Vintage Cars, 50’s Fashion and the art trail…

A weekend away immersed in the art trail and the incredible Phoenix Sculpture Garden made for a memorable 2 days. But that was not all.

Look what else we stumbled across…

A vintage car show. Blokes drooling over relics of the past, buffed to a high sheen and sparkling chrome. (The cars, not the blokes…)

Others a-flame with air-brushed beauty.

Then I spotted that icon of the flower children from the 1960’s, now the back packer’s darling for trundling around Australia. The VW in all it’s rusted glory…

Covered in stickers and the memorabilia from that era.

Of course the iconic Holden FJ with bench seats made for smooching had to be there too.

This young women stood out in the flamboyant style of the 50’s. But the mobile phone is a sign of these times…

She is in a hurry. I wonder where she is hurrying to, so I follow along.

And I am taken on a trip down memory lane to my teenage years.

To the background sound of rock n roll these locals strut their stuff all dolled up in the fashions from the 1950’s. Do you remember them?

It was so much fun.

This was one of the more unusual studios. An old train carriage, surrounded by a glowing garden, converted into an art studio.

So that is just a small taste of the weekend. It was varied, interesting and very inspiring.

The icing on the cake was the Airbnb accommodation we stayed in. A delightful, well-travelled couple invited us into their home surrounded by bush, warmed with a wood fire and sharing a glass of wine and good conversation. A comfortable bed lulled us to sleep and birds woke us next morning. And it only cost $50 with a light evening meal and breakfast. I LOVE Airbnb…

A perfect weekend away.

We’re Home…

Never one to miss an opportunity, and after all life is the journey, not the destination. So on the way home from the farm sit, I planned a mini 3 day road trip.

We travelled along the notorious Putty Road (more on this in a later post) planning to visit the Hunter Valley Gardens.

It started to rain…

So abandoned that idea and after lunch carried on to Newcastle where I had booked a 2 night stay in an Airbnb.

It was a delightfully renovated home, immaculately clean and we also had the company of 2 adorable whippets.

Willow

Winston

Newcastle is a city I have always just bypassed so this time decided to have a brief 2 day explore.

It rained…

But the museum was open, then, when the rain stopped for a short time, we took a drive around the wharf area and passed the beaches.

The ocean was whipped into a frenzy around Nobby’s Head lighthouse which has been a safety beacon for ships at sea since 1821.

Next morning it was still raining, but the Art Gallery was now open. It closed on Mondays. So after a pleasant couple of hours looking around, we pressed on North towards home.

The rain was getting heavier…

Then it became torrential…

Time to stop for lunch and wait for it to ease up. So we pulled into Bulahdelah. Fortunately we could park right outside the Tavern and dash inside. The tavern is on the banks of the Myall River. Look at it…

It is in flood and creeping closer to the township. Some out lying properties were already cut off.

The next Airbnb was at South West Rocks. (We have been here before, check it out here)Another delightful home with a friendly hostess. Jennifer is a traveller so we had many stories to swap. After a brief look around the beach and ordering a pizza for dinner we went back to Jennifer’s place and had a movie evening, watching “The Castle” a classic Aussie movie, along with Jennifer and another couple who were staying the week with Jennifer.

Next morning the skies had cleared and it was only 350 kilometres to home. We are now travelling along the Pacific Highway, Australia’s Number 1 motorway. Although some parts still had road works happening, as the Pacific Highway is in the process of a major up-grade, a large part is now open and the going was good.

And the sun was shining…

The clouds were lifting and the sky was dramatic.

We are back in sunny Queensland…

So we arrived home yesterday and I am doing this post as I wait for the loads of washing to go through.

At this point I have not made, or even thought of, where too next…

Time to relax…

How Airbnb turned into a house sit…

For a change I chose the inland route to Sydney on our way from the Gold Coast to the farm, house sit. Mainly because I had not been this way before.

Armidale was to be our first stop over, almost a 600 kilometre journey from the Gold Coast.

Have you heard of Airbnb? (If not check it out here.) I have used it a lot and love it. Well when I contacted Clare for a 2 night Airbnb stay in Armidale, she emailed back to say she would be away on the days we wanted accommodation. BUT she noticed we did house sitting, would we like to do a deal, stay 3 nights, pay for one and feed her chooks and water pot plants? Of course I said yes…

It was in an ideal location. At the end of a quiet street, almost in the country, near the University and only a 5 minute drive to the CBD. If you look carefully you can see the few pot plants. It was rustic and basic but had comfy beds and every thing we needed.

I looked in the long grass under that big old apple tree.

And found a worm farm tucked away.

After feeding the 5 chooks and checking for eggs. It was time to explore Armidale…

To be continued…

Sydney snippets… 3 day roundup, Art, Architecture and Gardens…

We have settled in to our Airbnb accommodation in Bondi Junction, our hostess, Shona, has welcomed us like one of the family.

