Happy Christmas to one and all

Almost didn't make it....thanks to all who have made comments...its a great way for me to keep in touch...someone will have to teach my brothers how to leave a comment....
Noo...some fantastic piccies...and thus have sent our 'white' christmas...looks like its covered in snow this lilly pilly...and full of bees...(click on the piccie for a bigger view)
Hope that the fog in the UK does not thwart the plans of all...
Thinking of you all with a wish for a wonderful christmas and a new year of more words...

Alice Springs

Had to take the opportunity to post these pictures from M's trip to Alice Springs raising money for Day of Difference on a Charity Flight...these ones seem to go together...traditional dance and traditional people. Colours of the earth and the colour of the indigenous peoples are so similar, easy to connect them to the land that is loved so much and such a huge part of their culture.
If only the first settlers here had realised what they could have learned fro this wonderful group of people. Sadly white migrants deemed it better to 'civilise the natives' and that if that failed better to wipe them out...and it still goes on...better we had left the land to the original custodians. I doubt that these pages will be viewed by indigenous people but if they are I respectfully ask that these images may be shown and would certainly take them down if any offence is taken...

Into Summer

As we move into summer and the promised heat of the continent for this year and the continuing drought I consider we are lucky to have continued rain splashing over us at Yessabah.
The lilies have popped up again on the dam after rain buried them under a few inches of water, the wedge tailed eagles are back again hunting for yummy stuff...frogs hop across the roof at night and sit on the verandah...and the little ones sit in the bamboo by day trying to look like they are not really there...and the orb weavers are back spinning their webs across every spot they can around the verandah...we move them if they get in the way...spiders and blue fairy wrens have eaten the flying termites that appear as the weather gets warmer...better the spiders than the termites..
At this time of year I think of my country of origin and snow and family...so different from the summer here...but the thoughts are always the same...

Pod Collective

For those of you into all things arty, check out the Pod Collective in the links...certainly worth a look for some amazing ideas.........

Whoosh..Sydney and back....

Little Jess (there is a big jess too) had her 21st on Saturday in Sydney so a mad rush down on Friday and shops on Saturday, 21st night Saturday, back Sunday...certainly was a whoosh. All went down well with a mixture of gangsters and mad pirates who turned up for the celebrations. Some photos to come soon as we download them and get them sorted...will link to photo album that family have links to as soon as we can..(it only allows you in from the email address we have you at...tricky eh)...
Sorry its a short one but have work to catch up with as well as the grass that decided to grow whilst I wasn't looking...........

Broadband comes to the bush

A quick note to say that broadband up and working!! What fun...especially where we are in the middle of the bush...with all the music suddenly worth checking out it might be some time before we get to the blog...ha ha..

Will load up some photos and connect family to link for them....

WooHoo.......

Moved to Beta

Have switched over to the Beta Blog..is that beta or worse...any problems from anyone please let me know so I can keep up with any issues on the new blog

Of Devon and the world

Was thinking of replying to the recent posts from Devon by normal email but its more fun to place responses here. Glad Nat that you have connected to the blog. Blame Auntie Noo for the process as she started me off and now the time is the fun bit to find.
Broadband waiting for delivery of new modem...very nicely free to to regional subsidy...then I will load up more photos...at the moment I have to wait ages to upload the piccies...will be much easier in a while...all those skype requests from family will be attended to...so cheap phone as long as we can sort out the time difference eh.
My thoughts of late have been full of the climate changes...the massive Murray/Darling River systems are in a perilous state. Our wonderful government with little John at the helm seem to think that all water diverted from the wetlands and river systems can provide drinking water. As someone said 'he just doesn't get it does he?'. Without our sensitive environment looked after its not going to make much difference to the human population.
Loved David Attenborough with his last comment on the last series shown in Aus standing infront of huge termite mounds ...'if we die out these insect populations(pointing to the insects behind him) won't notice the difference...but if they all die out we will all dissapear too...
It amazes me that so many people(and those people are in the minority) are more concerned with the money to be made rather than the planet we all share...gradually we erode the very place we live...
It is sad, but we also must continue to be positive to aim for a recognition that the planet and its people must come before the few making millions. I did find it all depressing to see how stupid we have become...and the arrogance that all the problems will be solved by somebody else...
Lucky here at home in that our waste and our water we look after or else we run out. Would love to afford solar power etc but too expensive at the moment...and no support from the government to switch our homes to effective renuable energy...and this is Aus...we have plenty of sun. Sadly we have coal and uranium to get rid of and sell to make money...so where will it go...to china and india to provide more pollution...another circle...
A man turned up here the other day...nice old cockey to ask if we were interested in selling timber. He was surprised when I said 'no' we are preserving what we have for the future and 350 acres of tree does something for the planet let alone the wildlife. We value the critters around here and will try to do all we can to ensure they are welcome as long as I don't get bitten by dingoes or goannas eh!
Read a lovely book ages ago 'diary of a welsh swagman' in the 1860's, came here from Wales to get away from his wife and family it seems. A diary full of comments at the dry continent and the massive land clearing that was promoted and no decent farming practices to look after the land and the limited water...pity nobody listened to those comment then...it could all be so different.
I watch the news showing massive farming operations and the effect of the drought...well the effect of the farming practices have to be reviewed...to me clearing acres upon acres and sowing one crop is just plain stupid as far as reducing rain and soil quality...but then I am just an old hippy...
I will be intersted to here of the changes across the world...surprised Noo that you are on water restrictions there...always seems funny in the UK to not have enough water...
We will all do whatever we can to save energy and water and save the planet too...
On positive...Mandy off to Alice Springs today with the Charity Flight...wonderful to see those who have made their money putting it in to help others...and little Sophie Delizio has been a fantastic example of strength and joy to all that see her...

