2016 Kingower Christmas Party, & Lana & Peter

It feels like it's been ages since we were here.  (OPP weekend)

In the mean time, it looks a lot drier, and my poor artichokes have fallen down completely.  I was told that it had been very windy there, so I'm assuming that they were blown down.  And we didn't get to harvest any this year either.  (Maile subsequently dropped over and brought me some of hers)
 

And the plum tree by the well, is completely laden with plums, the branches are bending down through all of the weight  

I was also pleased to see that at least 2 small pomegranate fruits have formed

The mulberry trees have some ripe fruit if you hunt for them - delicious, and the almonds are still there - the cockies haven't pinched them yet.

Anyway, Lana and Peter arrived soon after we did, and we sat down and had a delcious antipasto lunch under the hoop pine.

Very nice, and we were telling them about how when Lesley & Chris, and Andrew & Miranda had come we'd retired for a siesta after lunch - so we all thought it was a good idea, so indulged again.  Didn't actually think that I was tired, although I must have been, as I slept for maybe an hour.

Got up 3-ish, and watered the garden, and also made a red dip for tonight.  

Although it had been a lovely sunny day, we thought it might get a bit cool at night, so we came prepared.  And yes, it did get a bit cool.  It was also Arlene's birthday, and Terry had made her a lovely cake

The T shirt reads - Dear Santa, I can explain

Because, it was cool, we left early - around 10.30, and then upstairs for some "jamming" - til around 1am

Peter & Justin

 Woke up early on Sunday, but then was able to fall asleep again (hoorah) - and got up after 9 and had a quick toast breakfast.

Saw a nice big lizard in the vegetable garden





Showed off the pomegranate to Peter & Lana over a coffee









Maile and David came around after 10am as they were going to show us the alternative way to their place.  (the regular road is still blocked after the heavy rains washed away the road).  They'd spoken with both Lana & Peter the previous evening, and were keen to show them their house and view.

Had to go up the Calder, and turn off just after the silos on the Curting Kingower Road.

They stopped at one point, and pointed out their house on the hill.  You can't really see it in the below photo unless you know where to look

Had a nice visit with Maile and David, a tour, a chat, some coffee and biscuits, and then it was back to Inglewood to tidy up with another lizard sighting along the way.  This time a large goanna

 

And also stopped for a photo shoot at the old Mechanics Institute on the way back

So, tidied and packed up, and then it was off to Maldon for a late lunch shouted by Lana & Peter.  The Spotted Cow was unfortunately closed, so we went to the place next door, which had a very pleasant  garden area out the back.  Lunch was very good.

Strangely the outside area also opened up onto the Christmas shop

Geelong OPPs 19 & 20 November

What a difference a week makes...

The previous weekend was my birthday, and it was rainy, cold and generally miserable.  Although of course I had a nice time.

This weekend, it was verging on hot, particularly Sunday

Justin had invited some of his OPP buddies up for an intrepid weekend, but first we had to do a bit of tidying up around the place.

With all of the previous rain, plants had grown, and more weeds sprouted, so I took care of that (and had the scratched arms to show for it), while Justin soundproofed the door between our bedroom and the bathroom

First we had to move the wardrobe

looking from the bathroom into the bedroom

And then he attached the tape etc

adding the tape

It might have made it a bit quieter, and he also put tape around the bathroom door frame into the hallway, but it certainly didn't fully soundproof the room.

We had thought that the guests would come around lunchtime, but they all subsequently advised that they would be late afternoon - Ingrid & Nick, Eleni, and Hamish and family all came to stay.

I had organised a smoked brisket from Jim which he delivered at 7pm - delicious.  I also made up some roast potatoes, a salad and an onion tart for the vegetarians.  Coincidentally both Ingrid & Nick  and Hamish had brought us some Passing Clouds wine.  In fact, Ingrid & Nick had stopped at Passing Clouds on the way (they were having a wine launch, and Maile & David had gone there too), as Nick is mates with one of the wine makers there. 

Dinner in the dining room - another good night of course.

And then the music room upstairs for some entertainment.  Justin & Hamish both on vocals and guitar, and Ingrid also singing.

Everyone enjoyed themselves, and Justin was particularly tickled by Hamish's song about his first car, an old Ford laser which he reluctantly sold when he traded up.

Had a slow start the next morning, with people getting up at different times, and most of them left before lunch time. 

It was quite hot and humid, I considered doing some more garden work, but gave that up as a bad idea.  Did some watering though, as it was looking a bit dry in places - and they were expecting 41 degrees on Monday.

