Diversion to Dargo

Margareta — Sat, 19 Apr 2014 06:02:32 +0000

Diversion to Dargo

Margareta Sat, 19/04/2014 - 4:02 pm

I thought I’d give you a little look at what H and I get up to sometimes when we have a little ‘down time’.

Recently my husband’s mother’s daughter’s brother arrived (did you work that one out? I can try to be so tricky sometimes, I bamboozle myself!) to help us out with a few things on the farm. He arrived up here in our hills on a Diversion 900 motorbike complete with side-car and trailer which has caused great hilarity amongst the family. We’ve all had rides in it, including my kids, my Dad, my Dad’s partner (who’s lovely and kinda like my step-mother), my uncle (who feels kinda like my Dad because he’s been there for us so much throughout our lives), my uncle’s partner (who feels kinda like my step-mother no. 2 because she’s lovely and with my uncle …) and numerous others who’ve happened to come over the cattle-grid at the right (or wrong) time.

Anyway, the other day after a quick ride over to Dargo on our VTR 1000, it was H and my turn to give the Diversion a whirl.

“You sure you know how to ride this, Hon” I say to the man who has raced road bikes across the length and breadth of Australia.

“What are you insinuating?” he says to me knowing full well I trust him with my life. Regularly.

“Nothing! Nothing at all," I reply, thinking, <em>Oh golly, do I really have to get in this thing?!

“If you want to get home,” he says reading my mind, “you have to get in. Now. The kids will be home on the bus soon.” 14 years together does that mind thing to you. I just can’t get away with anything anymore ... And by the way, whoever recently wised him up on that well used line, ‘Where did I get this new top? Why Hon, I’ve had it in my cupboard for months!’ needs to be metaphorically shot. With a 303. Or maybe even a 22-250. Seeing this is metaphorical, I really don't have a preference. {wink} (I repeat, I cannot get away with anything anymore!)

‘Okay, I’m in and all set to go.’

(Where’s our VTR??!!! Oh, of course, my husband's mother's daughter's brother is riding it )

And, despite the bumps and thumps, the ride in the side-car wasn’t so bad. Especially around the beautiful hills of Dargo, Castleburn and Glenaladale.

Good enough to even persuade me to give whoever that pesky dibber-dobber was a metaphorical reprieve … Mmmm…. Maybe …

Melbourne and Grease was just one of the words

Margareta — Mon, 03 Mar 2014 05:41:18 +0000

Melbourne and Grease was just one of the words

Margareta Mon, 03/03/2014 - 4:41 pm

This last weekend was spent in Melbourne. Yes, I had a book due out. Yes, I was as busy as an ant before it rains, but this was one girl’s trip not to be missed. Ranging in age from early fifties down to early twenties, this bunch of girls (who usually get-together up on the high plains around Christmas) were on their annual pilgrimage to the city. Shopping, dinner and a show were on the agenda for Pam, Megan, Gail, Kristy, Wendy, Sam and myself.

Victoria Hotel

We were staying at ‘The Victoria’, a hotel which dances through my childhood memories, as it was where we always stayed with my grandmother and also my parents when we went ‘to town’. In those days it was known as ‘the country hotel in the city’ and after staying there again after all these years, I think it still might hold this lovely title.

And so after travelling up to five hours with lots of supplies on tap in the back seat of the Landcruiser …

… the bar at ‘The Victoria’ was the first stop.

Followed by some pool where games ranged from Orbost vs Glenmaggie to Lakes Entrance vs Bete Bolong.

A giggle or two in the lift as two blokes attending this conference …

… tried out their chat up lines. Unfortunately for them, I think they really needed to attend and take notes at this conference. Lots and lots of notes {wink}

Saturday morning saw us coerced into helping some ‘O’ week uni students do an impromptu singing show on the steps of the Post office in Bourke Street. Unfortunately I was so busy singing and doing my hand actions (I think it was their ‘House song’ or something) I didn’t get a photo! Silly me {blush}

After all that excitement we went on the hunt for a bookshop where in a rather large store some strategic re-positioning of my new book, MOUNTAIN ASH took place. (Goodness knows what they’ll make of that on the security cameras.)

Then it was off to the show!

Grease is the Word

I tried to fit in with the ‘Pink Ladies’ but unfortunately I forgot to wear my cardi.

The Pink Ladies

Megan, on the other hand, took prime position with the ‘T-Birds’.

T-Birds

The musical ‘Grease’ is out of this world. If you have the chance, all I can say is ‘You’re the one that I want … OOO …OOO …OOO’

Evening arrived and flushed with the excitement from all that singing and jiggling around in our seats, we headed out to dinner in China Town. Can I just say, if you are looking for a delicious meal, the Shark Fin restaurant is superb. The waiter also amazed us with his juggling abilities. He managed to fit ALL these dishes (that’s every used plate, bowl, fork, spoon and chop stick from seven people) in his arms first go. My eyes were popping out of their sockets!

Dinner at the Shark Fin Restaurant

Dessert was these decadent looking delicacies from a little patisserie on the walk back to the hotel.

I had managed to find my cardi by this stage so I just had to have the same delicious looking cocktail as Megan. It matched the cardi, you see? Seeing I missed out on being one of the ‘Pink Ladies’? (Damn it, can’t you just see how nice it looked? I couldn’t say no!)

After another evening playing pool, it was off to bed. I woke up the next morning to see this …

A tad different to what I normally see, which is this …

One of my best mates, Pam, managed to lock herself out of her room. A very nice hotel man had to come to our rescue and be cat-called and congratulated with great gusto when he managed to save the day (I think we managed to make him blush) …

It was then off for a spot of shopping at Chadstone, where I found RM Williams …

And the ladies possibly overdid it a tad …

SO we had demolish a box of malteasers to get over the whole experience.

When I finally arrived home, collected en route by my gorgeous hubbie on a motorbike (seriously, life is never boring around here), my lovely visiting brother-in-law presented me with a very pretty looking and delicious bottle of Moscarto.

This morning, after straightening up the house, it was back outside to work. My job? The blonde end of the dumpy level, for sighting up the new machinery shed. Sigh. {cool}

(with thanks to the ‘Nunniong girls’ for a side-splittingly funny and fabulous weekend!)

Fun and Games

Diversion to Dargo

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Melbourne and Grease was just one of the words

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