At home on the ocean wave/

Survived the night - just! When I first lay down on the blue wafer like under thingie, I thought I had made a mistake and was lying on the earth with nothing between it and me. Wrong. This is the luxury thickness too as there is a grey wafer type thing you can buy that is thinner and called the earth blanket or some similar name. I woke up at 4am to find that some how I had twisted completely around in my sleeping bag and half the blue comfort thingie was twisted on top of me. Also realised that what I thought was the sound of rain (to go with the gale force wind sounds) was actually the tide LOL - have spent too long now away from the sound of the sea though I was only semi-conscious when the thought of rain was in my head. I meant to have an early start this morning so set the phone alarm, only to find out when I woke for the fourth time to check the time, that in fact the alarm hadn't gone off and was in fact set for tomorrow!!! Needless to say, breakfast was minimal and quick and we broke most speed limits to Monkey Mia to arrive in time for the dolpin feeding.

We stayed for the second session too and got to see the dolphin I had fed the last time I was here, with her new calf. We were extremely lucky as both the boys got to feed a dolphin during the morning which was amazing odds given the amount of people at each session. As we couldn't get the morning trip out on the catamaran we booked for an afternoon trip and came back to camp for a cook up for lunch, checking out a lagoon we spotted from the road on the way back to Monkey Mia.

The trip out on the catamaran was brilliant. We got to see over 8 sightings of dugong and got to see two of them with their heads out of water, albeit a fleeting quick look. We reckon we either saw over 12 dugong or it was three or four racing from spot to spot to be seen. The extreme bonus was also seeing two turtles swimming in the tide plus a sea snake. Tim and boys were delighted and can not get over the amount of wild life they have seen in such a short space of time over here.

We were out on the tide a good three hours this afternoon and the guys sailing the boat were great in that everytime a beastie was sighted they would head for it for those on board to see. We went to the Pearl farm too, a different bloke doing the talk this time but just as entertaining.

Got back here at 5pm and had an earlyish dinner (while it was still light). We are off to Kalbarri tomorrow via Eagle bluff in the hope we might see some eagles!!!! Am about to go and have a shower to soften the kinks from last night and am hoping the one or three glasses of wine I have had tonight (camping is such hard work, LOL)will mean I will have a less torturous night's sleep.

OMG, the marvels of modern science Mk2. I am typing this sitting at the camp table outside our tents in Denham. Its blowing a bit but weather wise has been a very hot day. Started from Tardun at 8.10am and got all the way here with not getting lost once!!!!!. Such is having a good map book, Tim learning how to navigate for my style of driving (he said) and drawing the route up last night, LOL.

We had lots of stops. Two for lizards and flowers - all the lads now spotting flowers I may not have a photo of and tickled pink when they do find one for me,LOL. We stopped at the Billabong road house (not a swagman in sight, LOL)for petrol and lunch - a camping lunch no less - fresh bread and luncheon sausage (they call it polonie here), plus ham. A good amount of sour snakes and ordinary jelly snakes were consumed on the trip to keep our energy levels up too, heh, heh.

Got to Hamelin pool the only time I nearly got lost was when I got out of the car and was heading towards a paddock instead of the beach, LOL, but once I was on the right track, it was all good. Walked up to the pools only to find the tide was out this time but it was still OK with enough to see. The lads actually knew about this place from reading Bill Bryson's book about Downunder!!!!

Called into Shell Beach next and it was funnily enough nothing but tiny, tiny shells for ever. There is a vermin fence running alongside the beach as they are trying to make it pest free to reintrouduce native beasts again. They have nearly purged the place of foxes and rabbits according to the blurb.

We finally made it to Denham, bought some sausages and hamburger patties and after the tents were up (forgot a hammer or thwacking tool to beat the tent pegs in but a juidicious placement of luggage has sorted that out) I began dinner. We had barbecued above with boiled spuds and carrots, fried onions and a can of mushrooms for gravy, followed by pancakes with maple syrup and lemon/sugar. I was more than happy to do the cooking and the boys did all the cleaning up while I started on this.

Later: For some reason, I could not get this to post but have just talked on skype to the WM so will try again. It's now 10.10 and the lad's tents are quiet. Do not know what anyone would think, walking past, hearing a talking tent, only one conversation and lots of laughter!!!

We now have to new words to the NZ/Eng/Aust experience. Tim was having lots of trouble getting pink galahs mixed with cockatoos so we now have "pinkatoos" replacing the ordinary pink galah name. The other is the new description of any beast not breathing, expired, a past beast etc etc. We saw a rather large demised kangaroo followed by a squashed lizard. I remarked that it was a flat lizard to which Tim replied, it was only basking. So all demised beasts lying on the side, in the middle of the road or near environs is said to be basking!!! You may have had to have been there, LOL.

