We spent christmas with our hosts Darryl and Colleen at their house and it was a very relaxed and happy time, despite the weather.
Tuesday, December 25, 2012
Christmas Day
It's nearly 8.00pm so most of December 25th 2012 is gone, but there is still time for us to wish you all A VERY MERRY CHRISTMAS AND A HAPPY NEW YEAR
We spent christmas with our hosts Darryl and Colleen at their house and it was a very relaxed and happy time, despite the weather.
We spent christmas with our hosts Darryl and Colleen at their house and it was a very relaxed and happy time, despite the weather.
Thursday, December 20, 2012
Crookwell for Xmas
Aah no more dramas on the way.
Stayed a night in Wagga Wagga at a rest area by the river. This is a neatly mowed area of about 5 acres with a few trees, some hills and hollows and a track through the centre. It has a nice new ablution block and water from a tap. Heaps of campers stay there in everything from tents to buses.
I really wanted to spend a few days in Wagga to have a good look around, but time was pressing and we had to go.
It was really good to reach Goulburn on Sunday and then on to a cattle station managed by Daryll and Colleen where we will stay in the bus over Xmas.
the temperature is a bit of a cultureshock, after 40o + temperatures in the centre and now down into the low 20s
Monday saw Maureen have a day at the doctors ..... all day.....and pretty much got an all clear, Yaah!
Heaps of stuff to do here. Maintainance on our house at Crookwell, the bus lights need attention and there is much to do on our other bus to get it ready for sale.
Mollie loves this place. She pretty much has the run of it, so we have put her in charge of rounding up the hares and rabbits!
Have spent my first few days here detailing the car after all the red dirt we went through up there.
Stayed a night in Wagga Wagga at a rest area by the river. This is a neatly mowed area of about 5 acres with a few trees, some hills and hollows and a track through the centre. It has a nice new ablution block and water from a tap. Heaps of campers stay there in everything from tents to buses.
I really wanted to spend a few days in Wagga to have a good look around, but time was pressing and we had to go.
It was really good to reach Goulburn on Sunday and then on to a cattle station managed by Daryll and Colleen where we will stay in the bus over Xmas.
the temperature is a bit of a cultureshock, after 40o + temperatures in the centre and now down into the low 20s
Monday saw Maureen have a day at the doctors ..... all day.....and pretty much got an all clear, Yaah!
Heaps of stuff to do here. Maintainance on our house at Crookwell, the bus lights need attention and there is much to do on our other bus to get it ready for sale.
Mollie loves this place. She pretty much has the run of it, so we have put her in charge of rounding up the hares and rabbits!
Have spent my first few days here detailing the car after all the red dirt we went through up there.
Saturday, December 15, 2012
Home at last
It was great to arrive at the property that Daryl and Colleen manage.
We love staying here, its so peaceful and quiet, yet central to everything that we have to do while we are here.
This is a great property.It has good soil, is well grassed, has abundant water and excellent infrastructure.
Theres nothing I like better than to sit on their back verandah looking over the hedge at the symmetry of the lone eucalypt, so straight and strong and watch the cattle graze in the afternoon light.
We love staying here, its so peaceful and quiet, yet central to everything that we have to do while we are here.
This is a great property.It has good soil, is well grassed, has abundant water and excellent infrastructure.
Tuesday, December 11, 2012
December (life after Alice)
At last we brushed the dust off our shoes, heading south into a stiff headwind.
The plan was to make for Goulburn at flank speed so Maureen could keep her appointment with the specialist in Sydney on 17th Dec.
We left on Thursday after lunch and all went well until Friday afternoon when the tront left tyre blew out nearly pulling us through a bridge railingand into a dry creek bed about 12 feet below. It took 3 hours to change the wheel. We were thankful for assistance of railway gangers who put the blown tyre and wheel in the back of the Suzuki.
fellow travellers Dave and Karen also in a Denning stopped to help which was fantastic and they looked after us until we got to Port Augusta. They were a godsend and went above and beyond for us.
I bought 2 new steer tyres at Port Augusta.
