Interesting Places in Sydney- Part 2 Vaucluse House

Now, I love Vaucluse House. It is steeped in history. You can feel the atmosphere of times past. The first time I visited was when I was a little girl and I was awestruck. I have been back at least 3 times. The unusual features are the entrance into the second floor off the staircase. It is as if a piece of the wall has been cut away to make a doorway.Also on the top floor a bedroom has been made by placing a large wall unit across a hallway as the owners ran out of money. When I was a child I just loved the downstairs toilet. So modern for their time in the early 1800's. They actually flushed but two toilets side by side is not my idea of privacy.Apparently the ghost of one of the daughters still walks the second floor. My husband and I actually saw a wardrobe door open by itself.(It was behind a rope barricade.)
The gardens are the piece de la resistance. I could imagine having tea and scones on the wrap around verandah in my beautiful 19th century dress overlooking the lush lawns on a balmy summers day.

Interesting Places in Sydney- part 1

Last year I happened to receive an email from "The Historic Houses Trust,' and noticed there was a tour of the old Callan Park, Insane Assylum. Now I love Ghost tours and old places so I talked my hubby and son into visiting. It was $40 a head but it is only open to the public once a year, so we had to go. It is now "The School of the Arts'- (reminds me of Barry Humphries alter ego, Sir Les Patterson.) Callan Park was bought in 1873, then known as “Callan Estates”, with the purpose of building a large lunatic asylum to ease the severe overcrowding at the Gladesville Hospital for the Insane, at Bedlam Point, near Tarban Creek in Gladesville. The new lunatic asylum was designed according to the 'enlightened' views of Dr Thomas Kirkbride, an American. Colonial Architect James Barnet worked with Inspector of the Insane Dr Frederick Norton Manning to produce a group of twenty neo-classical buildings. These were completed in 1885 and named the Kirkbride Block.
Well the buildings on the outside are still spectacular. Inside it's a different story. The paint is peeling from the walls and it is just not very nice inside. My mother in law remembers seeing sad faces at the windows when she used to live nearby. I'm sure some of those people still haunt the corridors.

In search of

About a year ago I removed the curtains from our bay windows in the dining room but left the brackets for the curtain rod on. We were going to remove them lst week but then I remembered a purchase I had made on a bargain shopping trip last year.... a hanging glass/ star tealight holder. Well it looks great hanging from the bracket. the problem is I needed two. Where to find one? I looked up the shop I bought the first one from but they are at Taren Point and they're not online. I searched on ebay to no avail but guess what,
Today there is a listing for a star hanging tea light holder. Hallelujah!

The end is in site.

Well we're nearly there. It has been one week today since the house imploded in a frenzy of renovations.I can now see the end in site. The lounge and dining areas are nearly done and looking good.It's like having a new house without moving. I will share some before and after pictures here.Then it's back to unloading the boxes.
Who needs the gym when you're renovating.

De cluttering

Today it starts. I have just too many nick nacks. I have decided I have to minimalise. Now that is going to be a hard task for a girl that just can't throw out anything.At the moment I just love the new floors and I have started rearranging the lounge room. It looks so good with just the basics. I have to be strong. Here are a few photos of my many nick nacks. What to do!

Tasmania, wood and more

Tasmania abounds in wooden products.There are gift shops everywhere selling wooden bowls,serving ware, wooden fruit, cutting boards, coasters, boxes, pens from the usual to the unusual."Wood on Salamanca," has some amazing pieces.Huon Pine, Blackwood, Sassafras and Myrtle are some of the woods available.Classwood tas has an ebay site and we actually went to the shop at a place called Ross. Amazing stuff! I am no way an expert on wood but I know my dad had a lathe and used to make a few things.I think most people in Tasmania do some kind of craft work.
While in Tasmania we saw these amazing carvings at a place called "Campbell Town." Each made from a single tree trunk.

Tasmania- I love it

My dad came from Tasmania,he lived in a small tin mining town originally called "Bradshaw's Creek," and then it was strangely changed to the name "Pioneer" for some unknown reason in the 1950's.Pioneer is in the north east of Tasmania. Apparently it is now a virtual ghost town inhabited by alternative people??? The mind boggles!!!I had always wanted to see where my dad grew up and finally I had the chance. In January this year we decided we had to see Tasmania.It is only an hour an a half flight from Sydney but it is so, so different. We arrived in Hobart, the capital and had to walk down stairs from the plane.It was like walking back in time 20 years. We left 40 degree C temperatures in Sydney and met 20 degree C temperatures in Hobart.What a beautiful untouched City. I have never seen anything so beautiful. Buildings sloping down to a wonderful harbour.The sun not setting until 9:30 p:m at night. It is so close to the south pole.More to come