AND STILL IT RAINS...EVERY DAY......

Yes I am still here, I have been very slack keeping up my news. Life really does roar along at a great pace.I spent a month at home over Dec/Jan, but saw very few people. I spent all my time, apart from a week in the Catlins, emptying my house and putting it into storage. An awful job, but it is now done. I have a lovely tennant who is also looking after my two dear cats- how lucky am I?

I am still enjoying my work- it is very busy.We are planning to do the change to digital very soon- as soon as the government give us the promised money!!!!! This will make life easier- no more chemicals, processors etc, just computers all the way...(and those associated problems).

I have left my expensive apartment, and am living for a short while in a caravan on a property owned my a work colleague. It is 40mins out of town, but we share a vehicle so its all good.

this is my home at present...

It is very peaceful and I do enjoy trying to identify noises in the night. I regularly have possums tapdancing on a water tank nearby. A family on wallabies snuffle most nights.Many birds live around me- many I can't identify- very frustrating.

Something else I really must share are the amazing storms...I know I do go on !!!! But they are spectacular!!!!!!These few I took on the way to work the other day....enjoy....

AND A FEW MINUTES LATER IT ALL CAME DOWN........

I am still enjoying this challenge over here, but I am really missing friends and my very precious family. My new grandchildren are growing rapidly, and I hate to miss their growing up. I will beback before end of year-

keep safe, keep well love to all

Into the wet season....the monsoon cometh...

I am sorry, and quite horrified how long it has been since last post. I am very well, and keeping extremely busy with work. I am now qualified-I have my Diploma which will allow me to work wherever in the world I want. I have been back and forwards out of Darwin- several trips back to NZ, several trips back to Alice,(for work), and last week a trip to Nhulunbuy(which is on the Gove Peninsula- on the western tip of the Gulf of Carpentaria).Nhulunbuy would have to be one of the world's best kept secrets- absolutely beautiful. Turquoise seas+white sands+ palms- what else is there?

This post I will just touch on some of the exciting things that have been happening to my family-

I went back for 4 days early June for Anna and Craig's wedding

It was such a happy day even though a fleeting visit for me-4days !!!

Early September I was priviledged to be part of the birth of Marlee Catherine Campbell. She is very dark- was 9 1/2 lb at birth- a big girl. Anna has maternity leave until January, and then I think Craig is to be a house husband. They are all doing well.

these photos are all at 2 weeks old.....

This one was yesterday- 5 weeks old-

taken with her very proud dad....

In the next week or two, Sara is expecting her second baby....they are going to be a very busy parents. I think Hugo(3 in Jan) keeps them on the run. I am heading over to help later in November.

Laura has been a very clever girl and lost 50kgs- I am proud of her life changing,(and life saving) effort. She is feeling so much better.

I have also had trips to Melbourne, Adelaide and Perth- some for work, and some for pleasure. The airpoints are stacking up nicely!!!!

I will endeavour to keep the posts coming a little bit more regularly. I haven't got out much with the camera- my main lens was in Canon hospital for 3 months- finally got it back last week. Will be able to get out and about in the weekends now. Quite disabled without the camera !!!!

Take care- I am sure ChCh is warming up..spring was beautiful while I was back. I do miss the seasons- all the same here.....

lots of travels......

I have been very bad keeping people up with my news... I am sorry- it has been busy.

I am present in Adelaide.I have a week's study here as the Academic component of my Diploma. Several months and I will be all done. I have a case study to do, and a heavy assignment to work through.

I had a great fortnight back in ChCh over Easter. I went back home to photograph a wedding. I also went to, and thoroughly enjoyed two dear friends' wedding.What a special time that was.

My friend Jude and I, were very appreciative to manage an overnight trip to Hanmer. It was great spending some time in the hot pools.Also had several visits beyond Hanmer to visit the Acheron Accommodation House. It was built in 1862, and has been very well preserved. It provided food and rest for drovers and travellers and their horses.

Acheron Accommodation House.

We were blown away by the beautiful autumnal colours along the Clarence River and the Acheron. It is situated on the edge of Molesworth Station.

Clarence River



Towards the Lake Tennyson turnoff.

Above and below.

Acheron House

This image is similar to above one, but taken the previous evening. It was actually snowing in the tops of the hills. I had noticed how cold it was.....

I hope this finds you all keeping warm- I do know I am really enjoying the constant warmth of Darwin- I must be getting old!!!!
take care

The wet season goes.....

