Résurrection de mon blog

It was due to lack of time that I had to give something away in my life and unfortunately it was this blog that had to go.

Since returning to Australia for 4 months this year, I was asked repeatedly about my blog and when I was going to start writing and posting pictures again.

Well, I have been back in France now for 6 weeks and have finally got around to resurrecting the blog.

Enjoy the stories and pictures I will be posting. So much has happened since my last post in Sept 2017.

Maggie's maison

There were a few reasons I returned to Australia for that length of time and the main one was to return to work.

I caught up with a number of work colleagues and made a couple of lifelong friends.

Maggie - we had a ball. Maggie kindly put me up (or put up with me) for 10 weeks in Melbourne and it was such great fun staying at her grand maison with all her kids, partners, puppy and grandson. I already miss the G&T's Maggs.













There were lots of things we did together.
And before you ask - yes we did go to the Bastille Day celebrations at the Meat Markets in North Fitzroy. Fantastic Day.

Bastille Day in Melbourne

We also went to the Tulip Festival which was wonderful.

Tulip Festival Melbourne

Tulip Festival Melbourne

We had a day trip to Mornington Peninsular with the obligatory famous Vanilla Slice and an afternoon at a local winery listening to Jazz. We did a pub crawl around North Fitzroy (although I think we only managed 2 pubs).

Mornington Peninsular

There were birthday celebrations at a Mexican Restaurant in Middle Park (thanks to GG and Maggs for organising and for all the pressies).

Birthday Flowers

There were AFL Grand Final celebrations - YAY The EAGLES WON - absolute bonus for me and Bill really wish he had come out to Australia at that point. Thanks to Sandra for the finger food and drinks that afternoon.

I was also lucky enough to stay in a 1 bedroom apartment in South Yarra whilst Carrie (another work colleague and friend) traveled to Holland and elsewhere. Right on the river and close to be able to walk into the centre of Melbourne and to work. Thanks a bunch POB (Only Carrie will get this).

Carrie's place South Yarra

I also had a lovely 9 days with my parents (whilst catching up with a brother and 2 sisters at the same time).

My family

Cane harvest time right through the centre of Mossman

Also had time to visit the block up in the Daintree and the "LOO with a view".

Loo with a view - life in the Daintree

Then a week with my son in Brisbane and a weekend with my other son in Adelaide.

My babies

So that was great to be able to see them all again and to know that they are all enjoying their lives and are well and healthy and happy.

It was extremely difficult getting back into the routine of work each day. I had to catch 2 trains to work in the dark, cold, wet winter of Melbourne. The only saving grace was that I knew I would be returning to France at some point.

Me at work

Work was undergoing an Organisational Restructure so moral was very low and people were losing their jobs and having to reapply for their positions. But the cafe's were great, plenty of places to have lunch and I got to explore everything new on Carlisle Street. I also managed to catch up with a number of work colleagues and friends.

Bill stayed behind with a long list of chores that kept him busy around the house during the very hot summer months in France.

And I must admit that he did a brilliant job on the pointing of the walls and keeping my garden alive and well watered. A big thankyou to you Bill.

Side wall after pointing

Terrace wall after pointing

Back yard garden in summer

Fig tree just loaded with fruit

He did get invited to lots of lunches and dinners and social events that were going on through summer.
Plus he entertained our guests from Adelaide for 9 days - being a tour guide for La Creuse.

Since arriving home I have been extremely busy with projects that were on hold till my return.

The first problem I wanted to tackle was stripping the wallpaper off within the pink room wardrobe as it got quite mouldy last winter. I have now repainted with antimould paint and it looks 1000% better. Lets see what happens over winter.

Before

After

I was also busy picking all my herbs and drying them - Coriander, Chives, Oregano, Rosemary, Thyme, Sage and Parsley.

Harvesting

I also have been picking a never-ending supply of figs and making into fig jam, fig chutney, fig sauce etc. As it's such a strong taste, I mix it with apple sauce or stewed apple to make apple and fig pies to freeze (our french friends have given us 2 buckets of apples).

Dried herbs and all the fig stuff

I also picked the rest of the tomatoes that were still green as they weren't going to ripen and made them into a green verte hot salsa - very very yummy.

I have been trying all sorts of new recipes. One savory muffin recipe that Serge from "The Garage" cafe in Melbourne kindly wrote down for me. They turned out a treat made with corn, spinach leaves, and feta.

Making curtains has also kept me busy. Wanted the "Harem" effect in the lounge room.

New sheer curtains

I will save the rest of the news for my next few posts.

Happy to be back blogging again and I hope you all enjoy the adventure.

Wendy