My almost-perfect weekend part two
I was prepared to sleep in Sunday – ordered room service breakkie for 9am – but didn't. So got online and did a few things, did some reading, ate my very yummy poached eggs with mushrooms and tomato and while doing it, thought – I don't need to rush home. Why not take my time, do something? A bit of investigating and I decided on stopping Berrima.
Berrima is a tiny town that used to be on the main road to Sydney until the bypass was built in the 80s. I used to love driving through it, even as a little girl – something about sandstone buildings does something to me. I pretty much haven't seen it since then, so was interested to see what it would look like.
Parked near the park we always stopped at and went first to the museum. I was surprised to learn of the manufacturing industries around the area – Australia's first iron smelter was there (the first iron ore discovered in Mittagong). I'm used to thinking of iron ore in terms of the Pilbara region in WA – history really is cool.
Walked across to a small stand of shops, hoping to find a battery for my camera (remembered SD card, forgot batteries). None to be found, although there was an alpaca wool shop with some stunning items. I bought a couple of balls of wool and are currently knitting some hand warmers – Donna's been really crafty lately and I'm inspired.
Decided to walk around town – it was a glorious day, sun was shining and just warm enough to be get a sheen on the cheeks without being uncomfortable. There's a book binder there and some gorgeous paper items – pencil caddies, note holders, binders. Would love to go back with lotsa money to spend. Went then to the wine tasting and bought some Berrima Nip – blackberry flavoured port. Really, it's nice.
Past the jail and up to the courthouse. What an incredible building – here's this tiny little town (population in hundreds) and it's got this huge courthouse with this impressive sandstone portico (boy, was I cursing the lack of a battery at this point). The tour inside the courthouse cost $7 and is I think well worth it. You start with a film on the history of Berrima, then trail around the building before you end up in the courtroom, where mannequins and a light show tell the story of one of the more outrageous cases tried there – the trial of Beech and Dunkley. This is of interest to me cause I am a Dunkley (maiden name).
Lucretia Dunkley, along with her lover Martin Beech, murdered her husband Henry (they were both heavily into the drinking – very Dunkley behaviour). They were considered so black in character that after their hanging, their heads were removed and sent to Sydney for study (apparently the skulls are in the Australian Museum) and they were buried upright, so they could never rest in peace. Seems to me I might need to point out to my husband the violence that's inherent in my family [image error]
Went to more shops for the battery hunt – nothing. So, I went to the Surveyor General Inn for lunch. Opened in 1835, it's allegedly Australia's oldest continually licensed inn. I figured if I was going to eat in Berrima, I might as well go for a bit of history. Luckily, the food wasn't that old – quite nice, in fact.
Wandered back up to the car and then drove out to Berkelouw's book barn. I only recall stopping there a couple of times when I was little, but the idea of a whole barn of books? Heaven.
In fact, it ended up being a pretty good book weekend, cause I also got some books cheap at Freecon (and made a donation to the cause at the same time). At Freecon I scored an Anita Blake (Blue Moon), The Stepford Wives, The Bride Stripped Bare, Alan Moore's Magic Words and a DVD – Star Trek The Wrath of Kahn!
At Berkelouw, I bought a collection of Plays on Classic Themes by Franz Grillparzer, Letter's from a Faint-hearted Feminist and The Female Experience (to improve my feminist education). In preparation for next year's plan to only read work written by women, I bought Ellen Kushner's Swordpoint, Beauty by Sherri S Tepper and The Eagle and The Nightingale by Mercedes Lacky.
Started home and decided not to follow the freeway but to deviate off it at Collector. And lo, less than 100ks from the nations capital, I found myself on a winding bush gravel road. Couldn't wipe the grin from my face.
So, there it is – my fabulous weekend. I had a truly wonderful time and can't wait for the next inspiration to strike me.
