Back at last!

Well, it's hard to start again,since several blog posts have disappeared into thin air. I think Blogsy is somewhat lacking.

Where to start. Spring is springing. Spent lots of yesterday in the garden...There is such a lot to do. The greenhouse is useful for starting seedlings, but a couple of hot days and everything dies.

So unlike Ireland...

Italian parsley is everywhere. I remember planting it to combat weeds. Now it has become a weed... A student gave me some sum choy seeds,which I have just planted .They are like pak choy but nicer.

I went to see Mum last week. She was well. Don't you think?

This was taken near her place. She lives near a cute little village, though her walking is getting slower now, so she really needs to go with someone, as the traffic conditions are quite scary for someone who thinks any green light means go...

Here is the avocado with buds coming out. The tree got really waterlogged during our extra wet winter, and I wondered if it would survive. Though the leaves are stressed the new growth has burst forth in a Gerald Manley Hopkins sort of flush... ( not sure about the spelling of his name- I just remember a sprinkling of his poems!)

I moved a fig tree in the winter, and it seems fine. They are hardy but this winter was so wet I wondered if the tree would survive. It was in a spot that was too shady for the fruit to ripen, so it is in full sun now.

G1 was down in the holidays. He enjoyed a stint in the sink- here is the proof.

His cousin, G2 was also down, but this was taken in her yard. What a delight to watch them thrive!

I've been trying to make a quiet book. It has tested my resolve, as it is slow to blanket stitch little bits. This is a sock matching page, not yet complete. There are magnets sewn into the socks, so each can be matched to its mate. I enjoy making it- we'll see if the kids enjoy playing with it. I found the pattern on a great site called "imagine your life " where an enthusiastic and talented young mum puts up patterns of interesting books she makes for her little boy.

Here is the orchid Katie gave me. They are such beautiful plants. One day I would like to learn about them...

Well I hesitate to write more because my last few blogs vanished completely. I will leave this up for a week or so, and then add another post .

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Irish Stone Walls

Well I have found a really interesting book. From Book Depository.

I will now be able to learn how to build a wall around areas in the garden and create a more interesting place, without drastically changing anything. There is a prefabricated block I can source, from Sydney, which looks easy to use, but it will work out very expensive if I make say 3 oval beds. I have to find out if there is any local material I can use. There was a two day workshop through Permaculture in Sydney last month that looked a good hands-on for beginners thingy, but I missed that. I am sure someone will have an idea where to start. Jim thinks I am a bit nuts, but I would really like to do this.

Look at the little chocolate hellebore flowers. They are growing under the shade of a big salvia near one of the cherry trees.

 

I was away this weekend and got two apple blossom quinces on the way home. They only grow to about one and a half metres, but the pink blossom looks just like apple blossom, and it produces real quinces. I have planted them near the apples, within sight of the kitchen window, as I am hoping the blossoms are spectacular next year. Have dug in worms and compost along with chicken manure and seaweed fertilizer.

There are so many lemons on the lemon tree that need picked ( something is peeling and eating them from the top). I thought I would make up the lemon syrup needed for sorbet, using some pectin to reduce the amount of sugar needed. That can than be frozen, and made up in the icecream maker as required. That way none of the lemons are wasted...

 

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Tea party

Here are some shots of Leah's first birthday party. What a great time we all had.

This is the cake my talented daughter made. It was a flour less orange cake - complete with marzipan spout. The adults really enjoyed this one!

Here are the party bags for the older children to take home. Looked like cupcakes but had lots of little lollies in them...wish I were a kid...

Katie with 2. Suits you !

Ali made Leah's party skirt. I wish Mum could have seen it. She is a bit beyond taking that sort of thing in now, but would have loved to see Ali carrying on her skills...

There was a jumping castle for the bigger kids ( I had a go on that, but drew the line at holding a grandchild while I bounced. Thought that would be tempting fate).

