Our family went for a walk up to a little copse of trees together on fathers day. The sun shone down bright and warm and a cool breeze bent the grass upon the rolling hills around the lake as we climbed through the paddock.

We looked down on dams that reflected the blue of the sky and small parts of the lake that stretched out into gullies off the main lake.

We reached a knoll and then traipsed down the other side into the stand of thick trunked gum trees.

 We sat down and snacked on a few biscuits in the peace and quiet of the grove. Well not actually, we were there, so it rapidly became rather loud with the crack of sticks on sticks and logs on an old tree stump that apparently did not deserve to stand in the ground any longer. My dad and some younger siblings decided it was absolutely necessary that they get the stump out, or at least snapped off at ground level. And to cut a long story of noise, and cracks, leavers, clubs and flying sticks short, they did actually succeed. 

Then we set off again to walk down a different ridge line and back through the paddock to the car.

 Do you like bushwalking?

What did you do for fathers day?

Yesterday my sister and I drove to the butchers to buy some sausages. We were delayed. As we got closer a huge cloud of billowing black smoke grew larger and larger and we seemed to be driving right towards it as we neared the butchers. I decided to park the car a way off and get out and walk. 

I take my camera everywhere, even shopping and my reason has always been, "What if a house burns down and I don't have my camera to photograph it." And so when this house burnt down I had my camera with me to photograph it. 

Apparently it was an old deserted shed that some of the homeless slept in, and it is rumored that the fire was lit deliberately. As terrible as it sounds I have always wanted to see and hear a house burning in real life. There was am almost oily smell to the smoke early on, and the crackling of the flames sounded like a piece of loose tarp or thick plastic flapping in a high wind. Like the sound of when a vehicle speeds past with something in plastic wrapping on the back that vibrates in the wind of its passing.

I arrived there at the same time as the fire trucks began arriving. The police took a while longer to arrive so cars continued to drive straight through the smoke that obscured the bridge. Even a mad motorcyclist went through it. 

It did not take the firefighters long to get it all under control though. The bridge made a good vantage point to watch and photograph all the action from. 

 The Argus photographer only got there as the police did. And after most of the flames had got put out, but there was still a lot of smoke for a while after and it looked as if the firefighters were going to let most of the grass on the hillside next to the road just burn itself out.

So our everyday mission of buying sausages turned out to be quite the adventure.

Have you ever seen a house burn down?

Or a bush or grass fire?

Anticipation 

When I grow up I mean to be

A Lion large and fierce to see.

I’ll mew so loud that Cook in fright

Will give me all the cream in sight.

And anyone who dares to say

“Poor Puss” to me will rue the day.

Then having swallowed him I’ll creep

Into the Guest Room Bed to sleep. 

by Oliver Herford

I learnt that poem many yeas ago and still remember it, I am not a cat but I am anticipating a few things. And that is what this post is about. I am also sure there are a few things I have forgotten but obviously I am not anticipating them much if I have forgotten them.

The closest thing I am anticipating is the release of Songkeeper..... the second book in "The Songkeeper Chronicles" which will also be a trilogy. Check out the cover! I enjoyed book one but I have an ARC of Songkeeper and am halfway though it and it is even better, when I am finished I will post a review, and in a few days some more fan art because there are so many scenes I could draw. 

Secondly, Brotherband 6: The Ghostfaces by John Flanagan. When I first heard the title of this one I thought it was rather weird and not so nice sounding, but after reading the synopsis it makes sense. So here is that synopsis: When the brotherband crew are caught in a massive storm at sea, they're blown far off course, surviving only because they wash up on the shores of a land that isn't on any of Hal's maps. 

They're being watched, but they don't know if the locals are friend or foe – until the brotherband spring into action to rescue two children from a marauding bear, earning the Herons the gratitude of the Mawagansett people. The peace is short-lived. The ruthless, warmongering Ghostface tribe are heading their way, and the Herons must help their new friends repel an invasion. 

Among the nail-biting battles and heart-stopping action, one Heron must make an agonising decision that could change the brotherband forever. 

