After the road trip

We have just returned home from a road trip to Sydney. We were gone for five days and covered a lot of  ground in that time.  Our first big day of driving took us through all the Anzac Day services in small towns along the New England Highway.  There were riders on horseback, vintage vehicles, bagpipe bands and soldiers wearing medals. Great to see such good attendance along the way.   The New England Highway at this time of year is spectacular.  Blue, blue sky days acting as a backdrop to the eye startling golds and reds of trees turning for autumn.  Just glorious.

Our time was spent with friends in the north west of Sydney.  Living so far apart, it is difficult to catch up with each other regularly so time together is a treat.  We were there to celebrate a 40th birthday which involved great company and a delicious Thai banquet.  On Sunday we headed west through the Blue Mountains and continued on to the dear, sweet township of Millthorpe to visit more friends. Loz and Linda own Galvanised, a quirky, gorgeous store in the main street.  Pop over to their website and check it out.  We enjoyed yet another very late night visiting with friends before setting off on a close to 1200km trip to get home the next day.  This time we followed the Newell Highway through western New South Wales and had a brilliant trip.  Very little traffic, good roads and long stretches between towns so we made good time - no speeding - just a good run.  We left at 6.30am and arrived home here in the Sunshine Coast Hinterland at 9pm the same night.

I've purposely kept our trip details short as we have more important things to talk about..... ART.  Of course! Being tired from our trip I fiddled around with a watercolour piece yesterday.

I finished this morning.  Might redo the background though as my poor skills as a watercolourist are quite evident there...

My sister came over today after dropping the kids at school and we had knit and natter.  Well, Susan knitted and I faffed around with some left over paint.  This is what came off the brush today.

 Far from my usual style.  I quite like it though. I was inspired to do this after reading (ahem, skimming through) a book on intuitive painting.  I used a precut mat to view this piece in different ways for framing.  I came up with heaps of variations but will limit myself to sharing only a few with you.

Lots of fun and I'm now doing one in warm colours to reflect our trip through autumn down south.

It was wonderful to see you all and good to be back with those of you who are reading and missed out on a visit!

Stay well and happy!  Sandy xxx

Awhile ago.....

..... I put plans into place for this....

Here are my lovely renewed passport and my TICKETS to bring me north, far, far north. My European friends, take note, I'm coming to a place near YOU.  At the end of August I jet out to catch up with lovely friends. First a short stop in Denmark - a first for me and I'm rather looking forward to it. I'll be staying with Kathrine (our scout daughter we hosted last year) and her family, on the mainland of Denmark.  Then I jump back on a plane and flap my way to the UK where I'll spend the larger portion of my trip in Northern Yorkshire with Liz. We may do a zippy trip down south to Oxon to visit Liz's dear Aunt - whatever happens I'll be giddy with excitement, while also feeling a deep sense of peace and homecoming that always washes over me when I step foot in the UK.

Green, green grass. Lush, thickly leaved trees with stout and solid trunks. Dry stone walls. The standing stones. The history. The crisp cool that is always a shock to my subtropical little bones. The softness of the colours (I NEVER understood watercolours until I first saw Cumbria. Aha. I finally get it.) Lorry's instead of trucks. Rain. Manor houses. Gardens full of delicate flowers that would never survive in my wild tangle of tropical jungle. Tea rooms -ooh, I hope we go to Betty's.  Such a treat. Black pudding. Yorkshire puddings.... This will be my fifth trip - I think. I won't say that I can't wait as that means that I'll have a shorter time to savour this whole experience.  My stay is always too short yet each time I absorb a little more into my bones and heart and they pine, far away here in the heat on the other side of the world until, yet again....a red book of tickets and a passport bring me 'home'.  Hmmm made myself weepy.