garden delights

SkyWatch ~ Somewhere Along the Way...

2009-11-04T19:55:00.000-08:00

Most of our road trips are accompanied by dramatic
skies to which this was no exception. For the six or so
hours we travelled, my eyes and shutter finger were
very well entertained.

Rapidly banking and changing clouds promising
thunder and downpours surrounded us on all sides,
yet our drive remained dry.
Now and again the clouds gave way to patches of
bright light and glimpses of blue.

This is a group of afternoon lit trees on a bare hill
which I have always loved. It is opposite 'Pink Lake'
which at present is still sleeping in my Nikon. My
computer is down to its last 5% of space, mainly
because I have stored 22,000 photos on it in less
than one year!

Although we could see the rain in the distance, the
road remained dry,

but just before the flaming sun sought shelter beyond
the holizon, the humidity increased as though we had
just landed in the tropics after a downpour. I had never
driven in a sauna before, the air was saturated. The
day had been a very hot one and the downpours on the
hot earth evaporated like a steaming kettle.

Next week, God willing, I shall post the next exciting
episode of the weather as the day ends and the
moon turns pink with excitement.

All photos enlarge with a click as always.

To fly around the skies, click on the SkyWatch Logo.

Thanks to Klaus and our great SkyWatch team, we
can all join in with this great fun meme.

Back Home Again.

2009-11-03T03:41:00.000-08:00

Hallo again my friends, followers and casual
droppers in, it is good to be back and blogging again.
I'll come and visit you as soon as I have rested.

This young couple, some 52 years later has just

returned from a 1,000 + mile trip to celebrate

my brother-in-law's eightieth birthday.

It was a wonderful weekend with my sister who still

had a copy of this old photo of the two of us while we

were still courting. As you know, all our memorabilia

was lost in a fire more than a quarter of a century ago,

so it was doubly nice to see this and augment our

memories by sharing them.

About a week ago our elder brother would have had his

90th birthday had he lived. One day I will share his story

with you. At present if is still rather raw. His life was the

hardest and most tragic of anyone in our family. He was

the eldes and I the youngest, yet we were so very close.

It is hard to keep the tears back when I think of him.

My sister, as always, spoiled us rotten....her cooking is to

die for! Enough! I must have put on half a stone and

havn't looked like the above picture for years.

SkyWatch ~ Halloween

2009-10-29T03:58:00.000-07:00

Enlarge them if you dare....

As the sun was setting, I hiked to the pumpkin patch
to await the arrival of the great pumpnin.

With darkness setting in, strange things came flapping
at my face.

Others, wrapped in their black cloaks, were still
hanging about waiting for the blanket of night to
take to the skies...did I see the glint of fangs?

Shivering a little, I hurried on, breathing a little faster
and desperately curbing the impulse to look behind me.

Passing the graveyard, whisps of grey fog? floated on the
breeze curling around my knees and sending chills up my
spine. I forced my eyes to look away fron the shadows
and stumbled along my teeth chattering in my head.

An owl's wing or was it someone elses, brushed my
cheek, my knees crumpled beneath me and as I looked
up I saw the hanging trees on the crest of the hill....
That was the last straw, I turned tail and stumbled
back past the graveyard, breaking into a run with
rustlings all around, my hands flailing cobwebs from my
face,

when the moon rose darkened in the midnight sky,
bats and larger darker shadows outlined against it.

In a cold sweat, I barely made it back to be met
by witches and skeletons dancing around a bonfire,

ah, the comforts of home.

Thank you Klaus and the SkyWatch team for giving us

this outlet for Halloween.

Watery Wednesday ~ White horses on the Wind

2009-10-27T17:28:00.000-07:00

Click to enlarge.

Sea horses galloping

white manes flying

noses into the wind.

Where do they run to

what do they seek

snorting in the storm.

They seek their freedom

they seek their home

far, far from churning foam.

MY WORLD ~ 48 Gold of a Different Kind

2009-10-26T06:42:00.000-07:00

While on our recent trip to Sydney, we had to cross
many miles of New South Wales' erstwhile gold country,

now gleaming with a different gold that rewards one's
labour with a little more certainty.

With the blue hills surrounding this wealth of gold,
I could have, like Dorothy, happily sunk down into
a hundred year sleep...woops, seems my bedtime
stories are getting tangled.