I love having grandchildren! One of the nicest things about this party was to see lots of young children from happy homes playing together and having fun together...

And here is the party girl and her Dad on her birthday...

 

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Alzheimer's update

Alzheimer's update

Went out for lunch with Mum today. She was quite quiet. She was waiting for me when I got to the home. Actually she was talking with other residents,which is not often the case. She turned round when I approached, and I saw a beautiful, hopeful face. She recognise me and came with me happily. We went to her room and I persuaded her to wear a pair of tights, as it was cold outside. I also got her to change her jacket, which was badly stained, and missing two buttons. I asked her if she knew where the buttons were, and she located them fairly quickly, so I sewed them back on while she did her hair and sat watching me. She, who could beat me hands down at sewing in her day, watching me put the needle in and out. I wondered what she was thinking and how much she regrets what she has forgotten how to do...

We went to "The Boyz For Breakkie", and she had chicken risotto and a glass of Chardonnay. She enjoyed the outing, but we struggled to maintain a meaningful dialogue. So much has receded to the edges of her memory. Her friend Dorothy came to visit the other day, but she could not recall her. I tried to bring up lots of different topics to jog her memory, but only a few drew a response. Pictures of the babies drew the most response. But she couldn't place which baby belonged to which parents.

This illness is horrible. Trying to find the positives here is not easy.

I guess she is warm and safe today.

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Crafty

G2 ready for Macchu Picchu...

Just a warning note. If you, like us, occasionally use a wheat pillow in winter, do check it for threadbare patches. Otherwise you may waken up as we did, fearing a sudden infestation of large bedbugs which turned out to be toasted wheat kernels which had spread into a surprising number of little indents in the mattress...Muesli anyone?

Ali and family were here for the weekend. She made two pairs of baby slippers as presents for friends' babies. Katie and I have placed an order for a pair, but made of sheepskin. I thought since it was my sewing machine I was in with a chance...

 

Princess (G2) was also here of course, as was her Dad. We all got to hang out a bit together. Jimbo is her favourite, which is quite lovely to see. This grandparenting role is extra special- and more delightful than I had anticipated, though of course we get to sleep all night in our role...

Want some of my biscuit, anyone?

 

Stories are such fun. At least for me. Watch her reaction at the fly buzzing... And note my bilingual approach...

 

 

 

Poor little G1 is sick. He looks quite pitiful, and is hoarse from so much crying. Perhaps I should feel more sorry for his parents,who have not had much sleep for the last 4 nights. Think they may be seeing the positives of the Chinese one child policy...

 

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Saying "No"!

G1 is 15 months now. Yesterday we were looking at books together. He has specific interests - and expects me to understand his words for things. So he gave me a dirty look when I didn't instantly swap to the book with the dog picture in it. When I persisted in trying to show him something else instead, he lunged for the book he wanted, gave me another dirty look (wish I could capture one on camera), and shook his head to say,"No!" more clearly, in case I had a cognitive defect.

Here he is with G2 who is 11 months, who will soon have a three week stint of being looked after by her dad while Ali finishes off her Master's, in teaching deaf children.

Thinking about how and why we say no is quite interesting. Babies and young children are often very clear. It's black and white to them. Sometimes it's black and white to us adults too, but more often it's not. Someone on the phone asks you for money for a good cause... Someone asks you to give an hour of your time to make soup for a worthy cause,and you can well afford the ingredients, but the time factor is a bit of an issue...how should we approach these requests on our time? If we take them all we collapse in a heap. But sometimes I feel I could do more, and choose to say "No!" because of selfishness, coated in some "me time " pleading.

Yesterday while walking round the block I met a guy taking his model aeroplane for a spin. How nice to have the opportunity for that kind of fun.

Then I walked a bit further and saw this...

And then this...

And this...

And finally this...

Good to feel the serenity...

 

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Beach or not?

What could be nicer than to live near the sea?

