Water #fmy52weeksofmemories

My place in time #47 - I wish this place had never changed

This has not so much to do with actual water, but the lack of it.

We took the go-kart down to Lake George over the weekend. Loads and loads of flat space to ride it.

When I was a kid, my uncle, his name just happens to be George, had a shack on the edge of this lake. I remember it so well. It was simple and crude. A set of bunks and an old wood stove, a table and chairs, and that was it.

There was water lapping not far away, and I remember wading out into it. There used to be fish, so many fish.  

The shack is long gone, due to vandals, and so is the water. What remains is salty shell grit.

In the distance I could see what could be water. But no, a mirage. Even the tree line reflects into the mirage, just as it would do on water. Weird. No wonder so many thirsty wanderers have been fooled on their quest for water. 

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Coca Cola advertising in our little town

My place in time #90. Coca Cola - It's been around most of our lives. Let's see how it looks around the world.

Well if you ask me, it's been around ALL of my life. I can't remember a time Coke wasn't a part of my life. Not that I drank it all of my life. I remember when I was younger, in the early eighties, a young man died in our community. I recall my mum saying, and this was probably total gossip, that he drank Coke every day, and not a little Coke, a LOT, which led to his demise.

I do know, when I was preggers with Izzy, I drank a shitload of Zero Coke. It was responsible, as a breast feeder, for many a pooplosion. The artificial sweetener went straight through me and straight to her.

Having gestational diabetes, I guess I thought this was a healthy alternative. I am not sure now, that Coca Cola is a healthy alternative in any situation, except maybe with whiskey. These days I prefer a cup of herbal tea, where wine is not an option!

I hardly touch the stuff (coke) these days. Wine is another story. Oh my god, my weekend would not be complete with a week ending dose of the stuff. I guess in those days, of being preggers and breastfeeding, Zero Coke was my vice.

It seems Coca Cola cash in, on takeaway businesses as a high advertising point. As you can see, where there is money to be made in food retail, there is money to be made in beverage advertising. The two go hand in hand.

It is second nature to see these advertising boards on sidewalks, and I didn't really take much notice, until I was looking for how Coke was related to 'My place in time'. These is how Coke looks in my place in time. It's everywhere!

'My place in time', is a photographic local history project created by Kel at Blackcurrant Photography. There are 100 prompts, and I am slowly but surely getting through them. At the end of the project, my photos will be published in a book that will be given to my local library and/or local history group.

You can see my progress and past posts for the 'My place in time' project on my Pinterest board.

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A much needed day, on Rivoli Bay

This post represents my life right now. There's walls I need to get around, there's ups and downs. I am a hell of a lot better in getting over them, than a year ago.

While being an obstacle we could do without, walls force us to problem solve. They make us stronger, more resilient. If not for those walls that sometimes get in the way, we can't learn or grow. Mostly they send us bat shit crazy.

My place in time #100 - any time of the day that describes how you feel with life

Life is also ebbs and tides. Some days we are up, and the next may be not so good. Whether your up or down, surfing the waves means you are living. Sometimes it's a struggle to stay on the surf board, and that's OK.

It doesn't hurt to admit you're having trouble, or ask for help. It just means you're human. Most of the people around you are in the same boat, some are better at making sure friends and family know. Be one of those people. I am not very good at it.

This day was a good one. The sunshine was warming. I was alone with my thoughts, no distractions.

It was the first week of the holidays. Mum had taken the girls for a drive, so I jumped in the car and drove in the opposite direction. I had found some old CDs the day before and belted them out on the way. So good for self morale, even if I had forgotten most of the words.

There were sounds of seagulls, vacationing families and a gentle breeze.

I strolled about camera in hand. I bought second hand books and homegrown lemons. I ate kiwi fruit and apples and tasted the fresh sea air. It was the kind of day I needed to get back to myself.

Today it's back to school for Izzy and who could believe Summer starts pre-entry kindy for half a day a week today too. I am a little too excited to be going grocery shopping on my own from now on, the first time in almost six years.

A memorial for W.L.E. Danswan and T.W. Todd, who lost their lives destroying a German mine in 1941. It exploded and made them the first casualties on Australian soil, due to enemy action, in WW2. In little old Beachport, who would have thunk it.

