Heritage Motel, Cootamundra

P7010019.JPG, originally uploaded by Pennie David.

View over the golf course from our balcony

Cootamundra Station Platform

Cootamundra Station Platform, originally uploaded by Pennie David.

Cootamundra has a seriously long and beautiful platform.

Lace Work on Cootamundra Station

Lace Work on Coota. Station, originally uploaded by Pennie David.

Cooma Cottage

Cooma Cottage, originally uploaded by Pennie David.

The home of Hamilton Hume, first Australian born overland explorer... we pulled off the Hume Highway especially to have a little look around today but it was closed.
David's mother bought Cooma Cottage way back in 1968 and tried to give it to the National Trust but they wouldn't take it because it was in such a bad state of disrepair so she paid for a new, but exactly the same roof and the Trust did it up for Australia's Bicentennial in 1988... it looks a little bleak today doesn't it!
http://www.nsw.nationaltrust.org.au/cooma.html

Here's something you probably didn't know...

Goulburn Post, originally uploaded by Pennie David.

David used to work here way back in 1966... The Goulburn Evening Penny Post!

Jackson Harry and Charlie Ripley watching Brum!

Jackson Harry and Charlie Ripley watching Brum!, originally uploaded by Pennie David.

Two more pink diamonds...

Two more pink diamonds..., originally uploaded by Pennie David.

... then I will have to think what to do next, I have to fill in the corners and the 'V' shapes on the edges before I can start doing borders. Doing a quick and rough count I reckon there are 3,388 half inch hexagons here! You could count them yourself if you like

Lovely day at the Sydney Quilt Show.

Pennie, Michelle, Chris and Barb., originally uploaded by Pennie David.

Met up with lots of SCQuilters, saw every quilt and every shop and even did a little shopping! Here's myself and Michelle with two Kiwi's Chris and Barb.

Quilts to the right of me...

Quilts to the right of me..., originally uploaded by Pennie David.

Quilts to the left of me...

Quilts to the left of me..., originally uploaded by Pennie David.

Daddy's tickling Matilda May...

Matilda May, originally uploaded by Pennie David.

... and doesn't she love it! Another lovely hour iChatting with our Tomo and his little girls.

Boo!

Boo!, originally uploaded by Pennie David.

Another balancing baby...

Another balancing baby..., originally uploaded by Pennie David.

Tom and his little girls.

Tom and his little girls., originally uploaded by Pennie David.

Quilts

Quilts, originally uploaded by Pennie David.

The Sydney Quilt Show starts tomorrow which reminded me that I haven't put any photos of my quilts up for a while... here's some from 2005.

Wet Wet Wet

P6260065.JPG, originally uploaded by Pennie David.

Sydney isn't far off breaking the 1950 record of 642mm for the wettest June. From yesterday 497mm have fallen so if today's rain keeps up we might just break that record.

Flooding pathway

P6260069.JPG, originally uploaded by Pennie David.

Colour in our Garden - June

Colour in my Garden - June, originally uploaded by Pennie David.

One of the things I love about keeping this Blog going is the end of each month when I walk out the door with my camera in hand and thinking... 'Mmmm not much colour in the garden this month!'... but month after month I'm bowled away by what I find. Here it is the middle of a cold and wet Sydney winter and hidden away are lots of little treasures including one little Snowdrop!

Aren't they just lovely...

Two Brothers and Two Sisters, originally uploaded by Pennie David.

Two sisters... Casey and Madison with two brothers Jackson and Charlie

Orchids

P6210067.JPG, originally uploaded by Pennie David.

These are the flowers I've always said I don't like... but... they're growing on me a bit now.

Red Sky at Night...

P6190059.JPG, originally uploaded by Pennie David.

Tuesday 4:30 pm and raining... I just walked into Sewing Room and looking east I noticed a strange light reflected onto the Garage so went out the front door and headed west... this is what the sky was doing then as I walked towards the street the light quickly disappeared. A moment in time!

Reflections on the Tennis Court.

P6190060.JPG, originally uploaded by Pennie David.

