Happy New Year

We survived Xmas and New Year. Much food was cooked and consumed, many local wines and exotic cocktails were downed, all with great company.

Temperatures now a festive 36 degrees, and shorts and T shirts have been retrieved from the wardrobe.

The Sydney Harbour fireworks were the best ever- cannot believe that it was 1996 when we were there to see them live. A lot has happened since then.

home alone

Things ticking along quite well on the homestead in the absence of the Kiwi. I managed to find the blown fuse and restore the electricity supply after the last deluge.

The amount of water around the place has caused a population explosion of large aggressive mosquitoes which appear to have the ability to bite through clothing and are resistant to Aeroguard and all other repellents. As I write this I am sitting uncomfortably due to a nasty clutch of raised itchy bites on my right buttock. Ness may take some persuading that I have not been frolicking around outdoors naked at sunset due to their position!

We have a second bright sunny day today, so I may even be able to mow the lawns.

Australian sports lovers are in a trough of despond after the last 2 Ashes Test matches, and I am banned from discussing cricket and trying not to be too smug- very difficult with a Nation of highly skilled sledgers

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...and there was rain

I know I have been banging on about the rain, but it has been quite extraordinary. Our little water filled ditch which we rely on to provide water for the garden is now an impressive lake with an overflow that tonight is a serious canal flowing down the hill.

From Protea Farm 1

The kangaroos do not quite know what to do with the rising levels

From Protea Farm 1

Ness is now in NZ for a couple of weeks so I am home alone watching the rain and hoping we do not get flooded in again.

Had a great night out in Sydney last night...thanks to all the friends involved,

new toy

From Protea Farm 1

Ness has a brand new toy. Now she can zip around the property at speed ( admittedly she does that anyway, but engine-assisted she is now just a blur ). Tiresome jobs such as collecting alpaca poo and disposing of large piles of prunings now great fun!

Meanwhile we have now exceeded the annual rainfall for Blackpool, with no end to the storms and rain in sight. Could be worse, I suspect that this week Blackpool is covered in snow.

a new life in the sun

Rainfall in Mudgee to date in 2010 850 mm

Average rainfall per annum in Blackpool 871 mm

Should have stayed in Lancashire?

At least the olive grove that Ness is planting is being very well watered in.

Just need to plan the Protea Farm Illuminations- they may catch on.

betty pinder 1930-2010

From Protea Farm 1

Farewell to Mum who passed away this week.

spring news

After a few weeks back in the UK it is great to be home. The weather has not been particularly spring-like so far, although it is warming up well this week.

The drive home from Sydney up over the Blue Mountains was unusual- climbing to a height of 1,000 km to make the trek west to Mudgee the scenery is always breathtaking, but when it is 1 degree C and most of the trip is dominated by driving snow and hailstones it is not a barrel of laughs.

The lambs ( 6 in total ) are rapidly becoming sheep. and the mothers are now shedding their wool and having permanent 'bad hair days'

From protea

From protea

The bird population are building nests with the sheep wool, and the king parrots are gathering in groups and eying up the young fruit on the apricot and peach trees.

From protea

They have no fear and get bolder by the day

From protea

A western spinebill has made a nest in the climbing rose right next to the house.

From protea

The cacti are flowering well

From protea

....and the big news is that ducks have started to take an interest in Duck Island.

From protea