Am typing this courtesy of an extension cord of industrial proportions as when I arrived at the camp, the power point to the tent site was some distance away and my small extension lead, would not reach. The office people were very good and offered me the use of it before I needed to go fully into thin lipped mode.

Am having a go at real camping tonight and instead of lugging the air mattress with me this time, am sleeping on something only marginly thicker than a wafer, straight onto the floor of the tent. I may wake up black and blue in the morning - that is if I am able to sleep in the first place. Must remember to take the fish pills so hopefully all moving parts will be moving in the morning. Watch this space. I was going to bring a sort of mattress with me but it wouldn't fit into the ute without leaving my passengers behind, LOL.

Am off to Monkey Mia in the morning so had better try and get some zzz.

Kay: Hope you get to enjoy the hols this time. A bath sounds like bliss - one of the things I miss.

Viv: Good luck with the assignments. Tell your Ma, I have a photo of a freesia, spotted at the Perth zoo. Am lucky not to have caught pneumonia looking at animals in the pouring rain - such is the thing you do for visitors LOL.

J&J: Thanks for the heads up re Freemantle jail. I believe we are going to try and find in on Thursday, LOL. Again one of the things the boys had read about. Hope you have a good break over the hols too.

I've Been Everywhere Man!

Lynz adventures in Perth continued. I did not set out once without getting lost, but
am happy to report I have seen most of Perth CBD and environs. Most interesting place I had no idea about was the 'Horseshoe Bridge' which I found when trying to get out of the CBD Thurs morning to pick up the lads on the Gt Eastern Highway!

Woke up in the early hours Thurs to the sound of precipitation in ark building proportions. I tried a few words upstairs, thought 'rain before 7 fine before 11" but no such luck. I started out 3/4 hour early to pick the lads up and got there on time due to the circuitous route I took,(that was the Horseshoe Bridge moment) LOL. We had planned a visit to the zoo which meant heading back into town, only got lost once and took 3 drive bys to get into the zoo carpark. Thinking positively that it would stop raining, I thought my nuclear meltdown orange rain jacket would suffice. Wrong on both counts. After 2 hours of walking round a portion of the zoo trying to see animals that had more sense than to be out in such weather, I gave up, got some dry clothes, changed and waited until the lads had seen their fill. I figured I will go again, in the fine weather. Highlights of the bit I did see would have been the lions and the galapagos turtles which are huge. Perth Zoo looks a very well thought out zoo and I think it will be well worth going back.

We set off back to Tardun, got lost once when I turned onto the Tonkin Highway instead of going through Midland. Got onto the Reid Highway and apart from one more very small wrong turn was pretty much on target for the next 5 hours of driving (in the rain, just in case you thought it may have slackened). Tim was fine with the wrong turns because it meant he got to see a good amount of Perth but I have bought a VERY good map book this morning for our trek north tomorrow. Everyone was blown away with how much wheat they saw growing (did have to mention that they were in the wheat belt of Oz, LOL)

Arrived back at school in time for the end of term, staff, shared dinner (I had made a bacon and egg pie and apple pie at 10.30pm the night before I left for Perth for the occassion). A good time was had by all, the last of us heading to bed, feeling no pain, at 4am. I managed to get 3 hours sleep before one of the boys woke up, and thus started a brand new day!!!

Fortunately it was reasonably fine so after visiting the horses, tidying, and having lunch, we jumped in the ute again and went sight seeing round the farm. First stop was the 'Old Camp', where the school began in tents. Got out and had a good walk around. The wild flowers were still out and were pretty fine. Great excitement as the lads were finding emu and kangaroo tracks, when a large,red kangaroo leapt out of the bushes just up the track from us. It was too quick and unexpected for a photo but did get one or two of some budgies I found. As I drove through a wheat field (along the fenceline) there was an application of the brakes when I spotted a lizard crossing the track. This was a blue tongue lizard but a different variety to what I had seen up to date. It tried to hide in a clump of cape weed flowers and would not budge. After some photos continued and the next cry was 'emu' as three emus shot through to one side of us. I did a bit of four wheel, cross country driving but they were moving apace and so lost them. The lads were beyond happy with all the wildlife they had seen in such a short space of time and felt very much they were getting more of the aussi experience than they hoped for. We stopped at the cemetary and then when I finally was able to get out of the wheat field, I had lost my bearings momentarily but managed to find a dam on the way back to the air strip (and I use the term loosley) to show the lads a wreath flower (they are by now wild flower converts, LOL). This time, two small grey kangaroos bounded out of the scrub - more excitement only to be topped by finding a donkey orchid (Tim spotted it while I was photograhing flowers above it, LOL) Our cup truely overfloweth by the end of the drive.

