HAPPY AUSTRALIA DAY POSSUMS

 

Have a wonderful day and stay safe. I couldn't resist putting an Aussie icon like Blinky Bill the koala on here as I love the old children's story. 

Happy Chinese Lunar New Year Everyone

https://www.abc.net.au/news/2023-01-20/when-is-chinese-lunar-new-year-2023-festival-australia/101837578 

The New Year kicks off on 22 January 2023 and is known as both the Year of the Rabbit and the Year of the Cat. This is my Chinese sign and I am a happy bunny or happy kitty as this year is supposedly a fortuitous year for me. I also turn 60 this year, oh my, who would have thunk it 🤣🤣🤣🐈🐇

I must get out and buy both the rabbit and cat ornaments for the year. That is something that I have been meaning to do for several years. 

Happy Chinese and Lunar New Year to everyone, and may your year be prosperous, blessed and happy.

Oh, just in case you don’t see it, there is a chart at the bottom of the news article that lets you know what Chinese sign you are. 

A Guid Hogmany and Happy New Year for 2023

 

Wishing everybody a happy and bright new year where ever you are in the world.

In Scotland on Hogmany (New Year's Eve) we clean the house top to bottom and our selves as it is seen to be bad luck if we have an unclean house and leaving the energy of the old year in the house. No housework s done on New Years Day as that is seen to be unlucky.  We also open the front and back doors of the house just as midnight approaches; to let out the old year and welcome in the new year. After the stroke of midnight we have the tradition of "first footing".

The first person you welcome into your home should be dark haired man or else carry a lump of coal to heat the home. The first footer, or first person stepping over the threshold will usually carry a bottle of whisky to celebrate the new year with you.

It is also customary to serve shortbread, black bun or fruit cake at new year. So, many people will usually take a gift of shortbread and other goodies for the household. It is also a custom in Scotland to have a big meal before a night of drinking and singing traditional Scottish songs and other popular songs. The most popular food is usually a steak pie made in a large dish with puff pastry on top or roast beef and Yorkshire Pudding served with vegetables and potatoes.

Robert Burns’ song Auld Lang Syne (syne is pronounced sign and not zine, as the Americans pronounce the word) is also sung at midnight and we kiss our loved ones, shake hands and wish them a happy new year. Though times have changed and not all families go in for the traditional new year festivities. In Scotland, New Year or Hogmany is  much more important than Christmas as traditionally partying lasts about a week, taking turns at visiting loved ones to celebrate.

The name for New Years day in Scotland is called Ne'erday ( pronounced as nair-dae the word day sounds different as its sounded like an I in this occasion) and is one of those days that just rolls on from the night before. Waken up, have breakfast where ever you spent the night and keep on partying. A little slower than the previous night as people are a little worse for wear. Generally they may head home to their own house and freshen up, perhaps have a nap and then off to the next party. 

Hangover’s are very popular in Scotland  at this time of year with so much partying. 

                                                       2023 Welcomes the year of the Rabbit 

Symbolism in King Charles III Christmas message

https://honey.nine.com.au/royals/king-charles-iii-christmas-message-location-hidden-detail-queen-elizabeth-ii-prince-philip-prince-harry-meghan-markle/781f0794-39bd-4cfd-80cb-2230b9885e5

Notice the mention of Holly with red berries, Ivy with berries and Red Skimmia (part of the Rue family), this is very pagan and occult symbolism. Green alluding to everlasting life, regeneration, resurrection/rebirth, life force and fertility. The fact that these are mentioned in the article implies an understanding of the symbolism employed deliberately and not a coincidence. The red berries are very significant and symbolise the goddess’s life force resurrected and the blood of Christ. 

https://lotusmagus.com/what-does-ivy-symbolize/

http://www.thegoddesstree.com/trees/Holly.htm 

One other goddess that connects to red berries is Isis and the British royals are related to Jesus and Mary Magdalene. Mary was a high priestess of the cult of Isis.Red dresses are also a symbol of Isis. 

 https://owlcation.com/social-sciences/English-Ivy-Symbolism-Traditions-and-Mythology

Ivy with berries.

Explained: Where have all the Christmas beetles gone?

 https://www.9news.com.au/national/summer-weather-update-where-have-all-the-christmas-beetles-gone-explained/5df156a2-088a-4807-96de-e480cda36b61?fbclid=IwAR1qz_DmZMctagQy881Nv22I2RzK1iRgbOlQe6kgOIHMKIpFPnQ0TZVlCXc

You know Christmas is not far away when the Christmas beetles are around. Gosh, this takes me back to childhood when I first moved to Australia. These beetles are lovely to see and everyone loves them. Normally we start to see them in November in Canberra but it depends on the weather. 

