Repacking For Greece by Sally Jane Smith : Book Review.

In June last year I reviewed a travel memoir written by Sally Jane Smith who was searching for her wanderlust which she lost after a near fatal accident some years beforehand. Armed with a travel diary from 1978 Sally sets off for Greece also hoping to retrace her (late) mother’s steps.

https://wordpress.com/post/brizzymaysbooksandbruschettasite.wordpress.com/8112

“Unpacking For Greece” covered the author’s travels to Athens and Meteora on the mainland; Monemvasia, Sparta and Methana on the Peloponnese Peninsula; and the islands of Santorini and Rhodes.

It is amazing how many luncheons I have attended where I have shared Sally’s story about the speciality broth from Sparta which was made from a mixture of pigs blood and vinegar and was said to be the reason “the Spartans weren’t afraid to die.” Unfortunately, the question about the dietary requirements of Spartans has yet to be raised at midweek trivia at the local bowling club-but at least I’m prepared.

In “Repacking For Greece” Sally shares her second trip to Greece where she travels to Athens and Delphi on the mainland; Nafplio, Mycenae, Epidavros and Methana on the Peloponnese Peninsula; and the islands of Hydra, Poros, Kefalonia and Corfu (with a side trip to Albania).

Once again, the tone is conversational and Sally shares the history of ancient  sites and mythology with humour. Sitting at a cafe for lunch one day she ” started with a mojito. With all that mint and lime, after all, it’s practically a salad.”

Something a little different in this travelogue, Sally as an avid reader refers to the writers who have captured snippets of the essence of Greece in their novels as she weaves her way around the country : Louis de Bernieres’ ” Captain Corelli’s Mandolin” set in Cephalonia, Australian writers Charmain Clift and George Johnston who retreated to Hydra in the 1950’s, Henry Miller’s ” The Colossus of Maroussa” and “Sextet” in Hydra, and Sulari Gentill’s retelling of  Homer’s “The Odyssey ” in “”Chasing The Odysseus” set in Corfu. Yes, there’s a lot to unpack, but boy it makes for interesting reading.

Sally writes that “when I first came to Greece I thought it was the excitement and freedom that were missing from my existence, and that it was travel itself that had the potential to make my life extraordinary. What I discovered though, was what I needed : to recognise my own privilege and find contentment in what I had. I fell back in love with my life.”

I fully get that. Don’t you?

* Thank you to Sally for providing an Advanced Reader Copy of “Repacking For Greece”. Available from retail outlets in paper and Kindle format.

Queensland Holocaust Museum

The Queensland Holocaust Museum in Charlotte Street, Brisbane, opened late last year. Located next door to the heritage listed St Stephens Cathedral, it is surrounded by a calming tropical green-space hidden between the towering skyscrapers.

For architectural reasons alone the museum is well worth a visit. It is housed in what used to be a working mill in the centre of the city and the passage that leads you underground to the exhibits is the pathway that horses used to take. It is rather atmospheric and sets the scene.

You already know that the displays are going to be disturbing and the history horrific.   It isn’t helped that the museum space is not open, but rather dark and in a confined area. One room replicates the length and width of a cattle truck which some of our group found too disturbing and had to walk away.

We were lucky to benefit from the personal stories of a tour guide whose parents and grandparents survived the Holocaust. It gave our understanding another perspective and more depth. Even the military tragics gained new knowledge of the history of WW2.

Well worth a visit.

Where: 168 Charlotte St, Brisbane

Open : Tuesday, Thursday, Saturday 9 am – 4 pm

Website: https://hmq.org.au/visit/

Coming soon: Another Museum

A Night At The Museum

Recently enjoyed a night out at the local Museum.

Don’t think museum’s are enjoyable? Think again.

Redland Museum was established just over fifty years ago to house historic artefacts, particularly of a farming nature, and stories about the people, places and events that helped shape the Redlands. It is not a large museum and the building can in no way be deemed flash. A report dated 2022 states there are 2 full time paid employees and nearly 200 volunteers who keep the wheels turning.

