Things I am grateful for this year...

I'm not a big one for new year celebrations. I try (!) to approach each day, and if desperate, each hour as a fresh beginning, rather than seeing the changing of years as a time to make changes. I say try, as it doesn't always work.

No matter what my day has been like, I take time each evening to reflect on things I am grateful for. I decided on New Year's Eve I should reflect on just a few of the writerly things I am grateful for in 2011.

• Generosity, laughter and support from friends and family

 

• Enthusiastic and supportive students and teachers.

•  Melbourne Writer's Festival Regional Tour

    

• Supportive & generous fellow children's and y.a. authors and bloggers.

• Talented and hardworking editors - Mab!

• New editions and new books

• Time and a place to write

  

• Inspiration 

And then there are all the incredible things in my non-professional life that I am truly grateful for...

I am a very lucky person.

Wishing you much peace, happiness and abundance in 2012.

Surely not!

Christmas 2011 was terrific for us - time with family, friends, laughs and delicious food and drink. Now I'm ready to return to writing and - ahem - less food.
In fact, so determined am I to return to a slower lifestyle, we took down our Christmas tree today.

So I guess Christmas is done and dusted for another year, which is lucky as check out what greeted me at the supermarket earlier this afternoon...

Yep - an entire display of Easter stuff.

REALLY? It's still December people!

Sigh...

A huge thank you!

Phew - the Pan's Whisper Blog Tour is done and dusted.
Enormous thanks to Jenny at Walker Books and the fabulous bloggers who have been so warm, welcoming and generous.
Claire Saxby - Let's Have Words
Emma - Bookseller's NZ
Shirely Marr - Books on Mars
Steph Bowe -Hey! Teenager of the Year
Sue Whiting - All in the Telling
Dee White - Kids' Book Capers
Michael Earl- Little Elf Man's Random Thoughts
Anna - Cherry Banana Split
I've had a fantastic time and hope you've enjoyed it too!
Merry Christmas generous bloggers and here's to a ripper 2012!

I have bird issues! My new bird for my Christmas tree.

All aboard! Last stop on the Pan's Whisper Blog Tour...

Okay, so stops.
Today I'm visiting two places at once, because I can! I'm at Cherry Banana Split and Perth YA Fans Unite where I talk about the music I listen to when I write, developing characters and a few of my favourite Australian Young Adult novels.
Thanks to the lovely Anna for her brilliant questions.
Make sure you visit Perth YA Fans Unite to find out how you can win a copy of Pan's Whisper.

And yep,I'm late in blogging about this one, but hey, they are both WA blogs, so really, it's early afternoon!

Shakespeare and a Russian Blue with Sue

Today I stop in on a friend, colleague and someone I respect and admire, Sue Whiting. We have come across each other since we started writing at about the same time. The lovely thing is we're now working together.

So drop by and visit Sue's blog, All In The Telling and see how Shakespeare and a Russian Blue Cat have influenced Pan's Whisper.

Week Two of the blog Tour...

Visiting the amazing Michael today at Little Elf Man
Had a ball answering Michael's questions and reading his responses this morning.

Thanks Michael!!

Go West...

The Pan's Whisper Blog tour stops in on the amazing Shirley Marr today. Read a review of Pan, check out Shirley's questions about the novel and enter for your chance to win a copy of Pan's Whisper!

Blog Tour - Day Three

Today I'm stopping at Kids' Book Capers where Dee White has reviewed Pan's Whisper. Thanks Dee!

Blog tour Continues...Happy Birthday Hamish!

Today on the Pan's Whisper Blog Tour, I talk characters with Emma at Booksellers New Zealand.

And it's my nephew's 6th birthday - what a day!!

Blog Tour!

Join me today at Claire Saxby's blog Let's Have Words where I answer questions about grandparents, names and stalking!

Of Launches and Blog Tours

It's all happening!
Tomorrow night we officially launch Pan's Whisper at 6pm at the Little Bookroom, Nicholson St North Carlton. Would love to see you there!
Next week I start a two week blog tour visiting fantastic blogs to talk about Pan's Whisper, the writing process, crazy notebooks and even grandparents.
Take a break from the Christmas madness and spend a few minutes at one of these fantastic blogs.