Sometimes I get frustrated with living here because I can't find particular things in local shops. Like paper fasteners for clocks for students to learn to tell the time. The local supermarkets didn't have any, nor did the local news agents in 3 towns nearby. However, they were eventually sourced at the counter in the Salvos one day...

It looks so peaceful in the late afternoon here. Somehow it's more relaxing than looking at a cityscape. All within half an hour of our front door. I wonder if the boat owners get as much satisfaction from looking at them as I do?

A gentle flickering reflection is totally relaxing. There used to be an oyster bed in the bay, but for some reason it was not successful.

A man was getting ready to row back to shore when I took this. He'd been messing about with a motor on the little boat at the front of the picture. Does maintenance of a peaceful little boat become a chore?

If trees appeal, they are also on offer...

Our little boardwalk has wallabies galore in the late afternoon, except on this day...

Of all the places I have called home,this would have to be the most uninhabited and peaceful.

How come it is sometimes possible to whinge about the distance to things in the city? That is precisely why it is calm here...

 

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The Little Refugee Part 3

As time went on, the monk's enthusiasm for learning never waivered. He attended every class he enrolled in, and soon became proficient at using the computer, a skill which opened up communication channels like facebook. He learned about safety in the home, good eating, dealing with the police, food handling, applying for a loan, buying a car - the list of topics were as useful as we could make them. The most memorable was one fairly early session with cups of rice, and tasks to help students understand fractions. They were a difficult concept to grasp without lots of physical tasks to see how they work. 1/3 + 1/3 = 2/3 looks easy but I assure you it is not! And it is not easy to understand an explanation in a second language. But he, and the other young Karen began to see what was involved and another mystery was unlocked. One of the last activities we had was after he disrobed:- we went down a mine and saw how early settlers in our town lived and worked...
 The monk began learning  to drive, and got his driving test first time. Then he was on the lookout for a car, with the help of a few friends.
He spoke generally about his decision to disrobe, and from the outside it looked like a pragmatic choice. He felt he needed to look for work and earn some money, and he was not going to be able to do that while a monk. But he didn't want to leave his charges in the lurch, so he waited until they were able to travel and cope without his care. This was a very unselfish choice, because he had many friends, and the option of work at the abbatoir was always there...   
One day he announced that the following week he would disrobe and start looking for work, which he did with his usual quiet dignity. The same week, a job with some potential was advertised in the local paper, and a class studying workskills was asked to do a mock CV and application. The monk was interested in actually submitting the form, but after a four hour stint on addressing selection criteria he took cold feet and declined the chance to send off the application. His comment was succinct. "I can work in the abbatoir without an interview. I just go because my friend recommends me, and I start work."  With overtime, he can earn good money, more than a starting wage in many other jobs. But some of the people who had worked for years at the abbatoir were desperate to change jobs, and few had had success gaining other employment. The opportunities to learn English were also limited, so he would have little chance to improve his speaking. But the choice had to be entirely his.
Then he had his second big break. A large local employer, in the hospitality industry was looking for a number of new starters, to train up in a variety of areas, from gardening and outdoor activities to kitchen duties and guest services. The boss had followed the monk's progress with interest over a few years, and was keen to know if he would be seeking employment. A "chat" was organised, and the monk was offered a trial for a full-time, permanent job, starting in very much a training role, and hopefully progressing over time. It was a dream offer, and the timing was superb! Someone was prepared to look beyond what was an unskilled, inexperienced worker, to see the potential behind the face.
While standing in a queue at the Post Office, waiting to process his Working With Children check, a teller saw he was no longer dressed as a monk, and called out to him - "What are you doing without your clothes on!!" He, and everyone else in the queue laughed good humouredly.  
The little monk, now a young man with promise and plans, starts work tomorrow. Full time, and permanent. What better start could he have in Australia! But if such things can be earned, he earned it!  WE WISH YOU WELL!  
Be on the lookout for a  follow-up to this story in the next month or so...

