ONE DOOR CLOSES!

It feels very strange - I will officially cease my employment with the Department for Transport tomorrow (26/11/10).  I started with DTEI as a contractor in November 1997 and it has been a very interesting 13 years.  There were frustrations and disappointments but over-riding all of that was a great sense of pride in my achievements over the years.  I was privileged to manage a terrific team for several years and was honoured to have worked with some wonderful people over the last 13 years - both within and outside DTEI.  I am not apprehensive about finishing my employment but I am sad that my contact with some truly fabulous people is likely to diminish and gradually fade to nothing.  I hope I am wrong but it is often what happens. A very big thank you to all the people who have supported and encouraged me throughout the last 13 years.  My learnings over that period have been great and I hope I have, in some way, passed those learnings on to others.
As this door closes I look forward to seeing what is behind the other door (or doors) which are opening.  My first grandchild is due in two weeks and Royce and I are still planning a big (3-6 month) journey early next year (provided all the planets align appropriately).
In the meantime I hope everyone is safe and well and remains so throughout the festive season.

Tumby Bay

I haven't been able to post anything since my last post because my 'retired' brain recharged someone else's mobile phone rather than recharging my mobile broadband!  I finally got a recharge done via phone this morning, hence I can now do a blog post!
We called into DTEI last Monday and it was fantastic to catch up with some of my (nearly former) workmates.  We then did a bit of shopping for presents we needed to buy and then ordered our new lounge suite which was delivered on Tuesday.  We did get to sit on it for a couple of hours Tuesday night!  It is a 3.5 seater and 2.5 seater white/cream leather and it is just lovely.  I am a bit apprehensive about the cat but I will just have to keep her claws trimmed and keep my fingers crossed!   If anyone knows a good way to stop a cat clawing leather I would love to hear it.
Our plan was to have everything packed up so all we had to do Wednesday morning was hook up the caravan and head off.  Needless to say the plan didn't quite work properly and it was 10.55am before we actually hit the road. 
We had a pretty good trip but did stop to help some people pick debris off the highway about 20km before Port Pirie.  These people are visitors to Australia from Denmark and they were driving a white van travelling behind a truck carrying a small transportable building.  It appears the water heater which was secured to the front of the transportable, came off and bounced around on the road.  The tank also hit the car but fortunately on the side, not the front.  If it had hit the front I suspect there would have been serious injuries, if not deaths!  As it was no-one was hurt but they were pretty shaken up.  We helped clear all the bits and pieces off the road and checked the people had gathered all the information they needed from the truck driver.  They had everything except his insurance information and when they asked him for that he said he didn't have any and took off pretty quickly!  We recommended they report the incident to the police in Port Pirie and then phone Avis after that.
I had a go at driving the car while towing the caravan but only managed about 15 minutes before my right arm started hurting.  I have had a very painful bout of tennis elbow in that arm recently and it was only just starting to settle.  I suspect I was nervous and probably gripping the steering wheel too hard which caused the soreness.
We camped Wednesday night at the Half Way Camp Site (about 40km south of Port Augusta between PA and Whyalla).  The minute we stepped out of the car we were swarmed by flies, so sitting outside wasn't an option!  The camp site was pretty close to the road and it is surprising how many trucks use the road between Whyalla and Port Augusta through the night!  We also had a truck pull in during the early hours of the morning and leave his engine idling while he had a nap or breakfast or something!  Luckily we only intended to camp for one night.
Our friends caught up with us at the camp site and we all travelled in convoy to Tumby Bay, arriving at the caravan park late morning.  We set up our caravans and spent most of the afternoon sitting around chatting.
The rain started last night and shows no sign of letting up.  The forecast indicates rain today and tomorrow but after that it should be reasonbly good weather.  I had intended to go for a walk this morning but discovered I left my lightweight rain jacket home.  I will probably spend most of the day knitting, reading or whatever.  The weather doesn't lend itself to anything else at the moment, but spending a leisurely few hours reading or knitting or whatever sounds good anyway.
Royce has just decided to go out and clean the caravan windows - while it is raining!  He has his hat on and has the squeegee and I hadn't realised how dirty the front window was until he has started cleaning it.
No photos yet so no visuals I can give you!

