The second tree in this series is the Giant Redwood or Sequioa – the largest tree in the world! (Not this one!) Apparently, they are an endangered species according to the IUCN (International Union for Conservation of nature) with fewer 80000 remaining in its native California. So with 2 in our back garden, perhaps we…

At our recent Circuit Prayer meeting we thought about trees and how they can help us in our faith. Yesterday was Mothering Sunday when we remember all those who “mother” us. The first tree I want to use is the bay tree. This photo is a bay tree in my back garden. It is an…

I was fortunate to be able to visit a second exhibition whilst we were at Tate Britain. Lee Miller was a successful American model in the 1920s, used to being in front of the camera. However, in later years she took up photography herself and became known for her surrealistic images. During WW2 she was…

My husband and I recently travelled to London to visit the Tate gallery. We particularly wanted to see the “Turner and Constable” exhibition, celebrating the 250th year of their birth. Both men had artistic rivalry, often known as “fire and water”. Turner’s style was seen as using more poetic, dreamy, and abstract light, whereas Constable’s…

We have recently had “issues” with our domestic plumbing, and I’m hoping that by the time this TFTD is published the “issues” will be resolved! The story starts many years ago, possibly even before we moved into the house 27 years ago. We had to call on the “Drain Doctor” around 7 years ago and…

Following on from last week’s TFTD about rocks, this Thought also involves rocks. The seawall on the coastal path south of Port Macquarie has paintings on the rocks. Most of these appear to be personal memorials to loved ones. However I came across this rock with the inscription “maybe you’re the lighthouse in someone else’s…

The Rocks is a suburb of Sydney near the famous harbour bridge. It is named such because of the sandstone outcrops that dominated the landscape. These were quarried, filled and terraced over the centuries to conform with what the European vision of civilisation. Now it is a maze of alleys and terraced housing with chic…

Kangaroos! We were racing across the Australian bush (anywhere outside a city) on the Indian Pacific train, with eyes pinned on the landscape, hoping to catch sight of our first “skippy” or kangaroo. It didn’t take long, although they were quite difficult to spot, blending in with the surrounding countryside. Do you know the collective…

If you have read any of my TFTDs in the past you will know Bill the boxer. Today I want to introduce you to Cheddar the miniature labradoodle. She is my son in Australia’s dog, and we met her for the first time on this trip. She became affectionately known as “Cheddy bear,” as she…

I have just returned from a wonderful holiday visiting our son in Australia. One of the many highlights of the trip was travelling from Perth, on the west coast to Sydney on the east coast, some 4352km (2704 miles), by train over 5 days. This gave us fantastic opportunities to watch the changing scenery and…