Season of mists & mellow fruitfulness

Fruitfulness, yes, mists, no. Yes, it's autumn and the fruit trees, especially the figs, are in full fruition. We've given bags of them away to friends and neighbours and there are still plenty left for the birds and possums and fruit bats. Messy fruit, figs, as they go squashy in no time and one needs to take care walking out in the garden so as not to step in them and traipse sticky gunk into the house.

We have jars of fig jam a friend made from our figs, which according to the Greeks in our neighbourhood, are the best and sweetest variety. Hence their popularity with all living things, except cats of course who don't care for them at all.

And just for Clare at Keeper of the Snails, here's a photo of pomegranates on the tree. There's not so many of them this year, or at least not on our side of the fence.

Though officially it's autumn, you wouldn't know it from the weather which has suddenly become hot again after a very mild February, so there are no mists, just a summery haze.

Update on the races

Saturday's race meeting at Flemington was up to expectation with a very interesting series of races. Weekend Hussler won again as did Light Fantastic, the two star three-year-olds proving they really are something special. It will be intriguing in the spring to see them compete against each other in the Cox Plate which apparently they are both going to be set for.

Weekend Hussler	Light Fantastic

I got a good look at them both on Saturday on the screen. The Hussler is a very impressive looking young horse, big and powerful with a wide chest expanse that reminded me of another star performer from the past, Might and Power who had a similarly powerful frame. Light Fantastic is a striking dark grey horse with a white mane and tail. The photos above are by Bronwyn Healey who surely has to be the best photographer of race horses working these days. I hope she doesn't mind me using a few of her small photos on my blog.

Miss Finland failed to get a place in the Australian Cup, so has now been retired. She was a wonderful race filly and mare in her early days and those of us who have been following her career are sad to see her go and disappointed that she couldn't go out with a win. But that's racing for you.

The Australian Cup was won by Sirmione who stole the show in a most impressive fashion by sprinting to the lead in the straight and putting too many lengths on the rest of the field. Princess Coup stormed down the inside to grab second place.