Mon Dec 12	Claire Saxby	http://www.letshavewords.blogspot.com/
Tues Dec 13	Emma McCleary	http://booksellersnz.wordpress.com/
Wed Dec 14	Dee White	http://deescribewriting.wordpress.com/
Thurs Dec15	Shirley Marr	http://shirleymarr.net/news/
Fri Dec 16	Steph Bowe	http://heyteenager.blogspot.com/
Mon Dec 19	Michael Earp	http://littleelfman.blogspot.com/
Tues Dec 20	Sue Whiting	http://www.suewhiting.blogspot.com/
Wed Dec 21	Anna Dolin	http://cherrybananasplit.blogspot.com/

Pan's Whisper and Forget Me Not.

I was doing my grocery shopping when a lady I know stopped to congratulate me on my new book. At first I was a little stunned. How did she know I was doing the final edits on my next book?
Then it dawned on me she meant Pan's Whisper, which has just come out and is about to be launched. I quickly regrouped and thanked her for her support, and explained why I was slow to react.
The writing process is a long one and quite often when a book is released, authors are up to their necks in their next work. That's why we can appear a little vague when you are kind enough to comment.

While I'm doing bits and pieces for the launch of Pan's Whisper, I'm working also with my editor on my next book, which is due out in April, 2012. This book is called Forget Me Not - more about it later.
In the meantime, it's time to launch the one I finished work on about five months ago.
If you are free December, 9, I'd love to see you at our launch for Pan's Whisper, and I promise not to be vague!

 Join us for on

Friday, December 9, 6pm

at

The Little Bookroom, 

759 Nicholson Street, Carlton North

when Karen Tayleur launches 

Sue Lawson's latest YA novel

Pan's Whisper.

Time to take stock...

This morning when I sat at my desk, I looked out the window and marvelled at the beauty of the day.
And then I thought of friends, reeling after a heartbreaking tragedy on the weekend.
Six lives, gone.
Countless friends and families devastated.
A cruel, cruel accident that is impossible to comprehend.
Life is fickle and heartbreaking and again I am reminded of the importance of gratitude and of making the most of every moment.
I am grateful for:
my daughter's laugh
blue skies
my husband's sense of humor
honey eaters resting on the fence outside my window
my niece's wicked giggle
my friends
my family
my home
my life...

Notes from the weekend...

Karen Tayleur, Corinne King and Bernadette Kelly

While many people spent this long weekend (in Victoria) sweating over what to wear to the Melbourne Cup or camping, or gardening, I travelled to a peaceful country home to spend the weekend writing, sharing and laughing with dear friends.

Today I've been working my way through my 'things to follow-up' list - emailing links, investigating booksellers, making phone calls, updating files, tweaking manuscripts and grinning at jokes that drift back at unexpected moments.

So many things were confirmed, learnt and shared over such a short space of time.

•  Hummingbird cake tastes even better when shared with friends.
• My friends' generosity has no limits.
• Eugene, mooching and moths had to go.
• Wood heaters are particularly effective.
• Book launches are important.
• Talking helps ease pain and burdens.
• Feedback is invaluable.
• Dongles are...well, just dongles!
•  Each of us approaches our craft in unique ways.
• Friends are truly life's treasures.
• Hearing about and looking at pictures of African horse-riding safaris and Australian 4wd holidays has given me itchy feet.
• Always wear shoes if trekking in the dark to an outside toilet. (Snails don't squish, they scrunch and slime under your foot! Perhaps that is the real reason for my itchy feet!)
• Four laptops charging at once doesn't cause a power grid meltdown.
• And - I can't wait for our next weekend away!

Pan's Whisper and my 'welcome Pan' gift.

Busy, busy, busy...

There has been so much going on during September and October -  school visits, finishing off two books, family stuff, footy finals (sniff..) and catching up with friends. Life has been terrific, but crazy hectic.
Pan's Whisper is out and the first review is terrific, which is always a relief and something to be grateful for.

During the school holidays I have been busy with edits on Forget Me Not, which will be released around January (more to come later) and my darling husband has been creating a bright new website for me. Have a peek - same old address, but a fresh new look. Love to hear your thoughts.

I'm planning on blogging on my site, so will abandon this blog soon. Look forward to seeing you there.

Day Five - Melbourne Writers' Festival - Regional Tour.

Great start!

