Game, Set & Match?

As some of you are aware, when we bought our 'Renovators Delight' nearly 4 years ago, we also 'won' a disused clay tennis court at the bottom of our garden as part of the deal. Currently MOTH uses the space as his Blokes Therapy Space - think wood piles of different degrees of readiness for our Winter fire, big vegie patches all in containers, the Christmas Lillies in their pots, etc. Although it's surrounded by very big old trees, it's actually the sunniest area on our entire property, so it's quite a drawcard.

I've always thought I'd like to restore it to it's original use like the wonderful Tennis Court in the first image. Then I saw this fabulous Petanque Court & changed my mind instantly. The boys play a mean game of Bocce, so I guess I could convert them to the more refined French game fairly easily. They would just have to yell in more hushed & restrained tones!

Then I saw this stunner from the Architectural firm of Brooks & Falotico & those 2 ideas went out the window! I want this beauty built & built quickly - the perfect Millie retreat to escape the grumpy Christmas Grinch! I could install a Boom Gate on the path coming down from the house & that certain Grinch would be barred.

Looking at our poor neglected court from the path that meanders through the garden down from the house.

This space is just crying out 'Build on me, build on me!'

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Image 1: Allan Greenberg. Image 2: Granoff Architects. Images 3, 4 & 5: Brooks & Falotico

Hail King Grumpy XVI

Every Dec. 1st, as regular as clockwork, King Grumpy arrives to take up residence at The Royal Palace of The Hedge. I dust off the royal throne, prepare the royal bed in the royal guest room, arrange for additional supplies of his favourite royal beverage & then lie low! When I heard the royal carriage pull into the driveway last night, I disappeared into the far reaches of the palace & waited for the King to summon me. It didn't take long before I heard the royal bellow.

'I've got too much work on, I'm trying to please everyone, I've got no time for myself, I'm a month behind with Invoices, the overdraft's out of control 'cos I haven't had time to bill anyone, my cell phone won't stop ringing, I'm tired, I'm fed up, - I HATE CHRISTMAS!'

Yep, this is the annual Royal Christmas message from His Highness & it never changes. This is the 16th Christmas I've shared with King Grumpy & every year when asked, I give him the same advice as I give the 5 Royal Princes - UNDER PROMISE & OVER DELIVER!! To this end the King has decided to ignore my sage words & every year we have the same drama. I'm counting the hours until King Grumpy departs on Dec. 26th & is replaced by the far more affable King MOTH.

Image: Barry Murphy

No Room at the Inn

After a flurry of phone calls from the boys over the weekend (all rather too well co-ordinated Mr. Suspicious MOTH reckons!), I've had to hang the No Vacancy sign up over The Hedge for the Christmas week. It now appears that we'll have the pleasure of entertaining Sons #2 & #3 & their girlfriends from Melbourne over Christmas. With only one renovated Guest Room & of more concern, only the teeny-tiny grotty En-Suite Bathroom (no don't even ask!!) for all 6 of us, things are going to get very cosy! MOTH said with 3 sets of GHD hair straighteners on the go in there all running off the one dodgey power point, he'll be stationed permanently outside at the fuse box!

Along with Sons #4 & #5 making the trek up the Freeway with their girlfriends & puppie Tazzie, it will be almost a full complement of offspring for the big day. Son #1 promised his girlfriend to do Christmas with her family in country Victoria this year, so he'll be missed around the table. It's been many years since we've lucked in with this many of them all in one Festive hit. This year I'm working right up to Christmas Eve, & as usual, MOTH will be pulling into the driveway around midnight every day that week. And as it's taking me 4 times longer than normal to do anything, including negotiating the challenging & somewhat precarious slope of Stirling's main shopping street, I think my patience will be sorely tested this year. While I'll do my best, I think this Christmas will be a slightly toned-down version of previous extravaganza's thanks to a certain decision made to take the stairs instead of the elevator!

The Giubbilei Look

Luciano Giubbilei is one of London's most in-demand Garden Designers. Known for his sharp minimalist style, he designs gardens as interiors for the outside. Blending the classical with the contemporary, he favours crisp order & geometry with designs that feature immaculate square lawns, rows of neatly structured hedges, clipped trees & clean shapes. You won't see flowers or colourful perennial borders in any of Luciano's gardens.

Originally from Tuscany, he moved to London on the suggestion of his English girlfriend to study at the renown Inchbald School of Garden Design. He's inspired by Italian and French Renaissance gardens & the modern formality of American landscape architect the late Dan Kiley. He calls himself an interior designer for the outdoors - an Exterior Designer. For those interested, Luciano's gardens start from 100,00 pounds. While not many of us could afford a total Luciano garden make-over, or the on-going care these high-maintenance gardens would demand, (& I for one would miss my Lilies too much), there are many inspirational ideas to be gleaned from these projects.

Image 1: Rustica Image 2: Lazuli All other images: Luciano Giubbilei

Wreta Gestgifveri

It's been ages since I did a Weekend Retreat post, but I'm convinced the wonderful Wreta Gestgifveri Inn an hour out of Stockholm will make amends. When Owner Jim Grundstrom, one of Sweden's most accomplished interior designers, first saw the seventeenth century building it was derelict & empty. Seeing the potential he set about restoring it to a gracious boutique country hotel. Every guest room mirrors a different epoch - from 17th century baroque to Carl Larsson’s turn-of-the-century romanticism. No commentary is necessary, this is bliss! The most joyous of weekends to you my friends.

All images: Wreta Gestgifveri

Something Competely Different!

You've got to love those Brits - always a little quirky & different! The Landmark Trust rescues historic and architecturally interesting buildings and their surroundings from neglect and when restored, gives them new life by letting them out as accommodation venues. The letting income generated from bookings then pays for the future maintenance of the buildings. Makes perfect sense!

While not exactly 6 star luxury, they offer a really interesting alternate in British accommodation at very affordable prices. I'd just love to be able to send the kids a postcard reading ' Well here we are enjoying our stay at The Pigsty!'. What about.....

Swarkestone Pavilion

Ingestre Pavilion


Alton Station

Clavell Tower

Culloden Tower

Appleton Water Tower

The Music Room

Brinkburn Mill

Silverton Park Stables

Beckford Folly

The Library

Goddards Country House

Abbey Gatehouse

The Pigsty

The Chateau

The Pineapple

Queen Anne's Summer House

The Bath House

The Ruin

Pond Cottage

The Beamsley Hospital Almshouse

The House of Correction

All images: The Landmark Trust

Bearing Gifts

MOTH had a very grumpy day on Sunday. The first thing he said when he woke up was 'I'm going to be very grumpy today' & boy, was he ever right! Too much on at work, not enough time, his old war wounds giving him heaps, his Business Activity Statement to do & the record heatwave weather he had to work through all week had finally caught up with him. I kept a low profile & let him alone most of the day, but he was still a real pain.

Last night he phoned me from his work truck saying he was on the way home & he was bringing me a present to apologize for being such an old grump. Now most women would be thinking flowers, perfume, champers - that sort of thing, not our MOTH. In through the door he burst, a grin from ear to ear with this - not quite what I had in mind!

P.S. Thanks everyone for your enquiries re my injury. After my terrible dose of the Miserable Millie's on Friday, I thought I wouldn't subject you to any more whinges, I'd try & make The Hedge a 'Busted Foot Free Zone'. I can't change what's happened, I just need to get on with things. Anyways, the pain has let off somewhat now the fracture's well & truly immobilized, & I managed to push a trolley around the supermarket late yesterday one-footed, so I guess it's not all bad!