My Sunday Photo... Fawkner Park, Melbourne

With the continuation of dark grey days, I'm obviously craving light at the moment and there's no better light than in the Southern Hemisphere. 

This photo shows the nearby park that became my regular daily dog walk, when we lived in Melbourne, Australia. It's name is Fawkner Park named after Melbourne's co-founder, John Pascoe Fawkner, and first reserved in 1862, Fawkner Park remains largely unchanged from its original design.

I would love to stroll around this park once more with its meandering paths lined with Moreton Bay figs, elms, poplars and oaks trees.

Muffin and I had some lovely walks here.  

It introduced her to grass and trees, after living in the Middle East.

A doggy paradise.

Fawkner Park is a popular park in Melbourne's South Yarr and part of the City of Melbourne.

 It provides recreational areas for teams playing Cricket, Softball, Soccer, Australian Rules Football, Tennis and Rugby.

I've seen early morning fitness classes enjoying working out in the open air, children having fun in the play park and people enjoying the free on-site barbecues and picnic areas at the weekends.

And of course the usual joggers and dog walkers.

Fond memories indeed.

(if you'd like to read more about the park then click here to be transported to an old post written way back in 2012)

I hope the light improves soon with the arrival of spring.

Have fun outdoors if you can.

If you'd like to see more photo's then click on the camera and join us over at Photo A Life 

Happy weekend everyone and thanks for stopping by.

Happy Monday

Well helloooo June, 

Let's hope it warms up a fair bit because May was atrocious!

I always try embrace all the different weather we have here in the UK, because that's what I missed when we lived abroad. 

But I'm afraid May tested me and took me to the brink at times. 

I can't believe that Muffy and I had a great walk this morning.

As you can see she loved the freshly cut grass. 

The smell even caught my attention. 

The sky larks where hovering and singing their amazing song, but even with the sun shining there was no escape from that chilly brisk wind. 

In fact, it's been bothering us for weeks now and quite frankly I think it should move on...

Here's Muffypup having a good roll around with gay abandon...

We're not in any hurry... no of course not.

Slow and stop was the order of the day.

Unfortunately when you roll around in an open park there's a fair chance that you'll roll in some indescribable gunge... duck, crows, seagulls and other doggy doodoo's.

So needless to say she had to have a compulsive bath when we got home.

Let me tell you the windows were flung  open and thankfully I always have a towel in the boot for such occurrences.  

That'll be a gold star for me then...

And here she is... our Aga magnet. 

(Who needs fridge magnets? Not in this house anyway)

Thankfully because the Aga hasn't been switched off for summer

(even though there's only 22 days until mid summer)

She's able to stay cosy whilst she dries off.
I tried using the hairdryer but sometimes it gets her too excited and it's game on... chase me... chase me. There's no way she'd get the concept of the limited electrical lead restricting me in the chase.

Anyway... all the high jink are over for the time being and it's time to settle down. 

It's been quite a morning...

 I think I could just snuggle up with her, but unfortunately I've got a lot on my 'To Do' list today.

We were away over the weekend, so hopefully I'll be able to post a little about it. I'm also participating in Tracey Fletcher King's Delicious Paint class which should be fantastic.

I'm also getting ready for visitors and the garden hasn't been touched since last Thursday. 

I may need a rope attached around my middle before I head out there. 

It's been some time but because the blue towel has reminded me about Blue Monday... 

I'm linking up today. I hope to see you over there. 

Have fun with your week and if you've visited me and I haven't returned the compliment yet, then I'm on the case... it just might take me a little time to catch up. 

Here's one last photo

As you can see... she's not going anywhere until that weather warms up!

(p.s. if you like reading about Muffy's antics she's actually got her own Instagram account now. I know but what can you do? 

Here's her addy... the_world_according_to_Muffy

Happy Blue Monday to you all

Shake your tail feathers

The strangest thing happened in the park yesterday.

Now that sounds a little like..."a funny thing happened on the way to the theatre" doesn't it? 

McMufftypup and myself were taking a stroll in the park whilst enjoying the beautiful warm spring morning...Muffy oblivious to everything going on around her as usual, but for the immediate smell under her nose. But I became aware that two crows were acting suspicious and were very interested her. So much so that they came hopping over the lawn towards her. 

