Another solo visit 19 - 21 July 2024

 Another quick visit by me - left later than I had wanted to on Friday - as had CWA stuff to do....

Ended up getting to Inglewood around 6 or so.

Was cold and windy - not very nice

Had some dinner and watched Tar with Cate Blanchett - was a good movie, but I didn't really like it 

Saturday and made myself breakfast in bed, read the Age on line, did my wordle, quordle and now also Duo Lingo 

Was quite lazy - as last weekend was full on - helping out at the VAME exhibition for CWA

Also it was still really quite awful outside - very windy and cold.  I had thought I might do some gardening this weekend - tidying up etc, but it really was too unpleasant  

Even had lunch in bed...

After speaking with the Aga people did another dried lemon slice experiment 

Still leaked ....still not happy, will speak to Aga about it 

Watched My Big Fat Greek Wedding #3 on Saturday night - was the polar opposite of Tar, non cerebral, pretty stupid - didn't really like that one either.  I had enjoyed the first MBFGW movie though

So, these were two movies that I had suggested watching with Justin - and he wasn't interested, so I watched them by myself - good thing too, as he would have hated them more than me ....

Another inside day on Sunday - as the weather continued to be unpleasant

Made some cast iron pot bread - ala Terry's recipe

Worked out ok - not brilliant - forgot to take a photo of the baked bread

Weather improved somewhat later in the afternoon, so I did a bit of remedial gardening

Pruned the roses

And planted some of the sturdier cuttings - who know they might grow

Admired a gorgeous purple iris

And saw that Steve had done some window puttying

I also took my life in my hands (slight exaggeration) - more likely my eyesight - and sawed off some date palm date fronds - as I wanted them for the Como House Eat with your Eyes installation that we were doing in conjunction with our baked goods and preserves CWA sale

No damage to my eyes with those nasty spikes  - but the ute cabin was pretty full....

And the Como installation looked great - if I do say so myself - as I'd also picked some pomegranates and lemons, brought back a bag of silver, and some fruit oil paintings from home.  I was going for a Peter Greenaway look 

 

Midweek with Michaela 9 - 12 July 2024

 Michaela caught the train to our place, and then we had to wait for the ute as it was being serviced.

We thought it would orginally be ready around 3 or 4, but it was well after 5pm - oh well

Justin gave us a lift with our stuff to the garage, and we just continued onto Inglewood

There was traffic, and it was rainy, and getting dark. I had thought the lights were on automatic, but that they weren't very bright.

Turned out they weren't on at all....I quickly rectified this 

Anyway, got to Inglewood around 7.30 or so - and quickly rustled up some left over dinner for us

Michaela had come up with me because it was school holidays, Helen had wanted to come, but couldn't organise it, while Xavier preferred to stay in Melbourne with his friends 

Anyway, we had dinner and thought we'd watch a show together - she chose Good Girls Guide to Murder 

Wednesday, and despite it being so miserable yesterday, the day dawned gorgeous, sunny and blue sky.  Michaela had wanted to go to Melville caves - so we did that after breakfast

For the first time ever I parked below in the camp ground car park, and we walked up to the Caves.  Was pretty steep, and we took a few breaks - not as fit as I hoped I was.  Also wasn't 100% sure of the way

Anyway we got there, and it was glorious.  It was actually so bright that I couldn't really see my mobile phone screen when taking the photos - just pointed and clicked, hoped for the best

Walked back down, and had a bit of a wander in the camp ground area, discovered that there are a number of walks you can do from there - who knew.  We didn't have time then, but will be back  

Back home for lunch - and a bit of pottering around 

I started putting the party glasses away - had a spare plastic tub, so wrapped them in bubble wrap etc and put them away (such a nuisance that the show runner from Restoration Australia threw the boxes  away)

I also wanted to test the aga some more 

And Michaela was keen to do some cooking with me

Got her to chop up some lemons - to dry in the warming oven

Next up was making some biscuits - they were supposed to be macadamia lime - but we had cashews and lemon - Michaela made them under my instruction in the thermomix.  They looked and tasted great

And she had also wanted gnocchi with (store bought, basil not in season) pesto for dinner

