The southern state of Victoria is definitely a good place to be this summer. There is wonderful camping to be enjoyed along the Victorian river ways. Aside from some areas of south east Gippsland there has been little flooding in Victoria this year and many of our friends have had the most enjoyable holidays along the Murray River over summer.

Mosquitoes are down in numbers this year too. Last year they were such a pest you couldn't venture into the garden day or night but the Goulburn Valley region had been in flood for months. We needed the wet to rejuvenate out red river gum forests so no one was complaining.

Around the county, the area around Mooree is one of the worst affected by flooding.

Premier Anna Bligh says the relocation of 300 of the town's 750 residents showed the community was "going through a very, very significant event".

"The safety of those people is our first priority," she said.

"I do understand this is very frightening for people and they would be very distressed."

She said the flood event in Mitchell was so extraordinary that the centre, used without incident during previous flood events, had been left vulnerable.

"The waters are still rising and we've already seen it exceed the previous record some time in the 1800s," she said.

Don Allen from Albany Downs, south of Mitchell, says his neighbours are being airlifted to his place.

"We get on really well with the next-door neighbours, so it'll be one big party I think," he said.

But ahead of the get-together, he managed to save 500 head of cattle on his property.

"I got above higher ground, thank goodness, but that was a bit of an experience in itself," he said.

"There were over 200 [head of cattle] in this one group so they were swimming through water to get to where we wanted them to go."

The flood peak has been upgraded for St George, where record levels are now expected on Tuesday.

Major arterial routes linking inland New South Wales and Queensland remain closed.

The Newell, Gwydir Carnarvon, Bruxner and Oxley highways have been cut by floodwaters, but more closures are expected.

All schools in both Mitchell and Roma are closed today.

Writers - Many of you ask me "How do I get paid to write?"
Put it 'out there' that you 'want writing jobs.' The pack your gear and try to travel light as regards clothing though don't forget to pack full change of climate clothing. Even if I am going to the tropics I will pack at least one polartec fleece.

I have a job to test drive a Forester and report on it. - Simple as that - phone cal came though 'out of the blue,'. just a little of of time and I get paid and have a post for my blog. Tell people you want work. What I was saying in an earlier blog - Have a product you can sell - your talent, Use PR ability to let people know you accept work and use good business sense in selecting what you do and how you manage it.
Then have FUN turning your love into a way to support yourself.

The Forrester review job turned out to be easier than I expected and the vehicle was a joy to drive. That was one writing job I enjoyed. lol, well I actually enjoy them all.

How many gray nomads are going to write a novel this year as they travel and are perhaps worrying about things like 'writer's block,' affecting them?

Did you know you never need experience writer's block?
I have never in 65 years know writer's block, I guess the explanation is in here.  A very interesting post on a topic that I really agree with. Why do you write?The One Thing My Creative Writing Teacher Didn’t Teach thewritepractice.com

My creative writing teacher didn't teach us something. I wish he had. If I were him, I would have said it. It is the foundation of your work.  I write about things I am passionately interested in - my interests providing the source of my writing. That is why I wrote the novel I wanted to write, and am lacking in modesty enough to believe it is 'good.'  I did not sit down and try to write a formula novel i though might be published. Oh yes, I did read all those, 'if you can write like this author we admire, we are interested in publishing you,' sort of emails and I even bought those recommended as what we publish now, books - but they 'didn't do it,' for me.   I'll never look back there again.

"Write in your own voice, what fills you with a passion," is far better advice and when you do you are driven to write and it certainly would be along the lines of what is being said in that article, and totally avoids writer's block.

_We are very excited about our travel plans this year as well as the creative plans I have made. I will be writing a lot of blogs in the middle of the year featuring Northern Queensland and especially the area around Kurrimine beach.

As Easter draws near, retirees are delighted that they have turned off the lab furnaces closed the office doors and can pack the caravan and prepart to get away to a warmer climate for winter. I am doing the same. I just have a few downsizing jobs and my writing to complete first.

My Novel Dreaming Billabong is back from the proof readers and is ready for submission to a literary agent or publisher and it is time to make the new twelve month goals which will see either the sequel written or a stand alone novel.

Now I am about to launch an ART SALE

Kathy Shell Artist/Author 12 Months and beyond, action plan.