Kane's Birthday

Today was my grand-dog's birthday.  We have a bit of a dispute about his age.  I think he is 8 and Rory thinks he is 7.  Kane didn't really care - he just had a lot of fun unwrapping his presents!  He got a rawhide chicken and roo chew which he loved and devoured as quickly as he could; a squeaky monkey which he destroyed as quickly as he could; a new ball which he chased around as soon as he could.  He was very excited when Rory and Emma brought out the wrapped presents.  He knew they were for him and he couldn't wait to start unwrapping them.  A pleasant morning.

With Rory before being given his presents. Very few things he likes better than cuddling with his Dad!

Starting to destroy his Monkey

Rory and Emma encouraging Kane to 'look at Nanny'!

The Art of Racing in the Rain

I have just recently finished reading the book The Art of Racing in the Rain by Garth Stein and it was a really good book.  It is a story about Denny (a racing car driver), his wife Eve, daughter Zoe - all told by Denny's dog Enzo.  It is funny and sad and well worth reading.
I put on a baby shower for Emma on Sunday and a big thank you to those who attended.  We had a bit of fun, ate some food, drank some drinks and Emma had a wonderful afternoon.  The gifts she received are terrific and are appreciated.
It was great to catch up with some work-mates in Adelaide last week for a coffee.  I will have to try to arrange another catch up soon.
Moving all the furniture and boxes around over the past few weeks has stirred up my tennis elbow and it is now extremely painful.  I can't even pick up my coffee cup with my right hand!  I have an appointment with my chiro on Thursday and I am keeping my fingers crossed that he can help.  Last time I had this problem he was able to clear it up so I am hoping we can do the same again.
Our Plasma TV died on Sunday and we have decided it may not be worth spending the money to fix it.  It is 5 years old and gave up the ghost one month after the warranty expired!  I am told that modern TVs have a 5 year life span and anything over that is a bonus. 
Keep safe and well everyone and I will do another post again in the near future - probably from Tumby Bay next week sometime.

This n That

Since we got back from our lovely holiday it has been GO, GO, GO!  I have no idea how I ever found time to go to work.  I haven't had any time to do any craft and very little reading but I am sure that will improve in due course.
We have been really busy turning the whole house upside down so that we can comfortably cater to the needs of 4 adults and one soon-to-be baby.  I have had to re-arrange almost every room in the house, but it is finally starting to look a bit more organised and I think the new arrangements will work OK.  I knew I had a lot of 'stuff' but hadn't realised how much until I had to pack it all up and then find somewhere to put it.  Consequently I have a lot of 'stuff' still in boxes but I have packed the boxes up very neatly in out of the way spots and will gradually work through them and hopefully cull a lot more things.  I am thinking of having a garage sale but that will have to wait because I am trying to organise a baby shower for Emma.  Only 10 weeks to go - if the baby doesn't have his own ideas about arriving early.  We haven't even started setting up the baby's room properly but we will get to that soon.
We ordered in a mini skip and have filled that and very likely we will need another one as well.  Unbelievable how much accumulates around you when you are not paying attention!!!!
Our last night of our holiday was spent at the Baroota Rodeo and Camp Ground and we noticed the place is for sale so we went for a drive yesterday and met the owner and the land agent.  We are giving some thought to whether we might sell up and move out there, but there is an awful lot we would have to work out so it may not come to fruition at all.  It is 278 acres and that includes the campgrounds, rodeo ground, 3 bedroom house, airstrip and aeroplane hangar!   No - the plane doesn't come with it.
We had a good look around and got information on council rates, how the place is powered (solar and diesel generator), the water supply (rainwater for drinking and bore water operated by windmills) etc and now need to sit down and work through the pros and cons and consider if the 4 of us really want to make that sort of change.  I will keep you posted.
I am thinking of having a Bling party to sell some of my products - possibly in mid November.  I will probably do it as an open house on a weekend (probably a Sunday afternoon).  It will be good timing for those looking at Christmas presents (for themselves or others).  I will post another entry once I know the details.
Keep safe and well and I will keep you all informed of happenings in the near future.