We made the gnocchi - once again in the thermomix, and then I rolled them out, and Michaela cut them

And we also had apple crumble - as I'd had some topping left over from the weekend

What a feast! and we watched another Good Girls Guide to Murder

Thursday, and I'd booked the Paris Exhibition for Michaela and myself  - it was in its last week - so I was pleased that I was able to go

It was a really lovely exhibition - concentrating on Paris from 1880 to 1925 - we both enjoyed it a lot

They also had all types of exhibits - old films, dresses/gloves/hats, paintings, posters etc.  there was one old film were there was a little boy who looked like Fraser when he was a toddler - what a cutey

 

Stayed for around 2 hours, and then felt like some lunch - but of course all the restaurants/cafes that we tried on View Street were full - inside, and it was a bit cool, and threatening to rain  That said, we did end up sitting outside - next to an outdoor heater - and it was pretty good

After lunch Michaela wanted to check out the various Op Shops - so we traipsed around  - she had mapped them on her phone.  She got a dress and some jewellery, and I got some water glasses

I thought about getting this lagiole set - but at $300 it wasn't a bargain

We finished up foot sore, but happy, having walked more than 10,000 steps

Made some anzac biscuits when we got home

Leftovers for dinner, and the last 2 episodes of Good Girls Guide to Murder

Friday, and pottered around a bit - took the skins off the salamis that we'd made last year - and put the "nude" salamis in the drying cupboard to dry out - as the skin we had used last year just didn't let the salamis breathe - and they were very soft still

It was a nice day, so lunch outside in the rotunda, and then home in the afternoon - unfortunately with a peak hour traffic snarl at the end 

 

Relaxing with Justin Sat 6 - Mon 8 July 2024

I had my CWA excursion to Como House on Saturday afternoon, and Justin had wanted to go to Inglewood, just to relax, (but didn't really want to go by himself) - so we went together after Como House

I should also add that Como House had some features that we also have in Inglewood - ie a red/yellow/blue window.  People always comment - and think that they must not be original - ie the Victorians wouldn't have glass like that - but I reckon they did!

And also a pullinger stove - with the same cast iron surround

Lastly, a similar - but fancier Grandfather clock

Got there early evening, and it felt freezing in the house - put the heaters on, and some dinner up in the bee room

Sunday, and a nice sleep in 

Justin played  a bit of music 

And also straightened up the crooked baubles on the grandfather clock

 

I unpicked the edging off some fancy cord that I'd bought from Lincraft - Justin wanted "fancy cord" to hang the tapestries 

I thought we'd christen the Aga, and so invited Terry around for dinner

I bought a rolled boned pork, and made some roast potatoes, and 3 x little apple crumbles with custard - and also made some apple sauce in the thermomix.

We had some easy starters in the dining room - olives, soya crisps, cashews and shapes - with a glass of bubbles.

I was so impressed by the pork - good crackle, and the meat was so moist and tender.  The potatoes less good, I'd put them on the bottom of the roasting oven - and left them there a bit long - so they got a bit too dark on one side 

Pity I didn't get a photo of the pork.... 

Monday, and Justin worked "from home" - in the bee room

I pottered around - and at lunch time Justin and I marked where we wanted the powerpoints in the new shed

 

I did  the dishes after lunch - and "lost" a vegetable peeler in the stone gap - we really need someone to come and caulk it ....

Day Trip with Alex & April Sunday 23 June 2024

Well, I couldn't come for the weekend, as Madeleine and I saw Jerry Seinfeld on Saturday night, so I just went up for the day with Alex and April on Sunday

Alex was keen to come up, as he hadn't been able to make it to the party last week

They picked me up around 10, and we got there around 12

Showed them around, and they loved it - and also wondered where I'd put all the stuff ....

Also took some belated photos of the little yellow room - now named toy room

And another photo of the  green room

Had a picnic lunch outside in the rotunda

And saw that the electricians had made a trench to get the electrics to the shed 

And also took a photo of another gap in the kitchen benchtop which needs to be filled - not sure who's going to do that

Pottered around a bit after lunch - and i guess we left around 4pm or so