10th September 1916

This was when my nan was born, 90 years ago!

And so I made a trip to Adelaide to help her celebrate. I wish I had taken a big group photo because there are too many individual photos to post of nan with all her friends and family! She had a great day with lots of laughs and tears. Dad put together a great little short movie of her life. Nan viewed the movie a few days earlier, as m&d thought it would bring up many emotions that she might not want with all the people were around on the day of the premier. And it did, especially when the pics of her late husband, grandad George appeared. It showed nan as a young lady in the Land Army of England. She was posted on my grandads farm during this time, so this is how they met!

Chris and Scott gave nan this stereo so she can listen to her books on tape. She was so happy and kept going into her room to look at it! Cute!


Then he started getting cheeky and demanding birthday kisses


Mum made so much deliciousness! Mmmm, I can taste the creamerishious scones.....

My little second cousins, Elijah and Ethan, were so cute. They built this 'trap', which was covered in grass so you wouldn't see it, in the back yard. Also they had a pine cone hunt. First they collected pine cones, then they hid them, then they search the back yard for the cones they hid! So cute!


Mum and I even made a trip to the desert town of Whyalla so nan could celebrate with all of her friends there. I did manage to get a group shot there! They are a very caring group of people and nan loves their company.


It was great catching up with everyone. Especially, hanging out with Scott and Lynda for a night of fun filled Star Wars trivial pursuit. As expected Scott completely dominated, being the hard core Star Wars fan that he is. The excitement of the game even sent Jess into labour!


I really miss spending time with Jess and Leanne (><) You are so beautiful and vibrant. I'll really miss being with you two and watching your little ones grow up... I'm coming back in a few weeks time and I can't wait!!! Weeeeeeeeeeeeee

Tsa Tsa

Tsa Tsa Making

A Tsa Tsa is a two dimensional image of the Buddha. The image embodies the qualities of enlightened beings - their impartial and unconditional love , compasion and their omniscient, all pervasibe wisdom.

Green Tara - this one was not made or painted by me but is an inspiration of what you can achieve



Pouring out the plaster into a mould



Turning out the dried tsa tsa's


1000 arm Chenrezig - unpainted


Tsa Tsa making group

Tao of Drumming

If Tao comes to your town or city you should experience their performance. It is amazing! This group trains for 10 hours every day and it shows! both in their amazing skills, endurance, perfection and bodies. Wow! It is a beautiful mix of traditional taiko drumming, with a contemporary twist including females (who traditionally weren't allowed to play the drums but they are just as amazing), influences by (what sounded to my unmusical ears) to be maori and irish and the oh, so popular spray on jeans (which are making a huge come back but can only be worn by a small percentage of the population, including super fit japanese taiko drummers).

This night out was part of robo's birthday treats but I was just as lucky to experience this performance. Just watching these guys made me want to be a taiko expert like them and rob felt the same! He wanted to take up the wadaiko again and rejoin his onna troupe!
The sweet flute playing and flowing kimono with fans and umbrella were so elegant, mixed with the powerful, raw, sweating, earthy beats of the massive drums. You will love it!

www.drum-tao.com/E/site

Ayurvedic Cooking

A few weekends ago I did an Ayurvedic Cooking course. It was yummy fun and we even made paneer cheese! Here are a few pics.... Ayurveda is known as the 'Science of Long Life'. Ayurveda is about creating balance for each individual, once your digestive system (and other systems) are fuctioning well. When your body/ mind is out of balance, disease and ill health can occur. Balance is achieved by becoming aware of who you are and how external influences affect you so that you can counter these affects through diet, yoga, meditation, message, cleansing practices and other wholistic healing methods that are specific to you. Ayurveda is an ancient wisdom, so it is not a new fad. It has been tried and tested over thousands of years. The more I follow the principles of Ayurveda, the more I see the benefits. Ayurvedic Cooking is yummy, fresh and wholesome.

Above: Leah and Tiger checking things out before we begin.

Milling around, waiting to begin cooking!

The spices we cooked with.


Glenda with yummy mung balls


Joey with the paneer we made.


