Labels: Abigail

 Nerys setting up while we all settle down ready and waiting to watch this 1982 film.
 Tom Burlinson and Sigrid Thornton.

The Adults really enjoyed this old movie, some of us had never seen it before!  The children although in awe in places were a bit ho-hum about it though.

Labels: Man from Snowy River

THE MAN FROM SNOWY RIVER by A.B. "Banjo" Paterson

There was movement at the station, for the word had passed around
That the colt from old Regret had got away,
And had joined the wild bush horses - he was worth a thousand pound,
So all the cracks had gathered to the fray.
All the tried and noted riders from the stations near and far
Had mustered at the homestead overnight,
For the bushmen love hard riding where the wild bush horses are,
And the stockhorse snuffs the battle with delight.


There was Harrison, who made his pile when Pardon won the cup,
The old man with his hair as white as snow;
But few could ride beside him when his blood was fairly up -
He would go wherever horse and man could go.
And Clancy of the Overflow came down to lend a hand,
No better horseman ever held the reins;
For never horse could throw him while the saddle girths would stand,
He learnt to ride while droving on the plains.


And one was there, a stripling on a small and weedy beast,
He was something like a racehorse undersized,
With a touch of Timor pony - three parts thoroughbred at least -
And such as are by mountain horsemen prized.
He was hard and tough and wiry - just the sort that won't say die -
There was courage in his quick impatient tread;
And he bore the badge of gameness in his bright and fiery eye,
And the proud and lofty carriage of his head.


But still so slight and weedy, one would doubt his power to stay,
And the old man said, "That horse will never do
For a long a tiring gallop - lad, you'd better stop away,
Those hills are far too rough for such as you."
So he waited sad and wistful - only Clancy stood his friend -
"I think we ought to let him come," he said;
"I warrant he'll be with us when he's wanted at the end,
For both his horse and he are mountain bred.


"He hails from Snowy River, up by Kosciusko's side,
Where the hills are twice as steep and twice as rough,
Where a horse's hoofs strike firelight from the flint stones every stride,
The man that holds his own is good enough.
And the Snowy River riders on the mountains make their home,
Where the river runs those giant hills between;
I have seen full many horsemen since I first commenced to roam,
But nowhere yet such horsemen have I seen."


So he went - they found the horses by the big mimosa clump -
They raced away towards the mountain's brow, 
And the old man gave his orders, "Boys, go at them from the jump, 
No use to try for fancy riding now. 
And, Clancy, you must wheel them, try and wheel them to the right. 
Ride boldly, lad, and never fear the spills, 
For never yet was rider that could keep the mob in sight, 
If once they gain the shelter of those hills."


So Clancy rode to wheel them - he was racing on the wing 
Where the best and boldest riders take their place, 
And he raced his stockhorse past them, and he made the ranges ring 
With the stockwhip, as he met them face to face. 
Then they halted for a moment, while he swung the dreaded lash, 
But they saw their well-loved mountain full in view, 
And they charged beneath the stockwhip with a sharp and sudden dash, 
And off into the mountain scrub they flew.


Then fast the horsemen followed, where the gorges deep and black 
Resounded to the thunder of their tread, 
And the stockwhips woke the echoes, and they fiercely answered back 
From cliffs and crags that beetled overhead. 
And upward, ever upward, the wild horses held their way, 
Where mountain ash and kurrajong grew wide; 
And the old man muttered fiercely, "We may bid the mob good day, 
No man can hold them down the other side."


When they reached the mountain's summit, even Clancy took a pull, 
It well might make the boldest hold their breath, 
The wild hop scrub grew thickly, and the hidden ground was full 
Of wombat holes, and any slip was death. 
But the man from Snowy River let the pony have his head, 
And he swung his stockwhip round and gave a cheer, 
And he raced him down the mountain like a torrent down its bed, 
While the others stood and watched in very fear.


He sent the flint stones flying, but the pony kept his feet, 
He cleared the fallen timber in his stride, 
And the man from Snowy River never shifted in his seat - 
It was grand to see that mountain horseman ride. 
Through the stringybarks and saplings, on the rough and broken ground, 
Down the hillside at a racing pace he went; 
And he never drew the bridle till he landed safe and sound, 
At the bottom of that terrible descent.


He was right among the horses as they climbed the further hill, 
And the watchers on the mountain standing mute, 
Saw him ply the stockwhip fiercely, he was right among them still,
As he raced across the clearing in pursuit. 
Then they lost him for a moment, where two mountain gullies met 
In the ranges, but a final glimpse reveals 
On a dim and distant hillside the wild horses racing yet, 
With the man from Snowy River at their heels.


And he ran them single-handed till their sides were white with foam. 
He followed like a bloodhound on their track, 
Till they halted cowed and beaten, then he turned their heads for home, 
And alone and unassisted brought them back. 
But his hardy mountain pony he could scarcely raise a trot, 
He was blood from hip to shoulder from the spur; 
But his pluck was still undaunted, and his courage fiery hot, 
For never yet was mountain horse a cur.