Happy Birthday Mum

RosieRip&Pennie.jpg, originally uploaded by Pennie David.

Dad, Mum and me taken a few years ago... quite a few years ago, like 61years ago!!

We're WET... can we come inside?

We're Wet!, originally uploaded by Pennie David.

There we were, just enjoying our breakfast when these two climb up the flyscreen watching and calling to us, it must be so wet for birds in Sydney at the moment... here's how much rain we've been having in June so far and thankfully the catchment areas are getting some of it.
June 2007... so far 411.2mm
Wettest... June 1950 = 642.7mm
Driest... June 1904 = 4.1mm
Average... June 127.7mm

Jackson... what makes us Happy?

Nerys was talking to Jackson about what makes us happy inside, here’s his replies.

What makes David Happy? Buses
What makes Pennie Happy? Kisses, Cuddles and Cooking
What makes Gwilym Happy? Cars
What makes Jackson Happy? Christmas
What makes Charlie Happy? Brum
What makes Mummy Happy? Kisses and Cuddles
and... What makes Daddy Happy? Going to work!!

Kathryn & Jackson

Kathryn & Jackson, originally uploaded by Pennie David.

Kathryn came up from Canberra to play with me today... but look who got all the attention!! They're watching a Steam Train video :-)

Oh Dear.....

Six.JPG, originally uploaded by Pennie David.

Our darling little boy, first grandchild, much loved, helpful, loving and all round good boy.... called his mother an 'Idiot' this week... it's quite a step up from being called a 'Baby' or a 'Poo Poo' and not even David or I would be brave enough to call Nerys an Idiot, smoke was still coming from her when she told us... so this is what life's all about is it, what comes around goes around generation after genertation!! LOL I love being a Grand Parent!!

Happy 34th Birthday Tomos!

Tomos34th.jpg, originally uploaded by Pennie David.

Tomo shares his birthday with his cousin Ellie who turns 16 today... Happy Birthday to you Ellie and with one of our friends Carol... Happy Birthday Carol.

Mark the Chimney Sweep cleaning the Godin Flu

Mark the Chimney Sweep cleaning the Godin Flu, originally uploaded by Pennie David.

Fireplace awaiting the Chimney Sweep.

Fireplace awaiting the Chimney Sweep., originally uploaded by Pennie David.

Mahratta.

Mahratta., originally uploaded by Pennie David.

Have you ever driven past a particular house year after year and wished you could have a little look inside?? Perhaps you've driven past Mahratta and thought the same, it's on the corner of the Pacific Highway and Fox Valley Road at Wahroonga surrounded by an enormous brick wall with enormous and interesting trees in the enormous gardens... well tonight my wish came true when the National Trust held a membership drive and invited members, of which I have been for 25 years, to bring as many people as we liked to look over the house and partake of a little wine and nibbles. Mahratta was built in 1941 by T.A.Langfield (the name was shortened to Field during WW2) and his Great Grandaughter just happens to be one of Brionys friends since Kindergarten so I was able to invite Kirsty her DH, John and her brother Andrew to join us with Nerys and Briony... aaaaaahhhh a dream come true except now I want to see the gardens in daylight!!

Mahratta, Front Entrance

Mahratta, Front Entrance, originally uploaded by Pennie David.

Mahratta, Fire Place in Ballroom

Mahratta, Fire Place in Ballroom, originally uploaded by Pennie David.

Mahratta, Stairway

Mahratta, Stairway, originally uploaded by Pennie David.

Mahratta, Dishwasher... just like the one at Wollogorang.

Mahratta, Dishwasher... just like the one at Wollogorang., originally uploaded by Pennie David.

A friend to play...

My little friend Amelia from next door came to play today and she didn't mind that Jackson wasn't here! Amelia loves the 30 year old dolls house of Brionys and the 35 year old phone that belonged to Nerys... she was so good and so polite not asking for a treat from my treat basket till her mum came to pick her up :-)

Tree Fern

Tree Fern, originally uploaded by Pennie David.