Glenda and Jim in their cooking aprons


All the delicious food!

Less puffy, still happy

Now the swelling has gone down a little Rob can smile again...



and again.....


But when I show him these pics, he has to hold his cheeks to stop him mouth from hurting!


According to the 'Agertron' in the Natural history museum in London, this is what rob will look like in 20 years time...


Looks a little bit like Rob last week......


The one from 20 years earlier is spot on! This is exactly what Rob looked like when he was little! Cute, isn't he?

Puff Rob

Rob loses his wisdom teeth.... and gains some extra cheeks!



Even through all the discomfort, Rob manages to smile...... just a little.




If Rob gained lots of weight, he would look like this.....

Some July adventures

I was just reading Stephos blog - Its time - (love it and you're such a interesting writer!) and it made me want to post something too! Im way to slack with the updates but I think it is a great so you can look back and enjoy past fun times!

Soooooo, here are a few pictures of some 'winter' (at this time winter hadn't kicked in and it was lovely and sunny, but no rain...) weekend adventures rob and I have embarked on, in and around Bunbury.

Leschenault peninsular
You can see this peninsular from the city in Bunbury but once you are out there it feels as though there is no one around forever... Its about 20min drive north of bunbury.


Cormorants standing on pillions.

In the 70's there was a 'hippy commune' living on the Leschenault peninsular that maintained a somewhat self sustaining lifestyle. If you wanted to live there you had to live by the rules of the 3 D's 'No dole, no dogs and no drugs'. Apparently, the lifestyle attracted many artists and even a monk, who enjoyed the solitude for his meditation. The kids would sometime have to catch a boat to school when flooding cut the peninsular off.

Now, all that is left are some signs to teach us of the history of the site and, sadly, lots of weeds!

One native species that is found on the peninsular (and restricted to the southwest of WA) is the tuart (Eucalyptus gomphocephala). Rob and I found the 'mother' tuart tree and gave her a hug (well, I did! I couldn't help it!). It is the biggest tuart I have ever seen and I've seen quite a few! These trees are under attack and on the decline due to subdivisions and also some kind of insect on the ones that have been spared, so I thought mama could do with a hug.


Can you see rob at the bottom







The next few pictures were taken in Bunbury at the Back beach. The rocks in the background are an outcrop of basalt which is millions of years old. Once upon a time, according to geological records, this land mass was joined to Tibet!





This picture is another inlet in Bunbury. There is a small patch of mangroves in here which are the only ones to be found for hundreds of kilometres. Unfortunately, the hydrography of the system has been altered, due to the diversion of the Preston river and the installation of flood gates.... great for houses, not great for the inlet. Apparently, it used to have a sandy white bottom. Now it is black and sludgy. On the up side, I heard the river may be restore to some extent. Hoorah! I think it still holds some beauty and it is great to cycle around!

European Travels

Hello Friends

Here are a few pics from our recent trip to Uk to visit my sister and mum & dad (who were visiting from Adelaide).

LONDON


I love these london markets!


Hmmm... I suddenly feel like a coffee....?


Rob and Em outside the National Gallery - Trafalgar Square


The Tube

MANCHESTER


Jo and Stew


Rob discovers the joy of public toilets in Manchester


Windy Manchester

SCARBOROUGH


Robo loves the casino in Scarborough


Dad finally wins a mini!

PROJECT EDEN


Project Eden


One of the beautiful tulips of Project Eden

CORNWALL


Walking with Stew and Jo in Cornwall




The stunning Cornish Coastline


We love walking in Cornwell

SWEDEN


Giant Swedish Pony


Coffee in Sweden with Chris


Recycling in Sweden with Satu


Miniture goats!


Rob touches a moose

CLOVELLY




Rocky beaches of Clovelly


The quaint streets of Clovelly

BRIGHTON


Mum and Jo at the Penny Arcade in Brighton (can you spot rob lurking in the background?)


Perfect photo oppertunity for Stew

OTHERS


The windy moors of northern England.


Rob gets beaten down by Lady MacBeth


We love car trips!


The May pole in Padstow for May Day


The Buddha at Jamyang in London




Forest walks