Can I tempt you with a little alter whine...?

As I couldn't tempt you to sweep yourselves into a real life Monopoly game by buying up some Ballarat hotels how about buying up some Bendigo churches?

This little missive wended its way into my inbox a few weeks back and it came to mind as the auction is to be held tomorrow at St Andrews Uniting Church in Bendigo (St Andrews is just playing host for the auction, it isn't actually on the menu) so I thought I'd see if any of you could be tempted to the other side of the coin of the pubs.

To begin with we have this little aluminium clad weatherboard number at Korong Vale..... followed by this delightful brick outfit to be found in Raywood.....along with this fabulous pre-WW1 slice of history in Carisbrook.... rounded out with this gorgeous turn-of-the-century collectable at Barnadown.

Those umpteen gazillion renovation shows I seem addicted to have shown a few church conversions in the UK that have worked well as family homes -albeit some with their own dead bodies in the attached churchyard but that's just an added extra UK kids get to play with as few churches in Oz have dead 'uns so you don't have to fret about maintaining the moss and lichen on the headstones.

Think of the history, the sad farewells, the joyous celebrations, the gatherings and community the walls of those churches have witnessed!
Throw a mezzanine floor through one end for loft bedrooms (those are HIGH ceilings!), possibly install an outdoor architecturally-sympathetic wrought-iron balcony around the upper windows  (wrought iron won't block natural light), get permission to install SUBTLE skylights to increase light into upper floor - family home, art gallery, offices, dance studio, bookstore....the sky's the limit to reusing such well-built, historic buildings!

Just a few quickies...

Have a gander at the gorgeous building about to go the way of the Dodo.
Follow the photo link HERE.

Now, when you've finished drooling over the stunningly lovely yet neglected building that is Halcyon Hall, have a read of its history HERE.

Closer to home the reconstruction of the Toorourrong Reservoir (try saying that twenty times with your teeth out) continues with the heritage-listed stones being replaced after the repairs were carried out.

Demolition of historic stables - OOPS!

Gold bars, they are a'pourin' 'em in Castlemaine.

Yes, the increased numbers of bums on seats and strap-hangers proves rail travel is the way to go for country Victoria.
So.
Increase the infrastucture already.

Am currently reading an op shop find (for a whole bank-breaking $1) The Illustrated Book of Infamous Australian Crimes and was interested in The Mad Dentist of Wynyard Square.
Lisa at Timespanner pointed out a post she had written about the Kinder House with references to a biography written about Maria Ellen Kinder, the femme fatale whose lover murdered her husband.

Am working my way through the murders and infamous killers so...I'll get back to you....

So, I cobbled together this potpourri of stuffs for you....

Goodness, where do I start today?!
There's a shedload of news to share with you - stuffs that land in my inbox or tap me on the shoulder in the interwebs as I trot merrily about it - from Oz and Overseas!

First up, the very sad news Aussie Sci-fi and Fantasy author Sara Douglass has passed away after her battle with cancer.

There have been protests at the new proposed height restrictions on Christchurch buildings, while others have protested at the manner in which Trinity Church was demolished without salvaging any heritage materials.
Right or wrong, whichever side you agree with, I think safety was the main concern in each instance after such loss and devastation.

Interesting to see that Cockatoo Kinder's heritage 'significance' was diminished by the destruction of outer and inner walls ...I say interesting as I've read of a few unapproved demolitions of heritage listed buildings where the buildings were reconstructed in the same facade/manner to replace what was removed.
Can this not be applied for this building, too...?
This building was used by 300 as a refuge during the horrific Ash Wednesday bush fires.
Hopefully Cardinia Council will follow recommendations from Heritage Victoria to include the building in council heritage overlays.
There is a Facebook support group to help preserve this building.

Read what oodles of goodies in silver were found in a Brit shipwreck in the Atlantic!
Ooooo, noice!
With 20% going to the British Govt that should help the coffers...a bit.

Parks Victoria has a Master Plan!
*insert sinister music*
Just kidding!
Or am I...? *snort*
While I can understand the banning of dogs and fishing in a conservation area how much damage does cycling do, seriously?
If they're worried about those dreaded grey cyclists in form-hugging lycra changing inner tubes in the midst of virgin bushland scaring native fauna, what about those rabid ramblers rattling about the undergrowth or the titillated twitchers trailling birdies...?
It's the lycra they're opposed to, isn't it?

Seems there's gold in them thar Western Victorian hills, dales, planes, pot holes, trees and all over the shop.
Maybe.