The road side weed, Echium plantagenium, covered
the road verges just in time for a welcome colour change.

All photos enlarge so you too may be blinded with gold.

Thanks to Klaus and the My World team for hosting
this informative meme.

TODAY'S FLOWERS ~ The Life of a Poppy

2009-10-25T06:03:00.000-07:00

The Poppies, Papaver somnifera, are still magnificent.
From this shy curtsying bud bending her head,

to the proud young girl standing tall.

throwing off her shackles she invites in her admirers

and shares her bounty with all comers.

They come in droves, all hungering for succour
are sated at her breast.

At night she shuts her doors to rest.

Enduring wind and rain with fortitude and using it to

adorn herself with miriads of rubies

until, reaching the height of maturity and power,
she begins to fade yet increases in beauty

even as she fades away.

Please enlarge at least the last two shots to see the

the wonder of glistening raindrops.

Thank you to Luiz Santilli Jr. and the Flower team

for hosting this beautiful meme.

Birdphotography Weekly ~ Red Wattlebirds

2009-10-23T17:16:00.000-07:00

The Red Wattlebirds, Anthochaera carunculata, have
dramatically increased in numbers as our garden has
started to mature.

With Grevilleas flowering for many months before
the Eucalyptus trees begin, food is plentiful.

They are quite large birds, up to 33cm, and can be
extremely frightening when dive bombing my poor
antique cat.

Swooping low over her back and loudly clicking
their beaks, they do not actually harm her, but
give her one h... of a fright.

The red wattles are clearly visible in these two photos.
Wattle birds have a very loud and grating raucous call,
a very unmusical sound indeed, and are not particularly
nice to smaller birds in their vicinity.

The bird was so intent on terrorising the cat at my feet,
that I was standing no more than 2' from it, snapping
away with my camera and it did not even notice me.

There is nothing like getting up close and personal
to catch all its antics.

This year they have had an absolute population exlposion

with a whole flock inhabiting the park. I have never seen

a flock of these birds before.

The vast numbers of Galahs we have had in other years seem

to have moved elsewhere. This year for the first time we have

had Crows and Wattlebirds vieing for nesting space with

the large numbers of resident Magpies.

For more birds around the world, click on the Logo and enjoy.

SkyWatch and Nature Notes

2009-10-21T17:20:00.000-07:00

Yesterday afternoon clouds came welling across the
farm yard

thickening and towering high into the sky....

it was all just teasing...they passed over head without
shedding a single tear.

With the spring rains we have had, we also have the
associated hip high weeds but to compensate, a
population explosion of poppies, Papaver somnifera,
as well.

Since at last we have some water in the dams,

the turtles are migrating up the hill from the tiny
puddle in the dry summer creek that sustained the
life of at least some of them last summer.
The frogs have changed their nightly deafening din
on all sides to an ominous drumming of the Pukel
men with the loud and persistent honks of the bullfrogs..

For the first time since it was planted in the park
some 10 years ago, the candles on the Aesculus
hippocastanum, are alight and , if the season
remains good, we may get our first conckers yet!

There are only five flower spikes...I would have been
extatic with just one!

Time to leave the park. Even the water darkens since
the sun has set.

All photos enlarge as always.

Click on either and/or both Logos and visit the skies
and changing nature elsewhere.

My thanks to the skywatch team as well as to
Michelle of Rambling Wood for hosting these memes.

Watery Wednesday ~ 20 Ducks at Dawn

2009-10-20T06:09:00.000-07:00

Sorry, only one today....

it was still pretty dark so I had to pump some light

into the shot. It is a little clearer when enlarged.

Thanks to 2sweetnsaxy we can all enjoy lots of water.

MY WORLD ~ 47 A DOUBLY SIGNIFICANT DAY

2009-10-18T21:21:00.000-07:00

Sixty years ago today we sailed in through the Sydney
Heads and as we neared the harbour and the city I
stared in wonder at the hills.
Everywhere there were large patches of pink which
later I learned were Magnolia trees. In more than
half a century Sydney has changed and now is
crammed full of houses where before it boasted
beautiful gardens.

Although the spendour has left the cityscape, my

soul still remembers the exquisite beauty that greeted

my eyes on that auspicious day.

We embarked from Naples on the 25th Sept. 1949, my

13th birthday, little thinking that ten years to the day

later I would be leaving Europe yet again to cross the Atlantic.

