Ballan and the Red Dot!!

Today - 22nd March 2013 - we have been in Ballan exactly one year. 

Sometimes it feels a lot longer than that, sometimes less, but all I can say is that it has been a huge year for us both, a year of settling in, a year of upheaval, lots of laughter, some sadness, being cold, friendships and everything in between!

..... and after 12 eventful months we are settled in and love it!

Way back in June 2009, a young man named Ayob bin Ismail also arrived here from Singapore, but as Wombat Regional Arts Network's International Artist/Designer-in-Residence.

Each artist/designer-in-residence was asked to make an artistic or design contribution to the Shire and Ayob’s gift was a piece of windart for Ballan. 

Ayob's windart weathervane is called The Red Dot.

The term "little red dot" is used by both Singaporean politicians and ordinary citizens with pride and with a sense of the nation's success despite its physical limitations. Most people refer to Singapore as the "little red dot" with affection, there is even a Red Dot Award for best Product Design etc. So the term is widely used in and around Singapore.

When we decided to leave Singapore to return to Australia, the big decision was "where to live" and after much thought and discussion we settled on Ballan ..... its a big move from The Red Dot to Ballan. There was a lot of thought about where to go, what to do, where to live and our heads were up in the air over many things. A bit like a weathervane!

It was not until a few weeks after moving here that we came across Ayob's Red Dot and it felt like there really was a link between Ballan and Singapore!

The Red Dot - as seen above - has 7 red plates with differing diameters. Each plate represents an element contributing to the arts and design landscape synergy in Ballan.

The elements represented include the town's:

• community
• landscape
• historic values
• cultural values
• arts practices
• vibrancy and energy
• tourism.

the above image is not mine, but is a copy of the front page of the Moorabool News in which Ayob and his Red Dot take pride of place!

Ayob's visit was generously supported by Nanyang Polytechnic (School of Design), Wombat Regional Arts Network and by Velislav Georgiev and Tor Roxburgh's public art business Zabelski Han and their gallery studio complex Omnibus Art Gallery.


Tor Roxburgh has written an extensive blog on Ayob's visit to Ballan, and can be viewed HERE.

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Ballan Farmers Market - February 2013

Here we are into February and yes, am very well aware I am running behind in my blog posts and there are quite a few events happening around the area over the next few weeks that I do need to let you know about!

But first of all, don't forget the Ballan Farmers Market on this coming Saturday!

The Farmers Market is again looking splendid and lovely to see everyone out and about enjoying themselves.  Last month it was a beautiful sunny day here in Ballan and it was lovely to see so many people wandering around chatting to each other, having coffee at the Mill Cottage, purchasing the fresh produce and generally enjoying themselves!

But there was a new person there I had not seen before.

I wonder if you got to see him?

the littlest busker in Ballan!

so cute to watch him play his 'guitar' to all the passers by.

This Saturday the market will have the usual fabulous stalls plus a new meat and small good seller, loads of berries, fruits, even a wool producer and moorabool landcare display.  So get down there early to make sure you don't miss out!

Hope to see you there too.

click LIKE on the Ballan Farmers Market Facebook Page for all the latest information.

Fresh Produce is always available at the Ballan Farmers Market as you can see in one of the previous blog posts HERE.

Dates: 2nd Saturday of the month
Location: Mill Cottages gardens, Inglis St, Ballan

and a couple of those events coming up are:
Ballan Vintage Tractor Pull & Engine Rally - Ballan Racecourse Reserve.  
17th February, 2013.  Grounds open Saturday 16th February 2013 and some camping facilities are available.
The Ballan Autumn festival just gets better and better! Enjoy the fantastic street parade with wood chop, art and craft shows, bands, amusements, concerts, pet show, and much more..... that's coming up next month!

Living out of a suitcase!

We flew in from Singapore on February 25 at 6.30am .... and we have not stopped running around since!

Monday 27th saw us in Ballan meeting with the tradesmen and organising the work that needs to be done for our 'new home' to be made habitable. 

So far we are having it repainted, all new light fittings and power outlets, garden totally cleaned out so we can start with a 'new canvas', carpets completely removed and all the floors (except wet areas) are being replaced with mocha coloured Bamboo Flooring. All of this will be completed by March 30th and then we wait for the shipment to arrive.

Our shipment is on board the cargo carrier: APL BAHRAIN and is expected into the Port of Melbourne on March 19th. Then our container needs to sit at the docks until the customs and quarantine people have done their inspections.

In the meantime, we are LIVING OUT OF A SUITCASE!!

But even though it does get messy at times, we are not complaining. We are lucky that my brother has allowed us to use his caravan (House Trailer) at the back of our property in Ballan. This allows us to still be 'on site' as much as possible. At other times we stay overnight at their place in Langwarrin. Its quite a drive back and forth and we have had to slow those trips down as the cost of fuel to do the two trip each way is getting out of hand.

We are well into the autumn weather here with crispy cold mornings and beautiful warm sunny days .... but must admit I do love looking at the BIG BLUE SKIES every day. Have taken far too many photos, but they really are stunning. Its not till you cannot see the "big blue skies of Australia" that you truly appreciate them.

This morning when we woke it was a chilly 9 degree's, but we still managed to get out and go for a long walk. Looking forward to exploring this little village by foot!!

below is as we drove into Ballan for the first time:

The street where we live and our house is at the far end on the right:

a street sign in the main area of Ballan:

But the funniest sign of all I saw today was:

                                  A large snake has been seen at the roundabout, 

                                       please be careful as it is large and swift.

Well, perhaps not so 'funny', but its a sure sign I am back in Australia!!!