And, yes, it's damn well beyond time Australian Aboriginal history was imparted to our youngsters; they are one of (if not the oldest) cultures yet our kids know more about British and American history than that of their own country and can speak any other language other than the local Indigenous languages.
It's 2011 not 1911.

Careful, those lycra bike shorts could put an eye out!

Well, how was your weekend?
We trundled about on our bikes - the tandem trike and a couple of folding bikes we bought for the boys to wend their way all over Dunolly Cycle Tracks sans Shanks Pony (cos V/Line aren't happy people when a passenger dares to take a bicycle on board their trains and buses unless it' a fold up jobby in a bag *rolls eyes*) and the weather was just gorgeous to boot.
Washing whipped into shape by the wind, the hubby whipped into shape by the minor itsy-bitsy incline *snort* and the Feral teen rediscovered some of his balance on the bike with only a tiny fall.

Here are the long promised photos of the tandem trike...yes, I finally grabbed the camera while we had it out yesterday.

This is Tiger inspecting the air pressure in the tyres.

Or maybe the curious smells of roadkill.

This is another angle of the beast *snort*

Just ignore the rampant weeds in the background, the dreadful woman who lives here hasn't pulled her finger (or weeds) out of late :p

And, as I took pity on you all, there are no shots of any lycra bike shorts.

On yer bike!

Been out and about, tripping merrily here, there and all over the shop and have collected a few stories to keep you entertained for about 5 minutes.
But for a good giggle I managed to get the hubby on the tandem trike yesterday, am about to launch ourselves on the unsuspecting public again shortly, eek! Went around the block again just now and did a minor hillclimb and am now knackered.
But not quite as knackered as yesterday lol.

Seems the iconic Fletcher Jones gardens are, sadly, a thing of the past while the brand spanking new Warrnambool Hospital looks pretty adventurous and interesting.

Did you know Walter Burley Griffin designed things to destroy things?
No?
Neither did I but the only one in Victoria looks like a good 'un.

More info and details on the proposed interiors for heritage protection (yes, that was me purring you could hear) while over in the MidEast they've tripped over some fabulous new stone structures.

And we are decended from root rats.
Apparently.

Dig up your pennies and sell the hubby's tools...

Just opposite the Ballarat railway station there is a delightful double storey pub beckoning someone with a paintbrush and a little imagination to make merry with it.
The Provincial Hotel also happens to be on the market.
Anyone wanna buy it for me?
No?

Can I tempt you with any number of 4 other pubs in the Ballarat region currently up for grabs?
The Royal Mail Hotel.

The City Oval Hotel and Lake Inn Motel.

The Meredith Country Hotel.

The Elaine Railway Hotel.

Or could I tempt you with Footer's Mansion in Dunolly?

Maybe the old Telegraph Office in Dunolly?

How about the old Gold Office in Dunolly?

Failing that....what do you say to a cuppa tea...?

Oops, she's on the loose in amongst the pots and pans!

I've been racketting about in the kitchen the past few weeks.
Danger, Danger, Matt Preston!!

 *ahem*
Since the Meniere's diagnosis I've been trying to avoid as much salt as possible...so am now making up my own spice mixes WITHOUT added salt, sugar, caking/coating agents, numbers of additives, colours and preservatives.


Whizzed up some Kaffir lime leaves with dessicated coconut in the blitzer, added some cayenne pepper and voila!
A great sprinkle for marinades and salads.
Whizzed up some dried garlic, peppercorns, sesame and coriander seeds for another cooking mix to throw over baking vegies.
Another couple of pre-filled grinders (almost/completely empty but sitting on the shelf waiting for my attention lol) had the ingredients listed on the side - I refilled with them with the ingredients sans the extra sugars, salts, flavours, and every number from 1 to 1000.

Have started making my own sauce/jellies today (something I've done off and on over the years but now I'm really keen to do it more to avoid the 'bonus' extras) - currently have some mint jelly cooling on the stove and am about to whip up some lime and ginger jelly for sangas, cold meats, or salads.
These homemade sauces/jellies won't last for ever and a day like the store bought stuff but as I'm making them up in small amounts they'll get used quickly without any waste and are easily replaced with a new batch.
And I'll finally get around to making Elizabeth's Red Pepper Jelly at long last!

I'm hoping to make some homemade cordials for Summer as we're getting a glut of limes on the tree, not to mention the glut of beautiful Aussie-grown oranges in the fruit shops; whip it up, mix with water through the Soda Stream and voila!

