Friday 29th July 1811

Dear Diary,
I am in Queensland!
We have arrived at Willow's family homestead here in Acacia Ridge.
What a wild and untamed place this is. On our journey Willow has regaled me with tales of the deadly flora and fauna to expect in these parts. Indeed there are even trees which can sting and cause great discomfort never mind the vast variety of deadly spiders and serpents. Oh heavens! Where have I agreed to come?
Not only that I find that it is winter here! I have relinquished a summer for a winter! Granted the weather thus far has been most agreeable and nought like the winters one expects in the Nethers but it is winter nevertheless.
Whilst sat upon the verandah playing canasta with Willow's mater in the afternoon sunshine a large creature bounded past. I took it to be an excessively large ill-formed rabbit but Willow informed me it was a 'roo'. 
'A roo! How lovely!' I exclaimed until I was told that one had molested an old lady quite recently in the region. 
Tomorrow we are to the market if I can muster up the courage to venture from the safety of our lodgings.