This two-part blog post series begins with my first visit to north Queensland in July 2022, and concludes with a second trip to the Gold Coast in March 2023. I stepped out into the winter day and immediately began dripping sweat. “How is this place habitable in summer?” I asked my Laddie, crossing the Woolworths... Continue Reading →
Best Local Bird Encounters of 2022
"You missed my Christmas music concert," I called jokingly when the door lock clattered in the other room. I'd taken advantage of my Laddie's absence at a softball game to bang out some carols on the keyboard, sans headphones. Although I still found it hard to muster much holiday spirit in summertime, this year I... Continue Reading →
Interspecies Travel: A Wide-Eyed Wander in the Wetlands
Halting on the red dirt trail, I squinted against the brightening sky. It had been overcast when I left on my Saturday long run, but now sunshine leaked through the dawn clouds. I should have brought my sunglasses! Or, having completed my mileage, I could switch to an entirely different type of lens. After a... Continue Reading →
The Great Ocean Road Trip, Part 2
After a few days exploring the lush Otway rainforest in Lorne, my Laddie and I set out along the most dramatic segment of the Great Ocean Road. We'd originally planned to drive it across two days, taking time to hike lengthy sections of the coastal trail, but since the weather forecast indicated this would be... Continue Reading →
New Year’s Review: Wrapping Up 2021 & Spinning Stories in 2022
January 1, 2022: we woke to find a mildly venomous spider scuttling around the living room floor. Not the most auspicious omen for New Year’s Day, even in Australia! We were hoping for a break following the unexpected trials of 2021. The year didn't start off badly. After months of suitcase living in 2020, we... Continue Reading →
Eurobodalla Encounters, Pt II: As The World Terns
Many Australians take beach holidays between Christmas and New Years’. My Laddie and I, preferring to beat the crowds, took our coastal trip in late November instead. If you’re an Aussie prudently forgoing holiday travel during the latest COVID outbreak, or a Northern Hemisphere reader seeking a little sea and sunshine to brighten dark solstice... Continue Reading →