Beechworth

Long time, no write. I had intended to write about my trip to Beechworth months ago, but I guess other things got in the way. It was back in January!

I was interested in travelling to Beechworth as a Cornish miner ancestor and his family lived there for a couple of years during the gold rush era, with one of their children being born there.

I left on a Thursday (just after school holidays finished), leaving home about 8.30 for the three hour drive on the Hume Highway. At first it was just big trucks on the road, which felt a bit intimidating, then as the morning went on, more cars. The speed limit was 110 kph but I travelled along between 100 and 105, not in any hurry. The scenery was actually quite pleasant, and with good music playing, I was enjoying myself. The road from the highway to Beechworth was also very pleasant, although the road was little narrow and winding in places.

My first stop on arrival was the information centre, then after buying a pie for lunch got the text that my cabin was ready. I had booked a cabin by Lake Sambell for one night only (I should have stayed an extra night). It was a nice little cabin with double bed and bunks, kitchentte, TV, etc, and a verandah.

The cabin

I ate my pie on the verandah, then decided to go to Woolshed Falls while it was still dry (the forecast was for heavy rain – just my luck). It was a short drive away then a short walk to the stream.

Reedy Creek

This was the approximate area that gold miners would have worked, my ancestor among them. It meets Spring Creek via the falls.

Woolshed falls

From there I drove to the small museum in town. I was a little disappointed with it, as I expected more on the gold rush era. However it had a little mock township.

Beechworth museum

However, they had a constant soundtrack of people on the street, only it was modern day and didn’t fit the vibe at all.

I had a wander down the main thoroughfare and bought a sample box of Beechworth honey for myself and C. Later, I returned to have a pizza and beer at the Bridge Road Brewery.

The next morning I had a walk around the lake to observe birdlife. I tried to find accompanying photos as I was certain I had taken my camera and not just relied on mobile phone. I couldn’t find any such photos. There were lots of sulphur-crested cockatoos, coots and ducks, and a copper-coloured cormarant. It was drizzly weather and more rain was forecast so I headed back into town for the courthouse and gaol tours. I bought a ticket for the gaol then decided to drive Gorge Road, a one way, winding road, through pretty scenery. Now I know I’m missing photos as I definitely took photos along the way and cannot find them. The only thing I can think of is that I unwittingly overrode one folder called “Beechworth” (my camera photos) with another called “Beechworth” (my mobile phone photos). I am so pissed off with myself. All my decent photos gone. I thought I might have uploaded some online but no, it appears not. Idiot! So no photos of my jaunt along Gorge Road or the gunpowder storage building, or Spring Creek, or of the township itself. This is what happens when you leave updating your blog for too many months.

I returned for the gaol tour. There were quite a few people. It was a very interesting tour, the tour guide having lots of interesting stories to tell (he had a bit of a Bryan Brown look about him around the nose and mouth). I had not realised that Ned Kelly and his mother had been incarcerated here. He was moved to Melbourne for the trial as the locals sympathised with him.

Ned Kelly’s cell (sans modern amenities)

I returned to do a tour of the Court house but it was closed until 1pm. I headed to Billson’s brewery for lunch and had a burger and beer. The burger was very dry and salty. There was a carriage museum at the back so I had a wander.

Quite intimidating as a pedestrian!

When I headed back to the courthouse it was still closed (now ‘open at 2pm’). I wandered around the outside and peered in the window. There appeared to be a private tour in progress, with a handful of people seated in the courthouse. I was not prepared to wait longer, in case 2pm became 3pm.

As it was now raining quite heavily, I decided to drive home. I was amazed that cars passed me at 110 kph despite the conditions. I got caught in rush hour traffic once off the motorway and it took a long time to reach home – four hours in total.

I’m very disappointed that I’ve lost my camera photos. It’s an excuse to return I suppose. I would stay again at Lake Sambell Caravan Park, and highly recommend the gaol tour. I would also visit outlying towns and wineries (in nicer weather). I’ve also since found out that relatives of my ancestor’s wife were also in Beechworth, for a longer time period. More research needed.

