Good afternoon. I am new to the site, and this is my very first post. Yes, having a post feels good! I know I am supported too.

My penname is Alice-Amanda, and I am tall, young and strong, with plenty of energy, and I have a fun sense of humour. Some say I am a bit naughty, but after all why shouldn’t a girl just enjoy life? “Girls just wanna have fun!” as the song goes.

I have been told I am good-looking, but I probably shouldn’t say that, so please just read on. I would love a review or two! I live with an older couple, and they say I bring cheer into their lives. They would be pleased to know I am trying to bring happiness to others with my story. It's about their garden.

They made a decision to get a rainwater tank. They were experiencing a drought in Australia, which, after all, is not uncommon. With a tank, they would not be subject to water restrictions, and could look after their garden by using a hose attached to the water tank. So, they got a rainwater tank.

Next thing - the lady wanted a screen to hide the water tank from public view. She chose one with horizontal slats. She said that if it had vertical slats it might look like the bars of a jail cell. So they got a metal screen with horizontal slats.

The other thing she wanted to hide was the hose, so she carefully coiled it up, and hung it on the back of the screen, out of view, and out of reach of the lawn mower. She was very pleased with how neat and tidy everything looked.

Never satisfied.... Next, she wanted to hide the metal screen!

That’s where I entered the scene. I came to live with them. I was chosen because of my above qualities (except for the “naughty” bit).

Oh really? You seriously thought I was a young woman? Of course not. I am a vine with beautiful golden flowers. I do like posts, as I need to feel supported. The plan was for me to cover the screen, and hide it, so it could, in its turn, hide the water tank, and also hide the hose. My name is Allamanda. You probably guessed from my penname. 

But … the drought broke, and the rain fell, and continued falling for quite some time. Ironic, isn’t it? So they didn’t need to hose the garden from the water tank, after all.

Now I would have preferred vertical posts – much more suited to my climbing habits. With the horizontal slats, I somehow got stuck on the other side and couldn’t twist myself enough to come back to the front. I’m not a gymnast, after all. If it wasn’t raining so frequently, the lady may have noticed my struggles and come out to help me. She didn’t.

So, I just did what I could.

Finally the rain stopped, the sun came out, and dried out the gardens. She needed to use the hose, and the rainwater tank was full. 

After a quick check for spiders, she went to unwind the hose – and stopped in horror. It was totally taken over – by me. I had wound myself around and around the hose. She could not get it off its hanging hook, nor could she unwind it.

I said I was strong and vigorous, didn’t I? And with all the rain, I had grown quickly and well. The hose was well and truly stuck with my tendrils winding in and out of its loops.

Unfortunately, I had to pay the price. She chopped away until she could free the hose. I almost died with the pain. For a while it was touch and go, whether I would survive her savage attack. I was in distress, sulking, and totally withdrew. No more flowers for such a brutal person. She hung the hose on the other side of the water tank, out of my reach.

After a few months, spring arrived, and my youthful energy returned. I have a strong will, and I am nice - so I decided to give her another chance. This time she helped me a little, winding my tendrils to the front - so I rewarded her with flowers, which she loves.

Recently there have been more rains – floods in fact. I love hot weather, and I love rain - so I have shot up again. I won’t be beaten by pruning shears!

Now she says I am overdoing it, because I am heading for the roof, and not covering the screen properly. Says she’ll have to chop me back again. I just laugh. We both know she’s no good on a ladder!

I think I’ll spread out up there on the roof – and have first access to sun and rain. I’ll bloom to my heart’s content.

She’ll have the only house in the street – or maybe the whole world – covered with Golden Allamanda flowers!