Anticipation

One working week to go. Feeling very distracted. Walking helps.

Blue tongue lizard, Jerrabomberra

Swan and cygnets

 

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Catch up

In the last few weeks we've had a guest staying, been out of town and kept up with weekend exercise in various locations. The longer I leave it the harder it gets to write this catch up post...

Donkey orchid, North Mulligan's Flat

Kangaroo and joey, N. Mulligan's Flat

 

Mobile op shop, Yass

Lookout near Wollongong

Dessert at Gigi's, Wollongong

Lake Illawara Beach

 

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sign of the month - yay dad's

bottoms up

Last weekend the Skywhale put in an appearance at the University of Canberra. We timed it perfectly to get before and after shots. 

viva la grammar

The grammar is bad but the sentiment is good. Jamison thought for the week.

Forty-nine shades of yellow

Took a trip to Mulligan's Flat and tried out a new track. Within a few minutes we had seen a couple of echidnas out enjoying the weather. 

Everywhere in Canberra the wattle has exploded - there are many different varieties and it makes the place feel positively spring like. 

Park life

Since the big bangs on the hill, work has been far too busy. Which leaves the weekend as recovery. And now this weekend had to do some work during recovery time! But we managed to also find time to have fun and during the days make the most of the lovely weather (16 degrees). 

On Friday night we checked out a new-ish Belco restaurant, Malaysian Chapter, and you can read how fab it was here. 

Plenty of wildlife around Lake Ginninderra on Saturday morning. My favourite sighting was the Gang gang cockatoos in the carpark trees of John Knight Park. 

Dusky moorhen in the algae

Lake G water rat

Gang Gang cockatoo

Kangaroos everywhere

Plenty of roos around this week - at the back door, on the bike track. 

West Belconnen wetland ducks

Tired, tired, tired. It was a quiet weekend, but great to have sun and blue sky. Took a trip to the outer wetlands - a lovely afternoon but no rare ducks sighted. Last time we thought we saw a Freckled Duck. I'm serious. 

Check out the Mallards we saw here. 

Bang! (nineteen times)

Parliament is now officially prorogued. Only 32 days to go. 

Strange sign

Why would you have a legal graffiti practice site??

Kaleen has a couple of these - but someone stole the sign in one spot... Being legal is just not the same.

 

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Belconnen thought for the day

 

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Seen out the window this week

 

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Coldest Canberra morning so far for 2013

Last week Canberra had its coldest temp for 12 months - minus 6. I was out walking and it was pretty frosty. 

Sunday drivers

M and I took a drive to Yass today to check it out. On the way to we travelled down Mountain Creek Road - a lovely drive with plenty of winged wildlife to see, including diamond fire tails. 

I didn't realise but Yass was home to someone very famous - Hamilton Hume, the first Australian born explorer. He is buried in the Yass cemetery, which has many old and interesting looking headstones. And he lived in Cooma Cottage, just out of Yass. The cottage is owned by the National Trust - it was supposed to be open this afternoon, but we were out of luck. 

Hume discovered the Bogan!

Yass main street 

Cooma cottage

Apparently Hume and his fellow explorer Hovell were actually enemies, both trying to make claims about the expedition they made together. Perhaps it was a class thing - Hume was the currency lad, Hovell the Brit cit. 

On wintry pond

On the way home we detoured past West Belconnen Pond, a well-known twitcher hot spot. We think we saw some freckled ducks, and a blue billed duck with a fan tail. Unfortunately photo shy. 

Dry your eyes with a kangaroo

Le Tour has been over for a week today - and I still can't get the Tour Down Under ad out of my head. Plenty of kangaroos around in case you are feeling weepy now the Tour de France has finished.

Snow in the capital

Snow on the hills behind Lake G

Last weekend we had snow - falling on the Brindabellas anyway. It was very cold and quite lovely. 

Snowstorm seen from the Arboretum

Falling snow near Piccadilly Circus

We took a drive to Blue Range Road on the way to Piccadilly Circus, and planned to visit Blue Range Hut. The area used to be an Italian internment camp during WW II. But I can't tell you what it looks like as once we got there we discovered you need a code for the gate to get into the area.

Good reasons to go to the market late

Bargain poppies - two bunches for the price of one.

 

 

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