Click on the link in the news article if you want to track the Christmas beetles 🪲 

Happy Halloween peeps

 

Halloween, the time of year in which the veil between the spirit world and our world is at its thinnest.

People were fearful of the dead returning and evil spirits being loose upon the world. In reality any day of the year the veil between worlds is at it’s thinnest is between 3.00 am and 5.00 am, because the human body’s vibrational frequency matches the same as the spirit world. That is the most common time when an ill or elderly person may die. So the witching hour of midnight is a just a superstition. 

People were also very superstitious about using a mirror at night on Halloween in case they saw an evil spirit. I recall old people talking about that and being afraid at night to look into a mirror or see a reflection in the windows if the curtains were open. 

Another superstition was for single young women to sit in front of a mirror brushing their hair with a candle lit and eating an apple with hopes of catching a glimpse of their future husbands.

In Scotland bobbing or dooking for apples was always a popular Halloween party game for children; as was dangling treacle scones on a string, children had to keep their hands behind their back’s and only use their teeth to catch the treacle scone. These scones are a triangle shaped scone made with baking soda. So they are not the same as the traditional scones that we think of for Devonshire tea. 

Toffee apples were also popular at Halloween when I was a child. When children went around the streets guising they were often given nuts in their shells, an apple and sweets ( lollies as they are called in Australia) in return for singing, reciting poetry, telling jokes and entertaining the people at each house the children called at. This was always good fun to be entertained by the neighbourhood children all dressed up in their disguise’s. 

Children often carved a Tumshi or Neep lantern, actually it was usually dad that got the task because carving out a turnip is really hard work.  Both Tumshi and Neep are old Scottish words a for turnip. Pumpkin is as American tradition and far easier to carve than turnip. 

 I fondly remember the afternoon craft classes in primary school where the teachers let us make paper lanterns to take home and we would draw pictures to hang up in the classroom for Halloween too.

A few days later of course was Guy Fox night on 5th November and we would again be drawing and painting pictures to decorate the classrooms. This all lead up to getting ready for Christmas so kids are in high spirits from Halloween onwards to Christmas and the New Year parties.

In America Halloween was started by Celtic people that immigrated to the US from Scotland and Ireland and it evolved into what it is now. 

Halloween did not catch on in Australia until the 1980’s but has really taken off since the 1990’s. When I left Sydney in 1995, Halloween was still not really celebrated in Sydney, but it was very popular in Canberra. The season in Canberra is cooler than Sydney in October so perhaps that has something to do with Halloween being so popular in Canberra.

Many people are now aware of the real Celtic origins due to social media, and really it is something that and the entire world an enjoy. Celebrating the end of summer and beginning of winter. 

If you are celebrating Halloween 🎃 I hope you have fun, watch some cartoons and movies to get into the mood too. Enjoy the fun 🎃👻🐈‍⬛🐈‍⬛🎃

The excitement of spring in Canberra

If the wind and rain will only pipe down a bit, to enjoy the flowers. It's spring time and the flower season kicks off with Floriade and Tulip Tops Garden, Spring flower shows. Floriade started on 17th September and runs to 16th October 2022.  https://floriadeaustralia.com/

Tulip Tops Garden opened last week and will close the same time as Floriade

https://www.tuliptopgardens.com.au/ Tulip Tops  is dog friendly and is a safe environment for dogs as it is all enclosed. We will take miss Ruby for her annual visit, she loves to do the meet and greet with people. She will have her sausage sandwich, hold the onions though and enjoy a stroll around the bulbs and flowers, a gem amongst the flowers, that’s our Ruby 😻

With rain free days the sun is brilliant and the flowers are in their prime, it puts a smile in ones heart and a spring in ones step when the warmer weather arrives. My mind goes off into thinking about mass planted flowers in a gentle breeze and the warm sun in a bright blue sky. Lazy days in the garden and not wanting to bother with the outside world, just being in the moment at one with nature.

Fellow gardeners rejoice in the delights of springtime and the warming of the soil. We look forward to the gentle colours of nature’s  splendour, even if we can only capture this sight for a very brief time. We long for a never ending springtime of eternal blooms and a gentle afternoon sun that makes one hark back to childhood spent in the garden catching bees, butterflies and ladybugs. The endless simple joy in our hearts. 