John Flanagan writes his action packed books so well and they are filled with such Australian humour, our family just enjoys these stories so much.

A Time To Rise is probably the thing I wish would hurry up and be released sooner than all the rest, I need to read this book.... I really... really...do. I can't wait.. but alas I must.

JASON BOURNE 5; this one is quite different from the other things I am anticipating the release of, one, it is a movie, and two, I really don't know what to expect of it. I hope it is as epic as the previous movies ...... I am anticipating it but I don't necessarily  recommend it or the others movies before it to most of my readers.... they are really well done but really violent... But I do hope this movie is a good as the first few!

Another thing I am anticipating is my birthday! Yes I know it is just over a month away but still it is my birthday! YAY!..... oh golly I am going to be so old......

And the last thing I can thing of is Austockphoto. It is a new stock photography gallery. Where you will be able to buy heaps of all Australian images from. I am a photographer for it! They are hoping to launch in the middle of the year sometime.

What are you anticipating? Books being released, movies, something else?

I have not done one of these posts for a while but I took a few bird photos this month so here is another.

A flock of around 30 Musk Lorikeets hung around for a few days at the beginning of this month. They chattered from the tops of the gum trees in our property and swooped through the blue sky, moving to another tree. One group chattered and climbed in the dead branches at the top of the tree the galahs ring-barked.




We don't often see the Musk Lorikeets, which may be because they are not around most seasons but also because they blend in so well with the leaves even if they are there. They also sound similar to both Rainbow Lorikeets and Rosellas. So I may not even think to look and notice they were different. I was quite happy to catch a few in flight, which as they go so fast is quite difficult. Parrots are one of my favourite birds, they are so pretty and I really like it when I catch a glimpse of their colours flashing through the trees.

A few days after I got some photos of the Rainbow Lorikeets I heard another flock of birds in the tree, I can just see the top of it out the window, above my desk. This time Galahs filled the branches. The Galahs are not so special, as I see them flying over every day and all year around. They also ring bark trees and branches and those branches die and fall off and the trees also die just like the top of this one. Still it is amazing when a huge flock of the birds swoop low over me so that I can feel the wind of their passing.

Do you have any favourite birds?

I was not going to post about Australia Day, because it forgot about if for so long but then I found the paper that I had written most of the content of this post on during the ceremony, so in the end I am gong to share it and some photos, even if that was weeks and weeks ago.

The only noise a speaker talking on and on, the occasional shuffling as positions are changed. There comes a burst of clapping and the person talking changes, all is still again, all except the fluttering of one white moth flying above the audience and floating down to rest on the chair in front of me. To one side of me are rows of people filled seats and then the three ranks of soldiers standing still as stone. Guns are carried by all but one who holds a ceremonial sword high. Then the speaker finishes and the crowd comes out of is slumber into a tremendous thunder of clapping. 

A while later the band starts up and the soldiers unfreeze and stand to attention and we all rise to sing our national anthem everyone is paying attention now and a great noise fills the hall. Everyone remembers the first verse, but there is a falter in the crowd as the second verse begins, it is sung much less often.  Applause rings out again bouncing off the walls and ringing from hand to hand. We have two new Australian citizens, the soldiers move again, saluting them and then turning as one, march out of the hall as erratic clapping fills the air once more, then evens out with the beat of army boots on the wooden floor.

This was actually my favorite speaker, much more interesting and well spoken than some of the others

Last week our town was visited by the very talented Sydney Youth Orchestra. They played in the chapel of the convent. Our family went to both daytime performances, but in two halves. My mum and brothers went to the first one. I then took my sisters to the next.
 

Starting today on the 15th of November and until the 22nd a Wild Pollinator Count is happening, Australia Wide. This is the official site, visit it for more details. The idea is that everyone can help collect data so we can learn more about our pollinators and not just the bees, but any bug that crawls on flowers. Although bees are my favourite..... butterflies are pretty, but then they are not such a challenge to photograph! And they don't make honey.

