Next month will see the tenth anniversary of the devastating Black Saturday bushfires that were burning on or around Saturday, 7th February 2009 in the state of Victoria. There were 180 fatalities and the fires covered an area of over 450,000 hectares (1700 square miles). More than 2000 houses were destroyed as well as a similar number of other buildings. The Black Saturday fires started … Continue reading Bushfire and rebirth.
Here is the first in a series of stories for Ida May who is my Grand Daughter. I have probably written them all before but she wasn’t old enough then because she was younger than she is now. Dear Ida May, When I was just a little boy I didn’t seem to have the sense I was born with and so I did some … Continue reading Ida May stories #1 The haystack.
Just a short way passed the Chicory kiln is a right turn to Churchill Island. There was a lot in store for me. Along the causeway that connects the two islands I collected another two birds to my list. The Cape Barren Goose is a native Australian and is generally larger than the Canadian Snow Goose but smaller than the domestic goose. They live mostly … Continue reading Phillip Island extended
To check Melbourne’s weather go to link. http://www.bom.gov.au/products/IDR022.loop.shtml I told her not to worry ‘bout it raining. “Hang the washing out and take a nap If you keep a good watch on the TV It’ll show where it is raining. On the map.” And I’ll tell you how to stop yourself from drowning It’s doesn’t mean you hafta learn to swim. If the … Continue reading Weather!
I’ll get around to some more of my usual posts soon but for the time being a few photos and perhaps some old reposts. It was hot today. I didn’t go to the cricket – Australia v India. I know snow is pretty but it is a bit cold. But it was hot today. There were hardly any clouds so there wasn’t much of a … Continue reading Boxing Day
I wish you all a joyful Christmas. I know some of you believe other than I do but I have enjoyed your company this year. So, an introduction and then a photo album. The front of the National Gallery of Melbourne is a glass wall of water. Many a time have I stopped. Most adults walk past it on their way to the door. But … Continue reading My Christmas gift to you
It was very early on the 12 November that I opened a text message from my brother who lives in Cairns. He gave fairly simple instructions about where to go, where to stop and places to look at. Yes Michael, we went to Lucinda and the Hinchinbrook lookout and were very happy with your suggestion. And of course we were going through Innisfail – that … Continue reading The Road Trip – #21 El Arish to Innisfail
So, goodbye stingers and have a nice day. More sugarcane and the Cardwell Range up close on the left, the coast on our right but no ocean because there is Hinchinbrook Island (nearly 400 square km. in area ) just a little way of the coast. The road rises over a spur of the Cardwell Range and from a lookout you can see Hinchinbrook Island across … Continue reading The Road Trip – #20 Lucinda to El Arish
Hark, Hark, the trees have bark! You see them all over the town. Some are smooth and some are dark And all in the streets of my town. Flowers are pretty and colourful and stuff like that, But bark has a story to tell. Continue reading Hark, Hark, the Bark.
Here we go. Almost there. Townsville on the coast and then north up to Cairns. Townsville is where Robin lives so maybe I’ll get to wash my shirts. Then we’ll take a couple of days off before we head on. It wasn’t far, 20 km to the Burdekin River. The Burdekin River descends 620 metres (2,030 ft) over its 886-kilometre (551 mi) course. Apart from the Murray River, the … Continue reading The Road Trip – #18 Charters Towers to Townsville.
