Last week took me back to the bright lights of Melbourne and it was interesting to return to the city. It was my first trip back since leaving for the country in August last year. I wasn’t sure how I would feel given the circumstances of my return were emotional anyway. To be honest, when we drove over the Bolte Bridge in the early evening and spotted Melbourne town lit up like a Christmas tree, there was that old spark of excitement; she really is a beautiful and vibrant city.
BUT a few days later I saw her in a different light. Everything looks grey and I suppose in fairness that’s not just because of all the big buildings and concrete, Melbourne turned on some appalling COLD weather and grey skies during our visit. Now that we live in a country town of 80,000, being back in the city highlighted the differences for me (not all bad of course)…. given the greater population in the city there is more diversity in terms of race, religion and economic background which is more interesting, but I felt like I was swapped by people rushing around. The traffic congestion felt intimidating and the air polluted. On the other hand, shopping centres are just that – big centres with lots of variety – gotta love that!! Everything is available and easily accessible. Had I had more time I’m sure there would have been a shopping spree.
Given the purpose for our visit there wasn’t much time to catch up with friends this time, so I really appreciated these two gorgeous friends going out of their way to meet up with me for a quickly coffee. Do you recognise them?
They are of course Vikki (left) from Sew Useful Designs and Anna on my right from Anna Rosa Designs. I’ve known both of these gorgeous gals long before we entered the blogosphere, but now I can also keep in contact through their blogs. We had a lovely couple of hours and boy, did we talk. Some things are just better discussed in person!!
So, now that I am back up on the coast where life is far more relaxed and the skies are blue, life is returning to our usual routine. We are already benefiting from the beautiful Spring weather but the wind has swept up as it always does this time of year – hello allergies. I should have known it was an ill wind blowing yesterday when the kids were silly and the dog was barking at the sky, but I wasn’t prepared for this lunacy…
My poor old clothesline was whirring around in the wind one minute and the next she snapped in two and collapsed.
There’s a strange kind of Karma in this incident and I bet Kris from Tag Along Teddies is enjoying this immensely. You see, a very similar incident happened to her clothesline awhile back and rather than offer condolences I laughed and jibed with much hilarity. Now my poor old girl who was a tad rusty from the salty sea air has thrown up her lineal arms in disgust too. Just between us, I had a big laugh myself yesterday until I realised getting the clothes off the line was going to be a drama.
On a side note, do you see my vegie garden there in the bottom of the picture? One of my students gave me about 100 strawberry plants a few weeks back and our back garden has strawberry patches popping up everywhere. Mmmmm, won’t that be nice in a few months.
Hope you all have a great and sunny weekend,
Hugs ~ Kerryanne
It’s always nice to come home after a trip to the bigsmoke, It makes you appreciate the simple life. Now I’m not going to laugh about your hills hoist as I don’t want Karma biting my butt!
Hey Kerryanne! Tee! Hee! Hee! :0) Yep … Karma can sure come back and bite ya! :0) Not that I’m the vindictive type of course! :0)And to add insult to injury, at least MY line only had smelly ol’ dog blankets on when it fell, not clean washing! :0) But it did indeed present a challenge to move the pole, tangled lines etc to extricate said doggy blankets, so I hope all your washing was rescued. Mmmmm … strawberries!!! You’ll be making strawberry sundaes, strawberry jam, strawberry sauce (very nice on chocolate mouuse!! Will wait to see what strawberry delicacies you come up with. In the meantime … have fun washing! :0) Bear Hugs! KRIS
I too get what you say,I dread the lights and action of Melbourne My eyebrows knit together!!!
I love our tiny (400 people)town and feel all the stress of the busy areas melt away when I hit the dirt roads home.
Oh Your poor line and washing!!!!
But wow those strawberries will be something else.
we live in busy brisvegas and hardly ever go off our beaten tracks which take us to work, shops and family…i dread the idea of going into the city and only know as far as the hospital! crazy wind we have been having lately 🙂
xxrosey
It is always good to return to the roots but you are definitely in the right place now. So sorry about the clothes line! Hope that wasn’t too much of a mess to clean-up.
Karla
I must not laugh..but it looks like you have a fancy installation art piece in your back yard..hehe
I know, the weather here has been appalling!! But at least our clothes line is still intact (not that we use it as the weather is appalling)
alicia
Hi Kerryanne, love the photo of Melbourne but you surely did have bad weather while you were here.
Bet you girls talked nonstop – did anyone actually get to drink their coffee??
mmm.. sure sounds like karma with that clothes line.
Alison
oh my gosh, look at that clothes line! i can’t believe that!!!
Sorry we turned on the weather for you…. it’s been like that most of winter, it’s just ghastly, I hate it! bring on spring!!!
the bright lights of the city are fabulous at night, but i am glad i’m 15 mins away from them. it would do my head in living in it every day. i’m happy to go into town every now and then, makes it more of a novelty
KERRYANNE
I really must say that I enjoyed your post…set to your gentle music…a pleasure to read you!
thanks for sharing…and I am truly sorry about all the clothesline incident. I am NOT laughing at you…so nothing better happen to my line, ya hear!
smiles!
ciao bella
CREATIVE CARMELINA
Hi Kerryanne,
Lovely catching up with you and Vikki, we’ll have to do it again soon!
I can’t believe this has now happened to your cloths line{big belly laugh as I imagine you trying to gather your cloths off the lawn} oh,oops, I’d help if I was there!
Yummy, strawberries are my favourite fruit-when will they be ready to eat?
Hugs,
Anna
Love your photo of Melbourne, each time I drive to my friends place I have to cross the Bolte bridge and love the vista of the city as I go past.Glad to see you caught up with friends, that would have made putting up with the bad weather a bit easier.
Oh dear, my mother in law’s clothesline did the same thing a couple of months ago.She lives near the ocean too. You are lucky you weren’t standing near it when it fell otherwise we would have had to untangle you from the lines as well!!
Can’t wait to see what you do with the strawberries, cooking and painting-wise.
Lee:)