I have visitors, and the warm build-up continues......

I was very excited this week, Anna and Craig came to stay for the week. It was lovely to see them, and show off my new city/home.


This was taken at Mindl Beach just on sundown. We had been sitting on sand-consequently had it all over us.

I was also very lucky(?) that we had had a processor breakdown at work, so I was able to take some days off. I had warned them about the warmth...I don't think they really believed me!!!!It is getting warmer+humidity makes things a little uncomfortable. I hired a car with air-con, mine has no such luxury, and we went through overnight to Jabiru- centre of Kakadu National Park.

This is Yellow Waters- we did a sunrise trip on a boat to see crocodiles, and birdlife on the river.

We were not disappointed.

These birds are Brolgas- part of the Crane family. They have a ritualistic mating dance which is unique-but this morning they were too interested in breakfast.

This fellow is a Comb Crested Jacana who has enormous feet to enble him to walk on lily pads or soft water weed.

This is a Mangrove Heron- he spends hours quietly sitting just above the water- just waiting..........and watching................

We also had some very close encounters with these amazing reptiles.!!!This fellow just relaxing, trying to cool off by letting cooler air/and water into his mouth. They have no way of temperature control, than to use water.





This one cooling off too, but I am sure with all senses awake.

Crocodiles have 4 senses- smell, sight, hearing, and nerve endings near surface of skin to detect any vibrations nearby. This is a salt water croc- fresh water crocs are a different shape, and don't grow as long. There are no alligators in Oz.

This very cute fellow is an Azure Kingfisher-very small- (sparrow sized), but exceedingly fast at darting into water for a morsel.

The waterlilies are just comng into flower...they look beautiful in mass over the water.

This is a Jabiru- of the Stork family. A large bird- 1.5m tall, with a fabulous deep blue iridescent neck and head.Spends his time in swamp lands chasing fish, frogs etc.

This is a young Jabiru- still waiting for the beautiful colours to come with his adult plumage.

This would have to be the most unusual bird of the day-a Southern Cassowary up to 2m tall.

The trip into the National Park was so special- to see so many birds, so easily was a joy.We spent a lot of time also sightseeing around Darwin- this will be a later blog post.

A mugshot of mother and daughter at dinner on Friday night.


Work is still going very well, and I am still enjoying the challenge it presents.The year is winding down,and before long I will be home for the Christmas break.

Take care......

Some moments of reflection......

It is 6 weeks since last post- doesn't time fly? And yes I am having fun.Since the last post I have had a birthday, one I was not anticipating happily- another decade, aaaargh 60 is really old!!!! Now it has been and gone, its fine.There is nothing we can do, age really is a state of mind. I have shifted cities, started a new job, making new friends, doing a Diploma through Uni S.A. I am lucky to have good health, and a joy for living in this fabulous place.

This post I thought I would just share some of my favourite things around here in the Top End,(as it is called by the locals ).

This was snapped of moi the evening of my birthday at our favourite eating place.

I still have a fascination for the perfection of orchids- There is a garden here, all growing wild outside- about 10,000 of them- absolute heaven. This is one I bought to enjoy on our balcony.

These waterlily leaves are beautiful- about 1/2 metre across.( maybe I need to photoshop a frog on top!!)

Fire is still a constant threat here to any bushland. This one was very near the road- I did not stop for too long, you could hear it coming. On July 1st all of the Northern Territory celebrate Territory Day- when the Territory got its independance. Many areas have celebrations- including fireworks.

Landscapes/seascapes are still near top of my list of favourites.

Birds are plentiful here in all the seasons- these Rainbow Bee Eaters- female top photo, male lower photo are extremely photogenic.

Pink galahs are very cheeky, this one tried its best to closely investigate my lens.

Spiders are huge- this one just above my head while walking in some scrub.Probably palm size- I am happy he stayed in his web.

Unique individuals make up the amazing diversity of this place.

The greatest gift we can have is to enjoy good friends- the birthday dinner.Some friends are more special than others !!!!!!!!!!!! :-)

I hope Spring is coming- ChCh has had a very real winter this year. I will be back in Dec/Jan so will catch up with a lot of you for belated birthday drinkies.....

take care.....

Another week living in the tropics.......

Some newly emerged waterlily leaves...

I am really enjoying this tropical life-never having lived for any length of time where the climate is this warm consistantly. I have been here 6 weeks now, not a drop of rain, clear blue skies,(like Alice), day after day. Days 30', nights dropping to 17-20'. I know it will change soon, but at present it is enjoyable.

Work is going well, I really have the trainer wheels off this week, as I am on my own. Next week I am off to Adelaide for a week's intensive training.

Yesterday I took myself out of town to a wetlands area, that is a wildlife reserve. I was in my element-many butterflies,birds,kangaroos, I even saw my first snake in the wild !!It was on my path- but disappeared very quickly. Also of course the inevitable mossie.....good repellant fixed those-I realise how important it is, as there are many diseases here transmitted by mossies.

These beautiful water liies are nearly finished....memo to myself to come back during wet season.

As far as the eye can see were these lilies,obviously as the waterlevel drops, the lilies disappear.



But it was the fabulous birds here that kept me busy for hours. The large white Egret (L) and the Royal Spoonbill were very busy.




The Royal Spoonbill reminded of the weekend we had in Karitane(Otago) several years ago chasing a group of Spoonbills.

This Forest Kingfisher was busy diving for small fish amongst some mangroves.He is brighter than the common Kingfisher.

This Crimson Finch was very busy catching insects on the waterlily seedpod.

This would have to be one of my favourites- a large white Egret just waiting for something to swim by......

I am really enjoying being satisfied with my bird studies-my new lens has really impressed me- it really is worthwhile having something of good quality.