Endless flights of fancy inspired by delightful springtime blooms and the sound of laughter. They are but fleeting moments of time eternal. Of the innocent springtime of our youth, fanciful dreams for many of us at best. We must appreciate life’s special moments for what they are and keep them in our hearts for days when we need them. Hold on to and treasure those precious moments and memories for they are the key to our happiness. We the creators beings of our own joy. 

Plant some flowers and watch them grow, that which  you created in love and joy. The seed that you gave life; rewards you in it’s very being. A splendid sight to behold a cherished memory for ever in your heart. Go gently; plant that seed so that you may to grow in wisdom and in peace. Plant ye now a memory to share with others; who share the dream of joy in all its simplicity and its joy.

Copyright Alex Fulford, September 2022

Springtime Joy

Woo-hoo! The first of September and I am excited because spring is almost upon us. The true spring of course is on the Equinox (23rd September) and that is when the weather is finally getting warmer and the flowers are in full bloom. My birthday month and my last year of being in my 50's. No big deal , lol.

I celebrate springtime more than my birthday at the end of the month. Birthdays are fine and dandy but nothing compares to nature and the warm sun. Being out doors on a nice day and admiring flowers and the simple joys of nature. That's my joy and it makes me so happy. I don't like to be bothered too much with what is going on in the outside world of chaos and turmoil. I just need and crave the peace and harmony of nature.

I keep life very simple, quiet and as uncomplicated and stress free as possible  to rest and destress from the ills of the world. Grateful for birds, butterflies, dragonflies and ladybirds that visit my garden and the flowers that bring me joy and the sun to make the flowers grow. To me this is my happy place and I hope that everyone finds their happy place too, enjoy.

                                                My Peter Rabbit Bunnies at the window.

International Dog Day

 Happy international dog day to all the lovely baby dogs 🐶 all over the world. Life without these wonderful souls would not be the same, they give us pure unconditional love and joy. They are known to save lives and perform heroic acts and comfort us when we are down or sick. They are always there to give us their love and friendship. A constant companion through life that never stops believing in us and gives us pure unconditional love every moment of their lives. Humanity owes these wonderful souls so much and it is our duty to take care of them and show our unconditional love for all dogs like they do for us. Humanity can never know pure unconditional love unless they open their hearts to all creatures just like our beloved dogs that share the journey of life with us. 

Miss Ruby Rose, my little teddy bear girl 

Note: I call dogs baby dog because they are like innocent children, it is my term of endearment for them. 

International Cat Day

                                              Slinky cat, you are such a sexy boy 

 Love cats 😻😻😻😻😻😻I miss my cats dearly. I am still adjusting to a cat free home but as soon as Ruby shows signs of not bothering with cats I will get a couple of rescue kitties. 

                                                        Garfield our ginger ninja 

                                                Tolstoy 

                                             Miss Daisy 

                                                    Miss Daisy with her kittens Pip and Pop

Photos are property of Alex Fulford ©

Hyacinths in progress

 I decided to get into growing Hyacinths again after many years. So after keeping them in the fridge crisper for four weeks, last night I put them into the bulb vases and put them in a dark cupboard for the next exciting stage. 

I have at least one white Hyacinth and a mixed bag so I just hope that the three in bulb vases will be pink, white and purple. The smell is divine and so old worldly, it makes me feel sentimental. 

The last time I grew these beauties I still had all my original fur babies. Fondly remembering Garfield strolling past them on the sideboard and freaking out in case he knocked them  over. He broke a few vases and fancy glass candle holders in his time. 

Anyway I am super excited to be growing these again. I don’t remember what happened to the pyramid shaped bulb vases that I used to have. I must have donated them to charity. Damn, I do that and then think, D’oh! I wish I had hung on to that. 

I am a lover of old fashioned flowers and bulbs, there is something special about them that hark back to simpler times. Lace doilies and lovely flower vases and any romantic old world furnishings make me so happy. I think that I would like a country cottage like miss Marple’s. But more girly with pink, lavender and soft blues and soft green for a summer look. 

Thousands flock back to Stonehenge to welcome back 'euphoric' summer solstice

 https://www.abc.net.au/news/2022-06-22/stonehenge-wiltshire-thousands-flock-summer-solstice/101172364

Meanwhile in Canberra the traditional skinny dip takes place in our winter solstice brrrr.

https://www.abc.net.au/canberra/programs/breakfast/why-swim-in-lake-burley-griffin-in-winter-solstice-swim/13938354

https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2022/jun/21/winter-solstice-australia-celebrates-shortest-day-of-the-year-with-icy-swims-and-lantern-festivals

I watched this on the news last night, including the Antarctic, now that’s taking the event to a higher level, lol. Is this a challenge to the locals in Canberra or what 🤣🤣🤣

There is a very interesting astronomy comment in this post too. That will have great significance to many astrologers too. 

