WHAT A DIFFERENCE A LITTLE RAIN MAKES

It seems like an age since I've had time for blogging.
In fact it almost feels like the whole year has almost passed me by.
Every time I arrange to meet with friends or have an appointment booked some crisis seems to happen and nothing ever goes as planned.

I'm missing all the Christmas "dos", Mahjong days, lunch outings as well as just the normal routines and cups of coffee 'n chats with friends.

 But it can't be helped.


Dad has had his miraculous procedure - no cutting involved so we can't say operation!

He now has a new aortic valve skillfully placed inside the old one and apparently working well, all achieved through the wonders of modern medicine by way of the artery in his groin.
 

Although not an invasive procedure, it was still a big thing to go through for a 90 year old who has had his first experience of an anaesthetic, being shaved in the nether regions and supervised in the shower by a female nurse!!!

 

There have been a few side issues but hopefully they will remain of a minor nature and he and Mum can go on with enjoying their old age......

and I can get back to everything.

* Christmas planning and shopping - heavens I haven't even started and we're off to Sydney to visit Brett and Sarah for early Christmas with them next weekend !!!

  * Holiday planning - as you can imagine a lot of that has been done already. Cottages and apartments rented. Lots of research on what to see and where to go but more needed.

* Housework - yes housework ! You know how I hate it but my, oh my, do I need to get into it. Things have been allowed to slide a bit here of late !!

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Finally, a decent bit of rain has fallen on our parched gardens and it has been just in time.

The gardenia is now covered in huge buds



and already the first flowers are filling the air with their delightful perfume.



The lovely blue agapanthus are doing what they do best




and the red flowering gum from Western Australia is providing a great show.

Elsewhere in the garden colour is emerging

sometimes pale,

sometimes bright

sometimes from leaves

sometimes filling the whole hedge with colour.

But my modest garden is not the only place that is making a show.
In the streets of Brisbane the flowering trees are doing their best to brighten up the neighbourhood.

 

 

 

Here's a close-up of those pretty Poincianas.

 

 

and I can't leave out the lovely bouganvilleas.

 

 

 Thanks for sticking with me.

I've had a chance here and there to fly around the blogs but I hope to get back into gear posting and commenting from now on.

 

I've got a lot of catching up to do.

 

Cheers.