A few photos to make up for all those missed over the last few weeks.  We took the ferry across the bay from Sorrento to Queenscliff and then headed to Geelong for the night.  The promise of a visit to the Geelong Cats home ground was enough incentive for our 16 year old son to join us on the trip!

The fires nearest to us are still burning and today the smoke is really bad.

Fortunately the Country Fire Authority have downgraded the fire to the following message:

The Bunyip Ridge fire is burning in the Bunyip State Park and State Forest areas between Gembrook, Powelltown, Neerim Junction and Tonimbuk and is estimated to be approximately 25,000 hectares in size.

Due to light easterly winds in the morning becoming south-easterly in the early afternoon residents in the Nayook, Whites Corner, McIntyre Rd, Neerim, Neerim Sth, Jindivick, Drouin, Labertouche and Tonimbuk areas are advised they will continue to experience smoke as a result of continuing back burning operations.

As operations progress residents in the Labertouche area should expect to see increased smoke and fire activity from controlled fire.

Even though the Bunyip Ridge fire is not currently posing a threat, residents in these areas need to be aware that with fire activity continuing in the area, there is the potential for it to impact directly.

I guess I've realised I won't be able to keep up with posting or taking a photograph a day for an entire year. However, I am not giving up entirely.  I am still enthusiastic about taking photos and maintaining this blog.

My new desk!  Already messy...just the way I like it!

The view from my parents' balcony...the mangroves are some of the most southern in the world.

It was already smoky when we discovered this new outbreak not far from us.  Many of the people in the area were greatly affected by the devastating Ash Wednesday fires of 1983.  Still hearing reports of lost houses.

My boys attended the local primary school, one of the oldest in the state, for several years before it was decided to relocate the school to a new site.  The school began in an old shepherd's hut in the late 1805s until a new school building opened on the site shown in these photos.  When the decision was made to relocate the school (around 1998) it took a few years for a new site to be found and the building to start.  Of course, the old site was located in a prime area of our town and the 'powers that be' felt it should be sold to developers to help pay for the new school.  Many of the town's residents, including some from pioneer families, helped raise money to fight that decision.  Fortunately, sanity, and 'people power', prevailed and the area was turned into a pioneer's park.

I remember waiting for my boys underneath this huge old tree, which still remains on the site.  An oak tree planted to celebrate King George's Coronation in 1911 is still present at the front of the original building.

Okay...the holidays are speeding to an end and I'm trying to savour my moments of freedom.  How?  By living life on the edge? Getting out and about? Exploring?  NO to all...by spending my days lazing around the house.  (Sad isn't it?)  The good news is plentiful: I'm not alone, the coverage of the Australian Open is excellent and the family don't scream in fright when they see me without make-up!  This photo is what I see when I look out the window at the front of the house.

When they talk about Melbourne's weather the phrase, "4 seasons in 1 day" is common.  I have to admit it can be quite tricky working out what to wear some days.

One of the things I enjoy about my house is that we can see most of the weather changes as they approach...These photos represent about 15 minutes of my morning!!!  I missed the greyness of the heavy rain but you can see the dark rain clouds moving aside to blue sky and sunshine...

I had a planning day at work today.

I remember, just after my job interview, sitting in my car, looking at the scene below and imagining myself working there.  It has a lovely atmosphere that suits the buildings perfectly.  Three years later I am still looking at this scene so I must have done something right at that job interview!

I spent the day in Melbourne.  Fate conspired against me and 'caused' me to miss two trains!!!  Fortunately, that gave me plenty of time to take a photo of the local train station  It proved quite difficult to take a photo of anything in the city.  I felt a bit conspicuous getting my camera out...it is actually illegal in some areas.  Who would have thought it would be so difficult to take a photograph?  After an hour or two of shopping I managed to take one from the ramp between Melbourne Central and Myer Lonsdale St:

With the temperature increasing we needed to find someone to cut our dog's hair ASAP.  Our usual person was booked out until February so we tried someone new.  I can see Coco's face again!!!

A temperature of 26° C made it a great day to get out and about.  The bay was a perfect place to appreciate the sun.  A walk along the cliff revealed some beautiful scenery and someone's hiding place...the planks had been placed across the trees to create a place to sit and watch the bay.

I was so happy with my last mosaic I decided to create another from today's photographic adventure: