Tuesday, October 30, 2012

Tathra

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The coast just makes me want to grow nasturtiums. My Mum says she thinks there is something olde worlde about them. I saw them growing wild by the road, collected for salads on a grower's table at the markets, and picked for small vases and garnishing the chocolate croissants at the Tathra Wharf Locavore.
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After the big celebration, a beach holiday seemed like a big sigh of relief. The Little One and I travelled with JanMa and Grandfather to a part of the South Coast that was new to me. The towns seemed a little sleepier, the roads between longer, a greater feeling of permanence - and beyond the coastline, lush, rolling hills of farming country.

We visited growers' markets, watched the lorrikeets feed, ate fish and chips by the sea, read by the fire at nights, devoured creamy homemade gelato (finally! from here - pistachio, always pistachio, and coconut) - and of course, built sandcastles on the beach.

Visiting the Tathra Wharf I was reminded of this heartbreaking story; a small brass plaque on a weathered beam remains in memory. My heart goes out to that mother and wife, who no doubt thinks about her boys every day.

16 comments:

  1. Sounds like a wonderful day, but the story behind the plaque is just so terribly sad. Really sad.

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    1. It haunted me again for days afterwards. Just devastating...x

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  2. Nasturtiums remind me of making dinner for a rugby player friend - we put a few in the salad we served. Halfway through he whispers across the table to me "G, can I really eat this? It's a flower..." :-)

    The wharf story is so sad - I had a tear in my eye after reading that. x

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    1. Baha! I'm regretting not buying a bag at the markets - I'd love to try them. The lady said they were quite peppery (yum)...I had a tear re-reading the article too. Can't even begin to imagine to heartbreak....x

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  3. such a sad story ... truly heartbreaking. the colours in your images are so soft and clam. pretty moments captured x

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    1. Thanks Sarah, a lovely thing to say. The cafe staff had an eye for beautiful details - so it was easy for me to snap away and get these photos x

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  4. What a beautiful holiday and captured so beautifully. That story is so very heartbreaking. It really makes you hold your loves close and be so very thankful for everything we have. Wishing you the most lovely of Thursdays :) x

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    1. I agree. I watched and cuddled Saskia even more in the days after being on the wharf. The pain that poor Mother had to endure. Unbearable. I hope she's found some peace x

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  5. Such pretty photos for such a gut-wrenching story. I can't imagine anything like that happening... it's so sad for the mother and everyone involved.

    On a happier note, your little one's ruffled pants are just the cutest!

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    1. Oh it's just so tragic. And so terrifyingly sudden.

      (those pants are about the only ones which don't have holes at the knees!)
      x

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  6. I remember reading that story. It just broke my heart...
    Beautiful photos, and I'm so glad you guys had a beautiful time away.
    Ronnie xo

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    1. Thanks Ronnie - we really did have a most beautiful time. I'm so aware that these are the kinds of holidays that will mean so much in years to come too x

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  7. Oh I remember that. And since reading your post I keep thinking about it. There are no words, that poor poor mother.

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    1. I know. The sadness, the grief, the anger, must be beyond what we could imagine x

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  8. So haunting! Thanks for sharing : )

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  9. Your photos of Tathra are gorgeous. I was at Tathra just last weekend, and heard this sad story. My worst nightmare, and most other mothers, I'm sure.

    But the place. Oh, the place was divine. I sat at a window eating the most decadent food. All. By. Myself. I'm blogging about The Wharf Locavore on Friday! x

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