Home

I think I Jonahed my flight yesterday when I used the word 'hopefully' in relation to it leaving on time. We boarded on time, but were delayed 95 minutes on the tarmac while engineers found and fixed a 'computer problem in the toilet system'. I suspect, from the flickering of the cabin lights during this process, that  this was about the lights that indicate whether the toilet is occupied or not. I was just relieved that it WAS fixed and we left. Having, like many other passengers, changed into my Qantas pyjamas, I did not fancy either queuing to change out of them again, or finding myself in Heathrow Terminal 3 in my PJs.

We did, however, take off. I managed about 5 hours sleep on the 13 hour journey and arrived in Singapore 90 minutes late but with comfortable time to make my connection to Melbourne. Singapore would have to be one of the best organised and efficient airports in the world.

I managed another 2 1/2 hours sleep before breakfast on the 6 1/2 hour flight to Melbourne and arrived pretty much on time at 5.35am. I was confused whether to follow the ePassport line after scanning my passport or the Express line privileged by my Qantas ticket. I made the wrong choice and went with Express. Friendly official told me I’d have saved 5-10 minutes the other way. It didn’t much matter as my luggage arrived at the carousel as I did.

There’s been some changes to the transition area since I was last there and the signs weren’t clear, but I made it to the Qantas club after waiting several minutes for security to find a woman to scan my knee replacement. I said I didn't care who did it, but that is, apparently, against the rules and terrified the security men.

I had my second breakfast waiting for my connection - pretty much the same as my first breakfast.

I then had a third breakfast on the plane.







There was a bit of cloud cover over Victoria - and hot, dry conditions.














We approached Adelaide from the West - a more promising view of the countryside than the view on the ground.




I guess that’s to be expected when it is 32C in the second month of Autumn.

Not sure how the luggage of the 2 Geelong Grammar AFL teams on board came off considerably ahead of everyone else! Perhaps Qantas had to add a roof-rack!

Jennifer was there to meet me - so pleased to see her and hear some of her news.

So, back at the apartment...

SA Water is digging up the road outside to lay new pipes - will take until May, it seems.









My plants have survived - even thrived (they like being left in containers of water!).

I’m expecting the kids after school and had made and frozen some Bolognese sauce for that purpose but Katherine has thoughtfully left some milk and a cottage pie in the fridge - so the Bolognese sauce can keep for another day.

I had a shower (made a bit of an odd noise and seemed harder -perhaps doesn’t like being unused for a few weeks), unpacked , did the washing and hung it out. It dried in an hour - even the Qantas pyjamas.

There’s a pile of mail, a ceramic repair to attend to from an accident while visitors were here, the clocks need changing, I’ve booked a pilates session and made a physio appointment to work on my sciatica- and my embroidery projects need sorting.

This is where I got to with the Zenbroidery.

I need to make time to tackle the harp!

The holiday is over - but the benefits will linger long. Thanks for the support, friendship - and for following my trip.

Oh - and I need to pay my deposit for next year!

Day 11: Dove Cottage, Grasmere and Exhibition!

As I went down to breakfast this morning the local food deliveries were arriving - including Cumbrian wild game.

Less wild, but nevertheless game, we set off for Dove Cottage, where we gathered in what was the kitchen when William and Dorothy Wordsworth lived there. The window, though small, is larger than it was in their day.





















Hazel, the head guide, once again painted an evocative picture for us of the  daily lives of the Wordsworths.

I paid particular attention to the hooked rag rugs - very similar to the ones I grew up with as a child, made by my grandmother.

I liked the portrait of Mary Wordsworth as an older woman.  She was 32 when she had the first of their 5 children.

The best thing about the house is the glimpses of the garden from the windows.

The kitchen still holds their coffee grinder - coffee being a luxury that would have been eeked out.

We paid particular attention to the textiles that were the inspiration for Nicola's sampler, the knee rug knitted by Wordsworth's daughter, Dorothy's tartan cushion,

and the patchwork bedspread.
































I like this portrait of William Wordsworth - less flattering than younger, more posed ones, but remarkably modern.


It is sad - and telling-that this silouette is the only portrait of Dorothy.

We were treated to tea, coffee and delicious shortbread biscuits in the old kitchen. The shortbread is made in Grasmere to a secret recipe. I love both the taste and texture.





We had much discussion about where three adults, five children and guests managed to sleep in this house. This small bedroom, used mostly for the children, was papered by Dorothy in newspaper to save money.










Thanks to Carrie, I discovered a couple of new Lakes District authors whose books are held in the shop.

After a visit to the Museum and shop, we were driven to Grasmere for lunch and a wander. The weather, however, was cold and wet. I had just decided to spend my two hours in the cafe of the Heaton Cooper Gallery and had two scones & coffee served, when Phillipa arrived to say the bus would take some of us back early if we wished, so I got the cafe to pack up my scones and came back on the bus in the rain. The hotel, as usual, rose to the occasion and produced soup and a mountain of sandwiches for four of us.

The Exhibition
While we were enjoying ourselves in the morning, the Museum Curator, Jenny and Nicola were mounting the exhibition at The Wordsworth Museum.- a really professional job.

At 5.30 we headed off in two buses for the opening of the exhibition   Jeff Cowton, the Curator made a quite moving speech .











There were  local stitchers there who had also worked on Dorothy's mailbag.




The samplers were mounted as an entrance - a really interesting variation and contrast.

 There are really interesting examples from the collection.  I was particularly interested in the rag hooking component. My grandmother did a lot of this when I was a child.

There were sewing boxes and tools belonging to Dora & Dorothy Wordsworth, and samples of the work of their circle of friends, including Edith May Southey.

 Jenny's project was beautifully displayed, along with the original harp. It attracted a lot of interest.

 The postbag was perhaps the piece de resistance - so interesting to see the variety of interpretations.

Back at the hotel we had a celebratory prosecco and thanks all around.


Tomorrow we head for home - or continue our travel. It has been an amazingly successful and satisfying week.We are so privileged to have such a community of teachers and students - kindred spirits. No wonder we try very hard to maintain the connections.