Well Sarah and I had the best day sharing the story of The Amazing Case of Dr Ward in the Kyneton Botanic Gardens . It was the Jubilee event celebrating two significant milestones: 160 years since establishment and 125 years for the Horticultural Society. When we assembled the story of the Wardian case and explored some of the history around plant transportation, our love and curiosity to explore botanic gardens deepened.

A brass band, cake, tree planting, and plenty of cake.

I love the sense of continuity of history at these events. I can feel the presence of the people from the past - they too ate trays of cakes and slices washed down with tea, planted trees, listened to speeches and I have no doubt they were entertained by the king parrots. Simon Rickard's speech was brilliant! Check him out garden lovers.

Blarney Books and Art is located in the coastal town of Port Fairy on the Great Ocean Road at the tale end of the Shipwreck Coast. This little town is exceedingly picturesque with over 50 heritage listed buildings, wide streets and avenues of giant Norfolk pines.

In 2004 Port Fairy’s old Masonic Hall was transformed into a book shop but quickly grew to include an art space, became host to all kinds of author and music events, and well … just keeps developing! On the shelves are new and used books ‘… with a focus on art, literature, crime, young adult and diverse titles’.

On the outside of the building the rainbow flags fly pronouncing this space as welcoming to all. Makes my heart sing!

It was a thrill to be invited back to this little stage, into this gracious and thoughtful venue and share stories on a cold winter’s night. The life of a roving wordsmith suits me well.

The Road goes ever on and on
Down from the door where it began.
Now far ahead the Road has gone,
And I must follow, if I can,
Pursuing it with eager feet,
Until it joins some larger way
Where many paths and errands meet.
And whither then? I cannot say
J.R.R. Tolkien

The Woolly West Fest takes place in the Western District in the Shire of the Southern Grampians, and some say that it’s the largest community arts project (in spread) in Victoria and possibly even Australia. Festivities take place in ten towns during a two week period. The focus is a celebration of all things woolly and early childhood literacy. The creators Jacinta Wareham is the Knitwit and Naomi Turner is the Litwit.

Wearing my early childhood hat, I packed the big story basket and had fun in the Hamilton Library with a crowd of ankle biters - my people.

Teaming up with storytelling buddy Kate Lawrence, we offered a joint evening of stories for adults. Kate and I have known each other for a few years now and although our interests take us in different directions our work is complimentary. Kate established StoryWise Women, the only women’s only personal storytelling open mike in Melbourne and has written and performs a show titled Fantastic Feminist Folk Tales. I love hanging out with Kate so needless to say, we had fabulous time in Hamilton.

I love (yes ‘love’ is the word) regional festivals. The welcome is always warm and sincere, the conversations enlightening and the stories often deeply moving. Meeting Jacinta’s Knitwits or ‘the posse’ as they are sometimes known was revelatory. These women, mostly in their 7th decade and beyond, are full of stories. It’s the posse that yarn bombs the towns and creates the woolly exhibition pieces.

The skill of the Knitwits, their humour and resilience not to mention their casserole cooking skills is fast becoming the stuff of legend.