~ Monday Portrait ~
Author: Alison
Hi
A nanny of two and a mum of two adult children, mum to two fur babies and wife of one. I love to travel and up until recently travelled the world, now exploring Western Australia! I play bridge, board games, read dance and blog in my spare time.
~ An Autumn Visit to Healesville, Yarra Valley ~
After our first day in Melbourne had ended we were picked up by Laurence and Maddy for our weekend in Healesville. Situated in the Yarra Valley and just an hour’s drive North East of Melbourne. I had booked a two bed/bath house just off the high street. It was perfect for our two night stay. Healesville is one of many small towns/settlements in the Yarra Valley.
On our first night we had dinner at the Healesville Hotel. It had a cosy old world charm about it and the food was delicious. The next morning we drove into Healesville for breakfast, being Saturday everywhere was packed.
After finishing up we drove to Maroondah Reservoir Park. There is a 41 metre high dam wall offering scenic views. What I didn’t realise is that to see these views you had to hike up a steep incline. Using Laurence as a pack horse I wrapped my scarf around his waist and used him to pull me up.
The views from the top were worth it. Stunning autumnal colours in all shades of red, brown and yellow.
Maroondah Reservoir Park
Making our way up the Rose stairs, there was still a way to go. This pathway is paved with stones and brightly coloured roses line the edges.
“And all the lives we ever lived and all the lives to be, are full of trees and changing leaves” – Virginia Woolf
There are many picnic benches around plus gas and electric barbeques. The weather was definitely in our favour that day.
At the top
“Every leaf speaks bliss to me, fluttering from the autumn tree.” — Emily Brontë
Time for lunch now and we headed to Boat O’Craigo Winery. The name originates from a tiny place in Scotland where the owners’ ancestors came from. We were delighted with our choice. There were panoromic views from every window. We settled down to a charcuterie board and a bottle of wine. This winery is in the High Street, so within walking distance of hotels and apartments.
Boat O’Craigo Winery
Picturesque views as far as the eye could see.
Entrance to Boat O’Craigo Winery
With still a few hours left we headed off to another winery called Soumah. As it states on the website it has “the charm of Northern Italy within the provenance of the Yarra Valley”. It is actually located in Warramate foothills of Gruyere. As the temperature was still warm we sat outside and enjoyed another bottle of wine.
Soumah Winery
All too soon our little jaunt to the Yarra Valley was over. Sunday was a complete washout so we drove back to Melbourne earlier than planned. Venturing outside of Melbourne for a day or two is so easy. You can be somewhere completely different in just an hour.
“Wake up and Smell the Roses”
~ Attractions in Melbourne: From Churches to Gaols ~
We have just returned from a trip to Melbourne and Sydney. It was mainly to catch up with our son and daughter-in-law and visit friends. Having seen much of Melbourne already we had to come up with something different to do. We caught the tram into town which is now free, we stopped first for a coffee. You can’t beat the coffee in Melbourne. I saw from the maps that Melbourne Gaol was only a short walk away. I do like an Australian prison, so much history.
We popped into The Scots’ Church on the way and were surprised at the size inside. Built in 1874, a prominent example of Gothic Revival.
Just opposite was another church. In Central Melbourne there are 111 active churches.
Built between 1863 and 1866 in the Lombardic Romanesque style.
The Abode Building – noted for its cascading facade, standing next to Iglu Melbourne Central – student accommodation.
Melbourne has such wonderful architecturally designed buildings, each one very different.
Melbourne Gaol is a great place to spend a morning or afternoon. It’s full of interesting history and artefacts. In nearly every cell there is information of former inmates. The most infamous of all was Ned Kelly. He remains a divisive figure in Australia, regarded variously as a Robin Hood-like folk hero and symbol of national identity, or as a murderous villain. He demanded justice for the downtrodden and the rural poor. Wearing a handmade suit of bullet proof armour he evaded the police for years. Ned Kelly was eventually captured in 1880 and executed in Melbourne Gaol.
Here I am modelling Ned Kelly’s suit of armour. I simply couldn’t resist. Anthony looked on in amazement as I struggled to put this on.
The imposing entrance
Inside the cells, seems there is one inmate still serving time.
“Phrenology gained wide acceptance in the late 19th century, with the making of death masks becoming standard practice. The brains of hundreds of criminals were examined after death, as well as those of many eminent people. Eventually the results showed that most criminals had similar sized brains to other citizens.”
Science has definitely come along way since! These scientists should have had their own heads examined.
And that concludes our tour of Melbourne Gaol.
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~ Wordless Wednesday ~
~ What’s On Your Bookshelf – April 2026 ~
Time for this great challenge, one where you can share what you have read or gather ideas for your next book. It is hosted by Debbie @ Deb’s World and others. I have read some excellent books in the last couple of months and have been meaning to share for a while, so here goes. The last one I read first.
Natalie lives a traditional lifestyle – and has the social media accounts to prove it. Her charming farmhouse on her working ranch is artfully cluttered, her husband is a handsome cowboy, her homemade sourdough boules are each more beautiful than the last. So what if there are nannies and producers and industrial-grade ovens behind the scenes? What Natalie’s followers don’t know won’t hurt them.