Keeping Up To Date

No photos for this one. An entry to keep all those family members up to date with the goings on, though I suspect that only one family member will be checking in!
Mulch, mulch and mulch. Son J was here to clear a fire break for us, which meant tons of bladey grass to use for mulch. Good stuff as no weeds appear. Now all the garden beds, trees and vegies are mulched for the dry summer, though it has been raining for a week and all very soggy underfoot with some lovely little mountains of earth all over the place with thanks to the worker ants. Great for the dog who loves to roll on it all and then very nicely carry all the dirt into the house...

M off to Alice Springs again for a charity flight to Alice Springs for The Day of Difference Foundation and to enjoy some warm weather and probably a few flies.

Sad news for son J...a kangaroo leapt in front of him whilst driving to work and did some major damage to the car but no damage to occupants. One of the problems with driving in the country areas. So now a hunt for parts and money to fix it...Of course it didn't do the kangaroo much good either...

To all of you who move into the colder parts of the year keep warm...watch the weather. How much of a change do you see that is not normal? Australia in its worst drought for a thousand years, though I am not sure who kept the records a thousand years ago in Aus...sure the Indigenous people didn't...but then this continent did fine for 60,ooo years and sadly the last two hundred of good old civilised white settlers have seen destruction of the environment on an unprecedented level.

We can only each do what we can to preserve the planet and its people...

Broadband is also coming to the bush...ahhh patience...5 to 10days away...modem in the post I am told...will look forward to some Skype phone calls with all and sundry...

M so far

Finally a quite Sunday at home, a little rain on the roof, a dog asleep at my feet - its time to go blogging.

Travelled to Alice Springs last week for work (organising a charity event for a couple of hundred!), and despite a busy round of people to see I managed a few hours to escape to the desert. Wonderful! To be totally alone in the world for just a brief moment is a great feeling.

Its hard to do justice with my little digital camera to the panorama of gorgeous scenery, the intense colour, and the 'hugeness' of it all.

To explain the pics a little:
The little group of drummers are performing for our event - hopefully about 50 of them. My camera (the perfect travel companion) kindly took my photo in Standley Chasm; Full moon rise over Simpsons Gap; a ribbon of bitumen runs parallel to the MacDonnell Ranges, and ghost gums with their stark white trunks and 'dripping' leaves are everywhere.

Never enjoyed photography as much as I do now I am digital. That delete button is every so handy!

P & I spend a blissful weekend in Byron Bay - soaking up the sun, whale watching (fantastic humpback waving his fin at us), beaching, reading - just perfect. The hardest thing we had to do was choose where to eat each day. And in Byron that is not easy. There is so much good food to choose from. Our humble little accommodation was on the beach and a short walk along the beach to town - much quieter. We did notice that while we were coming home from dinner - most of the younger back pack set were heading out for the start of their night.

We're just a couple of invisible oldies. And we love it.

Dingo in the Bush

Living in the bush as we do, one never quite knows what will turn up on the doorstep, though I didn't expect to have a dingo six feet away from the verandah. Talking on the phone and seeing a dingo appear with the left eye and Charley take off with the right eye. Not too sure what would happen should they make contact. Charley definitely very territorial. So Charley and Dingo headed off up the driveway with me behind. I did stop to grab a stick though had no idea what I would do should they contact. Never seen Charley with her hackles that big before or quite as aggitated.