FEB:, I list art for sale free shipping in Australia and internationally at cost.
Also Pitching my novel to publishers and agents - ongoing until success.

MARCH: I continue to sell any remaining unsold items but no new listings.

APRIL:Easter: Wind up - Sales CLOSED - Planning new Novel & Travels

MAY till January 2013 Write new Novel

FEB 2013 - Possible Second chance offer art sale -IF, I do another.

I had a great morning in the painting studio with the rep from Pack and Send who will be getting costings to me fairly soon of the shipping of my large Moorcroft Vase, Art Easel Kits, Metal detector, Framed ad unframed original Oils and watercolour paintings, Wholesale quantities of scrapbooking papers and prints.

I will be focusing the next fortnight equally dividing my time between pitching my novel and getting these 'out there' where people can see them on line.

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Martins Bend Reserve One of the Riverland's most popular picnic spots, Martin Bend Reserve is situated on the banks of the Murray River a short distance from the centre of Berri. A popular spot for swimming and water skiing the reserve also has barbecue areas along with a boat ramp. It is also one end of the Lions Club Walking Trail, a four kilometre trail passing along the Berri riverfront linking Martin Bend Reserve with the Berri Marina and the centre of town.

Address:  Riverview Drive, Berri  Contact:  Berri Visitor Information Centre  Phone:  08 8582 5511  Fax:  08 8582 5522  Email:  bbtour@internode.on.net  Cost:  Free  Opening Hours:  Open 24 hours Free caravan overnight camping with toilets provided.
Martins Bend

While you are in Berri and taking advantage of the free overnight camp site or daytime picnic areas visit the co-op and purchase dried fruit from the growers and local  wines and citrus fruit. Fill the car with fuel and but the groceries.  These well maintained overnight cam sites and picnic areas are a privileged and if everyone leaves them clean and says thank you though purchases  when we travel though we will always be welcomed back. 

And above is my toast to some of the wonderful people of Berri. Thank you for welcoming the gray-nomad travelers to your Murray Riverside land.
My own personal thank you too for the wonderful work of the bush trackers of this country who had found many lost people.
A Special Place for Jimmy James Jimmy James (the second) was a famous blacktracker, who was born around 1910 and belonged to the Pitjantjatjara people. He moved to the Riverland in the 1940's and took his name from his equally famous father-in law. He became a legend in his own lifetime when he was used extensively by the Police forces in South Australia, Victoria, New South Wales and the Northern Territory, to track felons, escapees and missing people. He died several years ago, and is buried at Gerard, the Aboriginal settlement near Winkie. The monument is sculptured out of two large slabs of black granite which are finely polished and engraved with images of birds and animals - a part of Jimmy's spirit world.

Address:  Riverview Drive, Berri  Contact:  Berri Visitor and Information Centre  Phone:  (08) 8582 5511  Fax:  (08) 8582 5522  Email:  bbtour@internode.on.net  Cost:  Free  Opening Hours:  Open 24 hours 

_I rarely leave the country these days.  When I went to Melbourne last week to the writer's seminar I enjoyed the usual experience of music buskers that I had on my previous visits years ago. There was a difference however. With the aid of portable batteries or mini generators electronic guitars even gibson les paul custom   were a part of the busking experience out in the open and away from power supplies. 
It was impossible to miss the theater tickets sales booth it is a huge out of context to it's surroundings building directly opposite the historical Finders Street Railway Station. A perfect location for tourists and travelers to gain fast access on arrival in Melbourne to any music performances in the city. 

Finders Street Station is still that same beautiful building as shown in the photo above.

Behind this building was the modern building of the newest art gallery and it is a credit to the designers. The street scape opposite was another for Melbourne to be proud of. St Paul's cathedral has been completely restored since I had last seen it as had the facades of all the historical buildings that line Finders Street in this first block leading up the hill from the cathedral. To be able to wander along this block and enjoy seeing Melbourne as i never have before to the background of busker music, was very pleasurable.

_

On my return walk I walked back along the pavement on the side of these historical facades where I could look into to see who occupied the buildings rather than the external view and it was a mixture of run down old theaters desperately needing internal restoration to the most modern of interiors as in the new Apple computer store.  I wished I had more time and more stamina to explore Melbourne. 