After pouring rain on Thursday, Friday and Saturday today has dawned fine, clear and sunny... only 15c but with that sun shining all seems good with our world... not so for those around the Central Coast some are still without power and floods have done enormous damage to thousands of homes and businesses... lets hope a lot of it has fallen in the Catchment Areas and those stricken by drought get some on their parched land.

Lemon Scented Gums

Lemon Scented Gums, originally uploaded by Pennie David.

Saturday in the City...

Umbrella!!, originally uploaded by Pennie David.

Wet Wet Wet... The photo above is one I could have taken dozens of times all through the City, sometimes we saw about 6 broken umbrellas in or around a rubbish bin... it's been some storm that's for sure but we braved the weather in jackets that we'd bought in London and never since worn (we knew they'd come in handy again one day!) and walked down York Street, right into Margaret Street all the way down to the walkway beside the Western Distributor and over Darling Harbour to Pyrmont Street, up to Harris Street to the Powerhouse Museum for a couple of hours before heading to China Town for lunch then the long walk up George Street through the Queen Victoria Building and back to York Street and to the Grace Hotel for a bit of a nap!! I took heaps and heaps of photos of our City which are on Flickr if you'd like to look.

Post # 600!! City from Western Distributor looking East.

City from Western Distributor, originally uploaded by Pennie David.

Goldsborough Building from Western Distributor.

Goldsborough Building, originally uploaded by Pennie David.

Dame Edna

Dame Edna, originally uploaded by Pennie David.

We're staying at our favourite Grace Hotel in the City for a couple of nights... Friday night we went to see Dame Edna for the third time in about 20 years, I was sure our 'Row M' seats were well out of her range for insults so was quite relaxed this time unlike way back in 1993 when she got me up on Stage... below is my story of that experience...


Dame Edna Everage.
“Look at me when I’m talking to you!” 2nd December 1993

I’ve always enjoyed Barry Humphries shows especially Dame Edna... the way she insults people in the audience and makes even the recipient laugh just fascinates me.

So here I am again at another show with David and friends Kay and John Speed. Our seats are in the fourth row and pretty close to the wall aisle. We arrive early and watch the audience slowly seat themselves wondering who Edna will pick on tonight.... a bag lady makes a lot of noise getting to her seat, she has a bit of a barny with the Usher over something and seats herself right behind us... she rummages in her many bags and a strong smell of metho drifts our way... we daren’t look around in case we get a lashing from her tongue as the Usher did.

Eventually the show begins and first on the stage is Sir Les Patterson, the bag lady roars with uncontrollable laughter every time he adjusts his over long penis... or makes the smallest sexual innuendo, most of the time she is the only one laughing. All through the first half I have an uncomfortable feeling that Barry Humphries has his eye on me, but I dismiss this as silly... I suspect every one in the first few rows feels this.

Interval comes and after stretching our legs we change seats with Kay and John. Curtain goes up and there she is in all her glory... Dame Edna has been asked by the Queen to be Australian’s first Republican Leader... she is decked out in an extravagant outfit of Australiana and receives much applause... almost immediately she comes to our side of the theatre and looking at Kay says...
‘Now where’s that nicely rounded lady who was sitting in that seat?’ Kay and I both shudder!!! and it doesn’t take too long for her to find me!!
‘Hello Possum!’ she says... I can only nod!!
‘Now what’s your name??’
‘Pennie’ I squeak almost inaudibly
‘Pennie!!...... now where do you live Pennie??’ my mind is racing... should I say a different suburb?? Should I pretend I don’t even live in Sydney?? Eventually I decide to tell the truth because I know she can be merciless...
‘Turramurra!’
‘Mmmmmm North Shore?’
“Yes!’
‘What sort of house do you live in Pennie?’
‘A nice one!!’
‘Aaaaahhhh she lives in a NICE house Possums’ laughter erupts in the theatre, ‘Is it a brick house Pennie?’
‘Yes!’
‘All Brick Pennie??’
‘Yes!’
‘What no doors or windows???’ Loud laughter breaks out again... she moves onto to some other poor person and I start to look for an escape route... between me and the aisle is David and about three other people... I think I can get down on my hands and knees and crawl out... keeping close to the seats I could crawl all the way out... then I realise how stupid that would look and what’s the guarantee that someone won’t dob me in!! So I sit there hoping she’s finished with me... no such luck!!!