The Little Refugee Part 2

With the backdrop of an "Expert Panel" nominated by the Australian Government, examining what can be done about boatloads of arrivals of asylum seekers, here is the next snippet of a refugee's settlement process, as viewed by his English teacher.
The young monk began to learn English with great enthusiasm. He arrived the first morning with his exercise book from the camp. He showed pages of copied text:-
The book is on the table.The book is under the table...

Each sentence was rewritten many times. So he had had some exposure to the English language. But I'm not sure how much if any, he understood. However, he applied himself to learning, with the goal of proficiency one day. It soon showed that he was practising everything at home, and rote learning huge chunks of language. But it takes time to perceive the new sounds of a language, particularly one that would not have been heard often (Australian accent)in his early life. He was studying many hours a day from the beginning, and soon built up knowledge of the language which outdid his fellow students, even those from more educated backgrounds. But he lacked the opportunities to converse in English, in uncontrived settings. This was largely because he was a monk, and therefore couldn't take part in the social opportunities oferred through footy or music.

He also faced a dilemma often seen when helpers work closely with a new arrival:- there comes a point when the habits and lifestyle of the helper are not able to be adopted by the learner- because the helper is typically affluent, and the learner as yet unemployed. From the beginning, male volunteers could go shopping or paying bills with the monk, until he became familiar with the process. But when it comes to choices of product in the supermarket, and he asks which oil to buy, do we show him the one we buy, or the cheapest one? Too much choice is confusing... He had limited funds. I wonder what he thought of the people who tried to help his little group of settlers? Were his people treated with dignity at all times? They had already lived for many years in a camp where choice had been taken away... Were we perpetuating that unwittingly? Were they herded from department to department because the government or a helper thought they should be..?  

First day of a new life...

I know the Department of Immigration has changed its stance somewhat, by giving new arrivals a say in whether they want some of the "non-essential" services like dental, whereas a few years ago appointments were made automatically for them. However, this group was compliant and agreeable, as culture dictated, and at least they did receive some basic dental checks!

There were many good moments also. Delight showed on the monk's face when he was introduced to the treasures and bargains of the local second-hand bookshop. He devoured books from the library,with no worries about going to the children's section to sift out the simpler texts. He developed a taste for geography, and the maps that were a real mystery to him at the beginning soon came alive for him. His mind was like a dry sponge each morning, soaking up and filtering new information. He walked everywhere around town and soon became a recognised figure in his saffron robes. He sees humor in many situations, and his familiar laugh is a tonic to all around him. One day we were doing a class exercise which involved a lot of walking around and asking questions, and it was very noisy. When I wanted to call things to a halt I had trouble being heard. He got up, came to the middle of the class, and said "Shut up!" in a quiet but commanding voice. Everyone stopped in shock, and he laughed at his instant success!

One day we all caught the local bus, and went round and round til we knew where the nearest bus stops were, and which stop each family needed to get on and off. The bus has a rising platform for people with a wheelchair or pram, and this was initially quite scary for people who had no prior experience of using transport. From that, the monk progressed and was soon travelling unaided  right into Melbourne, (with bus changes as there is no direct bus), and experiencing the delights of the Aquarium and Museums.

The Little Refugee Part 1

Taken by Coast Magazine

This is about a little person. Little in stature, not ability, nor strength of spirit. This person is tenacious, clever, wise and funny. He had a life in a country far from ours. But war, distress, hunger and the burning of villages by Burmese soldiers caused him to leave his country, and settle in a Thai border refugee camp (Mae La), along with thousands of other displaced people.

Opportunites to learn in the camp were minimal for those who had passed school age. Food was rice and fish paste, supplemented with whatever could be grown, gathered or caught nearby, because people  had no work permits to allow them to work legally. The drums rolled often, to mark the demise of people, often children. Parasites and disease were common.
One day someone offered him a chance. They offered to pay the costs of bringing him to Australia, to shepherd a small group of stressed but optimistic Karen, ready to brave the unknown to give their families a better life. They were coming to a small country town, because life there would be simpler than in the city, and people would be friendlier. There were English classes, and a group of interested people ready to help them to settle. Training had been provided for volunteers.

