Jill and Gerard's Seachange

Another day in Paradise

WARNING!!!!!!!! Before you sit down to read this make sure you have plenty of time!!!!! Maybe the kettle and the coffee jar beside you and something to eat cause I have rambled on a lot today and it will take a bit of time to get through this lot. Hope I have not made too many spelling mistakes also!! and I am not the best with comprehension and all that stuff. sorry..


We did not get as early a start as hoped yesterday to get to Morwell as planned about an hour behind schedule!!! Typical for me lately as Mum is always saying I am never on time!!! I got up early enough about 6a.m., but I got sidetracked trying to decide where to put some stuff in the kitchen. Where is the best spot?? or the most practical spot! I also was energetic enough to put on a load of washing, not that I am lazy!!, but did not look at the time it went on as it takes simply ages to get through it's cycle adding a bit of water here and then a bit more later and so on! I don't like to leave it running while I am not at home so had to wait for it to finish. Anyway there was really no rush as we had plenty of time there.

We took the back road to Sale, there is more to see country wise than along the main highway, even though I am watching the road when I drive! But I seem to have an obsession with looking at the various GUM TREES, their different shapes and the different coloured bark and the patterns it leaves on the trunk when peeling off is simply amazing. Some of the colours are just lovely! One day we or should I say I am going for a drive along that road and it may take me five hours instead of one and just stop and take some photos of the various colours. WHY????? do you ask would I want to take pics of different coloured bark????? well I could do worse!!!!!!

Each time we go along this road, there is something new to see. Simple things for some but I like it.

A farmer has a large digging machine parked in one of his paddocks where he is obviously digging a dam. The excess soil is piled up into a mound beside the hole, quite a big mass of soil. About say twenty cows are lounging or standing around, I think there was about 4 cows that wanted to take a better look at the view, they were sitting and standing on top of the hill!!! and others were on the sides of the hill, some were sitting around the hole and a couple could not get any closer to the digger. Here these cows were in a paddock so big, fence lines were not visible and they were all gathered together in this little area!! No grass just dirt!!! I suppose I have a weird sense of humour, but hey small things amuse small minds I guess!

GEE PAUL THIS LAP TOP IDEA IS SO GREAT!!!!!!! Tamyka is fast asleep in the second bedroom where the computer is and I am sitting out on this superb verandah on the swing typing away on the lap top!!! Pretty dull looking morning overcast, pale grey sky, water much the same colour! A few early birds walking by with their dogs, pretty quiet at the moment and it is school holidays, not many extra people walking about up this end of Paynesville!!!!

Oh where was I????? off the rails again.

One dead wombat on the side of the road this time, three foxes, two rabbits, one or two birds no kangaroos this time or echidnas which was great to not see!!!!! Saw a live rabbit hopping away and from nowhere a green bird dive bombed the top of the windscreen on Mum's side, she ducked as one does!!!!! gave her a fright!!! First time I have hit a bird on many of our road trips, usually see lots of dead different ones on the side of the road and wonder how they are all killed, but I suppose I now know how. Usually they are pecking around on the side and when a car comes along they take flight in the path of the cars..

SHEEP!!! Oh my goodness where have they all been hiding, so many of them, not just hundreds, I really reckon there were thousands in some paddocks!!!!! It is shearing time here and I suppose because they are so white at the moment with no dirty wool on their backs they are more noticeable. Even along the road from Paynesville to Bairnsdale on the right I knew there were sheep in some of those paddocks, but did not realise how many of them!!!! AND LAMBS!!!!!!! so many lambs in various stages of growth. Do I need help or what????? I just cannot seem to get enough of seeing all these animals about the place. and COWS!!!!!!! I don't know how many varieties there are, but I reckon there are a lot of different ones around here, AND AND calves too, some places just have some paddocks with all the young unns in them. No Mum's there to look after their babies, I suppose if I think a little harder which is not a pleasant think.... baby veal????????

