Today I am loving Rosetta Santucci’s artwork. For all those Offspring fans out there, you may recognise a Santucci painting hanging above Nina’s bed called Drifting.
With Santucci … there is a pleasure principle at work. The viewer is invited to explore the carpet-like designs as if gazing down at landscapes composed of vineyards, paddocks, roads, creeks and trees.
John Neylon, The Adelaide Review, August 2007
Descendants of Mercury founder John Davies, from left, Margaret Davies, sister Josephine and brother John, can recall their childhood days when three copies of the paper were delivered to their home.
Today I give you a sneaky peek into Nick’s family and his forebears – Davies Brothers Ltd who established The Mercury newspaper in 1854. The newspaper will be celebrating 160 years on the 5th July.
This lovely photo of Nick’s Dad and his Aunties featured in The Mercury on Monday with the below editorial:
THE founder of one of Tasmania’s greatest family businesses, Davies Brothers Ltd, was a convict who turned his life around and made an impression on the world.
John Davies established the Mercury newspaper in July 1854 and left a lasting legacy for his family and Tasmania, says Margaret Davies, his great-great-granddaughter.
Her father, George “Bill” Davies, was the last in the family to guide the company before it was taken over by News Limited (now News Corp Australia) in the late 1980s.
“Old John passed on to his family the importance of honest hard work and that was carried on through the generations,” Dr Davies said.
“There was a sense of duty to the community which was passed down through the family.”
She was born into the world of print, her father was made managing director of Davies Brothers when she was only 10 years old.
Growing up her family would receive three copies of the Mercury delivered to their home – one for their father, one for their mother and one for the four children to share.
Dr Davies is a retired academic who followed a career path in science. not journalism, but even so it would seem publishing was part of her purpose.
In her retirement she is serving as honorary editor of the Royal Society of Tasmania and has published and edited a number of books in her field.
“I suppose I have newsprint running in my veins,” she said.
Earlier this year she received the OAM for service to science in the field of herpetology and is the fourth generation of her family to receive an honour.
Her father was made an Officer of the Order of Australia. while her grandfather C.B. Davies received the CBE in 1941 and her great-grandfather George Davies was knighted in 1909.
I start back at work next Wednesday for a five-day fortnight after having a year’s maternity leave. With our family now complete I am becoming quite nostalgic about the past year spent wholly with James.
In typical fashion I feel somewhat disappointed that I haven’t accomplished all that I had hoped to achieve in my year off – such as starting a new business and returning to study. However, I’ve had a reality check and I have accomplished a great deal – I have nurtured a 37 week old baby that only weighed 2.030 kilos into a budding boy of 10 kilos, 11 months later. I have fed him, changed him, played with him, nurtured him as well as care for a vivacious three-year old.
I do feel blessed to have had the opportunity of this precious time with our children as I was fortunate in my work circumstances to access maternity and my long-service leave, so financially it was a viable option.
It hasn’t all been a bed of roses however – there have been dreadful isolating moments, where I questioned my whole identity and what my life had become (ground-hog day) and those sleepless nights that left me feeling sick at 7am wondering how I was going to get through another day with two little ones? I was often envious of Nick going to work, but the grass is always greener. Those gorgeous little smiles or giggles they give you washes away those frustrating times.
I do feel ready to get back into a professional context now – to be immersed in work and not be interrupted every five minutes. To liaise with a broader cross-section of the community – those that are not necessarily your friends or fellow mums where you can just talk about sleep, nappies and teething. I long to talk about the tourism industry, politics and current affairs again.
I feel excited but at the same time a little sad – this week is the last time I get to fully be with my little man before he goes off to the big wide world of daycare, with shared sickness and days spent without his Mum.
He will always be my little boy (can I say that out loud?) Xx
What a perfect winter solstice weekend! My old friend Sarah flew in from Melbourne on Friday morning and after hanging out during the day we rugged up and went out to Dark Mofo’s Winter Feast! Oh my – what an amazing atmosphere … rich colours of red and purple, fantastic food, live music, a ferris wheel, lights, wine and fires. I love winter.
