goldkeys

Tasmania

11.7.13

If you've been keeping up with this 'ere blog o'mine, you might recall my mentioning that I did a short stint in Tasmania! Yes, 2 weeks in all... So, Tasmania, a tiny island south of Australia, 'stunning' is one word I'd use, 'freezing' another. This whole '3 month regional work' was the reason, I won't go into that one as it would be rather pointless, 'what's done is done' and that.

None the less despite it not working out to my advantage and returning to Victoria, I did pick up a $10 fur coat at the cost of nothing living but nylon stockings! I also discovered a little cafe that did the best coffee in town and most delicious fruit loaf, ever. I find myself craving the stuff, it was so insanely tasty that if it were possible to live off that fruit loaf alone I'd be so, incredibly happy... Fruit loaf, simple things 'eh! I didn't get a picture of the golden, spicy-sweet, baked euphoria as, well I won't mess around with a camera when there is food in front of me, despite going back twice in one day...

A short walk on a rare sunny day looking out over Hobart

A Bit of History

10.7.13

This one is for the historians! Or more, the pictures are, I myself can't admit to being too clued up on the topic as, a) I'm a British kid - Aussie history doesn't really play an essential part in 'Key Stage 3' learning (soz guys) despite it being, I imagine, more beneficial than, Q: 'What type of weapon was used to fight the Normans?' A: '...something sharp and made of wood?' or, b)...well, I don't have a 'b' but if I did it would make or break this argument I appear to be having with myself as to why I lack the historical know about a small town in Australia.

Back in February, I set out to find my fortune and arrived a few hours later at Sovereign Hill in Ballarat, a heavy-weight in the 'Gold Rush' fever that started in 1851, so much so an open-air museum was built in the 1970s to preserve the gold mining heritage. Sadly, despite my hardest efforts, I think I missed the ship on this occasion, I'd say by a good 150 years. (I clearly paid more attention in maths, that number was off the top of my head.)

Lately

9.7.13

Here in the shire of Moira, we're in the midst of a chilly spell, or 'Winter' as it's known. According to my reliable source, (Facebook) oddly coinciding with the sudden warm front to hit the shores of the sunny UK! ...'sunny' and 'UK' in the same sentence, the cold must be getting to me.

Moving on, said chilly spell means I waste a lot more energy attempting to stay right where I am, essentially trying to stop time with my mind, moving as little as possible to turn the heater on from the confines of my cosy nest without letting any warmth escape, failing and ending up grumpy. Aussie Winter mornings and I appear to make a bad match. Having said that, once I'm over the initial diva fit and have ventured outside - by this stage it makes no difference whether I'm inside or out, the temperature is the same - I forget all about my fight against reality and am struck at how beautiful everything looks when you can hardly see a thing... I'll show you what I mean.

Collingwood

8.7.13

One of the older suburbs of Melbourne, named after Baron Cuthbert Collingwood - some admiral in the Royal Navy, having a whole 'burb named after him, you'd think he'd been Lord Nelson's second in command at the battle of Trafalgar or something? Oh, wait...

It is a beautiful (and probably my favourite) part of the city - I had a short stint there before heading on down to Tasmania. A mere stones throw from Smith Street and Brunswick Street - I could dedicate an entire blog to these two guys - then there's Johnston Street, oh, basically it's just a gem of a place if you're a caffeine fiend (such as I) or foodie and should you want to lessen the gluttonous guilt (or more to make room for further eating) there's an open air pool a brisk 10 minute walk away for those +30°C days! Sorry to rub that one in Blighty, ahem.