A Good Day's Night

Have nearly been up for 24 hours!!! Got up at 4.20am to get last girls ready for us to take to the airport. The boys arrived up at 5am and 10 mins later we were off with the workmate at the wheel of the bus. For a moment I thought I was back home (but I never clicked my heels Dorothy!! and this certainly is not Texas LOL). It was a pea-soup FOG!!!!! Not good when you go for over 1/2 hour on dirt road or tarseal without any WHITE PAINT MARKINGS!!!! One depends on red glow in the dark bits and white glow in the dark bits on the few and far between markers on the side of the road to find one's way (the markers are only on bends and awkward bits of the road!!!) At least when we reached the main road, there was the odd road train with lights and white markings all the way then almost peak hour traffic as we neared Geraldton with their lights on(about 10 vehicles LOL). We made it to the airport with HEAPS of time to spare (7am) as the flights did not leave until 8.45am. The kids were so excited to be going as none of them got home at half term. We got lots of hugs and then they were on their way.

We decided a stop at Maccas was the next priority once we had seen all of the kids board the plane. That done, a quick trip to the Post Office and then after an even quicker look at a local clothes shop, the workmate and I headed to the Woolworths Mall. I needed to get night attire for camping and so bought some track pants and some pjs, plus two polar fleece jumpers as they were on super special at $10 each. Then came the groceries... three trolleys fulled to the brim later... - well we are feeding 7 people for nearly two weeks,- the workmate fetched the bus from Maccas carpark, pulled up outside the mall and about 15 mins after that, we had everything stashed on the bus ready to head out of town to the camping shop. Tried a place called BCF (I think - boating, camping and fishing?) and bought a blow up mattress and a nuclear fall out orange coloured rain jacket (so I can be spotted in the bush should I lose my voice and not be able to be heard LOL)and a short sleeve shirt that was on special. I looked at a therma-rest thingie - 1/2" sponge type stuff between me and the ground ....hmmmmm. Hence the blow up air mattress (double for maximum comfort as a single would have meant lying in a coffin positon every night to fit LOL.

We quickly went to Rangers again after that as their thermal under gear was cheaper and bought another set. We got asked where we were going and when told, the woman behind the counter said, I wonder if you will hear DINGO's during the night? After my eyebrows had shot up to my scalp in puzzlement at the word DINGO - I was told that yes I would here them but they would be more scared of me than the other way around - oh yeah!!! The only positive thing is the children we are taking with us are all beyond babyhood heh, heh. (The Aussies are still a little defensive and sensative about their baby taking, dingo, beasts). The salesperson and the workmate then hastened to tell me I was not likely to see one, just hear them from afar. Watch this space.

After Rangers, it was back to town as we had to go to Target on the way home. Found some Ben 10 shorty pjs for the grandson and will put them away for his birthday. We finally got out of Gton at 4pm and drove home through pouring rain with a spectacular burst of lightening happening half way home. This place is becoming more and more like the Waikato as winter cracks on!!!. It is quite exciting to see how high the wheat has grown in just over a week. The paddocks are looking lush and the growth is about 6'' plus in places. There is also a large area on the way back covered in yellow flowers - no not gorse, but canola. It is grown as a crop here and has an unusual smell which I am told becomes quite unpleasant at harvest time. It is interesting to see what ends up as oil or margerine, growing as a crop here.

It was a marathon unpacking the bus, and thanks to the foresight of the workmate, most of what we bought is already packed in plastic containers (large storage type) ready for camping. We then had about an hour to get ready for the staff do tonight which consisted of a pot luck dinner. My contribution was two platters of nibbles and 2 and a bit ltrs of mulled wine. We had a great array of food and the last person went home at 2.30am. One of the staff bought up his guitar and amp and after a suitable time of grazing and general chatter, he kicked off with some songs. When they had dried up, the keen and hearty took over the Play Station from the kids (who had left by then) and Sing Star (Kareoke competitions) took over with lots of laughs as it is not as easy as it seems. Modestly I report, I rocked again on the Legends disc!! was passable on the Party disc and we didnt even go there with the Pop disc as I barely recognise anyone singing the songs on that one. Got to Superstar level doing Black Sabbath, Paranoid, and the Monkees - "I'm a believer" LOL I will skip lightly over the fact that I have several years on most of the other participants.

Have locked the place down, am wide awake but am going to head to bed, it will be 4am by the time I hit the pillow . Should have a good nights sleep. Am staying up at school tonight because the staff do was up in girl's boarding so it's easier than trekking back in the dark and cold to my abode. Will finish tidying up after the girls tomorrow so we can come back from holiday with everything straight. It's 3.30am and all's well.