My absence from this blog was unplanned. Some months ago I went on a trip and was unable to post for a couple of weeks. That broke the habit - and when I came home I just didn't get back to it. I have missed the people I always used to read, and every so often visited their blogs to see what they were up to. I noticed a few of them were taking breaks as well.
Anyway, I'm inspired by this new year to find my voice again. This Christmas has been one of our happiest. Kids and grandkids have been and gone, and there have been feelings of content and harmony all round. To cap it all, the weather has been milder than usual and some patchy rain has kept most of our trees and herbs alive.
Our trip at the end of the year was to Far North Queensland, where Cape Tribulation and Cooktown were two places I particularly wanted to see. Historic cemetries are a favourite of mine and the one at Cooktown was fascinating. Among the many interesting graves was a marker for the burial place of the Normanby Woman. It was a story I remember hearing as a child, and there beside her grave it held me in its grip once again.
Between some of the older graves was this ancient pink frangipanni tree.
Knowing how easily frangipanni cuttings strike, I couldn't resist nicking a branch to bring home to my garden. Once I have it growing it will be a lasting memory of my trip.
Another lasting memory is the moon-shaped scar on my forehead - acquired in a fall face-down onto a rock at Cape Tribulation. Dripping in blood and with gashes and bruising to my head and nose, I caused a necessary interruption to our trip as I was whisked off on the one hour drive to hospital at Mossman, where I could be patched up.
In the photo there are seven stitches hidden under my hat, but you can see the black eye and the plaster on my nose. My poor husband was conscious of a few sideways glances in his direction: my appearance probably did suggest the possibility of a small incident of domestic violence.
Now back home and nicely healed, I am excited that there are already new leaves on my frangipanni. And I am watching for the first of my souvenired tropical fruit tree seeds to sprout.
So, on with the New Year. Who knows what it will bring!
Welcome back.
Posted by: Tjilpi | January 02, 2007 at 08:40 AM
Welcome back, missed you ! Happy New Year
Posted by: IanH | January 02, 2007 at 12:52 PM
Hi Jude, Really great to see you back, I was worried something had happened to you! A Very Happy New Year to you. Hhhmmm funny you didn't bother blogging, here in the UK there is a lot of talk about blogs tailing off this year. People are beginning to loose interest in writing them in some report I read! Hope your injuries didn't hurt too much, horrible falling over when older!
Posted by: Liz | January 04, 2007 at 09:39 AM
Yes, I have also started these trees from cuttings. The trunk is so soft and fibrous it does well.
Posted by: Tabor | January 09, 2007 at 08:53 AM
Hey, Jude... (ooh, sounds like a good title for a song)
Nice to see you back. I'd stopped by a few times and wondered. Here's to much more from you in 2007.
Posted by: Ronni Bennett | January 10, 2007 at 12:00 AM
Hi
I came across this site while searching for pics of Cooktown. I actually met you briefly in Cooktown while you were at Nature's PowerHouse and I asked to take your photo for the Cooktown Local News, but then I saw your plastered-up face and felt a bit embarrassed. You politely declined the offer!
What a small world it is to find a photo of you out of the blue.
I am glad you enjoyed your stay in Cooktown, drop into the Local News office if you ever come back this way!
Posted by: Sarah Martin | April 09, 2007 at 11:36 AM