terracotta rooftops and the myriad spires made for an awe inspiring view and as we looked around in the sunshine we felt so lucky to be here on this holiday after what the last two years had dished up to the world. Hundreds if not thousands of other people had thought the same thing as it turned out and Verona was BUSY! Despite this you could still turn down any little alley and find a cute little restaurant or a quiet seat to take in the scenery away from the madding crowd and the food options were fantastic!

The local markets were bristling with fresh produce – bunches of fat white asparagus nestling next to vibrant bouquets of fiery chillies and baskets of wild mushrooms of all shapes and sizes – equated to some super tasty dishes in the kitchen and we were in our element! After four days of wining, dining and shopping we were ready to get back on the road and to discover new places again, in fact our next destination was the main reason we were here in this part of Italy.

In 2020 for my 60th birthday we bought 2 x tickets to see Andrea Bocelli in concert in Marostica, a hill top town in the mountains of Venezia. I have always loved him and the thought of hearing him live in such a wonderful atmospheric location had been the clincher to spend the money and go for it! Of course, we all know what happened then and each year the concert was “postponed” to the following year until this year the world felt normal enough to resume and here we were! We bumped into many other people from all over the world who had the same story and the excitement was tangible as we arrived in town to see the entire Piazza full of staging and seating for the following night’s concert, Our B&B was a 5 minute walk from town so we were very lucky as we didn’t have to worry about how to get to and from the concert at least. We spent the day in nearby Bassano del Grappa, the town credited for inventing grappa – the after dinner spirit loved throughout Italy. It was a cute little town which we enjoyed exploring and after yet another great lunch we went home to get ready for the night’s entertainment. Our friends Kathy and Ralph had also come to Bassano in the hope they could pick up some last minute tickets to the show (it was their wedding anniversary after all) and miraculously (and at a not to be disclosed dollar amount) scooped up a couple of front row tickets! Happiness prevailed and we all had the BEST night soaking up the beautiful music and the sheer soul of the entire experience. A night never to be forgotten.

The next day we caught the train from Bassano to Venice – a mere 1.5 hours away – where absolutely nothing can prepare you for getting off a train which has been travelling through the countryside to alight on a platform overlooking the Grand Canal!!! It’s as if you’ve arrived in a parallel universe or a James Bond movie set!!

Within minutes of catching our vaporetto – a public water bus – we were getting off at Rialto and walking the 5 minutes to our airbnb apartment smack in the middle of Venice. It was small but comfy and airconditioned which was great as it was hot here! Throngs of people moved down the narrow lanes like salmon going upstream all heading to St Marks Square and all the amazing historical buildings of Venice. For me the magic was more to be found down tiny offshoot alleyways some as narrow as just 2 people and around every corner there were canals of varying sizes. This photo sums up the magic of Venice to me despite its innate touristy-ness. Venice is a crumbling yet majestic city completely unique in every way. It’s noisy, hectic in some parts and totally serene and tranquil in others. When the heat and the many steps and bridges became too much for my injured companion, we would find a table in the shade and sip on an icy aperol spritz or frosty beer and spend an hour people watching until we had the strength to continue on our way!

We joined the snaking line to catch a ferry to Murano and Burano islands about a 40 minute journey from the centre of Venice. It was a gloriously sunny day and the gelato sellers were doing a roaring trade as boat after boat was filled to capacity and we had another 30 minutes to wait for the next one. We nearly gave up at one point but were so glad we didn’t as we had the loveliest day poking around these creative enclaves. We watched the glassblowers doing their thing in Murano and I was as gobsmacked this trip as I was as a teenager when I was last in Venice and came to see beautiful things being created out of a blob of molten silica! The colours were amazing and I would have loved to buy something but The Meadow is not the place for anything breakable and these pieces also deserve to be “presented” correctly and not tucked away out of sight so sadly we passed on any purchases. Instead, we headed to Burano and lunch! Such a pretty little place with its colourful small houses and traditional lace making shops. Music played, the sun shone and the ice tinkled in our wine glasses – this was our last full day in Italy and we spent it well.

The next day could NOT be more different after a huge storm ripped through Venice the night before – just as we were finishing dinner in our local square – and sent everyone scurrying indoors grabbing plates and glasses and whatever they could put their hands on whilst the lightening thunder and rain conducted their own symphony. It was short and very sharp and by the time we finally left the rain was just a gentle patter which continued most of the night. By morning and leaving time the wind was up and the weather was the worst we’d seen since arriving in Italy. Of course we had decided to be a bit extravagant and had ordered a water taxi to take us directly to the airport thus avoiding getting on and off ferries/trains/taxis. This had been arranged on a beautiful sunny day and we had visions of our own James Bond moment as we left Venice witnessing it’s beauty for the last time. The reality was nothing like this. The waves broke over the top of the boat as we swayed from side to side in the big seas. We had to be seated very specifically to balance the boat in the conditions and the 30 minute trip was one to be endured rather than enjoyed. Our Captain was wonderful though as apparently it was right on the cusp of conditions making it impossible to go the distance safely!! Both the best and the worst trip to an airport ever. As we checked in for our flight to Edinburgh, we wondered what the next stage of our adventure would bring……