Looking from the surf beach to the township

The town centre's roundabout. I love it. I have photographed this cyclist sculpture before. It's had a revamp.

If this isn't called Turtle Rock, it should be!

My place in time #6 - construction
This is a common sight in Beachport at the moment. Old houses knocked down to make way for the new. With a view like the photo below, who could blame them!

 

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The Tantanoola caves - school holiday jaunts

My place in time #52 - This place has been here my whole life

I was out doing the big fortnightly grocery shop last Monday when I bumped into a friend (let's call her Kat). I was on my own, it must have been my lucky day, hubby had knocked off work early and I escaped out the door without the kids. It was the first day of school holidays and I was dreading taking both of them. It would have been fine anyway, but was much better without them.

Kat suggested I join herself and her son for a visit to the Tant caves. I agreed it was a fab idea and went on my merry way, completing the shopping and even trotting off to Target afterwards to take full advantage of having no kids. It's always nice to have that time alone, without the latest Frozen fashion offering being shoved in my face and having to find AWOL kids (so they could show me more cool stuff I should be buying).

In the supermarket it's easy, I will find my kids in the lolly aisle, or giggling at and wasting the batteries of all the funny, and sometimes rude greeting cards. Our small Target Country is like a rabbit warren, shits me to tears. Trying to navigate with a pram a couple of years ago was hell, especially with go-go gadget arms that would knock and grab everything from the sides. Then there was that time Izzy piddled all the over the floor. Never forget it, I made a dash to the car, grabbed a towel and headed back in there and wiped it up, and continued perusing the aisles like it never happened. As far as anyone was concerned, it didn't happen. Except you, right now. 

Being the killer of joy, or rather that dumb ass voice in my head, I thought of how much I could not be bothered going to the caves. The introvert in me was overruled and my brain convinced me to go along. I called Kat in the morning and arranged a time and even a picnic at the Tantanoola playground afterwards. As always my brain wins. It was tres cool. Maybe oneday I will manage to be at the playground when the pub across the road is actually open. Tantanoola is a small town, and there's this piece of me that thinks it is totally acceptable to sit at a table out the front of the pub, with a drink, while the kids play across the road, or no? I'll let you know how that goes ;)

The Tantanoola caves was discovered about 80 years ago, when a boy chased his ferret down a hole. There he discovered the caves. His family, the Lanes, started charging people for tours and continued to do so until it was handed over to the state government in the seventies.

The caves are made up of limestone and dolomite, showing a difference of colour on the walls and ceiling. The paths have been concreted, making it wheelchair accessible. It is the perfect school holiday activity and is only a 15 minute drive out of town. There is a cliff top walking trail that is quite enjoyable as well. 

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Ant's Redgum Gallery

My place in time #36 - One kilometre from my house


I am ashamed to say, this is one of those place that I really should have been to, way before now. It is usually the places that we see everyday, the local attractions, that we should support, but don't.

I am so glad I got myself off the couch and went to have a look.

Ant's Redgum Gallery is situated on Williams Road in Millicent. I was interested to find out the building originally started life as an engineering shed, owned by the McCourt family. It was then home to a roller skating rink and squash courts. I can't remember this, but I do remember when it was Bondy's second hand bazaar, that's what I would have called it. After Bondy died, the building was bought by a local business woman and used as a place of business and held markets on a Sunday.

Ant and Hat Martin now own it and have made it their home, studio and gallery.

His work is phenomenal and has taken him to Adelaide to do commissioned works on three occasions. He has carved wood sculptures made from old trees, in Brighton, Victoria Square and the Glover playground in North Adelaide. A real achievement. The all have plaques with his name, and he proudly says you don't get them unless "you're really good or dead!".

He's just really good at what he does. I was blown away by Ant's wood work and the detailed work that he does.

I learnt something about feng shui, and this frog is supposed to have three legs. His name is Jin Chan, and is supposed to bring fortune. Hat says it's not working for them yet, as they would love to have more visitors to the gallery.

Here Ant is putting the finishing touches on his latest piece, The Lion. It is just amazing to think that this was just a huge tree trunk to start with.