4T - our Jodes

Yes!  She's that number - fabulous, fantastic, fit  and full of life!

Vicky, her girlfriend and Jodes, both had same age birthdays and so chose a dual celebration.


They selected a great venue - on the water.  A sailing vessel named Cape Adieu which took fifty revellers out onto Darwin Harbour for a magic sunset cruise.

Birthday gals

 The vessel was pretty large with plenty of room for people to mingle and move about.  The shade cloth is mandatory for the Darwin weather.

Nana and her lads

 Pulling out of Darwin wharf.  I managed to get five minutes company with the grandies before they were darting around, up and down stairs ...

Dennis Ehling, Cynthia and John Lyne catching up with Dave

Mature guests were in the minority but  we sought refuge up the back of the boat where we could talk and hear one another.  Amidst the Oyster Shooters, Bubbly, beer and yummy finger food it was an extremely pleasant time.  The 'younger' set hit town afterwards and we thought if we were 20 years younger we might have done the same thing!

The Darwin has sunset never failed to amaze, just a brilliant spectacle.

Dave and I stayed in Darwin for a week (would have been longer if it was in the dry season).  We stayed at Keith and Anna's joint down the Stuart Highway at Coolalinga.  

It was school holidays so we were able to get and do a couple of things with the kids.

The good old Water Gardens at Rapid Creek, an oasis amongst beautiful tropical gardens, is great to hangout when you're weary of air con.

Fountains, waterfalls are always popular in the heat.  The boys enjoying themselves.

Tenpin bowling is always a big hit for youngsters and especially by boys who love to smash things!

There's a new joint called Kingpin in Millner whereby you can spend a fortune playing tenpin bowling, laser games, climbing ropes, a games arcade and also to eat and drink - great if you are a kid with grandparents in town.

Excited bowlers!

Van in action

Kai with the aid of the ramp was able to beat his big brother.  I thought he had a very distinctive bowling style.

It was a good time guys.

Dave's in the Territory!

Speedy Gonzales has motored some miles and undoubtedly been taking no notice of speed restrictions.  He travelled the Barkly Highway to Tennant Creek in one day then headed to Mataranka the following day.

Mataranka was always regarded as a bit of an oasis - lovely palms and croc-free water (it used to be anyway).

Regardless it's a lovely spot to spend a couple of days resting up ...

 As Dave has observed and is probably correct, the sprinklers above the palms have something to do with deterring the flying foxes.

Update on Dave's motorbike journey ....

The Lone Ranger rides into Longreach, Central Western Queensland - The Outback (Proper)

 

 The main street of Longreach, QLD

The car numbers are probably higher when Dave called as the town was in the grip of concert fever featuring Paul Kelly, Lee Kernaghan and the popular artist Canadian Bryan Adams.  No accommodation was available in town.

The Qantas Museum is located in Longreach and he was able to look around there.  

Dave had to ride through to the next town of Winton.  However he was greeted by another Outback festival so after looking around and taking a bit of a break he had to move on as there was no available accommodation there either.

Banjo Paterson

Winton, as most Australians know is the home of the Waltzing Matilda lyrics - apparently Banjo Paterson wrote the lyrics in 1895 whilst staying at a local station in the area (I think).  Anyway a museum was built in the town with a lot of memorabilla and relics relating to Banjo Paterson and Australiana.  Unfortunately a recent fire destroyed the exhibition so the below photo shows the ruins ...

As part of the Outback Festival there was an airshow - quite spectacular ...

No. 1 accommodation - motel

Dave had to ride on for a bed and washbasin in Kynuna ... pretty basic stuff!

Anyway after 4 days and no incidents he's reached Mt Isa so it's pretty good going....

More to follow.................................................................................

Dave's trip by motorbike from Gympie to Darwin ... alone

Wednesday 23 September

Jodes 40th is being celebrated in Darwin a week or so's time.  I am flying to and fro but Dave obviously has other transport options.

Dave is leaving  Gympie to ride to Darwin on his BMW.  Apparently it is a trip he has longed to do.  However it is extra challenging as he also has a tear in his right bicep but with proper strapping and assurance from a physio he should manage the ride okay.  He's prepared extensively so hope all goes to plan.

Packing his bike - luggage-wise he has a top box and 2 side panniers

Gloves, jacket, helmet and kevla pants are donned

Off he goes ... 3, 376 kilometres to go!

He intends to ride to Darwin over 7 days, sightseeing along the way and taking his time between fuel stops, resting up etc.etc

Colour in the garden ... Spring 2015

Spring is about ... some warmth in the air and also some bonus rain ...

Freesias

Hippeastrum

This year I had a go at planting some bulbs, some daffodils, tulips, hyacinths, freesias and some ranunuculas.  Very little success really and probably the best showing was of the Freesias.











This is my first hippeastrum to flower.  This year I moved all the bulbs to one area so theoretically there should be a blanket of colour ... we'll see.










We had a very mild Winter and we "dressed" the vulnerable so most plants didn't suffer any frost bite.  Consequently the plants are looking pretty good for this time of the year.  I'm 'gamely' taking secateurs and shears to many bushes that I previously left for fear of destroying them so we will wait and see how that little exercise pays off.

We've had bumper yields of citrus which David attributes to his lavish amounts of troforte (type of fertiliser).  There has been an overall improvement in the health of the garden so maybe the years of fertilising, watering, mulching and attention is starting to pay dividends.  Mind you with Dave being at home for the last 3 months there has been more attention than if he wasn't here.

Anyway the garden in my humble opinion is looking lovely!

Keith's Shed 11

Jodes and the boys visit Keith and Anna periodically cause they are way down at Coolalinga ...

Anyway it's a pretty good place to go as there's always plenty to do and see.  On this occasion Keith was in the throes of erecting his new shed.  As you can see it's pretty substantial.

The clever Uncle!

Jean's muku's terrorizing the works!

Two strapping lads mollycoddling the gamin family member

They all had a great time out.

My garden, Winter produce ...

It's July, the middle of a mild winter, and there's been some unseasonal rain.  As a result there's been some signs of growth in the garden.

I've just harvested some turmeric and discovered how messy it is to process.  I have so much of it as well.  Originally one plant was put in, then that multiplied into about 10 and you can see the rhizomes and fingers are aplenty.

Turmeric ... heaps of it

 The strawberry patch is responding well.  I started with a couple of runners from the neighbour and voila....  A bandicoot has discovered them as well so will have to set about keeping the little critter out!

Strawberry patch

 My Feijoa tree which will probably only ring a bell with Kiwis.  In Oz it's not well known.
It's two years old and quite a healthy specimen.  I can't wait for it to fruit!

Feijoa tree

 Garlic plants.  It's my first attempt at growing garlic and they must be pretty hardy cause I've done little in their growth and they are coming along nicely.

A row of Garlic and there are pineapples planted below.

 The sweet potato patch is mainly Dave's efforts.  He has carefully gone along and buried the stems, fertilized, watered etc.  He also knows where the tubers have grown and harvests them.  Unfortunately they lack a really strong flavor so something must be deficient in the soil.  In the meantime the bandicoots have discovered them and are having many midnight feasts.

Sweet potatoes