The things people do

Our latest adventure with the car club was to beautiful Dorrigo, which is about 90 minutes east of Armidale.

Our quest was to visit a model train set which is not generally open to the public.

But above is the view from the garden – wow.

And… below is the train in its purpose built shed.

 

This is a double storey train set, a train takes 45 minutes to complete the circuit.

This shed was enormous, the set is enormous and he must have invested a fortune in it. Not to mention the hours.

Goodness knows how his kids are going to dispose of it all when he goes!

 

He is trying to recreate industries, such as a paper mill with all its various stages.

But wait there's more!!! …. his wife also has a hobby………

Her hobby is a is a fairy garden.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

So in the beautiful rainforest on the property she has carefully arranged thousands upon thousands of little creatures.

Garden gnomes, old ornaments, hundreds of old plastic toys and plastic dolls houses.

Now I admire the occasional garden gnome or bit or garden whimsy myself, but this  is a bit bizarre.

These pictures do not do justice to the obsessions that some people have!

She buys her things from op shops and has a $4 rule.

When she goes the kids will have to dig a big hole and bury the lot!

But thats a bit cruel as she loves her collecting and arranging the copious junk around her garden, so whatever turns you on!

A beautiful day though.

It got finished!

 

Finally after all our delays and dramas the kitchen is completely finished. With Graham installing the tin panel splash backs himself.

I’m very pleased with it and its a great cooks kitchen.

My big shiny Smeg oven, new curtains and my very pretty and cheap lamp shades.

And for anyone that scratched their head and wonder why I would dispose of a perfectly functional and only 4 year old kitchen please take note of the before and after shots below!

 

Next job is the 2nd garage and new deck project.

Snow!

 

WE HAD SNOW!!!!

on, Monday 13th July and Friday 17th July.

I can’t remember a good snowfall like this since we were at the farm back in the 90’s.

But…Why did it have to be on a workday?

I hate driving in snow.

Although on the Monday (when I took these photos) it was heavier here on the edge of town. Hardly any snow at work… (We are higher than work).

But on Friday it was heavy everywhere.

Good fun driving to work in a car covered in snow!

At the opera house with The countess Polignac

----Internationally renowned solo violinist, Gil Shaham was offered the 'loan' of the Stradivarius in 1989 by the Stradivarius Society of Chicago. The Countess Polignac (earliest known owner of this violin) was an extremely influential art patron at the French court of Louis XIV and in Venetian music circles - she was responsible for many of the commissions to Vivaldi and brought 'The Four Seasons' from Italy to Paris.---

-------------------------------------------------

Graham has never been inside the Sydney Opera House so earlier this year we decided to put aside a weekend to go and see ‘something’ there.

So, we went to the Sydney Symphony Orchestra website and found this Bach concert and booked it --- Months ago.

I didn’t realise we were going to see something SO special:…..

with, (dare I say) a Rock Star violinist..maestro, master,… with such a very special instrument.

-----------------------

Sorry, the program got a bit crumpled!…… We were at the 4th July Concert.

The concert was broadcast live on ABC Classic FM. And is still available on-line -- if your quick.

And Gil and Adele are a married couple with 3 children!

“Gil Shaham and Adele Anthony join forces with the Sydney Symphony Orchestra strings in this program of Bach concertos.

Anthony grew up in South Australia and made her concert debut with the Adelaide Symphony Orchestra in 1983. She became an international name after winning the 1996 Carl Nielsen International Violin Competition. Anthony performs on a 1728 Stradivarius.

Shaham is renowned as an American master of violin. In 2012, he was named Instrumentalist of the Year by Musical America, for the 'special kind of humanism' with which his performances are imbued. He plays the 1699 'Countess Polignac' Stradivarius.

While Shaham and Anthony have previously collaborated in both the studio and concert hall, this concert is a unique and intimate experience for Australian audiences.”Written by Ben Nielsen

-----------------------------------------------------------

Well,, in a huge sold out concert hall,,,  it was intimate for us AS we were 3 rows from the stage..It was only a small group of strings but I could hear them turn the pages of the music sheets and see their fingers work.

