Alexandra Paradiso

This may become my new blog name.  We'll see.  My guests seem to enjoy my unit as much as I do.  Admittedly the weather may not be to their liking but the bandicoots seem to seduce everyone, as have the parent and child butcherbirds.

The (hopefully) Jill-proof fence was finished on the day H Bells arrived.  Georgia brought Jilly for a visit today and so far so good.
The fence has been widely complimented

and Sundance, the butcherbird, seems to approve too.

My sister, H Bells, came to celebrate her birthday, her last visit being about 40 years ago.  I was living in my unit then, too.  I don't think I had a car then either.  Poor Helly again had to battle the elements to get anywhere.  And she feels the cold.  Mrs History had 3 doonas, H Bells 4!!!!  Helly's allergies are far more numerous than mine so she could stay warm cooking her own food and walking to the new gluten-free shop.

There was more than food though.

the Cat and Fiddle Arcade must still be visited

 Helly chose the Botanical Gardens for her birthday outing

and immediately began photographing everything in sight

short trip to a very cold Macquarie Island

and a linger at the pineapple house

A birthday picnic was interrupted by marauding ducks who climbed all over us and snatched food as we lifted it to our mouths.  We gave in and shared.

The long march back into town took us past these peaceful cattle grazing on my friend The Governor's acreage.

we reached home for a replenishing repast

though Helly was a little apprehensive about lurking ducks...

There was also The Poochibald to investigate.

It's an annual exhibition for residents young and old of Clarence City Council.

so many contributions!

I think this one is amazing.  A true work of love.

naturally this was a crowd pleaser

and I think this one is both clever and appealing

more!!!!

But all good things...  There's Helly off to the plane

while I was off to see Romeo and Juliet at the Theatre Royal.  Despite the beautiful ceiling, I didn't enjoy the performance.

And for Helly there was even more.  A night in Melbourne!  She missed the connecting flight.