Tuesday 13 June 2023

RA & Wagner 28-30 April 2023

 ARGHH - traffic....

We left Melbourne at 4.30, and arrived in Inglewood at 8pm - 3.5 hours later, and it wasn't even a long weekend

Sure it was raining a bit, and there were a few broken down cars or accidents, but that was ridiculous, it took about 1.75 hours just to get to the service station at Calder Park 

Justin was also wearing his new contact lenses, and wanted to take them out once we got to Inglewood - however he discovered that the water wasn't turned on at the house.  ARGHH again

I contacted Craig - 2IC  to see if he could advise, and luckily he said the plumber would have just forgotten to turn it back on

Poor old Justin's eye's were pretty sore by this time, as he was having trouble taking the contacts out, so I went down into the garden, and turned it back on.  All good, we could relax now

Saturday morning, and Mark from Restoration Australia arrived around 10am with another cameraman - Steve

They initially set up on the veranda - and luckily it was a lovely sunny day 




They wanted an "origin" story from us - ie how we met, why we bought the house etc 

Next up we went down the road to the.... 

whoops - looks like I forgot to finish this....as its now 13th June!

Anyway, next we went up the road to the old Eucy/Goldmining "ruins" - and did some further filming

Saw a very colourful spider while there


Unfortunately the pants I was wearing were a magnet/velcro for the eager weeds


This is all the weeds once both Justin and I had pulled them off


Had a quick lunch outside in the sun - and Justin played his guitar


Then they wanted us to drive around town a bit in the ute with the Inglewood Yacht Club Commodore magnet affixed to the doors - Mark attached the camera to the side window and we communicated via my mobile phone on my lap - didn't take any photos of this

They also had us walk down the street to see Steve and Denise - and sit at a table with them outside their shop - having a chat and a pretend coffee

After Mark left - I went around the garden and picked more pomegranates


And also admired the Autumn colours of the grapevine leaves


And Justin took a few photos - of how we were living/coping there without a downstairs bathroom or kitchen

But at least there's a bit of progress with the bathroom ie waterproofed floor, bath in situ etc. We also wondered about the shower head being seemingly above the tiled area - it isn't the tiles will go beyond the blue  



The kitchen however is still a shell



So we have an interim kitchen in the scullery - with not terribly much bench space - what with the coffee machine, toaster,  kettle, and George Foreman sandwich press there.  We also have the microwave and benchtop oven on the washing machine and dishwasher - but we make it work


On Sunday we met up with Mark P in Bendigo at the Dispensary for an early lunch at 12 noon

Parked up near the Ulumbarra Theatre (old jail) in preparation for the Wagner opera that were seeing at 2pm

Walked down past the Botanic Gardens and saw and heard  screeching bats in some of the trees


The Dispensary was very good, started with a negroni, and had the chefs platter for lunch.  Surprisingly, not many restaurants are open on a Sunday for lunch in Bendigo - we were lucky to get this one - about a 10 minute walk away from the theatre




Finished lunch around 1.30 - and then walked to the theatre.  It was the last part of the 4 part Wagner Ring Cycle - Gotterdammerung, and Susan wasn't with us - as she was at a work conference in San Francisco.  Anyway, Mark and Susan had originally booked tickets to see it in Brisbane last year or the year before, but it was cancelled due to covid, so when we heard that it was going to be performed in Bendigo - we thought we might go

Didn't get organised in enough time, so just saw the last one - bought B reserve tickets for $275 each

Anyway, we certainly got our money's worth - as it started at 2pm, but didn't finish til 8.45pm - ie 6 3/4 hours!.. Granted there were 2 x intermissions to get out and stretch your legs / have something to eat or drink





So, the show was good .....but the story somewhat silly.  In the first act, I think we all at times napped a little, it was warm, it was dark....

We also saw Rachel during the 2nd intermission  

Anyway, I was glad to have seen it - but once is probably enough.  

Luckily no kangaroos on the way back - and we got home around 11, and straight to bed



 


   

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