But the reality of dropping people into a foreign culture was brutal. Town traffic with busy streets, shops with strange foods and alien smells, people who talked a language they didn't know, and a house with unfamiliar gadgets everywhere.
It would take courage to embrace this new life. On arrival in the town, after a two hour car trip from Melbourne airport, the quiet monk was given a meal. It had been cooked by a local lady familiar with cooking spicy Thai food, as a welcome gesture. It was eaten at a low table in the centre where his English classes would be held; - the hub where many learning and training options would occur. His face was calm, with a degree of bewilderment, but curiosity rather than fear registered. We took him to his temporary accommodation - a week's stay... with a male, as his religion dictated.
The first week, a native speaker of their language came to help the group shop for food and essentials, and to explain living arrangements and answer their questions.  They were so overwhelmed a lot of his advice went right over their head. He himself was still learning to come to terms with our customs and language.The weary travellers were faced immediately with the battery of health tests and government forms to ensure access to benefits until they could earn their own money. It was neither quick nor easy to get electricity connected, leases signed, phones connected, bank accounts opened and tax file numbers given. Telephone interpreters assisted, but because of the small numbers of people who speak their language we often had to muddle through with limited interpreting. This became an ongoing issue as doctors could not guarantee an interpreter at the time of consultation, and explanations of medicines and how often to take them were baffling to people used to limited access to any form of healthcare.
Behind the scenes, the system rolled along- the government provision of basic household goods  arrived, and furnished the newly-leased properties. The part-time settlement worker struggled to provide essential services- but someone was really needed oncall 24 hrs a day in those first weeks. Without kindly volunteers the whole process would have been too hard for all concerned. And the volunteers were kind - from making beautiful patchwork quilts to chopping wood, the tasks were many and varied.  All through this early process, the monk supported the families, and though only in his early twenties, he provided the anchor they needed to survive the early challenges.

Family photos

This was taken in the days when photos were a big deal- expensive to buy, and dress code definitely applied. In this case the men are wearing bow ties- a present brought back from America by the grandparents in the mid back of the group. My Dad is on the far right, and Mum is 4 th from the left,next to Grandma.

The photo was given to me by Cousin Carol, who lives in Ireland (standing in the dark coat in the middle). Happy little Alan at the front has the brightest blue eyes you ever saw...

It would have to have been taken 53-54, going on the size of my eldest brother ( far right), and cousin Anne(second left).

Some more captured moments...

Brother Brian with Sharon, and children Sophie and John. Sophie is currently at school in America (California). John is in his final year at school in Melbourne.

And here is my friend, Luci's little boy. He is visiting family in Brazil.What happy times they are having! It is great to see these photos almost in real time, as it expresses moments in a holiday more vividly than a postcard or letter can. I hope grandparents and family have lovely days with him.

My friend Lindy has a birthday today. Happy Birthday! She brought some chocolate muffins the other day, and they were so tasty I asked her to share the recipe. I assure you that the slightly weird mix of ingredients work really well together! I would include a picture but we ate them all...

Chocolate Cake with Ganache
(Choc-ganache muffins)
Ingredients: Ganache:
1 1/2 cups spelt flour 100g dark chocolate
1/2 cup unsweetened cocoa powder 1/4 cup soy or almond milk
1 tsp baking powder
1/2 tsp baking soda
Pinch sea salt
120g silken tofu
3/4 cup soy milk
3/4 cup agave syrup
1/2 cup sunflower oil
2 tsp vanilla extract
Method:
For the ganache, place a metal bowl over a pot of simmering water. Allow it to get hot
then turn the heat off and place the chocolate in the bowl. Allow it to melt, then beat in
the soy milk. Refrigerate until firm. This can take at least an hour, so prep in advance.
In a bowl sift the flour, cocoa, baking powder and soda together with the salt. Mix well.
In a food processor, blend the tofu, soy milk, agave syrup, oil and vanilla.
Pour wet ingredients into dry and mix to combine. Half-fill 12 greased muffin moulds (or use
paper patty pans), then place 1 tablespoon of the firm ganache on top. Top with more mixture
to almost fill the mould.
Bake at 180c (160ff) for 15 to 20 until they are firm to touch.