Quote, “Mars is the only planet completely inhabited by robots”  Lol, how do they know that? Not all of the planet has been completely explored or any other planets for that matter.

Perfect storm: Australian ski resorts gear up for big season after snow blankets resorts

 https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2022/jun/01/perfect-storm-australian-ski-resorts-gear-up-for-big-season-after-snow-blankets-resorts

Brrr! It is freezing in Canberra over the past few days. Tonight we will be down to -4 Celsius, so it will be heaps of blankets on the bed tonight. My heart goes out to the homeless people and animals in this weather especially. 

May the 4th be with you!

 

I just had to get this in.

R2D2 will always be a vacuum cleaner to me 😆😂

ANZAC DAY with pain

 ANZAC Day like Remembrance Day are a bit painful for me, much as I have immense respect for all service personnel worldwide.  As my father’s life draws to a close I am saddened to know both he and men like him will never be recognised because they were put on missions at a young and naïve age some  under 21. In extremely dangerous assignments that will never be officially recognised; the effects of which still haunt them. Yet they are denied their due respect. I am proud of my father and all the young men in their youth, that carried out dangerous missions with absolutely no acknowledgement of their deeds from the governments of their homelands. 

These young men were naïve in taking part in covert missions that without their dangerous missions, we may not be in the safe world that we enjoy today. It sickens me to the bottom of my stomach and knowing the silent suffering of these good men. These good men deserve much respect and acknowledgment. I am sickened by the rich and powerful that causes wars yet make the young working class men pay with their lives. We are staring down the barrel of another war caused by the same evil and the masses just accept the abuse of the working classes. 

Old men live with the scars in silence and try to fit in to the normal everyday world. Trying to hold it together so that no one knows their suffering. Old men fearing death and judgment in the afterlife. I know because I see my father in the closing of his life suffering and I am as angry as hell to see his suffering. Rest assured the young people of today will go through this suffering in their old age in 50 years time because the masses like sycophants obey evil and pick up guns to kill other innocent working class people for the same evil controllers of this sick and twisted world. Such is life! 

ANZAC DAY 2022, 25th April

 

The tomb of the unknown soldier in the Australian War Memorial Canberra

   After two years of lockdown we can now have ANZAC Day celebrations again. This has been the only time in history that ANZAC Day has ever been canceled. Let’s hope that never happens again our veterans mean so much to us as do those that gave their lives for us. Lest we forget.

They shall grow not old,

as we that are left grow old;

Age shall not weary them,

nor the years condemn.

At the going down of the sun

and in the morning

We will remember them.

Lest we forget! 

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anzac_Day

Happy Easter 2022

 Happy Easter everybunny 🐇🐇

Daylight savings time starts on Sunday 3rd April in Australia

 Yay more sleep! Cooler weather too 😃 Daylight saving starts on Sunday 3rd April  for Australia yay. 

Winter is on its way after a wet humid summer. Cold nights and being cozy snuggly bunnies again.

Garfield developed the fine art of finding that right cozy spot for a sleep and snuggle.

Purple Poppy Day, for all the animals killed in war (24th February)

 https://www.purplepoppies.com.au/war-animal-day/

I only found out that this was today. I feel sad that I didn’t know sooner as I bought an official purple poppy badge to we’re on ANZAC Day and remembrance day. So I will mark my calendar for next year. 

https://www.purplepoppies.com.au/products/  This is the link to buy a badge. 

https://militaryshop.com.au/collectables-gifts/ I generally buy from this website or shop in their local shop.

Happy Hogmanay and Happy New Year 2022

 

Happy Hogmanay to all the Scottish people and Happy New Year to everyone.

We Scottish celebrate NewYears Eve or Hogmanay and usually wait up for “the Bells” at midnight; to wish each other a happy new year. Celebrating with whisky 🥃 and shortbread and a good hearty meal such as a large steak pie which is usually home made and some people like to make Yorkshire pudding to go with it and a serve of vegetables. Usually the meal is eaten mid evening with drinks, and after the meal the real celebration beings with singing and listening to music. Many stay up until the sun comes up, though most people will call it a night by 2.00 am.

Then the next day we call; Ne’ar Day, which is New Year’s day in English. More celebration ensues for those that want to, visiting other relatives and friends. Sometimes it can go all week; often after work people will visit extended family to celebrate with them. That is how I was brought up as I have a very big family in Scotland; and they all held the old traditions.

May I offer my best wishes to everyone for the coming year and hope that your hopes and dreams come true.