Had dinner with the WM's family last night followed by a game of balderdash - a crazy game where you are given a word that is marginally harder to crack than the code on the rossetta stone. Everyone writes a meaning for the word down which then gets read out with the real meaning amongst the guesses and you have to guess which meaning is right. The scoring is for guessing right and if someone else guesses your meaning by mistake. Took some time for the game to come to its conclusion and some of the kids fell by the wayside, but there was lots of laughs throughout. Had a realatively early night - back here by 11.30pm.

Am in the library at the moment as we are all here (WM family) with the big TV on the GRAND FINAL between Geelong and Hawthorn. The WM's family are ardent Geelong supporters but it is a bit quiet with the score being 51 - 47 to Hawthorn. Ooops, a Geelong player is just being escorted off the field!!

Have been to Morewa and back this morning for supplies for the trip. Hope to leave early as it is a 5 - 6 hour drive (depending on how easy my directions are, LOL)
Will start packing and sorting after the Grand Final. Saw a fox running off into the scrub on the way back - it just keeps getting better and better and am feeling very "Crikey" with the amount of wildlife we have now seen, LOL.

Special news flash - this is being sent to you via BROADBAND as I took the plunge and got the gizmo I needed last week. I can now use MSN again and downloaded skype. I was able to talk to Phil Mc F in London (a mate from Waiuku for those playing at home)ons kype, with the cameras on while I was talking to him. Talk about the "Jetson's" as far as the technology goes - I cannot get my head around it but it is fantastico (now quoting Dora the Explorer, LOL). So, any of you out there in cyberspace who are on skype, I think you put me in as Lynn.Bidwell - You also need to be aware that NZ is four hours ahead, or possibly 5 hours now if daylight saving started this weekend. One of the things I love about WA is that they are totally against daylight saving so I don't think they have it this year. Will update you about that, but it was a serious election issue, up there with rules about fishing!!!!

Must be half time as everyone is talking and eating so will sign off for now and watch the last half (or maybe see who is out there is skype land, LOL) Will probably take this with me on tour. Have to take the ute as the mini bus died last week as it was dropping kids off for the holidays. Some problem with overheating I think. The lads are more than happy with ute travel - real country experience LOL and so its all good. Having roast dinner (pork and chook) at the WM's again tonight. May go out for a ramble in the bus this afternoon, will depend on happy or depressed everyone is at end score. Score 51/48 to Hawthorn at half time!!!!

Perth - more by good luck than management LOL

This will need to be quick - 15 mins for $2 and it took mins to download!!! Well, I made it to Perth no problem albeit there is a bit of new tire on the road, on the way to Morawa when I had to brake to miss two kangaroos. Got to Perth outskirts, then the fun began - ended up in Midland going round in circles for about 20mins, then finally got on the Gt Eastern Highway, found the hotel Tim and the boys were staying - only to find there was no reception until midday so had to cool my heels for half an hour as had no way of letting them know I was there!!! It gets better. I picked them up, all good and we made our way into the city, via somewhere else because I was in the wrong lane and couldn't get off at the proper one, then found most of the city is on one way roads. Spent another hour trying to find my hotel... not for the faint hearted I can tell you. Lads most impressed with the farm ute, red dust and all - talk about Granny Clampett in the big smoke!!! Give me the out back anyday. I travelled over 100k this morning and only passed two cars - bliss. However, do have to say, city traffic in Perth is not as bad as Akland. All motorway traffic coming into the city is at 60k so quite a civilised pace.

There is a carpark right next to my hotel, and even though it costs an arm and a leg for parking, my frayed nerves were ready for a break. Did drive past the WACA on the way in (more than once LOL) where the lads collectively genuflected at the hallowed ground. We found a cafe for lunch (2pm)across the road from my hotel and then did a walk around town. This has to be mall city - we kept finding mall after mall, one was a really interesting mock English tudor alleyway with all sorts of interesting little shops. I hope you are all impressed that I bought nothing!!!!!! Did try on a dryasabone but too heavy for the weather we now have. My time is running out so will have to sign off quickly. Will update again Friday. Going to the zoo tomorrow and then back to Tardun. Got to drive round Kings Park this afternoon and hope to get back there too tomorrow. Only got lost once on the way back tonight from dropping the lads back so am most impressed with myself. Am off for a hot shower and read of my book. I HAVE SURVIVED - maybe I will tackle Wellington driving yet LOL. Heaps more to say but am signing off to get his posted.

I'm Still Standing!!

