Inhale deeply.....

Friday night. Cut yourselves loose, lovies!

Have just been watching Martin Scorsese's "Shine a light".

Sometimes one should let the music do the talking. This is one of those times.

Hot stuff

Like possibly the rest of the country at least, I have been gobsmacked by the fires in Australia. How ironic also that in another part of Australia they have flooding. The Australian's must be wondering what they did wrong to have such crap visited upon their golden shores.

Stories of horror and heroes abound, but I find I can't actually watch the news anymore. How lucky that I can turn my face away and for just a moment forget about it. If only those living through it had that luxury.

And imagine that some low-life pondscum has actually lit some of these fires on purpose. Go figure. Its hard to imagine that, letalone imagining what sort of "justice" could be delivered if they are ever caught. What would you do if it were up to you? And how these people that have suffered such tragic times ever rebuild their lives? I know tohers in unfortunate countries such as Iraq, Afghanistan, Africa also have tragedy as their bed fellows...how does anyoneget on with it?

Music talks today

I love this song.



And I adore this one too.

Am back home with my cosy couch and the wine glass that fits my hand.......

When is enough, enough?

Well, for starters let me say that I could NEVER get enough of sunsets like this one. Brisbane at sunset, fantastic. And it was still hot. Magical in reality.

I had a bit too much of this wine, I had to try it on name alone! However, after about 2 bottles I decided it was a bit sweet (unlike me) so passed over to other things. It's actually a French wine and I should be shot with a ball of my own spit for going to Australia and quaffing French plonk. However, one must try these things I say weakly in my own defense.

Now then, the Sydney Aquarium is worthwhile visiting, once you get past the stinging entry price! I took this pic of a shark which the locals insist wouldn't really hurt you. Riiiiight. I guess if it's a man-eating shark, that would be true then!

And I know I have mentioned the Dugongs...nearest living relative is an elephant apparently! However, they were amazing things to see - who could imagine such a creature? (Other than maybe J.K. Rowling). There were two of these "on display" - they really seemed as agile as seals but moved slowly, almost rythmically and seemed rather bored. This guy just slid up to where I was standing a looked at me!

This is the in-laws Evil Dog From Hell ( to rival Mike's EKOD). This dog is positively E-V-I-L. You never know if it is going to insist on a tummy rub, or bite your hand off. He's so nasty, he would do both. And then pee on you.

One night while In Brisbane, us 'grown ups" went out. The Old Wrinklies (AKA the in-laws) went out first, leaving EDFH (real name Hercules) behind. As I went out to our car, I bent down to pat him, reassuringly - remember, all day he had "let" me rub his evil little fat dog stomach. Well, he snapped at me. Ungrateful little shite. I gave him the finger and laughed saying we were going out but he wasn't. That showed him.

And, these gecko things are everywhere. They make a sound like when you bang two stones together. I don't know why. However, they eat the smaller bugs round the house so no-one seems to mind them popping up in funny places like your bed head, your cellphone or your underwear. Correction...no-one 'ELSE" minds.

Just me, apparently.

Honey, I'm home!

I'm back!
The above photo shows you that the earth really is red in Australia; this picture was taken in the Kingaroy region. We had a great time in this part of "Aussie" while we sampled nuts (oo er!) and wine and cheese!
This spider I am told is a Golden Orb...I am still fascinated by the web it constructed. It looked tough enough to catch low-flying aircraft, let alone anything smaller! I confess to having used the zoom to photograph it tho' and had my "flight" mode on high alert.
This kangaroo seemed more than happy to have his photo taken and I was able to stand almost next to it, there was an enclosure where about 15 'roos were lazing the day away for snap-happy tourists such as myself and even tho' this is about my 6th visit to Australia I love taking pix of these roos.

Got home to a garden looking like a jungle and the sunflowers with faces as big as dinner plates. Thankfully our wonderful neighbours had mowed the lawns in our absence. I started back at work today and am off travelling again in the morning, this time up to Hamilton and on to Te Aroha. Yippee.

Brisbane to Sydney and back

I have gained a newfound respect for the typical Aussie sheila. How she can get her make up on, leave the house and arrive at her destination, without the makeup sliding down her face arriving resembling a circus clown, is quite beyond me! I salute you all.

It is 4pm and still 30 degrees.

We had a ball in Sydney, dragged the kids to the Taronga Park Zoo and the Aquarium (saw Dugongs up close!), ventured by ferry to Manly Beach...blogger doesn't seem to like the PC I'm using so photos will have to wait!

I'm sorry to have been remiss in visiting all the usual blogs (and I do miss you all) but it is hard to get PC use...there are 2 teenagers in the house we are visiting with. Plus 2 spoilt cats (Rag Dolls actually). I miss my own bed but am getting a nice tan!

Postcard from Brisbane

Happy New year folks! And let's hope it is eh?

Todays post comes to you from the sweltering cesspot known as Brisbane. It is 36 degrees today, slightly down from 33 yesterday but to be honest it's hard to tell. It is almost like that old argument of how you can tell Vegemite from Marmite (I know, it is that argument that has kept some family meals in chaos for years!!)...the kids have hardly moved from the pool. I have just hardly moved. I feel like I'm getting so fat I'll be from both sides of the family by the time this holiday is over!

We're also popping down to Sydney next week and we hope it will be cooler there. By then I hope to have found the cord-thingy-whatsit to download some pix for you.

Meanwhile, a cool glass of cider is shrieking at me...I can just hear it thru the gushing perspiration coursing past my ears....