All is very well here, hope this finds you all the same.....

End of first month in Darwin.....

I am now at the end of my first month here in Darwin. I am still enjoying it. At work the trainer wheels are slowly coming off.....it' s beginning to make sense. I am really enjoying working with well women, they are a joy...
We often eat here at the local sailing club..I had to add a sunset photo-they are amazing to experience.


Today I went out and had a long walk through an area of mangroves.They have built boardwalks so the thrill of arguing with crocs is reduced..!!Mangroves are areas I haven't had a lot of experience in-quite unique with amazing wildlife amongst them.This above is an area just going under the tide, and below an area dry with the little "snorkels" the trees use to "breathe" when the water has gone.I continued walking and found myself near a reserve so sat down to just look.....This little Rainbow Bee Eater came quite close to spy on me. I had with me a new lens(100mm-400mm), (an early birthday present to myself!!!), so was suitably delighted with the results.I love shooting birds, so now I may have some success.He fluffed himself up....

and I soon found out why...this mate(presumably) arrived with much noise


I think it was the news of the day being shared.......

I do enjoy the sharing of news too, thankyou to my dear friends who still email me...I may live a distant away, but there is part of me in ChCh still. Hope the winter is not being too unkind..spring must be coming. Take care all of you

First Week in Darwin.....

I think this last week would have been one of my scariest, busiest and most challenging...!!I have survived...and I am back again this week. I have a large folder-about 15cm thick, of Policies and Procedures I have to know intimately. The joys of a government funded job. I think once my head is around all the newness I will be fine.

My apartment is very comfortable, and I travel about 14km north of the city to work, via a 4-6 lane highway...

I have spent the weekend getting my bearings around the city- being a peninsula, and sea on 3 sides, it is slowly making sense. I drive with map on seat beside me.....and haven't yet got lost.

I caught up with some ChCh friends, Lynda and Percy-it was great to see them.They were visiting family.They had checked my blog and were as surprised as I, to find we were here at the same time.We spent some interesting time at a market on Saturday.

I know there two didn't see me.....

This afternoon I went down to the famous Mendil market- just around the corner from where I am living. Many fascinating characters-this fellow was reciting poetry...for hours on end!!!

This is the market area just before dusk.............

I thought there was too much cloud for the famous sunsets.........

but then it turned to this................

I hear via "stuff.co.nz" that NZ is in the grip of a cold spell, I am sorry you can't enjoy my 30' each day. Do keep warm..and take care......

And so its goodbye to Alice.........

Yes it is goodbye to Alice.I have been here nearly 16 months, and have decided it is time to move on. I have very mixed feelings- it is a fantastic place to live and work, and photographically very beautiful. I finished work last week, and have spent this week catching up with friends for coffee, and meals. I leave on Monday to drive the 1700kms to Darwin.I'm hoping to do it in 2 days. I have decided to do some more study, and obtain my CCPM- Certificate of Clinical Proficiency in Mammography. Yes, at the end of the day I will be squashing boobs!!!! I will be working for Breastscreen N.T. based in Darwin. I feel this slight career change will be beneficial for me as there are many openings around Oz, and in NZ for this specialty. Breastscreen are supplying me with an apartment for 8 weeks, and then I may be able to rent it as they won't need locums- I will be it...They are paying for my training, and paying me what I am earning at present. All I need to give back is some time, so will probably be here for 18mths.Next year I will get to travel throughout the Territory covering Breastscreening, so I will be back to Alice.

I have enjoyed getting out this week at sunrise, and sunset doing things I hadn't done while working.

These beautiful ghost gums still have an amazing attraction- the pure white trunks/branches combined with the feathery leaves are magic.

Late light on a ghost gum.......mmm.....Standing looking at this in the late light ,I realised how lucky I am to be here, to be fit/healthy, to be alive, and to have been taught to appreciate the simple things that make up our lives. Photography surely has opened up my world......

This is part of the range West of Alice- just glows with late afternoon sun.And I was lucky to have to bonus of cloud!!! Quite a rare occurrance!!

Even after sundown there is a stark beauty in this place.

I am sure everyone will appreciate my move north to the tropics has not been taken lightly-but I am always up for a challenge.It will be so different living at 11' of latitude, and so close to the sea. Embarking also into a relationship will mean some changes- we will see........

love to you all, take care, and keep warm.I hear the frosts have arrived-I will not miss them.

OUT NORTH OF ALICE....

I know its been a while since I sent you all some news. I have been reasonably busy- still no excuse.

This was a plane leaving Melbourne into a fog over the city.....just at sundown......

I had a trip back home, which is always exciting. It was great to catch up with my precious family- they are a little more scattered than they have been. I was able to catch up with a dear friend in Timaru- I don't think we stopped talking for 2 days.

As my previous blog said I spent some time in Darwin.

This is across the bay looking towards Darwin city.

We spent a lot of time walking around the harbour/wharf area.The wharf has a great area that includes a selection of seafood .It is superb, and so fresh. One can then sit beside sea and enjoy.

This sign took my eye !!!!!

Coming back from Kakadu, I was driving and by the rear vision mirror, was watching this storm brewing behind us. The sky was navy blue, and the noise was amazing.

We kept ahead of it for a while.I had to stop of course, and took these 2 images. By now the noise was deafening. We decided that staying in front was a good move. So we headed back towards Darwin, only to get caught in the edge of it. I have driven in West Coast rain, but this was something so frightening.The road was awash, I was fortuneately behind a bus so could just follow him.An interesting experience. Later that evening warnings were on TV that there was a severe storm about to hit Darwin. We already knew!!!!!!

I know there a many I didn't get time to contact when I was home. I am sorry, I will be back late Oct/Nov.

Take care all of you, and do keep warm. I hear the frosts are coming......