golden

 Two views of Broadbeach on the Gold Coast - the beach and the river.

We've had a short trip to Australia to visit my husband's mother - who is ninety-one and just decided it's time she gave up international travel.

For those of you in Auckland Fabric-a-brac is happening again on Saturday 5 September 9.00 - 12.30 at a new venue - St Columba Centre, 40 Vermont St, Ponsonby. See you there.

Reading: Until further notice, I am alive by Tom Lubbock
and Style council : inspirational interiors in ex-council homes by Sarah Thompson.

dancing queen

We were in Australia last week staying in Melbourne and Apollo Bay. One of the highlights of the trip for me was visiting the Cape Otway lightstation. The photos show the road into the lightstation, one of the many koalas that live in the gum trees in the area, the lighthouse built in 1848 and the view from the top deck of the lighthouse. In the 1880s it must've been an isolated wild place. It's hard to imagine that Mary Anne Ford, the wife of one of the lighthouse keeper's from 1848-1878, birthed seven children on her own and managed to feed them all on rations delivered once every twelve months.

It was also a surprise - as it seemed so out of place - to discover the delicate pink wallpaper. It was a Christmas gift to the daughters of a lighthouse keeper back in the 1960s. A small piece was left intact during the restoration of the lighthouse and surrounding buildings. Did those little girls dream of ballerinas? Did they grow up to be dancers? Or, maybe, they became lighthouse keepers themselves?

Reading A sight for sore eyes by Ruth Rendall + Listening to Desire lines by Camera Obscura