My brother and sister had emigrated to Australia a year

earlier and sponsored mother and I to follow. Refugees

had little future in Germany at the time and neither the

USA, which only took young single people, nor Canada which

externded a helping hand to families as well, would take us

as we were encumbered with a person over the age of 45

and another still of mandatory school age.

My little brown cardboard sutcase held all my worldly

posessions, a spare set of underwear, a cardigan, a pair

of two piece bathers I had knitted from scratchy homespun

wool, a sunhat my mother had made for me for the voyage

and the few treasures I posessed, two books and a little

crystal vase and another very little one from Pompeii, my

birthday presents, as well as the little cellophane dolly my

papa had given me on the last Christmas before the Russians

hauled him off to Siberia.

All of which turned to ashes in the major bushfires in 1983.

Memories of the early days welled up of yet another language

to learn from scratch, the time spent in various camps, of people

on public transpost sidling away from one as though smitten

with the plague if one spoke in a foreign tongue on public transport...

When totally out of the blue Ces the wonderful Sunday painter

created this very special award for me.

As if by magic, I was lifted out of my introspective

thoughts and surrounded by the fellowship of the

oak nymphs she has created and made to feel special

for the old and weatherd oak that I am.

Ces, I thank you from my heartwood and will compile a list

of further recpients as soon as I can. Thank you dear

sisterfriend.

Thanks to the My World team we can all wonder the world at will.

TODAY'S FLOWERS ~ 35 More and More Roses

2009-10-18T01:42:00.000-07:00

While the last of the Tulips still linger,

the Roses come into their own. As I hung out the washing
this lovely 'Black Boy', oh dear, such a politically incorrect
name, assailed my senses with its rich delightful scent.

I could not resist taking a few minutes to catch a
different angle.

The main rose garden was awash with shades of
pink, here is 'Just Joey' with a touch of apricot.

'Michelle Meilland', never backward in coming
forward, is awash with blooms of palest pink

while 'Bewitched' is just that, bewitching.

Here I give you the soul of the roses, gentle and
ephemerally translucent,

to spring back to vigour and forceful energy as
colour once more suffuses its being, bringing it
back to vibrant life.

All photos enlarge with a click.

Click on the Logo and see thousands more flowers.

To our gracious hosts I give thanks for this meme
which gives pleasure to so many.

Wildwood Dreaming ~ Nature Notes

2009-10-17T00:04:00.000-07:00

This post is for Ces, my little sister-friend who
inspires me to experience once again the child-like
pleasure of seeing the world a new every day as
though it had just been created for my delectation.

The wild wood is my refuge
there I can dream of spring...

the poplars waking early
telling tales in silky voices on the wind

wild quinces bank along the creek, pale green
their blushing buds displaying

while the humble plum, industrious as ever,
is weighted down with half ripe fruit.

Dogroses on the eastern side are tardy in their flowering
while in the west their sisters smile in foolsome bloom.

The hawthorns have tight button-buds,
just one, a little bolder,
has opened up her sleepy eyes
to greet the warmth of longer days.

Dragonflies or damselflies, whatever they may be,
hover over water

thick with frogspawn as a morning frost
with promises of concerts yet to come.

The watchful unicorn , her pride by day concealing,
yet holds the golden key to all our silent dreaming.

Thank you Ces for the love and friendship you so

generously share and the immense inspiration that you are.

SkyWatch ~ 53 Turbulent Melbourne skies

2009-10-15T04:11:00.000-07:00

All photos enlarge with a simple click.

The skies held magic as we spied Melbourne from
the main highway from Sydney.

Normally this country mouse is not too happy in a
city environment but Melbourne is a city dear to my
heart, after all we lived there for twenty years.

The city centre is almost unrecognizable from that
we left in 1971 but it is very alive and growing.
Heading along a 6 lane highway at 110kph shooting
was not perfect but the clouds certainly were.

Arrived at my sister's house we celebrated my
birthday and even the sky got in on the act by giving
us a glowing sunset.

Click on the Logo and join the meme or just enjoy the skies.

Thanks to Klaus and the skywatch team we see wonderful
skies every week.

Watery Wednesday ~ 19 and Nature Notes The Dams are Alive...

2009-10-13T17:28:00.000-07:00

With the good late spring rains we have been having
this year our dams are alive with the sound of music,
the concert of frogs from all sides, the dam in the park
and the wild wood in particular and the garden and
paddocks all around us, has been almost deafening...
especially at night.