Phillip Island

So, time to update from last year while I think about what to do for the rest of the day. It’s sunny so I need to get out. I did the houseworky stuff this morning and put together an ‘overbed table’ on wheels which will come in handy.

I hadn’t been to Phillip Island for decades, when my aunt took my father and me for a jaunt. I decided to take a day trip there, braving the highways. Phillip Island was much bigger than I remembered it and it took longer to get to Cowes than I thought with a lot of traffic on the narrow road. It wouldn’t have been so populated decades ago, I’m sure. I remembered it being a lovely, quiet place by the sea.

I found a car park and wandered the beach. I couldn’t find the spot that I remembered (and if I’d kept walking I would have). I had a brief wander down the main shopping street, then tried to find a cafe without luck. There didn’t appear to be one, unbelievably. I had brought lunch so decided to find a different seaside spot for some reason.

According to the map, Red Rock beach looked accessible from the coastal reserve but I could find no such access. So I ended up following a sign to a cafe. I realised pretty quickly that this cafe was quite a few kilometers away and I didn’t want to go that far so I turned off and visited Grossard Point.

I couldn’t find access to the beach there either, so gave up and headed for Rhyll on the eastern side. This was a little fishing village. It was breezy but pleasant enough and I sat and watched the seagulls after eating my lunch.

Unfortunately for me, a lot of the usual atractions on Phillip Island were closed – no pelican feeding, no wineries open. I wasn’t sure what else to do. My daughter had text me about a beach (Kilcunda) further down the coast that they had seen. I decided to go there. It wasn’t too far away. It was a proper ocean beach that reminded me of beaches in the North Island, New Zealand.

I had a wander and there were some lovely rock formations.

It was now mid afternoon so I decided to head back. I was going in the right direction. The traffic coming in the opposite direction was horrendous and had been brought to a standstill for miles because of a traffic accident. They were all heading to Phillip Island for New Year’s eve.

So not the most successful of trips. The trouble with travelling alone is that you have no-one to bounce ideas off about what to do. Perhaps not the best planned of trips but I did not expect everything to still be closed (opening the day after, of course!). Something for next time, I guess.

Pretty much settled

So everything is set up and unpacked (but I can’t find the odd small thing that I used to have in a certain place. Where on earth did I put it?). J has settled pretty well. I haven’t taken her outside yet.

Because of the move, my interests have been neglected. I missed a couple of dance classes and found it difficult and unenjoyable to try to catch up so I’ve stopped them for now. The 16th century dances are much easier so I’ll restart those this week. Then there’s a dinner this coming Friday to attend so I’ll get back into the socialising.

I haven’t done any art for some time. I used to paint on my dining table which sat at a bright window. However, at the new place, the dining table is in a corner, and trees overshadow the window so it’s darker. I’m not sure where to paint now. I would like one of those small tables on wheels so I can choose a nice spot.

Still sorting change of address and insurance, etc. The new bed was too hot (why are all beds made with effin foam these days?). I exchanged the bed for something a bit cooler. It’s still a bit warm but I don’t wake up sweating. I don’t know how people can sleep on them. Too late I found out about a place which makes beds without fucking foam. Oh well. I wasn’t impressed with the moving company either, despite rave reviews. One guy in particular did not take care, banging things on walls, etc. I found damage to a bookshelf which I am in correspondence about. I’m glad I transported precious stuff in my car. So it’s been a huge upheaval. I miss the neighbours at the old place and went to see them on Friday. Was nice catching up. I’ve met the new neighbours here (only two) and they’re nice enough but do their own thing and I barely see them. I discovered the landlord of the old place has had to reduce the rent because of lack of interest. No-one is surprised. I lived there for five years and actually miss it, but it was time for a change.

I have yet to update my blog on recent activities (since December). Will do so later. I also have photos to upload for my bird blog. Much to do, as well as re-organising cupboards so I can find stuff! J is loving all the windows to look out of. I was just typing away here and a crimson rosella landed on a branch outside. Fantastic. It flew off when I went to retrieve my camera.