A recipe of September 20 I slapped together just for you

Well, after yesterday's early Summery warmth the winds turned wild (wilder then they'd been all day) and whipped up a storm with a sound and light show that went on all night.
My neighbour tells me it went on all night as I was dead to the world and dealt with wild winds of another sort as the furbaby dog merely farted her way through the wee hours under my doona.
Global warming = Dutch ovening from my dog.

Anyway, I digress, as always, have you seen what they want to do to the grand old South Melbourne Town Hall?
Yes, they wish to paint it red.
*shudder*
Why not go the whole hog and try for purple, white and green stripes, then claim it as an historical recognition of the suffragette movement? (/sarcasm).

The fabulous Sister Elizabeth Kenny was pupped on this day in dear old Oz, she of the 'controversial' polio treatment fame which later proved to be spot on.
Typical, like most shelias the men weren't listening to her when they should have been *rolls eyes*
Thought you'd like to read this article on 'our' Sister Kenny, good to see she's still held in regard in USA.

A lengthy but great article on saving Macquarie Island from our history of introduced pests, slaughter, bother and general annoyance HERE.

Oh, oh, oh!
FINALLY historic building interiors are up for heritage protection along with the facades!
Via the City of Melbourne at least.
We can work on the rest of the country bit by bit, like Chinese water torture water dripping on a stone we can wear down futile resistance.

Wasn't sure if you'd care more for the fact that the Australian Flying Corps (forerunner of the RAAF) was slapped together on this day in 1912 or that AC/DC's album Dirty Deeds Done Dirt Cheap was released in Oz in 1976...

The Paroo River Wetlands were recognised as a site of significance in 2007....
Not quite how dear old Harry saw it back in 1893 *snort*

The Paroo by Henry Lawson

It was a week from Christmas-time,
As near as I remember,
And half a year since, in the rear,
We'd left the Darling timber.
The track was hot and more than drear;
The day dragged out for ever;
But now we knew that we were near
Our camp - the Paroo River.
With blighted eyes and blistered feet,
With stomachs out of order,
Half-mad with flies and dust and heat
We'd crossed the Queensland border.
I longed to hear a stream go by
And see the circles quiver;
I longed to lay me down and die
That night on Paroo River.

The "nose-bags" heavy on each chest
(God bless one kindly squatter!),
With grateful weight our hearts they pressed -
We only wanted water.
The sun was setting in a spray
Of colour like a liver -
We'd fondly hoped to camp and stay
That night by Paroo River.
A cloud was on my mate's broad brow,
And once I heard him mutter:
'What price the good old Darling now? -
God bless that grand old gutter!"
And then he stopped and slowly said
In tones that made me shiver:
"It cannot well be on ahead -
I think we've crossed the river."
But soon we saw a strip of ground
Beside the track we followed,
No damper than the surface round,
But just a little hollowed.
His brow assumed a thoughtful frown -
This speech did he deliver:
"I wonder if we'd best go down
Or up the blessed river?"

"But where," said I, " 's the blooming stream?'
And he replied, 'we're at it!"
I stood awhile, as in a dream,
"Great Scott!" I cried, "is that it?
Why, that is some old bridle-track!"
He chuckled, "Well, I never!
It's plain you've never been Out Back -
This is the Paroo River!"

A bit of this, a bit of that...and shake your bum (tra la la la)

Thrilling things, boys and girls, awaiting for you to cast your baby blues over them for an entertaining perusal.
In street speak - enjoy the read!

Kylie Minogue released the album Kylie Minogue on this day in 1994.

Have you heard that Museum Victoria is hoping to refurbish and reopen the viewing platform in the dome of the delicious Royal Exhibition Building in Carlton Gardens?
It won't be happening overnight but it'll be a rip-snorter when it's finished!

Today is the 41st birthday of LGBT activism in dear old Oz, with the formation of the organisation CAMP in 1970.

I'd like to pop in a small vent about a few comments in the media I've heard recently stating,
"Gay is a great word in the English language, how dare a minority hijack it for their own use."
No names, no pack drill but I think it's a shame dropkick, oxygen thieves are allowed to hijack my tv viewing time with worthless drivel.

Go check out the article and the video of this fantastic piece of historical vernacular architecture, the Murtoa Stick Shed,  which has managed to survive intact.
The light inside this building is lovely!
There was another built at Dunolly but it was demolished in the 1990s (I think from off the top of my head) and the Dunolly Museum has a great set of photos detailing it's size and character before its demise as it was pulled apart.

