FRIDAY

The Alpha male of the family has a new friend. He decided another willing serf was required. Someone who would treat him with the respect he deserves (and not tell him to 'get down').

THURSDAY

I like airports, when I am not travelling.

Expectation.

Joy.

Embraces.

And a large plastic crocodile.

(Well, they had just arrived in Australia!)

WEDNESDAY

Dust

Family arriving tomorrow.

Therefore, cleaning and polishing and vacuuming and of course,

dusting.

( 'A dust free house is the sign of an unfulfilled life'.)

TUESDAY

Gardening in the rain.

Making new garden beds around stump of Marri tree

Removing old dog proof fencing from fruit trees.

Missing half my grapefruit tree

(a tree limb fell on it).

And weeding.

MONDAY

Slurp

WINTER

The week in pictures will follow.

Few words.

Too much happening.

Family arriving from the UK.

A holiday for us all.

.

10

'Life should not be a journey to the grave

with the intention of arrivng safely

in an attractive and well

preserved body,

but rather to skid in

sideways -

A good Cabernet in one hand,

the dessert of your choice in the other -

body thoroughly used up,

totally worn out and screaming

"Woo hoo! What a ride!"'

'Some say there's microbes in a kiss,

This rumour is most rife.

Come dear man and make of me

an invalid for life.'

Happy 10th Bear

TREES

Three weeks ago two enourmous Marri trees and many tree limbs were cut back from the roof line of our house. Watching the guys climb up into the top most branches was an awesome sight. Hearing the whine of the chain saw sent me scuttling back indoors and then out for the day. That whine and the crack of wood as it hit the ground, was the death knell for two beautiful trees . Unfortunately they were so close to the house (come the bush fire season), their roots lifted paving and concerned us for the concrete pad of our home. After six years of enjoying their shade, they had to go.

When I returned home, the light around the house was stunning. But the garden looked desecrated. Great blocks of tree trunk lying on the ground and a huge pile of shredded leaves and branches in the drive (this was steaming in the sunshine, waiting for me to spread it on the ground as mulch). The perfume of Eucalyptus pervaded the air indoors and out.

Three weeks later and sawdust continues to come indoors on the soles of our shoes. Just to remind us of what we have done.

DUSK

The time of the day when supper is usually being prepared. This time of year, the fire is lit and I have a glass of aromatic Australian Merlot or a an extremely dry sherry with ice in my hand.

Outside the sky darkens to a point where objects in the garden have no hard edges and the sky is a pale pink and yellow glow as the sun goes down.

Inside, there is the aroma of baked potatoes, garlic and the lemon grass incense I lit half an hour ago.

Dusk.

A word to conjure with and bring forth images of that time. A busy day winding down, curtains drawn against chilly evening air, the wood burning stove ticking as kindling catches fire and candles flickering in front of a mirror.

When I lived in the UK, dusk meant driving from Dover (where I worked) along the motorway to get home. I did not notice the cliffs, the sky, I just wanted the day to be over. Invariably I would not remember any of the drive, being weary and worried about work. Now, in Australia (especially in Winter), dusk is a time to be cherished.

Working in the garden until the sun went down, I had a Willy Wagtail bird follow me. Perching on fence posts, he chattered, warning me off his domain no doubt. I carried on weeding and he became bold, venturing closer. Hunkering down, I stopped and watched him. He darted around me and eventually landed on some fence wire, so close I might have touched him. He wagged his tail at me and flew off. I could not see where he went. But he will be there tomorrow, skittering along the fence line.

What does dusk mean to you in your part of the world?

( click on highlighted text to hear a Wagtail)