A Chat Over the Fence

Sometimes, when time permits, I get to have a bit of a chat with our neighbour. Sadly I am often too pressed for time to get a job done and cannot really settle into a good, decent conversation. Today for instance I wanted to finish some concreting and move the large pile of brickies sand … Continue reading A Chat Over the Fence →

Cardboard, Bananas, Skinks & Frogs

The rasping scream filled the corner of the garden and sent the neighbours dog into a barking fit. The scream stopped and started a few times and then stopped. I had heard it a few times before. It wasn't human. It was animal. I also felt I knew the cause of it. Being a sunny … Continue reading Cardboard, Bananas, Skinks & Frogs →

A Shortlist of Trees

Further to the Plant List I have made a list of those species that do really well in our climate. No surprises to find that they largely favour a Mediterranean climate. Olives, Cumquats, Loquats, Macadamia, Chestnuts, Avocadoes, Apples, Tamarillo, Apples, Plums, Apricots, Pomegranate, Figs, Mulberry, Lemons, Oranges, Mandarins, Grapefruit, Quince. And also in amongst this … Continue reading A Shortlist of Trees →

Plant List for Tillellan

This list has been kept for about ten years now. I am moving it to its current, more easily accessible position, so I can review it given that I anticipate a mass planting occurring at some point this year during Winter or into early Spring. I guess now, looking over it again after quite a … Continue reading Plant List for Tillellan →

The Feast of the First Morning of the First Day

This post is a reflection on our recent trip to Vietnam. Our first trip to Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon) was in 2007 during a world trip. The city seemed bigger now, but by how much I cannot really say. On this trip we arrived on the last day of Tết Nguyên Đán, the Vietnamese … Continue reading The Feast of the First Morning of the First Day →