Annie's Blog

I wish to say a Happy New Year. The sun shone yesterday for the first time it seemed for quite a while and when I saw the water moving quite strongly in the pool I wondered why, until I saw this little fellow sitting up there he'd been having a bath in the pool. After all our rain. The tawny frogmouths from down south wanted to wish you a Happy New Year too! May God go with you in 2011. The situation in Queensland is pretty dire at the moment with all the floods across the state. Many people have been evacuated from their homes, including whole towns of Theodore yesterday and Condamine last night, all by helicopter. They say the affected areas make up the size of France and Germany combined. About 200,000 people have been affected. Australia is really a strange land of contrasts. While we have widespread floods up here in our state, down south in Victoria and South Australia, after much rain this year themselves, they are once again having a heat wave and are at risk of bush fires...

a rare moment of peace and tranquility at the Japanese Gardens up the mountain at Christmas time! It must have been due to the weather, or the fact that it was late Christmas Eve when I took these photos, but the place was practically deserted. What a shame. Such beauty going to waste! Does beauty go to waste if there is no-one there to appreciate it? Anyway, I am glad I saw it at such a time. Very serene. When all around at the moment was rain rain rain. And now almost the whole of the state of Queensland is affected by floods. Whole country towns are being evacuated. May God go with them, and with the authorities as they help.

the scrub turkey was out today looking quite resplendent slightly perkier than he was when huddled out of the rain last night and there was a wonderful little moment of a sunset tonight. Even though they are predicting more rain, it may not be as heavy as we have had. Hopefully.

These magpies came aboard yesterday to welcome me after my return to Brisbane from Christmas celebrations up the mountain. I discovered that the batteries in my camera were a little incapable of much zooming, after all the photos I took of the family at the beach! They even sang songs of celebration. I think that might have been for a DRY spot out of the rain! I emptied over six inches out of the rain gauge yesterday. I also emptied out another four inches last week before I went to Melbourne. mmm. I feel as if we will all be floating down the river soon. Especially as they have to keep emptying water out of the now very full dams. I was unable to go my usual route up the mountain because the river crossing was flooded. (*) The scrub turkey was seeking shelter underneath the verandah last night when I went to check further progress in the rain gauge after a day of constant rain. I didn't like to disturb him, so I checked the gauge this morning on waking. Only another inch. And ther...

a little tree for the children wonderful kangaroo paw in Melbourne a tree to say goodbye to at the airport wonderful fuschias in Melbourne also decorations in the shops down south lovely tree foliage in Eltham another aussie tree May God bless you this holiday season.

hello, what's this here in the trees outside? aha, a couple of tawny frogmouths thanks for letting me take your photo!

the lovely grounds and buildings of Montsalvat was the setting.. the old cars matched the old buildings but the bridesmaids were pretty modern canapes by the pool many photos taken lovely reception venue there too some great music...perhaps this must be the group the bride usually plays the cello for ooohh everyone dances and the night comes to a close...