Well, maybe a slight lean LOL. Where to start... I have survived another interesting week, more by good luck than management. My personal favourites, girls throwing up, girls unwell with the flu, girls unwell having to play in the grand final at netball (which they won,) girls trying to sneak out (three hours sleep that night, possibly my favourite, favourite - said through grmmaced teeth!), girls falling out with other girls, reports to write and the expectation of a piece in the news letter. Was pretty feral by the time the news letter was mentioned and got all sorted except the piece for that. If I hadn't the strength to write a new post, I certainly was not going to stretch the few neurons that were trying to bounce off synapses in my brain with a %#** news letter. (There, that felt better already, LOL)

My single best achievement of the week was to whittle the amount of girls staying in at the weekend to 11, with possibly only four extra returning from the weekend. My 'you're feeling unwell, have taken panadol for three days already and still not well, maybe going home early would do the trick" seemed to work a treat - certainly worked for me. The other bestest thing to happen was using broadband on the WM's computer and getting to "chat" to Mum and sister Kay on Thursday night. One of the day staff offered to spend the night with the girls and the next morning so I could have some time off so after cleaning up the place for her to stay, writing up lists of everything to do, writing reports, I collapsed at the WM's place, was given dinner and a play on the computer. I am now seriously going to follow up and get a do-hickey like they have which should give me broadband, MSN and Skype!!!! Had a complete rush of blood to the head as it works of the 3G system that the mobile phones work on out here, and I can get reception from my place and at work - be still my beating heart. And as Kay's comment confirmed - the new computer has a camera and so can video me from this end as I MSN or Skype for those who have MSN at the same speed or whatever computer speak that you need! May require a new wardrobe/ hair and makeup, LOL so as to look my best - yeah right!

The WM valiantly arrived at work yesterday, refusing to take anymore time off and banished me for the day and night,not to return until this evening. By the time I had tried to book accommodation for my upcoming trip over the holidays, losing both colour and strands of hair with the stress of online booking, it was nearly 2.20pm. I had arranged to go for a ride and so after spending nearly 1/2 hour catching the recalcitrant beast - saddling up and getting on, it was after 3pm. Had to walk nearly 1/2 mile across two paddocks to where the mob were and then it took another paddock's worth of walking to finally catch her. I say paddocks but a lot of the grass (that looks like a type of rye) has been eaten down and the red, sandy soil is becoming more prevalent. The grass was sown in furrows, so the ground is uneven to walk on, and quite interesting when the grass is nearly thigh high, where it hasn't been eaten down. I was on the look out for snakes as they are about again with the warmer weather. The WM's husband ran one over in the car last week!

Had a great ride down to Ducky's Dam. It has dried up a lot since the last time I was there. We then did a 4W drive kind of ride, through scrub,so pushing through bushes and scrubby trees, ducking and diving so as not to get brushed off the horse, up rises and down rises, with swarms and swarms of those friendly flies again was fun. (Was speaking to the WMH last week when the next moment it was hoick,hurgh,hoick and spit on the ground in front of him. When he commented saying it was hardly ladylike behaviour, I replied I had nearly just swallowed a floppin fly (again - now up to 3)!!! It was the closest yet, as it got right to the back of my throat, eeuwww!!!!!. Had several cowgirl moments on the way back from our bush ride as Misty decided she wanted to go one way when I wanted to go another, so she reared four times, one lot, three in a row. Needless to say, we went the way I wanted and then some, just so she knew who was boss, LOL. Although it wasn't a three hour ride, I think the fish oil tabs might be working as didn't feel any pain in my joints - yay.

At this stage I am off to Perth on Wednesday morning to pick up Tim and his boys (from Boys High in Hn) as they are coming to stay for the first week of the hols. Am taking them up to Monkey Mia and Kalbarri as well as bringing them out here for the outback experience, LOL. Hopefully I should be on broadband by then and will no longer have to haunt internet cafes etc whilst on the trip.

Thank you to all those who left comments. Hope you have all had a good weekend. It's windy today, so am about to walk home and watch another disc of 'Outrageous Fortune' series 3. My comp was taking too long to get the info I wanted up on screen - rock on broadband again LOL. Catch you later.

I'm baaack! and wait, there's more!

A big sorry to all those who have been hanging out for news (OK, maybe just Mum, LOL). This is not a winge but .....

Thursday night I was a touch ferral as I had been looking forward to roast lamb at the WM's place, a glass or two of red wine and was just about to whip up a pav to go with the three chips of strawberries and cream that I had bought earlier in the day, when I had to go to work instead (mentioned in previous post). I had also been planning a good nights sleep to make two in a row, you know, that simple pleasure you get to have on your DAYS OFF. I am sure you are getting the picture. During roll call, I warned the girls that tonight was not the night they would be wanting to put a foot wrong, as I would be on all weekend and would not be likely to let go on any transgressions, as the milk of human kindness that night was down to a thin trickle of whey (sour at that, LOL)Whilst I was in full flight so to speak, there was a crackle, fizzst, spit and pop beside me with a particularly maloderous smell issuing forth from the TV!!! (This as Home and Away was on - sound turned down for roll call - and just before 'Make me a Supermodel' - quelle horreur and shriek. One of the girls switched the TV off at the wall, and once I was reasonably sure it wasn't going to burst into flame, myself and two other girls lugged the beast out onto the concrete verandah rather than the wooden floor at the entrance of the building, (just in case it did burst into flames during the night). We had a spare TV in storage so lugged that down the verandah and after some juidicious twiddling of knobs the girls managed to get it tuned just in time for the model show. Phew, priorities and all that.

