Monday, October 14, 2024

Performances and Recovery

This week, Rockspeare's Henry VI, Part Two opened at The Mill Theatre. I am playing Gloucester and Salisbury. I get to campaign, scheme, conspire, provoke, defend, and all those other wonderful political activities with this tight-knit cast as we interpret the Wars of the Roses. 

The Duke and Duchess of Gloucester

Breakfast at Fox and Bow with Him Outdoors. 

Smoked trout croquettes with poached eggs, lemon hollandaise and crunchy kale

Unofficial photo shoots with cats are hilarious, especially when they are bonkers like Penelope. 


I went to watch Him Outdoors compete in the ACT duathlon championships, but I must admit, I got distracted by the boingy things on the course.

All the ducks in a row

Downtime is spent reading in the spring sunshine in the garden with the cats.

Penny in a box
And out of doors

Monday, October 7, 2024

Flowers!

We are mid rehearsals for Henry VI Part Two, and this beautiful actor is taking a break - not only is she a fabulous actor; she also knows how to match her food to her outfit - a most underrated skill. 


The evolution of the bedside book pile continues...


The pruning of the lavender bushes results in some very casual flower 'arrangements' indoors.

Monday, September 23, 2024

Power Out

I don't actually enjoy power cuts - I mean, I'm not a crazy person - but I do like the soft glow of candlelight and the gentle murmur of conversation or the turning pages of books, and the pouring of red wine. I suppose there are some advantages.


They have beds all over the house. Not only do they choose the same one, but they sleep on top of it, rather than in it. Cats!

Monday, September 16, 2024

Spring is Springing

It's finally arrived! Spring is here! These are the orchards at work, of which I made a colourful photo monatge.


Mel is unimpressed.

Monday, September 9, 2024

Breakfast and books

Back in Canberra, my life of rehearsals, reading and eating continues. No pictures of the former, but here are a couple of our meals at Two Before Ten, where we walked for breakfast at the weekend, and the books I've been reading. 

Monday, September 2, 2024

Catching Up

It's always good to return to these two little muppets, even if they don't appreciate our peripatations.


And Canberra breakfasts are good whether we dine out...

 
...or in.


Meanwhile, the bedside book pile just keeps on growing. 

Sunday, August 25, 2024

Magnetic Island Part Three

We went for breakfast at Horseshoe Bay and spotted this fabulous mini. As we were admiring it, we spoke to the owner who told us it was the bride's car for a wedding later that morning. After breakfast, it was indeed adorned with the ribbons and looking even smarter.

 
We went for a walk around Balding and Radical Bay.


We had lunch at SOS (Stuffed on Seafood), which made the bold claim - as they all do - that they had the world's best fish and chips. This is not true, although I liked the presentation.


In the evening we went out on Cleveland Bay on a Sip and Sail Sunset Cruise on Pilgrim, a beautiful 58-foot sailing yacht. We wandered about the marina first before we climbed aboard.


It was delightful to be out on the water with the smell of the sea and the sound of the wind and the waves. 

These words feel particularly apposite this week

On our final day on Magnetic Island, we had a Maggie Island pie at the markets, and went walking at Cockle Bay and Geoffrey Bay.


There are a few shipwrecks around this island, as you might imagine. One story is of the 827-ton Moltke, which arrived in Townsville from Europe in 1890, carrying a crew of 14, several passengers and a general cargo. The vessel had been built in Hamburg, Germany, and was described as being 'beautiful, spotlessly clean, and expensively furnished'. This was the Moltke's first trip to Australia, where it was to discharge some of its cargo at Townsville and the rest at Rockhampton.

Although the Moltke successfully navigated from the other side of the world, it ran aground shortly after leavign Townsville. A badly stowed cargo and freshening conditions meant that the captain could not maintain his course for Cape Bowling Green, and the vessel struck a reef at the northern end of Flinders Passage.

A small and enterprising syndicate bought the Moltke for five pounds and, much to everyone's surprise, patched the hole and towed it back to Townsville, where it was sold for use as a coal hulk. In 1911, Dr McCabe, a dentist from Townsville, purchased the Moltke to use as a breakwater at Geoffrey Bay.

Rumour has it that while being towed from Townsville, McCabe and the explosives 'expert', William Bright, enjoyed a few alcoholic beverages together. Consequently, Bright failed to set the charges correctly. The hatches were blown off, the moorings parted and the Moltke drifted to where it now lies. Whether this story is true or not, the Moltke did provide small craft with shelter for many years, although not in the position that had been planned.


In the afternoon, we had a cocktail on deck at The Boardwalk in Nelly Bay, before catching the ferry back to Townsville, where I had to take a photo of the boat that matched this morning's mini. Coincidences are everywhere when you look for them.


And then the next day, we flew home.