Too Many or Not Enough

Yes, I usually have a gripe about getting my layers right at this time of year when the weather is changing rapidly from temperate to cold to temperate again, sometimes in a matter of minutes or hours... 

Yesterday afternoon, I absolutely froze at the crossing - it was glorious and warm when I left home in my shorts and light summer cardy and a freezing wind was up when I set up the flags. Just as well I'd grabbed an extra cardy as I walked out the door; I had to wear the winter crossing coat to keep the wind out some more. Then, I had an appointment, so it was in and out the car, in and out the car, getting cold all over again, and again. Finally, I reached home and all was good. 

War Cemeteries and Memorials

That's what we did in the afternoon (please scroll down to see the morning adventures, published yesterday).  We visited war cemeteries and memorials.

Passchendale Memorial Museum and Lake

Jim proceeded through the upstairs museum, and then went on to the underground tunnels, while I headed outside into the sunshine. 

Buttes New British Cemetery and New Zealand Memorial, established on a small section of Polygon Wood. 

I enjoyed the walk down the country road to reach the entrance, and the cemetery itself was well planned and respectful. 

Langemark German Military Cemetary

Tyne Cot Cemetery

So many graves - only a fraction of those who died.

Then it was on to Ypres, and now it was getting cold and dark. The Last Post at the Menin Gate always happens at 8.00pm, each and every day, which is where I made the mistake, thinking it was at 5.00pm, and then we'd be heading back to the hotel. We had 90 minutes to wander through the Menin Gate, down along the Meninstraat to Ypres Grote Markt, and find something to eat, before heading back to the Gate. We found a bustling restaurant, sat inside out of the cold, and I ordered the Lamb Shank. It was very warming, lots of mashed potato and veges; I thought I was back in Australia! So, we listened to the Last Post surrounded by crowds about 10 people deep. I couldn't see a thing, and could barely hear it. Back on the bus, one of about 40 buses, we headed back to the hotel. A day of mixed adventures, for sure. 

The Menin Gate was covered in scaffolding when we were there; so many iconic buildings have their scaffolding - these buildings and monuments are always in a state of restoration.

Twelve Months

It's been 12 months since we left for Europe in 2024, and I still haven't finished my albums. I've virtually come to a standstill with photos in the last month, what with holidays and heavy, tricky church stuff going on. Anyway, I've managed to finish off the 30th April 2024, which kind of dribbled to an end in the dark and cold, with no photos. 

The morning was free time, so we called a taxi to take us out to a Small Beguinage. We wandered around, and then walked back to the old city centre (about 30minutes). 

On the way back we found a Cafe - coffee, alcohol and soft drink. Alcohol is available 24/7 from these cafes.

We settled for soft drink, of course, and begged for a small biscuit each.  Basically there was no food, apart from the free biscuit with the coffee. 

We finished up at a small supermarket near the hotel, found some cheese and biscuits to eat on the bus for lunch.  Back to the hotel for a freshen up, rearrange the bags and we were set for more bus travel. Unfortunately it was at this point that I didn't pack my top layers; I thought we were going to be back about

6.30pm - remember to double check all arrival and departure times!

All the Good Things

It's been a few days of good things. The last day of school holidays was my birthday. I had a bit of a lie-in, Jim turned up with flowers and a small chocolate cake and then I enjoyed an evening meal with Jim and friends from church. All very easy. 

Then it was back to school crossing duty the following day, so that was another good thing. My days are back to having some much needed structure. I turned up at the crossing to be greeted by tradie vehicles, the house behind has had its front verandah completely demolished. I guess I'll be seeing works progress over the next few weeks as they build a new one. 

Easter Sunday

It's time to get back to my regular Sunday/Wednesday posting. And then I only just remembered an hour or so ago that it was Sunday, and I had to find something to write about. 

We had a bit of a mixed up day. It was a late church service, including a baptism, including long joyful hymns, including long Easter canticles and including many worshippers. And then Jim and I both had jobs to do afterwards - counting the offerings, packing up after communion, making decisions about the easter flowers, and delivering left over easter buns to the poor and needy....

Later in the afternoon I did a cleaning job ready for tomorrow, and then on the spur of the moment we went visiting a new widow, and by then the day was mostly gone. 

