St Marys...Groovy cafe

While I was recently on holiday on the East Coast I came across a great little cafe in St Marys.

The PURPLE POSSOM specialises in whole/organic foods & produce. They have a fantastic selection of goods to purchase & a wonderful kitchen baking all manner of wholesome (& delicious) goodies. Try their gluten-free breads & cakes....YUM. We enjoyed a leisurely breakfast inside but there is also a charming outdoor area with tables amongst the herb garden. Elaine & her staff are attentive & friendly. It makes for a pleasant stop on the journey from the midlands highway to the coast. Look for the sign on the main road as you drive through town...check it out & let her know that Lewis from Adventure Tours sent you!

Great Australian Films...Samson & Delilah

For anyone interested in Australian film, this 2009 release (now available on DVD) comes highly recommended. Set in & around the Red Centre & Alice Springs....check it out!

Wonderful portrayals by the young actors & beautiful cinematography. Let me know what you think...

Tommaso...Il Gatto Australiano

You have all heard me talk about our cat who is currently residing in Locarno a picturesque village situated on Lago Maggiore in Ticino, the Italian canton of Switzerland.

He is holidaying with friends while we spend time in Australia. He is much loved & admired by the locals in our borgo in Umbria & has become known as Il Gatto Australiano ...the Australian cat now living in Umbria. Our neighbours are constantly amazed that he has travelled further (from Perth, Australia to Umbria, Italy) than many of them ever hope to in their entire lives.

Of course he has settled in very well & loves the space of our large house & garden & revels in the exotic nature of Umbria (much like his Mum & Dad really). During winter he stays close to the hearth & fire (sometimes actually sleeping in the warm oven!) & very often curled up in the warmest blanket on the bed...pretty typical really. Oh & he loves Italian food...

" Cats don't have owners, they have staff! "

*For anyone interested in our blog on Life in Italy click on the blog listing for La Casa Umbriana under My Blog List in the sidebar.

Three days off, to catch my breath...

I have spent a hectic last few weeks working during the Christmas & New Year period so decided it was time for a quick, well-earned "get-away" (holiday break) & a chance to relax & re-charge.

Michelle & I enjoyed a few days exploring some of our favorite spots on the Eastern side of Tassie & here are the pic's to prove it!

The weather was excellent; very warm in fact, we enjoyed some great fresh seafood & local wine on the coast & drove along some of the more obscure inland mountain roads....great fun.

• The view to Maria Island
• On the road to Bicheno
• Orange lilies & blackberries
• Discarded shoe display
• The beautiful township of Ross
• The "closed" road to Copping

Fashion Guru...Latest Paris Fashion Trend

Forget "The Sartorialist"! Nothing gets past our resident roaming Fashion Guru...
Hot off ze Paris runway Spring Collections. New update ... "Back-packer Grunge meets 80's Loser" style. So now, sooo chic.

This has got to be the perfect outfit for travelling in Oz this summer, don't y'all agree? I just know I'm gonna be seeing this on my tours in the very near future....

**Sunscreen highly recommended.

December 31st Tour...

Some great images from the "New Year" tour...we had warm weather on the East coast which made for a great day at Bay of Fires swimming! Check out the colour of that water...

How Wild was your New Year...?

Ok, so Christmas is done, New Year celebrations well & truly over ...surely you're not still nursing a "hang-over"??

Where & how did you spend the first day of 2010?? Any New Year resolutions?

And what are your hopes & plans for this new decade?

Share with us.

My N Y was spent on the road @ Cradle Mountain (which was where I also spent Christmas this year by-the-way; perhaps some of you remember?).

My resolution is to maintain contact with all the great people I met touring this year...hence the Blog. And I hope to continue to broaden my travel experiences & horizons during the second decade of the new millenium.

Happy New Year !!....Best of 2009

Best of 2009...

Some of my fave pic's from this past year touring Tassie & the Red Centre.

Hope to see you in 2010....Australia or Italy?

1. The mighty Rock

2. Kings Canyon

3. Uluru sunset

4. The Devils Marbles

5. Lewis @ Hanson's Peak/Cradle

6. Devil Park

7. Wombat @ Dove Lake

8. Henty Sand Dunes...cool art

9. Tassie road sign

10. Tessellated pavement Freycinet

Santa paid me a visit...

I must have been good; Santa left me these !! A brand-spanking new pair of honey-coloured super soft suede "Blundies"! Good old Blundstone boots, originating in Tasmania & now considered a highly desirable global fashion commodity. Pretty "comfy" too, I might add.

Pray tell....what did Santa bring you this Christmas ?