Yes it is a rather catchy name, or at least it made me go "What, what in the world is that?" So I went to find out. And indeed The Umbrella Festival is mostly just like any markets with a lot of games happening at it as well... baring one odd thing.... there were umbrellas everywhere!

I bought a new lens for my camera the other week and I am so happy with it. To be exact it is a "Canon EF 24-105mm f/4.0L IS USM Lens" It rained the first few days after I got it, but finally the sun came out, as did all the spring flowers. I took Ann for a walk up the road.... and did a photo shoot of a kind, and got some smiles. (even though she was not in the best mood)

I just finished listening to the audio book of Warbreaker by Brandon Sanderson

I really would not recommend reading the synopsis from Goodreads, it gives away way too much, here is the one I read. 

"An author whose previous, wildly successful novels have earned him a reputation as fantasy's master of magic, Brandon Sanderson continues to dazzle audiences with this tale of princesses and gods. In this extraordinary world, those who attain glory return as gods. And those who can master the essence known as breath can perform the most wondrous miracles - or unleash the most devastating havoc."

I gave this book 5 stars on Goodreads, but I possibly should have given it four.... there are no half stars though. Rating books is really hard.

Warning: there are a few minor spoilers in this review.

Most mornings and many afternoons this month and the end of last, a flock of screeching birds fly over our house and land in one of the tall gum trees next to it. I counted over twenty birds most days. Bright colours flashing they settle into the branches of a gum and almost disappear, except that they screech to one another continually and when they move there is a flash of vibrant colour before they meld back in to the green leaves and blue sky. Then there is the click, click, click of their beaks as they snip at the pink or pale yellow gum blossoms. 

I have no photos of this event so you shall have to imagine it from my words, and really when it is as dark as the other night, even I can not take a really good photo. 

Motes of hay drift up, hay that has the slightest dampness to it. We leave our places, by the warm fire crackling behind us. We leave the orange glow and settle down on the hay and lean back against another bale. All along the trailer people talk, I am too far away to hear most of what is said. Wordless voices rise high and fall. 

Rumbles of the tractor engine drown out some of the voices. It lurches forward throwing us all sideways and against one another. Red taillights flash, the head lights cut a bright swathe through the grass as we turn and bounce on. We leave the flickering flames behind. Not a trace of their warmth is left. Chords, strummed on strings. Upon one of the topmost bales a shadow sits strumming her guitar. I reach out and touch her as she plays. 

Music wafts through the star spangled night. Overhead the Milky Way stretches, stars glow brighter as we leave other lights behind. The two pointers shine bright, I follow their pointing with my eyes and find the Southern Cross. It shines right overhead in the middle of the misty streak across the heavens, the  Milky Way. I wonder at the vastness of he who names the stars. His Glory is plain if we only but look. 

We rattle past round bales, fences, a dam. Six wallabies start up in surprise as we rumble towards them, fixing them in the tractors headlights. They flee in all directions, we give chase. "Kangaroos" comes the shout, "Look, there!" Voices exclaim, hands point. Some of the wallabies hop along a fence, trying desperately to get away. They bound through the grass and melt into the darkness.

The tractor and its heavy load rattle away to into the darkness. Back to the fire, back to warmth. As we go voices are raised in song from the rear of the trailer. As those in the middle can't make out the words we begin our own. Song, laughter, hay, starry skies, a beautiful memory, a beautiful world, a great God.

My Mum had decided that this month I am responsible for getting all the washing done. This entitles, getting it out of baskets into the laundry, then from the laundry into the washing machine, then hung out and got back in again, all dried and folded, and finally putting it into piles and those piles in their respective rooms. I can’t decide if this will be simple or not, I think I shall leave that judgement for later. 

As to why I am writing about it, well I am a writer…. And I like recording stuff. I could also end up learning a few things while doing this month of washing. So feel free to read it, but washing only has a certain amount of amusingness, so feel free to skip it, but I shall try wringing all the amusingness in there out. Of course if it gets too boring I will stop posting this log, so tell me what you think. Do you help doing the washing for your family?

Day 1 Sunday: It is Sunday so no washing is done.