After a relaxing 6 hour train journey from Zurich we arrived at Santa Margherita Ligure station and emerged into a wonderful exuberant Italian scene with people talking and laughing loudly accompanied by many, many hand gestures and we smiled to each other as it was impossible to not get swept up into the Italian-ness of it all! A short taxi ride later we were trundling our luggage across the cobblestones of the piazzetta in Portofino. The gelato coloured houses, beautiful yachts and colourful fishing boats together with the chiming of the church bells was like a living breathing postcard and we were even happier once we found our little apartment which was located literally 30 metres from the water! Small but perfectly formed we had everything we needed and immediately felt very relaxed. That night there was only one option for our first dinner in Italy – pizza!!! As expected it was fabulous and we toasted ourselves and our choice to come here, we felt very lucky to be experiencing this little part of the Italian Riviera.

The lane to our apartment led directly off the square and the church above us rang the bells with great gusto (luckily they didn’t begin their hourly peal until 8am!) Every little corner revealed small details of life in Italy and the rich colours made me want to reach for a paintbrush!

Portofino itself is actually tiny (and also eye wateringly expensive with an Aperol costing about 15 euros a pop as opposed to 6-8 everywhere else) so we decided to explore the bigger local town of Santa Margherita with the local 782 bus leaving every half hour and navigating the narrow hairpin bends with ease. The weather was gorgeous – hot and sunny – and we were happy to get off the bus and walk along the coastal path soaking up the shimmery blue water, the colourful umbrellas and if you got a bit hot and bothered you could make use of the little bars that were dotted along the beach. Claiming his knee was playing up the MOTH made the most of the opportunity of course and we spent a lovely hour or two people and yacht watching whilst we sipped on our spritzes! There is plenty to occupy you for a day or two in SM and you can easily visit Portofino for the day or catch a boat further around the coast to Cinque Terra or the Amalfi Coast.

Then home to read, snooze or in my case walk to the hill overlooking Portofino to see its true beauty from above before changing for the evening aperitivo and dinner by the harbour. One evening an opera singer was ‘busking’ and on another there was an outdoor showing of an old black and white Rock Hudson movie in the square. Watching the Passeggiata and the to-ing and fro-ing of the superyachts and their guests was pure entertainment. With boats registered in Madeira, Monaco and other exotic locations it really was a gathering of the rich and famous – Mustique, a 55m yacht with a 1:1 ratio of staff to guests had a film crew aboard following their every move – I’ll keep an eye out for a possible doco on Netflix in the near future! One of the simplest yet most memorable meals from our whole trip was had here – linguine with chilli cherry tomatoes and burrata – something I can try to replicate at home. Somehow it won’t be the same without those bells ringing out though….

So after a lovely last evening eating seafood and sipping on negronis we packed up ready to go to Parma and start our visit to the Emilia-Romagna region of Italy which was going to have to be pretty darn good to come close to matching Portofino…..

Back to the train station we go and as per the last 4 stations there is a lift out of action meaning carting my 21kg suitcase up flights of stairs – (I’m never travelling with more than 15kgs ever again I swear) before we hop on our train to Parma and watch the world going by for about 3 hours as the coast slowly recedes, and we start passing through small towns and farmland. We get into trouble on the train as in Italy face masks are still required on public transport and we didn’t have one on. It seems crazy that you can be mingling cheek by jowl with hundreds of other tourists in a town and then have to mask up on a somewhat empty train???? Anyway we found a couple of crumpled up ones at the bottom of our bag and that seemed to make the Inspector a bit happier despite there being a lot of hand gestures and raised voices before he finally left us alone…..oops!

Arriving in Parma we were whisked off in a cab to the old town where we had booked into a charming B&B called Al Battistero d’Oro tucked away behind heavy wooden doors opposite the Baptistry. Patrizia the delightful owner and hostess extraordinaire greeted us and showed us around her house which I just loved. Huge windows in the sitting room were thrown open to the afternoon sunshine which shone onto the plush lounges and Persian rugs mixed with antiques and family treasures that made the room feel so lovely. Our bedroom was cool and comfortable with shutters that made everything inky black and completely silent at night despite being “in town” and we fell in love with the place on the spot!

Parma is small enough to walk around but big enough to have full days of exploration. We spent our first day looking around some of the amazing buildings including the Pilotta which encompasses several museums and galleries and is well worth spending a good chunk of time in. On the first floor of the Pilotta is the entrance to the Farnese Theatre. It occupies a large room that was originally intended as an armoury. This wooden masterpiece was later transformed into a theatre between 1617 and 1618 by architect Giovan Battista Aleotii.  This room is massive, made solely of wood, and is simply stunning!

It also houses The National Gallery with its fair share of paintings of The Madonna and Child/angelic cherubs and heavenly bodies/crucifixions and portraits of guys in puffy pants and shirred collars but also many other interesting things including a lovely little painting by Leonardo de Vinci circa 1492 “head of a woman” and some HUGE marble statues….Who says size doesn’t matter???

