• Digital Gypsy Tales
  • Digital Gypsy Tales

Digital Gypsy Tales

An open-ended adventure by Digital Gypsy Tales Read more
  • Rockhampton

    January 16, 2023 in Australia ⋅ ☁️ 29 °C

    I made another year!
    A few interesting finds in the Rockies. One great highlight is the letterpress printer. The piece I choose was a commission piece for someone else but I liked it so much for that reason.

    The rest was playful shenanigans with Pippa the pooch.
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  • Rockhampton

    December 18, 2022 in Australia ⋅ ⛅ 28 °C

    Week 2 of 5.

    Flying donuts Batman!

    When people said ‘why would you go to Rockhampton’, my answer was ‘why not’.

    I’m working from home in a very comfortable, air conditioned home, with a pool, and lovely vistas. Makes things very easy to like where I am.

    I’ve done a little exploring, had a lovely visitor, completed a short photo course (was good practice and a challenge), and I’m practicing my tennis serve (complete with my own ball retriever 😆).
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  • Howard....road to Rockhampton

    November 30, 2022 in Australia ⋅ 🌧 21 °C

    Highlight of Howard was the horses.

    Next road break was a couple nights in Howard. Found a fabulous Airbnb, great hosts, great surrounds and a weird morning where I woke up at 4.44 and was compelled to take photos of tomatoes because the light was ‘just right’.Read more

  • meanwhile in Toowoomba

    November 26, 2022 in Australia ⋅ ⛅ 28 °C

    Sometimes, well, almost all the time, you just have to try and make the most of it, and keep going.

    I had work to complete so not much time to explore but in any case had a weee little help from when I was at 'Sandy Bottoms' (the last post). On my way up, had stopped for a break in Evans Head at a random coffee shop and had a bit of a chat to 2 most lovely owners....who, after asking where I'm from/where am I going, where ecstatic to tell me they met and fell in love in Toowoomba and then scribbled a handful of coffee shops to go to.

    The housesit was not at all what was shown to me in terms of cleanliness, and even the sweet doggo was twice the size, and strength I might add, to what the pics showed, anyway, I'm here now....I've got some coffee shops to find.

    As a bonus, I also found some interesting street art, a fabulous farmers market, and a nice pair of op shop binoculars. Boom.
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  • Sawtell...again

    November 15, 2022 in Australia ⋅ ⛅ 23 °C

    ......stopped for a few days between Sydney and Murwillumbah at...you guessed it, Sawtell. Well not exactly Sawtell but Boambee...close enough.

    Not much to tell but a little sand and sea. Blissful.

  • Sydney loop

    November 10, 2022 in Australia ⋅ 🌙 17 °C

    ok Sydney.

    2 weeks flashed by, and most of it spent in the Apple store, on phone support, or trying to reach support. Went in to replace battery and they broke the logic board then mayhem ensued. Urggg! I’m never going to get that time back....It took so much away time supposed to be spent with family.

    That rant over I cherished the little golden nuggets left spent with my sister and mum, brief catch-ups with a few friends here and there, and snippets and silliness with dad....not enough though.

    .......aaaand recorded those 4 songs I’ve been practicing. Could only load a sample here. It's live, it's raw, and a bit clunky, pitchy, but I had fun and was able to utilize the rehearsal space available via the studios I still rent.

    .....aaaaand I finished the rusty thing! Not sure the recipient will ever receive it but it was a satisfying project to complete.

    Feeling disappointed by Apple but satisfied and grateful for the rest. Onwards.

    PS. Thanks for everything Ele :)
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  • Coonabarabran - that's a wrap

    October 25, 2022 in Australia ⋅ ⛅ 15 °C

    Oh Coona, I will miss thee.

    I found so much unexpected solace in Coona. I didn't miss running around on trains, buses, Goget, or carshare. Quite the opposite as I found so much joy in looking up and out. Up to the clouds, the stars, the moon, and out to the hills and the mountains.

    I experimented with preserving lemons, made tahini lemon cookies, and continue to perfect my almond meal crackers. I practiced piano consistently and had a nice little morning and afternoon routine with little Dotti.

