Category Archives: Tasmania

The Tramp revisited

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I am pleased to report that Michael’s crowdfunding campaign (see post on The Tramp) has successfully concluded. It has been a turbulent journey with wonderful support from myriad avenues, both known and new.

The Tramp CD_Novel Mock

Thank you to all those who believe in Michael enough to pre-order books and CDs and to others who generously pledged support without reward. Congratulations to the new custodian of The Beast, the hand crafted cigar box guitar that will be heard on the CD.

1.The Beast

If you are contemplating crowdfunding your next project you will need a very thick skin and be prepared to learn some lessons on friendship along the way. There are still many hours of work ahead for Michael and I wish him much success, he deserves it.

twenty years

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Twenty years ago on this day something happened that changed my life. I was invited to a barbecue by a very special friend, there was someone she thought I should meet. “I’m not interested”, I said, but I went anyway. Little did I know, she had said the same thing to the “someone”, with the same response. The rest, as they say, is history. We had a couple of dates

Mark Worthington’s 40th, June 1996
Whalers Inn, Victor Harbour, October 1996

and before long we were cohabiting. We’ve had some good times, both at home

My 40th, March 2000
St. Peter’s Old Collegians black tie dinner, August 2001
Dawesley, July, 2004
Harj’s 21st, July 2006
first Tasmanian winter, June 2009
after a hard days work, July 2009
9.7th wedding anniversary 01.10

7th wedding anniversary, January 2010

and away.

Caddo Lake, Texas, September 2008
The White Lion, Tenterden, Kent, October 2008
Spirit of Tasmania, November 2008
Loongana, March 2009
14.Sydney Opera House 12.10

Sydney Opera House, December 2010

Cradle Mountain Lodge, July 2011
La Lucciola, Seminyak, Bali, November 2012
Breeze at the Samaya, Seminyak, Bali, November 2012
Il Castagno, Tuscany, May 2014
Uluru, N.T., June 2015
Sails in the Desert, Uluru, N.T., June 2015

We’ve had some adventures

21.Hanson Bay,Kangaroo Island 02.98

Hanson Bay, Kangaroo Island, February 1998

Wilpena Pound, Flinders Ranges, June 1998
Huon River, Tasmania, November 1998
scenic flight, Sydney, December 2010
Snake Hill, Cradle Mountain, July 2011
Ayung River, Bali, November 2012
scenic flight, Uluru, June 2015

and some silliness.

Lake Fyans, The Grampians, June 1997
shopped till we dropped, Melbourne, October 1999
pick of the bunch, November 2000
moving in, Dawesley, November 2001
The Balhannah Chainsaw Gang, October 2002
Xmas card, December 2009
Xmas Day, December 2009
new chairs, May 2010
36.Harbour Bridge climb,Sydney 12.10

Harbour Bridge Climb, Sydney, December 2010

Fish Spa, Sanur, Bali, November 2012
Waldheim’s Spa, Cradle Mountain, July 2011
39.with Kevin Bloody Wilson,Launceston 08.14

with Kevin Bloody Wilson, Launceston, August 2014

Six and a half years after that fateful day, we had a very formal wedding

40.wedding1 01.03

Wedding, Dawesley, January 2003

and reception.

41.wedding2 01.01

wedding reception, Dawesley, January 2003

Along the way, we have learned the essential ingredients of a successful relationship. It takes a lot of teamwork,

moving rocks, Dawesley, October 2005
building shed, Stowport, May 2012

a bit of role play doesn’t go astray

Sovereign Hill, Ballarat, October 1999
Murder Mystery dinner, ‘The Watersdown Affair’, June 2001
Murder Mystery dinner, ‘Archeologically Speaking, It’s the Pits’, March 2004
Spider Witch & The Ghoul, Halloween, October 2004

and most importantly, don’t argue over the little things.

48.little things 11.09

with Charlie, November 2009

It’s been a fabulous journey, looking forward to the next twenty……

auspicious autumn

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Autumn is a busy time in the garden, with two truckloads of mulch to spread

1.mulch pile14.mulching 3.mulch pile3

and firewood to get in for the winter. We don’t cut down trees in our forest but sometimes nature helps out.

5.wood16.wood2

It’s hard work – he cuts,

7.wood38.wood49.wood5

I stack

then Betsy helps us take it up the hill.

12.wood8

I find some fascinating features in the forest

15.lichen16.web

trees that appear to have died have not.

We split

19.splitter1

and stack the wood ready for our winter warmth.

23.woodshed1

The garden still has some colour

and the bees love the callistemon.

36.callistemon bee

Five years ago I made a bench from the branches of our pruned fruit trees.

37.bench1

Sadly, it has succumbed to the elements.

38.bench3

Maybe another project…..

The Tramp

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Many of you will not realise that I have a very creative husband. You may have seen my previous posts in relation to his guitar making (lyrical luthier) and musical talent (grapes, gourmet & guitar). He has recorded and released two CDs of his own compositions and has now expanded his repertoire to include writing. This latest project has just been launched on the crowdfunding website, Pozible. I won’t say too much because this link will tell you everything you need to know.

http://www.pozible.com/project/205101

I think you will find the videos entertaining and if you feel the urge to offer support there are a range rewards for you to choose from. I wish him all the luck, he deserves it.

The Tramp CD_Novel Mock

too many tomatoes?

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This is for all of you who planted tomatoes in summer, nurturing the young plants, giving plenty of water through the warmest, driest summer on record. The excitement when the first ones ripened.

The first batch of tomato sauce, tomato soup, the second batch, then the third as the little darlings turned red before your very eyes. Gathering momentum as the weeks pass, you give them to friends by the kilo until this point where you just wish they would stop! And so do your friends.

3.tomatoes

I want to share a very special find with you. A recipe for the most sensational jam – yes, tomato jam. You can’t go wrong with a Sally Wise recipe and here it is:

1kg (2lb) tomatoes

1.5kg (3lb) sugar

juice of one and a half lemons

Chop the tomatoes, I left the skins on and they ‘candied’ in the mixture. Add the lemon juice and bring to the boil. Add the sugar and stir till dissolved. Boil fast till setting point is reached (I use jam making sugar to speed things up).

4.jam

This recipe made six jars and it is delicious.

The tomatoes are still coming so I guess I’ll be adding to my already ample stash of Pomarola and Roasted Tomato Soup in the freezer.