The Dead Zone
31/05/2006 02:25 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
izmeinaIzzie has not disapparated into some dark black hole in the last few days but was off slinking down south in a Radio National and Internet free zone.
Normally we save our annual trip for the garden festival during the first week of November. But this year we had other plans. Not only that - but aside from not wanting to wait until next November to visit one of our favorite places - there is also the sad fact that one of the two folks running the most gorgeous Bed and Breakfasts in the country was diagnosed with cancer last August and given less than 12 months to live.
So, at least this came as no great shock to Iz, like it was when we went down last November. In fact it was that bad news that jolted Izzie to her senses and made us decide to get that long intended European Triwizard Tour off the long finger and into reality.
So Saturday began as a gorgeous crisp and crunchy day. Even the train and bus ride was enjoyable. So so glad that it was only around 4 hours to get there. The thought of wasting a whole crisp and crunchy sunny day stuck in a bus would be just too awful. Brought along the Pipsqueak with the intention of listening to some of our podcast collection but figured that it was too nice a day for gloom and doom so listened to the Fellowship of the Ring movie soundtrack instead. Lothlorien is so so gorgeous. Nothing like gorgeous music and a train ride to get into an almost trance like state.
So, unlike last year, was feeling most relaxed and comfortable. When arriving, it was amusing to see a new garden store on the main street. The verge was lined with tomatoes and various sorts of lettuce and even the odd squash. Izzie had never seen real live yellow squash growing - but only in the supermarket. Sucb strange little baby pumpkins. Next stop was the loo which this time did not have a queue of seven woman waiting outside. Such good omens so far.
The first most striking thing was the absence of cherry blossoms. So used to coming down in November when they are in season and looking simply spectacular. But it was nice to come in autumn and see all those golden leaves on the other trees.
The usual routine is to visit Cafe 1986 further down the street. The main street is just in front of a small stream and slopes quite sharply down to it. The back is another hill - so it's sort of like the bottom of a small valley. Makes for wonderful pitch black background at night
After a quick squiggle in the little green book and reading the odd paper or two as well as admiring the gorgeous old tin roofed house on the hill behind - visible from the balcony, the next thing was to meander slowly down the main road sniffing the roses and admiring the scenery
Got to the bed and breakfast around 4.30 or so and was quite pleasantly surprised to see how well Ken looked. A lot thinner and a bit tired but well and truly defying his doctor's dire predictions. Most other people in his position would have probably just shrivelled up and died. He seems to have gotten used to the idea of having a rather limited time left but is not going to let it get in the way of doing what he wants to do.
Slinked into the gorgeous gardens around sunset. Perfect spot for reading a certain juicy book we brought down especially for the occasion. Was hardly ten minutes into the first chapter and already seen one bright red robin, a blue wren and a rather unusual little green bird - all on the branches of the trees just right next to the Izzie. In fact, there seems to be more birds this time of year than during spring
But while there was lots of froggies, did not hear one itsy bisty croaking little froggie. And Bridgetown is a true froggie paradise. Was probably waaay too cold for them. The other thing we love about the place is the pitch black skies which are simply littered with stars - so so many that even finding the Southern Cross is a bit of an effort.
Was just as well we spent Saturday night slinking in the darkness admiring the starry starry freezing cold night because the next two afternoons it rained. A bit of a bummer when your favorite activities are star gazing and sitting on park benches in gardens (with or without a fat juicy book) The skies did clear up somewhat and the stars came out but the benches were still wet so we had to make do with pottering around instead of being a lazy serpent and simply sitting.
Another feature of this pretty place is that being in a valley, mobile phone and radio reception are prett y awful so the Iz just did not listen and missed out on copious quantities of doom and gloom. But really strange - Monday - when the library is open, Izzie declined the opportunity to take a quick peek in Cyberia. There's one computer and usually not a queue to use it. But unlike the old day when totally reliant on netcafes and the uni computers, we knew that we could potter online all we liked on Tuesday evening and so felt no need to waste precious daylight hours doing it there.
Sunday went slinking in a local winery and brought along a picnic to munch too. Was also in the corniest and kitchiest coffee shop. It's an old red brick house with a tin roof near the railway line and both the house and gardens are full of piles and piles of junk at outrageous prices. Is like taking a Time Turner and tweeking it back to the seventies. The previous owner had an antique shop along with the cafe but the new ones seem to have taken on a roll as the unofficial land fill.
Monday was spent peeking in various shops and walking up and down very hilly back streets admiring the gorgeous wooden houses and quirky gardens. Was a bummer missing out on sunset in our favorite spot very high on a hill. It ended up raining so there was no sunset at all.
It was sad going on Tuesday morning. Leaving is always the worst bit - but knowing that it is quite possible that next time we come down it will be just Jennie - without her other half, it's sort of spooky. We did tell Ken that we'd be back to bother him in November 2007 so he better be there - no excuses accept ed. He still does have his twisted sense of humour. Even sent a few guests on their emailing list a "We regret to inform you of our problems with overbookings" owl which included the cutest picture of a very smug and smirking frog sitting in a straw nest in a little bird house.
Since the railway line closed, been a lot more trucks lately and some of them drive through the place at ridiculous speeds regardless of the rain. Said we were worried about getting squishied by one of them it was going so fast. He says - never mind, we'll lay you out as a new carpet in the Green Room.
Yesss. Another 16 months before once again darkening the doors of the Green Room seems a long long time indeed. But one thing we have learned lately is that nothing is guaranteed. Ken is only around ten years older than the Izzie but is dying of cancer. And there is absolutely no reason at all that he might still be cooking up a storm and pruning the roses while Izzie gets to be a squishie pushing up the daisies.
