Megan Miln

Westonbirt Arboretum

Megan Miln — Mon, 30 Jan 2012 18:57:29 +0000

We enjoyed a walk in Westonbirt Arboretum near Tetbury, UK. The Arboretum has wide paths and open spaces amongst the trees. It is clearly a popular place for families with young children and dogs, who can run and play freely.

Frosted gate at Westonbirt Arboretum

It was a cold, sunny morning, and the ice crunched under foot as we wandered along. Being winter, many of the trees had lost their leaves, but there were still vistas of vivid greens and oranges.

Frozen grass

Vivid colours at Westonbirt Arboretum

Beautiful forest within Westonbirt Arboretum

Wooden plaque at Westonbirt Arboretum

Sun shining through Westonbirt Arboretum

Moss covered tree at Westonbirt Arboretum

Carpet of leaves in Westonbirt Arboretum

Paddington Bear

Megan Miln — Sat, 28 Jan 2012 09:42:26 +0000

Like many children, I grew up with stories of Paddington Bear. The story of Paddington bear begins at Paddington Station in London.

While waiting at Paddington Station, we came across this statue of him.

Paddington Bear

Au Revoir Australia

Megan Miln — Thu, 26 Jan 2012 20:56:18 +0000

Our final weeks in Australia were a whirlwind of packing and catching up with family and friends. Thank you to everyone who hosted events for us and had us as guests. We had a wonderful time.

View from the plane

After a 38 hour journey, we find ourselves on the other side of the world and at the start of a great adventure.

Happy Christmas

Megan Miln — Sat, 24 Dec 2011 20:46:25 +0000

Happy Christmas from Graham and me. I hope you have a wonderful day.

Merry Christmas sign Flinder Street Station on Christmas Eve

Merry Christmas sign on the side of Flinders Street Station in Melbourne, Australia

Farewells Have Begun

Megan Miln — Thu, 22 Dec 2011 07:57:55 +0000

My work colleagues hosted a surprise farewell lunch for me this week, and gave me an amazing bunch of Australian native flowers and a bag of goodies that are difficult to find elsewhere in the world.

It was a lovely event. Thank you to everyone involved.

Farewell flowers

Gingerbread – A Christmas Tradition

Megan Miln — Sat, 17 Dec 2011 07:36:03 +0000

Christmas is just around the corner. The decorations are up, and the Christmas events are in full swing. But, until yesterday, there was something missing – our traditional Christmas gingerbread snowflakes.

We started making gingerbread three years ago (I think), when we received the gorgeous snowflake cookie cutters pictured below, and it has become our little Christmas tradition.

Gingerbread dough, cutter, and rolling pin

Gingerbread snowflake shaped cutter

Snowflake shaped gingerbread biscuits

Cooked gingerbread biscuits on a cooling rack

Night Market

Megan Miln — Sat, 17 Dec 2011 05:14:21 +0000

One of the things I love about living in the centre of Melbourne is being able able to shop at the Queen Victoria Market. Our market visits are usually limited to early mornings before work, but last week we went to the night market as well.

Sunlit produce at Queen Victoria Market

Over summer, there is a night market each Wednesday. The night market is more about entertainment than shopping. The usual stalls are transformed into seating areas, food vendors, and stages for live music. There are a handful of other stalls selling handmade soaps and candles, homemade fudge, and other pretty gift ideas.

Spanish food vendor at the night market

Food stalls at the night market

Asian BBQ vendor at the night market

While we were there, we took the opportunity to wander around the dairy hall. It was after closing time, and the normally crowded space was unusually quiet.

Quiet dairy hall after closing

Dairy hall at Queen Victoria Market

Melbourne Sunset

Megan Miln — Thu, 10 Nov 2011 09:17:55 +0000

As we were walking back from the supermarket this evening, Graham captured this amazing photo of the sunset. Yesterday we had thunderstorms; today we had this beautiful orange sky.

Melbourne sunset looking back to the Docklands from the city.

Wildlife in Tasmania

Megan Miln — Wed, 31 Aug 2011 07:03:12 +0000

Tasmania’s national parks offered us some close encounters with the local wildlife.

In Cradle Mountain we awoke each morning to find a pademelon sitting just outside our door within arm’s reach. It watched us and ate the nearby vegetation. We watched it and took a lot of photos.

Pademelon at Cradle Mountain

Freycinet offered a similar up-close experience with the wallabies, who happily nibbled grass at the edge of the walking tracks while we wandered by, and an amazing array of birds.

Wallaby foraging near a parking area

Wallaby at Freycinet

Here are some pictures of the wild and not so wild creatures we came across.

Parrot

Currawong at Freycinet

A pair of kookaburras

Birds fishing at Hazards Beach

Dairy cows at Pyengana

Tasmania’s tea-coloured water

Megan Miln — Sun, 28 Aug 2011 10:30:43 +0000

On our recent holiday in Tasmania, we took a boat trip from Strahan on Macquarie Harbour and along the Gordon River. The boat’s captain was eager to point out that the colour of the water in both the harbour and river comes from the local button grass. Tannin from the grass leeches into the water, turning it the colour of black tea.

Beach near Binalong Bay

Throughout our trip, we noticed that every river and creek we came across had this familiar tea colour, and in many, the water was still clear enough to see the bottom.

Cradle Mountain stream

Knyvet Falls

As an aside, we were lucky enough to see the Gordon River on a perfectly still day. The reflections on the Gordon River were stunning- like sailing through liquid silver.