Wednesday, April 11, 2012



Linda of Seaside Style posted a feature of pics from the Jamaican luxury hotel Golden Eye - the estate where writer Ian Fleming wrote many novels.



This lagoon shot is giving me inspirational ideas for a cabana to be built over one edge of our dam on the farm. Would be a good party spot.

Tuesday, April 10, 2012

Fishing, Footy and Feeding


Our annual Easter long weekend camping trip with two other families - Trawool Tradish - kicked off on Good Friday with prawns, oysters and fish.


The camping trip focal point is a fishing competition with a large trophy. Casting off from Goulburn River's edge.


Or fishing from a boat. Not much was biting. Only two fish were caught.


Here was the winning cod.


Next was this trout.


Throughout the weekend, flotillas of families canoed and paddled past, waving hello. The boys dug in the dirt and played football with the dads. Easter Sunday always brings the crinkly sound of wrappers slid back off chocolate eggs found and bunnies gifted. My daughter's Donna Hay cupcakes decorated as bunny faces were a big hit.


Now when I say camping, I really mean caravanning as we are not really roughing it. Even though I think it's a bit rough that we have to do our business into a deeply-dug hole upon which sits a commode-style folding chair, covered by a tent for privacy. We have the luxury of being able to cook on a gas stove top or in the electric oven in our caravan.


Or there's a microwave.


But the best cooking is done outdoors. Like kneading dough in our friend's outdoor, netted kitchen and then baking bread and pizzas in a Weber Cube.


And making spaghetti bolognese. Or frying up bacon and eggs on a hotplate over the fire.


It's a good setup by the river. Our trailer.


Our friends' set up. Yup. A TV at the ready for a movie night under the stars.


But mostly the night is spent sitting around the fire, toasting marshmallows and sharing funny stories.


Or having a bit of quiet time alone.

Friday, April 6, 2012

Horses, History and Hope


The Relay for Life was held this past weekend in town on our main football oval to raise hope and funds for cancer research.

Round and round the oval walked my daughter, all bundled up to ward off the nippy night, and drinking coffee to stave off sleepiness.


My son received his first team Australian Rules Football jersey, playing under the same number as his father - 18. With his friend on the left and his friend's grandparents.


Uncle John stopped by at Nona's with a generous supply of grapes and green apples from his orchard.


My daughter did a great job experimenting with Easter bunny cupcake designs.


On top of it all, the weekend was full of events celebrating a special anniversary for the area's military history:

  • a parade on the main street and fireworks on Friday night
  • horse and riders appeared from the riverside park in front of our house and clip clopped up the street on Saturday ahead of an outdoor cinema evening showing War Horse as families snuggled together on the grassy hills of the park
  • displays and a market in the riverside park.