These are just a few pictures of the dam in the wild wood.
Apart from dragonflies and a pair of waterfowl, the shallows
everyshere were covered in frogspawn.

From the voices alone there were for or five species
we heard calling,

The spawn was laid in sheets and trails and mounds,
do click on the photos to see the details. The one below
has little black dots of tadpole embryos.

A view of part of the dam as I walked around it.

It is always a joy to walk on the land and discover once

more the small pleasures it offers and a delight to see it

come to life again after such a long drought.

Click the Logo and enjoy more life giving water.

Thanks to 2sweetnsaxy we can all jon in to this fun meme.

Thanks to Michell at Rambling Woods see the weekly changes in our world.

MY WORLD ~ 46 The Golden Glow of Spring

2009-10-12T04:56:00.000-07:00

Our landscape on the farm has totally changed yet
again. Other springs have seen our paddocks in a blue
haze of Salvation Jane, Echium plantagenium, see
my header for a flash back.
This year the Leprechauns have been busily strewing
gold pieces across the paddocks at randon. The whole
countryside, as the sun came out this morning, had
turned to a shimmering carpet of gold.

Only once in the last 50 years have I seen a
phenomenon to match this splendour.

The visual effect is stunning when the sun comes
out and all the flowers open.

Unfortunately for the country, this is not lush pasturage
but Cape Weed imported by some well meaning person
from South Africa. It suppresses our native grasses and
sown pasture by quickly outgrowing, overhadowing and
depriving all else of light.
It is also an indicator of depleted soil quality which is
not at all remarkable after 6 years of drought.

The golden glow in the distance is our neighbour's
paddock with our land that is visibly green dotted
by our few remaining sheep.

The neighbour's dam with a little water in it and
gold on our paddock in the foreground too.

Bachi with her week old calf enjoying a feed in the
sunshine

while at the side of the forest a wary kangaroo with

large Joey in her pouch regards me with a baleful

and suspicious eye,

while down by the silver poplars in their new finery,

the Unicorn spreads peace over all.

There are more wonders in the world than anyone

has ever seen, so click on the Logo and visit some.

To Klaus and the MY WORLD Team I extend my
thanks for letting us see the little wonders in each
other's backyards.

TODAY'S FLOWERS ~ 34 Roses Plus

2009-10-11T03:40:00.000-07:00

Spring is blooming in full force, the mix and meld
of scent outside is enough to make your senses swoon.
Wisteria, Dendrobium Orchids alternating with Roses
and Philadephus....

This little Cecile Brunner Rose, less than 2"across,
exudes a gentle yet strong perfume

another rose with a small but fragrant flower covers
the side of one of our horse stables

Philadelphus that barely survived lat year's severe
drought is reviving again

one of our great joys, Souvenir de la Malmaison,
a perfumed wonder of sheer delight.

What would roses be without their friendship with
Lavender? Pink and blue make a perfect team.

Flowers speak a universal language, click on the Logo
and decode the Tower of Babel.

Eternal thanks to Luiz Santilli Jr. both for starting this meme
and, with the help of his team, keeping it going for all of us.

A wonderful Award again!

2009-10-10T02:18:00.000-07:00

Ces of Ces and her Dishes has seen fit to
hounour me yet again by including me in her
list of inaugural recipients of this so beautifully
painted award. Being a seasoned old oak myself,
I truly appreciate the gesture.

Than you Ces.

In my turn, I would like to pass it on to
these most deserving bloggers:

Anna of Nature Trail
Renee of Circling my Head
Isabel of A Room of One's Own
Amanda of Amamdah's Veranda
Kathie at Sycamore Canyon
Becky and Gary at Woodynook Creations
Tammie Lee of Spirit Helpers
and last but not least, to
Jake and Ruth's Photoblog

To all of you, congratulations on your wonderful
blogging achievements and your love of all things
great and small.

SkyWatch ~ 52 Tha Sun Always Rises...

2009-10-08T05:28:00.000-07:00

Spring is moving along and pretty sunrises are no
longer the order of the day so when I saw this, I was
out like a shot with my camera.

Cold it might have been but the colour changes with
the change of angle of the camera were spectacular.