THE LAST LEG

On Tuesday 14/9/10 we left Alice Springs and headed towards the Marryatt Camp Site. We stopped on the way at Stuart’s Well and were entertained by Dinky the singing dingo. He stands on the piano and sings along while someone plays the piano. He also walks on the keys to make his own music if he is so inclined! Dinky’s owner explained that Dinky is fed pretty much what a dingo would eat in the wild but Dinky was a bit overweight, mainly because he doesn’t have to catch his own food (although he has been known to occasionally snatch and eat a bird that strays too close to him). We saw a kangaroo and some emus in an enclosure at Stuart’s Well and across the road there were a large number of camels (there is a camel farm there).


We crossed over the Finke River and noticed the water levels were quite high. The area where we had been walking on our way to Alice Springs was now under water and the river was flowing well. The next river crossing was the Palmer River and where that was bone dry on our way up, it was now flowing as well.

We arrived at the Marryatt Camp Site and set up camp – probably not in the best spot because it was the dry river bed, but it was a lovely spot nonetheless. We hoped there was no water coming our way and hummed and hah-ed about whether we should take the chance or not. In the end we stayed there and I worried all night about flash floods and big branches falling down onto the caravan (we were parked under one very big – and quite lovely – tree).

We were visited by a rather interesting bird. It was very similar in appearance to a magpie but was a bit smaller and its head was completely black. Unfortunately I wasn’t quick enough to take a photo. Just before going to bed I heard some noises outside and when Royce went to check he saw a dog (dingo?) scavenging in the rubbish and at the barbecue. It took off pretty quickly but Royce didn’t think it was a dingo because it was a bit on the fat side and its legs didn’t look long enough.

The next morning it started to rain and we had a bit of rain on and off for most of the day. While we were packing up camp a chap who was camped up on the actual camp site came down and said his ‘bus’ wouldn’t start and the starter motor was broken and could we help push start. Once we were packed up we drove up there and with a tyre between the bus and Raymond’s car, Raymond had several attempts at push starting him. It was quite comical – a broken bus, a landcruiser and a caravan – all driving along nose to tail! Eventually Raymond was successful (after Royce advised the bloke to put his bus in third gear) and he headed off to Coober Pedy to try to get the starter motor fixed.

Just south of Cadney Park Royce spotted something fairly large on the side of the road ahead. On slowing we discovered a wedge tail eagle feeding on a dead kangaroo. It flew into a tree right by the side of the road but by the time we had stopped and I got the camera out it flew off to another tree some distance away and was clearly determined to stay there until we left! It was a very large bird!!

We arrived at the Pootnoura camp site and again camped a bit away from the rest. It seemed like a really nice spot until the mossies attacked! Unfortunately for me I seemed to have the sweetest blood. A large number of them landed on Royce’s back and he did get a few bites but I was almost eaten alive! I was wearing long pants, socks and shoes and they bit through the clothing. I ended up with another really bad lot of mossie bites and I seem to be reacting badly to them. Many of the bites came up very red and swollen with a lot of them about the size of a 10c piece. Luckily I had calamine lotion and I thought (mistakenly) that would stop the itching problem.

On Thursday 16th we headed into Coober Pedy. After emptying the toilet and filling the water tanks we checked into the caravan park then went for a bit of a walk. We bumped into Trevor McLeod (Royce’s cousin’s husband) and organised to meet Trevor and Katrina for tea that night. We went to the pizza bar, had a nice pizza and coffee, met up with Trevor & Kate’s son Simon (born on the same day as Rory and at the same hospital!), then went to have a look at Trevor & Kate’s dugout. It was pretty amazing!

