Travelog for: Binky

Hi Mum,

Today we took Tupai the chow chow for a walk in the park

here he is in the long grass

we passed a bottle brush plant in flower

can you see the runners up on the power line Mum?

This is the old courthouse near the park


this is the old lock up out the back of the courthouse - we think it was used in the gold rush days, 

don't think I would like to be in there Mum!!

outside!! Phew!! Here I am sitting on the bluestone wall at the back of the old jail 

Sue says this isn't a very good photo but it shows three figures, two football (Aussie rules) players and a Bulldog. The local footie team are called the Bulldogs and this sculpture was made from an old tree - a lady did it with a chainsaw! Pretty good huh!!

Love and hugs
Binky
xxooxx

Back again Mum!!

Sue tried to get a photo of me looking at two rosellas in the grass - this is outside the family room door. Sue had spent 2 hours cutting the grass today and it isn't finished yet - I stayed inside cos the mower noise was too much!! The rosellas are red and blue little parrots and they eat the flowers and seeds of a weed that grows in  the grass here. The rosellas look funny they stand on one leg and hold the seed in the other like it is their hand.


Talk to you soon Mum,
Love and hugs
Binky   

Hi Mum,

Today I went to work with Sue - I met the lucky cat - he has been made out of folded paper - very clever isn't it? The Japanese teacher at school made him - Sue started to make a koala but only has the head finished.


here we are at the front door to the library

this nice gum tree is just outside the library workroom - it has bright red flowers at the moment but they are up high and hard to see,

this photo is looking away from the front door towards the main road into the school

Here I am at the local post office, we went here to post postcards 

Here is a real Aussie sign Mum - it is just up the road from the end of Sue's street, we had to be careful because it had long grass around it and snakes are on the move at the moment, so we stamped our feet to let them know we were there!!

this sign is behind the koala sign - sadly sometimes native animals get hit by cars, but at least there is someone to ring to get help if you hit one or see one on the side of the road.
It is 33 degrees here today Mum and very hot for me and I'm off for a cool drink and a rest 

Lots of love
Binky
xxooxxoo

Hee hee...this is the best on a very hot day!! I feel better now!


Love and hugs
Binky
xxooxx

Hi Mum,

Today something very exciting happened!! A travel pack arrived n the mail! Mooney and I got up close to have a look - we couldn't hear anything, maybe the tv inside was sleeping?

we moved to get a better look inside when the bag was opened and guess what????

It was Sunshine Mooneys sister!!! WOW!! They have met up on their travels around the world! How good is that!

we are off now Mum to have a chat about all the travels Mooney and Sunshine have done. Could be a late night Mum!! 

More soon
Love and hugs
Binky
xxooxxoo

Hi Mum,
Today I went into the city with Sue and her friends- they were volunteering at the Variety Club Christmas Party we went into Melbourne on the train.

Have a look at this Christmas tree!!


This is a different tree.
We had a look at some things that usually live in  the sea
,
these are puffer fish

and a turtle

have a look at these shark jaws!! Oohhh!

Have a look at these cars Mum, we think they are used in a car rally.
More soon
Love
Binky

Back again Mum,
Next we had a look at the reptiles,

a little snake

a big python

Yeehaa!! I am riding the crocodile - thank goodness it's mouth is taped shut, there are alot of sharp teeth in there!

this is an albino snake from New South Wales.

Sue and her friends were working in Santas castle helping the children go and visit with Santa.
back to more normal things now Mum, this is the Yarra River, we crossed it on our way back to the train station.
Then the best part of the day...lunch!!

Maybe if I am quiet I can get some of these wedges too...

Ooh, we nearly forgot - we saw this sign at a tram stop,

it is a bit far away, but I guess a rhino on a skate board is a little like a tram - big, heavy and very hard to stop in a hurry!!
Ah now we are back at the train station - we all want a sleep now because it has been a busy day.


Love and hugs
Binky

Hi Mum,
Today we went to the Gisborne market , Sue was working on  a stall for the Australian Orangutan Project. It was a very busy day until about 1pm when it started to rain, people went off home soon after that so it wasn't so busy.


this is the big orangutan that goes to all the markets, she gets alot of attention! 
Love and hugs
Binky

Hi Mum,
Today we took the chowchow for a walk and Sue showed me the New Zealand things in the park. Gisborne here used to be the sister city to Gisborne in New Zealand so out Botanic Gardens (very new) is mainly New Zealand plants.