We had plenty of time in Parma to just relax and soak in the local atmosphere and as it is one of THE food towns of Italy we enjoyed all that comes with that title! The delis were like an Aladdin’s Cave packed from floor to ceiling with amazing products and smelling like heaven! Every corner brought new treasures and I’m not sure if we were lucky or unlucky that we couldn’t bring things back to Australia (or risk featuring on the next episode of Border Force!) as we loved nearly everything in the shop! Dinners were spent in laneways lit by candles where we tried local delicacies and one night as we were walking home we came across the unusual sight of one thousand people eating dinner in the street! The Cena dei Mille or dinner of the thousand was a charity dinner to thank the health workers for all they did during Covid and featured the food of three Michelin starred chefs to raise funds for Emporio Solidale Parma – a non for profit organisation to combat increasing poverty in the region and let me tell you it was quite a sight to behold (imagine all the planning, the cooking, the cleaning up and the anxiety over the weather!!!!)

We hopped on the train to Bologna for the day and spent hours wandering around the city checking out the Unilatero with it’s fantastic street stalls of the freshest bounciest food and had a yummy lunch whilst watching the most eclectic people wandering by. It is a huge University town and was quite the place to people watch! It was an interesting city, but I far preferred Parma where you could truly feel the pace and rhythm of the local life and get a sense of what it would be like to live an Italian lifestyle.

Our favourite day was when we decided to do a food tour. We visited local artisan producers of Parmigiano Reggiano, Prosciutto di Parma and Balsamico Tradizionale in Emilia Romagna and the whole day was fantastic. It was so very interesting to hear their stories undertaken with such passion and patience in producing truly local products that have become famous throughout the world! We were the first Aussies back apparently which they thought was special and a sign that life is slowly returning to pre covid conditions at last.

At the Parmigiano Reggiano factory everything is made by hand. Each cheese weighs about 50kg and is made within an hour or two of the cows being milked. It is a very physical job and must be done every day. The ONLY added ingredient is salt and then they are aged on the shelves of the cheese rooms where they are stamped with the information telling when and where the milk came from and then they are all individually turned every few days and washed and salted fortnightly until they are ready to go out into the world as one of the most beloved cheeses in the world – parmigiano!

Once the hind legs of the local pigs have been trimmed into the familiar shape they are stamped with the name and date of the producer and they begin the drying process in a cold-room. The next drying stage is in a slightly warmer room where in summer they open all the windows for the sea breeze to enhance the characteristics of the prosciutto. A special paste of pork fat, salt and pepper is rubbed in thoroughly all over the leg which helps to seal the flavour in and the bugs out! They are finally hung to age until ready for consumption – anything between 12 and 36 months for prosciutto di Parma.

We thought the balsamic producer would be the most boring but it was actually fascinating! The balsamic we know from supermarket shelves is an industrial version of the nectar that is Balsamico Traditzionale. It is luxuriously sweet and thick in texture, with a color that approaches ebony black. Its bouquet is one of the most intense imaginable and its concentration is so intense that just a few drops can transform a dish.

Balsamico Tradizionale is produced in and around two cities of Emilia-Romagna: Modena and Reggio-Emilia. It differs from nearly all other vinegars in that it is not made from wine or another fermented juice; it is made according to an ancient local recipe, from the juice of fresh, crushed grapes cooked down to a fraction of its original volume. It then starts its life of ageing in old wine barrels where the yeast absorbed in the wood helps the fermentation process. They are then transferred into a series of smaller barrels made of different woods which impart different flavours – oak, chestnut, acacia, ash, cherry, mulberry and juniper. It is finally aged in small casks for at least 12 years—and often for 25 to 30 years or more. It is an incredibly costly process, requiring a half ton of grapes to produce a gallon of 25-year-old Balsamico. It is no wonder that this amazing product commands huge money, luckily one small bottle can last you a very long time!

So after a fabulous 5 days of eating drinking and exploring we bid Patrizia a fond farewell and we were off to Verona…..

This picture was taken minutes before things became a little fraught. We had been enjoying a relaxed morning ahead of our calculated leaving time to get to the train – the first stage of our long trip to Geneva – and thought a little leaving photo would be nice. By the time we finally got into the car and was pulling out of the drive we suddenly realised we only had the very minimum amount of time necessary to drive to Kiama to catch our train and thus in turn our plane. Tension was rife as we all questioned what the hell had happened but we pulled up just in time to get on the train despite the ticket machine not printing one of our tickets and having to pay for yet another one – no time to get a refund! Slightly frazzled we collapsed onto our seats and began our 32 hour trip! Being knackered prior to a long trip is actually a good thing I think as you are more inclined to sleep on the plane and we did manage a few good hours before landing at Heathrow where due to cancellation of our original flight we had to wait 7 hours for a plane to fly us for a mere 2 hours! On landing in beautiful 30 degree temps my lovely sister-in-law whizzed us off to her gorgeous house in St Prex for a slap-up dinner outdoors by the pool and amidst much animated conversation and aperol spritz we really felt our holiday had begun.

