Laddie is the dog that shared my Tasmanian childhood. He was a black Kelpie, well mostly Kelpie anyway. My father usually called him ‘Boy’. Oddly enough, this was the same term of endearment he used for his children, including my sister and me. 😎 Here is dear
Read more →
I have been reading Wilkie Collin’s novella The Haunted Hotel and it has left me with a longing for a tumbler of hot Maraschino Punch. For those who haven’t read the book, there is a link to a plot summary at the end of this piece. One
Read more →
The Tasman Limited train service ran from the North West Coast town of Wynyard through to Hobart. It began in December1954. Here it is crossing the Leven River at Ulverstone, my hometown. That paint scheme of cream and red gave rise to the nickname, The Blood &
Read more →
Our first motor vehicle was almost a rather stylish De Soto utility, but as my father’s farm diaries record, it ended up being a blocky, dark green Dodge (I secretly yearned for a car, but never mind). The ute was second hand, and I don’t remember how
Read more →
Decluttering, what a stressful job it is. So many baby boomers are downsizing that sometimes you can’t even give things away. One of the toughest items I had to move on recently was a pair of bulky, forty year old life jackets. Why on earth did my
Read more →
This little piece on the Stony Rise Quarry arose from a major decluttering prior to my move into a new home. I was sorting old photos when this one popped up, taken at my father’s Tasmanian farm circa 1975. It took me a while to remember what
Read more →
My parents-in-law, Alan and Jean Conolly (nee Atkins) were married in Manly in December 1946 and spent their honeymoon in the Blue Mountains. They were certainly not alone! I was amused at the following snippet relating to couples who had chosen a winter wedding. Wow, quite risqué
Read more →
Sadly, I never met my father-in-law Alan Conolly. He died far too young, before I met my husband Rob. He travelled extensively during Rob’s childhood so father and son missed out on much precious time together. In the late 1960s, when Rob was still at school in
Read more →
A tribute to Tasmanian silversmith Mr Harold Sargison on the anniversary of his death. Recently I have been trying to decide what to do with three full cutlery sets (from several generations) plus numerous boxed sets; demitasse spoons, fish knives, fruit knives and forks, teaspoon sets etc
Read more →
Singing a song of Sixpence. 💛 During a major decluttering, some dusty life vests turned up at our Blue Mountains Home. Dear me, they were very bulky compared to modern ones. And as I was ripping up old diaries I found this gem from the early 1980s.
Read more →