 Okay, so strictly speaking, I'm home and the Regional Tour ended two days ago, but I haven't blogged about our last day in Frankston.
Talks and workshops were held in the Performing Arts Centre and the Frankston library, where I worked with tremendous Yr 5/6 students in the 'long room' (not to be confused with the MCC long room!).
The students were fantastic and we covered beginnings and ends and lots in between. The visit was a great way to wrap up a rewarding week. How lucky am I to have had the opportunity to work with Heath McKenzie, Kirsty Murray, Chris Morphew, the unflappable Patrick Cronin and the students and staff from Kyneton, Drysdale,  Wangaratta and Frankston? Thank you!


Miscellaneous Highlights:

• Enthusiastic, interested students and teachers.
• Smooth travels and sessions - thanks to Patrick and the organisers.
• Cess pit photo opportunity by the Hume.
• Kirsty and Heath's Twilight and Harry Potter discussion.
• Dinner at Jack and Jill's Geelong.
• Kirsty Murray's incredible intellect and generosity.
• Heath McKenzie's humour, observations and discoveries in road houses.
• Chris Morphew's humour, passion and willingness to sit in the back seat!
• Showing off an a stage (hard to believe but true!)
• Indian food in Wang.
• iPads
• sunshine!

On a Frankston Library shelf...

Day Four - Melbourne Writers' Festival Regional Tour

This amazing gumtree was on the nature strip outside our motel. The branch scoops down to the footpath, and appears to be the perfect spot to sit and watch the Wangaratta traffic go by.
Our sessions today were at the Wangaratta Performing Arts Centre - a terrific venue. The children from local schools were so enthusiastic, fun and clever. They even laughed at the right bits - and honestly I didn't mean to nearly kill my brother - how were we to know chasing mice in the barn would make him puff up like a balloon? Sorry Anthony!

Heath and I gave today's talks on the stage, and both of us admitted that being in such a great venue, on a stage made us show off, just a little more!
Thank you to everyone - Jemma, Loueen etc etc, for making our visit so much fun!

 

Patrick our fantastic guide who has made the trip so easy and smooth and Heath checking out Indian beer at dinner last night. Great food - good beer! 

Day 3 - Melbourne Writers' Festival Regional Tour

Me, Chris Morphew and Kirsty Murray

 

 

 

Today we traveled from Geelong to Wangaratta for an evening session tonight and talks tomorrow.
Highlights of our trek -
- photo opportunities by a cess pool (see Chris Morphew's blog!)
- the merits of iPads for authors
- road house coffee
- the scenic route around town
- a restored Vauxhaul (which brought back memories of family incidents - good and bad.)
- a patient driver
-good company and laughter.
Looking forward to tonight's session about Australian stories...

Day 2 - Melbourne Writers' Fesitval Regional Tour

...of potatoes, vampires and Harry P...

A huge thank you to the Geelong Regional Library and Drysdale Potato Shed staff for a full, but fantastic day of sessions. Drysdale is a favourite haunt of mine where school visits are always fabulous, and today was no exception. We covered ends and beginnings (even though I couldn't spell beginnings this morning - who knows what was going on there!), inspiration and planning and even touched on gastro (they asked for it!).

Thank you to all the students for laughing at the right times, listening, sympathising about Dale Thomas' 2 week ban and asking great questions.

Kirsty and Chris's discussion about the merits of Harry Potter and Twilight was a highlight. Special hi to the Warrnambool crew from Emmanuel!

Photos to come - thanks Heath! Struggling with internet connection at our motel. I'm currently ensconsed in the library.

Tomorrow we travel to Wangaratta for an adult session and more talks.

Day One - Melbourne Writer's Festival Regional Tour

Today was the first day of the Melbourne Writer's Festival Regional Tour, with the fantastic Patrick Cronin, who is keeping us in line.

Our first visit was to Kyneton where Kirsty Murray, Chris Morphew, Heath McKenzie and I ran workshops and talks in the Town Hall. What a sensational building and what amazing supportive staff - thank you!
Students from Candlebark and Kyneton Secondary College attended and were full of great ideas and enthusiasm. My group created characters - some deranged, others lonely and a few homicidal - the characters, not the students!

Tomorrow it's on to Drysdale, a truly lovely part of the state. Naturally I've told the others how wonderful the place and the students are. Wish we had time for a visit to Loam. Now that is a restaurant to visit!

Of libraries...