Hey three white heron type birds just flew over, they make a deep low gutteral growling sound, can you imagine the noise??? yep like that! A large boat has just come in back from somewhere??? It is looking a bit misty in the distance towards Lakes Entrance way....

O.K. back on the road.... at least I find the trip not boring, even though with mum in the car, I didn't have my music on and if I did I could not have the volume I like, it would blast her out of the car!!! :)

When we got to the community centre where the Japanese Day was being held, we were (oops the herons are back probably hanging out in the pool of water just behind the trees here! They get all sorts of tid bits from that pond...) uuummmm........ surprised to see so many cars, we did not really know what to expect, finally found a parking spot just big enough to squeeze my little car into and off we strolled through a wooden arch, shaded decking area onto a lovely wooden bridge across a large pond with heaps of ducks in it, I wanted to stop and look at them and take pics, but Mum dragged me away!!!!!! The green colour around a couple of ducks necks was just stunning, it shimmered in the light and such a lovely deep colour. Anyway we surprised there was no entrance fee, usually where ever you go these days there is a fee to go in. So that was nice. Not many stalls really selling stuff, I suppose there are not too many people in Victoria selling purely stuff from Japan!!!! A lot of loose teas with different flavours, I did not really care too much about the teas, BUT the TINS they were in were so nice!!!! Once again Mum could not believe or yes she could believe I was saying """what lovely tins!!!!""""" Not this time ""oooh what a nice box"""!!!!! They had a picture engraved on the lid, but so many different ones I could not decide which one I wanted and then It would probably sit with all my other stuff not being looked at again for ages and too nice to alter. Just looked out the window and an Ibis is strolling by, have not seen any for some time, they move around the place obviously at different times of the year. Here it comes!!!! the pat pat of rain, maybe it won't be too heavy or finishes by the time I call Tamyka and Gerard for the morning ritual of feeding the swans and then leaving Sassy and Gerard behind and Tamyka and I will go to the other end and head towards the hill with Milly.

Hey too many distractions here.

There was a stand selling Japanese fabrics YYUUUUUUMMMM!! Just beautiful, could not walk by without not looking, Mum bought another bag pattern kit. A much easier bag to make than the one she is attempting at the moment. So simple, It ties in a knot at the top and that is the carry handle, can just imagine in years gone by the people gathering up their goods in a bundle and tying a knot and using a stick over their shoulder with the bag hanging off the stick swinging from side to side??? Well a more modern version of this and it is actually a bag not just a piece of fabric. There is some sewing required.


DRAGONFLIES!!!!!!! Where else would you find things with dragonflies on?????????? Yep you guessed it Japanese day of course!!!!! DUH!! So I was in my element, not a lot of them but enough to satisfy me. I am not sure if I have mentioned I have a thing!!! for dragonflies, I just have to have that one more thing if unusual with a dragonfly on it, jewellery, rubber stamps of course, paper fabric, dingly dangly wind chimes etc etc!

So while mum was looking at the bag patterns, I spotted some fabric with dragonflies on. So some minutes later I had emptied my purse of some paper stuff and walked away with a "small" brown paper bag! I got enough of this navy blue material with lots of bright coloured dragonflies on to make one of those tie up traditional Japanese bags, can borrow mum's pattern. Just have to remember how the sewing machine works and where is it?????


Hey can hear a cocky screeching but cannot see it.

Oh I can see some down by the water's edge there must bee some new seeds in the grass there as I have never seen them all on the ground before!! Hang on I will have to get up and look around the corner and let you know how many there are!!! Can only see a couple today, the others have flown off, yesterday morning there were 10 of them all walking around down there, there are rather clumsy looking when they are walking around and are rather big!!!!

O.K. back to the dragonflies, the spots of rain are increasing now!! So I ended up buying four other pieces of fabric with dragonflies on, the lady asked me what was I going to do with them?????? "I don't know, just like dragonflies" was my reply!!!! "OH!!!" she replied back!!!!!