Just came across this interesting article; no matter which side of the political fence you lean the historical facts speak for themselves.

And, finally, in 1942 we gals were invited to reinvent ourselves as "shock troopers" in "the Austerity Army".
Go on, get thee darning socks.
*ducks and runs away*

While wandering about the wilderness euphemistically called my backyard...

Well, I was going to post about how the Aussie doctor John Bannister tried to revive the great Jimi Hendrix on this date in 1970, how Nat Geo reported in 2007 that the last speaker of an extinct Aboriginal language was found, that in 2008 hundreds of new divers coral and marine critters were tripped over on the Great Barrier Reef, and even that the great Johnny Famechon became Australian Featherweight Champion in 1964....

Except that the chooks kinda distracted me.
They climbed up into a vegie patch and managed to oh-so-carefully unearth a decent sized spud and then left it sitting smack bang on top of their pile of scratched dirt for me to find.
See? They contribute to the hunting and gathering.
Sort of.

The ravens have been fair rotten buggers this spring; one in particular has been hanging about, waiting for the gerls to lay their bum nuts then they swoop in and make merry with their beaks on the shells before gobbling up the golden yolks.
And shows no consternation at my presence.
In fact it struts smugly about in front of me as if to shrug and smirk at the silly pink money squawking at it.
I obviously don't squawk Raven-ese very well.
While we were at the Dunolly Caravan Park several ravens made off with the newly hatched bubba ducks; mind you it didn't help that the Mamma didn't give a duck, either.

Now I've discovered a self-seeded fruit tree.
At first I thought it had travelled through the usual ring of fire torture that is my chickens innards but as it is a Apricot tree I winced in sympathy at the thought of passing a stone that big without an epidural.

And now I must go rescue a Jedi Knight which is about to be buried, along with Optimus Prime and a stray Dalek, in a dustbowl amidst yellow chook legs....

The Junction Hotel, Rachel's blog and On This Day In Australian History

The Feral offspring and moi go for a great many walks when up in Dunolly, this last weekend we managed to have a wander and found the old Junction Hotel.
Click on the images for a bigger picture to eyeball.

On the door was a note stating that it was a private home but that the owner hoped to soon reopen this marvellous building for concerts and musical soirees.
In the ballroom.
We was excited!
Well, I was excited, the teen offspring was politely impressed.

So, I tootled about online and found Rachel's blog, written by the great chickybabe who is the new owner - actually, I've never clapped eyes on her but as she's into classical music, Gilbert and Sullivan, heritage buildings and has the gumption to buy a pub after love at first sight, she's my kind of people.
--------------------------

On this day in 2009 The Vancouver Province reported on Clyde the cat who'd gone for a bit of a trek through the outback...for 3 years.
Bet he had a ball with the humungous kitty litter tray out there...

Papua New Guinea realised its independence from The Fair Isle of Oz - with nary a drop of blood dripped -  with the lowering of the Aussie flag and the raising of the PNG flag in its place in 1975.

The first girlie to climb Mt Cook, Freda Du Faur, was hatched on this date in 1882.
She dazzled in her sensible shoes, too.

For want of a better title... Ta Dah!

I've been fiddling with the Dunolly blog last night - cos apparently that's what you do when you get tired of burning your hand/pinkies cooking tea for the starving tribe - go have a look and tell me what you think.

Have you heard that regional town Wedderburn is about to lose its last bank?
In the immortal words of Manuel....Que?!
Strange, last time I checked the calendar it was 2011 yet a bank is willing to throw away customer loyalty, an assured customer base (being the only bank in town it's a given) not to mention the profits they're chucking down the chute.
How bizarre!
Fingers crossed the reliable Bendigo Community Bank gets going in Wedderburn asap!

A couple of up and coming events in the Dunolly and district area to tempt your wanderlust....

Some great activities covering a wide range of interests for all ages.

And a fab weekend of vintage machinery, let your inner engineer run amok!

Yet another post babbling about food.

I swear there are very few times now that I regret no longer being able to drive but over the weekend, when faced with truck loads of beautifully fresh, ripe and Dunolly-locally grown fruit and vege, that was one of those times.
When we walked past the stalls at the Dunolly Market and the heady perfume of fresh, flavoursome tomatoes wafted about us we almost salivated.
Well, maybe that was only me.
Feral Teen keeps saying how weird I am.
*snort*

Same with the delicious scent of fresh pumpkins, apples, strawberries and the bunches of rhubarb...!
The last was variously priced on different stalls, starting from 50 cents per bunch of ruby red, sweet stalks oozing images of bowls filled with perfectly stewed rhubarb swimming in dollops of whipped cream/scoops of vanilla ice cream, topped with apple crumble.
Hmmmmmmm.