From purples back to gold and reds and back again

it was hard to say which way to look...

one minute the sky was aflame, cooled down again,

only to roar into a raging inferno once more. What a sky show!

To cool down, click on the Logo and visit other skies.

With thanks to our hosts Klaus and the Skywatch team

for continuing this great meme.

WATERY WEDNESDAY ~ 18 Head of the Torrens II

2009-10-06T17:45:00.000-07:00

Here at last is the promised continuation of the
beginning of the River Torrens half a mile
downstream from its slightly more pristine look
in my previous post.

What a difference a little distance plus a township
make....the sky and trees still reflect in the still pool
but where the water falls not much more than 6",
other very pretty pictures form, though they are rather
unnerving to consider.

Like turning a kaleidoscope, the patterns of foam and
scum swirl and change....

from white snowfields,

to the rainbow sands of famed beaches.

All photos enlarge both for greater enjoyment of the

patterns and impact of the horror of the pollution in

such a short stretch of the river's progress.

Had someone painted this, you would hang it on the wall,
knowing what it is, makes you want to weep for a civilization

that is murdering the bounty of our planet which has

enabled its very existence.

We cannot rely on others to rectify the situation.
Laws and fines have little effect and only apply to big

corporations although their economists often work on

the principle that it cheaper to pollute and pay the fine

when/if caught, than to dispose of hazardous waste

responsibly.

The way forward I see is for the individual to take control

of his own patch and by example show that it is possible to
live in balance with ones surroundings without recourse
to the arsenal of chemical consortiums that blithely sell

what is banned in one country to an unsuspecting poorer one.

That is the reason we have amassed four congruent

properties so that at least these 500 acres can revert
back to a viable, self-sustaining existence.

Next week, God willing I will show you what looks like

scum but proves the health of our dams. May the gods

smile on you till then.

Now, click on the logo and float down some other river...

Thanks to 2sweetnsaxy for being a brick and organizing this meme.

MY WORLD ~ 45 The Boring Part of the Road

2009-10-05T04:22:00.000-07:00

A long, flat, boring part of our way to Sydney. To
get there in a reasonable time, this is the way to take.
The road is straight ahead all the way across the state
of Victoria. This time it was spring and if one bothered
to stop, this dry dry country produced some lovely
surprises like these tiny straw flowers.

The golden ones were even more spectacular against
the red sany soil.

Like someone had thrown a king's ransom across
the road verges.

Even the stunted Acacias glowed gold.

Crossing another state border we came to a little sleepy

hollow called Weethalle in New South Wales. To call

it a one horse town is to give it more life than it has.

No matter, we like to support little shrinking communities

so we stopped to have some scones and tea at the old

railway carriage tea room at the restored station next to
the silent tracks.

These beautiful Gazanias are a proclaimed weed in

sandy areas of Australia but aren't they splendid.
From the platform, across the rusty tracks there
we saw this beautiful mural of the old town the way

it used to be.

There is still wheat farming in the district as the

silo testifies.

Unfortunately the tea room was closed although the
sign said open.

The little old ladies who run the little shop and tea room
maintain the gardens beautifully.

I did take some photos of the beautiful station but

my computer ate them, so for today, this is all you

are getting.

Click on the Logo and fly around the world that Klaus

and his Team have so kindly opened to us.

TODAY'S FLOWERS ~ 33 Tulips

2009-10-04T04:36:00.000-07:00

The fiery red of Tulips to shoo away the flu
on a miserable and rainy day...

To all of you who cared and sent supportive messages
I am truly deeply grateful. Though it still lingers, it is
decidedly getting better.
Here they are again on a slightly brighter day.

My energy reserve opening up in bright sunlight.

Click on the flowers to enlarge or on the Logo to visit
many more around the world.

Thanks to Luiz Santilli Jr. and his great team we can see
what is flowering around the globe.

Apologies...

2009-10-01T16:17:00.001-07:00

As the wheels of time turn, I just yearn for some thin gruel and a bed.

I'm not even up to visiting a few blogs, eyes fogged up and hard to focus

let alone formulate cogent thought.

I'll be back in the circuit a soon as I can shake this raging world war III in my

system.

Think of me now and then, you know I love being part of the web community.

Best wishes to you all!!!

MY WORLD ~ 44 On the Road Again

2009-09-28T05:27:00.000-07:00

All photos enlarge for better viewing with more detail.