Also went for a walk to see the chickens and feed the horses with Hamish and his family

Had a nice antipasto lunch with Justin outside in the shade under the tree - including some of the salami that we'd made.

 

And then afterwards, a nice cold cider in the hammock in the shade while I read the newspapers - felt very decadent not to be doing anything productive!

Inglewood Alive 5 & 6th November 2016

First things first, it was Justin' birthday on Saturday, so we had a splendid antipasto lunch for him

huge spread with Madeleine and Dylan on the sidelines

Dylan now in frame

Way too much food, with plenty of leftovers - but that's the way we like it.

Left for Inglewood around 3pm - so got there 5ish.

Just in time to sit on the veranda with Helen and the kids for their dinner

baked beans for Helen, and beans and franks for the kids

cheeky grin

a bit more serious

Helen rugged up

Given my large lunch, I had a small dinner later - but did enjoy a G&T on the veranda while they had dinner.

Sunday, and a bit of watering the garden, as despite all of the recent rain, it is starting to dry up a bit. Was pleased  to see that the asparagus seeds that Maile had given me were sprouting and looking good.  The ones that I had planted in Melbourne had started off well, but all eventually withered and died.

asparagus ferns

One of the strappy plants I planted some years ago, was also developing a flower.  I'll be interested to see what it looks like once open

Michaela and the flower stem

And then onto Inglewood Alive.  Helen and Michaela had already gone up earlier to prepare for the fashion parade.

Xavier and I went up a bit later, had a wander around, and ran into Helen and Michaela at the apple spiraller

apple spiral

apple spiral X 2

This time they closed the street off.  Had old cars and motor bikes, the wood chop of course, various stalls (saw Kanon again  from St Arnaud), and the vintage fashion parade that Denise had organised, and asked Helen to model for (there were a few other models also)

some souped up hotrods

walking down the street

Xavier bought himself a scooter

another street view

look at those horns

There were more motor bikes here earlier

A red carpet was laid, chairs provided, mood music, and they were off, with Denise providing the commentary for the fashion parade.  Was really good, although started to get hot in the sun.  Was hard to take photos, as because it was so bright couldn't really see what was on the phone screen.

Denise in 40s garb

Helen waiting to come out

not my favourite skirt

front on

quite loud #1

quite loud #2

geometric #1

geometric #2

funky

floaty

my favourite #1

my favourite #2

This was very smart too #1

This was very smart too #2

cute

mellow yellow

60s #1

60s #2

60s #3

fanta

purple rain

gingham

hawaiian

cracked bowl #1

cracked bowl #2

stylish #1

stylish #2

pretty

The parade took about an hour, so then I was off back to the wood chop

ooh the drama

he was putting on shin guards

get ready

go #1

go #2

good seat

go #3

sawing

Given that some of the events were sponsored by businesses/individuals, I'm keen to sponsor a wood chopping event for next year.  Justin agreed, could be via the Inglewood Yacht Club!

I enjoyed lunch in the shade under the hoop pine.  Had got myself a smoked brisket on a brioche bun, and washed it down with a cold beer.  Very nice

lunch

Back to the festival, and there were jumpy castles and  inflatable slides for the kids

Xavier climbing up

and coming down

Mystery steam engines

might have seen this one before

They also unveiled a bronze bust of Sir Reginald Ansett (as he was born in Inglewood).  His nephew gave a speech.

Reginald Ansett's nephew and our house #1

Reginald Ansett's nephew and our house #2

At the other end of the street was a large truck (maybe even a semi trailer) with one side open and a band playing - was a pretty good stage.  Forgot to take a photo of it

So, a pretty good day, and saw Helen make her modelling debut.  I also had to take down the fairy lights from the house, a leftover of our let there be light party. - was quite labour intensive.

My last chore was to measure the space between the bedroom/bathroom door and the floor - as we want to soundproof that doorway.  Justin wants to buy some wood and have it cut to the right size.  Was quite tricky to measure it, was different heights also - crooked.  So took some photos, and Justin can interpret them.  Lot of dust/dirt/spiderwebs.

So Helen and the kids left first, and I closed up after them.  Found a note for me on the kitchen table

Looked suspiciously like Michaela's writing - so I turned it around and found a happy picture

a lovely picture

It was also the last time that Helen and the kids will be in Inglewood for quite a while, as they're moving to NSW, which is lovely for them, but a little bit sad also, as we've had lots of good times here together.  I'll certainly miss them, as they were always up for a challenge, and  very happy to do things with me.