The music was overwhelming, I sat with my mouth open for most of the concert, and it all went too fast (even with the encore).

Adele Anthony was amazing,, but I DO NOT HAVE WORDS to express the talent of Gil Sharman. His playing was like velvet, you could see it, touch it, feel it.  This is a piece of wood and wires! How can he do that amazing stuff..?.. Its magic!

Gob smacking.

 

Well. what else about Sydney…... the place of my birth!

I thought I was going there to get away from the cold,,, BUT it was freezing! ..eeek.

I think in the city,……there is no sun so the temp is lower.

We stayed at the at Menzies (at Wynyard).

Goodness, I have so many memories of getting off a 290 bus and walking through Wynyard park then the Menzies arcade. … who’d thought.. I am getting so old.

We went shopping,

Graham bought a jumper in Myers and I bought an absolutely  Lover-ly coat in David Jones…. The coat was nice and warm for the cold Sydney night and I wore it to the Opera House. Then kept it over my knees.. as it was so cold!

Friday in Sydney is MAD,,, a total insult to the senses. I have spent lots of time in many cities of the world..but trying to walk down the Pitt street Mall on a Friday afternoon,,,

its NUTS…!!!!

It reminds me of a cross between the Royal Easter Show.(at Moore Park) and the Grand Bazaar in Istanbul…..

I suddenly had to remember how to SHOVE!

uh oh.. I’ve become a country girl.

Kitchen Update………

 

For all those that are wondering why I haven’t posted about my beautiful,new, finished kitchen,,, its because ITS STILL NOT FINISHED!!!

ARRRGHH!

NO splashbacks…

We had a disagreement with the installer over the splashbacks , that were suppose to be installed in December.

We are now doing it ourselves.

Fortunately, we haven’t lost money (the Installers have and it serves them right).

Actually, looks like we will save a lot of money doing it ourselves. Yippee, and I’ve changed the colour and the design of the splash backs slightly.

Should be completed soon!

Watch this space

 

 

Current Quilt Project– { SHINE }

 

This is the current quilt I am working on.

Below is my EQ6 design.

I was aiming for a girlie look and originally was going to do handbags, but then it sort of morphed into lanterns.

I finished the border first as it was so complicated. Now I’m working on the lanterns for the centre using floral, fairy frost, and hand dyes.

The look I’m going for lanterns hanging in a garden at dusk – can you get my vision?

I’m not sure I like it… it seems a bit fussy and busy. But wait till it comes together at the end as it may yet work.

I have also just finished 1/2 a dozen dog coats, one each for Georgie Girl, Alfie, Millie & Maya (cash cow coats). And two coats to donate to Doggie Rescue.

ALSO

The first and largest of the ‘Under Pressure’ quilt ~~ top is finished and waiting for me to find a new quilter.

The V&A top is also finished and ditto as above.

Next project is SHEEP soft toys, using the Melly & Me ‘Black Sheep, White sheep’ pattern.

I think my sheep will be grey sheep cream sheep… I have bought some nice fabric that looks like knitting,,, see below… OH, I know.. I’ll call mine  ‘Knit sheep, Purl sheep’…!!

 

council of heritage Motor clubs annual Rally 2015 – part 4

 

Easter Sunday – Uralla

The cars went on a morning run, ending up at the Uralla showground.

And the rain has stopped.

Its time for our last instalment of our performance, and its time for the narrator to set the scene again.

NOTE:- Parts of this performance not effecting the final outcome have been edited.

*********

We are in a courtroom and Darling is now the judge with Freddy Ward is the defence.

Narrator (Kim):- The wild lawless rabble of the New England District inevitably wound up in the courtroom. There an endless flow of the flotsam and jetsam of society faced up to the rigors of British justice.

The court saw a long succession of the desperate, the violent and the downright cruel – and that was just the law makers!!!

Narrator:- Yet – amid this cavalcade of human misery,  Lieutenant Governor Fergus Darling performed rough justice…. just to keep the flow moving

Narrator:- BUT on rare occasions a SENSATIONAL case was heard that really caught the imagination of the public.

Such is the case in todays session….

 

(Whoopee – finished!! and I scoot up the back of the crowd to help gee them up on cue).