During those awful days of Lockdown – which we refuse to honour by giving the cause a name – a new amateur theatre group was established which based itself in the  bowels of the Museum. The idea behind the formation of this group was to produce and perform  productions based on the stories provided within this museum. So far ,information garnered from the catalogues and artefacts within museum walls have led to theatrical productions about the Australian Women’s Land Army, local trailblazing women who have led the way to societal change, and a rather creepy Halloween based play featuring a century old Dentist’s chair belonging to a practitioner of the past.

Last month, as part of the National Trust Australian Heritage Festival, Theatre Redlands presented a short radio play titled ” Snowed Up With A Duchess”, adapted from a script donated years ago by a resident and that’s been sitting quietly in a storage box.

The presentation itself was entertaining and provided a few giggles. However, the finale included a presentation by the museum’s librarian who provided:

a) a history of the original play : when it was written and by whom, and the play’s political context at the time it evolved in the UK in 1907.

b) the history of the script and how it landed as part of the museum’s catalogue.

Honestly, I’m not sure what gave me the biggest kick. Was it the performance or the background information?

An inexpensive evening out, an opportunity to frock up, and with a grazing box included.

Who said museums were dull?

Z is for Something Classy and Cultural

Z is for the children’s book “Zombie Bums And Uranus”, written by Andy Griffiths, one of Australia’s  most popular children’s authors.

Griffiths has written 33 books, including nonsense verse, short stories, comic novels and plays. His books have been New York Times bestsellers, won 80 children’s choice awards, been adapted as a television cartoon series, sold more than 12 million copies in Australia, and been adapted to the theatre. He is best known as the author of the “JUST!” series, “The Day My Bum Went Psycho” and the bestselling “Treehouse” series. ( I believe in America where the population is more refined and genteel ” bum” is replaced by “butt”.)

Andy is an ambassador for The Indigenous Literacy Foundation and the Pyjama Foundation, and was awarded the Dromkeen Medal in 2015 to honour his outstanding contribution to Australian children’s literature.

Yes, I know, you’re shaking your head – the title is somewhat off-putting. 

I am reminded of a time 25 years ago when I organised a book fair at the local primary school. You know the deal; the more books sold at the fair, the more books donated to the school library by the book wholesaler. This attempt to restock the school library had never been attempted before, and boy, was the concept embraced by the school community. One of the biggest sellers were the “Goosebumps” books. Remember them? We sold cartons of them! With two daughters who had never sampled a “Goosebumps” I was a bit flabbergasted by the popularity of this series, especially by little boys and particularly as there were so many other good novels, including classics, from which to choose. 

To this day I remember chatting with a frazzled mother of three young lads who shared with me that she was just thrilled that her sons had found books which interested them, which enticed them to read instead of jumping on beds, and that kept them interested. And isn’t that what it’s all about? Books that engage and encourage readers from an early age.

I’ve just purchased a book about insects and reptiles for three and half year old Harry. He’s told his mother that he wants to relocate snakes back to the bush when he grows up. His mother is unimpressed about his career choice of snake catcher……

Note:

Thank you for hanging in there throughout April, particularly the Aussie contingent of bloggers who also participated in this Challenge. Your support has been a huge help especially on those days when I was away out west and/ or floundering. I do enjoy participating in the April Challenge and the opportunity to share information about where I live.

I’m taking a break and have lots of self indulgent plans for May, including a holiday. I do have heaps to share- theatre performances, museums, adventures, workshops, and projects – but we could all do with a break. See you then.

#A-ZChallenge 2024

Australian Trivia

Y is for Yowie

Whilst the Americans have Bigfoot or Sasquatch, and the Asiatic countries have the Yeti and Abominable Snowman, Australia has the Yowie.

Though accounts of the Yowie from Europeans only date to the 19th century, stories from Australia’s Indigenous people are believed to go back much further. These tales speak of an enormous beast similar to an ape, earning the creature nicknames like the “hairy man of the wood.”

