A Hot Aussie Summer

G'day everyone Well, yes, it is Summer in Australia...!

Right about now, I'm dying for a cool winter breeze.  As I type it's swelteringly hot at 37C - approx 98.6 and tomorrow is going to be hotter, they are tell us!  (Air conditioning is a must!), cattle loo-ing in the distance, the rooster crowing at 4am! I decided it might be nice to give you a taste of the Australia that I live in...

 My region is the North Burnett - home of citrus, cows, nuts, fruits and mining. For us, this is the hottest time of the year (naturally) with storms, lightning and bushfires. Last year we also had floods. (I won't dwell on that this time!)

We also have a wide range of cultural pursuits from photography and painting through to quilting, potting and even chainsaw sculpting. Just about every town has a thriving arts and cultural centre, which has a continuous loop of exhibitions! We know how to part, just like we know how to work! Our main income for the region comes form our agricultural pursuits. This includes small crops, cattle and much more.

Having such diverse land uses, our area relies heavily on our road systems, which is still in disrepair as a result of last year's floods. But we also experience some cracker storms!  They are lovely and add so much to the soil, but I have to admit, I'm not really a storm person. Every now and again we get wild "willy willy's" too. But they are a small (though annoying) part of our overall natural wonders.

The land, at this time of the year is brown to olive greens.

                   

The area is named for the Burnett River that wends it's way through the region. Normally, it flows softly on it's way to Bundaberg where it meets the ocean, but in times of heavy rain it's a roaring torrent. At this time of the year, if flows in dribs and drabs.

People make use of the river for many kinds of recreational pursuits (of the kind they can't do during the year.)

Fishing is particularly popular with the younger set! But the river is so much more than a recreation venue, it's also our source of potable water, feeds our agricultural industry and is literally the life blood of our region.

Local produce in the region at this time of the year includes melons - a favourite of the roadside stalls... You can drive through most townships in our region and find a homemade stand, touting them for sale.  It's also a staple at many QCWA halls and functions at this time of the year in the sweltering heat!

Considering a trip and you're a little more local? North Burnett is very accessible. Why not learn more about our driving opportunities? Click here for details!

But, we are so much more than the average agricultural community. Summer is also the time when we celebrate what it means to be an Australian. Not just a member of "this region."

Our area is proud of it's traditions, and we begin our celebrations with Australia Day on the 26th January every year. Most townships will hold a community Barbecue in either a park or hall, manned by volunteers. This is when local Australia Day winners are announced and traditionally, it's also one day a year where many new Australians are welcomed into the community.

Summer is hot, dry and challenging, but Australians are particularly good at making the best of their situation, being adaptable and good natured.

I do hope this glimpse into Summer in Australia (and particularly my region) has interested you. To learn more, why not check out these resources?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nSKnV9Jjbeg
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yrsDOQtUToo
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ec5V9kf_d-I&list=PLEwkHbGgoGYZgaULro_X_nxf0XUYpVjyh
http://www.northburnett.qld.gov.au/?id=129
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/North_Burnett_Region
http://www.rmwilliamscentre.com.au/north-burnett-region-overview

Well, now I've shared some of my lifestyle with you, I'd also like to share a book!

A Stranger's Embrace Give Away

I'm giving away a Digital Copy... To enter my comp you have 2 ways to enter :)

1. Tweet about my giveaway - (a suggested tweet can be found below) and leave a blog entry below with your twitter id and email here on the blog.

[Check out aussie author @ImogeneNix giveaway visit http://imogenenix.blogspot.com/2014/01/a-hot-aussie-summer.html]

2. Facebook - share the link on my Facebook page for the blog hop... http://www.facebook.com/ImogeneNix - don't forget to leave a message here with your name and email addy.

A Stranger's Embrace

Davis and Jane... Cupid is at it again with a little more divine intervention, but can love survive the danger ahead?

Jane has been living a lie, with her daughter Frannie while on the run from her abusive husband.

Davis Formosa, world famous science fiction author has been intrigued by the quiet and unassuming waitress at the diner he has taken to frequenting.

But Cupid in the guise of Jake has his work cut out helping these two to find their happy ending, especially in the face of increasing danger.

Publisher's Note: Although this story contains characters from ‘Blame the Wine’, it is a separate story altogether.

Click on the cover to travel to Totally Bound's website!

Jane disliked the necessity of working in the small diner across the road from Veha Industries, but it paid the bills and kept her under the radar. It also ensured that no one looking would find her easily. Especially him. She wasn’t superstitious, but even the thought of him still had her glancing around carefully, hoping he wouldn’t magically turn up outside the door to haul her away.

