MIGHT BE TIME TO MAKE A COMEBACK

So much has happened since our last post on this BLOG site. Not that I can tell you all in one post but maybe just step by step since we left Trentham for Ballarat.

Health reasons brought us to Victoria's second biggest regional city. Ballarat was built on gold mining in the 1850s and has an amazing architectural history with a most glamorous main street, amazing botanical gardens and a large lake where there is a huge population of water birds.

Food, wine and nightlife are still under discovery by Sue and I but we are getting there. Since arriving in 2020, we established friendship groups that make us feel comfortable enough to make it our last home.

A New Classic MG joins the Garage

Classic cars have been part of our life since Sue and I first married and for me, from the time I had my licence. Citroens have come and gone. Alfa Romeos were a favourite, Triumphs and Minis sometimes filled the garage.

MGs have always been consistent over the last 40 years. Only recently we sold our 2003 MGTF to be replaced with our 1980 MGBGT.

Having been an MG Car Club members since 1984, we've had as many as seven MGS of varying models however I think this one may be staying for some time.

The 2003 MGTF

Autumn Mushrooms and Toadstools

As autumn descends on Trentham and the Victorian Highlands, between rain and sunshine, colours are changing and the fungi are sprouting from the fields.

You may notice how a Kangaroo decided to leave a deposit neatly between these two fungi.

Although I enjoy fungi, there's no way I would consider eating them unless from a commercial producer.

Although they do look very attractive - don't they. Maybe homes to the fairy that inhabit our field.

TUSC - Tuesday Urban Sketch Club

Its been as previous mentioned that I was invited a little over 12 months ago the take up the pencil and start sketching by one of our local artists. Peter John Young is slightly eccentric with a kind and outgoing personality also inclined to be a little verbose with an eclectic humour which I enjoy.

A fellow local artist, John Bryant who past away last year started the sketch club however although I knew David, I never sketched with him.

This Tuesday we sketched from our own homes via the App Zoom, an interface program that allows all sketchers to socialise while working on their sketch.
This is of course a necessary alternative due to the Corona Virus restrictions, even here in Trentham.

Peter assigned us a project this Tuesday that could be anything from our pantry. I decided on a sectional view of our pantry which is a butler's pantry style where we store goods, wash up (it has two sinks) and make our tea and coffee. The arrangement allows Sue to cook in the kitchen and me (the Butler) to transport her meet to the pantry to clean up!!!!!!!! Gee, she's a great cook but really messy!

So back to the subject in hand.
My sketch or sketches as I did two, were of a section of the pantry and then our Nespresso machine with a cup and saucer used for our espresso coffee.

I've added a photo of the scene I sketched. I fine the photo helps to reference detail when required.

So there you go - My Tuesday Urban Sketch Club in Trentham report until next Tuesday.

We have a regular Tuesday sketch club here in Trentham which I joined approximately 12 months ago. From a group of 4 to 6, we seemed to outgrow our welcome at the local cafes where we would sit, sketch and drink coffee.

With COVID-19 most of our sketching is done in the confines of our own homes currently but we do interact via the App Zoom. I quite enjoy the pencil and sometimes add a bit of colour with Derwent colours but the whole brush thing is yet to be mastered.

This Tuesday the task is to draw a pantry scene - that should prove challenging when your Foodie wife has all sorts of kitchen gadgets in the pantry. I should explain a little further. It is actually a Butler's Pantry where after dinner, I get sent to clean up the residue of the splendid meal she may have conjured up from the many ingredients amongst the shelves.

I shall post my masterpiece tomorrow - watch this space.