Friday I got back to my place for about three hours, two of which I was asleep - woke up at 3pm by which time I should have been on my way back and slowly gathered myself together. Still not well pleased. That night we had Bishop Justin out for a visit and he took Mass. I met him at dinner and he seems a very nice person (good firm handshake!). I enjoyed the service which he took, but had to laugh when even he mentioned footy during his homily - though the WA teams are no longer in contention for whatever they are playing for!!!). The service reminded me of being at boarding school myself, I would go in full of fanging about whatever, and whatever the sermon or word of the day was about, it often spoke directly to what I was thinking/feeling!!! Hence by the time the service finished I took a deep breath and went upstairs with the milk of human kindess up to full bodied milk again. I let the girls sleep in the lounge and have supper (masses of cooked noodles = mess everywhere usually, but they intuitively knew this was the night to clean up spotlessly, which they did without prompting, LOL)

Still feeling an amount of goodwill the next day, (and because I was tired myself) I 'allowed' a sleep in until 10am - I know, my goodness knew no bounds!!! We had a leisurely breakfast and I then decided, what the heck, why not have a lazy day all told, so let the girls go back to the lounge, watch TV and we did not duties or rooms - their cup runneth (ing) over. After lunch, I opened the library to put a DVD on for the juniors, the spare TV not able to play them and then an easy night ensued, most asleep early after such a strenuous day. Only blot was that the server was still down so no access to the internet. Also got news re the WM - the WMH had taken her to hospital to see a Dr and she had spent three hours on a drip, came back with anti-biotics and was ill with a sinus infection.

Sunday I went mad and allowed another sleep in, this time until 9am as we were to have a clean up day, duties etc. It started well and then ..... I was in the midst of a whole house uniform check, room/wardrobe check, duty check when one of the girls came to tell me another one was in the loo throwing up and crying. Dropped everything and got said girl to her room, cold compress on forehead and tried to get some fluids into her as she was feverish and looked as though she had the flu well and truely. By then it was lunchtime, so got everyone else downstairs, only to see Niagra Falls coming down from the verandah upstairs onto the path below as I got down there. Went from 0 - 100k thinking 'the little witches have turned on the fire hose (back to whey) but when I got upstairs, there was water, pouring out of a water pipe next to the hot water heater. Got one of the Brs over to deal with that (who told me we had won the Bledisloe Cup and the Tri Nations - YAY!!!), meanwhile tried to get panadol etc into sick girl who couldn't swallow anything and had a temp of 39o by then. Rang the local hospital who said bring her in (I was concerned about dehydration if she went much longer without fluids) and fortunately the boss took her with two other girls while I got dinner underway. While all this was happening, most of the girls were in the library watching an unprecedented three movies in a row and catching up on email etc on the computers. At the same time, earlier in the day I had started two girls on blanket stitch around baby throws and then four others wanted to do the same. I managed to hold them off until after dinner and then with Miss, Miss coming from all directions I finally yelled out, flaming heck, I am not Shiva the goddess with a 1000 arms (slight exageration on the number of arms, but you know the one I mean), I can only do one thing at a time, so you can all wait and take your turn!!!! Medications all done (a flu bug is sweeping through the place), needles found, cottons picked, I was able to watch bits of 'Dancing with the Stars' while the stitching was going on around me and peace reigned for at least half an hour. Yay for Sunday and an early night - 9pm all were in bed, 9.30 all asleep or close to it. At 10pm I did last medication for the sick one and finally headed to bed myself. I tried to download the new 'Office' program on my laptop, the one that the WMH said would take 5 mins, but could not get it to accept a specific code (was trying to put the wrong numbers in as I found out today, LOL). Figured I was too tired to make it work properly, read three pages of my book while falling asleep so took the hint and turned out the light. I had to be up early this morning as one of the girls was leaving at 6am to go home for the term happy daze!!

On Sunday in between all the dramas, I did manage to get a phonecall home to wish sister Kay a Happy Birthday and catch up on the birthday debrief (8pm NZ time) and the choral festival that had been held amongst the Waiuku Primary Schools. It sounds as though it was a resounding hit (lots of hard work and effort by Kay and friend Viv with a cast of 1000's (maybe 100's, LOL)). Forgot to ask if video footage had been taken. I like the idea of the two candles on her cake, one for Dad who shared the same birthday - nice touch.

