2022 Chilli Festival Sawtell

 For the first time in 3 years the Chilli Festival has started up again. Normally of a crowd between 7 and 13 thousand. Always the first Saturday in July. Unfortunately for them, the rain started last night, the kind that is gentle but consistent. We decided to go down anyway I was hoping to see the chilli plant stall that usually comes every year, but not this year which was disappointing.

 It was 12 C so rugged up, and braved the weather. There were lots of cars parked at 9am, and lucky to find one close, but funnily no one around till we hit the restaurants on the sides. They were all packed eating breakfast and early morning coffee, and keeping out of the rain. Good day for the locals. The boutique dress shops were all open as well, never been in any of them always frightened by what their prices might be, and our Anglican Op Shop was crowded, never seen that before, and it isn't a big shop either.

Some of the restaurants, had little stands outside with samples of chilli meals. RSL had the ladies selling jams, chutneys and pickles out front. A new loans bank was giving away goods with logo on, John grabbed a hat, and bottle opener. We did buy some things to help a few out, John's favorite Lemon Myrtle soap. The stall owner comes from Taylors Arm and is a regular.

 Ginger Beer from Gumpy's stand a regular also.

In the old days John's mum with the rest of her Italian family would get together to make salami, lots of it, so the Salami stand is a must for John and tastes All of them. Lucky we were the first ones there more or less.

At one end is a big stand, for announcements and a band will be playing most of the day and according to the schedule a large ukulele band is playing around noon plus a junior one as well. There is a famous chef demonstrating, Matt Golinski.

The pub is putting on a Chilli Chicken wings eating competition, different levels that get hotter and hotter. 

The Stage area

 We got home by 11.00am for a hot drink and to light the fire. I hope that it got busier for them, so much work goes into getting these events up and going, 6 months ahead of time.

Chilli Ginger Beer, Hot hot Salamis. Lemon Myrtle Soap, and Sour Licorice that John cut up read for  eating. Apple, Blueberry, Cola and Rainbow. Apple was best.

 

Yesterday our eldest daughter left from Sydney to stay at the local timeshare resort and I will be joining her today. It is a lovely sunny day today, but raining on and off all week, so off to get some craft to do to take with me, while I wait to be picked up.

Till Next Time.

Congratulations SCCG Community Garden

 The Coffs Harbour judging for the Garden Competition was done this week. The Community Garden once more, won in its division again, the 2nd time in a row. The judges were amazed at the growth of the garden, which considering all the rain and the added trees to the area this year, not surprising. Nearly all the beds have now been hired also so they were all full with autumn growth as were all the flower gardens.

John receiving the plaque

The members have certainly kept the standard up and I will show some photos of all the garden as it is today that John took. 

The Entrance with the sales table that now is on every Sunday morning.

The new bird bath with pansies all around the bottom and hanging baskets.

The bulb garden new this year and Red flowering gum that is growing fast.

The herb Garden dividing the Walkway

                                            

Climbing frames loaded with snow peas at the moment.

Water garden made from a plastic tank  with strawberries L and beetroot plants R 

View of some of the Hired beds these are numbered in comparison to the Community ones which have the alphabet.

Looking down to the road past the succulents on left and bank garden on right. More room for new beds here.

Inside the pavilion

Opposite pavilion as you enter garden full of flowers

Very productive worm farm with barrels of juice ready to go.

Grape Vines with Barrels of roses, left is to the Bush tucker garden.

New pumpkin patch dug this week ready for the seedlings that I grew.

A Variety of flowers that are growing at the moment,

Pictures never show how it looks in real life but the birds, beds and colour is amazing.

Still a lot of land to play with, more beds for hiring for example. The next two show part of the roadway and extra space. Unfortunately the area on the back fenceline gets very wet and John is waiting for a grant to come up to make this into a decorative pebble river and small dam with natural reeds to keep it clean. Between times it is very dry.

Finally the entrance again with the Gymea lilies, first time they have flowered this year. I planted them as to most of the entrance, with Johns' help, now 3 years ago. Despite a few grevillias dying, it is looking very good. The design I also did has held it's own. Easy to mow around wide enough for several people to move, the pavilion will cater for a large party, if the group so decide. More beds can be added as the community itself grows. In fact most of the beds now have been raised 3 boards high, to cater for the members who are retired. Everything is hand watered so one of the complaints is too many beds compared to the number of people watering.

Front Entrance

  Still to come is the Watering Can Statue, part of the Go Fund Me thing and the Park Benches, they are there but need to be concreted in. The pathways of crushed rock have now disintegrated and a lot of time is spent weeding. I suggested to John to start concreting them and the community has agreed to buy a cement mixer and slowly do sections. It is not hard to do as we concreted a garage base when we owned a house in Sydney for the kids to live in. This will save a lot of time weeding.

