Australia Day 2020

On Australia Day, we reflect on our History, 

It's highs and it's lows.

We respect the stories of Others.

And we celebrate Our Nation, it's achievements and most of all

It's People.

If you are Visiting Australia - you may notice different flags flying together.

Our Three Australian Flags are Flown at Equal Height on individual Flagpoles.

The National Flag - is always flown to the far Left 

with the Aboriginal, and Torres Straight Island Flags beside.  

Should a State Flag be flown, it is usually positioned between the National Flag and the Aboriginal and Torres Straight Island Flags.

(Researching these Flags and Studying Flag Protocol has proved to be a very interesting topic, and one that has taken up most of my afternoon!

 - Happy Australia Day everyone!!!)

*Consider Visiting  www.australiaday.org.au and read The Australian Stories!

Bushfire Update

The Fires are still Burning.  The Good news is, there is some very promising Rain on the radar and we pray that it gets where it is needed, and that Lightning does not spark any more fires.

But that is not the point of this post. There has been an Overwhelming worldwide response to this disaster and Millions of Dollars have flooded in to our weary relief agencies giving them a much needed Boost for which we are VERY Grateful.

However - It is actually "Boots on the Ground" that Australia needs.

There is a misconception that the entire Continent of Australia is burning - this is not the case and our Tourism Industry is suffering.

Many Tourist areas, some of which are hundreds of Kilometres away from the fires have reported cancellations - not just now but Future Bookings have also been cancelled.
These tourist areas will not receive any of the fundraising help.

TOURISM AUSTRALIA has a fantastic map on their website showing that we are very much still OPEN FOR BUSINESS.

Please - when you are planning your next holiday, be it a Day Trip, Weekend getaway or a Major Adventure. 

Come, Stay a While, Buy a Coffee, or Support our Local Farmers at a Farmers Market.

There is still Plenty of Things to See and Do in this Beautiful Country 

That we call HOME.

How to Support Bushfire Recovery
Visit https://www.australia.com/en/travel-alerts.html for Up to Date (and correct) Travel Information.

IF I Plant it - Will They Come?

That was the Question when I started planning and planting my Pollinator Garden.

And Yesterday, while I was sitting watching a Honey Bee get a drink from the Bird bath

I heard HER -
I got SO excited I think the neighbours would have wondered what the kerfuffle was all about. 

You can't see her in this photo - So I will zoom in!

My very first sighting of a BLUE BANDED BEE in MY Garden!

The Photo does not do her justice - Those Blue stripes were Iridescent in the Sunshine.

Female Blue Banded Bees have 4 Blue stripes - Boys have 5.

They are Native to Australia - to find out more about them Visit 

www.lfwseq.org.au/blue-banded-bee

House Hunting

DS#2 is currently House-hunting, which is quite the adventure.
They have researched some beautiful places.
This Pretty little Cottage in Brunswick would suit them just fine - but at $1.7 million it is a BIT (Lot) out of their Budget!

Yesterday we viewed a much more affordable property.
And we discovered very quickly just WHY it was $1.2 m cheaper!

This is the Kitchen/Lounge area as viewed from the bathroom door.
We are wondering just where the furniture is supposed to go!

We now come to the Pantry -
at a guess it is a "very spacious" 1000 mm x 400 mm (DS was not able to squeeze between the shelf and the wall)...

It may JUST hold their Coffee paraphernalia and Gourmet Tea Collection.

And maybe a tin of biscuits?

But not much else.

My DH thought the Cupboard beside the Fridge recess was the Pantry, after all it was about the same size as the Fridge recess but that turned out to be

the Laundry room!

It bewilders me as to just HOW someone is supposed to wrangle a Washing machine into that space.

And this brings our tour of this "Spacious Unit", "Suitable for a Retired Couple, or even a Young Family" to the Main Bedroom.

With double Wardrobe and Built in Hot water Storage Unit - Hey WHAT?

The photograph says it all - One Third of the Built in Robe (that you are supposed to keep Clothes in) houses a Tank Full of Boiling Hot Water......

I managed to get to the Car before erupting in a fit of Giggles that lasted until someone handed me a VERY strong Coffee!

--- The Hunt continues......

They need your Prayers ...

We need RAIN

I remember Ash Wednesday
I remember Black Saturday
Each one was devastating, Each one was worse than the other.

This Fire Season, Starting in September 2019 with Months of Summer still to come is unprecedented. There is already more than 12 Million Acres burnt.
They are beginning to Call this Maelstrom: Black Summer

Our wonderful CFA Volunteers, International Firies, The MFB, and ADF are battling multiple infernos across the Country.   My own State of Victoria is on Fire.

Everyone needs a Fire Plan.
Our Fire plan is:- 

Evacuate and Let the Professionals do their job!

Ooops

The Good News is - DD's New Queen Bee has been accepted by the Hive and everything is Humming along beautifully.

The Not so Good news is - Someone didn't get to checking on them earlier....
Well, at least with their new Pitched roof - they had the room to get creative!

I have been informed that the Flow super is now on and it looks like we might get a harvest this year after all.

A New Day Just Begun - 2020

New Day

New Year

New Decade

New Adventures

Faith is not Knowing what the Future Holds

But Knowing WHO Holds the Future

To all I wish a Blessed and Safe 2020

Post No: 500