Ciao for now.

Busy

I haven’t caught up on entries. I still had another two or three blog posts planned but I’ve been too busy and distracted.

Just before the pandemic hit, my landlord wanted to increase the rent. I rejected it, comparing the unit with the identical one next door which had been rented at less than what I was paying. They relented, but the threat was there. Added to that, staying indoors, staring at the same four walls for over a year, day in and day out, meant that I wanted a change of scene. I started searching late last year.

I finally found one I liked, and that was suitable for J (much easier this time round to find places that accept pets). So I’m in the process of packing, to move next weekend. Talk about stressful. J’s been a little unsettled by the upheaval around her. She’ll go into a cattery for a couple of days while the moving and cleaning takes place. It’s just as well I still work from home, as once she gets to the new place, she’ll be quite unsettled for some time (and probably smell the previous tenant’s cats). Once she’s feeling happier, I’ll start heading back into work. Initially, when searching, I thought of moving closer to my work place, but it was unfamiliar territory and I liked where I lived and will move just a couple of suburbs away. When it came down to it, I wanted to live closer to daughter, C, than to work. I can cope with two or three days of commuting a week, and it was never that bad anyway, averaging 40 minutes. This place has now been advertised at a much greater rent than they wanted from me before – an opportunity for the landlord, I guess. I think it’s too much though. There are plenty of similar places around for much less. It will be interesting to see how long it takes to get leased.

I ramble. My thoughts are all over the place. I haven’t been sleeping well as I think about all the things that need doing. We’re getting summery weather at the moment – hotter than it was during actual summer, and the heat has woken me. Once awake, I think. I took the opportunity to get rid of my old queen-sized, IKEA foam mattress/slat bed (which I hated as it was too hot and too firm) and buy a new bed. A nice European (and I mean from Europe, not white) woman picked it up. I had worried about getting rid of it, trying to sell it at first, then just giving it away. New bed bought yesterday and it will be delivered at the new place. Yay.

What else have I been doing? My new year’s resolution, if you can call it that, was to take up sketching and painting again. Over five years ago I bought an acrylic paint set and did nothing with it. I had never painted with acrylics before. So about the 2nd January (the anniversary of my mother’s death), I took up paint brush again, and also started sketching. I wanted to do one painting a week, and daily sketching. (Well, that’s currently fallen by the wayside for obvious reasons.) I joined a Facebook page to encourage me. It’s amazing how many people have taken up art again after decades of not doing so. Lockdown has made people get back into old interests. It’s great.

I’m doing online dance classes. Serena, my favourite belly dancer, was doing them for the same price as attending a local unknown. So I’ve been doing that since February. It’s been a long time since I did any, and I find the choreographies a little difficult, but I’ll persevere for a while. I’m also doing 16th century Italian dancing online. I used to do medieval dancing (not so much Italian) and that’s way easier than belly dancing. I missed the historic dancing, but of course, it’s still not the same as doing it in person with people you know.

And finally, I joined an over 50s group which meet up once a month for dinner or whatever. I need to get out more, meet new people. Melbourne had the longest, and strictest lockdown in the world, I believe, and I got very lonely.

I think that’s it. I will sign off, disconnect the computer and pack it up. I will write again once I’ve organised everything in the new place. Yesterday, after buying a bed, I felt excited for the first time (rather than stressed and worried).

Later!

Freedom

It’s ironic that I blog about freedom after months of lockdown, on a day trip to regional Victoria, when I am currently back in a five-day lockdown. Oh well. Hopefully it won’t go beyond that but this effin’ virus ain’t giving up any time soon. I’m feeling quite relaxed though, listening to a chill radio station in Taupo, New Zealand, thanks to a fantastic website and app called radio garden. Check it out.

So anyway, my daughter and I had promised ourselves a trip beyond Melbourne once restrictions eased and we headed to some falls she had heard about. The scenery was rather beautiful, but I couldn’t capture it, especially from a moving car and on an overcast day.

We stopped at a place called Noojee on the way for a toilet stop. Nice little village.

