Storytime

Recently we went to the Barossa Valley...for a night...to pick up two small barrels. And of course something to put in them. It was a lovely drive there...a long drive back home...and some interesting sights on the way. I"m not a big drinker so after a few wineries it's all the same for me. While the other half sampled, I walked around, looking at the buildings, the flowers, people watching (don't get me started on hen's nights that start at a winery at 10 am- or pink hummers!) Just loved the history. These stone buildings still standing. We stayed in Betheny ( Bethanien) established in 1842 by 25 German Lutheran families from Silesia. The Pioneer Cemetery tells it's own story. So many lived long lives. 82, 71, 83...so many children still born, still born, 1 year 3 weeks, 8 days. We picked up our barrels from Seppetsfield- another adventuring family with an interesting history. We were given a tour of where the barrels are made and met Youngy, ...

Last weekend we visited my father and step-mother up in the wilds of Wangaratta. It was great to catch up, to relax and talk. To add to the enjoyment of the weekend, we went to the 2014 Patricia Vintage Launch at the Brown Brothers winery. An enjoyable blend of great food and wines. Yes, wines in plural. It began innocently with this and ended with... (afraid I'm not a red wine drinker) The day was to launch the 2014 Patricia wines, and the chef had created some wonderful food to complement and enhance these wines. Brown Brothers is a family winery- began by the original John Brown and his son, it is now run by the 3rd and 4th generations of the family. Interestingly enough, mostly girls in the up coming generation. And it was family that was celebrated along with the food and wine. The menu was divided into what four boys brought up on the farm enjoyed....fishing, hunting, farming How to make fish look sublime. But what really interested me was the...

This was said to me recently by a father with his young boy at his side. The rest of the sentence was ...crap. Father was referring to Andy Griffiths book 'The Big Fat Cow goes Kapow'. 'I don't want him reading this kind of stuff,' he snatched the book out of his son's hand, 'I want him to read better than this. What can you give us?' Now we all know that Griffiths is a writer that kids adore. His books fly off the shelves. And yes this is an easy read...but as all easy reads it leads to harder books. This is what it is all about...we start with something simple and easy, then we try harder books with harder words and more difficult concepts. An interesting conversation followed. The boy was not a good reader. He liked funny books, he liked stories that took him to different places (a place where cows explode is just one of them). BUT...his father wanted him reading books that were beyond his ability. For now. It would be like telling me I...

I have done a lot of thinking after last week's blog about challenges. Obviously the world is trying to tell me something...and it is my job to listen. What I do next is up to me. I found it easy- or easier- to figure out what my first challenges physically were going to be. To actually get moving. Not too hard. I mean all I have to do is get out the house and walk up the road. Yep UP the road it is (all uphill- so coming back down is easier). So I've begun...on the days I work I'm out in the morning or in the evening.... And I'm huffing and puffing, with a sore knee by three houses along (they are big house blocks but...) Just proves how unfit I am. Working on my fitness is my first challenge! On the days I don't work, there is a park 10 minute drive away. I go there. I've decided that walking in and twice around the main lake should be okay. It is a nice place...there are birds twitting and flitting in the undergrowth...there are ducks won...