NO jet lag was allowed as the very next morning she had planned a belated surprise for the MOTHs 70th and with instructions to pack an overnight bag we were whisked off at 7am to a mystery location high up in the mountains. She had arranged for tickets to the European Masters Golf Championships at Crans-Montana with a game prior on the adjacent course. My injured companion was so sad that he couldn’t participate – such bad timing that he had injured his knee 2 weeks prior to our trip – but he manned the golf cart and we enjoyed the scenery and a lovely lunch before everything went very dark and a huge storm raged over the mountain. The temperature plummeted as the rain fell scattering everyone into the champagne tents (hello!) and to the merchandising areas where the jumpers were snapped up in a jiffy despite their exorbitant price and we waited and waited for play to resume but sadly in vain as they decided the electrical storm made it too dangerous to continue.

So we were driven across the valley to the opposite mountain where we were treated to a night in this lovely little hotel with amazing views and typical Swiss decor…it was delightful. It is at the base of the 4 valleys ski lift which takes you up to Verbier in the winter but was full of flowers and birdsong on our visit. We could even hear the tinkle of the cowbells at the top of the mountain and we felt completely transported!

The reason we were here was to visit some dear friends of my sister and brother-in-law who we had met previously when they spent Xmas Day with us in Australia! It had been a long time in between drinks but we took up where we had left off and had a fabulous evening at their beautiful little chalet up at 2000 feet. The air was so crisp and clean and they cooked us a beautiful meal of locally sourced meat and foraged mushrooms as we chatted about all that had passed over the last 30 years! They live a simple life up there living with a few chosen pieces from the past and with very little consumerism but lacked for nothing as far as we could see…a really unique environment that’s for sure. The next day we joined them in the sunshine for a game of petanque with a sensational view before another locally sourced lunch with raclette and dried meats from local farms all washed down with some delicious wines – what’s not to love! They were so very generous to have us and it is one of our favourite memories of our trip.

Another night was spent with our old friend Duncan who lives in Villars where the MOTH had worked all those years ago. He has a gorgeous old chalet with all the traditional carvings and cute shuttered windows that when flung open look out across the valley to the mountains opposite (N.B. there are ALWAYS mountains to look at in Switzerland!) We had drinks at a great bar underneath a sheer mountain cliff used by crazy mountain climbers to train and we were serenaded by the beautiful Swiss cows with their huge cowbells around their necks who wandered the nearby fields – I just needed Heidi to complete the picture of complete and utter Swissness!

We caught up on all the adventures he had been having since we last met which were many as Duncan is a VERY adventurous guy. He keeps venomous snakes, loves to paraglide, traipses around the world more than anyone I know and also happens to have a light airplane that he loves to fly. He invited the MOTH to join him on a scenic flight over the lake and around the mountains which was instantly agreed to. His partner and I came to the airfield to watch them take off and someone was very excited on his return to tell me that he had been granted permission to take the controls by himself for a while and the whole flight had been a huge buzz of excitement. What a weekend!

A couple of relaxing days followed with walks into the local village for coffee and a day out on the lake on their boat with a scrumptious picnic and icy cold wine. We went out into the middle of Lac Leman and felt like we had the entire lake to ourselves as we bobbed gently, listening to music and generally feeling all was well with our world. The MOTH had a slight miscalculation on returning to the marina and exiting the boat resulting in a broken toe and a slashed shin to go with his torn knee ligament! Poor bugger …talk about the universe telling you to slow down a bit!!

Our final few days in Suisse were spent in Interlaken and Michel decided to take us there via the scenic route. He had remembered the cutest little restaurant off the beaten track in the mountains where we ended up enjoying a fabulous fondue. This made the MOTH so happy as he has fond memories of them from when he lived in Switzerland as a young man. The farm where the restaurant was located made their own cheese and it was great to wander around the back and see the huge copper pot and muslin cloths used to make it daily. Talk about paddock to plate!!

Interlaken is a lovely town situated on the river Aarne which is a glacial river of the most beautiful colour and it is in the Bernese Oberland region of the Swiss alps with names like The Eiger and The Jungfrau making it famous. We drove to the cute mountain town of Grindewald where we caught the train up to Kleine Scheidegg at 2061 metres where the air was like liquid gold and oh so clean. The Swiss really love hiking and it was amazing to see people – some well into their late 80s – trailing like ants up the mountains above us, one Grandma was even pushing a baby in a stroller!! It made us feel rather sloth like but next time we’re back and injury free we will attempt some of these picturesque walks for sure.

We were continuing our trip by train as the many photos we had seen of hugely busy airports had well and truly scared us off and even though things had improved a lot we have always loved trains and far prefer it as you can see the countryside as you pass through and no long security queues to deal with either!! So after a fabulous week we said a fond farewell at Interlaken station and began stage two of our holiday to Italy. Our first stop is Portofino….

This photo was taken on one of the rare days when it’s been lovely all day and we made the most of it with a coastal walk around Kiama. Bailey loved it and so did we…so nice to feel the sun on your skin again and everyone had a smile on their faces! It reminded me of growing up in England and the difference a sunny day made to people – I think we have swapped weather with them this year with us having too much rain and no sun and them sweltering and dry!