The turn-off went past a pleasant camp-site, turned to gravel, then we were at the car park for the falls – Toorongo falls. There was a loop track which we followed.

We followed the uphill track. It was pleasant (but I was unfit after months of being stuck at home).

Then came to the falls.

Trying to keep our distance but get a decent look was tricky.

The track continued along to the left, flattening out before descending,

Looking back

and coming to another fall.

Apart from the eucalyptus, it reminded me very much of South Island (NZ) rain forests.

We headed back to the car and drove down the road to Noojee trestle bridge. It was part of an old railway that ran from Noojee to Warragul to the south, presumably to carry timber in the early part of the 20th century.

We walked over the bridge. I spotted a butterfly.

Apparently this is a varied sword-grass brown.

Heading back to the car I spotted a yellow-tailed black cockatoo high in the trees.

We ended our trip by travelling to Healesville for a late lunch and beer. A nice day out.

So much has happened

It’s been a while since I wrote. Sadly, since writing about people dying from or suffering from cancer, another friend here in Melbourne (a NZer) found out she had cancer and died within six months! It was a shock to everyone. I really felt her loss. We hadn’t seen much of each other because of Covid lockdowns but we chatted and text by phone. We used to go and see plays together. I will miss her sense of humour, her sarcasm, her vibrancy, and especially her company on attending plays (if I bother now). I’d known her since we were teens (I was first a friend of her sister’s). She had only just turned 59.

Then the girls’ step-cousin who I mentioned, died in December, age 44. She clung on ’til after Christmas. She leaves a husband and two young children. So tragic. I had two funerals to attend via zoom (both in NZ).

I’ve been on a few trips since I last wrote, once we were released from lockdown and had no community cases of Covid. The state borders are closed then open on a regular basis so it’s risky to travel interstate, but within Victoria is ok. I have had to upload a lot of photos and it seems to take forever to just view them and put them in appropriate folders, let alone edit (if any – I’m becoming lazier). So I have a lot to catch up on and will update soon. There are not enough hours in the day.

Since the start of the year I made a resolution, I suppose you could call it, to finally get back into sketching. I used to do the odd watercolour too, but over the years lost all confidence in my ability to do anything. A few episodes of watching Bob Ross finally gave me the impetus, so I’m trying to do a painting once a week (either watercolour or acrylics), as well as regularly sketch.

I’ve also, after several years, decided to get back into bellydancing, taking a virtual class. It’s been a while but finding the time, as well as doing a futurelearn course and the artwork (and keeping up with streaming TV programmes!) can be tricky. Work gets in the way! As for work, meh. Unfortunately my immediate manager is of the “micro” variety. I much prefer managers who leave you to it, knowing you’ll do the work, rather than checking in every bloody day. Not here to rant, so that’s all for now.

Sadness

Well, the disappointment of not being able to travel after over a year of planning has hit hard and as a whole we’re quite depressed. We’ve managed to cancel half of the accommodation, with some yet to sort. I’ve cancelled the cattery. Next up is hopefully a credit with the airline. Then we’ve got to re-organise the whole thing which is a pain in the proverbial. [PS. I’ve just cancelled the flights with a full refund.]

I’ve lost all motivation while working from home. I’ve become lazy. I’ve lost interest in family history for now, not knowing what to do next. The UK trip was based on family history, visiting ancestral villages, etc. We were all so excited.

So, stuck at home, with not even the ability to travel within Australia thanks to a spike in Covid19 cases. While the rest of Australia eases back on restrictions and can travel interstate, in Victoria some suburbs have gone back into lockdown, all thanks to slack, ignorant, or selfish bastards. Thankfully I’m not in one of those suburbs, but may as well be. I only go out to go to the supermarket or visit my daughter. There is no dancing, there are no bird trips, no meetup events. This year is a complete write-off. Added to that, our salaries at work will be cut by 10% because of the loss of income due to no Chinese visitors. How ironic. I’m to stay working at home until the end of the month, then supposedly staggered days, partly at work and partly at home.