The Yowie is usually described as a Bipedal, hairy, and ape-like mythical creature standing upright at between 2.1 m (6 ft 11 in) and 3.6 m (12 ft). The Yowie’s feet are described as much larger than a human’s, but alleged Yowie tracks are inconsistent in shape and toe number. 

Kilcoy, a small township situated on the D’Aguilar Highway 95 kilometres north west of Brisbane, is known as the Yowie Town with the last reported sighting in the 1970’s.

In 1979 two local Kilcoy boys claimed to witness a three metre tall Yowie and attempted to shoot it. It took off, allegedly leaving behind a sulfurous smell. Plaster casts were supposedly taken of its footprints and the boys became local folklore.

Kilcoy, Qld

Bonus Trivia : The Exchange Hotel in Kilcoy serves THE best wagyu steaks. I mean THE best.

#A-ZChallenge 2024

Australian Trivia

X is for………..

So Cat Balou in India issued a Challenge. 

“Mo, bet you a bottle of Peter Rumble Sparkling Shiraz that you can’t come up with something for the letter X”.

Darling girl of little faith, submit your order to Dan Murphy’s now.

For Australian trivia purposes X is for XANTIPPE, a small rural locality in Western Australia’s wheat belt. It is located 220 kms north east of the city of Perth and according to the 2016 Census has a population of 20.

It is the only locality name in Australia that begins with X.

Never heard of it. 

Established in 1925 it once was a thriving farming community. A school opened in 1930 on Struggle Street to cater to the needs of children, though closed in 1940. ( Anyone else getting Tim Winton vibes?)

The locality’s big feature was the water tank built in 1927, designed to pump water to nearby Dalwallinu, but there were major issues pumping the water uphill. It doesn’t even have its own postcode.

It has been suggested that the name means “looking for water from a deeper well” which ties in with the proliferation of Gnamma holes in the area. 

What is a Gnamma hole? According to the Merriam -Webster Dictionary , “a hollow or hole eroded or indented in solid rock of Australian deserts that sometimes contains water.” Apparently these water holes are featured in the 2002 Australian movie, “Rabbit- Proof Fence”  which I will now source for the weekend’s *entertainment.

Western Australia extends across a massive area, at least one third of Australia. Honestly, I am familiar only with the Margaret River area and have no  enthusiasm to explore Xantippe and its environs. However, if anyone can shed any further light I’de be pleased to hear.

*Entertainment is a poor choice of word for this movie. Based on the book of the same name it is the true story of several young Indigenous girls taken away from their parents who escape the mission to return to their families. The Stolen Generation should not equate to entertainment.

#A-ZChallenge 2024

Australian Trivia

W is for War Memorials/Museums

Yesterday was ANZAC Day in Australia, a day during which the nation commemorates the victims of war and recognises the role of our armed forces. The day commences with a Dawn Service at the local cenotaph to remember the ill-fated campaign where Allied troops landed on the narrow beaches of the Gallipoli peninsula during WW1. This is generally followed by a march past, followed by lunch and other  “festivities.”

Cleveland, Qld

Australian regional memorials have long been at the heart of community commemoration of our servicemen and women.

When driving through most Australian towns, large or small, you can almost always find a war memorial, often at the town centre. They come in the form of granite obelisks, memorial gates, statues and more. They are found in parks, hospitals, post offices, swimming pools and halls. They include honour rolls found in bowling clubs, schools, town halls and other community buildings. Statues of mostly First World War soldiers, known as ‘Digger memorials’, are also a distinctive feature in regional towns.

Surat, Qld

There is a website collating these memorials in Australia. Go here :                       https://placesofpride.awm.gov.au/memorials

I admit to being a total sucker for our country towns. Their buildings, cemeteries, museums and war memorials offer so much more in the way of history than anything printed in the travel brochures or offered at Tourist Information Centres.

During a short road trip last week to see the Dingo Fence, and bonus find the  Rabbit Fence which I will share another time, we visited the Miles Historical Village on the Western Downs. Of particular interest was the War Museum loaded with local information pertinent to Miles in which I learnt that the Americans during WW2 established six artillery storage facilities near Miles, one being a current mine site which on occasion has unearthed refuse artillery. 

