New Year's Eve

Horoscope

Courtesy of Oscar Cainer: 

Cancer the Crab 

It's time to take a step back and question your strong impulse to do one thing whilst avoiding another. When you think about it, you could just as easily switch your views and do the exact opposite ! The start of the new decade brings the chance to make resolutions that can kept. That's all the more reason to think carefully about the changes you really want to make. It's worth remembering that true success encompasses a willingness to fail and try again. If you aim high this year, you'll go far. 

End of Year

End of Year # 2019

I traveled to Japan many times  this past year. 

As always, it was wonderful to be there, 

to see my friends, to experience the food, culture, customs again. 

Sa Shi Su Se So 

Kimonaka ... so delicious. 

Christmas Day

Wednesday

25th December, 2019 

Christmas Day in Australia 

There was some much-welcomed rain today ! 
More more more ... 

Wooden Lazy Susan was a Christmas gift from Sandie - thanks ! 

Delicious Summer Pudding .... yum yum. 

........................... 

Saturday

Saturday

21st December, 2019

A trip to the Family Graves to pay respects before Christmas. 

First off ... Wacol Station Road Cemetery to see 

the graves of my late parents. 

This cemetery always has an interesting array of native wildlife. 

After that, to Toowong Cemetery and the Yates Graves. 

Parked Monsieur Pierre under this very old tree in the cool shade ... 

I walked down to the frangipani tree I've known all my life .... it's looking "old". 

I took a cutting  ( see below ) to try and propagate it in my garden. 

Looking from the frangipani tree back towards the Yates Graves. 

 Then down to the West Graves beside Frederick Street. 

There is a huge Norfolk Pine tree there .... and a branch had fallen down. 

With it came a nut.  It is really big and spikey. 

Then a quick visit to the Toowong Cemetery Museum. 

Interesting. 

 The Late Governor Blackall's grave and amazingly-high spire

are on the top of the hill with a magnificent view of Brisbane City itself. 

He must have been very popular ! 

Back at my house .... the Norfolk Pine tree nut. 

 And the frangipani cutting has been potted ... hopefully to grown strongly. 

My duty to my ancestors has been completed, at least for now. 

..........

Map

Monday
16th December, 2019

Today's outside temperature here at 1 pm. 

The terrible bush fires here ... 

Photos taken from news sources online. 

Above:  The Three Sisters, Blue Mountains, near Sydney. 
Below:  Near Lowood, West of Brisbane. 

Sunday

Sunday

15th December, 2019

Today was 38C . 

Tomorrow will be 39C. 

It is insanely hot here .... 

Today was another day in the terrace garden. 

I bought the red-coloured climbing vine yesterday

at the local garden centre.  Hopefully it will flourish quickly. 

This pawpaw ( papaya ) tree was a seed in a pawpaw

only one year ago. Which I bought in the local supermarket

and then planted. Growing growing growing ... 

Growing celery from the "bottoms" cut off. 

Put up the Chrissie tree.  Got some cheap ornaments

and $10 light set from the Dollar Shop. 

Definitely looks better at night than it does during the day. 

Check out the Santa and sleigh 'light' which is projected

onto the wall.  I bought a little LED at the Dollar Store. 

Kinda cool, eh ? 

....................................