Fruits of my labour

I have my first tomato...Its only about the size of a marble


I was given for free what I was told was a redcurrent bush...However it was just started to fruit and by the picture below, I'm suspecting it may actually be a Gooseberry bush

Spring is most definately here

So it was Julies idea for me to post some pictures of the allotment, so here we go.

This is the start of year 2 and well its safe to say that Spring is here. You can tell that the weeds are the natural vegetation, the imported vegetables struggle to compete.

Here's a pea plant. I believe its called Early Onward. Although in my usual style I got all the seed packets mixed up. I've got about 40 Pea seedlings of various varieties...this one is the first to flower...so hopefully peas will be following soon..Hurrah!

Next here are some Blackcurrants (foreground) and Redcurrents (background). I just need to learn how to make jam...and find that damn fox...footprints here are Evidence A

ONIONS...Red and white, with spring onions in the background. The spring onions are also red and white. I cant wait for the red spring onions. Why cant we get red spring onions in the Supermarket?...Thats damn rude...

Rocket...I am swimming in Rocket..This is genius stuff. I have an almost endless supply. You cut and eat the large leaves and it just grows back. Its so much tastier than anything you'd buy in the supermarket.

Beans, beans, beans, grass, beans, beans, beans, weeds, beans, beans, beans, Grass...My first attempt at broad beans...They're growing about an inch a day.

Now we go inside....Here are some Courgettes, mini Pumpkins and Butternut squashes. I have high hopes here. These are the reasons I am having to come down here every day...They are very thirsty and its crazy hot inside at the moment. I also have some Aubergines, peppers, chillis and some more advanced pumpkins down at the house.

I have just spent all afternoon planting Tomatoes out inside...The first of many. Too many different varieties to list here, but I have backache now. I chosen to combatting the weeds by covering the floor with carpet.

Oh and theres a Marrow in there too.

The pots are so I can direct the water...How prepared am I?

Finally...Today I found Broccoli growing, in the centre of the plant...check this out, I'm so proud.

Final post

Ok the above 2 pictures were taken on my final night in Sydney as a storm was brewing. I was quite pleased with them. I was feeling quite emotional as its possibly the last time I'll be there.

The following day I had the morning spare so I jumped on the ferry to Manly for one last time.
For thiose of you that have never been on the Ferry...this is the view of the skyline as you are passing through the Harbour...I genuinely dont think you can beat the view.

The below picture is taken near Manly Wharf. You can see the entrance to Sydney Harbour in the distance
One final picture of Manly Beach, then its back on the Ferry...to catch a plane

30 hours later and I'm feezing my cockles off at St Pancras Station...Oh joy!

Indigenous Animals

We saw this Koala on the Great Ocean Road. Literally at the side of the Road...Julie's eagle eyes spotted it and we skidded to a halt.

This emu was in a picnic area in a Volcano crater.

This is an Ecidna. It was pretty much right next to the emu. Just digging itself a hole..oblivious to the onlookers

Finally this Goanna was at Ku Ring Gai Chase National Park ages ago. I forgot to upload it. It was about 2 metres long.

We've seen a fair few Kangeroos...but I havent managed to get a decent photo of them..anyway you know what they look like.

Bushwalking in The Grampians

Back to the mountains for some Bushwalking. The Grampians are about 250Kms NW of Melbourne and offer some great views as you can see.



Some great Waterfalls too and after all this walking Kieran was a bit thirsty

The Great Ocean Road and Flies

The open road was hit again and some spectacular scenary was on the menu in the form of the Great Ocean Road. As you can see from the pictures it was a little misty (still stupedously hot though), but this just added to the pictures as the mist was being dragged off the sea. The 4 pictures Ive uploaded are just a tiny selection as I was a bit trigger happy here

This mist did clear late on in the day

However the day was slightly tainted by the appearance of flies. My god I have never experienced anything like it. These are intellegent flies that want to get into every facial orrifice they can find and wont give in until you are close to madness. Kieran and I were running around flapping at the air constantly. Stopping briefly to take a photo left you completely covered in the blighters. However for some reason unknown to us, they never seemed to bother Julie. Keiran eventually succumbed to a fly net...which looked comical as hell...but it brought lots of jealous comments from other tourists

Melbourne

Ok just a couple of pictures from Melbourne...I didnt take very many too be honest. Spent a couple of nights in a dodgy hostel where I tried to sleep in a tiny bed. Just generally chilled in Melbourne.

Melbourne doesnt have the visual beauty of Sydney, but there's definately more to it underneath. My heart will always be with Sydney but Melbourne is starting to grow on me.