Scenic Rim
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Big roo by the gate
Look how dry it is! Everything is brown in the Scenic Rim. We haven’t had decent rain for months. I went out the back to get the hose out and water the garden, but this guy was by the gate and I didn’t want to disturb him. So I watered the front first. He was… Continue reading
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Arts Ablaze Fusion Artists in Residence jam session
The Scenic Rim Regional Council is presenting Arts Ablaze, a celebration of regional arts in Queensland. Some very fine musicians are involved in a cross-cultural fusion performance, and that event is happening in October 2019 at the Ramada Resort Kooralbyn Valley! As a curtain-raiser, the Arts Ablaze musicians were in residence at the resort for… Continue reading
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Bunya nuts, bush tucker
Mike came back from golf. He called from the door. “Hey, I need your gardening gloves!” Really? Why? “Bunya Bunya, come!” In the car were these massive cones, which had fallen off a Bunya tree. Blimey, wouldn’t want one of them falling on my head. No wonder he wanted my gloves to carry them. Mike… Continue reading
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Tree snake in the rose
A strip of iridescent blue, grey and yellow caught my eye in the rose bush. A tree snake with a lovely yellow head was just hanging out in the sun. I would have liked to get closer to take a better picture but I don’t know anything about snakes, so I kept my distance and… Continue reading
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Slow gardening
There was a time when I worked in London and my son was young, when seconds seemed like jewels. I would park at my local ASDA and mow a trolley down the aisles, grabbing groceries for the week: fresh for now, frozen for later. And I really mean grab, and sling, no pausing to compare… Continue reading
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Roses make a comeback
I love the early morning light. My roses had to fend for themselves last year and they didn’t do well. This year I’ve paid them more attention, feeding the soil and watering with Seasol. The kangaroos did make a meal of them during the drought 😕 but they are making a comeback! Continue reading
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Mummy and Joey (video)
It’s so dry now, the roos come very close, looking for things to eat. They’ve started to eat my roses. A lady who runs a nursery in Beaudesert said they’re eating everything at the moment, not just roses. I don’t mind. They can eat anything in my garden if it helps them to keep going.… Continue reading
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Sleeping carpet snake
After playing piano at the Kooralbyn golf resort, I was leaving and Nea on reception said: “There’s a beautiful carpet snake just outside.” I wasn’t thrilled to hear that. It was dark, I had to get to my car and didn’t want to step on anything… “I’ll show you,” she said. There it was, on… Continue reading
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Meet Bullinda Bullguard, the robotic, cotton wool bull!
I went to the Beaudesert Public library to return a foodie book that Mike had borrowed. Who was standing in the foyer in all her glory, sporting a Queenslander maroon scarf around her magnificent neck? Meet Bullinda Bullguard, the robotic, cotton wool bull! Bullinda was the winner of the Technology Award, in the 2017 Archibull… Continue reading
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Monet in Oz
I went for a walk with Mike, and took this picture. On Facebook, my neighbour Michael said: “Monet in Oz, that photo is.” Another neighbour, Jenny, said: “Needs a bridge.” “Exactly. Monet in Oz. No infrastructure.” Continue reading
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Teaching In The Scenic Rim
When I first arrived in Australia, watching television was an obvious way to learn about life here. I loved Landline, with all its moving stories about rural life, entrepreneurship and survival. As I become a piano teacher in the Scenic Rim, I feel very privileged to be stepping into this world, albeit in an oblique… Continue reading
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Look right, left, and right again…not
Roos are not very smart when it comes to crossing the road. We slow the car to a halt. They look at you and wait. As soon as you start up again…they decide to hop across! 🤔 Continue reading
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Lemon grass and kaffir lime leaves
Mike’s going to make Thai green curry, so I can bring some to Miles when I visit him tomorrow 😊. He sent me into the garden for lemon grass, Kaffir lime leaves and bay leaves. My lemon grass looks grown up now! No more thin baby ones. Continue reading
About Joanna
Joanna is British Australian. She worked mainly in financial news in London. In her forties she moved to her parents’ birthplace, Sabah, a Malaysian state on the island of Borneo, where she became a pianist in a hotel and wrote a blog about musicians. The blog became a book before Joanna came to Australia in 2012. In this blog she writes mostly about music, gardening, and trips to Sabah. Oh, and Wookie the Havanese.
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