Our Airbnb accommodation.

It is only a 10 minute walk to the railway station and from there, with a $2-50 senior pass, Sydney is at our beck and call.

The weather has been perfect so here is a roundup of what we have done in 3 days…

First a visit to the NSW Art Gallery. Can you see Jack?

A hall full of classic art

This picture is one of my favourites

Groups of school children are being shown to appreciate art

Beautiful still life

A close up shows the juice dripping from the oyster.

It can be very tiring being a tourist

After a morning absorbed with the beauty of art it was time for lunch.

Across the road in the Domain is the Domain Kiosk.

A favourite place for lunch

Now to immerse myself in the beauty of nature.

Follow me into the Royal Botanic Gardens of Sydney

I have over 100 photos, the light was superb for photography, so I have many more to show you at a future date.

Suddenly from a blue sky a summer storm passed over. Torrential rain for 10 minutes and every one ran for cover under the huge, spreading Morton Bay Fig trees.

It past as quickly as it came.

No visit to Sydney is complete with out walking past these 2 icons.

Day 2 was again perfect weather so this time we visit another favourite, the Chinese Gardens at Darling Harbour.

These gardens are in the heart of Sydney

We had lunch in the garden Restaurant and then spent hours wandering around, sitting, sketching and enjoying the peace and tranquillity of these beautiful gardens.

Leaving the Chinese Gardens we walk through Darling Harbour to catch a ferry round to Circular Quay.

Joyful sculpture of dancing Brolgas

Walking in the sun

Playing chess

Just relaxing with the birds

Just finished a game of table tennis

 On the way we pass under the “Old Coat-hanger”

Cruise liner in port

In Circular Quay we see this cruise liner tied up. This is not the one we are going on but I imagine ours will also be this big.

Day 3 we take a train to Surry Hills and wander around the galleries and interesting boutique style shops.

Then catching another bus we search out the UTS (Sydney university of technology) to see the Frank Gehry designed building. I will do another post about this amazing building, but will just give you a preview of the building here.

We have walked miles and our legs feel at least 6 inches shorter. We have one more day before we join our cruise to New Zealand. So this will be my last post for about 2 weeks. I will miss visiting you all and will probably have internet withdrawal symptoms.

By the way Jude, you may notice quite a number of benches scattered around…

  

 

Friends Past and Present

Where do I start?

It has been almost 5 weeks since we hired a camper van and set out into the Great Southern area of Western Australia.

The whole purpose of this part of the trip was to reconnect with dear friends we made 4 years ago. No time to blog, and not very good internet connections, so for that time I was in cyber limbo.

I’m finding it hard to get back into the discipline of confronting the computer and sorting all the photos, and I must admit, remembering the details is not easy, I didn’t keep very many notes either…

But what I do remember is the times spent with our friends, sharing stories, telling jokes and eating meals together, very precious memories and a time I will cherish. The weather was not the best, after all it is winter down here. But the fires burnt bright and warmed our bodies and souls, and we wrapped up in thermals and winter jackets.

Jack cooked up some delicious meals for us

Margaret River friends, Jack and Carroll’s warm welcoming kitchen

Carroll’s veggie garden

Carroll and I have a girl’s day out

My Jack and Carroll

Breakfast by the fire

It’s cold and raining outside but we are warm and cosy

Fond farewells to Rob and Raye

One last cuddle from Jack

Pippa in her winter jacket

The last 2 days in Western Australia we spent in “Airbnb” accommodation. This is the second time we have used this type of accommodation and I am now a big fan. It is very affordable, at least half the price of a motel or hotel, and it is world-wide. Maureen, our host in Perth, gave us a warm welcome and we immediately felt at home. We came as strangers but when we left, after 2 days, we felt we were saying goodbye to a friend. Maureen was a Yorkshire Lass too, so Jack had 2 of us to keep him under control. (Actually an impossible job!!!)

Our Perth Airbnb host, Maureen and Woody

Woody

  

Now we are in Canberra for another house sit.

What a sad start it was as the day we left to fly to Canberra Nicola emailed us with the sad news that her Mother, Christine, had died so suddenly and unexpectedly. I was devastated. Christine had become a close blogging friend, ( Dadirridreaming) and it was through her we had contacted her son Mitchell and daughter in law Nicola to do this house sit, and I had hoped we would also meet Christine while we were here.

Wednesday was the day of the funeral and the family have included her many blogging friends in the community by sharing a moving post of the service and photos.

Now we are settled in to this beautiful house with gas ducted heating and a cosy log fire in the lounge and Millie, the dog, to keep us company and take us for walks AND a very good internet connection. The next 3 months will fly by.

So welcome to Canberra the capital city of Australia.

But first I will sort through the photos and over the next few days show you some of the highlights of the Great Southern area of Western Australia.