WYSIWYG

What You See Is What You Get. This is a journal blog, an explore-blog, a bit of this and that blog. Sharing where the mood takes me. Perhaps it will take you too.

Menologue; The OZ Venture

After my delightful outing to the city on that Wednesday, the next two days were utilised locally again. Thursday, had an appointment with the financial planner and then managed to get some pressie shopping done. Friday, just relaxed in the morning, because was heading out for the next major sub-trip in the arvo.

By train and bus, I got myself to Belrose, where I waited for Sally to finish work. She collected me from the terrace where I was enjoying the 40'C heat (yaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaayyyyyyyyyy at last) and we drove to Church Point. There the car is parked and then we got onto the ferry over to Scotland Island. Sally has her own boat, as you'll see on Monday's post; however there had been warnings about storms due to the high temps and already when we got to CP it was picking up something fierce and the temperature was plummeting. There really was a doozy of a storm in the night, so just as well the wee boat had stayed in its safe mooring over at the mainland marina.
















Sal rose early on Saturday morning and headed over to collect the boat after her yoga class; I just sat and enjoyed the absolute peace of the island home.

Now, in case you require reminding, Sally is my cousin thrice removed. She hails from Ayrshire, in SW Scotland and is a relative through the maternal line. She and her hubby emigrated to OZ a couple of years before I did... though I didn't know of them or that they were there. Distant family you see. However, I DID know Norma and she made sure that all the connections were picked up! Sally and Ron's twin boys (non-identical and as different as chalk from cheese in every way) were born in Sydney. They started school there. Then came a time when the family felt the need to return to roots, so upped sticks and repatriated to Scotland. The boys always missed their school, though, and the outdoor Aussie life. By the time they were 10 years old, the family returned to OZ. Initially living out West of the city, Ron and Sal's dream was to build their own home - and when the plot on Scotland Island came up - how could they resist?!

It is a great sadness that Ron only was able to enjoy the fullness of their new home for about a year before he was diagnosed with a rare and aggressive form of leukaemia. Within three months he had passed. March 2014. Sally is doing well, but is now left alone in the home, for both the boys are away on their own lives with their new wives.

It is such a wonderful place; spacious without being ostentatious. For a single person, though, it is certainly a bit much. Lots to look after too; bush living comes with all sorts of additives and add to that being on an island, it requires forward thinking to manage well.







































I have shown you, here, the main living level; I stayed down stairs, where there are two double rooms, each with en-suite bathrooms. Perfect for letting, if Sally decided she could cope with it.

Walking to art class on Scotland Island
Anyhoo... after the boat was safely back on it's island mooring, Sal came home and we had a leisurely breakfast before heading for art group. The island has many social activities and there is no doubt that it is a supportive and caring community; I felt happy that Sally had plenty of folk watching out for her.  I was welcomed into the morning group as if I always belonged and we enjoyed making pictures together, sharing fun anecdotes and enjoying the island ambiance after the storm.

Yes, we were cold and it was wet, but what the 'hey'. The company was warm and dry!!!

We also had some wonderful visitors.
















As we walked back to the house, I managed to squeeze off this shot showing the angle of the land... there's not a lot of flat on the island!


























The rest of the day was spent just 'yakking' and relaxing and watching the rain on the gum leaves. Oh, and a DVD of the wonderful production of Swan Lake, in which the swans are all male dancers. Then we had a go at putting together the family tree from Sal's side... turns out my mother's mother was Sally's great aunt, her mother's mother being my gran's half-sister. ... There are lots of 'closets and skeletons' on that side of the family.  Jus' sayin'...

Now that Norma is gone, we don't really have anyone who can hold it all in memory. We need to try and get it committed to paper.

Sunday morning was another languorous brekky and then we got ourselves organised to head South to meet up with our mutual cousin, Denise for a 'ladies lunch date'. I packed up The Tardis - it was much better than a suitcase for this kind of break! As you can see, Eric enjoyed the ride.

The Sunday trip will be posted on Monday... and several more 'gratuitous' shots will join the leftovers from yesterday's post on the Me-Now-Views post on Tuesday.

I tell you this more to keep myself focused on the schedule than to have you mark your diaries...

10 comments:

  1. "Picked up sticks..." I know that phrase and must remember it more often. Scotland Island is beautiful. And, uphill both ways. I hope your cousin manages on her own as her future unfolds.

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  2. What a LOVELY home.... is that a Spiral staircase to the lover level?
    OH MY.... the lovely BIRDS... and OH THE VIEW...
    Having lived on OUR HILL our entire lives... up until we moved to Pencil Vane E Ah... We can certainly relate to the challenges of the location...

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    1. Hari OM
      It is indeed a spiral stair - and built by Ron himself... as an apprentice builder, he had spent six months entirely on spiral stairways and always said that he would make one for the house he would build one day... actually, I found it quite difficult to negotiate and Sally hinted that she was not best pleased with it either - but it was one of Ron's "non negoitables"... just as the kitchen had been hers! Yx

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  3. Crikey ..... Mum loves Scotland Island. Part of Sydney yet a million miles away. Sal's home is beautiful. I hope she can find a way to stay there.

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  4. Oh the heat....oh yes pleeeeeease!!!!!
    What pretty birdies....I finks yakking and relaxing are pawsome funs!
    Loves and licky kisses
    Princess Leah xxx

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  5. oh I wish I would be there with you... leaving the cold wind and the ice on the streets behind me... and to get such beautiful visitors :o)

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  6. OMD! That is a beautiful house! Too sad that he didn't live longer to enjoy it. Sometimes life is like that isn't it. We love all the photos!!

    Keep Calm & Bark On!

    Murphy & Stanley

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  7. Oh to live on an island! Oh wait, I am! Mind you, there is both a bridge and a tunnel to connect us with the mainland, but it is still an island!

    Beautiful shots of the house. Quite jealous as well. Would love to have a place like that.

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  8. Belo trabalho.
    Gostei das fotos.
    Um abraço e bom fim de semana.

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