_
I journeyed to Melbourne by car from the Goulburn Valley and though the Dandenongs. I stayed at at one of the outer south eastern suburbs overnight and took the train into Melbourne rather than worry about trying to drive and park the 4Wheel drive in the city. This was all a pleasant experience. I walked a huge block of streets covering about a quarter of the city. There were some strategically placed bench seats which i confess, I took advantage of as the hills of Melbourne are a lot steeper than when I was younger. 

_
I called into a small restaurant for lunch. It did not look expensive and the clientele looked 'everyday,' dressed.  For $15. I got an opened tin of sardines on a plate with 2 slices of dried up white bread.  I wasn't impressed. That was the cheapest thing on the menu. next time I will carry a water bottle and a cut lunch or nuts and fruit and sit on a bench outside to eat and listen to the music of one of the buskers. 

The only negative I experienced on my first visit to Melbourne in over a decade was the presence of so many people smoking cigarettes on the side walk.  I needed to hold my breath as I walked on many occasions. Possibly why I found it hard getting up some of the hills. it does help if you are breathing clean air. 

If I lived closer and had the time I would visit Melbourne more often, explore more of the side streets, park lands, attend the theaters, taking advantage of the free music performances or the half price last minute ticket sales.  It is a beautiful city historical city if you have the time to look a t the buildings and a wonderful place to experience a wide variety of music.

Yes Melbourne is a modern city and most photos shown of it these days feature the modern sky scraper skyline reflected in the Yarra River but just as it is a mixture of modern and classical music, Melbourne is a mixture of the new and the best of the old architecture and that is what I focused on during this visit.

For those who love the modern here is the distant view which focuses the modem skyline. You can enjoy this view from so many vantage points along the river and dockland or cruise along the river in one of the party boats at night and dine and dance to the accompaniment of music.   For someone who normally avoids cities, I did enjoy my re visit to experience the sights and sounds of the city I visited regularly in my youth.

_ The topic is the 3rd act and aging. And it was an excellent talk.
I loved this talk by Jane Fonda who is a wonderful promoter of the qualities of the largest demographic in the world - older women. She is leading the way in striving to overcome ageist attitudes. She is so 'spot on' that this third act of life is the BEST. Well worth watching.
_
I was amazed at the comments following the video and fail to understand why people cannot accept toe positive message within this speech for what it was.  Heaven forbid that I be still damned for things I might have done forty five  years go that I cannot even remember now.

Jane Fonda Third Act of Life Video

_Don't you just love getting best buy coupons.
I have been seeking ways to budget shop and using any coupons that allow me to save when purchasing item
I have created a new time management rule.  I will do my blogging, essays, short story writing ans small income writing jobs until my Grocery Run email alerts me it is time to knock off and enjoy an active afternoon.  It is officially knock off time :-). I will return later to devote myself to my novel writing. My small jobs writing and PR work has taken a steep upward step following applying a lot of the skills I learned at the Writer's Conference last Wednesday.

I am using the Grocery Run mail order discount shopping service to stock up on non perishable items that are light weight and suitable for our caravan holiday.  If I pre buy what I can I can reduce my weekly housekeeping expenditure while traveling and have money over for the caravan park fees.   How do you budget for this?  I am also striving from now until we leave to save some money each week towards that holiday.

Do you on line shop for basics?

_Welcome the year of the dragon. :-) In Chinese Astrology 2012 is the Year of the Dragon. The Year of the Dragon will start on 23 January 2012 and end on 09 February 2013.
This is the year of forgiveness according to the Chinese New year.
Reg is a dragon. Dragon people are said to excel.
According to the Chinese calendar I am a dog. lol, this dog and dragon have been kenneled together for into our fifth decade now and the kennel is still intact.
According to the Chinese the only enemy of the dragoon is the dog. And a dog should never kennel with a dragon. lol
Just as well i do not follow horoscopes Chinese traditions or otherwise but believe in making my own future.
On the economic front they say the year of the dragon is breathing new life into gold prices.
Novelists will no doubt hope the current young adult fiction boom for dragon based paranormal romance novels will last.
For the lucky tourist who is around to see it there should be some fabulous firework displays and great food celebrations to enjoy. There is certainly something that feels positive about any new year or a good happy dragon celebration.