Tag Archives: photography

Wing’s Wildlife Park

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Wing’s Wildlife Park has the largest collection of Australian wildlife in Australia. A forty five minute drive from our door, the park is set in a stunning location at Gunns Plains

1.Gunns Plains

on the banks of the Leven River.

2.Leven River

In January 2011, the Leven River broke its banks and the wildlife park sustained extensive flood damage. The Wing family considered closing the park but with the help of some fantastic volunteers, they re-opened within two weeks. We arrived in time for the feeding of the Tasmanian Devils.

There were a number of assorted ducks and geese wandering around.

Most of the native animals have been rescued following injury. If they are able, they are released into their natural habitat when rehabilitated, otherwise they stay at the park for the rest of their lives.

17.golden brushtail possum18.sugar glider

The eastern quoll is considered extinct on the mainland, but it does inhabit much of Tasmania.

The Bennett’s wallaby has a wonderful enclosure.

22.Bennett's wallaby enclosure

Known as the red-necked wallaby on the mainland, they are a common sight in Tasmania.

23.Bennett's wallaby1

Pademelons are gorgeous creatures, they frequent our garden at night, although I don’t think albinos would fare too well in the wild.

Wombats look so cuddly.

31.wombat1

This one was a bit of an acrobat.

We don’t have koalas in the wild in Tasmania

but we have plenty of lizards

38.blotched blue tongues

and birds.

The crab-eating macaque was deep in thought

The park was the first to import American bison into Tasmania.

54.bison

There are a variety of four-legged friends

and some very cute mums with baby.

The camels seemed to be having a hard time with their vegetables.

The animals have some gorgeous scenery to enjoy

74.view175.view5

and the poplar lined driveway is a beautiful farewell to a wonderful day.

76.view4

Sidmouth

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Continuing westward on our travels, we stumbled across Sidmouth, a seaside town on the coast of East Devon.

1.Sidmouth

It began to develop as a destination for ‘discriminating  visitors’ around 1800. Its popularity was a result of its climate and surroundings. We both remember the coffee and scrumptious cake we enjoyed at a café on The Esplanade.

2.Esplanade

We wandered along the seafront, past the Belmont Hotel, a gorgeous luxury reminder of the Regency era.

3.The Belmont Hotel

The South West Coast Path, a 630 mile walk along stunning coastline, passes through Sidmouth.

4.Sidmouth5.Sidmouth

The striking red cliffs, formed 240 million years ago during the Triassic period, form part of the Jurassic Coast.

6.Sidmouth7.Sidmouth

Once a 17th century lime kiln, the Clocktower Café is perched on the cliff with sensational views.

8.The Clocktower Cafe

The path around the cliff leads to Jacob’s Ladder beach, named after the series of wooden steps leading up to the cliff top gardens.

9.Jacobs Ladder beach

The 24  colourful beach huts at the base of the steps can be rented from April to September.

10.beach huts Jacobs ladder beach

The house on the cliff overlooking the beach was intriguing.

11.The Gazebo

The ‘Gazebo’ was built on Peak Hill in 1962 by playwright, R.F. Delderfield. You could have purchased it for £795,000 in February 2011.

11.The Gazebo copy

Not far from Sidmouth, on the edge of Dartmoor National Park, we discovered Castle Drogo.

12.Castle Drogo

Although it appears to be a medieval castle, it was built from local granite between 1911 and 1930 for self made millionaire Julius Drewe. It was the last castle built in England and was delayed with the First World War and subsequent economic downturn.

13.Castle Drogo

Above the entrance was a sculpted lion and the Drewe family motto, ‘Drogo is my name and valour gave me arms.’

14.Castle Drogo14.Castle Drogo copy

Beyond the chapel

15.Castle Drogo chapel

the views across Devon were breathtaking.

16.Castle Drogo

Wauchope

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There aren’t a lot of options for somewhere to stay overnight through the middle of the Northern Territory, we fortunately found an oasis in the desert. Not far from the Devils Marbles is the tiny settlement of Wauchope, 375km north of Alice Springs. The hotel opened in 1930 to serve the needs of the local miners and cattle workers.

1.Devils Marbles Hotel

The accommodation wasn’t five star luxury

3.accommodation

but it was clean, comfortable and cosy

4.room

and I liked the sentiment found on the wall above the bed.

5.room

The garden was immaculate

6.garden7.garden8.garden

with a couple of quirky features

and a great spot to relax with a beverage

11.beer garden

by the pool.

12.pool

The locals were very friendly

13.boxer

and eager for a game of football.

14.dog

Adjacent to the dining room,

the winery offered a wide selection to choose from

17.winery

to accompany our sumptuous meals.

Before leaving the next morning, we had a closer look at the rusted wrecks garaged at the front of the hotel under the harsh desert sun.

21.cars

We were observed from on high by this magnificent creature.

33.bird

I hope he found a tasty morsel for breakfast.

Villa San Rocco

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After leaving Ponte a Serraglio, the next two weeks were spent in the village of Benabbio at Villa San Rocco. The 10 bedroom villa would be home to the five budding luthiers attending the guitar making course and their partners. Villa San Rocco dates back to the 14th century and is believed to have been a seminary and pilgrims’ rest. In 1688, it was purchased and remodeled by a rich merchant family from Lucca and became Villa Bendetti.

1.outside

In 1960, it was bequeathed to an orphans’ association in Lucca and for the next twenty five years it became a summer residence for orphans and abandoned children. By the late 1980s, the villa was derelict and for two decades it was left to rot. In 2004, it was restored using local materials and traditional workmanship. The name was inspired by the chapel opposite the main gate dedicated to San Rocco, a patron saint of illnesses.

chapel

The entrance hall gives a hint of what lies within the walls of this amazing home.

2.entrance hall

The main salon was warm and inviting and many a musical evening was shared in here.

Some wondrous meals were created in the rustic kitchen

6.kitchen

and enjoyed in the spacious dining room.

8.dining room

The smaller sitting room was decorated exquisitely.

A glass pane on the first floor landing looked down to the chairs below

and along the hall was a lovely view to the front courtyard and chapel.

14.view to front

On this floor, as well as many bedrooms, was a very peaceful yoga room with warming, ambient light.

15.yoga room

The hallway on the top floor

16.upstairs hall1

led to more bedrooms.

17.bedroom

I think ours was the best

18.our bedroom19.bedroom2

and the scenery on opening the shutters was breathtaking.

22.bedroom view221.bedroom view1

The bathroom was quaint

with more stunning views.

25.our bathroom view

A doorway across the hall from our bedroom opened to a balcony where we would gather for beverages at the end of the day.

The courtyard garden was a perfect spot to relax and enjoy lunch.

28.garden129.garden

Intriguing alleys led to the workshop where the guitar course took place.

The night time glow was welcoming on returning from dinner in the village.

34.night

Villa San Rocco was a beautiful introduction to the two fabulous weeks that lay ahead.

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……