Vera Macdonald

I had a few days in Melbourne again on my way back from Perth. I did the art galleries and of course the shops in the arcades. I took a free tourist tram all round the city and visited the Koorie Cultural Centre to read the history of the Aboriginal people who first lived in this area.

Look closely to see the ultra modern architecture

Very nice place to shop - if you can afford it!

I’m now back in Pottsville and guess what? It’s raining again, torrential rain at that. So this confirms that they have had the wettest year ever so far. What can I say? I’ll soon be back in bonnie Scotland, well known for its…rain. C’est la vie!

Had a great picnic in Kings Park which has spectacular views over the city.

A great view from Kings Park over the centre Perth.

This tree was actually moved from another location where a new road was going through. Despite being so huge, old and heavy, it was re-planted here and seems to be doing fine.

You can see why it's also called the bottle tree.

I’m now in Perth and it’s difficult to remember it’s the same country because it took over 5 hours to get here. We took a river cruise and got a great view of the CBD (as the central business district is called) and later had drinks at a seaside bar with the most fabulous view over the Indian Ocean.

The Indian Ocean from the Salt on the Beach Bar

Heading up the Swan River to the CBD

I had the best day ever yesterday at Currumbin Wildlife Park - yes wildlife! Totally out of my comfort zone which made it more exciting I suppose. So I started with the cuddliest ones and worked my way up from there.

How cute is he?

He was really heavy, 16kg and not yet fully grown. So that went so well I decided to go for something a bit bigger.

They are so pushy, they try to help themselves to the food and push each other out of the way.

Now let’s get close to something a bit more intimidating.

Australia's largest raptor is a bit scarier up close than you might think.

Right, now let’s try taming a wee snapper.

He's a baby but with a big bite.

So what could I possibly do to top that? Oh, I know, now where could I find a python?

Do I want the front half too? Well maybe not.

So - all in all what a day!

I’ve just recovered from a few days of not being too well. Visited the local doc and his first advice was ‘don’t drink anything cold’. Well as some of you know, that’s been my soapbox cry for years, so I immediately decided this doctor know’s what he’s talking about. He then prescribed camomile tea with honey and butter, as he thinks my breathing problem is caused by some sort of over activity (not sure whether it’s the aerobics, cycling, mountaineering, or maybe … now what do I do most of?… talking perhaps?). As I’m a paying customer, he also gave me a bundle of free stuff which he’d been given by drug reps, so I’ve now got two nasal sprays and two new inhalers to play with as I wish. Anyway, I’m feeling pretty well again, as I hope you’ll agree - better than the druid impression I was making on the lazyboy!

That's more like me!

And now how I was last week:

Impersonating a druid perhaps?

The sun’s out again but the forecast is still for more rain. The damage in the garden is pretty bad and these trees will need to be cut up before they can be moved. Not a job for me I’m thinking - perhaps we need a man with more than a strimmer for this!

Stayed with friends in Wollongong and took the train into Sydney. I felt really welcome as they’ve even given me my own station. How fab is that?

So we went to see the most famous icons in Sydney - the bridge and the opera house and I’m not going to put up photos of that as we all know what they look like. But I have to say, I had no idea that the opera house roof was tiled, and quite ornate tiles at that. Nor did I fully realise that it’s its back end facing the water and that there’s more than one entrance going into various venues. But that’s just me, it’s probably obvious to everyone else.

Anyway, I met up with some local musicians and was invited to make a guest appearance on clap sticks. How did they know I had bought clap sticks on my last visit to Australia 28 years ago?

Guesting on clap sticks

Before leaving Canberra: These Sulphur Crested Cockatoos become incredibly noisy in the late afternoon. They’re the biggest parrots I’ve seen here - and they don’t stop for a photo so I’m pretty chuffed I got this one. Mind you, I had to hang out of the upstairs window with the camera periscope-like around the edge of our balcony then point and hope. They were perched on the edge of the roof. But there’s nothing I wouldn’t do to get that special shot, really. David Attenborough’s been on the phone again wanting my services for the next series.

Bet this is not the first thought of an Australian view! We did make it to Thredbo but the road in to the village was quite exciting with no line markings or roadside barriers and sheer drops, mostly on the passenger’s side! It’s now becoming a ‘des res’ for skiers so it’s all being re-built and extended but very cute and well kept - the advantage of attracting the rich, I suppose. Anyway, it was far too cold to hang about so we went for walks and then retired to the pub.

Not typical Australia

A perfect mountain view