In recent months I have been preparing to move house and much of my time every day has been occupied by the process. A week ago the big move took place and the mammoth task of unpacking has begun.

Tags: culture, gardening, nature, outdoor activities

It is spring again and I welcome it. September 1st is the first day of spring and also wattle day

Tags: climate, culture, environment, nature

The bushfires have been devastating in so many parts of Australia with loss of life, loss of homes and businesses, loss of schools and loss of animals.

Tags: animals, climate, environment, nature

A taste of spring

Spring officially begins on 1st of September and that is just a few days away. It is also the beginning of Early Education Week, so a time to celebrate the importance of our young children and look at the many opportunities that we all have to help them grow and learn.

Tags: education, gardening, nature, spring

The autumn has been much warmer and longer than usual, but winter arrived with a rush of cold air and a bitter wind in the last week of May. The wind had taken most of the colourful leaves from the Armidale streets before I took pictures, but I was in time to take one of my favourite trees. It is at TAFE.

Because of the drought, the countryside is rather bleak and farmers have been selling stock as there is no feed in the paddocks and many dams are dry. It is a stressful time for all people on the land. The water situation in NSW was the main story on the ABC news last night and people in Sydney too are urged to save water and cut down on time spent in showers. Some towns are already out of water and everyone must be super careful to save every drop. Hopefully, rain will come soon. Even frost will bring moisture and do some good to gardens. Surely spring will bring good rain again and renew the land.

Tags: climate, nature, stress

It is Easter time and roadworks which will last for about 12 weeks, have begun on the road where I live. Safe roads are very necessary, but do roads have to be wide and straight to be safe? Must all the old trees beside the road have to be cut down?

Tags: nature, safety

Kids can take interesting photos

Even four-year-olds can take interesting photos and as the seasons change and autumn is a great time to let the kids experiment.

Tags: climate, environment, gardening, nature, outdoor activities

June 6th is World Environment Day. We cannot afford to take our environment for granted; not the land , not the sea around it and not the animals either. Although we have such a varied land it is all fragile - the salt plains in the centre, the reef, the tropical rainforests, the snow country.

Tags: environment, nature

Summer Heat

of Australia this month have made life very difficult for some people.

Tags: climate, environment, holidays, nature, outdoor activities

As a storyteller, I sometimes adapt a story that I’ve read or heard, changing the details but keeping the basic concept. The Honey Hunters,(ISBN 9 780744 531602) written In 1992, is a traditional African story about hunting for honey, published by Walker Books.

Tags: aboriginal, emotional wellbeing, environment, nature, storytelling