Up Close/Close Up

Tonight my friend Ian took me to the Melbourne Recital Centre to hear the Melbourne Symphony Orchestra play Sir Michael Tippett's Concerto for Double String Orchestra, Vaughan Williams' The Lark Ascending and that most wonderful Modernist poem by Edith Sitwell, put to music by William Walton, Facade. Sir Andrew Davis conducted and narrated, Wilma Smith played violin and Yvonne Kenny narrated. I have never enjoyed a classical recital so much, hearing in the music, the dawn of the new age, with all its attendant tension, excitement, woes and playfulness.
But before I went I took these little close-ups, hoping to show you the end of our winter here and the start of our spring, with all its lightened wakening.

I

It feels like we are ascending, or moving about in the air anyway. Here's to poetry, larks, the gift of wings and new life.

The blurred past is yet real

My grandparents, whom I loved very much, at their wedding. You can see my grandfather's sense of occasion ( he who had fought in WWI, bravely, and at considerable threat to his life ), and my grandmother, who alone understood the very first words I spoke, so joyous. Adelaide, 1920s.

WOOF! WOOF!

Without this little bunnykins, this gardener would be roaming his domain disconsolately.

Here Zara's found something ineffably fascinating, but what on earth is it? Does it matter? 

When you love the life around you, the love grows. Love given does not diminish, but increases, and so the world can turn on its axis more peacefully, more assuredly.

Well, heck...

I hate to say it, because blogging means so much to me, but my computer has been giving me enormous trouble lately, and it's a miracle it's come on enough now, that I can write at all...I really appreciate being connected to everybody, but I've not been able to post anything or comment or do anything else, because my computer's been sort of dead, so please don't think I've forgotten anyone, I'm simply INCOMMUNICADO. If there's enough space, I'll post some photos of my doggy, as requested by Thomas...

South Westward to Camperdown

On territory originally belonging to the Djargurd Wurrung Aboriginal people, Camperdown, in Victoria's south-western 'Lakes and Craters' region, was first settled by Europeans in the 1830s.

One of the most historically intact towns in Victoria, it's also one of the most handsome, with many fine buildings, such as the bluestone Post Office, built in 1863, above.

I've just recently enjoyed a few days there, staying with my very good friend, Ian...despite dog unused to car = trauma.

The town is built up against two wonderful extinct volcanic craters, one of which, Mount Leura, you can see in the background above.

 

It's noted for its gothic 'Manifold Clock Tower', built in 1897, donated to the town by its pioneering  landowning family.

It's easy to believe you've stepped back in time - a quality, along with its civility, which I treasure. 

Above is the Anglican church, erected by the Manifold family in 1894.

I liked this image of a garden, with what was once the local dairy behind it.

In another part of town sits this wonderful urn, completely safe outside beside the pavement.

I'm very fond of this old fence, built from local basalt, guarding its bluestone house.

Above is the splendid Uniting Church.

Here, a group of eucalypts in a park, that caught my eye.

Above, the Georgian Court House, built 1886-1887. It's time now, of course, to get stuck into gardening...

AUGUST CRASH SITE - GARDENER PARALYSED

A not infrequent shutdown of my computer - due to a malfunctioning electrical connection - has disabled my current attempts to bloggeract with the wider world. I'm hoping it's shortlived...

The Emerging Wood: a Tribute

This construction is a tribute to all and any who follow, read or glance at this blog...without you I'd be less connected to the world and less yielding. I value the connection I have with you. Thankyou.