After a very busy 6 weeks of flying around the country and New Zealand to say goodbye to his customers and introduce them to their new account managers, retirement has begun for the MOTH and so far its been fab! We started off as we mean to carry on with a lovely lunch at Bangalay Dining in Shoalhaven Heads with our friends – the food was delicious and we were cross with ourselves for not having come here earlier! We often have coffee or brekky there after walking the beach as dogs are welcome, but we hadn’t been into the restaurant – something we will be doing much more often now that we know how yummy the food is!

The next day we packed up and headed north to Forster, overnighting in Sydney and enjoying some live footy and another delicious meal with friends before continuing on up the Motorway. It’s been 6 years since we have spent any time there and it was great to be back in a place we went to often when the kids were growing up. My Father In Law lived there for many years as do our old friends Wayne and Kathy and our summers were full of beach days, Smugglers when the kids were small (a great caravan park) and rented houses as they got older. We have many fond memories of the kids sliding down this huge sand dune at North Oney on flattened cardboard boxes and the simpler holidays of old when we all enjoyed fish and chips wrapped in newspaper and an ice-cream at the milk bar after a day at the beach. Bailey came with us this time and we had walks every morning around the wharves which are still full of pelicans and ended up with coffee on the beach – definitely a good way to start the day.

We treated ourselves to 4 x pensioner tickets to see the Top Gun Movie on our only rainy afternoon and we followed up with drinks in the pub overlooking the lake – and all before 5pm on a school night!! We caught up with everyone at The Surf Club where the MOTH is an honorary member and there was a comfort to seeing the same people in the same location after so long!!!

Sam and Cooper also had a little holiday to Tasmania. Coops was so excited to catch the big ‘hairoplane’ and see his cousins. He and Myla are only 9 weeks apart so it was perfect with days full of exploring the beach and then the snow and Cooper was very chuffed with the creation of his very first snowman! Lunch at a winery where a helicopter landed right in front of him (something I think he will NEVER forget!!) and feeding the ducks at nearby Richmond all made for a super long weekend and Sam finally got to see both his Sister and Hobart!

When Cooper got back to daycare he was very excited to host the day’s “Show and Tell” which has changed somewhat since our kids went to school! He was very excited to share his adventures with his class and is still buzzing about all the experiences he enjoyed.

Finally after 7 months liaising with the cemetery in Tumut and the organising of a plaque etc the Cameron siblings got together to put Pop to rest. He had always wanted to be laid to rest with his Mum and brothers in Tumut where he grew up and Rod organised everything to grant this last wish. Their sister flew in to Canberra and rented a car and they had all booked to stay the night in Jugiong and have dinner together before the interment of the ashes the following day. Jugiong is about a 4 hour drive from our place so Big Bro drove from Sydney leaving his rather smart car in our garage and transferring into the MOTH’s ute which was more suited to the rough terrain. About 5 minutes from their destination the MOTH suggested they go through the plan for the next day when Rod turned ashen faced towards him and he immediately knew something was wrong….Pop had been left on the back seat of Rod’s car 3.5 hours away!!!! Luckily Tom was staying in The Meadow and he hopped into the car and drove halfway to meet them and Pop was safely “exchanged” but it was a hairy drive. Dusk and then pitch dark on a remote dirt road with kangaroos everywhere, not to mention the gigantic potholes from the heavy rain and then a long drive back to Jugiong finally arriving at 9pm – Pop definitely got the last laugh!! The next day under a blue sunny sky he was reunited with his beloved Mum and farewelled by 3 of his children (and watched from Switzerland by the 4th) in a simple ceremony that he would have approved of. Rest in Peace Pop.

With two weeks to go until our European trip we are busy getting both the house as ready as we can for our house sitters and organise everything for 6 weeks of living out of a case! Hot weather at the beginning and cold weather at the end means careful packing and after 3 years of not going anywhere we are rummaging around looking for the adaptor plugs, the squashy travel hat and travel handbag that has all the sections required for the various certificates, passports and hotel bookings and feeling a bit like first time travellers! I’m sure it will all come back to us once we board that plane! I’m starting to feel a quiver of excitement and barring any other disasters (surely we’ve covered them all in the past 3 years??) we will be enjoying the pristine scenery in Switzerland, the food in Italy and the wildness of the Scottish Highlands very soon! Ciao a tutti!

This is one of the incredible photos taken from The James Webb Space Telescope of galaxies a million light years away from ours. It’s literally too hard to wrap your head around how microscopic we are in the scheme of things and right now I feel like the Universe is trying to tell us something but I have no idea what? To say we are experiencing unusual times is an understatement as yet another year of challenges unfold. The bloody pandemic is still in our face – in fact it is infecting more and more people every day but as with everything we eventually get more used to it and become a bit more blasé as the months and years tick over. I still have a healthy regard for what it can do but how long can we hide away at home and not live our lives as we would like? In our age bracket in particular time is not on our side – we don’t have decades left to enjoy travelling and adventure so we have to seize the day despite the virus and make the most of the opportunity to enjoy our lives as much as we can. A few things have made that extra hard recently…the aforementioned virus has been having a ball literally infecting people as they pass each other in the street.