We set out for Renmark and Mildura and got nearly to the hamlet of Spalding when the engine lost power and stopped!! We had run out of fuel. I hadn't taken the headwind into account.
We were parked on a narrow road with fences close and on the upside of a hill with the left wheels in a gutter so the bus was sitting with the left rear canted down at a fair angle. Decided it was too dangerous to sleep in the bus in it's position plus the angle it was on would have made sleeping a problem.
Booked into this really cute pub in Spalding. It was a very old long low stone building with walls about a foot thick Although it was fairly original there had been a lot of renovation work done on it recently, so although the rooms were "basic old"they were freshly painted and comfortable.
The second night we were there, they were having their "monthly social" which was Bingo and supper afterwards ( Maureen says "it was bingo like I've never seen it played before I tell you" ) but she really enjoyed herself.
After 2 nights staying in the pub and many calls to the mechanic in Adelaide who tried to get us going over the phone with much wrestling with the engine, it was decided he should come up here.... but not until this afternoon. Hope all goes okay.... time will tell.
This is Bruce Donaldson who did the inchassis rebuild on the engine. He provided one of the most pleasant transactions I have ever had. We were able to live in our bus in his yard for 10 days while he did the rebuild and nothing was too much trouble. So if you need your detrioit motor fixed, just ask and I will give you his details.
The plan was to make for Goulburn at flank speed so Maureen could keep her appointment with the specialist in Sydney on 17th Dec.
We left on Thursday after lunch and all went well until Friday afternoon when the tront left tyre blew out nearly pulling us through a bridge railingand into a dry creek bed about 12 feet below. It took 3 hours to change the wheel. We were thankful for assistance of railway gangers who put the blown tyre and wheel in the back of the Suzuki.
fellow travellers Dave and Karen also in a Denning stopped to help which was fantastic and they looked after us until we got to Port Augusta. They were a godsend and went above and beyond for us.
I bought 2 new steer tyres at Port Augusta.
We set out for Renmark and Mildura and got nearly to the hamlet of Spalding when the engine lost power and stopped!! We had run out of fuel. I hadn't taken the headwind into account.
We were parked on a narrow road with fences close and on the upside of a hill with the left wheels in a gutter so the bus was sitting with the left rear canted down at a fair angle. Decided it was too dangerous to sleep in the bus in it's position plus the angle it was on would have made sleeping a problem.
Booked into this really cute pub in Spalding. It was a very old long low stone building with walls about a foot thick Although it was fairly original there had been a lot of renovation work done on it recently, so although the rooms were "basic old"they were freshly painted and comfortable.
The second night we were there, they were having their "monthly social" which was Bingo and supper afterwards ( Maureen says "it was bingo like I've never seen it played before I tell you" ) but she really enjoyed herself.
After 2 nights staying in the pub and many calls to the mechanic in Adelaide who tried to get us going over the phone with much wrestling with the engine, it was decided he should come up here.... but not until this afternoon. Hope all goes okay.... time will tell.
This is Bruce Donaldson who did the inchassis rebuild on the engine. He provided one of the most pleasant transactions I have ever had. We were able to live in our bus in his yard for 10 days while he did the rebuild and nothing was too much trouble. So if you need your detrioit motor fixed, just ask and I will give you his details.
Thursday, November 29, 2012
November
Well, Maureen has a new pacemaker at last! But what a stuffup.
Had to fly to Adelaide to have the job done
We were booked on the plane and our accomodation was booked in the visitors quarters in Royal adelaide Hospital, but someone forgot to book the operating theatre for her operation.
When we got on the plane we were seated one behind the other.
On arriving at the accomodation, the rooms were good... but...the kitchen was locked, and the (only) key kept in the reception 2 floors down which had to be signed out. Not that it did it much good as there was nothing in the kitchen, no crockery, no cutlery, no cups, nothing! Maureen had her op on Friday afternoon but when they opened her up to change the pacemaker, they found that it was a 3 lead pacemaker, something they had apparently never encountered and did not have a replacement for, so they took her old one out and put in a temporary 2 lead pacemaker until they could get one from Sydney on Monday!!
