Year: 2014

The summers of my youth were spent on a beach, Famagusta beach, on the south side of the island. Famagusta is now sadly closed off to us following the Turkish invasion of Cyprus 40 whole years ago this month, when I left my home with the clothes I was wearing, never to return.  Beachcomber was…

Our neighbour gave us a bird table for Xmas. He made it, so we feel honoured and happy to have it on our deck. Readers of this blog will know that it has attracted all sorts of birds over the months but not just birds. We have had rats, and mice which have brought snakes…

While wandering around in Sydney Botanical Gardens I came across this semi circle, The Henry Kendall seat, dedicated to the poet, Henry Kendall, and the winged horses carved by L Bicego in 1939. It was the highlight of my day – first because it was in my own language, so far from my origins, and…

We spent the better part of a whole day wandering around Sydney’s Botanical Gardens and I am not sure I even took in half of it really. Its beautifully laid out with lower, middle and higher gardens and it dates backs to the first settlers and their need to put in some green spaces not…

I have the chance to visit galleries and see wonderful exhibitions in this country and this is one I want to share with you though I appreciate that seeing the actual paintings instead of their pictures is a wholly different ball game. Sam Fullbook was one of Australia’s finest Painters after the Second World War.…

There is a charming little hilltop town called Maleny, about 90 kms north of Brisbane, which was buzzing on the long weekend. It is set among the Blackall Range on an escarpment with some wonderful views of the valley below as well as the Glass house mountains. It is full of quaint little shops and…

I have been walking past these enormous succulents for a while. Each time I note the flower  stem has grown even more, so this time I took my camera and captured its tumescence before it goes on the downward spiral. They extend much higher than my 153 cms and it starts with the flowers and…

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Wgy-EGJovhw This was sent to me by my very good friend Phil and it was filmed before I was born. I was so taken by the soundtrack – we have all heard something similar- the fashion and the cars, not to mention the historic buildings which to this day grace this wonderful city. If you…

In 2009, the William Robinson Gallery opened in Old Government House at the Queensland University of Technology, Brisbane. It was the first time in Australia that an artist had been honoured in such a way. William Robinson was born in 1936 in Queensland and came to national attention when he won the Archibald Prize for…

Yesterday was the first day of winter in Australia. I am sitting at my desk, the sun is streaming into my window, I am wearing shorts and a sleeveless top and I want to know where did autumn go ? There are some worrying trends that temperatures generally around the continent are a little higher…