    Thank you Geoff and Kay Redman.

    Next, it's back to the city for a couple of weeks of mayhem. Can I handle it?
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  • Coonabarabran Sep 27 - Oct 11

    September 27, 2022 in Australia ⋅ ⛅ 19 °C

    Approx 14 of 16 weeks.

    15 mins. Love tubs. Lemon experiments, and searching for rusty bits.

    I already had my 15 mins of fame a lifetime ago when living OS (ask me later) but it might happen twice. After calling the local Coona Newspaper to see if they had any creative projects I could assist with, instead, the editor was interested in my Digital Gypsy Tales story. So, this past week Emma, one of the writers dropped by for a bit of a chat. I've never been interviewed before so I can't wait to see the draft story. The plan is to be in the 2nd edition of the magazine • wattle • coming out Feb 23......well that will be a nice birthday gift.

    Since I found Warrumbungle Organics store, I've been visiting every week to pick up at least one meal for lunch or dinner. Michelle is lovely and whips up the most spectacular curries. I'm so glad she's interested in my Edible Garden Book project. This past week I visited her at her property for a little afternoon yummy tea and low a behold found a love tub of strawberry plants.

    Creative projects on the table these weeks include a couple of my pics framed for doggy Dotti's owners (hope they like them). A rusty sign project slowly coming together. Lemons, lemons, fermented....well over fermented but an interesting pic nonetheless, and lemon torta, doused with more lemons. Tang heaven.
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  • Coonabarabran Aug 29 - Sep 11

    August 29, 2022 in Australia ⋅ ☁️ 12 °C

    Approx 10 of 16 weeks

    I watch the sky a lot. But, I've never watched it closer than I have in Coona. I love to shoot clouds as there's always something different to see and this time I tried a timelapse. Soooo nice.

    Within these weeks I took a short trip back to Sydney and was able to drop off those accordions to Tony, in a dark hotel parking lot of all places...hmmm you'd think we were the mafia. Ha.

    A few different creative projects are also on the table. One is a logo for the Coona Community Garden. I can't wait to see it all come together.
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  • Coonabarabran Aug 7 - Aug 28

    August 7, 2022 in Australia ⋅ 🌙 5 °C

    Approx 8 of 16 weeks.
    Fields of yellow. Unexpected finds in a 2nd hand store, and interesting mailboxes.

    I couldn't help but squeal when I stumbled upon the fields of yellow on a grocery trip to Gunnedah. Lucky for me I didn't have to wrestle anyone as the roads were relatively empty so it was easy to pull over. Om.

    I wasn't looking but on dropping into the local Coona 2nd hand furniture store I was surprised to find 2 accordions. One looked like a relic and the other seemed almost new. Now, I'm not an accordion aficionado but my good friend Tony is, so I immediately contacted him knowing he might be interested in the purchase to eventually renew and onsell. Possibly and new item to add to my CV: Accordion Agent...ha

    PS. Found a very interesting antique ink blotter and negotiated a better deal. Looking on Etsy and eBay I may have found a gem here.....
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  • Coonabarabran

    July 30, 2022 in Australia ⋅ ☀️ 15 °C

    Jul 30 - Aug 7. Approx 5 of 16 weeks.

    Learning curve ahead.

    • Build a sustainable roaring fire - tick
    • Maneuver oneself on Quad bike - tick (room for improvement)
    • Remember chicken's dawn and dusk schedule, harvest eggs - tick
    • Bond with special personality pooch - tick (tho sometimes I feel like I'm constantly being watched and she is secretly plotting something....jajaja)
    • Siphon water out of the pool after heavy rain without having to suck through a hose - tick (thanks YouTube)

    The property is spacious.....140 acres spacious so it's a bit different from where I've lived. I'm grateful the owners trusted me as it can be a bit overwhelming and there seems to be a lot to do and remember. But once my mind settled a bit I'm beginning to reap many rewards. I'm comfortable with solitude but some moments can feel particularly isolating.

    Interesting how the mind works, as I've been binging on the series 'Alone' and 'Naked and Afraid'. Wow!
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