Australians all let us rejoice!!

Today being Australia Day Alan and I got up really early and drove down to Noosa where Alan's Light Horse Troop were involved in the Australia Day celebrations for Noosa Shire. These took place beside the Noosa River in perfect weather. First there was a `wet parade' up the river, lots of boats and kayaks flying Australian Flags. Then there was a `dry parade' with the Light Horse Troop, a pipe band and various others. Alan's very important job was to raise the Australian Flag while the band played the National Anthem. After this there was a stage set up where the ceremonies of nationalisation took place. Every `new Australian' took home an Australian native plant. Afterwards we walked along the river where there were heaps of people barbecuing, picnicking and having fun, playing cricket etc. What struck me was that there were Australian flags literally everywhere. One group we saw had a string of flags around their portashade and a huge bunch of gumleaves in a watering can. Also just about every boat out on the river was flying a flag. I entered into the spirit of things by wearing my Akubra and buying a small flag to wave. (good to see these were `made in Australia').

In the photos you can see Alan doing his thing with the flag. The really rotund gentleman in the background wearing braces is Noosa Mayor Bob Abbott - a real character, he also plays in a jazz band.

Eumundi Market Revisited

We gave up our market stall at Eumundi in August 2005 after around 8 years - I still can't believe how quickly that time flew past. Since then we have only been back once (with Anne in July 2005) and I didn't think I missed it. Anyway on Saturday Alan's Light Horse Troop did a gig at the Market and so I dressed up and went along to make up for lost time. While Alan was `light horsin around' I went shopping. I ordered a timber house sign for our house - we are calling it `Fernhill' after Alan's great grandparent's farm at Gayndah. Then I found my fave soap and organic all natural etc. moisturiser. Next I had to buy something to wear so I found a really nice silk and cotton wrap around skirt and a top. Then I bought 2 shirts for Alan and a couple of really neat fold up bags (one a back pack) made of parachute silk in bright colours. I think that was all. I even found time for a coffee at one point. I also saw a few other nice things which will be on my list for next time. We had a really nice morning and we caught up with a lot of our old market friends.

Goodreading Magazine

This is a really wonderful magazine for booklovers, I pick it up at our local library and if I see a book I like I can then order it from the library online, or if I am feeling like a treat buy it on line. I usually only buy a book if I `know' I will read it more than once, in other words if I know it will fit into my library as a `bookfriend'. It cost $7.50 to buy this magazine but I notice there are always heaps of recent copies at the library. The magazine features reviews of books of all types including children's literature, and interviews with writers and can introduce you to some really interesting and different writers. Today I was reading in the August 2006 edition, an interview with a Russian writer Boris Akunin (this is his pen name) his real name is Grigory Chkhartishvillihas - now that is an unusual name. He has written a series of detective stories set in Czarist Russia featuring a dashing sleuth named Erast Fandorin - I really love that name. His latest novel has a new detective - a nun called Sister Pelagia. He says and I quote ' The style of these novels will be very feminine. They will be like a river which flows along a valley, taking unexpected turns, quietly and slowly, so you just have to follow the narration'. This one has just come out in English so I will be looking for it at the library. We are lucky here in Gympie, for 50c we can reserve a book and they will also source it at other libraries if they don't have it. Libraries are such a wonderful free community resource.

What's in a name?

I have been reading on Kate's Blog about her thoughts on her names - I love hearing stories about other people's names, both first and family, and hearing about how their names were chosen and how they may have altered their name over the years. I also love the names people choose for their pets - some are so clever. I went to a seminar once where this was used as an icebreaker and it was so interesting. We learned a lot about each other from this exercise. For example one girl was named Lee after an American boyfriend her mother had during the war (no he wasn't her birthfather). My name Helen was my parent's second choice - the first was Ruth. Hmmmm I don't really like either of these names because they can't be shortened or lengthened. I know this is one reason for choosing a name but it is nice to be called (for example) Liz at home and Elizabeth at work, and Beth by your best friend etc etc. Helen is just Helen and can be very formal. Years ago Helens were `Nellie' and I call myself `Diginellie' on all of the web forums I visit, but I don't think I am a `Nellie'. New parents typically spend months deciding on a name, - it must be frustrating when after all this your child grows up and says `I hate this name and I'm changing it'. I was reading today about an actress who has a son called Lewis Lewis, I feel sorry for this little guy already but perhaps he will grow into it. We have a cat named Lewis and it suits him, he answers to it anyway and if he didn't like it I bet he wouldn't. We should all be allowed to choose our own names at puberty as a sort of entry to adulthood. I think I would have chosen something that had meaning for me at the time. I have always loved the name Charmian and Charmian Clift is one of my favourite writers, perhaps when I re invent myself this is the name I will choose.