Meanwhile, we were told that there were no beds available for her to rest over the weekend so she had to return to the accomodation with a partly functioning appliance. This gave me a bit of time to look around the city, so I had a look at the museum
The proper one was installed on Monday which necessitated her being opened up twice making the site very sore.
She was released on Tuesday, too late for us to catch a plane so we caught Wednesdays flight.
Oh, and a moment of panic at the airport. When we were checking in, the clerk enquired about Maureens' operation and when told what it was, informed us that it was considered as a major operation and that Qantas policy was that there was a ban on patients of major ops from flying their airline for 10 days.
A phone enquiry by her cleared up that it was not a major op.
Alls well that ends well I suppose.
A week prior to us leaving for Adelaide, Mollie came into season so we arranged for her to stay at the local RSPCA kennels while we were away
Imagine our dismay when we got home one week later to find that she was no longer on heat. At first we thought that she had been let run with another dog, but after another week, she came back into season so with much relief, we put it down to her suffering from separation anxiety.
Had to fly to Adelaide to have the job done
We were booked on the plane and our accomodation was booked in the visitors quarters in Royal adelaide Hospital, but someone forgot to book the operating theatre for her operation.
When we got on the plane we were seated one behind the other.
On arriving at the accomodation, the rooms were good... but...the kitchen was locked, and the (only) key kept in the reception 2 floors down which had to be signed out. Not that it did it much good as there was nothing in the kitchen, no crockery, no cutlery, no cups, nothing! Maureen had her op on Friday afternoon but when they opened her up to change the pacemaker, they found that it was a 3 lead pacemaker, something they had apparently never encountered and did not have a replacement for, so they took her old one out and put in a temporary 2 lead pacemaker until they could get one from Sydney on Monday!!
Meanwhile, we were told that there were no beds available for her to rest over the weekend so she had to return to the accomodation with a partly functioning appliance. This gave me a bit of time to look around the city, so I had a look at the museum
The proper one was installed on Monday which necessitated her being opened up twice making the site very sore.
She was released on Tuesday, too late for us to catch a plane so we caught Wednesdays flight.
Oh, and a moment of panic at the airport. When we were checking in, the clerk enquired about Maureens' operation and when told what it was, informed us that it was considered as a major operation and that Qantas policy was that there was a ban on patients of major ops from flying their airline for 10 days.
A phone enquiry by her cleared up that it was not a major op.
Alls well that ends well I suppose.
A week prior to us leaving for Adelaide, Mollie came into season so we arranged for her to stay at the local RSPCA kennels while we were away
Imagine our dismay when we got home one week later to find that she was no longer on heat. At first we thought that she had been let run with another dog, but after another week, she came back into season so with much relief, we put it down to her suffering from separation anxiety.
October
My recaltricance just doesn't improve. Had to blow the dust off the programme before I could open it.
However, we are still at Heavitree Gap and Maureen is feeling very pleased with herselfas she has now shed 20 kg at weightwatchersand has achieved her goal weight.
Since I was last here, the weather has turned from decidedly cold mornings to decidedly hot days.
first we had 155 days straight without rain and when it did we got 20mm, thenwe have had 3 weeks of 39o temperatures...... but after all This is "the Alice"
In January they began a cash for cans scheme. The exercise alone that I got from doing this was worthwhile without the pocket money.
But everything has it's down side. We were wandering in the bush near one of the communities when I got my feet caught in a loop of wire, swivelled aroud trying to free myself and fell onto my left hip, breaking the point off it. Cant do anything for it, just has to knit by itself.The doctor says 6 weeks for the pain to stop and 3 months to heal.
I met a man named Howard who had lived in Sydney and worked as a bookeeper, but went blind in the mid eighties,now he sits in his back yard all day and scratches in the dirt with a stick
For some reason I was reminded of a book that my 5th class teacher read to us called "Children Of The Dark People", about 2 abo Kids who get lost and find their way home.
I did a search for the book and found one in Byron Bay (second hand as it has been out of prinf for a very long time)I biought it online and that was instant, but it took 3 weeks for it to reach me by post!