Normally we save our annual trip for the garden festival during the first week of November. But this year we had other plans. Not only that - but aside from not wanting to wait until next November to visit one of our favorite places - there is also the sad fact that one of the two folks running the most gorgeous Bed and Breakfasts in the country was diagnosed with cancer last August and given less than 12 months to live.
So, at least this came as no great shock to Iz, like it was when we went down last November. In fact it was that bad news that jolted Izzie to her senses and made us decide to get that long intended European Triwizard Tour off the long finger and into reality.
So Saturday began as a gorgeous crisp and crunchy day. Even the train and bus ride was enjoyable. So so glad that it was only around 4 hours to get there. The thought of wasting a whole crisp and crunchy sunny day stuck in a bus would be just too awful. Brought along the Pipsqueak with the intention of listening to some of our podcast collection but figured that it was too nice a day for gloom and doom so listened to the Fellowship of the Ring movie soundtrack instead. Lothlorien is so so gorgeous. Nothing like gorgeous music and a train ride to get into an almost trance like state.
So, unlike last year, was feeling most relaxed and comfortable. When arriving, it was amusing to see a new garden store on the main street. The verge was lined with tomatoes and various sorts of lettuce and even the odd squash. Izzie had never seen real live yellow squash growing - but only in the supermarket. Sucb strange little baby pumpkins. Next stop was the loo which this time did not have a queue of seven woman waiting outside. Such good omens so far.
The first most striking thing was the absence of cherry blossoms. So used to coming down in November when they are in season and looking simply spectacular. But it was nice to come in autumn and see all those golden leaves on the other trees.
The usual routine is to visit Cafe 1986 further down the street. The main street is just in front of a small stream and slopes quite sharply down to it. The back is another hill - so it's sort of like the bottom of a small valley. Makes for wonderful pitch black background at night
After a quick squiggle in the little green book and reading the odd paper or two as well as admiring the gorgeous old tin roofed house on the hill behind - visible from the balcony, the next thing was to meander slowly down the main road sniffing the roses and admiring the scenery
Got to the bed and breakfast around 4.30 or so and was quite pleasantly surprised to see how well Ken looked. A lot thinner and a bit tired but well and truly defying his doctor's dire predictions. Most other people in his position would have probably just shrivelled up and died. He seems to have gotten used to the idea of having a rather limited time left but is not going to let it get in the way of doing what he wants to do.
Slinked into the gorgeous gardens around sunset. Perfect spot for reading a certain juicy book we brought down especially for the occasion. Was hardly ten minutes into the first chapter and already seen one bright red robin, a blue wren and a rather unusual little green bird - all on the branches of the trees just right next to the Izzie. In fact, there seems to be more birds this time of year than during spring
But while there was lots of froggies, did not hear one itsy bisty croaking little froggie. And Bridgetown is a true froggie paradise. Was probably waaay too cold for them. The other thing we love about the place is the pitch black skies which are simply littered with stars - so so many that even finding the Southern Cross is a bit of an effort.
Was just as well we spent Saturday night slinking in the darkness admiring the starry starry freezing cold night because the next two afternoons it rained. A bit of a bummer when your favorite activities are star gazing and sitting on park benches in gardens (with or without a fat juicy book) The skies did clear up somewhat and the stars came out but the benches were still wet so we had to make do with pottering around instead of being a lazy serpent and simply sitting.
Another feature of this pretty place is that being in a valley, mobile phone and radio reception are prett y awful so the Iz just did not listen and missed out on copious quantities of doom and gloom. But really strange - Monday - when the library is open, Izzie declined the opportunity to take a quick peek in Cyberia. There's one computer and usually not a queue to use it. But unlike the old day when totally reliant on netcafes and the uni computers, we knew that we could potter online all we liked on Tuesday evening and so felt no need to waste precious daylight hours doing it there.
Sunday went slinking in a local winery and brought along a picnic to munch too. Was also in the corniest and kitchiest coffee shop. It's an old red brick house with a tin roof near the railway line and both the house and gardens are full of piles and piles of junk at outrageous prices. Is like taking a Time Turner and tweeking it back to the seventies. The previous owner had an antique shop along with the cafe but the new ones seem to have taken on a roll as the unofficial land fill.
Monday was spent peeking in various shops and walking up and down very hilly back streets admiring the gorgeous wooden houses and quirky gardens. Was a bummer missing out on sunset in our favorite spot very high on a hill. It ended up raining so there was no sunset at all.
It was sad going on Tuesday morning. Leaving is always the worst bit - but knowing that it is quite possible that next time we come down it will be just Jennie - without her other half, it's sort of spooky. We did tell Ken that we'd be back to bother him in November 2007 so he better be there - no excuses accept ed. He still does have his twisted sense of humour. Even sent a few guests on their emailing list a "We regret to inform you of our problems with overbookings" owl which included the cutest picture of a very smug and smirking frog sitting in a straw nest in a little bird house.
Since the railway line closed, been a lot more trucks lately and some of them drive through the place at ridiculous speeds regardless of the rain. Said we were worried about getting squishied by one of them it was going so fast. He says - never mind, we'll lay you out as a new carpet in the Green Room.
Yesss. Another 16 months before once again darkening the doors of the Green Room seems a long long time indeed. But one thing we have learned lately is that nothing is guaranteed. Ken is only around ten years older than the Izzie but is dying of cancer. And there is absolutely no reason at all that he might still be cooking up a storm and pruning the roses while Izzie gets to be a squishie pushing up the daisies.