Judge Darling:- Bring in the first case !!!

Corporal Punishment enters the stage with a man with a bandaged head.

Punishment:- Sir, I caught this great unwashed with a horse that he could not provide proof of ownership for. I then arrested him.. charging him with horse theft.

Freddy :- I call on the arrested man , one ‘Hydraulic Jack’ to give his version of the story.

Judge Darling:- Hydraulic Jack? is that his real name?

Punishment:- Sir, if I may, it is the name he is known by. It seems most appropriate as he is known to LIFT anything!

Jack:- I admit the horse was not mine. I have an affinity with animals, especially horses, HE JUST FOLLOWED ME HOME!

Judge Darling:- Is that it Freddy? Is that the defence?!

Freddy :- It is Sir. Only to mention that this man Hydraulic Jack is the father of 10 children and is well known for his charitable work. He is a hard worker and a producer of STEEL WOOL.

Judge Darling:- Steel Wool..!??? Where does steel wool come from?

Freddy :- I believe it is from Hydraulic RAMS Sir!

(GROAN)!

Judge Darling:- I believe in his claim for charitable work and I am equally sure that this bounders charitable work begins at home. I also find that for him to have ten children that he must be married to a woman with no sense of smell whatever……. Corporal Punishment I see this persons head is bandaged how did this happen?

Punishment:- Sir, this bounder hit my gentle horse on the head with a clenched fist for no good reason. The force of my gentle horses kick,, shot Hydraulic Jack forward and he jammed his head in the jail door.

Freddy :- Surely Corporal you don’t want us to believe that your horse was INSIDE the jail with you and Jack.

Punishment:- It was RAINING, Sir.

Judge Darling:- You are indeed a kind considerate man Corporal. I have heard all I want to hear. By the way Corporal Punishment, how is you horse after that despicable attack?

Punishment:- He is in a STABLE condition Sir!

Judge Darling:- Hydraulic Jack, I sentence you to be taken from this place and handed back to your wife and ten kids. A cranky wife and ten screaming kids is for you a life sentence and most appropriate.

Bronwyn (above, now a convict, not a preacher), then got up and read a poem about confessing to the troopers, claiming to have buried a body in her fathers garden, when it was really a ruse to have the troopers do the job of digging the garden up ready for planting.

Bron:- Hey you there Handsome! (pointing to an audience member) look up Ancestry.com! we may be related

Col displays sign– SHE SHOULD HAVE GONE TO SPECSAVERS

But wait there's more…..

Now for the main case of todays court session…

Sergeant Pies(Graham):- Sir, the next case, is.. I am afraid… one which will disturb your honour’s deep sensitivity. Indeed Sir, it is one where we perhaps should shield the fairer members of this gathering from. Indeed Sir I have been working on a way to protect the ladies from such exposure and it is my view that it should be given an 18+ MA rating.

Mrs Stone calls out:- Pies you were not so worried about your behaviour at the Touch of Class Hut last night!!!!

Sergeant Pies:- All in the line of duty.. Sir!

Judge Darling:- Pies get on with it! – Any lady who is offended is free to leave at any time.

Sergeant Pies:- Sir.. The arresting officer is Private Lessons together with Private Parts, with your permission Sir, they will bring in the offenders and proceed with the case.

A paint splattered man and a shapely young woman are brought in and placed in the dock.

Parts:- Sir, this man goes by the name of Picasso Le Track and describes himself as a world sought after famous artist. The sweet young thing Sir, is none other than that most sought after siren, my dream at night, the object of my every daily thoughts, her name the first and last name uttered in my nightly prayers, a lady I have desired to find ever since that first silhouette  raised the heat within this lonely colony. Sir she is none other than….. Miss Leniency.

Judge Darling:- Why is she and that artist type here? What is their BRUSH with the law!

(Groan)!

Parts:- Sir, this fraud Picasso had an easel set up with a canvas and was… – with a lecherous smile on his face painting Miss Leniency in the …. you know..

Judge Darling:- Know? I don’t know man – come on – Out with it!

Lessons:- Sir, this misguided Miss,,,,  Sir.. She was without…

Judge Darling:- Without? Without what – I am losing patience with you Lessons.