This picture of our book club girls taken a few weeks ago was when we got together to remember our lovely friend Marilyn one year after her passing. She loved bright colours and we tried to do our best to honour that love brightening up a table in a Balmain Pub where we enjoyed a couple of hours together having lunch and chatting about anything and everything. A few days later 7 of the 8 of us had Covid!! This came straight after my few weeks with the flu so I really won the lottery! I am now feeling better but taking precautions when out as I’m pretty sure my immunity must be a bit tired and emotional after the last 2 months and we literally have only got 4 weeks until our trip to Europe.

That is yet another challenge to be overcome with airports around the world struggling to keep up with the eager tourists who have been deprived of travel for the past 3 years heading out in droves to enjoy the northern hemisphere Summer. Depressing pictures of abandoned luggage strewn around Heathrow Airport unclaimed for days together with tales of cancelled and delayed flights doesn’t fill me with warm fuzzy feelings and for the first time ever I am considering taking carry on luggage with a couple of changes of clothes etc incase I am parted from my case for a few days! The only thing in our favour is we are arriving at the end of Summer and hopefully most people will be home from their holidays and getting the kids ready to go back to school instead of heading abroad….. #pray for us!

The third part of the catastrophe trifecta is the weather – still causing havoc left right and centre around the world for different reasons. Here in Oz the rain is still hanging around with the odd few days in between taunting us with sunshine and light breezes which started to dry up the mud again but it was just a ruse as we now have a week of rain predicted with very little of the wet stuff needed to top us back up again and the poor cows are still up to their knees in mud. Our local roads are very compromised with several still shut due to landslides and you never know when you come around a corner if there will be a tree fallen across the road or if indeed you can even see the road……we took this picture a few days ago driving home with a large amount of water covering both the road and a gigantic pothole which luckily we managed to avoid but many others didn’t. There is talk of a third La Nina this summer but I seriously hope they are wrong. Meanwhile in the UK they have had their hottest day ever at over 40C and have endured days of melting temps, wildfires and are now acutely aware of how they are not set up for hot summers. I have a feeling that air conditioning companies are going to see a surge in demand over there after this!!

But it works both ways I guess. We have had a cold wet winter which is not our happy place either. Our houses are built to stay cool, the charming old weatherboards are not great insulators and our 13 feet ceilings are nice in the summer when the hot air rises but in winter we want it down here near the couch thank you very much! Builders tend to do big builds and renovations in Winter as in the past it has been reliably dry and sunny but cool. We have NOT had that this year and I’m sure most of us are dreading getting the electricity bill after trying to keep our houses cosy. There are two groups of Aussies in Winter – the first have puffer jackets and boots to top off their 6 layers and the other half are still in their shorts and flip flops saying “it’s not even that cold” every ten seconds but in general we are underprepared for anything under 20 degrees and our houses are like fridges. Thank God it only lasts 3-4 months.

On top of all that we are now being warned that Foot and Mouth disease is on our doorstep in Indonesia and with the Aussies love of Bali it’s only a matter of time until it’s here. As usual the powers that be are saying “we will be getting sanitation mats and footbaths at the airport” instead of just doing it already! These things really have to be nipped in the bud quickly and I’m pretty sure no tourists would complain about an extra step coming home to protect our dairy and livestock industry. If they do they can’t complain when we have no beef/lamb/pork/dairy products on the shelves in 6 months time. As if farmers don’t have enough to worry about already…..

Hopefully my next post will be much more upbeat and full of fun in the sun and the joy of being immersed in new places and the wonder of exploring new food, old buildings and different cultures! Until then lovely people stay safe and optimistic that things will improve soon and let’s make the best of what we have……remember we only get one bite folks!!

It’s been a few weeks of ups and downs here in The Meadow. The rain finally stopped allowing us to eventually get out into the garden to start our much needed working bee but unfortunately I then came down with Influenza A which meant I didn’t leave my bed or couch in nearly 2 weeks! I literally had 2 days of feeling good to start the ball rolling before it all came to a grinding halt again…..aaaaargh!! Luckily I started to improve (with the help of some antibiotics) just in time to hop onto a plane to Hobart for our planned trip to Tassie to see the granddaughters. After 2 weeks of vertigo and nausea I was rather worried if I’d be able to join in all the fun (read ….enjoying the Tassie pinot) but apart from a rather painful ear on landing I was feeling quite human and was able to mostly join in with all the fun on offer!

We all came down with it after the June Long Weekend (well 4/7 of us did) but luckily we managed to squish in a couple of days together first. Slow cooked food, big reds and log fires by night and some walks in the crisp sunshine during the day made for an easy couple of days before the lurgy set in! The little boys had some much needed country air and the cubby house was finally back in action! The flu definitely seems to be as active as Covid right now. Typically I had a flu shot booked for Tuesday at 10.30 but came down with it on the Monday at 4pm – rather frustrating! Don’t wait folks!