Anyway I have promised him That I will read it to him, then maybe post it on to my sons' children.
Only since being in Alice have I begun to realise the enormity of the problems facing the Australia as a whole with regard to the aboriginies. The government (of whatever persuasion) hands them near $1000 a fortnight "sit down money don't know how to use it and have nothing else to do so they buy grog.
Picked up cans from one place last after a weekend party. There was 35 empty VB block cartons which equates to 1050 cans or in money terms $2100.
I would estimate that half of these people are alcoholics, and could go on with many other statistics which all add up to involuntary genocide.
However, we are still at Heavitree Gap and Maureen is feeling very pleased with herselfas she has now shed 20 kg at weightwatchersand has achieved her goal weight.
Since I was last here, the weather has turned from decidedly cold mornings to decidedly hot days.
first we had 155 days straight without rain and when it did we got 20mm, thenwe have had 3 weeks of 39o temperatures...... but after all This is "the Alice"
In January they began a cash for cans scheme. The exercise alone that I got from doing this was worthwhile without the pocket money.
But everything has it's down side. We were wandering in the bush near one of the communities when I got my feet caught in a loop of wire, swivelled aroud trying to free myself and fell onto my left hip, breaking the point off it. Cant do anything for it, just has to knit by itself.The doctor says 6 weeks for the pain to stop and 3 months to heal.
I met a man named Howard who had lived in Sydney and worked as a bookeeper, but went blind in the mid eighties,now he sits in his back yard all day and scratches in the dirt with a stick
For some reason I was reminded of a book that my 5th class teacher read to us called "Children Of The Dark People", about 2 abo Kids who get lost and find their way home.
I did a search for the book and found one in Byron Bay (second hand as it has been out of prinf for a very long time)I biought it online and that was instant, but it took 3 weeks for it to reach me by post!
Anyway I have promised him That I will read it to him, then maybe post it on to my sons' children.
Only since being in Alice have I begun to realise the enormity of the problems facing the Australia as a whole with regard to the aboriginies. The government (of whatever persuasion) hands them near $1000 a fortnight "sit down money don't know how to use it and have nothing else to do so they buy grog.
Picked up cans from one place last after a weekend party. There was 35 empty VB block cartons which equates to 1050 cans or in money terms $2100.
I would estimate that half of these people are alcoholics, and could go on with many other statistics which all add up to involuntary genocide.
Tuesday, August 21, 2012
June 2012
After over 12 months at the Transport Hall of Fame we decided to move on.
We scouted the van parks and settled on "Heavitree Gap".It sits in the shadow of the MacDonnell range right beside the river at "The Gap". It is a multi function facility with a motel, Caravan park, entertainment complex, tavern and store. It is quiet and at just 3 km from town, it really suits.
Think we may be here until late this year as Maureen is waiting for her new battery ( no bad jokes pls. )and I am having dental work done.
Still bloody cold round here. Some mornings my fingers near freeze early in the mornings.
Had a lucky escape 2 weeks ago when a clown in a medium sized truck on the wrong side of the road sideswiped the car... said "the sun was in my eyes". Going to need a new grille, bumper, mudguard and headlight
oh well, could have been much worse.
We scouted the van parks and settled on "Heavitree Gap".It sits in the shadow of the MacDonnell range right beside the river at "The Gap". It is a multi function facility with a motel, Caravan park, entertainment complex, tavern and store. It is quiet and at just 3 km from town, it really suits.
Think we may be here until late this year as Maureen is waiting for her new battery ( no bad jokes pls. )and I am having dental work done.
Still bloody cold round here. Some mornings my fingers near freeze early in the mornings.
Had a lucky escape 2 weeks ago when a clown in a medium sized truck on the wrong side of the road sideswiped the car... said "the sun was in my eyes". Going to need a new grille, bumper, mudguard and headlight
oh well, could have been much worse.
Tuesday, July 31, 2012
May 2012
In December last year, Maureen took the bold step of joining weightwatchers, so to be supportive I went along and joined also. Since then, she has travelled an allbeit bumpy but mostly downhill road toward slimness. After some weeks I realised that for most of my life I had been living in denial about my weight.( More of this to come)
In order to gain excercise, I needed to walk, but found hour after hour of that irksome, so as I have always had an interest in recycling, I began picking up aluminium cans. A profitable decision.
