What a difference a couple of weeks make.

We have been living in a whirl of activity over the past few weeks - most of which were spent in Melbourne.
During that time we were able to see our garden in flower.  This does not happen often as we are usually there in Winter when all is asleep.  This time however we were there and I was able to see one of my favourite roses in bloom: Papa Meilland:



We were also able to visit our other harpsichord, a single-manual, Flemish instrument that AGA built from a kit back in the mid 1980s.  Like some wines, it has improved with time and now has a wonderfully silvery, harpsichord voice - perfect for the music of François Couperin.  AGA and I had a lovely time re-aquainting ourselves with our old Flemish friend!
For those of you who are interested in clocks, the long-case beauty you can see next to the harpsichord is an English 30-hour silvered-dial antique, made by Samuel Holbin in around 1750.

We also took a few hours to motor up to the Dandenong ranges to see the rhododendrons and azaleas in flower.  Mount Dandenong is famous for these beautiful trees and shrubs, and people journey just to visit the famed Rhododendron Gardens.  We had not time to visit but we saw quite a few in flower in the various villages we passed through:

Despite the fact that it is mid Spring, the weather in Melbourne was somewhat cool and damp.  On a couple of days it was warmer in autumnal Germany!  On our last day however, it was a lovely mid 20s day and we were able to take breakfast on the terrace.  It was cool but pleasant and the sky was clear with not a hint of cloud:

I love days like that.  It is rare to have blue skies here in this part of Germany with its endemic air pollution.

* * * *

The purpose of our visit to Melbourne, was to be with AGA's father (ACA), who is gravely ill.  He is suffering from cancer in both his lungs and his spine.  It causes his a lot of pain, but he is a strong man - both physically and mentally - and I think that this is helping him despite the fact that he endures so much.

I admire him in his adversity. 

He is not letting his illness get him down and is living as normal a life as he can.  We were able to spend a lot of time with him and it was difficult to say goodbye, especially for AGA.  I do not think we will see ACA again, despite the fact that his doctor gives him a year at the most.
When we left, ACA said to me: "There's nothing I can do about this (the cancer).  My name is in the hat, and I'm just waiting for it to be pulled out."
And so he remains living at home, on his own, as is his wish (although AGA's siblings hover protectively on the sidelines) pottering about and trying to carry on as he has always done.
And he is sensible about his condition.  When he was unable to sleep because of the pain, he called the ambulance to take him to the hospital.  His medication was altered and he returned home.
I do hope that if I am in a similar position, that I too can be as philosophical about it all.

* * * *

We have been back here for just over one week now and the jetlag was horrible for a couple of days.

When we left Kaiserswerth it was green and pleasant with just a hint of autumn in the air.  

What a difference a couple of weeks makes!

We have returned to grey skies and Autumn in full swing.  The storms that took place before we got home contributed to blowing many leaves from the trees before they turned yellow.  Combined with the change in daylight saving we now leave for work in the dark, experience grey days, and return home in the dark.  I took this view from our sitting room window to show you what things are now like:

With Autumn ruling our lives we know that Christmas is not too far away.
They are forecasting snow for every day this coming week (but I don't believe it will happen), and the Christmas markets will soon be open for business.  This has spurred me into activity and so this weekend I have made the mincemeat for our Christmas pies:

It is an enjoyable task and scents the very air itself with a foretaste of Christmas soon to come!

(Meanwhile, in a dark subdued corner (and covered in a tea cloth) the bowl of fruit for the Christmas cake sits silently sousing in a brandy bath)

* * * *

One last thing.
When we returned home there was a package waiting for me.  Opening it carefully, I soon unwrapped this beauty:

It is a 19th century, Japanese cloisonné ware vase showing bullfinches flying amongst Chrysanthemums.  The sky is blue with fluffy white clouds and the flowers look as if they are waving gently in the autumn breezes.  It is beautiful and I am so glad I purchased it.  One of these days it will sit in pride of place on some table or other, but for the moment it stands quite sedately next to a clock, a lamp and a statue of St Florian.