So, I’ve just been watching Netflix, Stan, SBS and playing Sims 2 and 4. I get out walking as much as possible but it’s not enough. I’ve put on weight. It’s all rather depressing.

Added to the depression is the number of people I know suffering from, or having died from cancer. A former colleague died in her 40s, and a good friend of mine died in February. I was so shocked to find out and still can’t believe it – that I’ll never see her face again when visiting the town. She was so happy to see me when I gave her a surprise visit two years ago. I had no idea she was ill. It was so sudden.  Another former colleague’s mother has cancer. And the step-sister of the girls’ cousin has brain cancer and has just lost her hearing. They say she won’t last long. She’s only in her early 40s with two young children. So cruel. So heartwrenching. I always liked her – so vibrant and friendly, which makes it all the more horrible. It seems to be true, that only the good die young.

So I should be grateful: that I have my health (despite aches and pains); am alive to see the sun, to appreciate birds singing outside; to have a job. So many – thousands, millions, have lost their lives and livelihoods.

One thing that did make me laugh this morning. My daughter shared a message that the husband of one of her cousins had put on Facebook. He was entering a competition to win a gaming console, claiming that he’d lost his job through “Covert19”. (I know some use that word instead of covid because they think it’s a conspiracy but this guy is not even that “intelligent”.) He didn’t lose his job as a result of Covid19 – he was caught stealing from his workplace – he’s a liar and a thief, pleading innocence even though he was caught on camera. An idiot. He’s the laughing stock of the family and lost any respect he might have had (negligible).

I’ve run out of British comedies to make me laugh. I really enjoyed several seasons of Still Game on Netflix. It took me a couple of episodes to get into it but I loved the characters. Any suggestions for humour appreciated. The second season of AfterLife was not funny at all.

I’d better go. Enough venting.

Plans go awry

Well, shit, how things can change in three short months.

The new work place was going well. My new supervisor (there seem to be many layers of managers) was also new and we started together. She’s friendly and open but with a tendency to micromanage (weekly meetings – really?).

So yeah, my plans that I was so excited about in my last entry – how could anyone have predicted the devastating effects of the coronavirus? At the moment it seems highly unlikely that travel plans for September will eventuate. My daughter is hopeful. So we’re in limbo, hoping at least that we can postpone bookings to next year if necessary.

So, I’ve been working from home for a month now. At least I got to know my colleagues a bit beforehand. We do regular coffee catchups online and a daily exercise routine which is good. Then the daily team meeting (unnecessary but ok I guess). We’re keeping in touch. I’m over my dislike of seeing myself on screen – to the extent that I finally did a Skype session with bro and daughters (on H’s 30th birthday – poor girl had plans but had to stay put on lockdown).

It hasn’t been too bad working from home. I get to spend more time with my cat, I can sit next to a sunny window (previously my desk was facing a wall and the window was overshadowed by another building), I can listen to music while I work, I can go for walks at lunchtime, and when I finish (instead of commuting for 45-50 minutes).

You have to look at the positive aspects. If you’re lucky enough to live with someone (instead of living alone) you can spend more time together (or maybe that isn’t such a good thing depending on relationships). If you’re lucky enough to work from home (so many have lost jobs), you can get up later, using the time you would have commuted to sleep longer. You get to see colleagues’ houses and pets during online meetings. And in general: if, like me you’re an introvert, you don’t have to worry about people dropping by unannounced; you don’t feel envious about others’ exotic holidays (they’re also stuck at home); it’s good for the environment.

I hope you are all well and surviving, coping with something that still feels surreal. The uncertainty is hard to bear, and knowing the financial repercussions to come… I only wish that the environmental changes could become permanent, but we know that’s not going to happen. Despite people saying that we can’t go back to normal, that we have to make changes, no-one will. It’ll go back to the norm the minute the shops re-open and travel resumes.

Anyway, I’m off now to do housework. The house gets much dirtier with me in it 24/7.

Stay well.

Planning

This week I finish my part-time job then six days later I start my new full-time job, which is exciting. I’m looking forward to new challenges, new people and a healthier income. I will have to watch out that I don’t put on weight though. For my current job I am on my feet a lot, use public transport, and walk everywhere. The new job, necessarily, involves using the car every day and there will be a lot of sitting during the day. I need to ensure I get enough exercise.