Oh, how this kind of useless information fuels my soul……

It must be an age thing but for the first time in twenty years I was unable to crawl out of bed at 4am to greet the dawn. I set the alarm alright, but just couldn’t face it. Instead, I listened to Vera Lynn for the day and read an article about a newly erected monument in rural Blackall, Queensland, of WW1 nurse Sister Greta Norman Towner, “as a reminder of the significant contribution Australian women in service have made to the nation.” Interestingly, this monument stands in the park opposite the statue of her brother Lieutenant Edgar Thomas Towner, VC MC.

And for those Aussie readers with a few free hours on their hands the AWM is calling for volunteers to help preserve war diaries and records within their collection by transcribing. It’s easy and I failed typing in a business course. Go here:https://transcribe.awm.gov.au/

#A-ZChallenge 2024

Australian Trivia

V is for Vegemite

Vegemite, the Australian sandwich spread, has a reputation much like Coriander (also known as Cilantro ) – people either love it or hate it. There is no middle ground.

I hail from a generation of Vegemite fanciers and grew up just like the song lyrics suggested – as a ” happy little vegemite”. My preference is to lay it on thick with oozing butter, and preferably on hot crumpets with a pot of tea. ( In the scheme of things , what’s a cholesterol issue? We all have a use by date. Thus my penchant for cheese and prawns too.) 

On the following scale I’m a serial killer.

Some trivia about Vegemite you may not be aware of:

1. Vegemite is banned from some Australian gaols. This is to prevent inmates extracting the yeast to make booze.
2. In the late 1930’s Vegemite gained momentum as a health product because of its high concentration of B vitamins.
3. It became a staple in soldiers’ ration packs during World War 2. Posters hung up during wartime bore the slogan :“Vegemite: Keeping fighting men fighting fit.” 
4. To drum up publicity around their new product, The Fred Walker Company launched a nationwide competition to name it ahead of its debut. Hundreds of submissions were collected, and Walker’s daughter pulled the winning entry out of a hat. The coiners of the name “Vegemite” were awarded a £50 prize.
5. In 1984, a 66 cent jar of Vegemite became the  first product electronically scanned at a checkout in Australia at a Woolworths. 

Vegemite is more versatile than you realise. I add it to gravy when cooking, as well as stews and casseroles.

When my daughter was home for Easter following her first twelve months on contract in India all she wanted ( after prawns, bubbles and a *movie night) was a Vegemite Scroll.

Ingredients 

• 2 cups self-raising flour, plus extra for dusting 
• 80g butter, chilled, chopped 
• 2 tsp caster sugar 
• 2/3 cup milk 
• 2 tbsp Vegemite 
• 1 cup grated tasty cheese 

• Step 1 
  Preheat oven to 220C/200C fan-forced. Grease a 12-hole (1/3-cup-capacity) muffin pan. 
  
  Step 2 
  Process 2 cups self-raising flour, plus extra for dusting, 80g butter, chilled, chopped and 2 tsp caster sugar in a food processor until mixture resembles fine crumbs. Transfer to a bowl. Make a well. Add 2/3 cup milk. Season with salt and pepper. Stir with a butter knife to form a sticky dough. Turn out onto a well-floured surface. Knead gently. Using a floured rolling pin, roll out to form a 20cm x 40cm rectangle. 
• Step 3 
  Spread dough with 2 tbsp Vegemite, leaving a 1cm border. Sprinkle with 1 cup grated tasty cheese. Roll up dough from 1 long edge to enclose filling. Trim ends. Cut into 12 equal slices. Place, cut-side up, into holes of prepared pan. 
• Step 4 
  Bake for 15 to 20 minutes or until golden and just firm to the touch. Stand in pan for 5 minutes. Carefully transfer to a baking paper-lined wire rack. Serve warm or cold.

*I wont share the name of the movie. Just be reassured that I raised this kid well and she has exquisite taste.

#A-ZChallenge2024

Australian Trivia

U is for Uluru

And ” It’s Raining On The Rock.”