The same goes for the splendid foods from the butcher, Dunolly Quality Meats.
The tuna and salmon patties, lamb cutlets, snags, hamburgers and vegie burgers we've bought then BBQ-ed in Dunolly's Gordon Gardens (on free BBQs, thank you very much) were full of rich, natural flavours.
And at a fraction of the price that is charged in Melbourne.

There is only so much one can stow in the tuckerbag (apologies to the swagman of Waltzing Matilda fame but no way did he fit a jumbuck in there without putting out an eye or his back) so the Spouse is jumping on the train and bus to Dunolly soon to buy up some delicious meat at the Dunolly butchers and, later, he'll be stowing some of that fresh fruit and vege in his own tuckerbag backpack at the next Dunolly Market.

Can you hear how impatient I'm getting to move up to Dunolly?!


How far do you go out of your way for really fresh, flavour-filled food these days?
Or to enjoy a lovely meal?

Food, food, and even more food...with some gratuitous nudity

So, I'm still breathing (hush you up the back groaning in disappointment) and back after another great weekend up in Dunolly.
The food was delish in all the eateries - The Royal Hotel, The Dunolly Bakery, Dodson's Fish 'n' Chips - and the indomitable Dunolly SES had their regular BBQ going during the Dunolly Sunday Market, serving up scrummy snags, egg and bacon sangas, burgers, etc.
Yes, it's all about mah tummy.
*snort*

Read in the local newspaper, The Welcome Record, about Dunolly-based Unique Mumma's Preserves which had recently won two bronze medals at the 2011 Fine Food Awards and then had the pleasure of meeting one of the hard working gourmet chefs behind the super delectable preserves at the Market.
Free taste samples were on offer and it took less than a teaspoon to convince me to invest in a jar each of the award-winning blueberry and blackberry jams.
Had a jar of their mocha chocolate been available (it's made to order) the Feral Teen would have snaffled it up with his own pocket money.
Go click the link and order some of their fabulous preserves!

Slept funny on my neck on Friday night - you know what I mean, you wake up with a neck feeling like someone inserted an iron rod sideways into it - so I'm having a wickedly wild day of parking la arse and researching more Dunolly history online.
From une couch.
Yes, I'm lapsing into schoolgirl French.
It may be the anti-inflammatories mixing with anti-depressants.
What can I say, I'm happy to be a guinea pig to trial these important ground breaking studies, mais oui.
*snort*

I've loosened the over-the-shoulder-boulder-holder straps so it's not carving rail tracks into my shoulders but, rest assured, although gravity is proving a hard task master I draw the line at going free range.
Unlike the Nude Blacks rugby team.
And we won't discuss the possibilityof going commando.
Even if Kelley has Sans Pants Fridays.

Goin' up the country...

Years ago....decades (closer to a few million) a good friend of mine was killed on his motorbike and they played his most favourite song at his funeral.
Canned Heat Going Up The Country.
Everytime we group of friends hear it we automatically smile and think of Mark and his mad love for the bush.
So, today I'm borrowing Mark's song for Dunolly.
Cos I'm gunna leave this city and the water mightn't exactly taste like wine but the fresh air is intoxicating and you can stay drunk all the time.

Happy birthday, Dad

Today is my Dad's 88th birthday.
I'm waving a cheerio to him upstairs as I type this cos I know the cheeky bugger would be his usual cheery self, welcoming all and sundry to any party.
I miss him a lot.
Some days I still catch myself thinking,
"Oh, I should tell Dad....Dad would love to read that...I bet Dad would know...I'll buy that for Dad..."

Years ago Dad used to enjoy a semi-regular Sunday roast at the Royal Hotel at Dunolly; I know he'd love how the new owner, Karen, has brought it back to life and he'd be there for a regular meal every day it is open.

Dad loved Dunolly and would have moved up there in a heartbeat if his health hadn't become so difficult.
So, everytime Feral Teen and I journey up to delightfully, dazzling Dunolly I feel like we're bringing Dad with us, commenting between ourselves on how Dad would like this or that, how he admired this and that, soaking up the very essence that makes the town so wonderful knowing Dad was happy there, too.

