We are just over twenty eight hours from the New Year here in Heavenly Beverley. Today has been an absolute stinker - forty four degrees Centigrade - and we have spent as much of the daylight hours as possible in air conditioning.
We have just ventured out into the garden in the last couple of hours, in order to revive our frazzled plants.We have been lucky. Only one smallish bush appears to have carked it and our tomatoes are sizzled on the ends, but live to fight another day. The capsicum,which was drooping rather sadly, have picked up happily with a dousing by the hose. For the first time since we installed the reticulation at the beginning of December, we will run it in the early morning to replenish the moisture lost today.
So, now is the time for reminiscing on our standout moments of 2014 -
- January saw us sell the Queen, our little rental house here in Heavenly Beverley. Once again, the canny Helen Stubing assisted us in realising our real estate dream. We needed to reduce our debt in order to go forward with our plans for the Forbes building and hopefully achieve Michael's fervent wish to have his own gallery. Particularly since I was unable to work, due to a wrist injury sustained on the job.
- excavating the underground water storage tank behind the Forbes Building during March. This was a formidable undertaking - recovering two rows of bricks over four metres in diameter and nearly four metres deep. This was necessary in order to retrieve more bricks for our renovation project and to develop the area where the water storage tank had been. Without falling into a very large hole.
- this project came with an almost deadly consequences. Michael nearly died from pneumonia in April. Most of this month was spent in and out of hospital. In the middle of this drama, I managed to pull off a Sofoulis Family Reunion, with a great deal of help from willing participants.
- And then another month was needed for Michael to recover at home.
- June saw us go bush to the Northern Goldfields, for Michael to regain his strength. We had the most wonderful time away, in spite of the second degree burns I suffered whilst at Big Bell. The worst aspect of that accident was falling into a magnificent camp fire stone old sober!
- The rapid restoration of Shop 3 dominated Michael's agenda in August. Our tenant in Shop 2, the fabulous Marlene Willson, held a workshop to coincide with the Beverley Show. Due to overflow numbers, she requested use of Shop 3 for the day. Working at a very rapid rate, the shop was finally finished the day before the workshop was due to begin. Whew!
- We opened the gallery with just Michael's sculptures in September, to coincide with other tourist events in town. The weekend was cool and rainy, but we took great pleasure in finally opening the East End Gallery and receiving a smattering of interested visitors.
- Alex, our autistic superstar, also visited for an extended holiday. having sprained his ankle and being told to stay off it. I transported him up to the House that Rocks for rest and recuperation. He returned to his flat in Yokine, fully recovered, with brand new orthotics and shoes to keep his feet on the straight and narrow.
- After three springs in Beverley, I attended an annual event in October, Wild Women of the West. I wasn't sure what to expect. Some of the speakers were ho hum; the tour de force that is Tomas Ford was right up my alley. I had a good time. but probably won't attend next year. Not quite wild enough for me...
- November was noteworthy for three reasons. I held a retreat for eight friends @ the House that Rocks. A great girls' weekend was had by all. A day later, Michael was admitted to hospital with bronchitis. We spent four very scary nights whilst he struggled to breathe. A diagnosis of asthma in addition to his emphysema explained his increased breathlessness. Another nine days in the Big Smoke.Then, Ziggy the Volvo cooked his motor on the edge of Northam on the 27th and died peacefully by the side of the road.
- With some financial help, we were able to buy a brand new, bright yellow Accent early in December. OMG. Michael has never had a new vehicle in his life. To say we were excited doesn't even come close...We named her Goldilocks. Curvy, feisty and able to outsmart any wolf on the road! On the down side, Michael's teeth caused a nasty surprise this month. An abscess, an extraction, a temporary plate and antibiotics did not help Michael's general demeanour. An implant is planned for early in 2015.
- This month, Michael's workshop was also launched as a place of his own to create, to build, to construct. Insulated, painted, clad, tech screwed, a monumental thirteen metre brick wall and ninety one square metres of concrete floor have transformed the area from a Black Hole of Calcutta into a creative paradise.
- Then on the 19th, we held our inaugural Christmas Exhibition. Working until literally the last minute, we opened for the artists at 6pm and gathered for the "Last Supper" in the rejuvenated workshop. We had artists from Perth to Toodyay, York to Shackleton. And Beverley. We have so much artistic talent here in Heavenly Beverley.
- What a year. What a whirlwind of events. And our home and garden continue to flourish. Christmas has come and gone and the New Year is looming. Summer has unleashed its blast of genuine heat and I find myself already looking forward to the cooler, wetter months. How is that for weird? Hmmm...
- Roll on 2015!
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