Tasmania never fails to show you a good time. We were super lucky with the weather which was neither wet or as freezing as I had imagined it would be in June. Lozzy’s house is very cosy and as long as you had your trusty puffer coat for outdoors everything was rosy! The only way you know it’s a bit chilly is that Berry puts on his beanie with his shorts and sweatshirt! We had outings every day – it’s all about co-ordinating with the timing of baby sleep times and meals. Fish and chips at the beach, park plays, feeding the ducks in Richmond followed by pizza and pinot at Pooley wines, cocktails and Italian food in Salamanca, beach walks for the Mummies, whiskey and beer tastings for the menfolk, fire pit and toasted marshmallows, painting and walks with Myla and cuddles with India all made for a perfect 4 days together. The worst part was the 2 hour wait on the train station coming from the airport – two cancelled trains in a row and the coldest platform in history made for an uncomfortable time. If only Australia was as civilised as the UK and Europe who have cafés and waiting rooms (sometimes even with a wood burner to keep you warm) on their bigger stations which would have made things much nicer.

So with a month to go before the MOTH is a man of leisure it is all systems go! Trips to Sydney, Melbourne and New Zealand are all scheduled over the next few weeks as well as packing up the office, hosting the boss at The Meadow and squishing in a Christmas in July weekend here after a hiatus of 2 years due to you-know-what. It is nice to have things in the diary again and we all have a new found appreciation of actually getting together and we certainly don’t take anything for granted anymore! We have our lovely European holiday to look forward to later in the year and hopefully a few weeks to cobble the garden together before we go – another week of rain is forecast from tomorrow so let’s hope it doesn’t take us back to square one! I optimistically bought some winter veggies today and am off to plant them before the big wet! If you haven’t had your flu shot please do! I haven’t had Covid but those that have had both say the flu was worse! I’m swallowing vitamin C and Zinc at the rate of knots to help my poor immune system but the thought of a few days of sunshine in Portofino in a few months is what is helping the most – I swear it is a mental balm – hahaha!!

I’m snuggled up indoors while the wind roars outside and down the chimney, rattling the old sash windows and occasionally making the whole house tremble. At times like this it is reassuring to remember this house has stood since 1896 and has seen numerous “weather events” over the years and is unlikely to buckle for anything less than an earthquake! They made things well back in the day and she is as solid as they come thank goodness. We are actually grateful for the wind (but why does it have to be the freezing cold westerly?) as it is doing a grand job of drying out the mud. We now have a crisp eggshell of dry mud enclosing the squishier stuff underneath making for an interesting moonscape of our previously flattish green lawn as it is all lumps and bumps from previous footsteps that sunk with each step we took and which will probably take months if not years to even out again! It has however stopped raining for which we are very thankful and after years of fires, floods and a pandemic we are hopefully on the way back to normal – whatever that is!! So despite the coldest start to winter since 1982 we are feeling a bit upbeat and cautiously optimistic about planning things again.

It has been a lovely few weeks of celebration – starting with Toms birthday where we ventured up to the Big Smoke for the night and indulged ourselves at one of the nicest restaurants – Freds – in Paddington. Like eating in a friends home and with a true Farm to Table philosophy we loved the food, service and sense of old fashioned generosity that the place exuded and it was the perfect way to toast our youngest family member! A trip to the downstairs cocktail bar Charlie Parkers capped off a delicious meal – it has a great heritage feel whilst boasting an extensive list of very modern cocktails, a modern day speakeasy which is well worth a visit at the beginning or the end of an evening out. To end our night Tom had bought us tickets to The Comedy Festival which we thoroughly enjoyed – all the more so because we haven’t seen a live performance for so long and just being in a room with loads of other people all enjoying themselves was a novelty in itself! All in all a super night out.

The slightly bigger celebration this month emanated from London and was of course the Platinum Jubilee – a huge party celebrating Lizzie’s 70 years on the throne and a magnificent 4 days of unbridled adulation for Her Maj with everyone wishing each other “Happy Platty Joobs” as only the Brits can!! I was still living in England in 1977 for the Silver Jubilee and remember well stringing up loads of bunting and waving my little flag as she drove by in her Rolls Royce looking every bit the star that she was. Fast forward 45 years and this bigger, better and much flashier Jubilee was the most fitting way to celebrate her history making reign and to have a good knees up after the stresses of the past two years – uniquely British and totally fabulous.

Back in Berry we have enjoyed a few outings, firstly attending the opening of a local artist’s exhibition held at Belle Property to help raise funds for a foundation that provides free counselling services for young people navigating challenging times in their lives. – KYDS. A silent auction and a portion of all sales by the artist Alexandra Strong meant over $4000 was donated directly to the foundation. My friend Kathy did a great job speaking at the event and also bought the beautiful artwork featured above. A great local initiative and a terrific turnout.

A totally different offering was The Celtic festival held enthusiastically at the very muddy Showground. A lot of people turned out to watch the jousting which was quite entertaining but not as much fun as seeing the diehard Celts all dressed up in their kilts and playing the part so authentically I felt I was in an episode of Outlander! Their tents, food and weapons were all on display and in the muddy conditions gave a true likeness of what life would have been like back in the day! It made us really quite excited for our own visit to Scotland later this year when we are hoping to explore the area that the original Camerons hailed from and find out a little bit more about our family history.