And down by Kosciusko, where the pine-clad ridges raise 
Their torn and rugged battlements on high, 
Where the air is clear as crystal, and the white stars fairly blaze 
At midnight in the cold and frosty sky, 
And where around The Overflow the reed beds sweep and sway 
To the breezes, and the rolling plains are wide, 
The man from Snowy River is a household word today, 
And the stockmen tell the story of his ride.

The Bulletin, 26 April 1890.

Labels: Man from Snowy River

Once a year when we can get the whole family together we take a photo of David and Pennie and the Grandchildren along with the Play Tower David built about 48 years ago.  These aren't in order... I'm just too busy and important today 💛😀😀😀❤️❤️

Labels: 2/2020, Play Tower

 Mini Waffles, Berries, Yoghurt and Maple Syrup for Breakfast... then all the kids were online doing their school work... until Charlie came along after his school finished and then it was afternoon tea... Penniedarling then told them the story of their parents enjoying sleep overs with friends in the Loft in the Garage!  'Wow! can we sleep in the Loft tonight', was the Please Penniedarling request so off they went to explore, scary trip up the ladder but the four of them made it then it was dodging wasp nests while digging around in boxes and suitcases and old tin trunks!  I think they've decided they won't sleep in the loft.

Slow and steady up the old ladder one by one.
 YAY! they made it!
 Abi is thrilled with all these old clothes she found, I think they might have been Emily's.
 Charlie found this Jimmy Hendrix picture, we've just discovered that Gwilym made it many years ago!  Wow!  Gwilym has gifted it to Charlie who is Over the Moon!

 Abigail is over the MOON finding this old Maccas uniform, which might have been Emily's.

Labels: Grandchildren

London UNDERground Rail destination roll.

Labels: 2/2020, Signs

 Highest Praise a Penniedarling can receive came from Abigail today who asked... 'Are these Shop Bought?'
 No they aren't Abigail Rose, they are Bill Grangers Banana and Chocolate Muffins and below the same in Bread form.
Very easy recipe to make and seriously yummy, not only that these loaves freeze nicely! 

Whenever a banana goes a little beyond my fussy taste of ripe I throw it in the Freezer then eventually I have enough to make these delicious treats... although there were 7 Bananas in the freezer today so I had to double the batch... no worries with all the family living with us at the moment they won't last long.

Oh and more Vegemite and Cheese Crisps were necessary... only one hour after I'd baked them, half were eaten!  Very popular these Crisps are.

Labels: Food

Yum, Yum, Yum... just delicious and I can never get enough!

Labels: 2/2020, Food

Those little white stars have been printed onto the white fabric.

Labels: 2/2020, Quilts

Abi did this with my little pins and it's been there for more than one year... and never going to be touched!!

Labels: 2/2020, Sewing

 Somebody has been playing games in the Downstairs Loo... 😉

 Elodie was getting ready for a swim when she spied Penniedarlings Vegemite and Cheese Crisps, so she dragged up a chair and sat down and enjoyed!
 Tilly sliced the bread... this is the first time she's sliced a loaf and didn't she do an excellent job!!
 Tomos, Gwilym and David gather around the Kamado's... Yay!
 Tilly, Odie and Abi attending to the much loved Fairy Garden!
 Emily helped David with his advertisement for a Big Event coming up with the Buses and the Steam Boats combined!
 Seafood and Salads were on the Menu with Tomo and Gwil popping into the Sydney Fish Markets for us.  Scallops were prepared by Emily and Morton Bay Bugs cooked on the Kamado by Tomo and Gwil with the little help of some butter and garlic.  Two types of Prawns, some Oysters and BBQed Snapper as well.

 This Cous Cous Salad was absolutely delicious, I just threw in a lot of stuff from the Larder and the Fridge.  I did start with one Ainsley Harriot Wild Mushroom packet that had been in the Larder forever but wasn't out of date!!  Then I added raw mushrooms, toasted pine nuts, spring onions, tomatoes, toasted slivered almonds, cranberries, mint and Mango!!  didn't need any dressing the mango did that for us.

Below my favourite Crispy Noodle Salad.



I enjoyed a little of everything 😃

Gwilym, as usual, did a little work on our garden!  Thanks Gwillo!

 Nerys and David enjoying a little one on one time.
 Remy, Elodie and Gwilym were the only 'brave' ones yesterday!

 Jackson and his friend Jess.
 Charlie and Tilly enjoying a little ice cream.
 And... Penniedarling was there as well!  I'm usually busy enjoying taking photos and never remember to get a photo of myself!  Jack took this one for me! 
A little quiet time on our GREEN lawn 😃

There was a LOT of Cricket going on on the tennis court...



 Yike!  I think this is a Bag Worm Nest... checked on Wiki but not too sure.

Labels: Griffiths Family, Lunch