On Wednesday morning, I clawed my way to morning consciousness to this view from my bedroom window.   The whole 'red in the morning' thing appears to be a guideline, rather than a rule, because the day went on to be sunny and of no threat whatsoever to any nearby shepherds.

On the weather report here there is often a warning to sheepfarmers - but they are never specific.  What sort of warning, one may ask?  Diversify or perish?  Don't buy a new tractor?  Don't wear that hat with those boots? That flannel shirt would be better with shoulder pads and some darts?

But I digress.  I survived my first (shortened) week back at work after the grand tour, largely through liberal application of chocolate and cups of tea.  It's not really to be recommended and cuts appallingly into one's social and art time.  Apparently the working week's vicious cycle starts all over again tomorrow (Monday).  Good grief.

 The early morning chill had caused me to consider buying a fur vest.  I should explain that trends are sometimes a trifle slow to reach this little backwater, and fur - fake or real -  hasn't really made the re-entry splashdown here that it has elsewhere.  Like others, I had the lapin jacket in the 70's but I sold it on before the trend began to fade.  

I was toying with bidding for a faux fur vest on Ebuy, having seen a young lady looking splendid and warm in one just the other day.  On reflection, I decided that perhaps, as in the 70's, it's a look best left for the young and that I run the risk of looking too much like mutton dressed as rabbit.  I shall persist with my collections of faux fur snoods and scarves as long as they are warm and I do not attract foxes.  I left behind a vintage mink at a garage sale this weekend - not a coat, but a stole with a face and ears.  I did get this rather snuggly hat, styled after the 60's, for a really cold day.

A very fetching faux fur hood, from the 60's, with fluffy dangling bobbles was snatched from my hands last week by the girlchild, who tells me that she has received many a compliment and envious glance.

During an unscheduled stop at Good Sammies on Saturday, I snapped up some perfectly-fitting Doc Martins in a fetching and non-muttonly Union Jack design.  They are my new equal favourite boots, with the red faux snakeskin-but-actually-really-soft-leather ones I've had for years.

They'll look fetching with the hat.

 

For Sale : Fridge, freezer, gym, chainsaw, baby. 9-1pm. (shopping in a cold climate - contd.)

I wonder which sold first, the chainsaw or the baby?  Since I needed none of these items, I looked elsewhere.

I didn't buy a deckchair.

Or a taxidermied deer.....

Damn handluggage restrictions.

Still nose-runningly brisk in the mornings and evenings but sunny, sunny, sunny and NO WIND - which is just delightful.  Yesterday, we sat outside in the sun and read for a while and it was lovely.

But I did find the coolest homeware shop in Devonport, (unfortunately bereft of cool homeware shops, on the whole) Mr Wolf.  Full to the brim of new and vintage and upcycled, beautifully displayed and coffee right next door.  A tiny pocket of aesthetic fabulousness in a desert of the mediocre and some who actually aspire to be mediocre. 

I write this is a spirit of zen-like calm, even 3 days after being gonged at the Quiet Cone in Latrobe. I went with a friend for an hour of absolute relaxation.  I sat on the mat wondering what was about to happen but I am now a complete convert and will be returning at every given opportunity. It's high on a hill with the most stunning views and I cannot rave enough.  Go, gong, it's brilliant.

Today we went to the Makers' Market in Burnie, a town where artists and crafters are truly appreciated.  Like Albany, Burnie's main street goes down to the ocean, and they are developing their foreshore alongside the working port.  Hopefully one day Albany will have the same mix of public buildings and boardwalks with public and private art, cafes, views, and  old and stunning modern buildings. From the papermakers, I gathered some handmade paper and some wombat-poo paper envelopes.  I kid you not.

We spent yesterday in Ulverstone, which is developing a real personality of it's own.  A great antiquarian bookshop and several excellent antique and collectible shops and markets, with some really good stuff at reasonable prices.  They too are developing their waterfront ( in this case the river bank) and it will look great.

 I picked up what was described as a candlelit film projector - primarily because I just liked it as an object.  Also, a glass negative frame which I believe will look great with a drawing mounted in it.  I seem to be running on a cine theme, as earlier in the week I picked up two great old cameras, with original cases.  Why two?  I couldn't choose.

.

And I went to visit some relatives.