Parts:- Sir, she was without CLOTHES – God Gloriously naked!

Judge Darling:- Naked you say… Are you sure she was not wearing something – A smile perhaps?

Parts:- I can assure you Sir, NOTHING, and I am sure… for I observed what was happening for at least TWO HOURS noting everything down in my charge book…..

Judge Darling:- You propose to read from your charge book?

Lessons:- Yes Sir, It may be a bit jumbled, Parts and I managed to get our stories straight eventually.

Freddy :- I urge you Sir to throw out this ludicrous charge, It is without proof, based on the laughable testimony of team Parts and Lessons and in the case of Miss Leniency it is without FABRIC!

Parts:- My proof is at hand – BRING IT IN!

Troopers bring in an easel with a draped painting on it.

Parts:- SIR! This is the painting in question! Proof that I observed her naked… her arm outstretched holding a flower.. AND this immoral fraudster painting the scene.

Freddy :- ..Parts… you said you and Lessons observed this going on for two hours. WHY so long?… Why did you not act upon it as soon as you came upon the scene???? You can’t ask US to believe  that this continued on for two hours  whilst you both sat there observing…..

Judge Darling:- Freddy has a point….

Parts:- Sir… we was hidden from their view---- in a clump of bushes a little way away….

Freddy :- So,,, you weren’t close, so how can you be sure?

Parts:- We has my binoculars focussed on her… err,,, that is on them. Lessons and I shared the glasses – we also waited with great desire to see that the painting was finished so we could provide PROPER IMPROPER EVIDENCE… Sir!!!

Judge Darling:- Your dedication to duty is commendable Private Parts. What did you do when the painting was finished?

*****************

(Okay…Okay…You had to BE there!!! ……. SO,  this bit just goes on and on!

It turns out that Parts and Lessons stole her clothes and sold them in some sort of auction.

And, when hearing that Picasso Le Trek uses live models in his art classes, Gov. Darling, has decided to enrol).

Parts:- SIR!  We may lack culture but we have the PROOF! We have the painting… The court MUST see it!

Judge Darling:- Yes by all means… yes, I was so caught up in the evidence that I must admit that I forgot the finished work!

Freddy :- Sir! – I must protest!… I see no purpose in showing this work. I am sure the court does not care to see it…

Lessons:- Can we ASK them .. Sir?

The judge waves to Lessons to continue.. and Lessons turns to the crowd asking “Do you want the painting revealed”?

YES!- YES!~ SHOW US! … TAKE IT OFF!!! etc…

uproar and mayhem from the audience.

Sgt. Pies moves to the painting and with a flourish pulls back the cover and reveals the painting to the cast members… All gasp at the reveal – THE CROWD CANNOT SEE THE PAINTING…

The painting is recovered with the cloth…

(Gov. Darling orders the painting to be taken to his home at once.

The audience is in uproar)…

Show us… SHOW US, SHOW The Painting!!!

Freddy :- Sir! – Don’t head that call, Remember the sensitive ladies out there. Sir it is not proper!

Judge Darling:- (Asks the crowd) Are you sure? Are you all up to this? Think carefully….

Show us… SHOW US,

Judge Darling:- What the Hell… Be it on your own heads.. PRIVATES.. reveal the painting!

 

(Mayhem ensues from the audience).

Freddy :- (when things settle down – Calls out) Sir! Sir, we need a judgement!

Judge Darling:- Fellow time travellers , Thank you for your indulgence. By the power invested in me I thank you all for your perseverance and decree we all should retire for lunch… CASE DISMSSED.

(And the players take their final bows)

All finished! No one made any big stuff ups with their lines, which was just as well seeing we rehearsed it for about 10 weeks. Mind you some of the rehearsals were hysterical.

Much thanks to Bob & Peter (Gov. Darling & Freddy Ward) for writing the script.

Thanks to Lyn for the photos (I was a tad too busy to take these myself).

Thanks to those of my blog readers who persevered with this epic to the end.

The Rally shouldn’t return to us for 5 or more years – but I think Bob is already working on the next script.

Oh, and the painting was auctioned at the final nights dinner.