Abu Dhabi art guru

Being 'winter' in the UAE, it is a good chance to plan a few weekends away to actually be outside and go to the beach! Yes, we can still wear our summer clothes... my year round summer dress & sandals ensemble, just , which one today?.... But it is cool enough to need a jacket or light top for the evenings... when it can get down to, oh, 18 degrees and around 25 to 27 degrees during the day.... These kind of temperatures in this part of the world will see people reaching for their winter jeans, boots, jackets & scalves! For us it is the best time to get away and spend as much time outdoors as possible. At this time of year, we can get away to Ras Al Khaimah, better known as RAK, ... read more

In the bush on the outskirts of Panmure, way down the highway from Melbourne, in South West Victoria lies a secluded classic old Aussie Bush Shack. A retreat from the world, gradually added to and built up over the years by a family friend of ours, a place where men meet and share a bbq, some beers, some stories, go hunting and take the slow pace of life for a Sunday afternoon... It is a classic place built from what was gathered around the bush & nearby, the 'make do' attitude and 'she'll be right'.. Armchairs and seating are crudely axed out of old tree logs, an outside toilet offers options of indoors & out-outdoor versions for your comfort or needs! Old bits of corrugated iron from water tanks and old farm sheds are re used ... read more

Winter in Dubai is undoubtedly the best time to be here.. This is when the town is full of tourists,who most likely think this is what Dubai is like all the time?....We have had mild temperatures of 21-28 with lows of 14-18 overnight and the locals & expats donning their winter clothes ( if you have any here, I myself still find this gorgeous 'summer' weather and make the most of being outdoors and feeling a breeze) The locals & expats fill the outdoor cafes and everyone is walking around as much as possible before the heat sets in... Four months from early November until the end of February is definitely the best time to be here. However it is unusual to see Dubai covered in winter fog. Although the region is known for a few ... read more

Returning home for a summer holiday... aahhh a huge sigh of relief. Warrnambool & surrounds:this is the wild South West Coast of Victoria, the end of the Great Ocean Road... surrounded by lush dairy farms, this is a magnificent stretch of coast with extensive, long, beautiful beaches, rugged coast and cliffs, with continuous swell and waves rolling in from the Southern Ocean... this is my home, the landscape I grew up in. It is the landscape where I draw inspiration for all my artwork, it is the land and sea that rejuvenates me, fills my soul & spirit, where I belong and where I long for when I am away. It is the familiar, the comforting; where I have a history, know the stories of family, friends and neighbors, of past relatives and family stories from ... read more

Recently we had a trip driving across the UAE desert to the East Coast, to the Fujairah region of Al Aqah. I always find it extremely interesting to see life outside of the metropolis of Dubai and to see the lay of the land and lifestyle in the more isolated regions of the inner desert across to the east coast. The contrast is extreme. Leaving the manicured palm lined streets of Downtown Dubai, past the sparkling glass towers lining Sheikh Zayed road, the desert routes lead you in to a very different landscape. Although the roads continue to be excellent dual highways, lined with streets lights all the way across the country, the views change to a different pace. Skyscrapers are replaced by sand dunes and low scrub, dotted with Ghaf trees. Small townships are scattered ... read more