Sunday, February 22, 2009

Lunchtime "Invasion"


The MERINDA has just arrived in Nelligen and disgorged its tourists for their 1/2-hour stopover after which the village will return to its somnambulic state. The cruise, which leaves Batemans Bay at 11 am, takes three hours to Nelligen and back to Batemans Bay, and costs $27 for adults and $14 for children. Padma won a gift voucher for a free cruise with a fish'n'chips lunch aboard and we will do it in the next couple of weeks.

Sunday morning in Nelligen


 

   


Just came back from my walk to the village store to get the weekend papers. The river is still misty and it looks like it's going to be a hot day.

Sunday, February 15, 2009

The movie "Oyster Farmer"

We live on the Clyde River which is famous for its fantastic oysters. More fantastic even than the oysters on the Hawkesbury River. They haven't made a film about it yet but they made one about the life of the oyster farmers on the Hawkesbury. I've just watched it and it's a great Australian romantic comedy - with typical Australian black humour - about love and life on the Hawkesbury River. The little river communities, the oyster farmers with their long-held traditions, and the Vietnam vets who have formed a kind of isolated commune are beautifully evoked in an affectionate examination of unusual lifestyles.


The movie is wonderfully relaxing and visually appealing, even with the shots of the very sub-standard accommodation that many of the oyster farmers endure. Some of the images are just so peaceful and moving that it's a shame some of them have to end to make way for the next scene - early morning on the river is a classic example of this.



For the full-length movie, click here


"Oyster Farmer" is a revelation. It is warm, humourous, engaging and most of all, totally believable and very rewarding. Bring on the oysters!