Mardi & Macgregor

Because I live in 2 countries in my heart, I often find myself comparing Australia to England and vice versa.

The first question people ask me in the UK when they learn I'm from Australia, is "What do you think of the weather here?". The second is "Don't you miss Australia?". I always answer that the first year I lived in the 'Old Dart' in 2004 it was sunny for 4 non stop months and my niece Amy got the best tan she'd ever had. The answer to the second question is that I don't miss the place, I miss people.

Staying out at Eltham with my Big Sis and her family has gradually refuelled me with a sense of belonging to my tribe. Yesterday filled up the reservoir of joy to the brink....we went to visit Mardi & Macgregor, two very dear friends of mine. I've known Macgregor since he was 15 and Mard for about 10 years. When they got together about 3 or 4 years ago, I couldn't contain my pleasure that two of my best buddies had found each other. They ring the best out of life with a huge love for each other and their new mixed family. Macgreg is a marvelous combination of Cowboy and Soul searcher that is epitomised by his zebra striped Ford F 100 truck with a small statue of Budha on the dash board.

We visited them at Main Ridge, a sensational spot that is close by two bays of Victoria's coast, Port Phillip Bay and Westernport Bay. A huge tree had come down on a nearby property and Macgreg thought he'd go & pick it up for firewood for next winter. What fun bouncing along on the tailgate swapping rude stories with Mard and laughing fit to burst.They took us walking in the nearby National Park where there is a huge population of Xantheria, the most amazing Grass trees that take hundreds of years to grow. Here's Mard with a fine example...