At this stage it doesn't look as though I am going to get any time off soon as in whole days, joined together as in two in a row, LOL, so postings maybe erratic. Will do my best to catch up on personal emails as soon as I can. Am off home to open the mushroom box, to water them and give them an amount of light, to water the 'garden' and have a change of scenery and gather more necessities. I think I am being covered for the afternoon so do not have to be back until dinner time. I cut up a double batch of tomatoes and onions for more tomatoe relish this morning. The green tomatoes that I bought for GT chutney have ripened over the weekend so may have to do another batch of relish instead, LOL. Catch you all later

Part 2

On Sunday, it was the Parish Picnic which was held at the Coalseam. Father M was in his vestments and Akubra - can't get much more Aussi than that LOL. Mass was said as Asian tourists walked round the back of us and other visitors to the place wandered around - and to the sound of birdsong in the background. So can now tick off Mass in the bush as another new experience!!! After Mass we had a shared barbeque lunch and people either wandered about looking at the wild flowers and environs, or relaxed back and caught up for a chat. I met a couple of people who I had met at other functions and realised I actually know people in the larger community. I realised this especially yesterday when a woman went past me on the way into the library and said hello and told me the fuscia coloured jumper I was wearing was a good colour on me... I first met her at footy when the WM's boys were playing, but had seen her at the school in Mullewa, the Mullewa show and at Church in Mullewa. I was a blown away that she recognised me and then also a lady at the local service station/shop also remarked she hadn't seen me for ages when I popped in yesterday (last time in there, probably early term 2!!!).

Have been into Gton two days in a row and am now working on my days off because the WM is unwell. There is a flu going through the place - headaches and a cough that lasts for days/weeks if not treated by antibiotic's. Have 7 girls away and likely to be more for the weekend at the rate we are going. Wednesday, I had three girls to take to see the ear, nose and throat specialist at the hospital and managed to squeeze a bit of shopping in and around the vegies etc. I have had two absolute finds: Chinese dried plums that have licorice and orange peel involved in the flavour at one of the IGA's - much nicer than they sound. Am also giddy with joy at finding Diet Creaming Soda!!!!! Kirks (brand name) have put it out. I was rooted to the spot when I saw it on the shelf and had to read the label several times to make sure it was DIET creaming soda (you know, to go with the bag of 12 mini snicker bars also in the basket, to balance the food intake, LOL)> I am happy to report it tastes as good as the real thing. Shall stock up big time next time. Have to sign off as the server is about to go down. ciao

I am back on line: Part 1

A photo of some wild flowers which does not do justice to a particle of what they look like!
Did a photo shoot last Thursday and took over several 100 photos over the ensuing days LoL. The WM's parents are over for about a month from Phillip Island so we went perusing roads previously only zoomed past in the car, for a closer look. Because the hamsters are so slow at uploading photos am going to work on putting them on disk for those who are interested (or for any hapless visitors who might visit members of my family, LOL.


Nooooo, this is not a new self portrait though I have taken on some lizard like qualities (scaley skin, basking in the sun, sluggish in winter, almost fire breathing at times LOL) This is a BLUE TONGUE lizard. I hope you are all mightily impressed with my David Attenborough like photo!!! I had just dropped a girl off at the bus stop on the Pindar Tardun road (trillions of flower photos at the bus stop and environs) when I spotted this lizard creeping across the road. I leapt out of the car with camera at the ready, and got this photo when the lizard backed up and displayed it's tongue like so. In a, "my tongue is bigger than yours" moment (except if you're Gene Simmons from Kiss) I managed to get this photo. Each time I got close to take another photo, the lizard would back up and shove it's tongue out again - I surmised it was a lizard type warning to leave the general vicinity. Got numerous photos and this is one of the best.

Friday night was a Baptismal Mass, and I am now offically Godmother to one of my charges. There were 18 students baptised and it was a lovely service. I had to step up and wipe said Godchild's brow once she had water drizzled over her, put a stole over her shoulders; followed by, handing her a candle lit from the Easter Candle. It was a bit of a tight sqeeze up the front of the Church and I thought at least one child was going to set fire to themselves or the next person while candles were weaving about in their respective hands.

