'MONROES PLACE CAFE' Healesville, Victoria, Australia

My hubby at I were spending 3 days in lovely Healesville

Strolling the streets looking for somewhere to have breakfast ( as we didn't want mcdonalds, or a bakerery breakfast, we wanted a real breakfast )

The cafe didn't really stand out from the road, we just happened to pass it and read " Monroes Place Cafe "

We went in and it was the " wow ' factor like going back 50 years

 There were photos I had never seen before. This cafe had a bright and happy atmosphere, the breakfast was fresh, and hot, as was the coffee,the owner  was singing and the staff were great, and it wasn't expensive    What more could you want !!!

Hubby enjoying his  REAL BREAKFAST, no synthetic fast food This plate was large, and Vince had already eaten his toast when I took this photo

This breakfast reminded me of my father, as he loved his cooked breakfast

A NOSTALGIC GETAWAY

Where have we been for the last 3 days?

l feel like we have been traveling on a time machine,back into the past,back into the 1940's, and the 1950's

Our friends offered us thier little holiday house in the forest, for a peaceful getaway.

All we knew about the little house was that it had been owned by our friends family members for decades,

Now it belonged to our friends and would no dought be passed down to thier family's.

Even though it was only 2 hours away,when we had reached our destination,we certainly felt like we were in another world.

The small house was surrounded by tall forest gums, but close to the home were tall 50 year old camellia and rhododendron trees.We were very lucky as they were all in flower as you can see by the photo's

Longing for a cup of tea, and hubby a cup of coffe, to warm us up, we unlocked the door and walked in.

We have definitely stepped out of a time machine into another era.

The first thing l noticed was the large old 1940,s cabinet full of books. As books have always fascinated me l was in my glory. The oldest book l found was from 1909 inscribed in pen and ink to a family member.

My hubby loved the television,we are sure its the first tele ever made, "His Masters Voice " from the 1950's

The house was crowded with unique, nostalgic items from the 1940's and 50's.
Everywhere we looked, in every cupboard,on top of cupboards, pearl handled cutlery in the drawers and beautiful English china.
 There was even a 1932 ice-chest.
My favourite article was this 1950's kitchen cabinet that l wanted to take home.
With curved wooden corners and the beautiful  lead lighting inserted this cabinet was in excellent condition.

We sat at the original 1950's laminex table of course ( you will notice the tops of the chairs in the photo)

Why did we bring the laptop ? - no service !
Why did we bring the mobile phone ? - no service !
Why did we bring the nav man ? - no service !

ln this wooded gully, with the wood fire burning, we really felt as if we were in another era.
But we did have a modern luxury - sitting on top of the 1950's television, was the latest flattop L.G.

,

The remote controls were hidden in an old wooden handmade box with this wonderful photo on the front.

Although our romantic getaway was great the first day, after that everything went downhill.

My hubby got really sick. He had a sore throat and a cold before we left and ended up with a high fever.

He laid on that green 1950's couch, for 2 days in front of the fire moaning , (not in ecstasy, but in agony )

Thank you Glynis and Bill the loan of your holiday home. lt was quite an adventure, and a memory to keep.

BRUNO'S SCULPTURAL GARDEN

5 years ago at Bruno's sculptural garden 

To me this garden was very spiritual. We traveled there 5 years ago after l had just found out l had breast cancer. While l was waiting in the doctors surgery l was reading in a magazine about this beautiful old town called Marysville, nestled amongst the hills. With tree ferns as high as our house, unique shops and Bruno's garden and gallery. l said to my husband that l would love to go their one day.
Before the operation l wasn't coping very well so my  husband said "Come on lets get ready we are going to Marysville".
We explored this beautiful old town and then headed to Bruno's garden. There was a light mist as we walked around under our umbrella's surrounded by enormous tree ferns and life size clay statues (the photos tell the story).
l knew l could face anything. The world seemed very beautiful at this spiritual place.

-Now 5 Years Later -

We are back but a lot has happened in those 5 years.

 Firstly l have survived but Marysville hasn't. 

3 years ago a raging bushfire went through killing 135 people and the only thing left standing in the main street was the bakery. Only a few homes were left standing, the rest was total devastation including Bruno's studio gallery and the garden.

Also 60% of his statues were gone, the heat beng so intense they had exploded but that was 3 years ago.

Bruno decided to stay as did many others.

They are rebuilding the town and Bruno has re-opened his garden, the trees and plants have started to grow and the remaining statues have been restored. He has rebuilt thanks to his many artist freinds and is almost ready to re-open the gallery.

The saddest part was that he wasn't insured. The insurance company wouldn't insure him as his large kiln was in the studio. 

He has made many more statues in the last 3 years. 

They are all very brave people to stay and rebuild.

CRICKETERS TOUR, NEW ZEALAND AND US

Many years ago we went on a tour of beautiful New Zealand for 11 days. On the 6th day of the tour my husband was very homesick missing our 4 children. l must admit l wasn't. l just wanted  to escape for a little while, as our children were small then. 

My parents were staying at our home looking after them. We decided to ring them again to put his mind at ease.

