Why are penguins such a popular bird? I believe we associate them with being relaxed, happy, living in the present, taking life as it comes. Of course life isn’t really like that for penguins in the wild, but it certainly is for the King and Humboldt penguins living on Penguin Shore at Birdland, Bourton-on-the-Water inContinue reading “January 2026 – Happy Penguins”
Category Archives: animals
QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS Part Two: What is Your Earliest Memory? – The Tale of a Much Loved Family Pet
What is your earliest memory? A car journey when I was four years old. I grew up in Orpington, Kent, and our family were driving back home after a visit to pedigree poodle breeding kennels near Tunbridge Wells. We had bought a miniature poodle pup. We called him “Kimmings”. He was officially a silver poodle, but when veryContinue reading “QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS Part Two: What is Your Earliest Memory? – The Tale of a Much Loved Family Pet”
Highlights of My Australian Journey 2022: A Travel Diary #5 Australia Zoo
This is the fifth post in my Highlights. Today, we travel to Australia Zoo: always such a joy to explore and to enjoy the lush landscaping and the vast variety of animals, both from Australia and around the world, including those who are endangered and who are at the forefront of conservation efforts. Located inContinue reading “Highlights of My Australian Journey 2022: A Travel Diary #5 Australia Zoo”
Highlights of My Australian Journey 2022: A Travel Diary #4 Roma Street Parklands, Brisbane
Here is the fourth post of my Highlights. Today, Roma Street Parklands, Brisbane. Reclaimed from a railway goods yard (and using land which was, of course, prior to that, used for thousands of years by the local indigenous peoples for ceremonies and meetings), these exquisite parklands are a joy to wander through and to restContinue reading “Highlights of My Australian Journey 2022: A Travel Diary #4 Roma Street Parklands, Brisbane”
Highlights of My Australian Journey 2022: A Travel Diary #2 Mt Nebo, Mt Glorious, the Great Dividing Range, and Somerset Dam
Here is the second post of my Highlights: and today, one of my favourite areas, the mountain backdrop behind Brisbane, which is of course part of the Great Dividing Range. First of all, Mt Coot-tha and its Lookout, a hugely popular destination for tourists which also has a lovely restaurant/cafe where visitors may enjoy theContinue reading “Highlights of My Australian Journey 2022: A Travel Diary #2 Mt Nebo, Mt Glorious, the Great Dividing Range, and Somerset Dam”
My Australian Journey 2022 #7: Australia Zoo and Lone Pine Koala Sanctuary
Queensland‘s wildlife sanctuaries are outstanding in the opportunities they provide visitors to observe and enjoy beautiful native animals at close range, in environments that replicate their wild habitats, and all set within lush, inspirational landscaping. Recently I visited two of these sanctuaries: Australia Zoo and the Lone Pine Koala Sanctuary. Both are magnificent. But letContinue reading “My Australian Journey 2022 #7: Australia Zoo and Lone Pine Koala Sanctuary”
My Australian Journey 2022 #6: Roma Street Parklands, Brisbane
In Brisbane we find a stunning display of landscape architecture and horticulture at its best: created from reclaimed land, a former railway stabling yard beside Roma Street Station, inspired by Colin Campbell, Australian Horticulturist. Starting at the Garden Room Cafe we meet the wildlife straight away. The ibis is Brisbane’s answer to a seagull. IContinue reading “My Australian Journey 2022 #6: Roma Street Parklands, Brisbane”
My Australian Journey 2022 #5: Whale-Watching in Moreton Bay
The whales in Moreton Bay seemed to love our boat and we found it easy to imagine they had come out to watch us. Many pods were active everywhere we looked, jumping, breaching and curving out of the water. I found it moving and exhilarating to watch them. I felt as if I had enteredContinue reading “My Australian Journey 2022 #5: Whale-Watching in Moreton Bay”
Book Review: ‘Pilgrim at Tinker Creek’ by Annie Dillard
This is a very intense, exquisitely observed book of nature observation, which took place over the course of one year at Tinker Creek in South Carolina in the USA. The author wrote ‘Pilgrim at Tinker Creek‘ back in 1972, at the age of 27. I was captivated by the way she relates her nature observationsContinue reading “Book Review: ‘Pilgrim at Tinker Creek’ by Annie Dillard”
Perfect Cottage Retreat in the Surrey Hills
Hello – I write on the first day of the relaxation of the lockdown here in the UK and we have travelled from Warwick in the Midlands to the lovely Surrey Hills, close to Leith Hill Tower with its wonderful views. This early 18th century cottage was originally a gamekeeper’s cottage and is hiddenContinue reading “Perfect Cottage Retreat in the Surrey Hills”
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