Yee hee another gum tree - was quite nice swaying about in the breeze!!

this plant is a Hebe - they are from New Zealand but grow really well here.


some information about the gardens

the tree behind me is a totara tree

and this is Tane Mahuta the god of the forests and land - looks pretty scarey to me Mum!! 

this tree Mum is a kowhai tree, Sue tells me in the spring it has yellow beak shaped flowers that the birds get the nectar from, especially a native New Zealand bird called a tui.

here is a whole bed of New Zealand plants, the spiky looking plant is a flax, the Maori people in New Zealand use the leaves to make baskets and some clothing.

Come on Tupai - hurry up!! 

Hey, we found an Australian plant hanging over the fence - it is a bottle brush, but a pink one this time. Pretty huh!!

I am on the drink fountain - I have a really good view from up here 

the water comes out the fishes head when you go to get a drink,

this is a favourite part of the park for Sue, she likes the oak trees

Tupai stopped here at the creek for a drink before we went back to the car. I was ready for a little rest now Mum and happy to head back home.

Love and hugs
Binky
xxooxxoo

Hi Mum,

Today a package arrived -

it is from Germany!!

Hello in there! How are you?

Hey it is Toto we will have some fun together!!

Love and hugs
Binky
xxooxxoo

Hi Mum,

Some new arrivals at Gisborne - Toto and I were keen to see who was coming to stay.

mmm...they are both from Germany

first arrival was Hasune
and second arrival was SchokoCookie
We will have some fun Mum!!

In the evening we went to a Christmas dinner

Can you see me in the Christmas tree?

Here I am with the Christmas angel bear (Sue says sorry for th dark photo)

and here we all are with the Christmas tree.

Love and hugs
Binky
xxooxxoo

Hi Mum,

I am back - we have been to the beach at St Leonards this weekend - we stopped in Geelong on the way through to have a breather and stretch our legs. Geelong is on the Port Phillip Bay, which is a big bay that goes from the sea all the way to Melbourne.

Here I am looking out along the Pier - at the end is a restaurant and pub run by a local football player.

this is one group of bollards - they are Geelong Bollards and show the history of the local area - there are over 100 of them, we just looked at a few.

we found this guy in the childrens playground
SchokoCookie and I thought it was quite cute!!

this man has the Eureka Flag - the miners fought under this flag for better work conditions

here is the Salvation Army lady

these guts were at the rowing club - do you think they are watching us having a photo with them??

Hasune and I thought this lady was very glamorous! What do you think Mum?

Hey Mum can you see me? The ships captain has me neatly in his bird cage!!!

We are off to St Leonards now Mum, more soon

Love and hugs
Binky
xxooxxoo

Hey Mum,

Here we are at St Leonards - we were going to have fish and chips by the beach but there was a howling wind blowing, so we had a quick photo and went to the house.

This is a calm beach Mum, there are only waves when the strong wind is blowing. Can you see the rainbow over the Bay? There was a really heavy rain shower as we were driving - then it went out over the water. Hope it is fine tomorrow!! 
Love and hugs
Binky
xxooxx

Hi Mum,

Today we went for a walk on the beach - it was a lovely sunny morning

the beach behind me is where we went for a walk 

we found a sea urchin shell

Toto, Hasune, SchokoCookie and I liked sitting by the beach listening to the water and the birds flying over. 

me telling the others about being safe on the beach!!


we found this purple flower but don't know what it was  it is pretty though

here is a blue agapanthus - they grow like weeds here - this is the time of year they start to flower and they keep going most of the summer

this is a white agapanthus

this is a yellow bottle brush

another gum tree in flower Mum


and this is a bougainvillea - they have sharp prickles so you have to be careful being near them!!
More soon Mum
Love and hugs
Binky
xxooxx

Hi Mum,

This photo is the view from the back verandah

then

this is what happened in the afternoon, a big storm came up and it rained and there was thunder and lightening!! We were ok in side though.

Love and hugs
Binky
xxooxx