It's a no brainer. I'm an author and I love books. I have five bulging bookcases to prove it.
Apart from loving books, I have a vested interest in them again as an author and as a teacher, so it's not surprising I've ranted about the importance of bookshops, school libraries and school librarians before. All are essential. Full stop!
A new threat to books has emerged, and frankly, I'm as mad as hell about it.
The Victorian Government plans to cut funding to public libraries.What is the deal with that? (Yes, I am shouting!)
Isn't it enough that school libraries are shrivelling? That access to books, particularly in regional areas, is diminishing? And wasn't one of the key arguments for cutting school library funding that students could access books and information at the local library?
Okay - breathe -  in and out.
There are plenty are reasons why libraries are vital and why funding should be at the very least maintained, which you can access here, so I won't rehash them, suffice to say, libraries are vital.
Not convinced? Visit your local library and just notice the activity.
Every Monday evening, while my daughter is being tortured (piano lessons - her choice, mind you!) I go to the local library to study for forty-five minutes and borrow books. The place is always buzzing - people reading newspapers, borrowing books, accessing the Internet, reading to their children, studying or just chatting. The age range of those there is enormous.
Compare that to the myriad of vacant and unused 'projects' that governments and councils have poured money into. Put simply, money spent on libraries is money well spent.
Let's hope sanity prevails and that  funding is at the very least maintained.

Like our school libraries, public libraries are vital - please offer your support.
 Facebook page - Save Our Libraries
Join the Save Our Libraries - Fairer Funding Campaign.

Rant over!

Inge - An inspiration...

Yesterday I attended my dear friends' mother and mother-in-law's funeral. The first time I met Inge, about 27 years ago,I was struck by her warmth, generosity and strength. She was such a genunine woman. When she asked how you were, she truly wanted to hear the answer. 
As I grew to know her better and witness her in action as a mother, mother-in-law and grandmother, I discovered bits and pieces about her past, but none of these she ever mentioned herself. Her family shared her stories. Some of the stories were hysterical. Others broke my heart. Yet, I can't remember her ever complaining, though I know she would have. She was, after all, human. She never even hinted at the pain she had endured.
Inge and her husband fled their homes during World War II and then their country. Displaced, they arrived in Australia with very little, if anything. Inge had tremendous empathy for refugees.
Through hard work and love, she and her husband created a loving home for their family, and yesterday that love shone through. Of course there were tears, but there was incredible love, warmth and gratitude for this inspirational woman. Knowing Inge, albeit only a little, I understand why.
She wasn't a large woman, but her heart was huge and the impact she had on those she met simply enormous.
I shall miss hearing the stories about Inge's latest struesel or knowing that she will be fussing over my godson and his gorgeous sister when they need it, but, like them, I am all the richer for having met Inge.
Our almond tree burst into blossom, yesterday.

St Brendan's Dunnstown and term three.

Friday I travelled to St Brendan's Dunnstown, about ten west of Ballarat, and spent the day working with students from Dunnstown, Gordon, Springbank and Clarke's Hill. Even though the weather was bleak, the kids more than made up for it.
I had a sensational day - caught up with old friends from teachers' college, met Ally the friendly kelpie and worked with fun and switched on people. Plus - lunch! Yum.

Three of the girls, Jade, Tara and Gabby, presented me with a lovely card they'd made. The pictures are of the front and inside. Thanks girls, it's going on my office wall.

Term Three is always a big one, and this year is no different.
August 11 - Reading session, Ballarat
Book Week - St Roberts, Newtown, Westbourne Grammar, Armadale Primary, Montmorency Secondary College and Mater Christi College.
August 29 - Sept 3 - Melbourne Writer's Festival, Writers on the Road (Wangaratta, Kyneton, Geelong and Frankston)
September 8 - Timboon P -12
Sept 13 - Mercy Regional College, Camperdown
Sept 20 -21 - Christian College, Geelong.
Plus...the Online Literature Festival.
That should keep me out of mischief for a while!
.

Harry Potter - 'tis done.

Armed with a sleeping bag and sustenance, my daughter went to the midnight screening of Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, Part 2. She is a massive Harry Potter fan, having read the books about 'twenty times each' she thinks, and watched each of the movies about the same number of times. She came home from the film both sad and thrilled. Sad that the story had come to an end, but thrilled with the final film.

