Sydney to Windermere

Thursday 1 August
Jason  collected Elaine then me and delivered us to the airport ready for our UK-Sweden adventure. We met Desley (also on our flight) for lunch one we were through security. She was able to sign us both into the Qantas business lounge where we enjoyed the gratis ice creams and coffee while waiting for our flight.

Our initial excitement soon changed to exhaustion after a smooth but long flight with a refuel in Dubai and another chance to chat with Desley.

Friday 2 August
We arrived at Heathrow at 6:40am (about 24 hours after leaving Sydney). Following a decent coffee we caught the train to Paddington Station and found our small hotel (St George in Norfolk Square) where we were able to leave our bags until we could check in at 2pm. Then our Paddington saga began.

Each of the porticoes along this range of buildings is a separate hotel.
Ours was the one I am standing next to.

We had a few chores to do like investigate Oyster cards, buy a dongle for the computer and a sim card for the phone. We had to buy some food supplies and also take a walk to find the Peter Pan statue in Kensington Gardens.

We started with Kensington Gardens in the misty drizzly weather (not enough for an umbrella though). I was great to be outdoors and what a lovely place after being cooped up in a plane for 24 hours. The statue is fascinating with lots of little animals in nooks and crannies in the base.

Peter Pan statue in Kensington Gardens

We then returned to Paddington Station and sort of achieved all our chores after about 15000 steps. So we returned to Kensington Gardens where we tried to work the dongle and failed so back again to the EE shop! However this was the last straw for me and I got completely done in waiting so we checked into the hotel and I crashed. Elaine was very concerned for me, ordering me to lie down while she dragged our bags up two floors to our room. We had bought sandwiches and fruit salad for dinner which we ate at various stages when we woke up through the night. Twelve hours after crashing into bed I got up at first light (about 5am). What an exasperating experience having to retrace our steps so many times during the morning.

We found it amusing trying to find an ice cream at a major London station in the middle of summer. We ended up asking in the Paddington Bear shop who suggested Macdonalds! That's where we went.

Ice cream on Paddington Station

Saturday 3 August
The hotel was minimal with only whitener (no milk) for our tea and coffee. Elaine is finding it very difficult to find gluten free foods so the hunt goes on.

Paddington Station again.

After a minimal non-gluten free breakfast we headed for the EE shop again where Amir did nothing really but got the dongle working at last! Then a taxi (a London Black Cab) to Euston Station where we spent a few hours waiting time stocking up on food supplies, having coffee and writing up our diaries for the first time since we'd left home. Then we just milled around with the crowds trying to avoid cigarette smoke, eating our sandwiches while sitting on the cold floor and watching for our train to be allocated a platform.

About half an hour before it was to leave an announcement came over that "due to a death on the line near Milton Keynes all rail travel from Euston Station would be cancelled until further notice:.

Chaos, confusion and concerned travellers were quickly dealt with by making all tickets valid on any line and directing us to the most appropriate station for a train in roughly the right direction. Our instructions were to walk to Kings Cross Station and catch a train to Leeds! We followed the crowds and were lucky enough to get seats together on the 14:05 train to Leeds. For many it was standing room only! During the trip we were most grateful for our new sim card as we were able to start our many texts to Sue at May Cottage where we were supposed to arrive at abut 17:00.

Into Leeds at about 16:25 where the information officer was quick and helpful and sent us with a printout and instructions to run to get on the train to Lancaster where the guard helped us with our bags. That train left at 16:38.

If the Leeds to Lancaster trip is the only one we do it was worth it. Through hilly patchwork fields with dry stone walls, grey stone villages, babbling brooks and stone bridges. The train was not crowded and there were many chatty and helpful people - a marriage celebrant, 3 lads with tats, dreads and musical instruments and of course the most helpful conductor.

Views from the Leeds to Lancaster train.

We arrived at Lancaster to meet our next train at 18:55. There was a short delay while we waited for the train to Oxenholm. This was actually the London to Glasgow Central train that left Euston at 16:30 after the lines had been cleared again for use. By getting rid of the crowds at Euston it meant that 3 hours later the trains leaving again were actually able to cope with those that were expecting to travel as normal. It also gave us a day riding the rails through the countryside.

We left Lancaster at 19:13 and arrived at Oxenholm about 15 minutes later to change again to Windermere where, thanks to all our texting, our host Sue (an ex Ozzie) was waiting at the station to drive us home to May Cottage. She even took us on a little tour rather than straight home, pointing out some handy landmarks on the way.

