Little Wandering Wren …. chats!

Dearest Blog friends I am sorry it's been a while. A one-legged soccer player and a three-legged crazy poodle have been taking up much of my time Down Under. The dog is off his anti-inflammatories and daughter number two is out of her moon boot and the crutches have gone. Roll on the end of the football season and getting everyone as fit and healthy as normal I say! August is a great month in Melbourne, the worst of the winter is behind us, the days are getting longer and the strength is building in the sunshine. Good news for Melbournians, bad news for the farmers of New South Wales and Queensland, who desperately need some rain to break our terrible drought. On a cheerier note, all around me, the yellow wattle trees are bursting forth. It's the Australian version of ' a host of golden daffodils fluttering and dancing in the breeze'.  Isn't it gorgeous? My slower pace of life in Australia gives me time for strength and renewal after ...

Generally, I'm fine with our upcoming move to Bangkok,  but there is a big elephant in the room, in the shape of the Crazy Poodle.  Our seven-year-old Cavoodle did not score a ticket to Thailand.  Leaving him will be really hard, even though I know it's for the best. He's not good with change, hates all suitcases  and our lovable velcro dog displays all the hallmarks of canine separation anxiety. You'd think he'd be used to it with the amount of travelling our family does, but as soon as those suitcases appear, he goes into full-on poodle sulk! Without a suitcase in sight, he's a different beast, happy as a pig in mud.  Content and relaxed, he sleeps at our feet without a care in the world. However the moment he is left home alone, he is on guard.  Alternating between being on surveillance with his nose and all four paws perfectly aligned under the gate.  Or, patrolling the perimeter fence  check...

My Sunday Photo: Sunday 22 January 2017 The Crazy Poodle has had a big week. Firstly he had a pampering session at the groomers so he would be looking gorgeous and smelling sweetly  for our international guests. Hmmm best laid plans of mice and men and all that... The groomer points out a slight eye infection which appears once he's had his facial and combines with water in the ears to give him the itches.    Big time! He is none too pleased with my bucket on the head solution but thankfully it does solve the problem and he is right (ok exhausted),  for his media appearances later in the week... He's a laid back dog at the best of time and can't believe his luck to be invited onto the sofa to watch the tennis. Of course he soon made himself comfortable on his favourite tennis player! Once there and fast asleep, he had no idea that he was just about to be Instafamous. You can read the full story here Linking with thanks to Darren at My Sun...

Here's the Crazy Poodle  with his shaggy winter coat left long to survive an outdoor Aussie winter. It's been chilly this week. I scraped frost off the car windscreen on Wednesday which is virtually unheard of here in Melbourne. Mutt's happy to have been out for a decent walk, after a week where we were all office-bound, and he didn't get the attention he thought he deserved! His elephant friends were found in the grounds  at Merricks General Wine Store on the hinterland of the Mornington Peninsula. Good things come in little packages! We had walked from Red Hill South to Merricks Station Ground  along the disused Rail Trail.  It's a peaceful 6.5 km stroll  past vineyards and pony paddocks  through the pine trees and forests. We love this walk as it offers a different side of the Mornington Peninsula than our usual beach walks.  It was great to arrive at the Merricks General Wine Store in time for a cuppa and cake. They have r...

End of Summer surfboard sale Rye Ocean Beach, Mornington Peninsula Autumn leaves arriving... Muddy paws! linking with Wordless Wednesday

How to spot when something big is going on around here.... Washed, scrubbed and ready... Love the new look Australian Open Cars! It's beginning to look a lot like the tennis! Linking with thanks at  ABC Wednesday: A is for Australian Open! Wordless Wednesday Imag-in-ing

  'Are we getting an advent calendar?' my 19 year old son asks hopefully? 'Nah, you're too old' I reply! Then out shopping I couldn't resist, and bought an advent calendar... Which I presented to my youngest with a Ta-ra! 'Thanks Mum, you're the best! ' Which did make me feel a tad guilty... The age of innocence... Because every year we tell the advent calendar story. The one of many moons ago, when we lived in a far away land  the land that chocoholics dream about - Belgium. Where I could have bought some local Godiva chocolates But no! They don't call me 'the best' Mother for nothing. I  drove to the British shop, Stonemanor in Everberg   and splashed out many, many francs,  it was well before the Euro. I bought him a Cadbury's Dairy Milk advent calendar. These ones were special,  not one single chocolate behind each purple window,  but a whole bar. Yumm... He's grown a bit ...

My life's not all posh frocks and fascinators you know. It's the Aussie Party season and they're coming thick and fast... Crazy Poodle licks his lips still from all the treats following his photoshoot below! Last Friday was our Volunteer party with a theme of Superheros and Villains. With over one thousand volunteers,  it was always going to be quite some do. As it was, quite some 'to-do,' to work out  what on earth to wear! I decided to go as Wonder Woman  until I was politely reminded that   volunteers are the superheros, staff were supposed to be the villains...  Oops! Bit disappointed not, about missing out on all that lycra! What on earth to wear - Footscray street art from our building. Luckily, we have an amazing staff team,  resourcefulness is what we do best. One of our team values is humour, fun and celebration and this came to the fore last weekend - BIG time. We're going as the loveable villains Minions from...

It's Melbourne Cup weekend. The horse race that stops a nation. Here's a teaser of what I will be wearing on Tuesday... Some pink shoes, a pink hat  and no doubt a touch of dog hair! Linking with Saturday Critters Thanks Eileen!

I'm done chasing summers! Time to regroup, reconnect with family, friends and life back in Australia. Of course he remembered me. His little heart beating so strong and his tail wagging so fast, he was practically in orbit! Here he is, the Crazy Poodle, slightly more unkempt than when I left but still as adoring as ever! Mind you, I've noticed some new habits that have crept in whilst I was off on my wanderings... He seems to have forgotten all manners,  to upgrade himself at every opportunity in my absence. Seeking out any elusive sunshine  on the once forbidden spots  like the lounge sofas .   Or abandoning his doggy day bed in the garden,  for the strictly ' off limits for dogs ' garden chairs. Just a few ways he let's me know  he's not impressed by my gallivanting. But I'm obviously going  to have to lay down the law  BIG time to get him back on track! It's been ra...