A Medical Emergency!

Old trees are worth saving but sadly Casey Council plan to remove a couple of big ones outside the Berwick Inn despite a public petition.  I don't know how old these trees are but the inn dates back to 1857.  I went to sketch them before they get removed when suddenly an ambulance rolled up under the trees! Medics attended to someone in a car (conveniently parked in the adjoining lane). 

I didn’t catch what happened after that.

I like sketches like this – caught in the moment, standing up with my sketchbook, not worrying about dead accuracy and embracing all the wonkiness. 

#Sailorfude pen, #Stillman&Birn Beta Sketchbook, 7.5”x 7.5”. 

#UrbanSketchers

Tyabb Packing House Antiques

I went on a mystery bus trip (part of an activity called Social Adventures) with Casey U3A. U3A (it stands for University of the Third Age) is an Australia-wide organization providing activities for seniors. Seventeen of us in cheery mood on a rattly Casey Council bus. The trip turned out a great sketch opportunity for me and I was glad to have packed my full sketch kit (I never leave home without at least a sketchbook and pen).

Our destination 45 mins away was Tyabb Packing House Antiques. I had not been there before. 

Here's a sketch outside the camera section. 

This building, one hundred years old, is now a space for more than 20 antique dealers. This place is a HUGE rabbit warren, like an Ikea store but for antiques! Some of its charm is the exposed pipes in the ceiling which must have been where cold air was piped through when it was a cool store packing shed. 

In the grounds around this building are several smaller stand-alone antique shops. It was far too hot to be wandering around between stores so everyone roamed the main store (Tyabb Packing House Antiques) where every nook and cranny, twist and turn was packed with interesting items. We met up for lunch in the Packing House Antiques cafe where I added colour to my sketches and made some new friends over lunch. 

So much to take in and not enough time, I sketched just a few items which took my fancy. 

The cafe was pleasant and the food was good although the sandwich I wanted was sold out by the time I got to order. I settled for salmon quiche with salad, a cake and tea.  

By the time the bus got us back to the drop off point at 3pm, the temperature was a soaring 38 degrees Centigrade! Quite an experience on the skin to be out in the sun. 

Three cheers to the organizer who at short notice found us this interesting indoor venue instead of the original planned trip to a garden/farm. I'm looking forward to the next Social Adventures trip...with my sketchbook of course.  

#Sailorfude pen, watercolour, SeawhiteTravelJournal 5.5" x 5.5". 

#CaseyU3A #TyabbPackingHouseAntiques 

#UrbanSketchers

Sketching on the High Street

This is the second time I’m sketching this scene at what must be my favourite sketch spot - the High St, Berwick (an outer suburb of Melbourne). White concrete blocks put up for diners during Covid were replaced late last year by colourful blocks with matching umbrellas on a checkerboard floor in the same colours. I can’t say I like the garish colours! The statue is of Edwin Flack, Australia’s first Olympian. He used to live in the area. 

I started my sketch on an outing with two of the grandchildren (aged 8 and 10). Interestingly both dived into sketching the statue with no regard as to the difficult nature of their chosen task. Each achieved interesting results...in their own styles.

Predictably I wasn't able to spend long on my own sketch so I went back a second time to add the finishing touches.

#Sailorfude pen, watercolour, #Stillman&Birn Beta Sketchbook, 7.5”x 7.5”. #uskfebruaryprompt

Gifts for Chinese New Year

Thank you to friends for a BIG box of Hup Tou Soh (Chinese walnut cookies)! I love these and haven’t had them for many years. Thank you also to my good friend Betty who brought her famous home made butter cookies all the way from Singapore! 

Lastly thank you to the friendly bank teller at our small local branch who very kindly got me some Westpac red packets for Chinese New Year! (Gifts of money in decorative red packets are given out to children and unmarried adults by friends and relatives at Chinese New Year).

This must be the cutest Chinese New Year graphic on social media for the coming Year of the Rabbit!

#Sailorfude pen, watercolour, #MoleskineWatercolourNotebook, 5" x 8.25” (portrait).