The recipe is from Janella Purcell's Good Chef Bad Chef T.V. Program.

Quake and other snippets

You'd never think this calm spot (The Foreshore) experienced an earth tremor last night. The epicenter of the 5.3 quake was in Moe, not that far from here. There was certainly a fair shake which lasted a bit too long for comfort. Interesting what people initially thought was happening... A possum in the roof...someone breaking out of the boss's office...a truck rumbling past...

A few stragglers were fishing as I walked past at around 5pm. tonight.

The tide was nearly in, and there were shorebirds fishing also, but I scared them off accidentally.

The birds of Australia are so much more vibrant than those readily seen in Europe, in my experience. These galahs are everywhere at the moment. They can be a real pest in the garden, but they do look harmless here.

As I got closer they retreated to the wires...

In the garden, I really need to prune the vines. Will do it in the school holidays, which are only a week away. They look very wild, but it's too cold to go and photograph them!




Well I attended book club last night. Interesting evening! The book wasn't really my cup of tea, though a few threads resonated. However, the chat was wide-ranging, and it was enjoyable to talk with kindred spirits, many of whom showed an erudition not typical of the island... I look forward to the next one!

This week Mum was chatty. She had a few concerns which we tried to address, including one that we not bury her in Mornington Cemetery (where Dad is) because it's noisy so near the road...

We tried to explain a few family relationships she was struggling to remember, and she loved seeing G2, her little great-granddaughter. These moments are very special for all of us- except the babies, who just enjoy the moment for whatever reason!

We (Mum's 3 children living in Australia) are trying to coordinate things for her - so her Doctor can give her the best possible care. It can be tricky with us all involved in different ways- one appointed the doctor, another takes Mum to appointments, and the other does the paperwork around payment! It works surprisingly well considering that....

And a cartoon to finish. Ali sent this to me. Not sure where it's from...

 

Time

How come it flies in the day but at 3.30 in the morning it passes so slowly? There is something horrible about lying in bed with the person next to you snoring happily, while you just can't get off to sleep again. And you can't put the light on for fear of wakening them, and even the iPad will disturb them...We stayed last night in a hotel in Melbourne, after going to a play with Noni Hazelhurst in it (The Heretic- not a very gripping storyline in my humble opinion, though she is an accomplished actor). However, it is really nice to do something different, and we did enjoy a good meal in China town beforehand.

But time to spend with grandchildren is so lovely. Here is G2 starting to move.Don't you love the little look when she gets to her Mum at the corner?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nBqxge9DZx8

There is a really an old- fashioned toy shop in Carlton. We had a look this morning and got these pinwheels. They have no sharp bits. Both grandkids love them, and so do I!

It's really hard to find ones with a short handle and safe edges.

This week is book club. The book is The Red House by Mark Haddon, which I have only started so I had better get into in to finish it by Tues. I wonder what sort of other odd bods go to a book club? This one is run through the Independent Bookshop on Phillip Island, though I got the book,which is a recently published one, from the Book Depository. This book club is run on a weeknight, after work, so it will be interesting to see who comes along. It is many years since I last went to a book club...

The book appears to have family themes which gives lots of scope for an interesting narrative. Am going to see Mum tomorrow so will report on that next time.

Haven' t been in the garden much- only to pick a few greens now and again. It is damp and un inviting at the moment. Time to spend with friends, which is always pleasant.