Happy as a pig in mud at #HVMWF 2019

As a bloke in the queue at the bar said to me when I went to fetch a hot spiced cider, "Gumboot people are happy people!" As nice as it would have been to don tatters, face paint and fancy headpieces (we saw lots of beautiful examples), I was extremely happy with my choice of clothing for the Huon Valley Mid Winter Festival on Friday night. I counted the layers I was was wearing - six in total on my upper half! Plus thermals under my jeans and long socks in my gum boots. And I was warm as toast. There was a serious amount of mud, a little rain and a whole lot of happy punters. As I have said before, these people know how to run an event. There is plenty of seating, lots of toilets, undercover areas, fire pits to warm up by and friendly volunteers with a sense of humour. And that's before the great selection of food and beverages, sculptures and awesome music acts. Despite the testing weather conditions, there were plenty of interstate and international visitors. I had squid from the fire bugs at Tasman Quartermasters, some tasty fries, croquettes from Eten and one of Yeastie Beastie's fabulous doughnuts. With hot spiced Willie Smith's Cider in hand, we ran into a few groups of friends and made it out of the paddock car park without needing to be towed out of the mud. Happy days!

Funnies at Frank's

My funny husband (pictured above) started a semi-regular comedy room in our little village of Franklin this year. Held at Frank's Cider Bar and Cafe, it's been an awesome addition to the local entertainment scene. I'm not biased at all - just ask anyone who's been! It's a great night of laughs. I'm so proud of him for making it such a success.

Each headline act has been a big name in Australian comedy, starting with Dave Callan in January, Peter Berner in April and last week, the wonderful Rachel Berger (pictured below). Two local Tasmanian comedians have supported them each time, all of them fantastic. The venue seats about 80 people and it's been sold out well in advance every time. That makes for a great atmosphere, warm and welcoming. Upcoming acts include Peter Rowsthorn on 29 June, Bob Franklin on 27 July and Simon Palomares on 7 September. If you live in the Huon Valley and want to laugh along, you'll need to get in quick and buy tickets online. Check out the Frank's Cider Facebook page to find out about upcoming events.

Sunday sessions at The Apple Shed

Last Sunday we spent a couple of hours relaxing outside at The Apple Shed in Grove. They host regular 'Sunday sessions' featuring different music and catering each time. This time it was reggae - which we love - and the Dos Trucos taco food truck parked out the back. The cuban sandwich was very tasty, as was the cider, as always. It's a seriously pleasant way to spend an afternoon.

Little Boat Choir in concert

Our village choir's first big gig is coming up next Saturday night! The Little Boat Choir is a recent addition to the community choir scene in Tasmania. We sing together every Wednesday night at the Palais Theatre in Franklin - new members always welcome. Led by Tiffany Eckhardt, we'll be singing a range of material including gospel, folk and two songs written by local singer/songwriters (and choir members) Sandy Pollard and Anne Toner. Please come along! Gold coin entry fee. 6.30pm for BBQ and drinks, concert starts 7.30pm.

Bringing comedy to the Huon

David has been working hard to bring laughs to the locals in the Huon Valley.

Next weekend, there is the LOL Comedy Megashow at the Palais Theatre in Franklin. Tasmania’s own Josh Earl, as seen on Spicks 'n' Specks and many other TV shows and comedy festivals, is headlining a huge line up of local comedy talent on Saturday 21 November. There will be 16 fantastic Tassie comedians on the bill for only $30. Food and drinks available from 6pm, show starts 7.30pm. The event is primarily about having a funny night out, however, profits will go toward the Franklin Tennis court restoration project. Last year's event saw around 180 people laughing themselves silly. Don't miss out - you can still book online here or buy tickets (cash) at the door.

Last month, it was Damian Callinan's solo show The Lost WW1 Diary. Damien was the star of last year's big comedy lineup at the Palais in Franklin, so it was awesome to have him back. The show is funny and sad at the same time and as always, Damien does an amazing job of localising his show for the town he is performing in and interacting with the audience. The audience loved it. He has been touring this show around the nation during the ANZAC centenary, and for the 100th performance here in Franklin we had a special visit by the Tasmanian Lighthorse, a World War 1 exhibition by the Franklin History Group and terrific pre-show music by the Huon Valley Society Orchestra. And a LOT of laughs.

Update: read what Damian had to say about his show in Franklin. Too funny.

Went to Agfest. Did not buy a tractor.

On Saturday, we made the trek up to Agfest 2014 in Carrick for the first time. Somehow, we made it back home without buying a tractor. Organised by the Rural Youth Organisation of Tasmania, this is one huge agricultural festival. There was a bewildering array of farm equipment on offer, including some absolutely enormous machinery with matching price tags. There was livestock, fishing gear, food, craft, irrigation, wine, tools, clothing, services... pretty much anything for anyone in agriculture, from the large farm business to the smallholder. There were sheep dog trials, dressage, a 4WD track, a historic tractor parade, entertainment for the kids - a top day out all round. Apparently it had been pretty wet on Friday, but we got lucky. There was still plenty of mud, but we enjoyed mostly clear skies. We walked and walked all day and finally saw almost everything, before collapsing onto the bus for the trip back to the Huon. We'll definitely be back.