Two weeks ago we set off on a long haul to Sydney,
New South Wales. After many delays and tired before
we started, we were off at 5p.m. and made it rather
the worse for wear to this once grand hotel, the Victoria
Hotel at Ouyen in the almost never-never country.

The town was crammed to the rafters, not only had it
just had its centennary but also the grand Vanilla Slice
competition!!! We were lucky to secure the last available
bed...unfortunately only a double not a queen size.

We were on the first floor with 12'6" ceiling and this
Banksia Rose smiled at me through the fly-wire in the
morning. When I investigated the fire exit, I came face
to face with the head of this Palm tree lit up by the rising
sun. How often does one see a mature palm at this height?

Investigating in the other direction, the sun streamed in
through the door to the front verandah

the original iron lace cast perfect shadows across

its 12' width.

Breakfast called and the old Commercial Travellers' Room

converted as a breakfast parlour still boasted the holes for

the ink wells and pens in the divided desks, although now

there was an array of breakfast cereals and toasting

paraphenalia there. The 1950's wallpaper with its lurid gleaming

gold roses caught my eye. Do enlarge it for the stunning effect!

A glimpse into the residential lounge showed an

assortment of none too comfortable furnishings, not at

all like the leather armchairs we remembered from some
30 years before .

Heading downstairs was a lovely solid old wooden

staircase positively reeking of respectability.

Unfortunately I had no call to investigate the Ladies Room
and the once imposing room for business transactions had

now been turned into a restaurant and securely fastened

against inquisitive morning intruders.

The sataircase sweeping down to Reception and Lobby,

and from below, a couple of armchairs quaintly flanking

an old treadle sewing machine surmounted by an old
photo of the front of the hotel in the days of its glory.

The photo was rather faded and warped behind its glass
shield, but at least you can see the lovely old cars.

Here is the tiled front and Entrance as we left on our

next day's journey.

Grandeur always comes at a price but faded grandeur

often comes at half price, so we could not complain of

having the bathrooms in the hallway at $50 a double

room with continental breafast!

More adventures of our two weeks on the foad to follow....

For other tales, click on the Logo and look.

TODAY'S FLOWERS ~ 32 Wonders of Spring

2009-09-27T05:42:00.000-07:00

There were compensations along the way in driving
a thousand miles to Sydney. This glorious flower display
greeted us on leaving our cabin in a caravan park in
Blackheath in the Blue Mountains of New South Wales.

We were lucky enough to get the last night in the
last cabin when we were dog tired, so tired we did
not even notice the beauty of the street until the
next morning.

The whole street was full of Azaleas, there was a pond
in the dell surrounded by Cherry Trees.

Ducks on the pond and sun on the cherry blossom,
there was beauty all around....

as we headed up the hill again through the extensive
gardens, the Rhododendrons hit us like a steam train,
they were enormous and many were in full bloom.
No wonder the place was booked out until November
with the Rhododendron festival starting!

Rhododendrons as high as houses and in the most
vibrant colours imaginable...

this one made a pretty picture shielded by the
protective arms of the native Australian Eucalypt.
The Rhododendron was a good 30' tall, seldom have
I seen one so large.

So often when one makes an effort to do something nice,
the Universe blesses one with a wonderful gift - this
was such a time.

All pictures enlarge, enjoy!

The world is full of beautiful flowers, click on the Logo and see.

Thanks to Luiz Santilli Jr. and the Flower Team we can join in
and enjoy this meme.

SkyWatch ~ 51 Stormy Weather

2009-09-26T02:22:00.000-07:00

I'm back on line again in our half-way house motel
in Horsham which does have internet..hooray!!

The drive of over 250 miles from Melbourne to
here was rather a strain with pouring rain, wind
gusts so you could not open a door against them
and intermittent hail for good measure.

Cars were kicking up spray that made it even worse,
especially when passing huge trucks when you had to
trust your luck and instinct to stay on the road.

Part of the way was dual carriage-way, here is the
spray of the on coming traffic.

Another hazard was the threat of aquaplaning on
the water filled ruts left by heavy pan-technicons
when the tarmac had softened in the summer heat.

It looks like tomorrow will be similar, but at least
it is the last leg home.

Thank you all for your good wishes, I am certain they

helped to keep us safe. I have 1,200 photos from this trip,

so be prepared to be blinded by the beauties of Australia

for quite a while.