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<\/a><\/p>\nThe week ends with a beautiful chug, chug<\/em> on the Hotham Valley Railway steam engine puffing its way gently on the way down the hill to Isandra. In-between times I could not settle to stitch, or to making, or to being creative. I have been looking at the studio, up and downstairs, and trying to find a way that I can reinvent the space to best accommodate my slowly changing direction. On Tuesday I launch into it, tackling the clearest item on the list. A lone set of shelves on the south side is to join an adjacent long set – therefore exiting rolls of fabrics that have lately overflowed messily. The next day two north sets if shelves are cleared. Supplies are slotted into cleared spaces in the south side or removed upstairs to the ‘gotta go’ pile..<\/p>\n On Friday I attacked the ‘laundry’ area where another two sets of shelves had excess removed. Down south winter hit with a vengance. All heaters were on and the wood fire was kept topped up, warming us beautifully.<\/p>\n On Sunday morning we heard the toot of the train and made a quick decision to head over the oval to catch the first steam train for the year. This trip was great on so many counts. <\/p>\n Then there was the steam aspect….it was the first run of the season and the team made the decision to run with some small problems rather than cancel. Over the next wee while we gently slipped backwards…. and then waited patiently while the steam team did their thing. Coincidently we were very close to a crossing where cars were stopped.
\nWith fingers crossed and loads of steam blowing, we forcefully CHUG CHUGGED<\/em> our way back up the the hill to Dwellingup.<\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n
\nMy head was too full. I needed a change of task…<\/p>\n
\nOver the course of the last few weeks I have listed possible moves of shelves and storage spaces as I continue building the exit pile of accumulated materials, books, equipment and the like.<\/p>\n
\nDone & dusted….and vacuumed and cleared of excess.<\/p>\n
\nThe working week was gone.
\nThe long\u00a0WA day weekend was about to begin.<\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n
\nWhat a fascinating journey.
\nI do love to see places from all angles – driving, walking, flying, jumping on trains all offer a different perspective.<\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n
\nFirst, it is a service run by volunteers who are so friendly and relaxed and who ‘work’ in an old time mode with ‘country’ values and smiling faces.
\nIt is infectious!<\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n
\nWhat that meant for us was that coming uphill in the steepest part we stopped….and couldn’t quite get there<\/em>….<\/p>\n
\nWith a continual blast of steam, and with our bated breath, we willed ourselves back up the hill.
\n<\/a><\/p>\n
\nThe passengers were hanging about with cameras at the ready.
\nThey watched and snapped and smiled and waved as we chugged upwards to glory!<\/p>\n