Before I start I have to tell you what happened last night. I was talking to my son, Dean ( a clearance diver in the Royal Australian Navy), who lives in Sydney. There was a huge crashing sound at the front doors. My pug dogs went berserk`um, and there outside trying desperately to gain entry was a Koala.

A young one about 15 inches high. He was trying to climb up the beams at one side of the door. My pug Zac, the tan one, stood on his back legs, his front ones up on the glass and pressing his nose to the glass. All of a sudden the Koala pressed his/her nose to the glass!! I think the young Koala mistook him for it`s mother.

I didn`t know really what to do. But I locked the dogs away. Grabbed a blanket and opened the door. `Bit of a blue'(oz for mistake) that one. In it raced and climbed up to my shoulder. I wrapped the blanket around it. It calmed down and scratched its ears and head.

I put it up on my front verandah post where it stayed all night. It is still up a gum tree at the front of the house - another gorgeous, little trusting companion.

Right!! Back to the nitty gritty!!

Care must be taken constantly to protect yourself from over-exposure to sunlight and UV radiation (Ask Teach!!). Sunscreen lotions are sold by the small bucket at 30-40 plus protection. Wide-brimmed hats are the norm. Most schools demand the wearing of these at play breaks etc. One out of two people in Australia suffer skin cancer of some description. I have had several removed surgically. And ( sorry girls!!!) the constant hot winds and searing sunshine have created a huge number of "Wrinklies" at a very early age. Me included!!!!

There is an abundance of cheap($) high quality meats. Moist crisp fresh vegetables, fruits, and nuts are available everywhere. Fresh sweet seafoods crayfish, prawns. Chuck another on the Barby Doll!!. Prawns the size you can`t imagine - 6 to 8 inches long!! Lobster,salmon, trout. Juicy succulent shell fish of every kind with the wonderful smell of the oceans.

Weird Asian fruits and vegetables that I`ll never live long enough to try.

All types of aromatic pungent herbs. Some of which I always thought were weeds!!

In our area there are vineyards by the 100`s - WHEEEE! And throughout Victoria restaurants of every conceivable type. My favorite is the counter lunch at the local pub (29 km away!). How many miles is that? For around 10-12$ you have a steak which hangs over the edge of your oval plate, smothered in the sauce of your choice,a heap of crisp chips that resembles the Egyptian pyramids and some type of green vegetable which peeks out here and there, plus a glass of house red or white wine!Blimey, that`s made me a bit peckish!! Cheers Gerry.