Thumbs up - we won the Ashes back

As you can see, I am not the only one thrilled to bits that we won, Ken had to amend his 2005 mug, to add on our latest victory!!

A Bird in hand is worth two on the side of the road!!

I keep telling Ken this, but still he has eyes for other women, especially the big ones!
These were two from our recent holiday along the Great Ocean Road where there are lots of spectacular rock formations in the Ocean which are gradually being eroded away, for instance there are only ten Apostles, instead of twelve and London Bridge recently collapsed into the sea so is no more.

Australian Natives (of the botanical sort!)

Last night we went up to Tim and Mandie for dinner and I admired her vase of Banksias, otherwise known as Bottle Brushes, surprise surprise, so on the way out she cut me some, and now they grace my kitchen, they will last forever, they look lovely.

The other photo is of Colleen's Fairy Floss Grevillia bush, how I covet this one for my own garden. I just hope with all the Australian natives I have recently planted I will have made such delightful choices, you don't really know until they grow and flower, which could take a while.

The longest 25 minutes of my life!!

I woke about 4.30 am, got up and put on the radio, to get the Cricket,not just any old Cricket, but The Ashes!! Nothing, they were nattering on about old cars, it was a phone in and as I waited patiently I made a cup of tea (how English can you get)and then, finally it came - we had won, what a joy. By 'we' of course I mean the Poms, I still consider myself a Pom, after all I have lived longer in England than I have Australia. They are funny these Aussies, they don't like losing, especially to the Poms so I will revel in my five minutes of glory, and they will do it all over again in a couple of years.

Guess what?

Today I went out and bought me a Microwave Oven!!! Me - who has always said I would never have one!!! I would say, I bought the smallest one I could find, as I don't intend using it THAT much, just for custard, Kens Porridge, white sauces etc, anything to save washing up a messy saucepan!

What bought this about, I hear you thinking? Yesterday we had a visit from the Sustainable Living Man, who went all over the house with a small toothcomb and made suggestions about how we could reduce our carbon footprint!! We will be getting a full report in due course, meanwhile maybe we will have to think about replacing our vertical blinds with curtains, at least for the winter, as most of our heat must go out of our big windows. But I don't really fancy those formaldahyde backed curtains they recommend here so maybe the time I will save washing up messy pans will be spent making my own hemp curtains!! Who knows.

Houseguest

This is Wally, he is with us for four weeks, he is a bit fed up with me today as it has been so cold and rainy that he has not been out for a walk!! Hope he won't report me to the RSPCA. He is a sweet little dog, sleeps in our bedroom, on my side I would add, and is always ready for bed about 9 pm.

A few relevant photos!

In no particular order (cos I never know which order they will appear in!!) A Birthday Bouquet of Australian Natives, a birthday cake baked by mother-in-law,(that makes a change, for someone to make HER a cake) outside Gustaf Weindorfer's chalet at Waldheim and Two Knitty Noras!!