Karkoo at Mt Lofty Train Station

I'm a bit mixed up with posting days this week, what with our travels and so forth.

On our last full day in Adelaide, we drove to Karkoo Nursery, Cafe and Shop at Mt Lofty Train Station. Obviously, no longer used for alighting or boarding trains. Trains still travel through the station, though. Siri eventually got us there, by all sorts of roundabout ways, but we thoroughly enjoyed the ambiance and our lunch once we were there. 

 

 I Feel Like a Blob!

Our driving holiday is going well, although the car isn’t at its best.

On Wednesday we enjoyed our long awaited visit to “Treasures of the Vikings” at the Museum. We transferred next door to the State Library for a spot of lunch, and visited the word renowned Mortlock Library.

Then it was off to Pt Lincoln for family time with those living there, and others from further away turning up for the Val’s 95th birthday. A great couple of days. 

Yesterday, it was the long drive back to Adelaide, but we did use the ferry from Cowell to Wallaroo, which was good. Shortly, we’ll be heading up to Mt Lofty for a bit of an outing to the train station and Karkoo cafe and nursery. 

About being a blob.. The weather’s been against us for doing anything active. Temperatures have reached around the 30s everyday, warm overnights and our commitments have basically prevented doing any walking anyway. And anytime I’ve had a spare half hour to do a workout inside, it’s the last thing I’ve felt like doing. So, sitting and eating and talking and driving means I’m feeling like a blob! Home tomorrow, and it’ll all be action stations for cleaning, walking and working out. 

 Glenelg

All going well with us so far on our driving holiday. Drove out to Hazel’s  today for lunch; she was actually pleased with what I brought along for lunch!  So, a good visit there, and then we went to St Kilda beach and had a look around there, and then tackled the long drive back to the motel, through city traffic. We trammed it into Jetty Road just on dusk, walked along the jetty and tried out a new, to us, relaxed seafood restaurant.

Moseley Square where the tram finishes, and a side on view of the ferris wheel.

Winding Down

I'm winding down from church affairs, and getting my mind into holiday mode. Also adjusting to the change in time and daylight; almost dark now, and it's not even tea time...

I was phoned up out of the blue by a friend, yesterday morning, and invited out to coffee and cake at her place that afternoon. She had a huge triple layer iced cake, which she'd bought to celebrate a birthday with the grandchildren, and the grandchildren weren't turning up, so we and some others were invited round to help eat it. And so we wiled away a pleasant couple of hours. 

So, the job planned for yesterday got done this morning after church, and I've looked at the bags and boxes ready for travel. Just a couple of supplies to get in tomorrow from the supermarket, and then deciding what clothes and layers to take for a still pretty warm South Australia. The next door neighbour is all set to water the flowers, take the bins in and out, and collect the mail. By Tuesday morning, we'll be in good heart to set out and get going!

Update

I finished a good book last night, just before I posted. It was the last of a series of 18 books by Jacqueline Winspear, centred around her main character, Maisie Dobbs. The first was published in 2003, and this last one, in 2024. I've pretty much read each one as they were published, and added to the library catalogue. They were all good solid reads, with interesting characters, and absorbing storylines.

I tackled Ticketek again today, for tickets to the "Treasures of the Vikings" exhibition, on at the Museum of South Australia. Easy peasy this time, so we're all set for an outing there on Thursday morning. 

School has finished here in Victoria, so the car has been emptied of the crossing gear, most of the clothing items have been washed and dried and packed away, so I can concentrate on getting packed ready for travel. 

 Making Plans

Finally I’m reaching the end of a busy time with church stuff. Leading the service last night all went well; it wasn’t a late night, but I was pretty wrecked afterwards. Today, I took it easy; did a little cleaning/dusting job, finalised the minutes from Monday’s meeting and sent a long winded notice in for the bulletin. 

So, my mind is turning to our driving holiday next week. Have been in touch with Hazel, and have settled a time to visit, and now I can arrange things around that. So, I headed to the laptop to buy tickets to “Treasures of the Viking Age” at the Museum of South Australia, and do you think I could get through the dialogue boxes to buy tickets. No way! Will have to try again tomorrow.