Autumn Colours

New Zealand dazzles in autumn. I saw gold and red everywhere but could not get enough of it. There were berries and fruit, ripe for the picking. Amongst fallen leaves and gumnuts, toadstools appear – yellow and scarlet, speckled and streaked. And when the frost came and ice crystals dusted everything, Nature literally sparkled.

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Red Hill Market, Mornington Peninsula

We left Melbourne while it was still dark and reached Mornington Peninsula before 8:00. It was early but it looked like half the residents of Mornington were at the Red Hill Craft Market as well.  Maybe it was because it was the Easter weekend. Or maybe it’s just because the market’s a really good one.  [...]

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A bit of Old England in Camerons

Four days in Cameron Highlands and we hadn’t made any hotel reservations. The plan was to check out a few places and make a decision once we’d seen Bala’s Chalet. I had taken a look at their website and it seemed intriguing. After making a few enquiries, we came to Bala’s. We drove up the steep road, [...]

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Charmed by Cameron Highlands

It was bliss. Cool temps, an English Tudor setting, verdant green hills, temperate flowers, English scones, strawberries and cream… stuff dreams are made of.  For a start, I was smitten with the holiday chalet. It was quintessentially English. I loved its authentic wooden beams, fireplaces and timbered floors, and readily forgave the occasional creaking floorboard [...]

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Flea markets and car boot sales

Want to pick up a few items for your garden while on holiday? Flea markets and car boot sales are the way to go. For one thing, they are cheaper; for another, you can bargain. I went to a car boot sale at Bury’s St. Edmunds and saw some of the most intriguing stuff. They [...]

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Wildflower season

  September. Springtime in Perth and the wildflower season – what a lethal combination. I was straining at the bit to hit the trail. So I did the logical thing and signed up for a tour that included wildflowers stops. It was an interesting experience. We’d be in the middle of nowhere and the guide [...]

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