15 Years Today -

And I am still here.

Photographing - Researching - Writing - Editing - Posting about the things that happen in my corner of Melbourne Australia, and Our Journeys Beyond.

So What Have I been up to in the 5 Years since my 10 Years in 10 Photos Post?

2021

10 Years ago I started a Mystery Applique Quilt,

this Time it is a Mystery Hexi Quilt and an EPP Challenge.

Covid was still alive and well with Melbourne Lockdowns

But we managed to Dive through a Window and

Celebrate our 40th Wedding Anniversary on The Indian Pacific

with a Little Photo-bombing Stowaway.*

2022

A Year of Building Stuff, Fixing Stuff and Demolishing Stuff

Two Grand daughters became Three

We went on a Big Train Adventure to Brisbane 

and Spent Christmas in Isolation with Covid

2022 Year in Review

2023

We started the Year by continuing our Reno, moving Rooms around 

and making the House 'Work for Us'.

I started Culling Duplicate Photographs from the Computer*

Three Grand daughters became Four

And we embarked on a Bathroom Rebuild 

that we had to walk out on, to go on 

Another Train Adventure MELB-BRI-ADL-Kangaroo Is- MELB

2023 Year in Review

2024

Birthdays, Funerals, Exhibitions 

and Putting our Bathroom Reno on hold 

to help out TWO others with Emergency Repairs

And Our Bucket List Holiday 

The GHAN - with a Side Trip around Uluru and the Mereenie Loop.

2024 Year in Review

2025

Four Grand daughters became FIVE

We crossed off the Last Aussie Capitol City from our List 

with a Tour of HOBART and Tasmania

Spent the rest of the Year Repairing and Renovating Other Peoples places

and said Goodbye to our Neighbours of 45 years.

2025 Year in Review 

* * * 

Doing 5 Years is only Half as spectacular as my 10 Year Post - But as it stands I do hope that I am still poking at Keyboards and posting Real Photos in another 5 Years.

Things have changed for Us, with DH's Retirement, he wants to Travel and once we see everything we can see in this Big Brown Land of Ours, we will head to New Zealand - I have been there once, but They tell me that 4 hours in Auckland Airport doesn't count! 

So from Me - It's Thanks for still Reading and I am heading back to continue *Culling those photographs!

*You can follow Stowaway Frog's Adventures

on Instagram at  STOWAWAY FROG

A Lovely Thought

The 'Girls' next door didn't know I have been unwell.  Nor did they know I had been craving Cake. 

They DID know that DH had been 'quietly' bringing their Bins in ever since they moved in to the back Unit.

And Yesterday they appeared on the front doorstep with a Fresh out of the Oven Home Baked Loaf of Banana Bread.

To say 'Thank You'.

It is a long story but the smell of Overripe Bananas and me - Don't get on too well.  So I avoid cooked Banana anything...

I had just been reading an article about challenging your "Norm" and "Breaking free from a routine built for endurance rather than enjoyment".

So today - Considering this was a Gift from Thankful Hearts.  

It was not the day to say 

"I don't eat Banana Bread"





The article I had been reading concluded with 
"choose the unknown ... And sometimes, just sometimes, it’s absolutely delicious."

Link to Article Referenced: 

Losing My Joy

I have a Map.

It's not an "Normal Map" - One of paper that never quite goes back into its creases.  
This One is Fabric and is actually an Embroidery Wall-hanging 

With the Awesome title of "MAP MY LAP" (That's my Lap around Australia!)

It has all the Major Roadhouses, Station Stays, Roads & Outback Tracks. 

As well as the  Indian Pacific and Ghan Train Lines. 

(They haven't caught up with The Overland or Great Southern - But I have added those routes in as well.)

It is getting a bit congested around Adelaide as the Great Trains are Based at  Adelaide's Keswick Station.

I have also added Our Great South Australian Adventure of 2008 (Teal with Gold Beads for where we stayed each night.)

Red for the Ghan runs through the Heart of the Country while the Blue of Indian Pacific goes Perth to Sydney

The Great Southern - Brisbane to Adelaide via Melbourne is Orange
And The Overland (also Blue) travels from Melbourne to Adelaide.

Our travels around Victoria are still to be done but I am thinking I will just add some Seed Beads in the places we have stayed, especially when you retrace your steps.

And we haven't forgotten Tasmania!

Our latest Adventure is already Mapped In.

I couldn't resist adding these Iron On Train Patches to my Order.

I just have to work our WHERE I want to put them 

And when it is time to take my Embroidery On the Road - 

It came with a very well thought out Organic Cotton Tote Bag with room for my Threads and Scissors

So Where To Next?  And do I pack it or enjoy reliving the trip when we get back?

* * *

If anyone's interested you can get them from Ecoluxe Travel Decor.  

They specialise in making comfy bedding for Caravans & Campers.

Happy Valentine's Day

 It doesn't matter How Long We've been Together

He can still surprise me.

THOUGHT FOR THE DAY ...

 If you are going to keep the Christmas Punch...

Don't Put it in the fridge and Forget it

Because it 

can get 

a bit

MESSY!

Thankfully it was the Plastic Bottle that exploded and not the Glass one. 

(Ahh... brought back memories of my Dad and his Ginger beer - exploding glass beer bottles, and ...  exactly WHY was it my fault?)

Time to Fix It

The Front Fence came with the House - It was not well built

The Bricks were not Keyed in to the Pillars and
With Children walking past to School, Childcare and the local Playground it is an Accident waiting to happen.

It's amazing how long you keep something and then FINALLY you have a use for it!

These are my Father's PIPE CLAMPS, they are very strong and infinitely adjustable and Just the tool to pull the leaning brickwork back in line with the Pillar

With it securely braced we were able to attach strong Corner brackets into the bricks.

It's not Pretty - 

But it IS Safe.

And the View from the Street.

I am very happy with the result.

(It will certainly hold until we can get it replaced.)

Welcome to January

Gotta Love this Sunburnt Country

We certainly have had it all.

In the space of a few hours on the 15th January, record breaking rain triggered flash flooding at  Lorne, Wye River, Separation Creek and Cumberland River that swept away cars, caravans and tents. Several cars ending out to sea.

And then a week later the area was on Fire....

The towns are recovering but need our help.  Donations are fine but what they need is for people to come - fill the Cafe's and honour the Holiday bookings.

One thing we learnt from travelling in Country and Outback Australia - Dropping your change into the Jar / Tin / Fire extinguisher on the Pub counter means you care that the Towns are raising funds.  CFA, Footie Team or RFDS.

It's not a tip for the Staff, it is much more. 

It is helping out Folks that do so much for Our Country that often put their hands into their empty pockets and give.

Photo credits:

Nine News

www.flyingdoctor.org.au/sant/news/tap-william-creek-hotel/