Happy birthday, Dad xxxx

Lucky dip bag

Hello!
Has it been raining in your neck of the woods recently?
Have you seen dire warnings in the media that drought is stalking our land once more?!
Scary crap, this weather nonsense.
Next thing you know some smarty-pants will point out those nasty pollutants spiralling up into the air might change weather patterns or something.
Of course, hard-headed know-it-alls won't listen to that nonsense...*rolls eyes*
*ahem*

Nice to see there's been some practical input and investment into cycle paths being upgraded due to the acknowledgment of the increase in cycle path useage.
Careful there, folks, commonsense is prevailing!
And you know what happens next....
The sky will fall in!!!

And after the sky has fallen in, tap your neighbour/work collegue/friend/cousin/aunt/sister/father/grandmother/whoever on the should and ask,
"R  U OK?"
September 15 is R U OK day.
Seriously, it takes less than a second of your time to help someone break through the wall they may feel trapped behind.
One little question may help enormously.

Purrrrfect weather

Am sitting here with elderly feline sprawled in relative comfort across my lap.
Because, of course, this is what Stupid Pink Monkeys were put on this earth for....to be at the beck and call of the Feline Gods and Goddesses.
The Ancient Egyptians were obviously in their good books as they had it right and the pusskins have been working on getting back to that status ever since.
It may or may not involve world domination as a side bonus.

This elderly kitteh is coming to the end of her life.
She was very attached to my Dad and, after a lifetime of hiding away in his room, she has ventured out to the loungeroom since Dad's death to be with her Stupid Pink Monkeys.
Cos she is lonely.
She has a few infections and renal failure, we're still waiting to hear about the cancer test and she's very clingy.
Cos she knows.

For a feline sworn to loathe dogs she has managed to develop a blindspot just about where her backside snuggles up to the backside of the doggie furbaby when each is curled up on the couch.
They can roll almost on top of each other in their sleep but Goddess forbid they should make eye contact cos that's when the feline has to get all snarly and hissy.
Of course the canine furbaby backs down.
Cos she's a gentle gal and can sense the pusskin isn't a well kitteh.

So, I'm parked on my arse, watching rubbish TV, researching Dunolly history online while the elderly feline sprawls in lap-luxury with in-built heating from her Stupid Pink Monkey, scratches behind the ear with the acceptable level of adoration.
And the odd dried fishie treat.

I may be busy for awhile.. the boss has me flat out like a lizard drinking....meow.

Historical babbling

So, I trotted over to Chaddy with him Indoors and had a small good time.
Apart from the multitudes of bodies bumping and grinding their way all over the shop.
But they weren't so bad with Him Indoors (built like the brick proverbial) pushing a shopping jeep in front and moi whacking ankles with mah lil white stick.

Amazingly when the shopping jeep was chockers and Him Indoors got a good head of steam up (thanks to moi pushing him along from behind as I held on for him to guide me) the great unwashed scattered even more quickly; I briefly considered that they might actually be able to calculate weight : power ratio but the slack-jaws, glazed eyes disproved there was much brain activity, so I put it down to the sudden urge to eat, pee or procreate.

Who decides when the new seasons fashion hits the shelves?
No, I haven't suddenly become a fashion pony...unless you count thongs.
Thongs = the Aussie footwear, not the butt crack flossing thang.
I could find kids thongs and mens thongs but no chickybabe thongs.
Hello???
It's been warm and sunny for several weeks now, despite the damn calendar stating that we were supposedly in Winter.
Don't they look out the window and see birdies doin' their thing with nests?
The bees bumbling about with their arses all bright yellow in the air?
The stray cat yeowlling on my front porch promising she'll love me good long time for fiddy dolla...?
And the number one sure sign that spring/summer has arrived....
I have my first seasons blisters on the back of my heel.
Hence my sudden interest in fashion trends and footwear.

I have no idea why but Him Indoors is pointing out Billy Mumy on Star Trek ("Danger, Will Robinson! Danger, danger!" in my best robot from Lost In Space impersonation) so I must away and look suitably impressed (or trot off to bed and dream about Q starring in Torchwood).

Viva la Ding Ding!

Exciting news has landed in my inbox today and I thought I'd share the babble with you.
Cos it keeps me out of mischief.
And keeps you from poking me with a sharp pointy stick.

New retro double decker trams for Hong Kong.
Woot!!!

And Tassie Tigers were framed.
It was really the Norwegian Blue.
Or the One Armed Bandit.

Rather unimpressed that the NYC firemen and police aren't invited to the 10th anniversary on September 11.

And to finish up - Ned Kelly's bones were identified.
But he's still missing his head.