Our other celebration of sorts came when the MOTH went to Melbourne and his upcoming retirement was officially announced. A big day for our Cocoa man and more emotional than he had anticipated. After a long time in the industry his knowledge and down to earth approach to Sales will be much missed I’m sure – I’m pretty sure no-one can get away with not doing spread sheets or budgets any more but luckily his figures always spoke for themselves and he never had to delve into the murky world of Microsoft Excel! He will be finishing up at the end of July and has lots of travelling to do before then as he hands his accounts over to his colleagues and says goodbye to customers who have become friends over the years. I’m sure it will be a strange transition after working for over 50 years but it will also be wonderful to be able to do what you like when you like without having to think of work while you’re doing it! More golf, more road trips and catching up with friends and family and some time to do a few projects around the property that we have been wanting to do for a while so hopefully it will all be good times ahead and he won’t miss the work buzz too much! Now I’m off to brave the wind and sweep out the cubby house ahead of the long weekend arrival of the grandsons and no doubt lots of cuddles and laughs. What else could possibly go wrong? Plenty apparently….

There seems to be an issue reading the blog via email with photos not presenting the way they were uploaded! It seems if you press either the title ‘The colours of Autumn’ or the small ‘The Move To The Meadow’ in blue at the top right of the opened email it will take you to the site and the correct visuals. Apologies for the glitch everyone!

It really is a beautiful time of year. Usually mild days and crisp evenings which suits me down to the ground. This year of course we have the rain….the unending rain. Our third La Nina in a row apparently – very rare supposedly…..blah blah blah. It’s all so very tedious but we have managed two separate days of mowing and tidying up the garden in between the deluges for which we are very grateful. It’s just going to be a loooong haul getting things back into shape as every centimetre of rain takes us back to square one with puddles everywhere on top of the completely saturated earth. Luckily this time of year also gives us amazing sunsets – peachy apricot hues changing to deepest vermillion red in mere minutes before we are plunged into darkness.

Luckily in between the rain we had some nice days and some visitors – AT THE SAME TIME – miraculous! The Tassie crew came for a week after our 70th weekend and managed a few trips to the park and the beach and we could even occasionally sit outside although there was definitely no walking on the grass without wellies! Lots of painting and making bead necklaces and indoor games and cuddles were enjoyed. On their last night we had a farewell for my Nephew and his wife who were leaving to live in Tokyo with their 10 month old son and we were so happy that we could finally get everyone together so the little cousins could meet each other! A pizza night was had under the stars with wine and music and stories recalled of life BEFORE (kids) and the adventures that lie ahead! We wish them lots of luck in their new life in Tokyo and hopefully we will get to visit them in the next year or two as I have never been to Japan.

The other thing I see this time of year is large swathes of white corellas swirling and turning in the sky like huge shoals of fish. Not quite the murmurations you see in the northern hemisphere but special enough to make you watch enthralled until they land or fly away. There is also colour everywhere if you look – the lemon, gold, russet and chestnut leaves making rich puddles under the now bare trees; the vibrant yellow splash of fireweed in the paddocks, the lemon pink and white flowers of the lantana and the purply pink flower balls of the clover in the hedgerows. My veggie patch has been rather optimistically planted with winter veggies – broccoli, cauliflower cabbage, spinach and garlic and the citrus is going crazy with so much fruit that we can’t keep up! We’ve swapped our limes for the neighbours lemons and we have dozens and dozens of ruby grapefruit and mandarins – so heavy they are dropping off the trees daily and rotting in the puddles before we even get a chance to collect them!

As work has stalled at home we gratefully accepted an invitation from some friends to some afternoon drinks at a local winery – Two Figs. It is located at the top of a hill overlooking the winding Shoalhaven River and is perfectly positioned to enjoy those sunsets. Inside they have a log fire to keep you cosy and huge picture windows overlooking the view when the outdoor seating isn’t viable. It’s quite easy to while away a few hours here chatting and laughing with friends and we should definitely do it more often!

I enjoyed a few days in Sydney helping out with the grandsons as their Dad was away on a work trip. It was lovely spending so much one on one time with them and seeing Cooper’s little face light up every morning when he realised I was still there! We tried to get outside as much as we could – racing sticks down the rain filled gutters, collecting leaves and stones and deciding which houses we both liked on our walks! Surprisingly a 3 year old can have really logical and viable opinions as to why a house is good or bad – very entertaining! I’m loving this age of independence when they want to do everything themselves – here Coops is determined to do his own jacket zipper up – such concentration! Little Ollie is so close to walking and zooms around the house with his funny crawl – back legs up and front ones down! He LOVES hats and looked particularly fetching in his brother’s chef hat I thought!

One good thing about the rain is I then have permission to do indoor pursuits and apart from Spring cleaning in Autumn – I finally got around to washing all the curtains (woohoo!) and planning and booking our accommodation for our big holiday later this year I have been trying to keep up my newfound hobby and paint! This is a little collection of things I’ve done thus far which I’ve really enjoyed. Practise makes perfect they say so I’m trying to draw or paint something every few days to get my brain used to this new thing I’m teaching it and hopefully one day it will get easier and better! As they say – it’s all about the journey……