I found some glass beads of dragonflies, not the cutest, but they will do to sew on my new dragonfly bag when I make it!!! Ten years time maybe!!!! A pair of black chopsticks with tiny gold and silver dragonflies painted on them. Instead of them just lying around and they are too good to eat with, not expensive good but good in looks, so will maybe use them as a decorative spine on a book maybe!! Hey just a thought I could make myself a book covered in dragonfly fabric, beads etc and have pics of all the dragonfly stuff I have collected!! and stick in all the other stuff I have of them and then they will all be in the one place and when anyone visits, I can bore them silly with my "DRAGONFLY" book. So be warned if you are not interested in them don't ask!!!! I might have to start a new blog titled """MY DRAGONFLIES""" what a good idea!!!! Will put it on my "TO DO" list with a top priority... :)

A tiny piece of Japanese paper with brightly coloured dragonflies on anbout five inches square, so I bought two of them for $5.00 yep I know I am mad.. What else did I buy??? Let me have a look in the brown paper bag hang on a sec............................. ......................................................................................... ...........................................................................

oh sorry took more than a sec, no more dragonfly stuff, but I bought a couple of small packets of various coloured Japanese papers and three kits of little boxes!!! yep boxes, but they are so cute, one is an octagonal box and lid in a couple of layers, only small, probably they use them as jewellery boxes, a tiny set of three drawers, and small holder with slots, for pencils, glasses maybe stuff like that. all made from card and covered with paper, a good class maybe if I was in Melbourne for Little Bits!!! Or maybe when I get myself organised enough a class right here in the best place ever!!!!! """""""THE PURPLE PALACE"""""" OF COURSE...........

I took a couple of photos of some knot work done with Mizhuiki cords a bonsai tree, some sort of an insect like a cicada and something else, I have forgotten at the moment, also took a photo of Mum with this most gorgeous Japanese girl in a kimono all dressed up she was so lovely. She lives here, but has all her family in Japan and goes back each new year as new year's day is a big celebration for them like our Christmas day. She said it took about 4 hours to get her dressed in the garb and apparently they have men dressers as they have the stronger hands to push and pull all the fabric into place. So many different pieces of material she had on. Hope the pic is o.k. have not had time to check it out yet. There were about six people writing names in Japanese, but when we got there, they were having a lunch break and the queue of people wanting their names written was so long we did not wait. Which I suppose we could have been patient and waited, but it is too late now!!

They had Karate demonstrations on a stage and the good old "chopping a piece of wood with bare hands and feet" stuff, some Japanese dancing outside in a large circle and it was good to see so many of the younger set joining in. There were a lot of Japanese ladies old and young all dressed up in kimono's and the men old and young also in traditional wear and mingled inbetween them were the Aussies having a go at the dance.

The drops of rain stopped and now they are back but a little heavier and a bit more frequent!!!

Traditional Japanese food to buy and eat there and also the Rotary Clubs good old "sausage sizzle" for those who were not really ready to try Japanese food!!! Japanese groceries. Activities for the kids, colouring in, face painting etc. And that was about it, oh later on during the day various demonstrations were happening, traditional music and more.

We ended up leaving and going to the Traralgon Ice Creamery for a spot of lunch, no I did not have an ice cream although it was so tempting!!! Mum ordered a hawaian potato and a cappuchino and I ordered nachos. Well when we ordered we had over an hour to kill before Tamyka arrived at the Traralgon train station, about 20 minutes later mum's potato arrived and still no sign of the nachos, ended up having them put in a take away container and eating them in the car a couple of minutes before Tamyka arrived! They had three staff on all young kids which was not a problem, but two of them were preparing the hot food and the other one was the ice creams and taking food orders!!! At one stage there were fifteen people waiting to be served. The rain is getting heavier now!! just thought you would like to know that..

Tamyka arrived safe and sound, I don't know who was more nervous, Tamyka or Machele her mum!!!! What wonderful things are modern technology, they kept in touch with the SMS messages on the phone with each other and me to make sure the trip went smoothly and safely.

