My Bright Field

 My garden at Rose Orchard Haus is beginning to transition to spring. We have been having glorious weather in the past week, perfect for doing the first mow of the season, tidying up the garden beds and sitting back to enjoy the flowers as they emerge.

  After our warm holiday in Brisbane I was a little afraid of returning to Kandos on the weekend. On the way in Lithgow on Friday night it was cold enough for my breath to 'blow smoke'.  But we were surprised and delighted to find the Picnic Train at the station blowing much more smoke than us. Nonetheless there are compensations for living in a cold climate.  When we arrived home we were welcomed by daffodils in flower all over the garden.  Spring is nearly here.  

We are back from our winter escape to sunny Brisbane catching up with family and friends in unbelievably warm weather.  We are now revived to face the rest of winter here, where they are forecasting 11C max later this week. We caught the train there and back (a long and rewarding trip).  The ornamental kale is at the parklands near Roma Street railway station. The city view is from near the art galleries on the south bank of the river.

When the days are dreary it is lovely to have something to look forward to. For the past week or so I have been watching the buds swell on this golden wattle at our bush block, anticipating the full burst of joy it would deliver soon.  And wow did it deliver this weekend. Next almond blossom will burst out at Rose Orchard Haus and, as the weeks move on, more lovely things will appear.   It feels so good that the mornings are getting brighter with fewer frosts. And the days are a little warmer but I am sure the season has a few chilly twists and turns left in it yet so I am planning a winter escape.

In October Mudgee and the surrounding towns "pink up" for breast cancer awareness.  But the pinking up in the city shopping malls this week has been on another scale as Barbie mania has taken over.  There is pink merchandise everywhere. Barbie has never featured in my life.  She arrived in Australia after I was too grown up to be interested in dolls and I have no children.  As such, the Barbie movie has no nostalgic appeal to me. We chose to go to this week's other blockbuster Oppenheimer which we enjoyed. Have Barbie (or Ken) had a place in your past or present life?

  Driving through Sofala this weekend I spotted this fence made from old bedheads and think it is delightful.  Mind you those bedheads are not so terribly old, I have a bed like that currently in use.  I know furnishings are like fashion with constant change but I mostly keep the old stuff because I like the memories invoked by old and eclectic things.  I am soon to get some sofas recovered because they are sturdy and comfortable.  Would you recover or buy new? P.S. I have never had sofas reupholstered before, I hope I am happy with the result.

  We recently took a short jaunt to Barangaroo.  We caught the ferry as I wanted to see the fancy new buildings on the waterfront.  I was reminded that some years ago I rented a flat overlooking this area that is now so extensively built. The reason I rented the flat was because I was living in the mountains and the daily commute to the city got me down so I rented for a few months to catch my breath.  As a result I fully understand the preference people have for Working from Home and how hard they are resisting returning to the office. At the time I was commuting 5+ hours each day.  What is the longest daily commute you have had to endure?