By the time we were up in our room at 21:00 we decided that apple, cheese and rice cakes would have to do for dinner as it was far too late for us to think of going out. Sue made us a cuppa and brought us plates and knives so we could be comfortable. Len (Sue's husband) even brought our heavy bags up the two floors when he got home.

What a pleasant, comfortable home we are in with four guest rooms in all. There are dormer windows looking out towards the lake and being able to open them means fresh air.

Our tiny but very comfortable room at May Cottage, Windermere.

Three more little Japanese Quilts

I made the first two of these mini quilts from my Japanese collection while I was on the train trips earlier this year. They are not bound yet because I'm not sure how I am going to put them all together.

 

I made this quilt today having been inspired by a quilt in the Yokohama Quilt Festival last year. Another mini Japanese quilt to add to the collection.

 

Five days of fun

For the last 5 days Paul, Michelle and Noel visited from the USA. Our first adventure was a ferry to Manly then a walk to the Opera House and the Rocks.

 

The finds from the Big Dig were fascinating.

 The next day was Featherdale to see lots of Australian Animals at close quarters.

Noel threw the fish that you might be able to glimpse in this photo as it decends into the bill of the front pelican.

  

We were delighted to follow the antics of a baby koala when it was allowed out of its mum's pouch.

  

The next adventure was a drive to Sublime Point lookout, then a stop at Austinmer Beach for a paddle. Then a stop at Stanwell Tops lookout and lunch at Audley.

Needless to say Noel got rather wet at the beach then very cold at the lookout but survived the ordeal.

Fun and Games at Berry

The boys had a great time reverse engineering the old clothes drier.

Of course there was lots to time to chat and have another cup of tea.

Harvesting the water chestnuts.

We all made our own sandwiches for lunch, some more elegantly than others.

Fishing in the dam was a great activity (no fish).

Mum was on supervision duty.

Rauri supervised from the verandah.

Tree Changes

Two trees were in need of help. The pecan at the bottom of the back ramp had shot up skywards and was about to completely dominate the yard. They grow so quickly. Those thickest branches are only 3 years old.

The Wilga (Geijera parviflora) in the front yard was suffering middle stages of death. Most of the leaves in the picture above are actually from the eucalypt next door. The only branch that was still healthy was the one overhanging the electrical wires to the house. This tree was about 40 years old, one of the first ones we planted. It took about 15 years to break through the hard pan about a metre below the surface but then did well for many years.

So after an application to Kogarah Council, Bob and Ben the Tree Men came and sorted the problem. To watch them work is like watching a ballet. They know exactly what they are doing and do it safely and efficiently.

The front yard does not appear to be much different because all you were aware of before were the twin trunks of the Wilga. I have planted a Christmas bush over near the letter box to replace it (just visible between the lavender and the jade bush in the photo above. I am pleased to have removed the possum highway to my roof.

The pecan at the back is now ready to start putting on leaves in spring and shading the back windows again. It is great to have the sunlight streaming in in winter but certainly not in summer.

 

 

Underhill is having a wet winter

It had been a very wet week prior to our last visit to Underhill at the end of June. The dams are full and overflowing, the lichens, liverworts, mosses and fungi are having and incredible season. Geoff and I took a walk to the far dam and kept getting distracted by tiny things bursting into life - in the middle of winter!

 

 

Water was still running into the far dam.

 

 

 

The "waterfall" below the bottom dam was running too. It is not often we see this happening with such energy.

Terry and Ellie came and stayed two nights but Geoff and I were only able to go down for the day. The tank we emptied and swivelled last time is now full. We visited Cal to discuss roof demolition amongst other things on our way in too.

Mum is 90 today - Happy Birthday Mum

Today Mum is 90! Last Saturday we all got together at my place to celebrate. The cake was a magnificently decorated mud cake. Everyone had a hand in the decoration until it was a beautiful mass of sugar garden.

We had a great day even though it rained continuously. A great family gathering.

I made Mum a quilt of course. There's a photo on my Quilts 2013 page with the poem I wrote to go with it. 

Two more table runners and two broken sewing machines

Last week Elaine and I were able to make progress on our table runners and two more are now complete. We should go into business!

 However, in attempting to progress even further I have now broken two of my sewing machines so they will now have to go to Fred, the sewing machine man. Perhaps I should do some sort of course in fixing sewing machines. I still have one that is up and running well so maybe it will do what I need it to do.

A week sick with the flu

I had a week quite sick with the flu and had to cancel all activities. Of course I got a bit bored so went upstairs and started just sewing little squares together. One thing led to another and I now have a few more table runners and a quilt.  I'm usually too busy with other activities to do this much in one week.