38 Japan Street: First Impressions

 Ann:

We arrived on the train at about 4:15. Our landlady, Maureen, picked us up at the train and asked if we’d like to have a drive around the town before it got dark at 5:30. (As a reminder, it’s winter here.) We drove to two different points on the ocean and walked the sea wall, stretching our legs and breathing in the sea air, and the light rain. After a brief drive through downtown, we arrived at 38 Japan St., Maureen’s childhood home in which her mother lived until last year. It’s a bit like stepping back in time, in a good way. The house feels loved and lived in, full of vintage stuff and eclectic art. Maureen walked us around the house showing us all about how this knob turns that way, these doors open this way, turning THAT knob will end in a big production of undoing it, so try not to do it...I took notes dutifully on my iPad. She gave us details on a handful of neighbors who we can expect to stop by. We even have items to deliver to a couple of them. She left us some local cheese and wine as a housewarming gift. (We gave her a Chicobag. :-)

After the house tour, we walked the 5 blocks to downtown and had a delicious dinner at a cute place. Previously we had scoped out restaurants online and were a little under-whelmed by the options, but last night we walked by a number of places that look great. After dinner, Maureen dropped us by the grocery store to get supplies for the next day and then she drove to her home, nearly 3 hours northeast of here. Maureen’s hospitality was almost overwhelmingly generous and sincere. She tried to anticipate our needs and provided us with so many things we’ll need to live here. She knew we wanted to live in a home and not just have a place to drop our things.

This morning as we ate our breakfast in front of the kitchen wall heater (one of two in the home), there are magpies squawking outside our window, and some other type of wildlife (we think) that sounds a bit like C3PO, or R2D2. (Update: Turns out that noise was actually the mating call of the magpie as we witnessed the somewhat disconcerting “act” take place right outside our window.)

 

Andy:   My turn.  Ann is having her first TimTam, a biscuit with a chocolate filling through which one can sip coffee, although she ate hers straight up.

Only major disconcerting moment so far was getting lost in the bedroom, i.e. not being able to find the door out to the bathroom down the hall in the middle of the night.

It is Sunday morning quiet time, except for occasional Magpie moment. Our home is very tidy, as is the yard. It has been tidy for a long time. I look forward to my new routine of being part of perpetuating it.

The headlines, breakwater walk last early evening was spectacular. There are cliff and beach trails all about. 20 K walk to Port Ferry is now on my bucket list. There is a broken off headlines point accessible only at low tide, home to local penguin colony.  Maureen said some dogs had been put there to keep foxes away that had been snacking on penguins. That will be an interesting walk too.

I asked Maureen during our house tour, “What is that interesting archival black object with Warrnambool on it?”  Turns out it was/is a locally produced award winning cheese coated in black wax that she got to give to us as a welcome gift. That and a bottle of wine. I was a very happy camper, or tenant.

Recycle bin and trash bin go out Tuesday night. There is a fair amount of lawn, but in dormant growth stage for winter, so just get to enjoy it for now. As I like the meditative quality of mowing the lawn, that will all be good too, come spring.

The yard has a really cool looking corrugated tin fencing. Very retro old school charm. And part of the neatness both physical and conceptual of our corner. And an old garage and shop that is just how an old garage and shop should be. Not that I will use either one, other than to enjoy them just as they are. Zen and the Art of Appreciating Garage Maintenance.

Warrnambool fronts Lady Bay, a several kilometer curved sweep of beach from mouth of Hopkins River to Merri River (pronounced Marr-ee). We are five blocks to about a mid-point access. Logan’s Beach just to other side of mouth of Hopkins River is local whale watching point.

It is good to be here. A bit scared by lack of structure, yet equally excited and welcoming what that will bring.

Love to all.

PS  We have not yet seen any kangaroos. But, Maureen said her home “up country” is full of them, and Michael, her husband, will want to barbeque some for us when we visit.