It was my weekend off so on Saturday, left at 7am to go to town with one of my neighbours (the other Kiwi). My mission was to purchase the very laptop I am writing this post on!!! Of course, there were several fraught moments because as I went to pay for it, my card was declined. As I had more than enough in my account, I was not well pleased. Thinking there might be a glitch, I went to withdraw the money out physically only to get to $800 with the machine telling me I had reached my limit for day1!!!!. (Picture lizard with tongue out and fire definitely pouring out). The customer phone by the ATM machine was out of order so withdrew back to the car, rummaged in my wallet for the ph number and rang them on mobile. The silly person at the other end asked me how I was!!! As I took in a deep breath and told her, "smoke is pouring out my nostrils andI am not well pleased at being declined my own money", she went into very calm mode and suggested she may be able to increase my daily limit. At the worst, it would not happen until Monday (the same day my new Visa, credit card was to arrive in the mail!!) and best it would take about 10 mins. I thought that was a very good idea, but OMG, the hoops I then had to go through. Did I know my phone access pin number (having never used it, the answer was no), this was after giving my date of birth and account details. I then had to remember the last purchase I had made and the exact amount I had spent. As that was the previous Wednesday, I was having difficulty remembering when "bing" the light went on, I checked in my wallet again and saints be praised for anal retentiveness and keeping all my dockets - there was the docket from Coles for $90.42 which obviously prooved I was really me!!!!

Back to Mitchell and Brown where I was making my purchase to try my card once again and Eureka, it worked!!!!!! I could have waited until this week if worse came to worst but I really, really wanted it THEN!!!! And so, I am now the proud owner of an ASUS laptop and for all the technical bods, it comes with 160GB of hard drive, 2MB of RAM, is set up with Live Video communication, wireless, and is loaded with Vista Premium (I think this is the one after XP) and bestest of all - it comes with MAHJONG and CHESS as part of the games!!!!!!!! I have serious RSI already from playing mahjong LOL and have got every one of the 6 games out at least once, heh, heh. Unfortunately, I have been beaten every time in chess (all three games LOL). Got home and thought, beauty, will get it all set up for the internet but Noooooo, it was not to be. It took 6 phone calls to Telstra on the Monday to get this laptop connected to Big Pond. Again, was not well impressed and was nearly over the whole thing by then. Have only learnt my way around turning it on, turning it off, the games section and email so far but the rest will come. Have down loaded nearly 1,000 photos and I like how that all works. I need about a week of sitting down and playing with the camera part and all the other goodies I think.

As my ride was heading back here after getting her groceries, I had arranged to come back with yet another neighbour, the same guy I got a lift in with some time ago. We had a bit of a window shop, did lunch, groceries and then he had to vote, getting back here at 7pm so all in all, a good day off the Ponderosa. It was the WA elections for Premier etc, not really up on the play on how it all works here. Interestingly enough, if you do not vote here, you get fined! Also, the candidates still have all their signs up and people hand out pamplets at the very door of where you vote! Am not sure whether there has been a final result yet as it was a hung vote on Sunday morning.

Have just looked at the time and I am nearly asleep so will stop for now and continue part 2, tomorrow.

Pinch and a Punch for the first of the month!

This is a wreath flower.
I took the photo last Sunday when we went to Howes Road - there are 100's there, some creamy and this is the pinky one.







The honchos from EREA have been and gone this week and none of us are any wiser again, except they are emphatic the school is closing at the end of next year... So, still business as usual and really just getting on with things. I didn't bother catching up with the HR bloke today as he was not much help to those who saw him yesterday and I had the Geraldton run to get on with.

Cannot believe it is September - the ninth month of the year, 3/4 of the way through - spring - Christmas shopping to plan and lists to write up etc .....In the spirit of spring -had a big clean up at my house yesterday and got up to date with the washing etc. In the midst of this I spent some time on the verandah reading my book whilst lying on a mattress in the sun - it was lovely and I got warm to my bones in the 28o sunshine. I had a roast of pork in the fridge so decided to cook it for cold meat later in the week. I put heaps of salt on the skin and drizzled it with olive oil and put it in the oven on 220o and I got the best crackling I have ever cooked. So much so, when I had eaten over half of it, I had to cease and desist at the risk of overdosing on it all. There was also dinner ahead at the WM's place to leave a space for. This in fact was the second dinner in a row as I did my Nana thing on Monday and took the WM's boys, plus 4 of the bosses kids to a school disco (4.40 - 6.30pm) while everyone else was working. Got roast chicken that night and we had chicken satay last night - al with lots of veg and very yum.

Last night was the big TV night with: "Home and Away, RSPCA, Find my Family, Packed to the Rafters and of course All Saints". It was a bit of a tear jerker night with Find my Family having two great stories and then All Saints being dedicated to Mark Priestly, with a special spiel at the end about him, and phone numbers for life line. Neither the WMH (who is a big softee) nor I could look at each other but I think we both had moisture leaking out of our eyes a couple of times. At least after all that, it was Australian Idol with some grounding from Marcia, Dicko & co.

