Little Wandering Wren …. chats!

... and we're practically cooking on gas! Spring is such a tease this year. After we've shivered through the coldest Melbourne winter  in twenty-six years,  we're looking forward to welcoming her. She's proving a tad elusive. Yarra River, Studley Park, Melbourne   One minute the sun cautiously peeps out,  and we take the opportunity to warm our backs walking along the Yarra river,  in glorious sunshine. The next we are rushing home to warm our toes in front of the gas fire! Our g arden shrubs bless 'em, used to Melbourne's infamous 'four seasons in a day' climate,   bloom full of hope.    Spring flowers too,  ignoring our yo-yo temperatures, burst forth with a bright  ta-ra!   However, it is perhaps the Aussie natives which have the biggest crescendo.  Awakening  from their winter rest, a symphony of yellow wattle seen here at the Yarra's edge, creating it's own joyous...

Our lemon trees are enjoying a spectacular season. This has been the coldest, wettest Melbourne winter for decades  and our lemons are loving it ! The good things about plenty of lemons is that Mr Wren leaps into action to make lemon curd! Grannie's lemon curd recipe is very popular and has been handed down for the next generation to enjoy. I have previously posted our Lemon Curd recipe For further details, click here ! We even made it a prize at one of our recent  Womens Premier League soccer matches. It puts a whole new meaning to the golden boot award! I offered a jar of lemon curd to be awarded to our player  who scored the most goals. It was first playing second in the League Our opposition had the Australian Matilda's co-captain just back from playing in the Women's FIFA World Cup. We won, but it was close 1-0. Mr Wren was not too impressed by my lemon curd incentive and so we were all pleased when...

Just returning to Vanuatu as many of you have asked what is it like after the cyclone...? We wander amidst what used to be a luxury resort. The damaged pandamus leaf roofs look woeful and forlorn. Someone has written   the words ' Pam cyclone' beside the door. It makes me smile. Such is the tremendous spirit of the Vanuatu people. They want you to make  no mistake  the miserable, sorrowful sight is not neglect... Oh no, these two words of explanation ' Pam cyclone'  yell proudly 'this is not our norm, nor our reality'... It's sad, but not somehow not depressing.  A massive clean-up operation is underway, the sound of chainsaws in action ring out across the islands,  and the tourists are slowly coming back. Next door at Brekkas Resort, it appears business as usual The inviting hammocks, gently rocking in the breeze. Waiting, waiting for the tourists to return. The sea is still ridiculously blue, ...

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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...