Jazz on the Yukon

In a wonderful end to the Focus on Franklin weekend, the Danish ship the Yukon sailed the short distance from the Marina at Franklin to moor in front of the Landcare Walk along the Huon River just north of the town. A jazz band played on board and her decks were full of friends and family. People gathered along the board walk with picnic chairs, wine and snacks to listen, chat and groove away to to the music. On the road above the river, cars stopped to take photos and marvel at the sight.

ABC TV news featured  the Yukon in a story last week about the family who sailed here from Europe with her, but if you missed it, here's an ABC Radio interview with owner and shipwright Dave Nash. He's now offering tours which we must do with visitors one day...

At about 8pm, she sailed off down the river, bound for Port Davey. What a wonderful life.

Focus on Franklin 2014

I loved the format of this year's Focus on Franklin festival. No food stalls on the oval. Instead, the entire length of the main road of Franklin had stalls, shops, food, car boot sales, displays and more. We started by having our car washed at a fundraiser for a local who will be riding the Gibb River Road in WA for charity in July. There was a Franklin History Group display in the new Jane Franklin Memorial Museum and Gallery, cider judging in the Apple Delights competition, music by Steve and Marjorie Gadd in St. John's church, curry at the Living Boat Trust, more music in the supper room of the Palais. On Sunday there was the St. Ayles Skiff Regatta, the Franklin Market and more music that was so special I'll save it for a separate post. I know I've said this before, but how lucky we are to live in the village of Franklin.

Jane Franklin Memorial Museum and Gallery

Cider judging

Naomie Clark-Port of Frank's Cider conducts a tour and tasting

Franklin Market on Sunday

The inaugural St. Ayles Skiff Regatta

MONA FOMA 2013

 

We've made the trip to Hobart almost every evening for the past week to go to the Museum of Old and New Art's annual Festival of Music and Art (MONA FOMA or MOFO as it's known). It's the first time we've been and I have to say it was great entertainment and well worth the lack of sleep. From fantastic acts we wouldn't normally get to see  that even started on time, right down to providing good food and drinks and enough space, seating (including the famous pink beanbags) and toilets... the MONA guys really know how to do events, with a bonus sense of humour. The highlights for me were:

• Hearing my number one all time favourite song This Must Be The Place performed by David Byrne and St. Vincent
• British author Neil Gaiman reading poems and stories (and singing the odd song or two) accompanied by a string quartet and guitar by the composer Jherek Bischoff  in Hobart's beautiful Theatre Royal
• The quirky and fun Chicks on Speed 

We saw Tasmanian 80s-style synth band All Fires, Aussie blokes Graveyard Train, an 'icon of the golden era of Ethiopian music', Mahmoud Ahmed and a couple of things my ears could have done without. All round great fun. And we're going back tonight for the MONA benefit gig for the Red Cross Tasmanian bush fire appeal, which will feature some of the same performers plus two of my favourites, the Hoodoo Gurus and Kate Miller-Heidke. Brilliant.

A very social Sunday

The social season is in full swing. Some dear friends visited us from Sydney on the weekend and we enjoyed a lazy Saturday afternoon and evening of eating, drinking and catching up at home. 

To make up for it, we sure packed a lot in on Sunday. After home laid eggs on home made bread for breakfast, we visited Cygnet Market (right), Cygneture Chocolates and Hartzview Vineyard (to purchase spiced apple mead), had lunch on the terrace at Peppermint Bay, stopped in at the Homeland Delights store at the Margate Train for some German treats, then headed to the Longley International Hotel, where we listened to some lovely reggae/ska/funk from local Tassie band Lively Up and enjoyed a beer or two in the sun. What a top spot with a good crowd. We made a short stop at home to feed the animals and make my favourite basil dip with pita chips to take to share at the Sunday night classic movie at The Palais Theatre. This month's movie was What Ever Happened to Baby Jane?, a 1962 film of the genre variously called "psycho-biddy" or "hag horror" and starring Bette Davis and Joan Crawford . It was truly awful, in a funny way.

Pickers hut at Hartzview

Flowers at Hartzview

The Hartzview cat

Peppermint Bay

The Longley Hilton

Beer garden

Huon Show 2012

I used to love the Sydney Royal Easter Show, and now it's the Huon Show we go to every year. I love seeing all the animals, the crafts and baking, the stalls with local produce and the annual events like the dog jumping, woodchopping, draught horses, the ute muster and the bullock dray. Three of our friends just about scooped the pool in the various baking categories like bread, cakes and scones as well as the fresh vegetable and herb baskets. Yesterday we were there early as the Living Boat Trust needed a lend of our tent, and we were lucky enough to catch the Bernese Mountain Dogs from local Hobart breeder Cloudforest as they trotted around the ring (we got pats and cuddles afterwards). The weather wasn't as hot as in 2011, and it was lovely to bump into so many people we know.