India and after

 I've been unable to post all year ( not that 2020 has been a year of activity) and because the the action bar at the top of the blog disappeared when I put on a new theme .

After about half an hour googling I eventually found someone who said that some of them don't have it!!  so I just had to go back in and find a set up that actually had a place to add new post !

I headed off to India in early February with some trepidation being allergic to Chilli and wasn't sure I'd be able to eat, but then decided it would be a good way to lose weight, or to live on a bland white diet while I was there . However this did not prove the case and I enjoyed the food, the sights, the colour, the people in the whole experience.

The tour was with Intrepid and I really like their travel philosophy/ A small group 9 people  Aussies, (4 were ex Sth African), and British. We all got on well so made for a friendly tour. 

 

A walk

I cant believe how much less walking I am doing since stopping work at RCH
I used to walk to and from Kensington 30-40mins each way every day

Now it is just one day a fortnight and the regular walks with Spencer gone I am relatively inactive
So need to start up
So I went on a walk to the Cliff walk on eagle Rock Parade and wound my way back
I even got hot!!

Arashi Shibori workshop

I enrolled for a workshop with the Louis Joel Centre's Summer series 

I booked for this one which whenever I referred to it as a dyeing workshop I got a blank look so and to rephrase to Fabric dyeing 

I was expecting it to be indigo blue colours but was actually more like tie dyeing 

Not what I planned but still interesting and educational 

I even got a book from the library 

Botanical Inks Babs Behan 

There were 7 women in the workshop and all the stuff was provided except for plastic bottles to holed the pipes 

So our set up was a bucket each 2 pieces of white fabric and plastic pipes and rubber bands and some gloves

the wrapped fabric

We started by rolling the fabric diagonally (I did the second one horizontally) around the pipe fixing with rubber bands then lightly wetting in and twisting it around down to the end of the pipe

They could stand in the bottles in the bucket (tidier than ziplock bags)

Celia was pleased to hand me a fistful of runner bands from her collection

Then we squirted about 1Tbs of dye (premixed in tomato sauce bottles ) down the sid of the cloth then added water to cover the fabric and left it for an hour

Then we added a fixative Soda Ash solution about 4 Tbs down the pipe and swish it around

Leave for another hour hen rinse off 
Leave to soak overnight in soapy water (wool mix then hang to dry  

The red one is a bit gaudy but the blue an orange is Ok 

I will look at some alternate was to wrap so the effect is different
But enjoy the group very much

New Year's Day

With Wendy and Celia at Aireys Inlet we had a lovely repast for lunch!

Neighbours

Our neighbour Lisa came in yesterday needing help and support as she had locked the keys in her car, with the two Dachshunds winston & Trevor  in it, and her boys were waiting for her to pick them up near Melbourne.
So we got on to RACV (her phone was in car as well) and waited with her

Some in comfort

 others checking on the dogs!
All resolved in 30minutes
Luckily a cooler day

The Market at Aireys

Celia has really settled in to Aireys Inlet
On Sunday we went up to the Market at the recreation area and browsed around
It took us quite a while as we kept meeting people we / Celia knew

We bought some plants then found the guy only took cash
The woman we were speaking to offered yo pay and Calia could refund her at the next craft class!!!

A Day at the Beach

I had bought Dylan a wetsuit for Xmas as he had discovered Body boarding last year, but stay din the water until he was blue with cold
So we went down to Sandy Gully Beach on a lovely day with good waves

 After initial dramas from Dylan, whose first attempt failed, he then was hooked again

The wetsuit fitted well

Max, while he liked the beach, hated the waves (even the water) coming in over his feet
He would run 50 mts away as it came in

safely above the tide mark 

braving the waves

Celia and I worked on him and eventually was happy to sit in the waves as they came in up to his waist
We realised that he found it hard to keep his balance so we held his hands and after a while he let go "for a second!" and as we said "We've created a monster"

Max

Mary and Leonie popped in for a visit with their dog Angus
After some initial uncertainty Max got involved in Angus' favourite game of fetch

he had to persuade him to drop the ball 

Down to Aireys: Boxing Day

I went down to Aireys on Boxing Day Celia had come down directly form Andrew's as she was expecting Fran

We had our traditional Brandy Alexanders and lunch of roast lamb that Celia baked
Then relaxing and talking in the garden

Christmas Day : Brooklyn

Celia and I had Christmas at home with our usual Christmas stocking then presents
We enjoy the stocking opening and find we often get the same thing for each other.
This year Celia's gave me an AUGER a drill bit for the garden to go with my battery operated drill I got for my birthday

We had French Toast and berries and Champagne and OJ for breakfast in the courtyard

Then had baked salmon and salads for lunch

This was interrupted as I had put the fish portions out on the table in the court yard to come back out and find Bronte had helped herself to Celia's portion
She ended up with a microwaved portion as it is her dog!

For dessert  we had a Pavlova Platter
This was ambitious as we have never made a Pav before and we also don't own an electric beater
So we started off with the Bamix but that doesn't aerate very well so we resorted to a whisk giving each other 15-30 second beating before a rest
But it was delicious

Off to Andrew and Lynne's for seafood dinner. Nick and Kate were there and Lynne's parents John and Gwen

Cray and Prawns 

Salads and more dessert

This time dessert was a Pavlova stack with cherries !

Christmas Eve

As Bridie finds it hard to share Christmas day with us we started a tradition of Christmas Eve.
So we went over there to Ringwood about 4pm and took presents for them.
Bridie had made some great chicken and lovely salads.

Max & Dylan with Crackers

trying his new binoculars

Chocolate Ripple ring

Snacks for Santa  

they enjoyed my presents  Binoculars and A bug net 

Christmas 2019

This year with Celia Home we had a few days of Christmas celebration.

Andrew participates in the Xmas lights on the Patterson River 

First we had a meal at Andrew and Lynne's when Bridie and Sean came as well

The Festive table 

Dylan and Max waiting for Presents!

Nick and Kate were there as well. Dylan and max love the new house renovation Especially the lift!

Nick also took them on a trip on Shrek that was very thrilling.!