At least now I know that she will chase them away if they get too close. What amazes me when I see the dingoes is how beautiful they are. This one male and fantastic in flight...certainly outran Charley.
Have posted a link for the UK mob should you wish to read more about them. Heart still pumping with the excitement. Thats another reason to live here with our own wildlife sanctuary.
Must be said though that despite what some web sites may say (UK ones) dingoes are not aggressive unless we interfere with them as we are want to do. We feed them and love to see them and then it all gets out of hand. You can get attacked by a chook if its the boss.


It is marvelous to live amongst the wildlife that we have here...the red browed finches are back as are the Wonga Pidgeon pair that visit and wander around all day. Spring and summer call back so much to see...we love it all....

Will the real subaru stand up!

Thought I should put up some photos of the real Brumby...even has it written on the side so that I don't forget what it is. Was pretty close to what I showed...so I must have known eh! Really happy with it and have now joined the Subaru owners and can get on with the work to do around the place...
Might have to throw a surf board in the back and hit the beach too!
Good to be back on the road...now all I must find is a CD player.......

What a weekend!

The temperatures reached 34 on the verandah on Sunday and M and I wondered about the summer to come.

With that in mind we decided to give Woodford a miss this year and instead try the Peats Ridge festival...not so far away...on a river...and with not as many people...all looks very laid back and suitable for us...

For those who may be interested check out the web site...might be a space for the sheilas to play at next year...
http://www.peatsridgefestival.com.au

After all that happened we decided a visit to the beach...even though the wind had picked up would be a good space to blow away the heat of the day...

Now for those of you who don't know...I have been looking for a Subaru Brumby...hard to find so everyone has said...but trusting that this was the right choice I decided to wait till one turned up...so on the way to the beach what do we see but a Subaru Brumby for sale at the side of the road at South West Rocks...so went to the beach had a walk (sand blast) visited our dear friend Juju..rang the number on the car...looked and bought...all that easy...

It does show that once you put out the idea and are clear of what you want the universe provides as long as you don't get in the way...all in all very amazing and Mandy and I drove home a little blown out by it all...

Pick up the car tonight and then will post a real photo. The one above is similar to give all an idea. The number plate happens to be www 594...had to be with the web design!!!

So for M in Sweden...what about Marty Man and Brumby Boy!!!

Thanks fore all the comments from all...good to know that you can check out the doings of the oz clan online...

Comments

For those of you who have had problems leaving comments...I believe I have now fixed the comment issue. So no more hassles now. At the moment feeling a little under the weather so not much more. I do wonder though...when one is 'under the weather' what weather are you under, blazing sun, snow, rain, hurricanes,.....

Cirque du Soleil

If I don't get much time to write on the blog, I have to find time to say that if you ever get the chance to see Cirque du Soleil...go for it. The colour, the chaos and the incredible daring of Cirque du Soleil of this internatioinally acclaimed troupe is a wonder to see.
With my background in improvised theatre, mask and mime I was ecstatic to witness not only the capability of Cirque but the obvious relationship each member of the company has with each other.
Dominic Champagne (what a name) was creating a new program for the circus group when the World Trade Centre was attacked. He turned this performance Varekai into a tribute to a humanity which can survive and surmount such suffereing. (This I learned after seeing the show)
Costumes, masks, staging and lighting add to the genius of the performance. I want to join the circus......
Apologies for the quality of the photos...I only managed a couple inside as photography was not allowed...whoops...the masks were amazing...


Had to include the Sydney Icon for those who have never been to Oz...

Sydney and Cirque du Soleil

Off to Sydney tomorrow (Thursday 24 August) with M to see Cirque du Soleil and Varekai. Been trying to get to see them for ages and the opportunity of going to Sydney for a 21st all tied in. Plus the finish of Sydney Bienalle (Lots of Artworks).
Cirque du Soleil is a basic passion and demonstrates all the theater and music and circus skills together. After years in improvised theatre this is a reminder for me.
Lots of Art at the Galleries and some time on Manly beach with M.
Eventually I will get to the blog and write some stuff about me.
Garden planted with lots of goodies...yum yum.
Mulch, mulch and more mulch.

Home

Home amidst the peace of the Australian NSW Bush.

Up and running just

Well, midnight and thinking of all the things I might do with a blog site. The title covers a little bit of me and my interests. A place to air my thoughts and write a journal.
Some images come to mind of theatre and dance, of drum rhythms and drawing and painting.
Of the garden mulch and first seedlings planted. Aromas of compost and good humus.
During the day my work takes me to multimedia design, parrots and kookaburras and cups of tea.Now it has begun.
Where to from here no one knows.