I got the most gorgeous present from them, if was two hand blown glass wait for it!!!!!!! DRAGONFLIES They are just lovely, and PURPLE!!! They will look great hanging catching the sun in the verandah or better yet I may hang them in the Purple Palace where they will be safe!! Not as much sun, but the down lights will catch the sparkles. Yep that is what I will do. Thank you both so much.

I made the bed for Tamyka before I went out yesterday morning and Rusty our ginger cat knew something was happening, for some reason the cats love exploring under the bed settee when it is down, mind you it is still the same piece of carpet that they walked on when the base of the bed was not there, but it must be different for them to "go under" the bed. They are not timid anymore with Tamyka and hung around all evening. Tamyka found the laser beam thingy that Rusty just loves chasing so she was happy, later on Ashley decided my lap was not comfy any more and transferred to Tamykas's lap!! Tamyka had the sense to close the bedroom door when she went to bed, I am sure the cats would have gone in and joined her on the double bed if they were allowed and would have left us alone. Although I found Ashley curled up on the chair I was sitting on last night and Rusty in her usual spot on top of the covers at the foot of our bed in between my feet they must radiate heat in the night!!!

The rain has petered out to just a few drops again, it really wants to pelt down, but is not doing a good job of it. Well it is only 8.30 in the morning so I suppose it could turn out to be a nice day. Gerard has just told me that one of the swan families are at the mouth of the little pond here, so hopefully when I wake Tamyka they will still be hanging around for us to quietly observe them. I hope I won''t bore Tamyka with the swan thing, she is too polite to say so not like Kate!!!

Speaking of Kate, I have tentatively booked a get this!!!! a half day kayak trip!!!!!!! Guess who won't be able to move the next day and many more after that!!!! Kate and Matt are coming up from Melbourne the weekend after my birthday to celebrate with me the big 52!!! which is so nice cause I thought we would not see them up here again for a long time..... They want to stay in a motel or something!!! Looking at the Mariners Cove or the Captains Cove apartments, that look out onto the canals with a deck that you can sit outside to eat breakfast etc!!! Talk about ahem "romantic" ah young young love!!!! They are only staying for 2 nights, but want to make a "holiday" of it and treat themselves to a bit of extravagance!!!!! More money than sense for sure... Probably won't be there much as they are planning on spending the days with us!!!! Maybe we will get invited to their place and sit on their deck and look out onto the canal!!!! Who knows. They have even got the Friday off and are leaving Melbourne about five or six in the morning for the three hour or so drive so thay are here for the whole of Friday too!!! Goodness things are looking up!!! At this stage we will go to the Chinese restaurant in Bairnsdale, we went to with Annette and Paul before they left for their Aussie treck!!! Probably have a card playing night of "Phase 10" which we used to play almost every saturday night in Rowville. So that will be great for us all to get together. Am looking forward to it..

Well I suppose I had better get up and do something, instead of lounging on this comfy swing on this great verandah!! looking out to the large expanse of water in between the bushes that need a bit of a trim or just knocking down and the view would be even more spectacular, oh I have just spotted a pelican in the distance, they look so big when they are skimming across the water to land! The water still looks grey and cold and no blue sky in sight on this side of the house. oops another pelican flying by.

o.k. this is it, I am getting up and getting dressed and wake Tamyka, go for a walk, have breakfast, put some more stuff away in the kitchen, play some computer games with Tamyka, go see mum and have a "trial" walk down to the shops with her, call around to Annette and Paul's check that things are o.k. there, drove past yesterday, but think an agent must have been there so did not call in then, water the pots and make sure everything is locked up and safe. Decide what is for tea, have a bit of a lounge and that will be it!!

Tomorrow weather permitting will be a big day as we have to take almost ALL of the stuff out of the Purple Palace as I have a big piece of carpet to put down. Yep it is PURPLE also!!!! Tamyka says she is happy to help us, so that will be great with an extra pair of hands.

o.k. I am going now.

posted by Jill @ 9:04 am