The Wedding

We have been - and returned - can't believe it is all over but we are so glad to have been part of such a lovely celebration. The weather was perfect and the venue very dear.

Rachael and Greg looked very beautiful and had done a great job planning the occasion. It was really good to meet Greg's family and relatives and to put faces to the names of friends we have heard about. I can certainly understand that they will miss them all when they leave Pittsburgh.



Rachael looked wonderful in the dress she had made from lace and satin. She wore yellow shoes and carried peonies and stocks. The cake (s) were a great hit with something for everyone. They had bought little painted buckets with roses growing inside and they had these and candles on the tables.
The down side is that we have struggled this week as we attempt to settle back into 'normal' life. However it is not long until Rach and Greg arrive here and we will celebrate all over again with family and friends here.

Some serious preparation - cakes!!

Today it was some hardcore cake decoration - fortunately we played to my strengths ( I washed up).
But by the end 3 cakes each lay frosted twice by a bewildering selection of frosting.
We have, marzipan and fondant on a tradtional fruit cake, chocolate ganache and royal icing on a chocolate cake and a white chocolate butter cream and something called 7 minute meringue (which wasn't) on a carrot cake.

Rachael wielded the spatulas and I washed and at the end of many hours we had three cakes ready to be stacked for the grand occasion.

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Greg lent his support by cutting out the place cards he had recently printed.

All seems in hand for the great day (now very close).

Subversive Knitting

While looking in vain for a florist to whom we could extend our custom, we blundered across this fine Pittsburgh expression of subversive knitting - knitting as one has described it: "to subvert the dominant paradigm". Here the subversion involves an otherwise benign looking street bike rack.
Some might see it as harmless but not all do - others recognise the inherent dangers here. See this item from the Colbert Report.

Ruth's 80th and Werribee House

We flew down to Geelong over the weekend to add our considerable capacity for celebrating with gusto to the occasion of Ruth's 80th birthday. The event was just a little subdued due to Ruth's recent surgery and short stay in respite care. A few family representatives and longtime friends got together for the occasion.






At a loose end on Sunday, waiting for the plane's departure we finally got around to visiting Werribee House, something we have been threatening to do for years. Built in the late 19th century by wealthy pastoralists (the Chirnside family) it is an amazing place, slowly being restored by the Victorian Government. The formal gardens stretches over a staggering 10 hectares and has its own lake and grotto. The lake was apparently filled (with water), by employees when empty and an important visitor was expected. There were between 3 and 5 fulltime washerwomen on staff.
It costs to inspect the interior of the mansion but one can wander the grounds for free.
This view from the first floor balcony shows the parterre garden being prepared for the 23,000 plants for next year's show. We have made a mental note to call in some spring to see the garden in bloom, we cannot allow 23,000 seedlings to go unappreciated.
Next door to the Mansion is Victoria's State Rose Garden, just a happy coincidence apparently; through which we also wandered. All are named and dated with their country of origin and for no good reason we decided that it seems the Germans may be obsessed with Rose breeding. Some are modern, many date from last century and some from the 19th century. The garden is shaped like a Tudor Rose and is huge and we spent more than an hour wandering and enjoying it. That the Equestrian Centre is next door and Sundays are one of their busy days with the attendant need for many a loud and incomprehnsible announcement was a happy bonus.

I wandered lonely as a cloud ...

On this very wet Saturday, with Phillip in Geelong, I took myself by ferry from Rydalmere to Manly. I wanted to check out the suitability of Manly Seaworld for an excursion for Kindy classes. Despite the rain (or maybe because of it) the city and Manly looked lovely.
The crossing to and from was quite something with special warnings being given the whole way.

Manly was even more grey and wonderful and brought back many happy memories from childhood trips from Parramatta. I was pretty disgusted to discover that McDonalds, Gloria Jeans and Subway have replaced the hot doughnut shop that used to be on the wharf at Manly. I had my nose all set for the hot sugary cinnamon smell and had even decided to buy one as consolation for my aloneness. However, the Weight Watcher gods were on duty and alas I was saved from excess.

Manly Seaworld was quite dear but a bit dodgy There were some impressive sharks and some idiots diving amongst them. The beach was better in a dismal grey sort of way.

On the way home I took a photo of the poor sods camping on Cockatoo Island. It does look like fun though and I'd love to try it - especially in the sunshine

Brunch and a Blast from the Past

Jen and Ted are eclipsing all previously known "most miles in a holiday" records. Sydney via the coast road and Jervis Bay, to Tamworth and back via The Entrance but have had a couple of nights with us.
Sunday 20th we took the chance for a leisurely brunch at the Armory Cafe (their spelling by the way and I am uncertain about whether it should be Armoury or not). It is on a stretch of the Parramatta River quite near the Silverwater Bridge and despite the 36˚ C day we enjoyed a bit of a breeze and the sight of the many ferries making their way up and down the river.
After the modest feed we wandered about the grounds of the old munitions store and worked off the worst of our breakfast excesses.
Then it was off to ice creams and cake (we skipped lunch completely!) at Lake Parramatta via 17 Irving St. Jenny and Judy insist but for the missing gum tree from in front and the new colour (no longer blue) it has not changed a bit.
It is now in a dead end street and the houses on the opposite side of the street have all gone, demolished to make way for the bridge and James Ruse Drive access from Victoria Road.
Judy suggests the above photo reminds her of waiting for the Sunday School bus, although I suspect they may have stood a little further apart those mornings.