Preparing for the CWA Nimmitabel event and festival of Small Halls Tarnagulla - Fri 20 March - Mon 23 Mar 2026

Whew, I really am getting very far behind (have visited Inglewood twice since this trip)

Anyway, it was sort of a spur of the moment trip, I was planning on coming up before the 28th, but decided to come this weekend - as Sue had especially asked  if we could come up and attend the Festival of Small Halls in Tarnagulla - which she was organising 

There was also a Loddon Valley Tourism event immediately before hand - so I intended to attend that also

And, I had brought up a whole lot of stuff for our CWA event - Jenny's blackboard, trestle tables, Kerry's crockery and bunting, CWA table cloths etc - the ute was full!

Got there by mid afternoon and had a look around the garden

The cosmos are growing pretty well

The 2nd cumquat looks dead 

There are buds on the Japanese anenome (bit hard to make out)

My juniper tree looks very dead - which is so disappointing to me 

Many peaches on the small tree - and even more on the ground

And many peaches on my "heritage" peach tree 

By the way, I tried one of each, and they are great! no fruit fly - hoorah!

And here is the same peach tree from nearly 15 years ago - ie October 2011 - when Alex and I moved it from under the mulberry tree - where we were putting the vegie boxes

 

 

The pumpkin seeds that I planted have come up in a few places, and I even have flowers on some.  Might be a bit late to get pumpkins though - although you never know

The "grass" was pretty long  on the Kingower side, and needed to be cut before our event 

 

And the nature strip looked a bit wild and wooly also

As a break, I went up to the IGA, and got a copy of the Loddon Herald.  Chris E had contacted me earlier in the week to get some details about David our singer for the CWA event - so this was some good further publicity 

I contacted Chrissie to see if she was going to Tarnagulla and if so - could she please give me a lift.  She was, and she did 

In fact, Mark drove, and Terry came along too, we were in their Kia people mover which was actually pretty comfortable.  There was a small esky on the floor between Terry and myself - and Mark said it was full of drinks - I didn't believe him, but yes, it was, as they also use this car as a courtesy vehicle for their Winery.

Anyway got to Tarnagulla too early, Chrissie thought the Tourism meeting started at 5pm (it was 5.30).  So we sat out in the park, and had a few of those drinks, and some chips - very pleasant apart from some pesky mosquitoes

Went inside around 5.30, and there weren't that many people there - it was more an informal gathering.  The food provided was excellent - lots of variety, and delicious!

It came from a food van from Maldon - This Little Piggy - I'll certainly consider them if we need catering again

And then there was the Show at 7pm

It was excellent 

Sue came up and welcomed us first

Then a young local girl with a very sweet voice performed

Followed by Irish Mythen - who I enjoyed the most. She had a raucous voice and attitude and some great songs

Lastly, there was Kaurna Cronin - who was also very good 

So, all up, a fun night - and back home not too late

Saturday, and to work as I wanted the place to look nice inside and out

First up the garden

There was unfortunately quite a lot of pesky couch grass in the new flower beds and some on the paths - which I removed

Also discovered a whole lot self seeded artichokes in the vegie garden

Dead headed the roses

And cut this branch off a weed plum tree - I was wearing my hat, and banged my head on it hard - three times - as I couldn't see because of my hat brim - after the third time - I got the pruning saw and cut it off

So now I can walk along that path and not bang my head - weed plum on the left 

I also sawed off some of a weed prunus tree's branches - was on a roll

Raked up the fallen Hoop pine droppings

And had a refreshing gin and tonic at 5pm, after a long and hard day's work 

 Sunday and back out into the garden - weeding, trimming etc

And then I realised that the watering system was on - it shouldn't have been - as it was not programmed to do so - and I couldn't turn it off 

I was horrified to see that there was a significant leak in one of the pipes - I could hear water gushing out.  I tried to turn off the system with my mobile phone, but it didn't work - because it wasn't scheduled....In a panic, I called Shane, and he got me to turn off the pump? at the power point - which I did.  And speaking of the pump, I noticed it going on and off all day yesterday - making quite a bit of noise, another thing to bring to Shane's attention

There was also a LOT of water near the rotunda - to my mind indicating another leak

And near another of the tear drop beds

I dug down to see how deep the water was - and it was very wet at least 10cm down

Speaking flooding - the cellar was a little bit flooded again - stupid float in the sump pump doesn't float - have to follow up with the builder again

 

I also discovered an Aster Daisy that I musty have bought from Burnley Gardens - I wasn't sure if it was a weed or a proper plant - so sent Bianca at Bridgewater Nursery a text, she confirmed it was a "good guy"

By the end of Sunday I had quite a pile of trimmings/weeds for Shane to dispose of - and had also filled the bin 

 
Monday, and I decided to be inside

Had to do a cup/saucer/plate audit

 

Also cleaned out all the fireplaces - filthy work - just call me Cinderella! I should have taken a before photo - this one was mostly done - apart from the right hand side

While cleaning out the dining room fireplace, I found a small egg shell - does that mean there's a nest on top?

Ended up with a lot of detritus - stuff falling down the chimney

And swept and dusted, and generally tidied up .....

And put a waste transfer voucher under the Mat for Shane to collect and use when he takes the green waste

And eventually had enough, and drove back to Melbourne