The beaut UTE

The smile says it all ...his new ute is home.

Lizzi's Winter coat

Lady Lizzi Labrador of Gympie Castle decked out in her brand new hand knitted cable patterned Winter coat. She doesn't look all that impressed but she'll be grateful on a cold Gympie freezing night.

The coat is the result of my TV viewing over the Winter period, some cheap wool but much attention to detail in the cable knit on the edges ... such panache, neighbourhood dogs will be envious!

Paddler's pizza evening

It was a cool Tin Can Bay evening ... the braziers were blazing, the oven was primed, the setting was in readiness for pizzas of all sorts of combinations and paddlers and cohorts converged on Norma's place. It was a great occasion for one and all to mingle, mix and munch yummy pizza in Norma's lovely garden.

Norma, the host and boss!

Mick trying to be cook and Jean overseeing ...

The insiders ...

The rowdy ones ...

Norma with one of the dogs.

Judes, in charge of the empty wine bottles

A few yachties were present and a good bunch of Dragon boaters were there as well, thanks Norma for your wonderful hospitality. I had taken other photos of guests but discovered they were dreadfully out of focus and blurred, sorry to the Headings. I sort of blame Judes for being such a keen bartender. It was a great night out - cheers to Norma!

Gympie Music Muster preparations

Having lived in Gympie for nearly 6 years and not experienced the Muster, we decided to give it a go this year.  Mind you with Kenny Rodgers being the guest artist this year was a big draw card but also lots of other very good artists as well - John Williamson, Casey Chambers, Beccy Cole, the Black Sorrows ...We've purchased tickets and age old friends the Camerons who are avid Muster goers are already at the Muster camp site.  They have set up camp 2 weeks before the event and they are reserving our camp site until we can get up there.  The Muster entertainment officially starts on Thursday 23 August and goes through to the Sunday night.  I'm looking forward to it ... he hah!

Cameron's camp

fireplace in the back yard

Dave in Darwin ...

Lucky Pops got to see the grandies while passing through Darwin on his way out to Port Keats.

Kai and Vance with their grandfather

Kai is just over two years old and Vance is the big boy who is 5 years and 3 months old, and at school now! (I stole this photo off the Pokes blog).

Jack Frost brrrrrrrr ...

Misty ... looking out the front of the house ... It almost looks like a beautiful scene from inside the house anyway but in actual fact it's cold as anything and a destructive frost.

We've had many such mornings for a lot of July and well into August as well ... locals say this is how the winters are supposed to be in Gympie. The garden and grounds have suffered – pawpaw trees, poinciana, poinsetta and the cordyline plants to name a few. I'm hoping they will only be temporarily setback and I'm sure the lawn will eventually turn from brown back to green again.

Overhead trolley crane

Dave is supposed to describe this overhead crane trolley which he can do so later but for those interested in what it is and what Dave has been up to in his shed I'll give my brief female version.

It's a device that will enable Dave to hoist, large and heavy objects (up to 100 kgs I think) from the base of the shed up to the mezzanine floor for storage. Objects such as the overhead camper will be easily and safely transferred via this crane from the vehicle to storage vice versa. I understand it also can be used to move the heavy car fridge in and out of the vehicle without involving weaklings (myself) to help out.

Anyway the planning, talking and drinking that went into the design and actual construction was contributed by Dave and Ivan.

The UTE!

Mazda BT50

Dave's dream of driving a ute is soon to be realized ... it's arrived from across the sea and is sitting in Madill's yard waiting to be optioned and 'prettied up'. The mechanics are taking their time to add the bits and pieces Dave has requested but it's shaping up all right – the pretty wheels, the braking/electrical system for towing thingy. Hopefully it'll be cleaned and waiting for Dave when he gets back from work.  It's a practical colour for disguising all the mud and dirt when he gets out bush!