My mossie bites were becoming unbearable and I had tried everything – calamine lotion, stop itch, tea tree oil and even toothpaste! Friday morning we went to the chemist and I was given some ointment and tablets and advised if it didn’t improve in a couple of days I needed to see a doctor.

We left Coober Pedy on Friday morning and headed to a roadside camp near Lake Hart. We made our own camp site about 10km north of Lake Hart – it isn’t a designated camping spot – made up a camp fire and chilled out for the night. I mean ‘chilled out’ literally! It was very cold.

An uneventful night except for my mossie bites! I had even resorted to sitting on the edge of the shower and washing my legs with cold water. It did give some relief but it was bloody freezing! I couldn’t wear long pants shoes or socks because they would irritate the bites so was walking around in shorts and sandals!

We left the camp site this morning and drove to Woomera where we had a look around the town, including the museum. We drove to the local park where there are a number of birds in cages, including one very impressive peacock and several cheeky cockies. In one cage there was a sulphur crest and a major Mitchell who were very happy grooming each other. A light pink galah in another cage was really wanting to bite Royce. It started at the back of the cage but when Royce stopped to talk to it, it came to the front of the cage and was raising its crest, fanning out its wings and screeching at him! Another sulphur crest came to the front of the cage saying “hello cocky” and wanted us to stay and chat with it for a while.

Just south of Pimba there were 4 emus on the side of the road and we managed to get some photos.

We stopped briefly at Port Augusta and had intended to camp the night at Mambray Creek but we changed our minds and have ended up at the Baroota Rodeo and Camp Grounds. Seems like a reasonable place and only cost $10 per vehicle for the night. We have started up the generator so we could transfer photos and get the blog written up.

Home tomorrow afternoon. What a wonderful time it has been. We cannot wait for our next one!

Camels at Stuart's Well

Our camp site at Marryatt

Sturt's Desert Pea at Glendambo

Woomera

The two cockies grooming each other

Royce's 'friend'!!!!

The very handsome peacock

Emus just south of Pimba

HOMEWARD BOUND

This is our last night in Alice Springs. We are starting our homeward bound journey tomorrow morning. We plan on stopping at free camps Tuesday night and Wednesday night and then stay at a caravan park at Coober Pedy on the Thursday night. If all goes according to plan we will make Coober Pedy Thursday morning and it will give us a full day to recharge our batteries (not to mention the caravan batteries and water tanks).


Friday night and Saturday night will again be at free camps with our possible last one being 34km north of Port Augusta. We may then make one last dash home on the Sunday.

This is the plan at this stage but it is always subject to change. We may decide we like the camp tomorrow night and want to stay an extra day, in which case we won’t hit Coober Pedy until the Friday morning. We may make the last leg stretch over 2 days instead of one long run home on the Sunday. We will play it all by ear.

I won’t have phone or internet connections after tonight until we get to Coober Pedy and will only do a blog then if time and energy permits. If I don’t do one then I will do a catch up blog on our arrival back in Adelaide.

We have had a wonderful time on this trip and although it is not yet over we know we are now heading home rather than off to some other adventure and that is a bit sad because we have confirmed we love doing this whole Grey Nomad thing!

Whilst we have seen a huge number of budgies, finches and - to a lesser extent - cockatiels and smaller predator birds, the absence of wildlife is notable.  We have seen 1 wedgetail eagle sitting on the side of the road, one hovering in the distance, one kangaroo, one emu, two camels, some brumbies and a few lizards.  Apparrently with the rains this area has been having there is plenty of feed for all the wildlife and they don't need to come within cooee of humans!  We did see some hoof prints in one area and what looked like dingo paw prints but that is about all.  It is disappointing because we had hoped to see a lot more wildlife.  The trip is not over yet and we may see some on the way home (hopefully not on the road).