THE QUEEN VISITS THE BLUE MOUNTAINS

THE QUEEN VISITS THE BLUE MOUNTAINS

In a now famous reference to Queen Elizabeth; ‘I did but see her passing by, and yet I’ll love her until I die.’   Prime Minister of Australia R.M. Menzies. (1963) Early in February 1954, a group of WWI diggers travelled down to Sydney to see the young

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SPIDERS ARE NOT SO SCARY.

SPIDERS ARE NOT SO SCARY.

I can’t say that I like spiders, but I have become quite fascinated with the ones I see in my garden here in the Blue Mountains.  Of course most of them I don’t actually see….only their intricate webs. People on an Australian spider ID site  told me the

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MRS EDNA WOOD – A LIFE STORY

MRS EDNA WOOD - A LIFE STORY

Mrs Edna Wood came into our lives several years ago, after an acacia tree was felled.  Right from the outset she had a penchant for hats, especially with extravagant floral trimmings.  We live in the beautiful Blue Mountains, where rhododendrons and camellias provided her with an unlimited

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BANKSIA SERRATA; WEIRD AND WONDERFUL!

BANKSIA SERRATA; WEIRD AND WONDERFUL!

Specimens  of  of the Australian native Banksia serrata  were  collected by Sir Joseph Banks in  1770 and later named for him. They are funny, gnarled trees that look ancient long before their time (rather like weather beaten Australian gardeners). Serrata refers to the  tough, saw edged  leaves; Their knobbled

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MOUNTAIN DEVIL!

MOUNTAIN DEVIL!

A favourite shrub in my woodland  garden is the spikey  Australian native shrub  Lambertia Formosa.  It was once known  as  the honey flower, but today is more usually called Mountain Devil. It is related to the proteas. The shrubs grow to about 2 metres. They are great

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OH THE NOSTALGIA! – FIFTIES HEAVEN AT KATOOMBA

OH THE NOSTALGIA! - FIFTIES HEAVEN AT KATOOMBA

WELL HELLO AUNTY JACK! The Blue Mountains town of Katoomba has always been a bit retro, so what better place to open a 1950’s  themed restaurant/café?   Aunty Jacks in Katoomba Street is sheer bliss for Baby Boomers  like me, who grew up playing the juke box

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Sydney’s WWII Home Front

Sydney's  WWII Home Front

It’s easy to forget just how concerned  ordinary Australians were for their safety during World War II. This was not without reason, given the bombing of Darwin and the arrival of Japanese midget submarines in Sydney Harbour.   A giant metal boom was suspended across the harbour 

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BY GUM, IT’S GETTNG CLOSE TO CHRISTMAS!

BY GUM, IT'S  GETTNG CLOSE TO CHRISTMAS!

One Christmas when I was a child my father brought home a gum bough from the bush as an alternative to the traditional pine tree. We all loved it, especially the scent of eucalyptus throughout the house. My mother was delighted to have  a break from falling

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CHRISTMAS IN BLACKHEATH

CHRISTMAS IN BLACKHEATH

  CHRISTMAS IS NIGH As Christmas approaches I love looking back at seasonal celebrations in my  Blue Mountains village of Blackheath. The following is from The Lithgow Mercury in 1909; There was very little stir here during Christmas, and everything passed off quietly. On Boxing Night a

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