The Roaming Stevens

Constance Gordon-Johnson, my sister and my only sibling, was a force to be reckoned with...from a VERY early age. Constance was hugely talented and winning art awards from the age of 12.  Plus, Constance was academically brilliant and was able to skip the 11th grade all together in high school. So, yes, it WAS very difficult living in her shadow, but as intimidating as she could be, I was always her secret admirer. Constance pushed everyone in her sphere to be a better person - a more intelligent person and she taught all around her to care about the environment, but...most importantly to take care of and protect every sort of animal that inhabits the earth.  In Constance's world animals were far more important than humans.  Constance was that kind of gal.  My Mom had a very old newspaper clipping from The Commercial Appeal (Memphis, Tennessee) that shows Constance with a pair of pliers getting a fish hook out of a duck's bill.  She was successful yet...

Twice in one day I was advised I was in a category known as The Preservation Age. Twice.  In one day. That phrase was uttered to me fi rst by our tax accountant and secondly by the ATO (Australian Tax Office) Intrigued or insulted? Doesn't matter either way because I am firmly entrenched in The Preservation Age whether I care or not. In Australia at age 60 everyone says 'You've hit retirement!' ~ well, I'm a bit beyond that.  But, I'm NOT there - mentally or emotionally - or spiritually.  My To Do list runs into 2 pages. Where have the years gone?  How can it BE? More to do.  Countries to explore.  Situations to experience. But, right now...I have a shed to obliterate.  😎   Today, appointments lined up, deliveries arranged for The Maxwell House, oh, and hand painting some life sized cherubs hanging out on the verandah (as you do) and next... going to witness a very kind man setting off for his last appointment to meet God. ...

While we were in Uki, Tinto announced to me that July was the month he arrived in Australia... forty (40) years ago!  Tinto has spent the majority of his life now on Australian soil, not English earth...more than half of his life to be exact.  WOW!  To me, that's a monumental moment. We waited until we returned to the comfort of Kapunda to celebrate. Tinto and I often discuss the pluses and minuses of being away from the country in which we were born.  I have blogged about this topic before; it is an enormous undertaking.  There are many values to living in another country and discovering the reality of a different culture.  It is always a real education.  The only negative point is that you have loved ones living far from you.  (Well, I do...at least Tinto's children do not live in distant lands.) While we were back in Tinto's birthplace for quite some time last year, I kept asking him which country he preferred.  The only respo...

Not many places in this world prettier or more gentle than Uki, New South Wales.  Uki is FAR north NSW right along side the Queensland border and situated near the Tweed Valley near Mt. Warning. When Tinto and I were roaming around Europe and we landed in Spain for a bit, of course we loved and appreciated Barcelona and Granada, but never did I think I would fall head over heels for an old, quaint fishing town named Almunecar.  We went to meet a friend of a friend and thought perhaps, we would stay 2 - 3 days.  An entire month passed and I STILL was not ready to go.  I think Uki would have the same affect on some people.  That's why I'm not going to shout about it from the mountain tops.  Almunecar is such a well kept secret and they don't get the hordes of visitors like their neighbouring cities, nor do they really want them!  Uki is not going to be able to handle hundreds of visitors and frankly...it's one of those places that just needs to ...

Special note:  ANY family member, loved one, great mate...IF anyone is unhappy that I've placed a pic in ANY post in my blog that you preferred I did NOT - send me a message, place a comment, and I shall remove it as quickly as possible.  I do try to obtain permission, but these last weeks have been absolutely mad.  I post out of love.  Nothing sinister - AND - I DO LOVE PICS.  Prior to Tinto travelling to England for an extended stay with his family he had a huge ordeal ahead of him.  The entire house had to be organised and packed away, tidied and cleaned.  When I type this sentence it sounds really simple, doesn't it?  Pack items - store them properly - clean empty house. Check. There was nothing simple about it.  I know Tinto began to panic because he called in the reinforcements and one fabulous daughter by the name of Matilda came in from another state and began working.  Brilliant job, Matilda - I KNOW this was a h...

Let me please begin by saying that this was not funny. This was not funny. This was not funny. This was not funny. There.  I've said it.  Done and dusted.  Stacy and Matt...I do hope you have recovered enough for me to share this tiny little story. Well, hmmmm...rather an episode - an incident?  A mishap?  An accident?  A smashup?  A calamity?  A catastrophe?  A disaster? I can't get the picture out of my head because I KNOW these people involved.  I know them well. They have a routine. It's called a fun and relaxing evening - IN .  Sharing fun and food and adult beverages at home; either of their homes; they pick and choose and alternate whose home will play host to the shenanigans.  Then, there is THE ROUTINE .  I'll explain as best I can.  It's not difficult.  It rarely varies.  Here we go: Camp chairs set up in a garage with, preferably, garage door open Neighbours wel...

Noosa Heads is a little over 130 kilometres north of Brisbane, Queensland's capital.  It seems to be a get away for everyone!  It's located on the Sunshine Coast and the waters look pristine.  We travelled to this area during the school holidays and it was densely populated at the time, but not horribly so!  We endured it and we engaged and, truly, it IS a delightful place to view.  Sweeping views of the coastline from the national park area and everything is quiet and peaceful throughout the day - no rush - no worries.  Super attitudes. Before we headed to Noosa we spent time with Tinto's youngest daughter and her good mate.  We met THE most important and stately Irish Setter I have ever met before.  His name is Otis and his coat is THE most glorious auburn colour I've ever seen.  He's only 1 year old...perhaps that's why his coat is still so absolutely brilliant. Wish we had done a bit of kayaking through the Noosa Everglades, bu...