Little Wandering Wren …. chats!

If Preparation is Perfected: If Tradition is respected: If Innovation has purpose: If Grace is observed at all times: If Actions are honourable: If All are made to feel welcome If the Championships remain for all:  Greatness will be within reach:   With massive thanks to Irina Falconi  for a wonderful day at Wimbledon! Linking with thanks to Lady Fi and all the hosts at  Our World Tuesday

Sunflower Boy is my son, we have left him in Madrid to join his mates  for a seven-week  European adventure. Family holidays with Grandparents are rare and precious  when you live on the other side  of the world. Ten years ago my parents joined us for a holiday in the South of France. My Father took a picture of my son holding a sunflower. The little boy in the photo is now grown up he is 6 foot 3" This week reunited in Madrid, my Dad produced the photo Of course, I bought a sunflower and we recreated the picture. This is him walking back to the hotel with his flower! Happy travels sunflower boy! Linking with My Sunday Photo - Thanks to Darren

Following on from yesterday's post I thought we needed some light relief,  a  change of pace, to slow down and admire the simple things in life. So whilst there have been quite a few ' What the ... Duck ' expressions heard here in the  not-so-United Kingdom  at yesterday's Brexit referendum result, I thought I would bring you  the Great British duck (or even an Egyptian Goose - thanks Margaret!) and her ducklings! Is there anything more gorgeous and more Summer than ducks on a duck pond with their babies? I was trying to think what is it about ducks  that we all love? No! Don't you dare think about pancakes and hoisin sauce...  I decided that for me  it is the childhood memories both for me personally, but also with my children feeding the ducks.  That was until we were told how dangerous it is for the poor ducks feeding them bread... Oh gosh, to think we were silently causing a whole generation of ducks problems... Even if we were fee

You know what they say 1. When one door shuts, another one opens... We are currently in Madrid, three generations my Mother, Father, Brother and I Here to meet my son just about to start a seven-week European adventure with his mates.  Ornate Madrid city doorway. 2. We like what we see in Madrid, stylish, friendly, welcoming. The big Refugees Welcome sign is a good start as I begin to think of my impending return to Australia. Whilst I have been away, I am excited to have accepted a  new job working with refugees.  It's going to be full on,  but I am happy to be playing a very small part in making a world of difference  for people seeking asylum. Refugees Welcome" Madrid 3. Today is my Fathers birthday. We are all very happy to be celebrating it at the amazing Only You Boutique Hotel in Madrid.  It has been a big day in Europe since the Brexit vote was announced as leave. We tell him that there is a move ahead to declare his birthday

When Daughter No 2 left to see the big wide world in 2015 she was replaced on the soccer team by a  Canadian International football player.  Naturally we, Mum's Youth Hostel is always open, offered to host this star player. Ms Canada  moved into my daughter's room; took her place in the squad,  replaced her as U16's coach and became a wonderful member of our family.  Miss Canada has long gone back home, but happily  we met for a day in Oxford  whilst she was en-route to the Euro2016 Football tournament. Here are some of the photos from our day and because others have asked me for my Oxford sightseeing tips, I have given the details. Exam time! All Oxford University students must wear gowns to sit their exams. We met at Gloucester Green Bus Station, Oxford.  It is a ninety minute trip from London on the XC90 coach.  From here it's an easy stroll down Broad Street, passing the Tourist Information Centre to pick maps of the city, before ar

I'm a little bit country. My childhood was spent living in a village in the Vale of the White Horse with my pony riding on the downs. Childhood memories of an English Summer come thick, fast and always with a big sneeze. I have largely outgrown the grass-fuelled hayfever of my youth, by not trotting around country lanes, becoming a city slicker helped. Somehow on life's rich journey I ended up living in some of the most amazing cities in the world Bruxelles, Hong Kong, and Melbourne. I love going back to my roots! I wanted to give a little shout out to Lechlade, a pretty local town on the edge of the Cotswolds. It was recently yarn bombed by the Women's Institute and  looks fantastic.  I love the town's spirit, you see they have been subjected to two arson attacks which destroyed their Community Memorial Hall. I heard they lost all the towns flags. Well the woolly street art has really brightened the place up. Thre

You have to be bold, you have to be brave, and you have to know what you're doing, creating a wildflower wildlife garden. It's not just a question of letting the grass grow long and leaving some deadwood for the bugs. Get it right and flowery and romantic can be yours. However, get it wrong, and your neighbours will start asking you how you're feeling, as they've noticed you haven't been able to cut the lawn?!   The recent trends to introduce wildflower gardens is one of the biggest changes that I've seen in British gardens over the past decade and not something easily achieved in Australia. With our hot summers and bushfire risk, we are encouraged to be fire-ready: ' reduce the fuel levels around your house,  by clearing long grass, raking leaves and twigs and pruning shrubs' Which is probably why I love the wildflower gardens of Britain so much. The delicate flowers of my youth found on verges and hedgerows are welcomed into gar