09

Mildura had fantastic weather and we spent most of the time in short sleeves. Alice did very well in the Competition there, as did the Team, particularly considering that poor Remeny landed badly on one ankle in warm-up, and therefore could not perform as well.

Alice was awarded her first ever First for a floor routine, and she is so happy!

We did some sight-seeing (of course!) and were really chuffed at the beautiful orchid display at a local shopping centre.

Woodsies' Gem Shop is amazing, and a lot of fun! It has literally thousands of specimens, and you can see material being polished and set. The staff were very friendly and we bought a small vial of gold flakes for Alice as a souvenir. If ever you put any gem, mineral or rock specimens that are in the rough in a bottle, don't use water, use glycerine. It won't grow algae the way water does.

Alice had great fun working out that when we crossed the Chaffey Bridge, we were officially in New South Wales. I don't know that she expected to feel any differently, but it was good seeing her enjoying herself. She cackled at a bad landing by a pelican on the River's surface.

We were awed by the size of the paddle-steamer, but I know they are nothing in comparison to the sizes of the ones in the US.

We ate Vietnamese, Chinese and modern Australian. We had a great time!

Back at home, late tonight, I hurriedly washed some clothes and did a quick trip down to the laundromat in the centre of Koroit to dry them ready for this week.

I also did some cooking and tidying-up. Finally grabbed dinner well after 9PM, and then on to the computer for a job I love - writing the Article.

I have lost count of the geese nesting sites. I know that there are at least fifteen, I'll have to do a more thorough count tomorrow, or get Brian to do so and let you know.

Well, I'm sorry, but I'm very tired. A poem and Zeke and Ursula, and I'm to bed.

Sun

How multi-coloured moody you are!

Deep red, an eyeball bloodshot over the horizon,

waking and baleful at a disturbed rest

shining intrusively, long-shadowing and brilliant

cast murkily through cloud and mist,

as they swim past you, gentling your form to easy visibility.

HOT

glaring in impersonal lordship

each fingertip tendril of sizzle

eating up what it touches

rushing down the horizon

wavering in intensity

and changing hue and size

blink by blink