Day 2 Monday: I put on a large load of all the dirty washing in the house. Outside the sky is grey and we had 10 mm of rain on Sunday. I didn’t even think of checking in the boys pockets until the washing had finished. I pulled about a handful of rocks out of the washing machine. A few were large but most were almost small enough to fit through the holes in the washing machine. I shook rocks out of clothes while handing the load out and banged rocks out of the basket at the end. 

NOTE: Check Pockets

Day 3 Tuesday: I wasn’t expecting quite so much washing to pile up… I did a full load again and had more left over. I forgot about hanging it out until almost 12, and I got Jane to help me then. I have decided not to do a second load today, hope that is a good decision…… maybe it’s not. Last night I also forgot to get in the last few things that were wet when I got the rest of the washing in. It is all sorted out and in peoples rooms now.

Day 4 Wednesday: NOTE: Don’t forget you put the washing on.

For it to dry you also need to hang it out…… if it is midday before you remember, there is the side effect of melting into the grass while you hang it out. If it is a hot day.... which it was.

Day 5 Thursday: I should actually try remembering to get the washing out of people’s rooms’ earlier otherwise it ends up much later before I can put the washing on. Meaning it will be later when it finishes. Meaning I will probably be doing something else when it finishes. Meaning I melted into the ground like yesterday.

I heard Mummy saying she was going to go get in the washing. So I told her she was not allowed. Because I had to tell people to do it or do it myself. (that was the deal, not sure what I get out of it though, except this) But she was going to take Ann out anyway so then I told her to get in the washing….. then I asked her to get it in….. and I sorted it all out afterwards. 

This is an example of when the loads of unsorted washing add up

NOTE: it is a much less daunting task to put away the washing on the day it comes in than leave piles of it in the hallway until everyone is too scared to do it. Especially if you can listen to an audio book while putting it away.

I don't think our hallway has ever been so empty most of the time....

Day 6 Friday: I learnt that sometimes washing hangs on the side of the laundry tub and Mummy wants that washed too…. Should have been obvious. I could have easily fitted those few more things in.

When I got the washing in today the basket felt like it held plain static electricity. If I moved my hand or arm over it my hairs would stand up. Some of the washing had been wrapped around two lines so there had been some wind, I do also rather jerk washing off the line…. Maybe that is why…. it is very hot and dry....

The top of the peg basket is now entirely blue pegs….. Yes I am a little weird about that….. I must use blue pegs and no other colour…. Unless I run out, and that is a dire circumstance.

Day 7 Saturday: I asked my mum if she could hang out the washing, because I knew I would not be there when it finished. Granny got it in and I sorted it out.

Young Australian Raven

The Wood Ducks are all grown up now and look almost like their parents, now there is only the tiniest difference in size. The young raven still squawks from its nest, soon it will be gliding down to steal my chooks' food… and eggs with its parents. 


The many pairs of Australian or Noisy Miners that plague our place are building nests, sitting and feeding the young that have hatched. White eggs, speckled with brownish orange, particularly so at one end, sit in one little nest lined with stuffing from the padding off our trampoline. While I stood watching, a miner bird flew onto the side of a shed and perched on a metal strip that ran all the way around it. The bird peered down into one of the holes the strip and the corrugated side of the shed made. Poking his beak into the hole he tried to reach a creature in there, failing that he clutched onto the metal strip and looked up into the hole from the bottom then poked his beak in that way. Then he tried the top again and finally the bottom once more and succeeded this time. He flew off with most likely a large spider in his beak.

Walking through the paddock I could hear the little blue wrens calling to one another and far off a Willy Wagtail. A Straw-necked Ibis took off from an old, dead gumtree. I often see the Common Myna by the side of the road while driving to town, no doubt plotting which bird they will assassinate next. They are not a welcome site to any lover of Australian native birds or even other animals, like sugar gliders. The Common or Indian Myna will knock young birds from nests, and, if it does not stoop to that, they will at the least steal hollows in trees to nest in; meaning there is another place taken from our native rosellas, cockatoos, possums and other birds that nest in hollow trees. 

I had another amazing find. Last year a pair of Wedge Tailed Eagles hatched a chick so I did not expect that they would be nesting again this year but they did. The chick had already lost all its white fluff by the time I first saw it. Adult feathers covered its body and were starting to appear on its head. I went down the cliff a little way to get a better look. One of the parent birds took off from a nearby tree and glided gracefully downwards, spreading its wings in a two meter wingspan. 

This week I wrote my current events report (for school) on the disappearing plane. I found it difficult not from lack of information but from the information being conflicting, one web page would say something and another something else. Anyway to the report.

The headlines currently flashing across the entire world are all concerned with the disappearance of a plane from a Malaysian airline. The plane took off carrying 239 people, mostly Chinese but also a few Australians, Americans and some other nationalities.  The plane left Kuala Lumpur International Airport at about 12:41am on Saturday. 

The plane’s last transmission was initially said to be four hours after take-off then it suddenly dropped out. Now officials are saying they lost contact around 1:20 am. Since then nothing confirmed has been heard or seen of the plane. No distress calls were picked up. China released a few blurry pictures satellites had taken, but they could have been anything floating on the ocean. A New Zealand man working on an oil rig also claims to have seen a burning object fall into the sea. But still nothing is confirmed.

Many planes, helicopters and boats are searching an area, approximately the size of India, where the plane may have crashed. There are many theories of what could have happened. They range from the plane being hijacked, landed and the passengers being held hostage somewhere, to engine failure. Because of the lack of evidence no possibility is being ruled out. 

Two of the people on board carried fake passports; they could have been terrorists, or just another two of the unlucky passengers on board. No one is even sure what direction the plane was taking. The plane was heading east over the South China Sea when it disappeared (lost contact), but authorities believe it may have turned back, flying then into the upper reaches of Malacca Strait. The plane’s destination was Beijing China.

Lies are abounding, one article, using an old photo of a plane that crashed into the sea in 2013, claimed the missing plane had been found. On the Tuesday after the plane disappeared the head of the Malaysian armed forces was reported as saying that the military radar picked up the plane at 2.40am. Now he denies ever saying such a thing. Someone is not telling the truth. In the past countries have accidentally shot down aircraft like in July 1988 the US navy missile cruiser accidentally shot down an Iran Air flight and in September 1983 a Russian shot down a Korean Air Lines flight.

For now the search continues. Many people still hope the passengers may be alive, but most doubt it. The whole world wants to know why and how though. Hopefully those questions will be answered sometime in the near future. 

Andrew Barton Patterson or more commonly known as “Banjo” Patterson is probably Australia’s most well-known poet.  He is honoured greatly now by having one side of the ten dollar note dedicated to his memory. 2014 is 150 years since Banjo Paterson’s birth, so is extra special.  Many Australians learn and recite his poetry. A movie has been made from one of his poems “The Man from Snowy River”, and various annual events are held in his honour.

The Man from Snowy River Bush Festival is held in Victoria at the foothills of the Snowy Mountains. The festival began in 1995. It celebrates bush folk law, horsemanship, bush music and art. All sorts of events take place; from camp drafting and a brumby catch, to a ute muster and a four day trail ride. People from all over Australia attend and even visitors from other countries.

Banjo Paterson Festival is held every year in Orange, the town of Banjo’s birth. It runs over eleven days.  There are horse races, art exhibitions, poetry recitals, yabbying competitions and many more events.  During the festival people explore the places Banjo would have explored as a child. 

Banjo truly loved Australia and the bush. We can know that by just reading some of his poems.

“There's a sunny Southern land,

And it's there that I would be

Where the big hills stand,

In the South Countrie!”

- At the Melting of the Snow

“Australia takes her pen in hand

To write a line to you,

To let you fellows understand

How proud we are of you.”

- We're All Australians Now

Banjo wrote many poems and ballads all about Australia, and life here, particularly bush life, which he lived as a child. His poetry does much to remind us of the Australian bush and what things were like and in places still are. Even though he lived and died quite a few years ago – 17 February 1864 to 5 February 1941 – Banjo’s legacy remains.