Boredom Busters - Photography - Magpies

The Magpie, often scorned during swooping season, but can be very friendly and bold. A strong bird with a loud and unmistakable call, you either like it or not!  The bird was named for its similarity in colouration to the European magpie; it was a common practice for early settlers to name plants and animals after European counterparts. However, the European magpie is a member of the Corvidae, while its Australian counterpart is placed in the family Artamidae (although both are members of a broad corvid lineage).

Boredom Busters; Omeo and Ah Fong's Loop - a day trip.

Livingstone Creek Omeo and the Oriental Claims make a great day trip even in winter and after the relaxation of isolation restrictions due to the CoVid19 virus crisis. It is a welcome foray into clean fresh air with room for the kids to burn off energy and to have a picnic/bbq on site. The drive to Omeo is in itself a great drive with plenty of places to stop along the way for refreshment.

Suspension bridge accessing Ah Fong's Loop Walk from Car Park

Boredom Busters - Photography - Gippsland Lakes

Lakes Entrance is ideally placed to enjoy a number of scenic and panoramic views. Many (and I am one of those), enjoy watching the ocean from Bullock Island especially since its upgrade. But there are more views from Kalimna Hill, an area which includes the top of the hill itself (where the first new lookout is under construction) and higher from Jemmy's Point at the end of Lookout Road, and hopefully where a major viewing platform will be built. Another favourite is from the area opposite the Kalimna Hotel. Hope you enjoy this selection. 

Towards Barrier Landing from Jemmy's Pt.

Munns's Munchies - home made honeycomb

Do you need  a sugar hit? Do you desire something sweet? Do you want to keep the kids off your back for a while? If any of your answers is yes, then try this for fun. It brings back childhood memories. Home made honeycomb, with or without chocolate coating, 'tis good.

Boredom Busters - Photography - Bridges - Genoa

Genoa, a tiny township 492 km east of Melbourne, the last township on the Princes Highway before New South Wales - or the first town in Victoria. On the Genoa River, it is 62 km south from Eden, 123 km north-east from Orbost and 23 km from Mallacoota.

Genoa is little more than an historic hotel, a general store, an interesting historic bridge, (which sadly was severely damaged in the 2020 bushfires),) a rest area and a pleasant walk around a small number of local houses. The village is surrounded by fertile dairy floodplains amoungst the wild and beautiful East Gippsland coast. It is the junction of the road to Mallacoota.

View from Highway Bridge

Brief History of Central Hotel Lakes Entrance

The Central Hotel has long been a part of Lakes Entrance although not always with that name. It was not until 1889 that the hotel was so aptly named due to its location in the town, the current building is the second to be on that spot, the original building being destroyed by fire.

Original Central Hotel

Boredom Busters - King Parrots friendly visitors and cheeky too

The Australian King Parrot, this brightly coloured, cheeky, yet friendly bird is a regular in many back yards. They can become very tame to the extent that hand feeding is quite a regular interaction, especially if you add the right bird seed to your shopping list. In fact a neighbour of mine used to hand feed a group of King Parrots with her two cats  not taking a blind bit of notice, sitting at her feet nor did the birds, they were in for a good feed. King Parrots then are fun to watch, but a word of warning, they love young green tomatoes, so if you are growing them and you want to actually eat any cover them early!

Lake Entrance Esplanande - more historical images

The last set of old images of Lakes Entrance seemed very popular so I here are a few more. Still some work to do on them but I am sure you will be able to work out where they are and compare the view whilst taking your daily exercise!

Munns's Munchies - Tomato Garlic and Ham Soup

If like me, you had a sudden crop of tomatoes grown at home (they always taste better), or if the shops are selling at bargain basement prices, why not make up a batch of soup which can be frozen.

This will provide you with a quick easy nourishing meal when served with fresh crunchy bread/bread roll or just plain old toast.  You can vary to suit your particular taste, like all my foody suggestions it is easy to make. Give it a go.

Boredom Busters - Photography - Trestle Bridge at Wairewa

The old railway bridge at Wairewa was tragically burnt during last summers bushfires. Thanks to the magnificent efforts of our fire fighters some of it remains as a lasting reminder of what was there. I was lucky enough to have photographed it when complete.