This week life has been all about meetings for us, a carriage club meeting on Friday night, a sub committee meeting on Monday night, a R.D.A. meeting on Tuesday night...... and on it goes. So yesterday I found time to do some reading, (I am reading `Salvation Creek' and a review is forthcoming) and some Artwork on the 'puter. I did this stamp for a challenge but I think I will work it up to a larger 8x10 size and then get a poster made. I really would like to have this one on the wall :)

Happy Birthday Shena

Last night we went out for Dinner to help our friend Shena celebrate her 60th Birthday. Yesterday was actually her Birthday which is always the best for a `big O' party and we celebrated at a local restaurant which is so close to our house that we could look down from the top of the hill and see our party lights from where we were sitting. It was a really enjoyable evening and Shena declared it was her best ever Birthday Party. Shena's grandson was there (he is 4) and we discovered that both Shena and I use the name `Nonni' as our grandmother name. It seems we both thought about the Italian `Nonna' then decided on our own version of Nonni. And of course until last night we both thought we were the only Nonni. Instead of making her a card I decided to make something which she could keep and here is the result.

I cook Patti's Recipe

A few days ago my sister Patti posted a really nice sounding recipe for Vegeburgers on her Blog so I just had to have a go at making it. So much fun, I haven't made rissoles for ages and I had forgotten just how much fun shaping them and squishing them is :) I had to deviate a bit - I used red onion instead of spring, used normal parsley instead of continental, but everything else was pretty much `by the recipe'. All so incredibly tasty and healthy, nothing processed in the recipe. There is sweet potato, chick peas, sweet corn, grated carrot and zucchini etc. etc. I put a dollop of greek yoghurt on top but it would also be nice with Raita. If you like Coriander (cilantro) this could be good too but I cannot stand to even smell it so that's out. The result was yummyissimo (see I can speak Italian) and Alan loved them too. Even better the recipe made heaps and there is more for tomorrow, or some could go in the freezer for Ron. Here is my photo of them sizzling away - the wineglass is full of light green tea (from Liptons) and the oil is Light Olive. How healthy is all of this :) Thanks Patti.

Happy New Year

Happy New Year to all, it seems to me that last year flew past way too quickly. Or perhaps its just that I am getting older. We put our farm on the market at the beginning of June and from then on it just seemed to be nothing but cleaning, gardening, packing, unpacking.......... Anyway we are now all sorted, we have our caravan, we have a wonderful group of good neighbours who will watch our ponies and our plants, we have our kayak so we really hope to get away a little bit this year. I am not really making any resolutions - just doing more of the same health and budgetwise - both going well. I am going to make an effort to - at the very least, get up at sunrise and do the Yoga Sun salutation. I have been walking 5k every day on the treadmill for a couple of months now so I can do the Yoga first. Alan and I both want to start Tai Chi and we have a video so that should be easy . Yesterday we made a start on clearing our Kitchen Garden. It has been overrun by a huge pumpkin vine or 2 - loaded with pumpkins but it had to go as it was taking over. Now we have a uteload of weeds and vine to take to the tip (recycling centre :)). We are now ready to fence the garden and start planting some things we love to eat. On the plus side the soil is excellent, we have a huge bale of mulch and plenty of pony manure. So all we have to do now is get on top of the weeds and define some pathways. All of this has been fantastic exercise, all that bending, digging and weeding so we both plan to spend some time in this garden every day. It also smells wonderful so just being there is enjoyable. And I can eat as I go. Yesterday I was picking baby tomatoes, sandwiching them between lemon basil leaves and popping them in my mouth. So yummy and the tomatoes just explode in your mouth with flavour and juice. Today we planted a passionfruit vine. On reflection we really lead a very simple but very happy and stress free life. I never visit shopping malls, never go to the movies, rarely `eat out', but we do gain a lot of pleasure from so many things that are either free or very inexpensive. Our house and garden, our horses and our dog and cat, being with good friends and neighbours, our voluntary work, picnics, family - all these things are what makes life special and good. So this year I am just hoping for more of the same.