Bumblebees

'I heard a robin singing, and ever as he sang, methought the voice of angels from heave'n in answer rang'
but I suspect the angels were hiding amongst the daffodils and snowdrops. Both photos taken at Sissinghurst aardens Spring, 2007

That's my bit of whimsy for this blog.

I died have a photo cf a bumblebee doinvg his thing amongst he apple blossom but it seems to havr vanisheed into cyberspace. Ah well, c'est la vie!

The point of the vanished bumblebee was so rhay I could tell you how much I like bumblebees. I have often pondered over their name and have come to the cxonclusion that they are so named because they do t3nd to bumble around, falling through the air onto flowers, rather than being graceful like honeybees. They are also solitary cratures who livwe alone in holes in the ground, I believe. I was so excited when I saw my first ever bumblebee in Hyde Park. I got to know a little more about them when we stayed at a bed and breakfast on th Isle of Skye. Our host and hostedss were both naturalists, and we were admiring their garden when I spotted a bumblebee. Oh joy, when mein host said that I could pat him - the bee if I lked. If the bee didn't like, he would wave his back leg at me. In fear of being stung, I gently ran my finger over the bee's furry stiped body. No reaction. I was delighted and bent o stroke sgsin st which stage he waved both back legs at me. 'Careful, cautioned our host. That means he is annoyed. So off I went, absolutely astounded that I had stroked a bee! Up close and personal with the wild things. Some weeks later we were at a B &B in Cornwall and an apiarist joined us aaat breakfast. So my knowledge of bees waas extended by somewhat by the tme I escaped.

Gues what? I was able to go downstairs and sleep in our own bed last night! What a good night's sleep. NIne montha or so since I hads slept there. Ray woke me at 10am rtis morning.

The theme' Where am i from has been suggested.'

I am a MacNicol of Lewis, a sept of Clan McLeodof Dunvegan. I checked out he family seat whilat I was on Skye. Our MacNicol chieftain liveas in Sydney, which takes some of the glamour away, I feel I am froma the dales and moors of Yorkshire. I believe the forbears were weavers who emigrated to Australia when the new machimery threw so many out of work. I am from the dark times of WW2.My parents married in haste and repented at leisure when tomorrow came.

So now I am from the sunburnt country, a land of sweeping plains, of great mountsain ranges and sudden summer rains. (Of which there were none this last summer) We are now into beautiful autumn weather, crisp mornings and nights and still no rain.

So now, I am just me. A mixture of strength and inherited weaknesses. The Scot and English heritage runs deep in my veins. Which no doubt accounts for my kinship with things of the U.K.

My historical roots are deep in Btitish soil. I dona't feel that I have any history here as yet. I am 5th generation Australian, but this is not where I belong.

Nut it is all my children know, so I stay he4e with them.

EDon't bounce, Gina, I am fully aware that this is the besat place on earth! MY ribal memory places me firmly in England. I belong to Cumbria wih its lakes and forest too. My paternal forebears came from there and settled at Alan's Flat near Yackandandah in cxountrry vwey like Cumbria. I just love it up there in the north east of Victoria. Beautiful country.

Easter Already?

Heavens. where did the last three months go? I have been so immersed in learning to walk again, that it has ll zipped by, but, Ray brought the Easter goodies for the little ones, so I hope we get to see them all tomorarow. Our grqand daughter is now taking and interst in the real Easter, which is encouraging. Thinking beyond Ester Bunny now. We were in Essex for Easter last year, and it was so lovely celebrating Easter with all the new life bursting forth around us. I think we should start a movemetn to move Easter to September aed Spring in the southern hemisphere, so that we can all be reminded of the real meaning of Easter. Mind you, my cousin had lots of little rabbits hoppinsg around her garden so it was all very fitting. WEewent to a servicce in a church morwe than 500 years old, all brautifully decorated with dffodils and other spsring blossoms.

Remember rhe song we lerned at primary school. 'When the daffoils dance in the sun and the rain, then we know hat the springtime is coming atain. TRa-la-la-la,la,la then we know that the Springtime is coming again. When the bees in the blossom trees busily hum etc. I used to lve to sing that when I spotted the first daffodilss. I was prety much a joydul child./ Like to think that I still am!
We have dug a hole to make a water feature in the back gareen and put in a couple of ornamenal water holders. Like little ponds. The possums clamber down their tree ach evening andd balance themselvew on the edge to heave a drink. We had three kookaburras doing the samre this morning. They were actually having a s bath then sitting on the nearby fende to dry off. It was delightful watching them. I certainly don't want to move from here anymore, and who needs pets when you can have posnums and birds. Wonderful!
WE have been having a terroble run of hopat weather, which seems to hve gone now, thank goodness. I was nice to snuggle under the doona again. Ssstill no rain, but our garden seems to have survived fairly well, considering. We had the hottest Marxch night on record recently. NOt too much of that, please.
Anywy, I am bwginning to waffle, never a good idea.I hope you all have a blessed Easter and don't get sick on too much cholcolate.'Here comesa Petr Cottontail....
Now, I am off foe a raevivig cuppa and aomw saimnel cake, which I made. I made my own marzipan because Ray won;t eat the almond pste from the supermarket.

Home Sweet Home

Home at last - no more wandering for me!



This is an Australian native Donkey Orchid that we photographed in the wilderness in W.A.