So, last night I trundled off to watch it myself, filled with a little trepidation for two reasons. One, I had cried buckets when I read the book (the Snape bit and when Harry is about to enter the Forbidden Forest) - how was I going to cope with the film? And  two, I was worried the film wouldn't live up to all the hype.
I needn't have worried. I loved the film and yes, I cried at the same spots  (I'm being cryptic just in case you've managed to avoid all spoilers).
After the movie, I've reflected on not only the film makers', actors' etc skill, but again at the imagination and talent of JK Rowling. What an amazing story filled with tremendous characters.
Harry Potter and co will stay with us for generations not only in film, but most importantly, in books.
My daughter is going to make her kids read the whole series - before they see the DVDs. Children are a long way off in her grand plan, so I'm going to hold her to that assertion!

Zenyatta Mondatta

I was hanging out in a bookshop, as I do, when my youth came rushing back at me in a burst of sound bites.

• Roxanne - cassette player perched on my knee taping Countdown. 
• Message in A Bottle - Year 10 social - white vest and blue skirt. Dead Ants.
• Walking On the Moon - back in front of Countdown, cassette player held to the TV speaker, scowling if my family threatened to talk, move or breathe. 
• Driven to Tears - drive home from MCG after the 1980 Grand Final. Enough said.
• De Do Do Do, De Da Da Da - detention (writing lines)  for mucking up in Modern History. (Again)
• Spirits In The Material World - late night HSC study. Pine trees outside my window.
• King Of Pain - morning after a College ball.
• Can't Stand Losing - Melbourne Showgrounds. Synchronicity Tour.

Had to have that book! On to the YA section and another barrage of memories.

• Wooden schools desks, brown knee high socks and games on the school steps.
• Mrs Phillip's voice filling the classroom as she read A Wrinkle In Time.
• Metal balcony rails. The teacher's Great Dane padding by.
• Lounging on the courtyard lawn in the sun, baby oil coating our legs.
• Reading in front of the open fire, pausing only to look up at Tommy Hafey or Peter Moore  on World of Sport.
• Marking lambs, wearing Mum's gumboots, while being battered by icy wind. 
• Crying when I finished The Outsiders (How I loved Pony Boy and Soda) again.

Books and music have always been a major part of my life, so I guess it's not surprising that my memories are tightly woven through them.
I wonder what memories Powderfinger, Graffiti Moon and This Is Shyness will evoke in the future.

Tousle Me Gently Dog.

 Milly the Cavoodle pads into the family room. I reach down to pat her.
'Milly feels soft.'
'Hmmm,' agrees husband. 'Soft and tousled.'
Dog snuffles to daughter and leaps onto her lap. 'Milly actually smells good. What did you wash her with?'
Husband/father shrugs and offers a 'durrr' face. 'Shampoo.'
'Thought we were out of dog shampoo,' says daughter.
Husband wiggles eyebrows.
In the shower this morning, I reached for the shampoo. The Tousle Me Gently bottle is empty. Apparently it works on dog's too!

A Break From Editing

I took a break from editing today and visited Inverleigh Primary School. What a gorgeous group of kids. Bright, enthusiastic, funny and a complete delight to work with. We worked on ideas, how to develop an idea into a story and how to make the starts sparkle. Thank you to the staff and students for the opportunity.
As always, there were lots of laughs. I showed the younger students an overseas edition of My Gran's Different and asked them to guess where it was published. One child suggested the country could be South Snot. Close - but no cigar...the answer I was looking for was South Korea.  Made us all laugh though!
Now it's back to editing - we're still playing around with titles. Stayed tuned!

Dalai Llama

Two dear friends and I trundled off on Saturday to listen to His Holiness, the Dalai Lama speak at the Melbourne Convention Centre. It is  his last public speaking tour, making the event even more special.
Apart from his message - love, compassion, and truth - his impassioned speech about the importance of teachers and teaching, not just in schools, but in all areas of life, struck a real chord with me.I've spent the last couple of days, between editing, thinking about people who have shared their skill and knowledge with me and taught me so much. School teachers (Mrs Phillips, Miss Woodburn, Mr Samuel) lecturers (Frank Nolan)  family (Bruce, Court, Papa, Gran, Annie, Jan) and friends (Doobs, Kath, Kaye, KT, Corinne, Mab, AK, Glenn, Greg) So many generous people who have shared so much with me. So much to be grateful for.