People came in and out, ordering their drinks and food. They rarely paid real attention to the woman serving them—the one who hid who and what she really was. She read the body language of the patrons and adjusted her behaviour accordingly. She did it with every ounce of her hard-won knowledge and experience of human nature.

Jane wiped her hand on the towel and pushed aside the limp strand of hair that had escaped the scrappy bun,. She was already longing for the brief break she could expect to take within the next hour, once her fellow waitress arrived. Mary had rung in late, as the doctor’s appointment for her three-year-old’s injections had taken significantly longer than planned.

“Coffee—flat white, for table ten.” Les pushed the tray into her hands. Jane moved quickly, dodging and weaving as people filed out of the eatery, drifting off to work. She made her way towards the table in the corner. At nine a.m. she could reasonably expect things to begin slowing down, something the ache of her feet reminded her of. The man sitting there smiled at her as she carefully placed the cup on the scratched Formica in front of him.

“Thanks.” The man had been coming in for weeks, always picking the same booth, while he did whatever he did on his small tablet device. She’d been drawn to him from the first. It wasn’t his rugged good looks or the leather clothing he wore like a glove over his muscular body. She doubted it was the piercing green eyes or the mobile mouth. Jane also refused to believe it could be the chiselled jaw and defined cheeks. No, it was the air of serenity he radiated. Here sat a man comfortable in himself and his chosen profession.

That very first day as she delivered his coffee—flat white, no sugar—she’d caught sight of his work, the lines of red and blue writing meaningless to her, but he’d quickly turned it over, hiding it from sight. She’d scurried away, feeling an embarrassed, blush burning her cheeks at being caught looking at his work.

Today he held nothing in his hands except his coffee. She surveyed his blunt fingers for a moment, before turning away with a faint wistful sigh.

 He put out his hand, stopping her, and she sucked in her breath at the zing of awareness that speared her. “I wanted to…” He blushed as she turned. “I wanted to thank you for looking after me these last few weeks.”

Jane smiled, knowing that answering him would reveal part of the reason she remained in hiding. But he looked at her, as if expecting an answer, and the knowledge that he waited bothered her. It filled her with a vague sense of dissatisfaction. “That’s okay.” She rasped the words, the sound one that she’d practised for a long time to perfect. It usually kept the men away.

He narrowed his eyes and his face, beautifully formed as it was, hardened. Jane backed away, unable to help herself. That kind of searching look in the past had always resulted in a painful reaction, and she gulped for air.

“Jane? Next order waiting!” Les called out from behind the counter. Without a word, Jane turned, thankful for Les’ gruff intervention, even if it had been accidental.

Les had taken her in the day she’d arrived on the doorstop, little more than a bedraggled rat dragging her barely-teen daughter behind her. He’d never asked why or how and she remained thankful for that small mercy. There was no way I could even begin to explain how my situation came about. Not easily and certainly not without risk to Frannie. Or me.

Instead of judging them both for the bruises on their skin and the wild look in their eyes, he’d seen something that she hadn’t. That, deep down, she was a fighter. A survivor. He’d offered her a job waiting tables and the small apartment above where she and Frannie lived. It wasn’t the comfortable existence they’d enjoyed before, but it was safe. And, more importantly, anonymous.

The bacon and egg burger with black coffee was a regular order and she knew where it was going before Les even opened his mouth. “Yeah, table five. Got it.” He smiled.

“Everything okay?” He searched her face and Jane felt the uncomfortable sensation of awareness. He knew just how flustered she was after that short encounter with the man on table ten.

“Yeah, I’m fine. He’s just being friendly.”

To enter the mass giveaway, click on the rafflecopter link below:

$100 and 26 e-books (some print) from our generous authors

drawn Australia Day

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January	1	Monique McDonnell
January	2	Sara Hantz
January	3	Annie Seaton
January	4	Imogene Nix
January	5	Caitlyn Nicholas
January	6	Tima Maria Lacoba
January	7	Nicole Flockton
January	8	Wendy L. Curtis
January	9	Jacqui Carling Rodgers
January	10	Susan Horsnell
January	11	Susanne Bellamy
January	12	J'aimee Brooker
January	13	Victoria Purman
January	14	Ann B Harrison
January	15	Cate Ellink  and  Demelza Carlton
January	16	Jenny Schwartz
January	17	Donna Gallagher
January	18	Lily Malone
January	19	Tea Cooper
January	20	Fiona McArthur
January	21	Max Henry
January	22	Jennie Jones
January	23	Alison Stuart
January	24	Eve Rabi
January	25	Kendall Talbot
January	26	Annie Seaton-Prize draw