Now Dame Edna is calling me up on stage... I am terrified!!! Absolutely terrified, I ‘m too shy and cannot get up in front of friends, how can I do this??? There is a boy in front of me who is a bit simple and he’s twisting around in his seat leering at me and saying..... ‘Come on Pennie....... you can do it....... Come on.... up you go Pennie.’ Dame Edna had given a lady in the front row absolute hell because she wouldn’t participate so I eventually decide that it would be easier to go up to Edna than not to. Somehow I climb the stairs and she is saying to me... ‘So you didn’t bother to change before you came to my Show Pennie??’ Laughter rocks the whole theatre.... while everyone is laughing she is holding my hands and encouraging me in a very gentle whisper, she is reassuring me that everything will be O.K.!! I’m not exactly relaxed but I’m amazed at the real person behind those eyes, makeup and clothes... I am gently pushed out to the wings where all is dark but a voice is saying... ‘Just come here Pennie... and put your arms out... I’m going to put some clothes on you and a wig...’ I never saw this person it was too dark but before I knew it I was back on stage with the Audience erupting with laughter.... I had no idea what I was wearing I never saw it but I could see David in the Audience laughing with the rest of them... he looked so proud of his wife and I wished it was him up here and not me... Dame Edna was Australia’s Republican Queen... I was Fergie... there was also Prince Charles and a couple of others... I was in shock... I couldn’t speak I just moved robot like, being pushed from here to there... Edna held my hand and we sang and danced... I don’t know what ... all I can remember is that I had this fixed grin on my face.... I think it stopped me from bursting into tears. Then before I knew it I was backstage again being shed of my finery then back for a final farewell... Edna gave me a bunch of Gladdies, a bottle of wine and some hand cream... I’ve never worked out the significance of the hand cream... I was back in my seat with David, Kay and John all grinning from ear to ear. The boy sitting in front was cheering me back and telling me how terrific I was. My legs were shaking and I collapsed back into my seat... Phew!!!

The Show finished not long after and we were able to go home... and on the way out I heard several people saying to their friends... ‘Look there goes Pennie!!!’ ‘There she is... there’s Pennie.’

David tells me I was dressed in a long green velvet dress with a big red wig and hat on my head... after Sir Les we never heard a word or a rustle from the Bag Lady... we thought she may have left but no she was there at the end.

Edna gave me this signed poem as a thank you.

Lucky Possum that you are,
You are now a Mini-star,
Despite your looks, despite your age,
I asked you up upon my stage.

You came, you shared, you played the game,
And now you’ll never be the same!
And evermore, where e’er you be,
This gift will make you think of me.

A joyous heart always, your friend,
Love Edna X

Happy 39th to Us!!

Happy 39th!!, originally uploaded by Pennie David.

Charlie's Walking...

Charlie's Walking..., originally uploaded by Pennie David.

... and he's very confident about it, he can do it while drinking LOL

‘Oh the Luck of IT!!’

This was a phrase often used by a very old friend of ours, since gone to better pastures... she liked to play Scrabble with David and he of course is a Prize Winning Whiz... (Well he won the Scrabble Competition on the ‘Himalaya’ coming home from the US in 1970) anyway he always gets fantastic words and points and he’s not often beaten but there again none of us want to play with him LOL! Elsie loved to play with him and was convinced that he only won because he was lucky so we would hear her mutter ‘Oh the Luck of IT!’ all through every game!!

