WOW. What a week we have had…..

 Where do I start. Maybe with…. I haven’t done any sewing at all.

We headed to Melbourne for a special weekend. So, the first night we made it to Sea Lake. Accommodation wasn’t great but Dinner was amazing. I had spicy mushrooms 

and Tony had fish n chips.

Next day we were in Port Melbourne at THE LOCAL pub. I had seafood pasta.

Tony had a beautiful pie and mash. 

Can you tell we like our food.

We checked in to the MIDDLE PARK HOTEL. Up 2 levels, no lift. Good exercise. We have decided we do not like the traffic anymore but it was a beautiful spot. Room was small but the best part was it being double glazed, doors had soft closing so we were not disturbed with noise at all.

Our night was spent with the OZ HOGS, the Melbourne Harley chapter’s General meeting. I had made a quilt to donate to them. It used one of their T-shirts and a special pin and a badge/patch that was my Haus ands from when he was a member. We presented it during general business as they had no idea they were getting it. They loved it. We had a great night.

Next morning we did a drive by my friends new to them home a few kms up the road.Took a little photo to say hi and we were thinking of them. I haven’t seen them for a few years…

We then headed to Bacchus Marsh for brunch and of course, a quilt shop. It is a new one where it has a cafe. We shopped in the cafe and the quilt shop.

Next up the road to St Anne’s winery for some white port, yummy. Then off to Ballan and a visit to Millrose Cottage. Yes I bought a few things.

I loved this little quilt.

On the way back to Bacchus Marsh to visit an Aunty we had this beautiful view of the You Yangs.

You Yangs Victoria 

We also stopped a this wonderful florist called FABULOUS FLOWERS. It was also a cafe too. Must be a theme in Bacchus Marsh.

We had a beautiful visit and the headed to another friends for a very fun catch up night and was looked after and fed very well. Thank you so much Jo. We have been friends for about 42 years.Sorry no photos. We spent the night telling stories of our recent trips and lots of laughs. They will be in Japan the same time as me. Exciting. We were then sent on our way after a fully cooked breakfast. Oh my.

Back home again and we had an unexpected visit from Janice and Mick. Janimary

We went for a drive to show them around town. Had a stop at the Art Gallery and Rio Vista Homestead. This was where Mildura began. The Chaffey story.

Then off to tea at the RSL. It was amazing.

We had someone have a look at our bus and they have bought it. So we now say goodbye to BASIL. 

I am also working a full week by myself as my boss is on holidays. It’s the first time I have been by myself. The days are flying by. I have just had my first one year anniversary with working at CARPET ONE MILDURA.

Today is another celebration. We moved to Mildura 7 years ago. WOW. The time has flown. Any wonder I am so exhausted. 

I hope to spend the weekend making my challenge project as it has to be handed in next Tuesday at our AGM. Thanks Janice for helping to sort out a design problem.

I AM EXHAUSTED. So many milestones covered….. THIS HAS BEEN MY WEEK…….

A new Pergola

It gets very hot where we are now living and the all day sun beats down on our patio so we have decided to add a 3 * 3 metre pergola to give a little extra shade area. laying the frame base area...

starting on the framework

looking at the frame

now for the roof and the gravel has been laid...

I sewed a shadecloth awning to protect from the sun.

It sure makes a difference to our outside space. The patio is a bit cooler. and we are loving it.

Friends, glorious friends

Recently I had 2 friends come for a visit. I have known them for over 30 years. We worked together for many years and then started our families. They decided to come and catch up for my birthday and of course, they wanted to see where I was now living....

We did all the tourist things. My hasband was a great sport driving us around...

We walked the market, the mall and a drive around town. Lunch at a lovely cafe, then another drive to a nearby town to look at the old buildings. We also stopped at Loch 10 to view how high the river is and was when it flooded back at Xmas time. We stopped at Orange  World to buy some fresh fruit. 

Photo time with the locals.

The next day we went to the fanstitc Gem shop, relaxed on the paddle steamer going through Loch 11 and lunch in the sun at a winery... It was a beautiful day. 

Home to relax and watch some movies. Next morning was a sad day. We had to say goodbye...

Sundays damage

There were so many photos around I went for a drive to look myself. Every street had some damage. All the emergency services, people with chainsaws, trailers and anything else to help were out and about. It's still a very windy day but so much cooler. Only 17c.  That's cold for here I've been told...

The local school on San Mateo Ave.  So lucky it was after hours and there were no kids around.

Every corner of the school had trees down. A big working bee is needed there.

A house on Twelth st 

A block of units around the corner.

There are cars still parked out the back. Just waiting for the tree to be cut down.

And now the storm damage

We left the camp and headed home. On the way we stopped to see if Maxine's mum was ok. The town she lived in, Merbein, was a mess.
Everything was hit hard. It is a very windy day still.
It was 35c on Friday and Saturday was low 20's..

Buildings damaged... what a mess.

The ROOF had come off on the third building in. It landed on a little house at the back of the second building.
A man crawled out from under the rubble.
The back of the news agency was taken out too. It all collapsed. 

Trees were uprooted.

Power was out for about 24 hours. The amount of debri around was gobsmacking.
Keep going to Mildura and what a mess. Nearly every street had trees down or at least branches all over the ground. Lots of houses had trees on their roofs. It's going to take a bit of time to clean up..

The road is blocked off because the Murray level is too high. It is covering the walking paths

Looking through the gates. Trees are down here too

Trees uprooted in the carpark. 

 Trees are down over the playground 

The view of the wharf with the Murray up high.

The Paddle steamers leave from this wharf. There is a lower level for when the Murray river is low.
Well that's not now. It is high and you can't see the lower wharf at all. 

The dockside cafe is slowly going under water.
There is a lower deck where you can sit when the water isn't high.
One day later the level has risen and you can't see the wall. The water is half way up the grass section. 

Moving in

Well, our furniture is in. The truck is empty. The boxes are stacked up. The fun begins and we are already exhausted. There are the usual things to do first up. Get all the appliances plugged in and turned on, change all the locks, make sure everything works, buy this and that.....

Try to work out where everything will go. Catch up on the washing. Find all the clothes.

Get some grocery shopping done.

NOW SIT AND RELAX WITH A GLASS OF WINE...

Our bed is ready

Look at those tubs

My sewing storage room

My sewing room boxes

The kitchen boxes