I must thank my friend Rosie Wood for mentioning the possible role of cats in warfare. I can’t remember how the subject came up now, but my research produced some interesting results. For example, at Gallipoli and in France they played an important role in controlling vermin
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In the northern hemisphere, Halloween is celebrated during fall, when landscapes are wreathed in eerie mist. Here in the Blue Mountains of New South Wales we are supposed to be in the full glory of spring, but there can be some surprisingly appropriate weather. There are haunting
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The village of Leura in the upper Blue Mountains is famous for its main street avenue of flowering cherry trees. However, even higher up there is Blackheath, with its own, very special ‘cherry walk.’ From the Lithgow Mercury on October 12 1953; In 1953, the women residents
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One feature of cooking during the Great Depression, especially in rural areas, was home made kitchen ware. I especially like the creativity of the flour sifter; Flour reminds me of my husband’s family, who owned Conolly’s flour mill in Goulburn. It’s an unfortunate truth, but they did
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Have you ever visited Angel Place, just off Martin Place in Sydney? Its hanging birdcages are a touching memorial to the city’s lost birds, forced ever westward over the years of white settlement. If you listen carefully you can hear their recorded songs and calls over the
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JUST LET ME BE! Honestly, the resident pied cormorant at Blackheath duck pond is the crabbiest looking creature imaginable. I have no idea if this cormorant is male or female. I presume it finds a partner and breeds each year, but as far as I can see
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As with most Australians, the ubiquitous Weber bar-b-que was part of my life for many years. And yes, it even produced our Christmas turkey on a couple of occasions In all its glory The following photo of my partner Rob was taken in the
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HAPPY 100 YEARS VEGEMITE !💋💋🍾 Vegemite was first produced by Australian businessman Fred Walker, in opposition to the UK’s Marmite. It was first sold in October 1923 I was amused to discover that he briefly marketed it as Parwill (as in Pa will, Ma might.) Walker’s chemist
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Many years ago one tired little traveler apparently found it all a bit much, and took a break in Sydney’s inner city. The following article appeared in The Sydney Sun on January 28 1932. IT SLEPT ON MR PLOD’S CYCLE Alighting on the handlebars of a constable’s
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Hello, Editor Des here. I have to be very brave about writing this, because I am still a bit traumatized. Well I went to Sydney with my guardian Pauline Conolly this week week. She wanted to do a bit of shopping and other stuff at the big
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