I began to worry that maybe they were interested in her eyes. 

I know that they can peck eyes, but I thought that would only be in something that had actually died...but what else could it be? 

They came closer and close...but each time that Muffy looked at them the nearest crow crouched down. 

"Curiouser and curiouser" said Alice

But then I realised what the crow was trying to do when it began to peck poor McMuffy. Not her eyes but her tush!

Or more precise...her tail feathers! 

The crow tried to nip in and pull out some fur

 (or should I say hair as Shuh Tzu's have hair not fur). 

Muffy was most indignant! 

"How very dare you...?"

"Do-I-know-you...?"

Obviously the crows spotted her swishy tush and thought now that would be brilliant for our nest!

I just wished I'd have know what was happening and I'd have taken a video. 

Nature never ceases to amaze me...there's always something going on. 

Well it's Friday and I've got a full weekend planned. 

I've an exciting outing on Sunday and next week I'm away on a girls break. 

Whoohoo!

I'm not sure how much time I'll have for blogging, but I'll no doubt have lots to share with you sooner or later. 

Enjoy your weekend

Toodleloo for now 

xoxo

Banished to the bedroom!

Basically I'm banished to the bedroom today and not even my own bedroom at that...it's the guest bedroom. 

We've moved in here whilst our own room is being painted etc, so it feels a little like being away on a mini-break or holiday. 

The reason for my banishment today is that the builders and painters have taken over virtually every room downstairs. I've escaped to the hairdressers yesterday and the garden centre before that to save my sanity...but I wanted to stay home today.

There are gaping holes in the walls where windows and doors used to be, dust in every conceivable place even though dust covers have been draped everywhere and I spent quite a considerable time last night hoovering, dusting and steam cleaning the floors. It all looks a little sad and ghostly, but then I just have look at the completed work that has been done already and I think it'll all be worthwhile. 

At least I'm not having to live in a caravan whilst all the work is being done like so many other people have had to do.  

Every morning starts before dawn and Muffy and I decided this morning to escape the mayhem. We wandered around the park and came back suitably refreshed and revived but it was still before 8am! 

We haven't seen the sun here for quite a few days, so as it made an appearance this morning it seemed that everyone wanted to make the most of it. 

The birds were singing beautifully trying to out do one anothers song, crocus and daffodils have managed to push through to make an entrance, although I think they may be held back from flowering for a week or two as it is still a little chilly.

But the snowdrops are putting on a good show.

(I liked my shadow in this photo so I didn't edit it out...it shows how low the sun is at this time of year)

At one stage I counted 14 small dogs all grouped together in the centre of the park having fun, running and stretching their legs, barking and playing ball. 

Life's good when you can run full pelt with friends off the lead! ^..^

It was a doggy social whirl there, so no wonder McMuffy is curled up now snoozing and whimpering in her sleep...she's obviously still at the pooch party by the sound of it. 

Here's my favourite photo of the week...well for now it is.

The gorse bursting into flower.

For anyone who isn't familiar with gorse...it is a large evergreen shrub covered in needle-like leaves and has a distinctive coconut perfumed yellow flower. 

It makes such an impact on the landscape. 

But the flowers aren't the only thing that feel spring maybe just around the corner...the crows were swooping and calling overhead with their beaks full of twigs and nesting material. 

All natures positive signs and greatly appreciated even though it hasn't been a harsh cold winter. 

Meanwhile back at the ranch...there's cuppas to be brewed and fires to keep alight.
Yesterday someone decided that it was okay to pop their lunch bag (plastic) onto the fire WRONG! 

Fire alarms ringing, smoke billowing and general choking commenced.
I tell you there's never a dull moment. 

I even had to paint my nails to hide the ground in soot after cleaning everywhere! 

It was ingrained into my skin and my face cleansing wipe last that night looked like I'd been down a coal mine! 

I've got so many blog posts backing up in my mind that I'd like to share with you so I might have to post daily if there's not too many major incidents to keep me away. 

Enjoy your week and I'll hopefully see you again soon. 

Toodleloo for now

xoxo