Common Blackbirds

The Common Blackbird although not native to Australia can frequently be seen in Australia's southern states. In Victoria the birds breed in local parks and gardens. The attached photo was taken in my own front yard, the bird having nested in a Rose Bush! For more information regarding Australian Birds the CSIRO have published "The Directory of Australian Birds", for more details view the CSIRO website

Hasting Caves, Tasmania

Tasmania is a small but beautiful island located 240 kilometres south of mainland Australia. Tasmania is the most mountainous state in Australia and is rich in natural beauty. On our recent holiday we explored the Hasting Caves. The Hastings Caves are located approximately 90 minutes south of Hobart. The caves were discovered in 1917 by timber workers. The formations in the cave are breathtaking and include: flowstone, stalactites, columns, shawls, stalagmites and helictites. Tourists are able to take a 45 minute tour through the caves. There are approximately 240 stairs but these are not onerous as they are traversed in small sections. For more information about the caves visit the Hasting Caves website

Colourful Symphony

I was recently taken back to my High School days in the Science Lab. This time however, I had the camera ready! Ingredients required for this experiment included: rimmed plate, food colouring, whole milk and liquid soap. We poured enough milk to cover the bottom of the plate, we then added a few drops of each different food colouring. We then coated the tip of a tooth pick with washing detergent. The reaction is impressive and creates a beautiful display of colour formations. The reason why the reaction occurs is due to the liquid soap trying to break down the fat in the milk, just as it breaks down the fat from the food we eat which is left on our plates. While the soap is trying to break down the fat in the milk, it causes the colours to scatter and mix and create a colourful display. A Youtube video showing this experiment can be viewed by clicking here

Beach Surprise

We recently travelled to Lorne for a few days of sun, surf and relaxation. Lorne is a pretty beach resort town located along the popular Great Ocean Road. While walking along the beach late in the afternoon, the tide washed up the following bits and pieces which we all thought resembled a face! More information on Lorne and the beautiful Great Ocean Road can be located at Travel Victoria website