Midday prayer

Father God,
Guide my way,
my words,
the hard hearts,
and struggling minds,
provide strength to safely arrive,
where I am needed,
my family know they are loved
it's is a state of being.
Help me to share the love around.
Amen

On the hunt for damper recipes

Quick blog before bill paying and local shopping.
While doing an afternoon tea group yesterday I discovered a really yummy recipe-:
Cheesy rosemary damper - was in a recent magazine.
Will have to email them my thanks.
Think I will try it this weekend.
Going to look for more damper recipes, date and walnut?
We are all a stones throw away from mental chaos.
Several examples of that at the moment.
The fragility of the human spirit combined with the fire.
There is a little boy named Jakob who is running around the library currently.
His frustrated mother just asked him if he could shut up and he said No!
The fire of a two year old.

Blowing Bubbles

Reading on a train - Mr Rosenbaum's List, how to be English in the post war era.
In the Art Gallery cafe - reading The Australian - A Plus, the problems with Kevin according to the press. He is either too left wing, too potty mouthed, not common man enough, working too hard, not working enough etc etc.
In the State Library - International papers.
To see 'Mother and Child' @ 3.30pm - Palace Nova.
Been to Borders and spent birthday voucher - 'The Boat' & 'Confederation of Dunces'.
Finished reading Mr Toppit by Charles Elton. - highly recommended, apparently 14 years in the making.
There is a person on the next computer making duck noises?!
The Victory Hotel 50th, mine, went really well.
Yes, there were bubbles, champagne, lemonade and blowing bubbles. Hibiscus flowers and hugs.
Wine cellar speech and rockwiz memories of concerts & albums.
I woke up the next day to hear my first concert band is doing a concert.
The Seekers return! However, to qualify my excitement, they are teaming with Andre Riu.
Well I guess you can't have everything.

Project 50

Collectors was cancelled while I was in Hobart.
I was browsing in a second hand bookshop called Deja Vu when I heard the ABC News.
At the time I didn't know who they were referring to. But the host has been wiped pending court action re: alleged illegal internet access.
But in Hobart terms this is full page one news.
No Collectors.
It does have a dedicated following. I can't seem to be around for the time slot.
Collecting it seems is about the hunt. Looking for that next piece to add to the collection. Or as my dad was wont to do, starting new collections by the day - key rings, fridge magnets, cigarette lighters, mugs, cherry items, tea pots, brass animals and the list went on.
I seem to have collected a vast amount of stuff in fifty years. Much of it is stored in boxes and shelves, but what to do with it? Curating 50 years - project 50.
Watch this space!

Winter warm up in Hobart

Hobart is not a big city, but a damn friendly one.
It has-:
Beautiful Botanical gardens - a vege plot, herb garden, japanese garden et al. It even has a carousel! But being winter it was behind barriers and roped off. I love a carousel.
A vibrant Salamanca market - heeps of stalls and helpful people, got luggae labels, a bag, book - 'Mr Toppit' which is a pure delight. Also bought the Matthew Evans cookbook for Faye - and had it signed by him! The gourmet farmer himself, Good luck sourcing the best.
The best book shop - The Hobart Bookshop - if only I could work there..............
Scallop pies!! Heaven in a pie. Try the Petty Sessions cafe in Frankin - we had one fresh out of the oven.
Truly unspoilt forests, the huon river, pines and wonderful walking trails. The intersection of the Huon and Picton rivers is something to behold.
Bruny Island, with the Southern Ocean, albatros, seals, cormerants and rolling swells. In addition to hot pumpkin soup and fresh salad rolls following our expedition.
Mures resturant is over priced, so is Flippers fish and chips on the dock.
The apartment was a bit corporate and sterile. They also don't do as service cos it is a Sunday. Then tried to pull that for the public hol as well - no siree, this is not what I paid for.
Anyway there was a slight delay on the way home from Hobart, resulting in a night in Melb.
Now for the insurance.......Not so impressed with Virgin, it's happened before.
Also I hit 50 today and am trying to keep happy about it? Yeah, life rolls on.
Going to email The Mercury as they are trying to float ideas of how to get people to visit Hobart in the winter. As a long term convert to winter travel, I would not bang on about festivals. It is all there already - just let me visualize that scallop pie in my mind.

Letters to the Australian blocked.

Wrote a to the Australian - a letter which would have been in this weekend - I'm sure of it.
But.........there has been some legal action related to the story - so its cover and any letters relating to this article are forbidden until, when?
It was on the sad case of the man who killed his son, while psychotic in Cooper Pedy.
How this is connected with the Victorian Supreme Court. I do not know.
Four days until Hobart.
To do -:
said invites & phone calls.
maths revision, tutoring for Jerry - violin work for Jerry
Building research for apprenticships for Julian.
Scholarship Trust enquiry re: Jasmine.
work - multiple problems to sort out each day
garden makeover - please......!
move freezer and clean, clean, clean.
Plan food for boys.

It's only money, right?!

What about those invites Jenny?
50 is a big deal and it seems a costly enterprise.
But.....I do so want to go to Hobart.
Plus have a family dinner.
Plus do a limo - party on wheels thing.
I cannot get exited by hosting a party anywhere else. Too much pressure.
It is only money, right!