A few weeks ago we had a painter arrive to 'freshen up' some of our homestead's tired and cranky paintwork. Doors, trims, walls, some ceilings; they were all given a new lease on life by our very efficient and excellent painter, Ben. To say I'm delighted with the outcome would be a massive understatement. I now walk into the rooms lucky enough to get a revamp and literally 'inhale the newness' of them all.

Hi there!

Drought and fires … welcome to a new decade and summer in Australia. Our hearts go out to all who have been affected in anyway by these wretched bushfires - burnt out, burnt over, evacuated or even on a Watch and Act. It’s had us all on high alert and continues to plague the media, our minds and our hearts.  For some, it will be years of recovery, for others, not so long but still distressing. We’ve had family and friends in the centre of these dreadful blazes and our love and compassion is with them all.

Life on the hill has been very busy the last few months. SO busy, thanks to this ongoing drought, I haven’t had a chance to sit down and have a lovely chat with you.

But, the events of this past few weeks have led me to the keyboard today to share a very special and wonderful thing, which has happened to our family.

Believe me when I say I have actually been writing to you all. Blissfully tapping away at blog posts over the last couple of weeks … but you haven’t seen them. The computer gobbled up two, I forgot to add the blog attachment to an email sent to my Web manager as I left for overseas (you’ll understand why shortly) and then, well, a beloved relative passed away and that post was too morbid to see the light of day.

From the chatty and lovely feedback I received on last weeks blog, ‘Boronia Blues’, it sounds like those who are like me and struggle growing Boronia are also challenged by Daphne! And, whats more, a lot of us are trying to grow either or both because they remind us of our mums and grandmothers. Isn’t that just the most beautiful thing?

You’re walking through the local nursery, or at the very least Bunnings. You’re in a mad flat out rush, pounding across the concrete, tail up, punnet of tomato’s or petunias in hand, because today is the day you simply just MUST plant them or else the whole world’s going to fall apart (I have no idea why) and you need to get back to pick up the kids from whatever sport they’re doing in five minutes ...

There are times in your life when you just have to have a breather. Take a step back and contemplate the world around you … where you are going … what you are doing. A sabbatical, I suppose one could call it.

Brrrr … June has arrived and winter has slammed into us with a vengeance here in Southern Victoria. The wind is icy and days overcast and grey. It was such a sudden change! The week before last we were getting dreamy, calm, warm and clear autumn days, the weather you hang out for all year – then, WHAMO!, the icy tendrils of winter hit. It was like a slap in the face, just when the dogs and I were getting into the swing of fencing in the sun.

Guess it had to come sometime. didn't it?! And at least the wind hasn’t started howling again yet (but now I’ve said that …!)

And so, Lake Hill is launched. Huge thanks to all you wonderful readers who have bought, read, talked about, and generally supported Lake Hill as much as you have. The book reached No. 2 on the Collin's Booksellers Best Seller list (The Barefoot Invester, pipped me at the post, darn it all :) and was still going great guns at No. 6. Apparently the book is plastered on light walls at the Sydney, Brisbane and Perth airports too, but as I'm nowhere near those lovely places, I'll have to take my publisher's word for it :)