And... this is the phrase that comes to mind just recently when we discovered that Tomos had left us with a speeding fine of $231, it’s not the money that was the problem, he’s a good payer it was the fact that we had to get a Stat Dec signed saying David wasn’t driving so didn’t deserve to have 3 points put on his licence. At first we thought I may have been able to sign being his P.O.A. but no we had to send the Stat Dec to London for him to find a JP and sign it himself. The day his Stat Dec arrived back here was the same day that the NSW Government decided to scrap more than 13 thousand fines that were given out in the new Lane Cove Tunnel because of poor signage... today we’ve just received a letter from the State Debt Recovery Office telling us they are withdrawing the penalty LOL ‘Oh the luck of IT!’

The Thompson's Cottage.

The Thompson's Cottage., originally uploaded by Pennie David.

Jackson loves to say the word 'Cottage' so he's over the moon to be able to tell me he now lives in a 'Cottage'... they've all settled in very nicely if a little snuggly and there are grand plans of opening the back up a bit when they put in a new kitchen and laundry... How exciting for them.
P.S. With all this pouring rain that Sydney is getting Tim was relieved to find no leaks appearing.

Nasturtiums

P6040010.JPG, originally uploaded by Pennie David.

Great Grandmothers Tablecloth.

P6040014.JPG, originally uploaded by Pennie David.

I love this little tablecloth, I've had it for years and years but only use it for special occasions like Charlie Ripley's Baby Naming and it was then that Mum told me that my Great Grandmother made it but never finished it because the flowers should have been filled in... I love it just as it is with just a hint of Nasturtiums growing wild.

Grandkids are the BEST!!

When my children were growing up I meant to write down the funny and cute things that they said but of course I was just too busy and now I’ve forgotten most to them so I’m going to write down some of the things my Grandchildren say for their parents and for them later on!

#1 One day last week Jackson and I were wandering about the garden looking for colour to photograph when he stopped... looked at me and said... ‘Pennie, (he says Pennie at least 6 thousand times in a day, using it several times in one sentence sometimes) Pennie, your hair looks lovely today... did you cut it??’

#2 When I was icing Charlie Ripley’s baby naming cake Jackson asked if he could help me so I set him up with 8 small bowls and one large bowl in which I tipped a couple of large packets of Smarties and asked him to separate the colours into the smaller bowls for me. He concentrated on this job for ages and only twice asked me if he could have a Smartie, I said yes but only the brown ones because I wouldn’t be using them on the Chocolate Cake. His mother came home from shopping, distracted him and stole some Smarties... he was most indignant dobbing her into me straight away so I told her off and said she must ask if she wanted a Smartie and to only have brown ones. A little while later I heard her ask Jackson if she could have a brown Smartie and he replied, ‘Yes, but don’t let me hear you ask for another one.’

#3 When Jackson got to his new home he found the furniture van had arrived and delivered all their goods and chattels and he went around the house excitedly exclaiming at each discovery... ‘Look our couches, Look our chairs, Look our toys...’ His mother said it was just like Christmas wasn’t it... ‘NO! No not like CHRISTMAS!’ he said with a worried face... ‘Noooo not like Christmas!’

#4 Jackson was playing with shapes and naming them all... Nerys told him he was a very clever boy to know all the names of the shapes when he said. ‘Yes, I know everything I need to know!’

Grandkids are the best!!

Congratulations to Gwilym!

Gwilym #1, originally uploaded by Pennie David.

Gwilym’s been on a three month trial with the firm of Landscape Architects he’s been working with since he and Emily returned from their touring overseas... this week the review came up and not only was Gwilym accepted into the firm he got a pay raise as well, it’s a nice small firm and Gwilly’s been very happy there... so... Congratulations Gwilym!! (Sorry I couldn't resist this photo)

Hurray!

Gwilym #2, originally uploaded by Pennie David.

Gwilym & Emily

Gwilym & Emily, originally uploaded by Pennie David.

This is the best one...

The Thompson Family moving out...

The Thompson Family, originally uploaded by Pennie David.

Tonight the Thompson family moved out of our family home and into their new home... great excitment for everyone and great plans for a new kitchen plus a few other things... Gwilym's already designed the garden.
David and I enjoyed our quiet evening at home, it's been six months of us having one of the children, their partners and their children living with us, we've really loved every minute of it but are glad to be back on our own once again :-)