Hot Tubbing Koala!

In Victoria (Australia), the temperature has been above 44C degrees (112F) all week and they are forecasting another week of 40+ temperatures.

Power is failing, trains have stopped running because tracks are buckling under the heat . It’s just scorching.

And it seems that the people are not the only ones suffering. Check out these photos of a little Koala which just walked onto a back porch looking for a bit of heat relief. The woman filled up a bucket for it and this is what happened!

Cuuuuuuuuutttttttttttttttteeeeeeeeeeeeeeee!!!!

ANZAC Bikkies!!!

I was at the Supermarket this morning and found these! ANZAC Biscuits! I couldn't believe my luck!! I love ANZACs and was only asking my friend back home for the recipe so I could make some.

When I bought this pack, I saw that it was produced by the Royal British Legion which I thought was very classy! (So glad that it's not some promo gimmick!)

(If you don't know what ANZAC is / means - ANZAC Day is commemorated by Australia and New Zealand on 25th April every year to honour members of the Australian and New Zealand Army Corps (ANZAC) who fought at Gallipoli in Turkey during World War I.)

(On another note, the movie Gallipoli starring Mel Gibson, is very powerful! I think every Australian has seen it!)

Happy Australia Day / Happy Birthday

Tomorrow (January 26) is Australia Day.

Australia Day is the official national day of Australia and commemorates the arrival of the First Fleet in 1788 (marking the British colonisation of Aussie). It's a public holiday every year. Since I can't be there, I'm going to eat one of my all time favourite biscuits - Tim Tams - (which is Australian of course) to celebrate!

January 26th is also Marleen's Birthday. Hip Hip Hoorah! Wishing you a fantastic birthday chick!

Things I Love

My friend back home gave me a linen teatowel featuring the Gumnut Babies (by May Gibbs) as part of my Christmas present.

They are a really famous Australian childhood icon and story and I was so thrilled with it, I decided to frame and display it. A little piece of home here in my "new" home.

I bought the frame and framed the teatowel last week and I hung it today. Here are two pictures of it in place. As you come up the stairs, it's above your head (where you can't see it) but when you come out of my bedroom, it's directly in view (I took the pictures from my bedroom doorway). I wanted it somewhere I could see it alot as it's just so cute. I love it and it's nice having something so Australian too as I've been homesick.


Since we're talking about things I love, I am totally loving Hugh Jackman (which Mum and I called Huge Ackman because that's what his name sounds like ~ I know ... we're odd).


I'm still loving James Dean (have done since I was about 12!)



and I LOVE Elvis Presley, the King! This started when I went to Graceland last year and hasn't stopped (if anything my love is only growing). (I am drinking Elvis Mint Hot Chocolate out of an Elvis mug as I type!)

"Love" doesn't even come close ...

to explaining how I felt about this movie. I ADORED it. It really was an "epic" reminding me of those timeless, classic movies like Gone With The Wind. Both Hugh Jackman and Nicole Kidman were stunning - all I can say is OSCAR!

I have already downloaded the soundtrack and will most definitely buy the movie when it is released onto DVD.

Off to "Australia"

Not back home but to the movie "Australia". Going to see it with my Mum and Dad today. Really looking forward to it as I think it's going to be great!