Then, one morning, Natalie wakes up in a strange, horrible version of reality. Her home, her husband, her children—they’re all familiar, but something’s off. Is this a hoax? A reality show? A test from God? One thing Natalie does know is that it’ll make one hell of an Instagram post…Goodreads
“Do not dwell in the past, do not dream of the future, concentrate the mind on the present moment.” — Buddha
This was an excellent debut and so well written. It covers so many topics. I didn’t see the end coming and it had me guessing. There were many mixed reviews, you either love it or hate it. I loved it, even though Natalie is inherently unlikeable! She would have done well to follow Buddha’s advice.
The latest anti-hero from David Baldacci, Walter Nash – from scrawn to brawn. I loved both of these and luckily there wasn’t too much of a wait before the second one was out. The first one Nash Falls left a real cliffhanger. I do like a book that lets you escape into it. I hope to see more of Walter Nash in the future.
“The quietest revenge is to not give you the satisfaction of seeing my anger.”
At last I found a new author. Two cosy crime capers featuring Lewis and Audrey and a host of others.
10 Marchfield Square can be confusing as we get to know all the residents in Marchfield Square. I loved how Lewis and Audrey worked together and each brought something different into their lives.
Murder Like Clockwork sees Lewis and Audrey working together again after Audrey finds a dead body in one of the apartments where she cleans. Trouble is no-one will believe her as it has disappeared 20 minutes later. All except Lewis who is thrilled to be investigating another murder again.
“The impossible could not have happened, therefore the impossible must be possible in spite of appearances” – Agatha Christie
I enjoyed both of these novels and will be looking forward to a third in the series.
“Happy Reading Everyone”
~ A Relaxing Week with the Family at Hotel Nikko, Benoa, Bali ~
We decided to head back to the easiest place to visit outside of Australia, our home away from home, Bali. The munchkins were counting down the days from weeks ago. There are still a few red tape issues to enter Bali, eVisa, customs declaration and now a tourist tax. It would be great if they used the tourist tax to pay for better rubbish removal.
Normally around Easter Bali is bustling and busy, but with what is going on in the World right now, we noticed that the queues for immigration weren’t as long as normal. Also if you have little ones or you are over 60 you could go join a special line. It seems that everyone has this demographic!
Nikko Hotel Pool
We were staying at the Nikko Hotel in Benoa. It is situated on the beach and around 10 minutes by car to Nusa Dua. The cost was three times cheaper than Nusa Dua, where all the high end hotels are. Having left home at 5 am, we were checked in and by the pool 1.30.
I had requested adjoining rooms and happy to see this was granted. It meant that we could watch the kids when our daughter went to the gym or shops. I would say Nikko Hotel was 3.5 stars not the 5 as advertised! Not if the Conrad was anything to go by. It was very much old style Bali with a rustic charm. Solid wooden furniture and our bed was enormous. The bathrooms had been renovated, with separate bath and shower cubicle.
The swimming pool was fantastic with a sandy “shoreline” making for an easy entry. It was right on the beach with sunbeds facing towards the sea to catch the cool breeze. You could gaze for ages at the shimmering water and watch the various water sports in action.
There were always plenty of beds and who doesn’t love a swim up bar for happy hour.
Going on an adventure
There were always so many ships, tugs and cargo boats waiting to enter the harbour. Jet skis, banana boats, parachutes and hoverboards in were in action throughout the day, so never a dull moment on the ocean.
Benoa Beach, Boats and Mount Agung
We tried different restaurants every night enjoying the Balinese cuisine and friendly service. I felt sad for the Balinese people who tried to entice us into their venues, so many of the places were empty. Having just recovered from Covid and now to suffer another blow to their economy.
One restaurant in particular stands out for the munchkins, called Ketut. There were many iguanas on display who loved to be petted. After dinner every night they would go along for ice cream and a cuddle with the iguanas!
into our luggage
And the rest!
Don’t be koi now!
We were all very well rested and relaxed after a week here. Back to school on Monday and my decluttering awaits.
~ Views from the Eurostar – London to Paris ~
I’m joining Dan’s Fun Foto Challenge this week and the theme is views from or in public transport. I took the Eurostar a few years ago to join a friend in Paris for the weekend. It’s the ideal way to travel, avoiding those lengthy queues at the airport and not having to put all your liquids in a tiny bag.
I opted for lunch on board and was happily surprised by the food served and being waited on! It was such a comfortable journey and I would happily do it again.
Seems like I had the train to myself, but it did fill up!
Leaving St. Pancras
The windfarms at Beaulencourt
The Return Journey
Slightly blurred shots of the French countryside!
~ March Reflections: Downsizing and Decluttering Adventures ~
During March we made the difficult decision that it was time to downsize. Although we have No. 1 Daughter and the two munchkins living with us now we all needed to have our own space.
First up was engaging estate agents, which No. 1 son did for us. Working in property gives him the edge and able to convey succinctly what we wanted. Two agents quickly came and went. Before they had even given proposals I knew I was more comfortable around the first one, Susan. From here on was where I became overwhelmed and began having restless nights.
It was the decluttering that was beginning to take over my thoughts. We had a go at the dreaded “tool cupboard” in the garage that has long been the bane of my existence. We being my dear hubby and me. We managed one shelf in two hours and I gave up when he lovingly held a decade old ball of string and said “this is good is twine, we might need it”. Most just got moved onto another shelf.
I asked him also to remove a can of paint that had become stuck. Disaster struck as he pierced the bottom and paint quickly started spreading. He came to me and said “I’ve just made an unholy mess”. At this moment Susan’s assistant rang to say she had arranged 6 tradesman to come around the following week for quotes. I said we need the painter now to help us with this mess. She came to my rescue and sent around a handyman, who cleared up within minutes.
During March No. 1 daughter backed her car into the moving electric gate and knocked it off its tracks. Fortunately we have a wonderful neighbour who came around and fixed the problem. The next day after coming out of an appointment she saw her car being towed away! Not having read the parking sign properly. The car was returned but not without a fine.
We were told that to obtain the best price it was better to engage a stylist to showcase the house to look its best. This lady turned up along with six tradesman. I didn’t know if I was Arthur or Martha at that point, it was bedlam. We then found out there was a serious leak in one of the bathrooms so this is first on the list to be taken care off.
Believe it or not I did have some lovely moments in March. Laurence and Maddy came for a weekend and we had such a great time. We spent a morning at the beach and the water was perfect.
I also went to see two films. The much hyped up and talked about “Wuthering Heights”. Quite an eye opener but on the whole I enjoyed this version. The second was a Matthew McConaughey film called The Rivals of Amziah King. This was such a good film which we all loved.
I had a night out at an outdoor venue, called The Quarry. It is situated in an old quarry and the seating is in tiers. We took a picnic and watched three tribute bands, Santana, Little River Band and Fleetwood Mac. Beautiful balmy evening underneath the stars.
Having a much needed break at our local Indian. The table behind had 22 guests so was a tad noisy!
If you managed to read to the end of all my rants, thank you indeed. Some of you will have been through similar in your lifetime and know the stresses and strains of decluttering and moving. I have read so many articles on the different ways to declutter and I’m still none the wiser. On that note I wish you a happy Easter.
He came to join me this morning while I was having my morning coffee. How cute is he?
Joining Natalie for Weekend Coffee Share and Brian/Ju-Lyn @ The Changing Season (a tad early).
~ Sculptures by the Sea – Cottesloe 2026 ~
Sculptures by the sea is back for another year with more weird and wonderful sculptures. We went last week for a walk along the sand to see what was on offer. It also happened to be the windiest day and we were whipped and scoured by the sand. The sea was churning and the waves were slapping against the Groyne, soaking us when they came over the top. Anyway we managed a good 45 minutes walking in the softest sand. All of our eyes were watering and sore, I’m not sure how I managed to take any photos.
This is an annual event at Cottesloe Beach, Western Australia and is also held at Bondi Beach, NSW. It is a sponsored event and free to the public. The artists get a chance to exhibit their latest creations and prizes are awarded. Cottesloe Council often purchases one of the sculptures and these can be seen on the seafront.
SOMA – Drew McDonald
Taking a rest
Love U – Jason Hirst
Homage to the Cube – Andrew Farmer
I like the way the above photos turned out with the iconic “Indiana Tearooms” reflected in the mirrored cube.
Ode to the Ancestors – Dr Jason Christopher
Artificial Real Time – Erica Zaino
Click on the photo to read the caption
Time to go yet? It wasn’t quite accurate but close enough.
Tim Storrier
Jimmy Rix
Heaven – Vaughn Bisschops
My favourite sculpture this year is the silver pelican sitting on a shiny suitcase. It looks like postcards have been attached to the suitcase.
Joining Jo for a Walk.
~ Monsoon Valley Winery, Hua Hin, Thailand – Dining with a View ~
During our stay in Thailand we headed out to the hills to have lunch at Monsoon Valley Winery. I was surprised that there was a winery here, never having been to one in Thailand before.
There is also an elephant sanctuary situated here and you can take a small minibus out to see them. We had left it too late to book a tour though.
Anthony and I were delightfully surprised by the magnificent scenery that surrounded us.
We were seated outside on the verandah and had a lovely view over the extensive vineyards. It was exceptionally hot though and I was still recovering from a flu virus! There was a fan nearby which I had positioned to blow on me.
Stunning views from our table on the verandah
The menu was full of delicious dishes and when they arrived did not disappoint. Starting with a charcuterie board followed by coconut flakes and dried shrimp in grape leaves and grilled prawns and pineapple fried rice. We enjoyed every mouthwatering morsel.
The Monsoon Valley Restaurant
What a wonderful way to wile away an afternoon, good company, great views and gourmet food. I would definitely recommend a visit if you are ever in Hua Hin.
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