My mother said, "No don't worry about them Kerry broke her toe and l have taken her to the doctors and she's O.K. Rodd went picking tomatoes and l'v'e taken him to the doctors and he had sunstroke but he's alright, Don't worry about little Kyle l took him to the doctor but he only had a stomach bug,  he's O.K"."What about Jody" l said? Mum put Jody on the line but l couldn't understand a word he said," What's wrong with your voice" By this time l was starting to  panic

 Jody replied "l'm just eating a lollipop!"

 We decided to go for a walk as our bus tour was now in beautiful Dunedin on the South lsland.

As we were nearing the fountain my husband got very excited the West lndies Cricketers were here.They had recently been in a test series in Australia and my husband, son and their friends had been to see them.

Joel Garner ( affectionately called --Big  Bird )

He is 6ft .8  Inches tall and born in 1952

Playing for the West  lndies he was known as one

of the fastest bowlers of all time.

Michael  Holding (affectionately called Whispering  Death )

He is 6ft.3 inches tall and born in 1954.

in Australia he was known as the Panther as he moved so fast,

and also 1 of the top bowlers of all time

Hubby had forgotten about being homesick, as he was in his

glory talking to these Cricketers.

CUP CAKES AND MY CAKE PAINTING

l love my cake painting, it's different.

l think a spatula has been used as the paint is very thick in places.

l bought it at the Mornington Market 3 weeks ago.

A great market with so many clever people showing their wares, many different cultures with their food stalls, musical bands and hundreds of happy people.

But, guess what, we are going back this weekend to stay with hubby's brother, Jimmy and Jenny and their lovely family, and of course we are going back to the market.

l intend to take many photo's and perhaps find some early Christmas presents.

 Cup Cakes- l bought my sister a cup cake apron, Cherie loves making cup cakes and has many books on decorating them. 

l have collected over the years (from many magazine ) pictures of different iced cup cakes.

As l have 11 grandchildren l have made quite a lot. l love to see their little faces light up when they see them although l think they enjoy the lolly's on top more than the cake.

JULES UNDERWATER LODGE

An underwater motel sounds like science fiction but its a fact. 

Situated in Key Largo, Florida 21 feet under the sea you will find the "Jules Underwater Lodge".

Just to enter the Lodge you have to scuba dive the 21 ft. down through the the tropical mangrove habitat of the Emerald Lagoon.

Approaching the worlds only underwater motel is quite an experience.

Even from the outside the big 42 inch round windows cast a warm invitation.

The cottage sized building has all the comforts of home, hot showers, a well stocked kitchen, books, music. movies and cosy beds.

The guests can watch the fish and sea creatures from their large round windows.

The underwater where Jules Lodge is located is a natural nursery for many fish. 

Tropical angel fish, barracuda and snappers peek in the windows from the habitat, while anemones, sponges, oysters and duster earth worms are in view.

What a dream, what an experience!

l'll have to learn how to swim as l don't think my dog paddling will do any good!

ISABELLA THE CHICKEN

I  recently traveled by train to see my sister Janice. 

Australia is such a big country, the journey took me 6 hours and l was still only in our Victorian State. 

When we traveled to Queensland and back it cost more for fuel (petrol ) than it would for an air fare to ltaly! Plus 16 hours to get there and 16 hours back. 

Traveling by train though was quite an experience. 

6 hours was long enough and it was lovely to see my sister waiting for me. After we had relaxed and talked for 3 hours over a bottle of great wine ( l love Brown Bros. wine ) l met lsabella - The small  Buss Pekin Chicken.

 My brother-in -law Trevor also has tropical fish that are so relaxing and beautiful to watch but Jan and Trev share lsabella.

They have had her from a chick, just a few weeks old.

They brought her a rabbit hutch that she sleeps in at night but in the day time she is with them.

She seems to understand everything and follows them everywhere. They have taught her many things and during the day she will be dancing, boxing with her wings up, or just sitting on the outside table with them while they drink their coffee. She sounds like she's talking. 

Trevor is a bad diabetic and finds walking difficult due to bad circulation, so he now has a motorized scooter that enables him to go anywhere. He calls lsabella and she comes running, jumps on his lap and snuggles her little head in. 

lf she was a cat she would be purring.

Isabella is so clever that I asked my sister Janice if there is anything she can't do?
Janice looked at me and said, "yes, she can't lay an egg!"

They say animals are wonderful therapy for people with sickness, depression or just to ease the loneliness that affects so many people.

TRIVIA  FOR  TO-DAY !

Did you know the chicken is the closest living relative to the T.REX !

ITALY

We are saving to go to ltaly for a holiday.

ln order to afford this we have sold our caravan. 

We have invested this money for 6 months so this will be a start.

Passports will be next!

My husband was born in ltaly, San Marco in Lamis the Provence of Foggia.

He came to Australia as a boy when he was a small boy of 8 years

His father had already left ltaly 2 years previously. As there was no work in ltaly and they were very poor his plan was to work very hard to pay for his wife and 5 children's fares to join him in Australia.

ln the 1950's immigrants were not to be a burden on the Government or the Australian Taxpayers.

Also before they could reside in Australia immigrants had to have a home to live in a permanent job and 600 pounds in the bank as there was no government assistance then.

The photograph below is their passport photo.

My husband has just written a book about his life called A  Small  Boy  From  ltaly. 

In some of my future blogs l will feature some extracts from his book.

By writing this book it has made him stop and think, yes l would like to go back to see my home town and heritage.

So hopefully ltaly, Here We Come?