HOORAy IT S MOTHER S MAy A long time ago in a galaxyfar, far away, a good and kindlyQueen decreed that a single day was by no means adequate tocelebrate the myriad ways that mothersyoung and old make the world a betterplace.
Therefore , said good andkindly Queen I declare that fromthis day forward, Mother s Day is tobe replaced with Mother s May anentire month dedicated to payinghomage to mothers, making them feelspecial, loved and appreciated.
In addition All mothers will be granted new shoes, a foot massage, amagnum of good bubbly a packetof Jam Fancies that never runs out .
Oh alright, I made that last bit up.
But only the last bit told you she waskindly All the mothers briefly pausedfrom the their labours and clappedtheir hands and rejoiced beforereturning to the thankless task oftrying to get the mud stains out ofthe white footy shorts.
But as theyscrubbed, they smiled quietly tothemselves and started making amental short list from which to choose their lovely new shoes.
The end.
with Karen Tatman So now, with Mother s May rapidlyapproaching, it s time to start planningsome special treats for the wonderfulwomen in your life.
A quick flick through the pages of the Visitor will give you plenty of food forthought and speaking of food, nothingsays Thanks Mum quite like a mealcooked by someone else, so make sureyou get in early and book a leisurelybrunch, long lunch or special evening atone of the Peninsula s amazing array ofcafes, restaurants or wineries.
Other thoughtful ways to saythankyou might include a giftvoucher for a relaxing spa treatment and the necessary time off toenjoy it before it expires , a specialsomething in the right size of course from her favourite boutique or forsporty adventurous Mum perhapsa round of golf with the girls ora horseback trail ride along ourstunning coastline but don t forgetto run her a bubble bath when she gets home if she s out of practise But the key to a successful Mother sMay is to spread the joy across theentire month with plenty of smallthoughtful surprises and some extrahugs along the way enjoy Well thank goodness that s over.
Summer I mean.
It s all well and good for you beach loving, touslehaired, golden limbed types but forthose of us of freckly Celtic originsthat tend to come over a bit Wicked Witch of the West in the heat, thelazy, hazy days of summer tend to beendured rather than enjoyed.
Surrounded as we are some of Australia s most beautiful bay beachesand magnificent stretches of oceancoastline it s easy to see why thePeninsula shines in summer.
But when the many visitors return home after theEaster break, they re actually missingthe best bit our superior season, theglorious mellow days of mid-autumnwhen the days bask in a gentle goldenglow the evening chill bringsblessed restful repose.
See, I really dolove autumn on the Peninsula it makesme come over all poetic like.
With the summer holidays now adistant memory and our wallets still recovering from Christmas and allthe back to school expenses, autumn provides a wonderful opportunity toget out and explore.
On foot, on bike orfrom the comfort of the family sedan there is so much to enjoy so closeto home.
So what will it be today A bracing ramble along the coastalwalking trails Freewheeling alongthe Bay Trail Or will you head for thehills Or simply indulge in a leisurelylatte at your favourite caf With each of our sleepy seaside towns, hinterland havens and vibrant coastal communities enjoying their owndistinct personality, you could evenplan a whistle-stop tour taking the timeexplore a myriad of attractions.
In PRAISE OF AuTuMn with Karen Tatman SATuRdAy 31 MAy 2014 Winter Wine Walk 10 Peninsula Visitor .
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April to October 2014 Walk from Red Hill to Merricks with local vignerons and friends to celebrate the end of harvest and experience current vintage wines.
Taste a variety of wines along the way complemented by a fine selectionof food.
A beautiful meandering historical rail track provides the perfect way The meeting place this year will be Red Hill CommunityReserve - plenty of space to park your cars, and pickup your walking program.
We will proceed to amble along a purpose built walking track to Red Hill South.
After stopping at Red Hill we will walk along abeautiful historic rail trail to a private vineyard to meetwinemakers showcasing a range of their wines and thendown to Stonier and Merricks General Wine Store in Merricks.
Join local vignerons to celebrate the end ofthe 2014 harvest from Red Hill to Merricks...around 10 kilometres.
return to Red Hill Rserve by bus.
Buses will be available to return walkers to Red Hill Community Reserve from Merricks from 12 - 3pm Start the walk after checking in at Red HillShowgrounds Community ReserveArthurs Seat Road, Red Hill, at 9am or 10am Walk a couple of kilometers to Red Hill to enjoy a sparkling wine morning canapes at Red Hill Epicureanwhich is situated at the start of the Merricks track Along the way stop at a vineyard adjacent to thewalking track and taste wines from Paringa Estate andTen Minutes by Tractor with a sample of food to match from their Chefs Continue on to Stonier Wines and Merricks General Wine Store to taste a selection of their wines Finish between 12 and 3pm at Merricks and return bybus to Red Hill Reserve to close the day with a relaxedsnack prepared by The Long Table.
Bookings essential, tickets sales online below here 40pp Please note, the walking track from Red Hill to Merricks is quite well maintained but good walkingshoes are recommended.
Other than the odd muddy patch in wet seasons, the track provides for an easy walk which is all on a level or slightly down hill terrain.
There is one steep but very short up hill section mid way.
When booking a ticket below if you have apreference for starting at 9am or 10am pleaseindicate your preferred start time in the How did youhear about the event section, or time will be allocated as bookings are received.
The inaugural Mornington Peninsula Wine Walk in 2013 was a great success with 95 people walking 7 kilometersand tasting 7 wines, and experiencing the tranquil beautyof the Red Hill to Merricks track.
Converted from a rail track in the 1980s we had the pleasure of walking withthe man in charge of the track construction, the previous owner of land currently owned by Stonier Winery and who has a road named after him, the Chairman of thenew Regional Tourism Board, friends, and several Vignerons who marked the end of 2013 harvest.
For more on Winter Wine Activities refur to page 77 010 .indd 1 3 04 14 3 41 PM