Uluru is one of Australia’s most recognisable natural landmarks and has been a popular destination for tourists since the late 1930s. It is also one of the most important indigenous sites in Australia. Previously known as Ayres Rock, Uluru is sacred to the Pitjantjatjara, the Aboriginal people of the area. The area around the formation is home to an abundance of springs,waterholes, rock caves and rock paintings. It is listed as a UNESCO World Heritage site.

Situated in the heart of the Australian Outback Uluru stands 350 metres high, with most of its bulk lying underground, and has a total circumference of nearly 10 kilometres. 

As Uluru has made media headlines over the years, from dingos stealing babies, tourists disrespecting the cultural significance of the sandstone monolith, and the number of heart attacks and falls that happen during the rock climb, for today let’s be reminded of what happens on those rare occasions when there is so much rain fall that waterfalls cascade down the surface of Uluru.

Australian singer/song writer, John Williamson, celebrated such an occurrence in his song, “It’s Raining On The Rock”. In 2011 Williamson said “it’s a song that probably means a lot to me because it’s about the heart of the country and I think the rock represents that. The ancient nature of the country that was here before any of us is the one thing that can draw us all together, putting religion, politics and race aside.”

#A-ZChallenge 2024

Australian Trivia

T is for Tasmania

Tasmania is an island state of Australia. It is located 240 kilometres (150 miles) to the south of the Australian mainland, separated from it by the Bass Straight, with the archipelago containing the southern most point of the country. 

Some facts about the beautiful island state of Tasmania :-

*Tasmania is the world’s 26th largest island.

*Tasmania has the world’s cleanest air.

*More than 20% of Tasmania is Tasmanian Wilderness World Heritage Area.

*Tasmania has the oldest trees in the world

*Tasmania has dense rainforests 

*The Tasmanian Devil is the largest carnivorous marsupial in the world

*Tasmania has over 2000km of walking tracks and 18 national parks

*Tasmania was once known as the “Apple Isle” as it was one of the world’s major producers.

*Tasmania is home to some of Australia’s oldest rocks, dating back to the Precambrian era about 1.4 billion years ago. 

*Tasmania is the home of the world’s largest lavender farm.

*The Cascade Brewery, based in Hobart, is Australia’s oldest brewery that is still in operation, having been established in 1824 by Peter Degraves. 

*English-born artist John Skinner Prout and his wife, a harpist, spent time travelling around Tasmania, and it was in Hobart in 1845 that he held a painting exhibition –Australia’s first known art exhibition. 

*Henry Savery, who originated from Somerset, England, actually published what was Australia’s first novel in Hobart, although at the time this was published anonymously.He was living in Tasmania and writing for The Tasmanian newspaper when he wrote Quintus Servinton – A Tale Founded Upon Incidents of Real Occurrence, which was published in 1831. This also made Henry Australia’s first novelist.

*The island of Tasmania includes 334 surrounding islands, most are uninhabited, and some are privately owned.

*Holland, which is renowned for its tulips, actually imports tulips from Tasmania.

*There are no passenger trains in Tasmania. Only freight trains exist, and a few privately owned restored historic steam and diesel trains, which offer rides through the Tasmanian wilderness and coastline. 

*Tasmania is like a small town with only 2% of Australia’s population, of just over half a million people.

*Tasmania  has 69 golf courses.

* Mary, Queen Consort of Denmark, was born in Tasmania

Some personal thoughts about Tasmania:

For one reason or another I’ve been visiting Tassie every couple of years since I was 21 years of age. I love these trips and despite the island being small in size I continue to discover new and interesting places. I’ve toured in a camper van and have also played Lady Muck, sleeping in the same beds as Heads of State, ( and opting for the floor because their politics were offensive.)

Some of my favourite things about Tassie include scallop pies, apple cider, wombats, farmland, historic buildings, book shops, log fires, Grant Burge Sparkling Pinot Chardonnay, the Cradle Mountain National Park, and the glorious east coast.

And I didn’t mention Mr Flynn once.