Of walks, edits and the Dalai Lama.....

Yesterday was a full but rewarding day - an inspiring and productive editorial meeting and lunch with dear friends. If only I could have squeezed in one more coffee...
Today I'm back at the computer, editing. I love editing - this for me, is is where the story blossoms. But before I put red pen to paper, or fingers to keyboard, I like to let the discussions and new ideas 'compost' as KT calls it.
A long walk, even when it's grey and icy, allows the pieces of our meeting to drift around my head and take shape, so that by the time I sit to edit, my brain is buzzing - in a good way. There's nothing like the combination of activity and gorgeous scenery to inspire. And there is always something new to see.
More inspiration tomorrow. I'm very excited to be going to hear the Dalai Lama speak in Melbourne - more travel, but more time with terrific people. I'm one lucky soul.

When the muse strikes...

Sunday I decided to make yo yo biscuits for my neighbours. Best batter consistency I've made, I swear. These were going to be sensational!

While I was kneading, rolling, and flattening, the muse struck, as it does, and my current work-in-progress called. I slipped the tray into the oven and bolted to the office.
Twenty minutes later, my daughter wandered out of her cave, sniffed, and said, 'What are you cooking?'

 On the up side, a friend who has chooks visited Monday.

School Visits...

The last few days have been hectic, but rewarding with school visits and the Reading Matters conference. To celebrate the fantastic new library at Toorak College, Mt Eliza, I worked with the gorgeous Year 8 girls. We talked about Finding Darcy, which the girls study next term and did writing exercises. What a talented group of writers!
Thank you to the girls and to the wonderful library staff, especially a childhood friend, Sue, who I reconnected with, for your support and for spoiling me.
Today I've been to a much smaller , but just as enjoyable, school - Koroit and District PS where we talked about ideas and how to turn them into stories.
Now I need to finish my last assignment for this semester - more about Reading Matters later.

Autumn and e-books...

I worked as a teacher yesterday, which I always enjoy. While I was on yard duty, a poppet rushed up to me with an injury - well a scratch, but that's an injury to a Prep. Arms waving in the air, she explained she needed a Bandaid, because she'd... She stopped, arms mid-wave, and gasped. For a second I thought I'd underestimated the scratch, but then her face broke into a massive smile. She sighed and spun around, arms out wide. 'Look at all the colours. The leaves are beautiful!'
She was right, the leaves were the most beautiful colours - rust, magenta, olive, yellow and everything in between.
Bandaid applied, she skipped off to collect leaves to show her teacher after play. I took a little more notice of the leaves.I didn't ever find out what caused the scratch!
This chilly weather is perfect for reading. Finding Darcy, After and Dare You are all available at ebooks.com.

Librarians Rule!

This week I had a quick visit to Star of the Sea in Gardenvale for the school's Library Week. What a terrific school! Gorgeous, warm, friendly staff and students and such a wonderful library. A huge thank you to Sabina, Julie and the gang in the library who spoilt me rotten - brownies and scones!

At Star of the Sea, I once again saw the importance of school libraries and librarians first hand. I am in awe of the staff's knowledge, dedication and passion to not only books, but to matching the right books with the right readers.

And yet sadly, more and more schools are phasing out librarians and library classes, leaving a room of books lacking the warmth, knowledge and passion needed to encourage students to not only read, but to LOVE reading.

In my youth I marched to Save The Whales, protest about uranium mining and nuclear weapons, stop the Franklin River from being dammed (and damned) and many other causes. Please tell me I don't need to dust off my overalls (it was the 80s), pin on Save School Librarian badges and march again!

As an aside, an unexpected bonus of my visit was renewing contact two old and dear friends, and then this morning an email from another, as a result of Tuesday. All people who are important to me, but I'd lost contact with. So Tuesday, was a busy day, but a ripper!

Visitors...

Rushed out the door to netball on Saturday morning, bellowing 'Hurry up! We're late.' only to be squawked at, and not by my daughter. I looked up to find these guys hanging over our fence, helping themselves to the neighbour's bounty.
These are just two of the seven cockatoos feasting on the berries.
This morning, on the way out the door, less vocal, but still not sedate, there they were again, totally unfazed by my presence.
Aren't they gorgeous? They're gang gang cockatoos. The males have red heads while the females are all grey, and it would seem more bashful. They stayed on the other side of the bush.