Another week - retreat on Mt Wilson

After a busy week getting ready for end of year reporting of the project ( and struggling from time to time with recalcitrant software) and an evening traffic jam - the weekend was peaceful and refreshing for mind, spirit and body. I was invited to go overnight to the Blue Mountains to the School of Philosophy's property on Mt Wilson - a unique place - like a microclimate within the Blue Mountains, part of an area with lots of ferns, tree ferns, crown ferns, many of which reminded me of NZ. At this time of year any open areas were crowded with a host of daisies - reminding me of Wordsworth's poem except it wasnt a host of golden daffodils but a host of daisies. The village is full of magnificant old homes built about a hundred years ago, and is now a heritage area with avenues of trees that must look magnificant in the autumn. Lots of lovely walks in the area - worth a later visit with Peter. Only one drawback, the area had leeches hiding in the grass, and they liked Kiwi blood - I soon learnt the value of Spray on Aeroguard - tropical strength! That did deter me from going bushcrashing! The retreat was very basic accommodation, but absolutely adequate, and the area was literally hand hewn out of the vegetation, sorry I didnt take the camera but I am looking forward to getting copies of someone else's.
Back to work today but a friend is visiting Sydney and it will be great to see her.

Visits to NZ, heatwaves and more

Well, I have had a six day visit to NZ with Sean ( his 10th birthday present) and it was great to be home. New babies (I am a great aunt) were looking wonderful, we took Sean for a hot swim at Miranda ( after the legendary fish and chips) and we had dinner with old friends another night. Nothing like my own bed to sleep in, and good to see Peter was finally over his flu and bronchitis before I left. I was a bit worried there for a while. Didnt get round to seeing everyone, and weather wasn't wonderful but I will be home for Christmas. A lovely break and Sean was a real pleasure to have with us.

Came back to Sydney and a heat wave - amidst TV warnings of extreme fire risk this last weekend was most uncomfortable - hot warm NW wind and temperature of at least 40 out this side of town. My little studio flat is not air conditioned! I took off and went on a ferry over to Manley to get the sea breeze, and then after trying to do some writing on Sunday, gave up in sweaty despair and drove to Botany Bay where I wallowed in the sea until the body cooled down.

Unbelievably the temperature fell almost 20 deg overnight and this morning it was only 19 deg as the wind switched round to the SW. Not much rain and still high winds, so the bushfires are not all out yet ( still over 80 fires burning in NSW!!) - but at least it was not so muggy and hot.

First week in November

Well, working away on spreadsheets and getting info ready to distribute to our collaborators.

I went to the movies last week and saw Maos LAst Dancer - LOVED it - the dancer who plays Li Cunxin is himself a magnificent dancer and really gave new meaning to male ballet dancers. Strength and grace personified.
Had a swim, and a meal out with neighbours at one of the ethnic restaurants in Marrickville - nice change for me, went to my Philosophy group and then headed off to Canberra on Thursday morning in the car - very straightforward trip on motorways - had my meetings and then drove up the LAchlan Valley Way to Cowra and on to Bathurst - long drive for me on my own - made it to Glanmire by 8.45pm - pretty tired but easy driving through very green lush pasture - merino sheep country. They must have had rain in that area - I remember the dry barrenness of Lake George near Canberra on other trips - this time very green and pretty.

Stayed up at Glanmire and worked while family was at work and school - lovely spot to work and write - peaceful even with raucous birds. learnt a few more birds names eg a Corella is a sort of cockatoo with a small whitish crest instead of the more common Sulphur crested cockatoo, and the birds i thought were quails were crested pigeons.

Long drive home through the mountains on Sunday where I ran into low cloud, rain and a traffic jam due to a horrible looking accident - diverted and almost got lost ( saved by my GPS) and then home. BAck to work this morning and looking forward to going to NZ with Sean on Thursday morning.

No pictures this time - long story but I need a new camera.