I can’t help thinking that we’re living through 1939 all over again. Czar Putin has his troops massed on Ukraine’s border. All he needs is an excuse to invade. Back in 1939, Hitler had security service (SD – Sicherheitsdienst in … Continued
After several harrowing months of American politics and covid-19 I thought I’d take a look back at some of the beautiful country that is Australia. It’s a big place with diverse habitat. Pete and I have flown across it often … Continued
It’s great to know that the last of the fires burning in New South Wales and Victoria are finally out. It was a truly horrendous fire season which will be etched into many peoples’ souls. Those of us not directly … Continued
Rainfall can be such a hit-and-miss business in Australia. I can’t remember the last time when it was a non-issue; that is, not too little, not too much – just right. Remember Goldilocks? Even going back to my childhood in … Continued
Sun, surf, and sand, yeah? Barbies at the beach, or next to the backyard swimming pool. That’s the ideal. But it’s Fake News, folks. In the real world, record-breaking rain (really record breaking, not that pretend stuff) has drenched Far … Continued
We just spent a week on Norfolk Island, a tiny speck of an island (~35 square kilometres) in the South Pacific a little over 1,600km North East of Sydney. What a fascinating place. The island is one of Australia’s territories, … Continued
You can see Rottnest Island from Fremantle – in fact, from most of the beaches from Freo to Hillarys. It’s a low ridge just on the horizon. The photo above shows the view looking the other way. When I was … Continued
Yes, I know I’m not finished with Europe yet. I’ll get back to it soon. But I’m just back from a week in Perth, catching up with old, old friends and a brief visit with relos, and I want to … Continued
Cyclone Debbie has certainly cut a swathe through the holiday islands of the Whitsundays and their gateway, Airlie Beach. Bowen and Ayr bore the brunt of the storm and that takes nothing away from all the smaller places in the … Continued
Would you believe not all of Australia’s animals are cute and cuddly? You would, wouldn’t you? The place is crawling with lethal snakes, deadly spiders, murderous little octopuses, excruciatingly painful jellyfish… It’s all true, of course, but it’s pretty much … Continued