Leura

Flemish Flavours 

Yesterday, being Mother's Day, I was spoilt with a sumptuous lunch at Flemish Flavours, Leura in the upper Blue Mountains.  My son Bo came and drove Ken and I up the Mountains to this fabulous Belgian Restaurant where he had booked a table for a Mother's Day lunch.  It is located within a heritage listed Mountains mansion in a commanding position at the top of The Mall in Leura.  Although we have driven down The Mall in Leura many times, I have never paid particular attention to this glorious house at the top of the hill, probably because you would have to crane your neck upwards to get a good glimpse of it.  The garden is enchanting and in warmer weather dining can take place in the grounds and also on the verandah.

The house was initially built as a fine country retreat and  has cosy wooden interiors, typical of the 19th Century, creating an Old World charm.  Comfy Chesterfield Couches line the entrance foyer and the walls are panelled with polished timber.

Stunning views to the distant escarpments at Katoomba overlooking the Jamison Valley can be seen from the garden at Flemish Flavours.  

The garden was ablaze with Autumn colour.  However, random plantings of trees throughout the garden has resulted in a diminution of the visual experience.

There was a garden of these pink flowers beaming brightly in the autumn sunshine.  I'm not sure what they are but think they are Bergenia, or common name pigsqueak.  They grow well under trees and in shady spots in gardens.

This was my main meal - brisket (free range) with glazed spring carrots, sweet potato wedges, spinach, tiny toms and thyme jus.  The meat just melted in my mouth, it was so tender. My first course was Pork pate, cornichon and sour dough while Ken had Boudin noir (black pudding).  His eyes lit up when he saw that on the menu!

Cabarita

Trip to Cabarita

On Thursday 9 May, 2019 we travelled by Rivercat Ferry from Circular Quay to Cabarita on the Parramatta River.  I had not been to Cabarita for many years and was pleasantly surprised by what a beautiful place it is now. Cabarita is an Aboriginal word meaning "by the water".  It was once swampland and home to heavy industry.  The swamplands have now been reclaimed to create golf courses, and housing development has replaced industry.

Some of the scenery along the Parramatta River as we passed Balmain.  This beautiful stone building must have a story to tell.

This is the shoreline at Cabarita as we disembarked from our ferry.  I love the rock pools along the sandy beach.

This Wooden Federation Pavillion was built in 1901 from which the Governor General, Lord Hopetoun, proclaimed the Federation of Australia.  The Pavillion was moved from Centennial Park in Sydney to Cabarita Park.

We discovered Sander's kiosk on D'Albora Marina at Cabarita Point where we enjoyed a fabulous lunch at a table overlooking a quiet bay in the River.  It was most enjoyable to sit and relax and watch the boats on the River.

Looking back at the shoreline of Cabarita as we departed in our Rivercat Ferry back to Circular Quay.  It was such a beautiful sunny day, just perfect for our day out and to enjoy some time spent by the water.

Cockatoo Island - conclusion

Exploration of the Island

Cockatoo Island's convict quarters were transformed into a Reformatory and school for orphaned girls in 1871.  At the same time, anchored off the north-east corner of the island, was a training ship housing homeless boys.  To distance itself from its convict days, the institution was renamed Biloela (an Aboriginal word meaning black or white cockatoo).  The school closed in 1880 after a Royal Commission into the abysmal living conditions.  Cockatoo Island became Australia's leading shipyard and operated for 134 years from 1857 to 1991.  We did not have time on this visit to investigate the Island's shipyard legacy, but will return another time and look into this aspect of the Island's history.  Nowadays, the Island is the only harbour island where you can stay the night in unique accommodation including "glamping" tents.  Cockatoo Island's heritage and industrial spaces provide the perfect backdrop for many exhibitions or events.

One of the doors in the Historic Residence Precinct.  This could have been the Residence for the Clerk of Petty Sessions and later of the Foreman Shipwright and Dock Master.

This window was in the Mess Hall in the Convict Precinct.  This building was later utilised as part of the accommodation for the Reformatory and School for orphaned girls and the windows would have been enlarged and improved upon from its' convict beginnings.

The green building on the far shore is the Dawn Fraser Swimming Pool in Balmain where our champion swimmer Dawn Fraser used to train.

Sydney Tower can be seen from the Island rising high in the air across the Parramatta River.

Entrance to Tunnel 1.  This tunnel was built in 1915 and was used to transport materials easily across the island.  During the second World War it was modified to become an air raid shelter.   As we never experienced air raids in Sydney, I guess it was never used.  We walked through it to get to the Marina Cafe where we had tea and cake.

Cockatoo Island

Convict Precinct Tour - 27 April, 2019

Last Saturday Ken and I caught the ferry from Circular Quay to Cockatoo Island to join up with the Convict Precinct tour at 12 noon.  We caught the ferry at 11.07 am and arrived in plenty of time to walk up from the wharf to the Convict Precinct area.  It was a beautiful day, sunny but not too hot.  The Island has had a long history, firstly with the Aboriginal  people of the Dharug and Cadigal tribes and then when the Europeans arrived it became a penal settlement and we saw the many sandstone buildings, built by the first convicts, as their prison.  They lived under extremely harsh conditions and, whilst building their prison, they were locked in wooden boxes at night until the stone barracks were complete.  The sandstone was quarried on the island and was the foundation upon which the Convict Precinct was built.  Cockatoo Island sandstone was also used to construct buildings in Sydney and other parts of the colony.