 With many hands they can do quite a bit on a working bee. The selling of flowers and vegetables has also been successful. I have been sending in sweet peas but noticed when I was there on the presentation that there are heaps of flowers that could be picked, but some one has to organize this. I am pleased though that the designated flowers beds especially for selling is still going. I knew flowers would sell well, so pleased it hasn't been dropped.

 Now that  the" Market"  has moved to the garden itself rather than the markets stalls, much easier to do. The group have to organize themselves though to each man the stall on a rotating base. More money means more pathway for example. 

All in all though what I considered to be "my baby" has grown up very well and a credit to the Community that is currently keeping it going. When I feel better and have some energy I may go back again, but at the moment have to concentrate on my health and in fact my own garden which is large. 

 I do miss the company though. The AGM is coming up next month and I suspect John will be President/Treasurer again for the 4th year. 

Till Next Time.

Manly Ferry Trip Sydney

Welcome back to our Weekend away and today is about the Ferry trips. Sydney uses the Opal Card system for transport and on a Sunday only costs $2.80 per trip, unless you have a seniors/pension Opal card from the Government in which case you spend $2.50 and that's it, free for all other fares. So it is not surprising that the Ferries are crowded on that day especially the Manly one. We first took the ferry alongside the Maritime Museum, Darling Harbour across to the main area of Circular Quay via four stops.

Waiting for the first Ferry

View of the buildings across from the Pier

Interesting stairs we passed to go outside

Sitting up the front while John runs around, all the  time taking photos

Passing a wharf that held very expensive private ships.

One of the stops Luna Park

Balmain having its own pier I would think an expensive suburb. You can see the main street from the bay.

My view of John in passing.

 There are at least 4 or 5 very large cruise ships in the harbour at one time, we could see two from our room. Ones that don't fit under the bridge are put in the Circular Quay area, only one at a time, so very handy for the tourists.

Looking at cruise ships from room. They only stayed a day or two then new ones appeared.

Same ships we passed

Another large ship.

Circular Quay spot, notice the swimming area on top with a water slide.

There was a large crowd waiting at Circular Quay Manly Ferry and a much larger boat.

By the time we walked around to the other side this crowd had tripled.

Up front again while John ran around. I did get up but you have to be quick so you don't lose a seat.

Both sides on ferries have seats as well.

Manly Ferry Stairs much wider.

Automated lighthouse we passed.

Looking to the "Heads" where all the cruise ships come in  and go out. Manly is to the left of the cliffs.

It is amazing what is on the water, canoist clubs that look really tiny in the waves, Dragon Boat, speed boats, family motor boats, ferries, it is quite busy on a Sunday.

Club Rowing  Boat

Another Club

The Manly Ferry takes half an hour to travel across, you go past the Opera House and  the bridge, so very popular with the tourists. I was speaking to a French girl who was traveling with a German backpacker girlfriend.

Manly Pier

Intriguing to see the  upper level drop down walkway, of the ferry, as we waited to get off. Very long pier to the street full of shops, where on the way back I found a new hat.

Lolly stand

When the huge crowd disembarked everyone all walked as one down the street, very funny. We went much slower. I was surprised how green the mall area was  after crossing the main road you headed into it. At the end was a local monthly market. John went on ahead to take a million photos and I rested and waited, then walked a but further to meet him. Lots of dress shops in the mall, and usual shops you would find anywhere. Not sure what the tourist gets out of actual Manly, except the Ferry ride of course, Sydney Harbour Bridge, Opera house, and somewhere to go. Every shop was open.

Area before the Mall.

A couple of these fountains were installed and the kids loved them.

Mall with Markets

John walked down to the beach area where a carnival was on. By the huge blow up things the fathers were carrying on the ferry I would say this was a popular beach for Sydney. It is a very long beach.

The Markets took up the following side street and also partway down the Mall.

Waiting for John.

The ride back much the same, same view only reversed. Ferries go every half hour approximately as there are two. We spent about an hour which included getting a cup of tea and having it on the run.

Hills filled with lots of expensive houses

I went and found John so I could have a photo of the Opera House and Bridge, after all I was a tourist.

So back at Darling Harbour after 4 ferry rides. There is one that goes to Parramatta, takes  about 90 mins. Maybe next time in the city could take the grandkids. Great way to spend the day on the water.


I was going to do the Chinese Gardens but as before this is long enough. John took 2500 photos of the trip so a great deal of choice. Will do it next week, they are lovely.


Till Next Time.