Deirdre
@dstraughan.bsky.social
Survived 40 years in tech, having opinions online even longer. Born in New Orleans, I've lived in Thailand, Bangladesh, India, 17 years in Italy. I now mostly post about living and gardening in Australia. She. Lots about me on my website beginningwithi.com
I returned to my garden this week to find the butternut vine aspiring to world domination #gardening
December 19, 2025 at 12:22 PM
I returned to my garden this week to find the butternut vine aspiring to world domination #gardening
Anti-slide stair railing. Or maybe wildly stimulating, depending on your thrills.
December 15, 2025 at 2:16 AM
Anti-slide stair railing. Or maybe wildly stimulating, depending on your thrills.
There are many fancy cars on the streets of Ginza, but for me this vintage Mercedes is the winner. The Porsche gets points for being an unusual color.
December 15, 2025 at 1:26 AM
There are many fancy cars on the streets of Ginza, but for me this vintage Mercedes is the winner. The Porsche gets points for being an unusual color.
In Japan, you can make scale model Americans.
December 15, 2025 at 12:53 AM
In Japan, you can make scale model Americans.
UNIQLO will be missing an opportunity if they don’t sell this shirt in Australia
December 13, 2025 at 2:21 AM
UNIQLO will be missing an opportunity if they don’t sell this shirt in Australia
This kind of scene fully brings home the fact that the population of greater #tokyo (37 million) is larger than all of Australia (27 million). I took this from the steps of Senso-ji temple.
December 13, 2025 at 2:02 AM
This kind of scene fully brings home the fact that the population of greater #tokyo (37 million) is larger than all of Australia (27 million). I took this from the steps of Senso-ji temple.
Not sure if this is the company office, but Niimi makes coffee cups, and other dishware. This building is in the Kappabashi kitchen and restaurant supply District. #tokyo
December 13, 2025 at 1:47 AM
Not sure if this is the company office, but Niimi makes coffee cups, and other dishware. This building is in the Kappabashi kitchen and restaurant supply District. #tokyo
Parent and child magpie song - the kid is still pretty screechy #australianbirds
December 7, 2025 at 8:43 PM
Parent and child magpie song - the kid is still pretty screechy #australianbirds
I am very confused by this shop window display at Aesop
December 6, 2025 at 9:19 AM
I am very confused by this shop window display at Aesop
First time I’ve seen this in my garden (or anywhere else) - a fiddler beetle. Photo failed to capture the iridescence of the green markings. #australia #beetles
December 6, 2025 at 1:12 AM
First time I’ve seen this in my garden (or anywhere else) - a fiddler beetle. Photo failed to capture the iridescence of the green markings. #australia #beetles
If you squint, you can make out a teen with a surfboard standing at the curb. Yes, you can do surfing as a school sport hereabouts #australia
November 27, 2025 at 2:15 AM
If you squint, you can make out a teen with a surfboard standing at the curb. Yes, you can do surfing as a school sport hereabouts #australia
Best possible birthday present arrived 2 days early
November 26, 2025 at 3:01 AM
Best possible birthday present arrived 2 days early
I cannot disagree that the most wonderful time of the year involves mangoes. #australia
November 25, 2025 at 1:15 AM
I cannot disagree that the most wonderful time of the year involves mangoes. #australia
I have long admired our neighbor’s cymbidium orchids, here photographed in Sept through our shared chain link fence. She has now had to go into care, and I have inherited six large pots of these! Long overdue for splitting and re-potting, I’ll end up with many to give away.
November 23, 2025 at 3:14 AM
I have long admired our neighbor’s cymbidium orchids, here photographed in Sept through our shared chain link fence. She has now had to go into care, and I have inherited six large pots of these! Long overdue for splitting and re-potting, I’ll end up with many to give away.
Flowering gum is doin’ its thing #GardeningAustralia #bloomscrolling
November 23, 2025 at 1:48 AM
Flowering gum is doin’ its thing #GardeningAustralia #bloomscrolling
I’m told the owner of the dental practice I go to loves safaris. But he also loves… puffins. So, yes, those are puffins, wildly out of place in Ngorongoro Crater!
November 20, 2025 at 6:18 AM
I’m told the owner of the dental practice I go to loves safaris. But he also loves… puffins. So, yes, those are puffins, wildly out of place in Ngorongoro Crater!
There they go… #AustralianWildlife #Bats
November 17, 2025 at 9:15 AM
There they go… #AustralianWildlife #Bats
But trouble was waiting in the wings: lorikeets are small but fearless. He
tried to look casual, but as soon as my back was turned he drove off the King parrot to get to the seeds. I think all the birds sense bad weather coming and want to feed up while they can.
tried to look casual, but as soon as my back was turned he drove off the King parrot to get to the seeds. I think all the birds sense bad weather coming and want to feed up while they can.
November 15, 2025 at 12:21 AM
But trouble was waiting in the wings: lorikeets are small but fearless. He
tried to look casual, but as soon as my back was turned he drove off the King parrot to get to the seeds. I think all the birds sense bad weather coming and want to feed up while they can.
tried to look casual, but as soon as my back was turned he drove off the King parrot to get to the seeds. I think all the birds sense bad weather coming and want to feed up while they can.
Later the male came back and peeped for me again while I was eating breakfast.
He was willing to eat from my hand, then actually walked over my hand to get further down the rail and fly to where the tray of seed was sitting on the table.
He was willing to eat from my hand, then actually walked over my hand to get further down the rail and fly to where the tray of seed was sitting on the table.
November 15, 2025 at 12:19 AM
Later the male came back and peeped for me again while I was eating breakfast.
He was willing to eat from my hand, then actually walked over my hand to get further down the rail and fly to where the tray of seed was sitting on the table.
He was willing to eat from my hand, then actually walked over my hand to get further down the rail and fly to where the tray of seed was sitting on the table.
I solved that by giving him his own tray of seeds, but eventually he joined her eating from the same tray.
November 15, 2025 at 12:18 AM
I solved that by giving him his own tray of seeds, but eventually he joined her eating from the same tray.
I was in the back garden and heard a characteristic peep-peep. My friend the king parrot was back. I can’t ignore that summons, went up to the deck to feed him. He was soon joined by his wife. #australianbirds #australia
November 15, 2025 at 12:17 AM
I was in the back garden and heard a characteristic peep-peep. My friend the king parrot was back. I can’t ignore that summons, went up to the deck to feed him. He was soon joined by his wife. #australianbirds #australia
I am thrilled to report that I’m now an Australian citizen!
November 13, 2025 at 10:55 AM
I am thrilled to report that I’m now an Australian citizen!