Here is a view of the Island as we approached in our ferry.  Fifty years after the arrival of the First Fleet overcrowding in prisons had become a problem and Cockatoo Island was identified as the perfect location for a new gaol.  It is surrounded by deep waters and ideal as a place for exile.

The first convicts arrived in 1839 and were put to work immediately building their own prison.  They were hardened criminals and re-offenders and consisted of murderers, thieves, thugs and drunks.  The convicts also built the Military Guardhouse, granary silos, workshops, official residences and, from 1847 to 1857, the Fitzroy Dock. 

This is the back of the Mess Hall (where the prisoners ate their meals and also attended a church service on Sundays).  There is evidence here that architectural design was implemented and not just convict construction.

This is the Military Guardhouse, a garrison for British Army 'redcoat' guards from which they could observe the prison block and, if necessary, fire their muskets through holes in the sandstone walls.  (The roof to this building has now collapsed).

Looking through bars on a window in the Guardhouse with a view across the water.

Glenbrook

Good Friday at St. Finbar's

On Good Friday I was singing in the choir with the Blue Mountains Chorale at St. Finbar's Catholic Church at Glenbrook.  I felt it was a great honour to be invited to join this choir to sing at the 7.30 pm service of Sacred readings and music by Bach especially chosen for Good Friday.  The choir entered the darkened church singing, whilst holding candles, proceeding then to our seats near the organ.  We sang some Bach chorales  and Robert Ampt played some wonderful Bach music on the organ, including "Triple Fugue in Eb - O God, Our Help in Ages Past (BWV 552)"  The choir's main item was Bach's Sacred Cantata No. 4 "Christ Lay in Death's Dark Prison".  The sopranos and altos sang a duet in this Cantata "O Death, None Could Lay Thee Low" then the basses and tenors joined us for "Christ Lay by Death Enshrouded".  It was a truly uplifting experience.  The Cantata had a challenging alto part with many rhythmic and melodic elaborations culminating in a wonderful "Hallelujah" chorus in a fugue for the four voice parts.

The organ at St. Finbar's originally came from St. Peter's Anglican Church, East Sydney.  It was built by Hele & Co. (Plymouth, UK) and opened at St. Peter's in 1881.  It was moved to Glenbrook in 1990.  The organ now enjoys an excellent acoustic and is often used for concerts.

Designs featured on the pipes are the national floral emblems of the UK, Scotland, Wales and Ireland.  The fleur-de-lis of France is also depicted on the pipes because large areas of France were once ruled by the English Kings as descendants of William the Conqueror.

Inside St. Finbar's before the service.  The  Cross is draped in purple indicating that this is the day of Christ's suffering on the Cross.

Outside St. Finbar's.  I arrived for a rehearsal at 5.30 pm prior to the service at 7.30 pm. 

The Blessed Sacrament housed in a little enclosed alcove inside the Church.  I am not a Catholic and I thought it might have been a lady chapel (as found in Anglican Cathedrals) but I am inclined to think this is where the Catholics keep the Sacrament.

Wentworth Falls

The Lake and Jamison Lookout

We drove up to Wentworth Falls last Tuesday to show Diane, Ken's daughter who lives in Queensland,  some of our favourite places in the Blue Mountains.  We had lunch in the bakery then drove around to the lake.  It was a beautiful sunny Autumn day and the Lake was sparkling blue and we enjoyed a leisurely walk around the shoreline.  Afterwards, we drove down Falls Road to the car park at Jamison Lookout and then did  a further walk down the road to the other lookout, overlooking the waterfall at Wentworth Falls.

Plenty of ducks on the water.  As it is school holidays there were lots of schoolchildren there feeding the ducks.  

Autumn by the Lake.  The Autumn leaves are starting to fall and there were some lovely trees by the Lake shedding their leaves.

The clouds are reflected in the blue water of the Lake creating some lovely reflections.

The escarpments at Jamison Lookout looking out into the Jamison Valley.  The sandstone escarpments,  are such an iconic feature of the Blue Mountains.  When the sun is shining on them they look very yellow and are known as "yellow gold". 

Another view of the escarpments at Jamison Lookout.  It was starting to get late in the afternoon and shadows were forming. No time to do the walk down to the waterfall!

Katoomba

Echo Point

Last Saturday we took some visitors to Echo Point lookout at Katoomba to view the Three Sisters.  It was very misty, but the Three Sisters could still be seen in all their glory, even if the background was a little misty.  It is quite a while since I have been to this lookout, so it was good to see it again and show it to our interstate visitors.

The iconic Three Sisters in a misty backdrop.  It is so impressive to see these three big rocks standing proudly in the foreground since time immemorial.

A view of the escarpments looking down into the valley below. 

 A view of the verandah at the Carrington Hotel in Katoomba.  A great place to enjoy a casual meal. I love the stained glass windows and the tessellated floor tiles.

The day was quite warm, but there was still a fire burning in the grate in the lounge at the Carrington giving out a warm ambience.  People expect the climate to be cold in the mountains, so a fire is a welcome addition to their expectations!