Sunday, November 29, 2015

Sunday morning walk to croquet

St John's Church in Halifax Street.

This morning was one of those beautiful Adelaide mornings.  As I ambled from home to the South Parklands, it was a mild 21 degrees, with a gentle breeze. Magic.

St John's Rectory

Street verges plant to roses, lavender and shrubs.

A pleasant place for a rest along the way.


Past interesting homes.


Home of the French Consul in Adelaide


A beautiful home and grounds


St Corantyn, built in 1891 by Charles Hornabrook.
The home was also owned by Sir John Lavington Boynthon for many years.


Ochiltree House, built in 1882 for John Rounsevell.
The home reflects a Victorian Italianate style with a French influence in the mansard roof.





South Terrace Croquet Club
 And my destination, the South Terrace Croquet Club.  What a lovely relaxed way to spend a Sunday morning.




Perhaps in a future post I'll let you in on the hidden pleasures of croquet.


Wednesday, November 18, 2015

Vigil against terror


Last night I joined about 500 people at a vigil to mourn the killing of 130 and the injuring of many more people in Paris by terrorists. We gathered on a warm evening at the soldier's memorial park in Unley -  a gentle, peaceful part of the world.


Premier Jay Weatherill and French Ambassador Christophe LeCourtier

We were joined by French expats, the Premier Jay Weatherill, French Ambassador to Australia, Christophe LeCourtier, Governor Hieu Van Le, heads of Christian churches, representatives of the Islamic community in South Australia, and by senior Chinese officials.

Mayor of Unley, Lachlan Clyne


Gisele Blanchard, French expat living in Adelaide, sings the French and Australian National Anthems.

People signing the book of condolence and placing flowers and wreaths.

In multi-culturally diverse Adelaide, where Muslims came to call South Australia home as early as the 19th Century and where the oldest Mosque in Australia stands, where our Governor, himself a Vietnamese refugee, pulled from his childhood memories and sang the words of La Marseillaise, we stood for the values of diversity, tolerance and freedom.

We also stood for the innocents killed in Lebanon and the many thousands of Muslims killed by ISIS terrorists in Syria and elsewhere.  We stood for those impacted by and fleeing from ISIS terror; Muslims, Christians and Jews alike.

I don't know what the answers are. Do we go down the non-violence path preached by Ghandi and Martin Luther King Junior or do we attack ISIS with added force? I'm not sure how the philosophies of Ghandi and Martin Luther King would have stopped previous despots like Hitler or Pol Pot, so perhaps some degree of force to combat this madness is inevitable but there must be a political solution at some point.  I desperately hope our world leaders have the wisdom and capacity to bring this terror to an end soon.












Tuesday, November 10, 2015

The beauty of hand-made #glass. #MegCaslake #DavidPedler


There is something very beautiful about hand-made glass.  These beautiful pieces were given to me by a dear friend who knew I coveted them.  The sugar bowl, milk jug and salt bowl are made by Adelaide glass artist Meg Caslake who collaborates with ceramic artist David Pedler.  They have a hot glass studio at Uraidla in the Adelaide hills and a ceramics studio at Moonta.  Both have either worked at the Jam Factory or exhibited there.  Their work is also available through art images gallery and Kirra Galleries

The colour changes depending on the light


via art images gallery

Some of Meg's other works have a nautical feel.

via art images gallery

Via art images gallery


I have some other favourite pieces.  This orange paperweight was designed and made by Mel Traler.



A few years ago I picked up these venetian glass pieces from a glass factory on the Island of Murano near Venice.



This light-catching bowl was designed by Anna Ehrner and made at the famous Kosta Boda factory in Sweden.

Just a few of my favourite things that brighten-up the day.