Sunday: Ballarat’s Botanical Gardens & Lake Wendouree
It was time to visit the spectacular Botanical Gardens
With Frankie of course
The Picturesque Lake Wendouree
Frankie chats to the swan. Lawrie, Frankie, & me, sitting beside the Lake
Monday: Going back home to Geelong
Frankie’s happy in his car seat. The old Lal Lal Railway Station. The Lal Lal Falls Hotel
Frankie’s in his car seat. The historic Elaine Hotel. Elaine’s new Roadhouse Grocery Store.
The wind turbines near Elaine … but ironically, I’m running out of puff. It’s now 11.15pm Monday here in Geelong, and to produce this post has been a task on my little TV Computer … My desktop computer is back in Ballarat being repaired by my brother and the process could take a while …
My brother turned 71`and I turned 72 back in July, so this old Neil Young song seems appropriate for “Frankie’s Weekend”
Mom’s birthday and Carole’s birthday were not far apart, and appropriately they enjoyed a very close relationship … Today is my mother’s birthday, and next Sunday is Mothersday, and coincidently, today was also Carole’s funeral day … Here is my tribute to those 2 magnificent women in my life…
Put another log on the fire, while I travel to Tasmania with the two Philadelphia girls and three other Aussie cousins … Thursday 27th April – Monday 1st May
I posted the below “Faeries and Books” article way back in December 2019.
Faeries and Books
Cousin Maureen, Christine(from Go Dog Go Cafe’s website), cousin Terri
Faeries And Books
Australia is a far away land
Only reached by ship or plane
Today, I saw the Ben Franklin Bridge at my door
Distant fairies were knocking, a message for Ivor
From my Philadelphia cousins, Maureen and Terry
They went to a Pop-Up Shop, a writers library
To meet Christine, our chief of ‘Go Dog Go Cafe’
Who signed a book for me, and a joint photo for my display
Cherished Thanksgiving gifts, to make my heart beat
Now I’m looking forward to my cousin delivering the treats
“On Sunday, at the start of their stay, my cousins (The Good Faeries) Maureen and Terri, presented me with the signed copy of “Smitten” that they had purchased for me way back in November 2019 … I had totally forgotten about the Antology and their gift was truly a very pleasant SURPRISE!”
Wednesday : We visited the historic Paper Mill tourist area in Fyansford, and then the adjacent scenic Barwon River Valley and Buckley Falls
L-R. In the foreground, the viaduct channel that powered the Paper Mill — Maureen in front of a Bluestone storage shed — A pair of Tawny Frogmouth Owls
L-R. The girls and Frankie — A signpost deplaying some local aboriginal township names — Frankie and the girls
The Weir on the Barwon River above Buckley Falls, which fed water into the old Paper Mill viaduct — Frankie and Maureen
Wednesday, Late Afternoon: I took Terri home for a much need rest and Maureen and I continued on our way to Corio Quay and Rippleside Beach.
At Corio Quay, the ‘Spirit Of Tasmania’ , the Bass Strait ferry from Geelong to Tasmania
The promenade section of the trail that bridges a inlet … looking back to the waterfront area in front of the City of Geelong.
Below: a short video of our view across the Bay toward the City.
Wednesday, Laterer: At the Moorabool Valley Chocolate Cafe before we went home to arouse cousin Terri
Me and my ‘cheesecake’ — The model train/railway in front of the kitchen area.
At the end of the Cafe’s carpark there is a lookout over the Moorabool Valley
Thursday: In the morning the girls had to pack ready for the next “cousin interchange”, cousin Dennise from Torquay at 2.30pm, and then we went down to the charming Pakington St.
The girls did some shopping and we returned to the ‘Box Office Cafe’ for Lunch.
The gorgeous West Park — the girls in my courtyard waiting to be picked up — goodbye to my dear cousins Maureen and Terri, for now, until next Thursday(27th) a group of us (6 cousins) are flying over to Tasmania for a 5-day tour.
Monday: I took the girls to the “National Wool Museum” which is here in Geelong, but firstly they came with me to ‘visit’ Carole at the Geelong West cemetery (flowers for Carole’s birthday) …
Happy birthday Carole … Wool Museum, the girls up on the historic Auctioneer’s podium.
The girls, Terri and Maureen, shopping in the Museum’s souvenir shop
Tuesday: We toured the Bellarine Peninsula
Queenscliff: … the fascinating old buildings, The Grand Hotel, The Post Office, and the Library
Queenscliff: The girls found the old style shops very interesting
Queenscliff: An intriguing shop courtyard.
Queenscliff: the waterfront
Point Lonsdale: The lighthouse at the entrance to Port Phillip Bay, called the “Rip”, the pier and bay beyond, and the infamous “Rip”.
Ocean Grove: From the promenade looking toward “The Bluff” at Barwon Heads… Frankie, Maureen, and Terri.
Ocean Grove: The surf beach, looking back toward Point Lonsdale … surf was up with lots of board riders.
Barwon Heads: From “The Bluff” lookout, L-R – overlooking the Victoria Park camping area, – looking across the Barwon River toward Ocean Grove, – looking down at the mouth of the Barwon River.
Time to head home … and at 7.30pm we enjoyed a wine and Barbeque dinner, relaxing under my courtyard Verandah…
“Normal is an illusion. What is normal for the spider is chaos for the fly.” – Charles Addams My two Philadephia cousins will be staying at my little abode in seven days time, which also happens to be the day of my “Perceptions” book launch. I have not been panicking “much”, and my cleaning-up and preparation has been a process of organised chaos!
Ivor.Plumber/Poet 