Merry Christmas 2025

Merry Christmas to all.  Hoping you have a wonderful one and much joy to you and your families.  

The photo below is of a Poinsettia tree growing naturally a long way from my home in the city of Mackay in Queensland.  I had never seen Poinsettias growing like this.  The tree has been removed as I noticed it was gone the last time we stayed there a few years back.

The above photo was taken at Swansea here in Tasmania, Australia on the East Coast.

The photo below is of the old restored flour mill at Oatlands here in Tasmania where I was born. The mill is now a Whiskey distillery. Callington Mill had an illegal whisky distillery in 1837.

The photo below is of the Tamar River in the city where I live, Launceston, there is a walkway beside the river for a little way. 

The Roses

A dreadful tragedy happened at Bondi Beach in Sydney last evening.  A terrorist shooting by 2 men, father and son they targeted the Jewish people on the beach celebrating Hanukkah, the Jewish 'Festival of Lights' which turned into darkness.  

I've given a link to what happened here, it's the TV news in writing and photos, at the moment it's on their front page but of course if it disappears a search on the site will find what happened.

Here is a link to YouTube about what happened and more.

We pray for those that died and the injured except one of the gunman.  

To the Roses.

These photos were taken early November in our garden.  Not all the roses are out as yet, they are not looking great this year, rather leggy as if reaching for the sun.  Not a good year for our roses. 

The above rose is Double Delight.

The above rose is a Standard Crepuscule.  The below one is Just Joey.

Above and below are not roses as such but are called Banksia Roses and are growing up the trellis over the front brick arch of the house. 

These two photos are Pink Iceberg

The above photo is White Climbing Iceberg which is growing up and along the side fence, we have 3 of these.  Below rose is called Queen Elizabeth.

The below rose is called Apricot Nectar.