mcleodhandcraftgifts: March 2014

Doetre Hentschel: Thank you to the Australian storytellers 2014

Liebe Erzähler_innen von Australien – Dear storytellers of Australia,

Thank you very much for the three wonderful months in which I could meet Jackie Kerin, Lilli Pang, Jo Henwood, Anne E. Stewart and a lot of other tellers. Your stories are a great present which I'm now able to share with tellers and the lovely audience here.

I hope you'll let me know when you find your way to Europe! I'm looking forward to meet you again, to show you around and to bring you in contact with tellers and audience in Europe.

And 'Hello' to the Newport Fiddle and Folk Club Folkclub! I think of them - especially on Fridays ;-)

All the best to all of you!

Doerte (doerte_hentschel@freenet.de)

The Island Lagoon, South Australia.

The Island Lagoon Tracking Station was the first deep space station to be established outside of the United States, near Woomera, South Australia in November 1960. The land is fairly flat, being hard to imagine unless seen for yourself.

This area was chosen as the Australian government was working with the government of the United Kingdom on rocket and satellite research close by.
The tracking station began as a trailer installation, and was operational in time for the International Geophysical Year of 1957. By the 1960s, the station consisted of permanent buildings and was a major unit in the network. During the American Project Mercury program, it served as station No. 9 in NASA's Manned Space Flight Network.
The station was operated by the Australian Department of Supply and provided support for deep space missions until 22 December 1972.
Subsequent tracking stations built by NASA in Australia were:

Carnarvon, Western Australia
Muchea, Western Australia
Cooby Creek, Queensland
Honeysuckle Creek, ACT
Orroral Valley, ACT
Tidbinbilla, ACT
(Information via Wikipedia)

There is a Rest Area. Island Lagoon is about 155km north from Port Augusta

Coral Bay, Western Australia

Coral Bay is a small town on the coast of Western Australia, 1,200 kilometers north of Perth. The main industries are tourism and fishing. The electricity for the town is provided by a wind-diesel hybrid system.

There is only bore water in Coral Bay and it's very salty plus hot, certainly one can't drink it but you can wash the dishes in it! I didn't believe it when a visitor there like ourselves told me, until I tired it.

Ningaloo Reef-Snorkeling and Scuba diving are popular for the holiday maker along with fishing outside the bay.

Swimming lesson

Our youngest grandchild will be two in April, and we were lucky enough to see her at the local swimming pool where she has lessons each week.

She is getting used to me taking her photo, so hence with my phone she stayed still, then runs over to look at what I have taken.

I considered myself lucky to be able to take the photo as many places do not permit it.

Ella and her dad.

Poppy, Ella and her dad.

Celebrating World Storytelling Day: Monsters and Dragons 2014

World Storytelling Day is a global celebration of the art of oral storytelling. It is celebrated every year on the first day of the autumn equinox in the southern hemisphere and the spring equinox in the north. The theme this year was Monsters and Dragons.

Our inaugural event started with an invitation from the Dutch Storytelling Foundation inspired by the Swedes and the Canadians.

The Dutch Storytellers initiated a video project where Storytellers from around the world were invited to record stories to be shared globally as part of the celebrations. Stories were contributed from tellers from: Mexico, Singapore, Germany, The Netherlands, Belgium, Canada, Austria … The Victorian storytellers that jumped on board were JB Rowley, Peter Fernon, Jackie Kerin and Roslyn Quin. You can see them HERE

As momentum for this wonderful event swells, the Victorian Storytellers wish to grow their involvement and that is the theme for 2015: ‘Wishes’!

Thank you to The Boyd Community Hub and (especially Natalie) who made us so welcome.

Learn more about World Storytelling Day

The line up of tellers top to bottom: Hakan Mapolar, Kate Lawrence Jackie Kerin, Anne E Stewart, Niki na Meadhra.

And the beautiful woman being embraced by Niki is Teen Hartnett. Huge thanks to Teena for the planning, mcing and negotiating with The Boyd as well as the spectacular telling of The Hobbyas.

The Farm!

The farm we lived on when first married was at the foot of what is called the Western Tiers, though we were some distance away. Had a wonderful view of the country side plus a Creek/River ran through the bottom of the property.

There was an orchid next to the house, the trees were old and didn't bare much fruit as the previous owner had neglected them. So out they came. The photo below is 'old', my husband driving the tractor, our friend, two of my cousins plus my father.

There was many a party in that old barn. Won't go into that :)

Bandon Trails Golf Course, Bandon, Oregon - Course Review and Photos

Bandon Trails

Bandon, Oregon, United States

Architects: Bill Coore and Ben Crenshaw (2007)

6,765 Yards, Par-71

Slope/Rating: 72.8/132

My Quick Review: Often called the worst course at Bandon Dunes... Well, It's Not!

Hole 1: Par 4, 392 Yards