Saturday morning was a stellar one and after grabbing some goodies from the German Bakery in Sandy Bay we went over to Bellerive Beach on the boat for lunch. What a day – the mountain was looking magic and the pies were tasty too.
Nick went out to the Winter Feast again on Saturday night but Sarah and I bunkered down at home instead. After James and Poppy were tucked up in bed, we cracked open a bottle of red and devoured some more tasty morsels from Lipscombe Larder and watched Last Tango in Halifax on the ABC. What a lovely way to spend the longest night of the year?!
On Sunday we went our for an early lunch at Smolt in Salamanca. Not exactly the most relaxing lunch I’ve ever had as I was ferreting around under James’ high chair trying to pick up his crumbs strewn over this very stylish restaurant with über chic clientele watching on!
It really was a wonderful weekend – I love having old friends visit and enjoying their company in our beautiful city of Hobart that was all shiny and showy on this winter solstice weekend. Xx
Our little ‘pumpkin’ James is 11 months old today! I can’t believe that he will be 1 next month.
I start back at work on the 2nd of July (gulp) and although it will be great to get back amongst it professionally, I will miss hanging out with our little guy every day. He loves playing in Poppy’s teepee and laughs so much when we play ‘Hide and Seek’ through the window. Such special days indeed.
Whilst I’m on my Dark Mofo roll, I bundled up the peeps again tonight and went to meet that cheeky old illuminated bunny with Sam and baby Scarlett. It was worth the tantrum that I endured as I dragged Poppy away from the action – who was definitely ready for bed!
Oh I love this festival – so much atmosphere as the longest night is near.
Last night I boogied the night away at the MONA to Midnight event with Anne, Cath and Maggie. Boy oh boy, I don’t think I have laughed so much for such a long time. X
Yesterday was my 600th post on The Poppy Files! Three years on and many adventures shared, I marvel at how much Poppy and James have grown. They bring so much joy to us every single day.
Not that I blog for the statistics but interestingly The Poppy Files has received a total of 34 902 views from 92 countries! Bring on another 600! x
Friday night signaled the opening of ‘Articulated Intersect‘ – a large-scale light installation which is part of the fabulous Dark Mofo Festival in Hobart.
You’re in control when 18 powerful lights pierce the Hobart sky above Sullivans Cove from dusk until dawn. Six mechanical levers are set around the waterfront; as you move a lever, three robotic searchlights create a compound beam high above. Direct the lights to wherever you choose. As the different beams cross in the sky, they resist your control and pulsate autonomously in the darkness.
I rugged up Poppy and James and met Cath at T42 for front row seats. Boy oh boy – what a spectacle.
We wandered over to the Tasmanian Museum and Art Gallery that was a hive of activity with live music, art and food. I loved seeing so many families out in the middle of winter, marveling at their fabulous city.
On Saturday night Nick took us out on the boat for a different perspective from the water. Once again you will have to excuse the quality of some of these photos – it was a difficult feat capturing moving lights, in the rain, at night on a boat!
Poppy, James and I popped down to Constitution Dock this morning for a hot chocolate and a wander around the docks. We also stopped by to say hi to Louis Bernacchi and his doggies!
I know, I know – I even let Poppy out of the house with her Uggies on! I couldn’t be bothered with the ‘put your shoes on’ rant. We had a lovely walk and I am getting quite excited about the opening night of Dark MOFO tonight!
Today I am loving Alvar Aalto’s Tea Cart 901. Oh how I love those wheels. Wouldn’t it look fantastic with some dainty cups of tea or perhaps your favourite tipple, freshly cut flowers and a gorgeous lamp?
Designed by Alvar Aalto in 1936, this tea cart brings glamour back to tea time. Beautiful birch wood provides the framework for the cart while white laminate or black linoleum add a chic surface to the shelving. Made in Finland by Artek.
The Poppy Files 