Bank Holiday Monday....yay!

We woke this morning to quite a thick fog...it wasn't exactly a pea souper, but it was quite thick for Melbourne. 

Thanks to the Public Holiday for the Queen's Birthday we were able to take things slow...no rushing off to work and certainly no Monday morning feelings. 

Bacon and egg breakfast with copious cups of tea.......not a bad way to start the day.

The fog lay think until after lunch but thankfully it did lift and there was the sun....it's been missing for quite a few days...heaven knows where it went...but we'll forgive it, just so long as it stays.

(Plants from a random garden on my morning walk)

I had an interesting ride on the train on Friday night...as I looked about the carriage, I saw the majority of people plugged into their own little world. Either with ipads, iphones or ipods! It's amazing what you hear from people who seem oblivious to the fact that everyone can hear what they discuss, whether it is the current state of their love lives, office politics, financial status, even to what was to be for dinner that night!

So imagine my surprise when I heard someone actually talk to me. Well I assumed he was talking to me because he wasn't wired for sound....and then it started...a real conversation. We chatted for most of the journey into the city. It was such an interesting conversation. He was returning to Sydney, but had been doing the journey back and forth from Melbourne since he was a small boy.

It was such a pleasant journey and I realised if I'd been plugged in, I'd have missed the opportunity to find out lots of interesting details, facts and to have a real conversation.

 (The water dropslet still clinging on...)

By the way, I've made enquiries concerning a local celebrity, the diary has been checked and she's free to appear for my 'Giveaway' prize draw on Wednesday. 

Due to the Rafflecopter not working correctly she has agreed to pick the winning name for the prize.

To keep the paparazzi at bay, I've been asked to keep the details confidental at this stage but all will be revealed on Wednesday. I think you'll enjoy the fun :D

Until then...have a great week and remember smile ~ it will make someone's day!

Having A Hoolie Day.....

Its batten down the hatches today...with a hoolie blowing in and I have heard the words "be prepared for hail" and unbelievably 'snow' was even mentioned.
So does this mean that summer has finally packed its bags and headed off to visit some other part of the world? Hopefully it may be where you are...but don't forget to send it back!
I'm going to miss it terribly, but I know they'll be lots of other things to keep me busy whilst its away. Plus all the autumn colours haven't really arrived yet...

 I do love to see all the changes that each season brings as I've mentioned before....living in countries previously where there are little changes from one month to another, except from hot to hotter weather, or dry dusty conditions to a few droplets of rain that hardly meet on the tarmac, can leave you wanting.
Although most of the trees haven't got organised yet with their new autumn wardrobes...my potted grapevine has really pulled all the stops out.

 There's still so much happening in the garden and I was thrilled to see that the birdcage plant has flowered. I wasn't really ready, but it decided to bloom without much help from me.

Plectranthus Oerthendahlii (Brazilian Coleus)

I'm really pleased that it feels so comfortable and at home here with us :D

I came across one of the flowers that I'd featured on a previous blog...well it wasn't the flower that featured but the seed pods that looked like little aliens and someone had asked what it was...I knew I'd got a photo of the flower somewhere in my files, but gave up trying to find it, as it liked hiding! This little specimen must have been feeling very brave to be still on show...

I now know its a Butterfly Iris! (there's always something new to learn in blogdom)

I also passed my tree today, I say my tree because I helped to plant it along with lots of other plants way back in September 2010...and what a fine specimen its turning out to be...  

 LOL....I bet that got your attention....obviously this isn't the one I planted, but I have great hopes for my little treelet! Isn't this tree incredible? So tall and straight....

Here's the real one that I planted...modelled beautifully by my extremely exclusive models. Thankfully Zac and Muffin didn't christen the tree by marking it as theirs! For that matter nor did my friend!!!! ;D

I hope you can make out which tree it is...it's central in this photo.

The sun is shining so I think I should wrap up, tie the hair away and get outside to get on with some of those gardening jobs...I want to replant my hanging mangers to a winter display with plants that will be happy through the cooler months...but then the studio is calling me...oh decisions, decisions....

Good Luck to everyone who has entered into the 'The Iron Man Triathlon' on Sunday here in Melbourne ~  I'm sorry I couldn't enter this year...I'm so disappointed as you can imagine....but its my ankle, knees, hips, shoes, wind direction, well you know how it is?....who knows I may be free next year :-$

For everyone else not in the race...have fun this weekend and keep smiling  :D

Splish splash.....he was taking a bath!

I'm virtually sitting in the dark here and its only 4.30pm due to an oncoming thunderstorm. I've been watching the skyline this afternoon, like a child eagerly waiting for a sighting of Santa's sleigh. (Yeah...I know Christmas was so last year!) But it’s been quite humid for the past few days now and I really love to enjoy a good downpour when it’s been like that. Here comes the rumbling...and there goes Muffin....under the bed! 
I noticed in our office earlier a photo that's from our days living in Brunei. It shows my son having a fun time in the tropical rainstorm. (I hasten to add that there wasn't a thunderstorm at this time ~ not a good idea under an umbrella under trees!).
I can empathise completely with his sheer delight as I'm fighting the urge to go out and dance in the rain myself : D
Well it is still warm although that rain may not be.....He even got to wear blue wellies!

( Apologies for the quality of the photo because I had to take a photo of a photo...if you follow me?)

I really wasn't going to write about the rain or storm today but don't you find writing a post can take on a whole life of its own? I'm now trying to write one handed because Muffin made a dash from under the bed to under the table by my feet. She's shaking so I'm now holding her on my lap....it's such a shame.
Anyway, where was I? Oh yes, todays post...
I got a little shock myself yesterday when I checked the filter for the pool I opened the top and plunged my hand in to scoop a few leaves out that were floating....or so I thought, but one wasn't a leaf!
It was a furry wee beast!
Well actually after my initial jump (and I have to confess expletive) I couldn't find where he had disappeared to? Gone...vamoosh....no trace. I can be brave about these things but I just have to know where these little #@%&*$'s go, so I kept searching but to no avail.
I decided that he had just disappeared but then when I took the pool scoop to clear leaves off the water....LOOK!

I thought I wouldn't zoom in on the first photo just in case you're not fond of furry wee beasties.... but then I suppose I should have given you a warning first ~ whoops! Well I didn't get one either.

I have no idea how he got there because it was so far from where I'd seen him, although maybe I'd flung him without thinking when I realised it wasn't a leaf in my hand...it was warm and furry!

You have no idea of the 'shinanakins' that went on, as I tried to keep him here, captive whilst I ran to grab my camera. But he did seem to like the warm sun on his back and obviously needed to dry off.

I do hope he's not going to be a regular visitor ^..^ or bring all his brothers and sisters : $

Have fun day ~ and don't forget to smile : D