Newlyn Reservoir in the Central Highlands.

Been very slack with the blog over the past week or so ...... we have had a few things on, then this past week I was housebound due to illness!  Couldn't believe it, have not been sick like this for well over 6 years. I was going stir crazy being 'locked up' for the entire week and missing out on all the wonderful fun events that were in our diary. Not a good week to be sick that's for sure.

So yesterday JF took pity on me and took me out for some fresh air. We only traveled about 90 klm over a two hour period, but it certainly lifted my spirits!

We drove north of Wallace up to Mollongghip, which is about 17.5 klms NE of Ballarat and then over to the Newlyn Reservoir.

Located about 11 kms from Creswick on the road to Daylesford.  This is probably the number one fishing location in the district. Reports of fish taken from Newlyn Reservoir are often found in local and Melbourne papers. There are Redfin of all sizes, brown and rainbow trout up to about 3 kilograms. There are BBQ sites (take your own wood) and a playground for children, so it is a good spot for the whole family.

It is a delightful area just to stop for a picnic, read a book, go for a walk or even fish if that's your preference!

This is a suggested day trip if you are around the area at anytime and some of the following images will certainly entice you to take the journey I hope.

The following websites will be of interest to those that enjoy fishing:

BruceSmith Newlyn Reservoir

Ray Long Newlyn Reservoir

check back again soon for further travels around the Central Highlands of Victoria.

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fields of gold

Just a month ago there was a sea of gold rolling across country Victoria as the warmer weather brought canola crops into full bloom. The following images were taken around the Ballan district, a small rural village west of Melbourne on the M8.

Though it is coming to the end of its 'full bloom', it still looks amazing as you come over the hilltop and see vast fields of gold!

Vivid yellow flowers in spring make canola the most distinctive of Victoria's winter crops. Walk close to a canola crop in flower and the strong cabbage smell explains its origin as a member of the Brassica family which includes broccoli, cabbage, cauliflower, mustard, radish and turnip. Canola is a variant of the ancient crop rapeseed, a word derived from the Latin rapum meaning turnip. Fodder rape is a related plant sown in southern Victoria for grazing by sheep.

Canola is grown for its seed which is crushed for the oil used in margarine, cooking oils, salad oils and edible oil blends. The properties of the oil fits with the current view that human health is better served by increasing the intake of mono and poly unsaturated fats in place of saturated fats.

After the oil is extracted, the by-product is a protein-rich meal used by the intensive livestock industries.

Victorian grain growers are hoping for average spring rains to finish off the season and deliver the potential of crops like these. Victorian farmers are forecasting a healthy canola production crop of 770,000 tonnes.

URL for the Department of Primary Industries and growing of Canola.

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Living out of a suitcase!

We flew in from Singapore on February 25 at 6.30am .... and we have not stopped running around since!

Monday 27th saw us in Ballan meeting with the tradesmen and organising the work that needs to be done for our 'new home' to be made habitable. 

So far we are having it repainted, all new light fittings and power outlets, garden totally cleaned out so we can start with a 'new canvas', carpets completely removed and all the floors (except wet areas) are being replaced with mocha coloured Bamboo Flooring. All of this will be completed by March 30th and then we wait for the shipment to arrive.

Our shipment is on board the cargo carrier: APL BAHRAIN and is expected into the Port of Melbourne on March 19th. Then our container needs to sit at the docks until the customs and quarantine people have done their inspections.

In the meantime, we are LIVING OUT OF A SUITCASE!!

But even though it does get messy at times, we are not complaining. We are lucky that my brother has allowed us to use his caravan (House Trailer) at the back of our property in Ballan. This allows us to still be 'on site' as much as possible. At other times we stay overnight at their place in Langwarrin. Its quite a drive back and forth and we have had to slow those trips down as the cost of fuel to do the two trip each way is getting out of hand.

We are well into the autumn weather here with crispy cold mornings and beautiful warm sunny days .... but must admit I do love looking at the BIG BLUE SKIES every day. Have taken far too many photos, but they really are stunning. Its not till you cannot see the "big blue skies of Australia" that you truly appreciate them.

This morning when we woke it was a chilly 9 degree's, but we still managed to get out and go for a long walk. Looking forward to exploring this little village by foot!!

below is as we drove into Ballan for the first time:

The street where we live and our house is at the far end on the right:

a street sign in the main area of Ballan:

But the funniest sign of all I saw today was:

                                  A large snake has been seen at the roundabout, 

                                       please be careful as it is large and swift.

Well, perhaps not so 'funny', but its a sure sign I am back in Australia!!!