In this transitory period between one job and another (I’ve already, mentally, moved on), I am continuing planning my UK road trip with daughters and bro. Really looking forward to it. The itinerary is mapped out and dates decided on. We’ve already booked flights and have booked accommodation at numerous places on our trip through England and Scotland. We’ve only got a few more places to book. It’s been exciting looking at all the options and choosing the nicest (but comparatively cheap) accommodation that will accommodate all of us, preferably with separate beds. Bro needs a room to himself so he can snore to his heart’s content (and hopefully we won’t hear him). Most places we’ve looked at for four adults only offer a double and two singles, or two doubles (their assumption being that at least two of the four adults are a couple). Not good for us at all, even with a sofa bed. So, we’re concentrating on apartments and cottages on AirBnb. We have to move fast even eight months in advance as they’re booking out quickly.

London doesn’t really feature except as a place to fly into and out of. We’ve all been to London before and are more interested in rural and regional UK (something the girls have not experienced). We’ll start in Winchester and drive to the west then north to Edinburgh, doing a loop back south through York and ending in Cambridge to see the Battle of Britain air show, which my bro was very keen on (as a kid he made WW2 aircraft models and read Biggles). I didn’t mind either as I had been to the Royal Air Force Museum with my father years ago and really enjoyed it.

So, definitely something to look forward to, all going well!

Singapore

I’ve been to Singapore four times now, the first time in 1982. It’s changed a lot in all those years. Now I’m not so keen on it. It’s lost some of its character. Every time I return there are just dozens more high-rise buildings and the place becomes nearly unrecognisable, with older buildings squeezed and dwarfed by the large new. Anyway, it’s still very clean and safe-feeling and it was H’s first time in Singapore so we saw it again through her eyes.

The hotel, unfortunately, had a musty smell which didn’t bode well. W and C thought it so bad that, again, they changed hotels (W could afford to. We could not.) The day after arrival we did the Orchard Road thing, looking in shops, gazing at Xmas decorations (it was late November). I found any food we ate disappointing. My cough was worsening.

The following day we headed to Sentosa Island. There was now a sky train but gone were the butterfly house, fish spa and aquarium that C and I had visited before. It’s a strange place, Sentosa. Apart from the beaches and overpriced Universal Studios, there’s nothing really there.

Before heading to Marina Bay Sands and the Night garden in the evening, we got word that our flights home had been cancelled by Jetstar. They offered a flight five days later which was ridiculous as we all had work to get back to. W argued with them until they finally gave us a flight back but with a 7 hour stopover in Bali airport. (This was the last straw for me from Jetstar. I vowed never to fly them again.)

 

Entrance to Night gardens

  Marina Bay Sands

The following day we took H to Little India and Arab Street and had lunch at the Banana Leaf Apolo restaurant which C and I had enjoyed before. Another visit to Orchard Road and Chinatown.

Banana Leaf Apolo restaurant, Little India

I had a really bad night and asked at reception early the next morning for directions to a doctor. Went off and saw one almost immediately and doc gave me antibiotics. I felt very tired and lacking energy so did not enjoy our walk along the river towards the Merlion.

A bit different to 1982…

Our new flight meant another overnight stay which we hadn’t booked. C & W stayed in an expensive airport hotel while H and I stayed a bit further away in Changi village. We had to wake very early for the flight. Our new hotel was good. It had a pool, and nearby was a market frequented by locals. The food was much nicer and much cheaper, proof that central Singapore is a lot less value for money – more expensive and lower quality – churning out overpriced shit for the tourists. I don’t feel the urge to visit again.

At Bali, since we were going to be waiting for hours, we treated ourselves to a lounge where we could eat and drink as much as we liked and they also had massages. It made the time pass in a much more pleasant way than if we’d hung around in the rest of the airport.

By the time we arrived home in the early morning, there was no public transport so it was taxi time. I fell into bed.