Whilst I was cooking the roast, I decided to make some spinach pesto to see if spinach would work as a pesto. I used my basil pesto recipie and swapped green bits. Even though I do say so myself - it was very delish. I finished my bottle of Italian olive oil which was good enough to drink (have bought a Greek olive oil today - in memory of the trip last year heh, heh). I forgot to mention that I whipped up a batch of onion/thyme marmalade last weekend - am going to try it with the cold pork tomorrow and will let you know the verdict. To extend my gardening activities I bought a mushroom garden from Bunnings today. It's a cardboard box with correct soil and mushroom bits, and when you put it all together, in about 4 - 5 weeks, I should be harvesting my own mushrooms. The WMH has a box growing in their hall way and it has grown superb mushrooms. Will keep you posted.

Also went perusing lap tops today. All computers on sale have Windows Vista now and you only get word/excell etc for 60 days trial and then have to download/buy the program if you want it permanently. Am only just coping with XP after the trauma of having to leave Windows 95 behind and am thorougly not impressed with the sneakiness of cheaper computers only to have them become more expensive to get what should come automatically with them anyway. Progress, bah humbug!!! Which ever way I cut it, it looks as though there will be no change from $1000 which is a bit ouch. Have bought screeds of info back and will contemplate over the next few days which one I will get.

Tonight is the first night in ages I have not had the heater on, I think the temps are definitely on the rise again. Other signs of spring - I was swooped on by a flipping magpie the other day whilst walking from the horse paddocks to my place via the 'oval'. I heard a whoosh of wings and thought, that was low, and then saw the bird land not far away - it hasn't happened again but am keeping a wary eye out when I walk to and fro just in case. More emus have been spotted and lizards are out and about in droves on the road (have seen at least 8, LOL).Am down to one (warm)layer during the day though still have blankets and duvet on at night. Am about to head off to bed now as its been a long day and will see how warm I am up here tonight. Still doing the winter pj's though. Catch you later.

Showtime

Thought I would quickly dash off a posting before I head home - today and tomorrow are my days off. Saturday was the Mullewa Show so spent several hours there which was interesting. All the exhibits fitted into the Rec centre and it was great to see the range that was there. It was very interesting to see wool, sheaves of wheat, bunches of canola for example amongst the preserves, baking, crafts etc. The local primary school had put in quite a few entries and there was obviously stalwarts who had something in just about every section. It was a bit of a buzz to see my pieces of cross stitch displayed. I did not get placed but is has given me ideas for next year. I had lots of postive comments from people who knew it was my work and even though the class I entered included unframed works (which is what I entered) it was framed work that was placed. In saying that, the work that won deserved to be placed and was lovely.

I had afternoon tea - 2 sandwhiches and two slices of cake with a coffe - $4.50 which I thought was good value. Met a woman who worked at Morewa Ag School as a boarding supervisor so did a bit of industrial espionage and had a laugh. It was the 75th anniversary of the show and can only imagine what it must have been like in its hey day. With six years of drought impacting on the community, the show is a mere shadow of its former self. There was only one ride and about 15 stalls but for all that I enjoyed it. There was a sheep shearing contest, wood chopping with pens of sheep and a few cattle on display. One thing that I have not seen in NZ is that they have 'Show Bags' and every kid wants one. There was a stall that only had show bags, some are filled with lollies etc and others are Barbie, Dora, Batman, etc and of course Ben 10. The show bags went from $6 for the lollie ones to $19 for the others so did my Nana thing and got a Ben 10 show bag (When in Mullewa LOL). There is an amazing amount of stuff in it for the money so the kids get a good deal. A veritable treasure trove of things eg satchell, wallet, stickers, yo to, watch (that is all I can remember).

The difference to attending a similar show in NZ is the headgear - Akubras everywhere, in a variety of colours and types. Similarities - groups of men discussing the weather etc, etc. There were athletic races with huge machinery in the middle of where the races were run - I should have taken photos but forgot!!! Better luck next year LOL.

Yesterday we did a quick trip on the bus to Howes Road to see Wreath Flowers - there were hundreds of them and it was pretty spectacular. Will try and get photos organised for next post. Am doing this very quickly as I am off to help with dressing the wounded horses's leg. I finished my feeding duties last night and it was bliss not to have to leap out of bed first thing this morning. I actually read for a while - yay.

Dancing with the Stars started on TV last night - and who should be one of the dancers but Stefano!!!!! the winner (with the stars) of the last two NZ, DWS. His partner this time is 'Martha' out of 'Home and Away' and they got 2nd on the points last night but it is early days. Have started knitting for impending grandchild so hope to get stuck into that in the next two days - am in the midst of watching the second series of "Outrageous Fortune" so will put that on in the background.

Am getting the nod to go and sort the horse so will sign off for now.