Trailer Trash... NOT!

Wow Caleb did you really make that?  Can't wait to try it out!

YES

Time's ticking by ... we have to get everyone to mail their votes.  Do you know anyone who needs a gentle reminder?  Oh and yes I do have more posters.

Archibald 2017

This small sculpture was kind of creepy in its realism

How about these?  Children's art aged 5 - 8!!  Sheer talent there

The winners of course had to be ..... The Dawsons!

Our first Action group meeting - walking along Manly Beach.  Great bunch of people.

Slack training on Wednesday...No stopping  us now!

Srce moje slatro

Srce moje slatro

These stories are for you, dearest Molly. 

They are about our times together and my joy watching you grow up.

Love Baba Branka

Yeah!  

We finally finished Branka's book of short stories... just in time for Molly's birthday.  Strange to think she is now a student in Ghent, reading them.

Mischievous I know

After hearing Eric Abetz on radio couldn't help myself... sent this!

Blooming Botanic Gardens

The Botanic Garden look absolutely superb... Cherry Blossom, Wisteria, Kangaroo Paw, lobelia and much, much more.  

  
Great ferry ride in with Jane and Lamdol.  Picnic in the park - Tibetan style.

Let's Get Up and Go Go GO!

What an INCREDIBLE experience.   The first National Getup conference...All the hard work paid off and it was mind blowing!

Such an innovative conference, lots of great people of like mind to chat with.  The plenaries with crossovers to Bernie Sanders team and Bernie himself, was inspiring.  https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2017/sep/25/bernie-sanders-urges-getup-members-to-join-global-resistance

And of course there was our fabulous Action Group!

Meeting and hearing people like Sally McManus was superb.... and as for Shen she was just brilliant.

The Chaser team lead us all astray - thank goodness.  The Campaign Managers were so enthusiastic and it was good to recognise how far we have come and how many battles have been won.

Rachel Dight (Swivel Creative) did an incredible job providing visual commentary on all the plenary sessions.  A few journalists are taking up the cause.  Click here

What about these two Year 8 students... weren't they fabulous... just brought the house down.  I'd definitely say YES to them.  Does anyone know their names or what school they go to?

Marla and Jean of course it was.   Thanks Kajute.

Good job I took my empowermints (Thanks Marilyn)

                                      

And Roger of course!

Back in harness

A week of firsts... First guests of the season.  A lovely couple who have been visiting us for years.  Thank goodness they like our new "No Plastics" policy!

First meeting of Northern Beaches Writing Group.  They seem to like my new short story "One and One Makes Two (just have to find time to finish it).

First rehearsal of Bach's Magnificat... what to say except Magnificent!

Nepal - Here we come!

Well Marine and Steve any way... Good luck with the venture.  Look forward to hearing about your adventures when you get back.

Talking about summer

Caleb's camping trailer is nearly finished -  ready for the summer holidays.  Hiromi and he set off on a big camping trip in January!  Huh!  No room for us I guess! 

Di is singing too!

Coffee with Lori and David to celebrate Candy's victory and then off to see and hear Di and her Ukulele band... swing it sister!

Loving Manly Arts Festival... really feels like summer is on its way!

Happy Birthday Mum

101!

And still singing!

never know what you will see

Walking along the beach, you never know what you might see.  This group is so intriguing... might be a stimulus for our writing group.... what do you think is happening?  What are they carrying?  It was a slow procession right along the beach.

Aaaah Fluffy the shark visits Shelley Beach

Usual walk to Shelley Beach... peaceful, calm, beautiful.

That is until "Fluffy" the shark arrived... washed up on Shelley Beach. It was housed in the Fairy Bower pool until it could be moved to the aquarium overnight.  It was released the following morning and hopefully is now roaming the seas after its adventures. Read more here http://newslocal.smedia.com.au/manly-daily/

All of this didn't deter the BOLD AND BEAUTIFUL swimmers who swim from Manly to Shelley Beach each morning.

Go guys go... watch out for the sharks!

Oh dear...

Our morning walk really should not have included coffee and bacon and egg roll at the Boathouse... but it did!   Yum!

Back home to get ready for our first guests of the new season. Marmalade & jams ready, so let them eat cake! 

Beyond Words

Just LOVED being part of our "Beyond Words" writing group again.  There are only 4 of us (3 today) but it's so good to hear different writing styles and to have lively discussions about books.  There is something special about meeting in the Henry Lawson Room - should be inspirational.

Manly Lagoon Walk

The sun is shining so it must be time for the Manly Lagoon walk.  The lone cormorant reminds us of the penguins on the ice flow in Antarctica.  

Sun comes up over the ocean and we breathe in fresh air.

We arrive just as they are setting up the Sunday Market. .. time to buy flowers, fruits and veggies.

Home to bake cakes and to get ready for our guests.

Just finished as Anna arrived... we had a quick session with Northern Beaches Buy, Swap and Sell while Roger BBQ'd prawns and then it was off to the Ryde Orchestra conducted by our wonderful Carlos Alvarado.

Great to  catch up with so many people... a typical Carlos performance... joyous, quirky and fun! 

Rediscovering Fairlight

Morning light fills the corridor and we know its time to go walking... The Fairlight walk today... always something to enjoy.  This poor egret got dive-bombed by magpies with a nest near by.

Breakfast with Caleb, fixed up the garden and then we were off electioneering for Candy Bingham.  Great turn out... After party fun especially catching up with everyone and of course  VICTORY!!!

A New Day Awaits

I'm sure its the same for everyone returning home there is something they are looking forward to.  For me there is nothing like the first morning ...  6 O'clock and time for our morning walk.

I love the fact that there are other people like us who can't wait for the day to start.

Yeah... Let's get into it!

Homeward Bound

First stop London ... a bit gloomy after the  brightness of Crete.