I have been remiss with my posts...but work is busy..no excuses I know. Our wet season is almost over which is a little sad. We haven't had a lot of storms, and the ones we have had, have been out of town. I did get out after work one night, and got these great pics.



Last weekend I went out to an area I have visited several times before- Fogg Dam. At the moment the dam is just covered with water,(about 2-3 inches) so is really interesting with lots of birds enjoying the easy pickings flowing with the water. The Egrets were doing the courting/squabbling thing, so managed a few images I liked.

This fellow below is a Comb Crested Jacana- he has enormous feet so he can walk on lily pads. They are extremely timid, so was quite delighted to get this fellow walking across the dam. They are very cute.

This below is part of the dam- an emormous area, usually covered with pink and blue lotus lilies.

Amongst the lilies I found many frogs- large green ones. Also in their hundreds were dragonflies- every colour of the rainbow.

It really is a nature photographer's idea of heaven. I had a great day.

I am looking forward to coming home for Easter- it will be a short visit to help celebrate some dear friends' wedding. I will be back 2 weeks.

I am off to Sydney(twice), Adelaide and Alice Springs (all for work)in the next few months- so the Air Points will be accumulating!!!

take care K

Another year starts......2009

I have been slack since the last post...been back home, had a holiday, had a surprise birthday party, and now back at work sorting out the year.....
I had a lovely break at home...catching up with family and friends.These are some of the family snaps.....






Hugo- now 2. We celebrated his 2nd birthday while I was in Auckland. It was a very special time to be included in a morning tea for 7 2yr olds!!And making an aeroplane birthday cake.

Madison and I enjoyed catching up with my cat- Silka.She's living in my house still-seems to be happy with her new(temporary )mum.

Laura(and her sisters) put on a surprise birthday for me. It was a wonderful day catching up with some dear rellies......and friends.

Anna had us for Christmas tea- this is her labrador doing his party trick...he will sit with something on his nose until you tell him he can eat......(not chocolate bell tho).

Cooling down on Boxing day- Craig with the 2 dogs in the pool!!!

My dear friend Jude and I made time to have a holiday- we had a few days staying in the camping ground in Naseby.It was relaxing, and the weather behaved.We chased sunsets, got stuck in mud (not good with a rental car !)....had many laughs. I really enjoy returning to an area I know- rephotographed this lovely old cookhouse. Spent a lot of time in the Maniototo- it is very special.

I am heading home again at Easter- so roll on the weeks.

Take care everyone especially on the roads. I lost 2 friends(a couple) to a nasty motorbike accident just after Christmas- makes one realise how fragile life is- please make the most of everyday.

Warm Times......

This is Yellow Waters at sunrise- a beautiful billabong with many birds enjoying life in and on the water.

I really haven't a lot to say in this post. I have been really busy at work, and now screening is finished for the year. I am spending time doing paperwork and accreditation stuff,(and my own things ie blog post, and Christmas mail !!).

Last Sunday I got up really early-4.30am- to catch a sunrise about 70km out of town. My luck...it had been raining and it was overcast. But I had been well taught- always to make the most of any situation- the flowers were fabulous in the even light.

This lotus flower was one of thousands in a large swamp area.

These 2 Brolgas were part of a large noisy flock heading whoknowswhere?

The light was interesting- I could see quite evenly into the water.This is a Scat-a garbage collector of the river.

An Azure kingfisher making the same noise that gives them away in NZ.



The Dragon Lizard would still be one of my favourites-not much fear and very photogenic...They just tend to sit and watch you.Always a bonus.

This Eagle was calling to its mate in a nearby tree- such a handsome critter....

This would be my find of the day- a large monitor Lizard-commonly known as a Goanna- about a metre long. His skin looked like armour- he just sat on his log, quite unfazed about my getting closer.

Don't you love the view from our balcony? Being on the first floor- we get to look above the trees. This was just at sunset, just before a storm. The warm light is exceptional.

I have spent a lot of time chasing clouds-no I am not away with the fairies/angels . They are unique and beautiful. I have even starting taking all the camera gear to work, just so I don't miss anything. Had to detour on way to work this morning- there was a Front out off one of the beaches- the bank of cloud tends to sit all day, and then late afternoon start brewing into something spectacular. I will have a "cloud" post next week........

It is very warm at present- very humid-mornings will be about 90%.Working/living in aircon makes it all bearable. Sometimes I go out at lunchtime- the air is so hot and damp it is very difficult to breathe.Quite an interesting sensation.

I am really looking forward to being home in less that 2 weeks- will try and catch up with most people then.

take care on the roads-they are as bad here as at home- it is the silly season after all.......

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......