Feel the Heat

I can't believe how cold it is here in Melbourne at the moment. I know that its winter, but seriously its really not what you expect when thinking of Australia. Oh for an open fire or a wood burner right now.

Yesterday I decided to not venture out of the house. The rain was pouring and it was blowing a hoolie, so I decided to reorganise my photo's instead. It was whilst browsing that heat started to radiate from the page. So I thought I'd share some with you.

After all this blog is supposed to be about travel and the globe so here's some pics from our trip to the Inland Sea in Qatar.....feel that heat?

Yes, those are our tyre tracks.....

I feel so much cosier already - how about you?


No exactly like the donkey rides on the beach...


I think the three wise men might have stopped off for a coffee?

Muffin's Mission from Middle East to Melbourne

I thought it was time to introduce 'Muffin' and her expat experience to you.... yes, as you can see she rules the roost and has a certain air about her.

Once we knew we were leaving the Middle East and that Australia was on the cards there wasn't a moments hesitation, she had to come too. Remember Dogs aren't just for Deserts they're for life! No way would we want to leave our youngest even with so many offers of good homes, and although Muffin only knew heat, sand and the muezzin call to prayer we wanted to give her a chance of a proper doggy life ie trees, dog walks, lamp posts, and fire hydrants.

Here is Mufftypup socialising at her leaving 'do'! Saying goodbye to all her puppy pals. She's always been a party animal.


After months of prep, paperwork and thankfully a brilliant pet relocating company we were ready to head off. The only trouble was that the airline had indicated that they wouldn't transport any snub-nosed animals, either cats or dogs. So a quick rethink was called for and drastic measures taken. How to make a Shih Tzu appear to have a proboscis?!!?!?! Not an easy feat as you can see from the photos. Hairdressers would be sued for this kind of make-over.


It was a very tense time waiting to see if she was detected and busted or would she be successful in her mission. After flight delays and long hauls we received the call that she'd finally made it.

Welcome to Melbourne Muffy.... Just one hurdle - quarantine!

After the initial excitement and desperate wags powerful enough to light up a large suburb she crashed and slept in my arms for two hours.

Obviously overdone the duty free! See once a party animal always a party animal.

The trouble came when time was called and I had to leave her once more. Not an easy task, let me tell you.

Disclaimer....the following picture comes with a warning and may cause some distress but no animal was harmed in the making of this film.

Yes that's her in the centre of the pen but she did her time and finally.....

Free at last, FREE AT LAST....

"What's all this green, soft stuff and it smells sooooooooo good"? Can't beat that cool breeze blowing through your hair.

Living the Dream.....

It's all too much this paparazzi performance....wake me up when its dinner time.

Once a diva always a diva.

Exerts from an Expat

Well, who would believe it?

I'm in my 20th year of being an expat.

Considering I never really had the urge to travel in the first place this is such a surprise!

(Middle East)

My annual holidays were enough to satisfy my curiosity about different continents, cultures and customs. How could this have happened? I don't remember making the definite decision to follow this lifestyle but I suppose at various times there must have been some agreement.

(South Africa)

My other half says "yes... but we've seen life" when questioning some of the destinations. This is true, but always seems to be announced when we've just experienced or witnessed a previously unimaginable sight, smell or event.
The fact remains that sometimes I think I'd rather not have seen that much 'life' up close and personal.

I'm not sure if this will be the final destination on the tour or whether there could be a few encores! But then I suppose thats the exciting part - not knowing what's coming next!

(Canada)

Hmm, I really wouldn't mind if I never see another packing box until my own personal one arrives.

(Australia)

We've just received our freight from two previous destinations which have been in storage for many years. The idea being that 'we' can finally edit our belongings, obviously we are talking the royal 'we' meaning basically 'me'!

(South Africa)

We are finally getting to declutter. Isn't this supposed to be a liberating, rejuvenating experience? Well, tell that to my cut and frayed fingers, black and blue limbs and the loss of our garage walls - now fully lined with the excess boxes.

I've just got to get through the emotional turmoil of making decisions on each box - whether its finally time to shed my children's baby clothes, school books, three boxes alone of photographs, and fashion statements that went out with the arc. Or are they retro now???

(Maldives)

If theres any easy way of dealing with these major decisions other than we haven't needed or even known we still had these possessions then obviously we don't need them. I'd be interested in hearing from anyone out there?

Looking back at some of our photographs though, I think it may well have been all worth it!