The weather has soured somewhat and instead of a mild winter like we had last year the wind has a cutting chill.
Maureens' pacemaker battery is coming to the end of it's life and will need replacing soon, so the medical system here is sending her to Adelaide near the end of this year to have it done.
She got a scratch on her leg and one afternoon at happy hour Mollie (our dog)was trying to lick it. Maureen instinctively pushed it away, but one of the other people there argued that dogs have a built in antisceptic in their saliva. He was joined by his wife and one other person who all said the same thing,. So against her better judgement, Maureen allowed the leg licking.
Two weeks later, a rash appeared on her leg in roughly the shape of a question mark. It was joined by another adjacent to it.
Then both rashes began to move slowly round her leg and the itch followed.
I thought it may be a parasite.
The doctor diagnosed it as an alergy and prescribed accordingly. When it didn't heal we went to the hospital but they were at a loss as to what it was.
Went back to the doctor after some weeks and after some pressing by us, he had an epiphany and wanted to check his medical books
A week later he had not yet read up on it but with further nudging we came back a few days later, whereupon he pronounced it to be a parasite from dog faeces!!!
In order to gain excercise, I needed to walk, but found hour after hour of that irksome, so as I have always had an interest in recycling, I began picking up aluminium cans. A profitable decision.
The weather has soured somewhat and instead of a mild winter like we had last year the wind has a cutting chill.
Maureens' pacemaker battery is coming to the end of it's life and will need replacing soon, so the medical system here is sending her to Adelaide near the end of this year to have it done.
She got a scratch on her leg and one afternoon at happy hour Mollie (our dog)was trying to lick it. Maureen instinctively pushed it away, but one of the other people there argued that dogs have a built in antisceptic in their saliva. He was joined by his wife and one other person who all said the same thing,. So against her better judgement, Maureen allowed the leg licking.
Two weeks later, a rash appeared on her leg in roughly the shape of a question mark. It was joined by another adjacent to it.
Then both rashes began to move slowly round her leg and the itch followed.
I thought it may be a parasite.
The doctor diagnosed it as an alergy and prescribed accordingly. When it didn't heal we went to the hospital but they were at a loss as to what it was.
Went back to the doctor after some weeks and after some pressing by us, he had an epiphany and wanted to check his medical books
A week later he had not yet read up on it but with further nudging we came back a few days later, whereupon he pronounced it to be a parasite from dog faeces!!!
Friday, June 22, 2012
April 2012
It's been a long time since my last entry, and even now I find it difficult to wrtite.
shortly after we arrived, another volunteer named John Dods, a 74 y.o. divorcee in a ute and caravan turned up.
A likeable fellow, he was very clever with his hands and soon settled into mechanical repairs. We became friends and began going to Garage sales together. Problem was he was a talkative kiwi and if he picked up any trace of an accent or any other excuse, he would stop for a chat, so we never got very far.
On a Saturday in late March he began to mention that he was not feeling well after a hot day on the tractor and slasher and put it down to heat stroke, but he didn't improve. On the Saturday evening, I said I should take him to hospital to which he readily agreed. but a doctor checked him out and pronounced him to be in good health. The following Tuesday he was having dinner when a valve in his heart blew out and he fell down dead.
His relatives came from Brisbane and N.Z. and stayed for a week to make arrangements and have the funeral
Liz Martin the CEO here did everything she could to make their stay comfortable, arranging a memorial service and a Saturday night dinner,as well as giving them accomodation and the run of the place.
well, fortunately Mollie isn't in pup! HOORAY
Although Maureen has been keeping fairly good health her weight is still a reason for some concern, so we decided to give weightwatchers a shot. Early signs are that it is working as we have both lost weight.
We took a few days and travelled out to the West Macdonnell Ranges where there is some stunning scenery. Stayed at "The Glen Helen Resort" which is the remnants of a big old cattle station. The accomodation was basic but clean and comfortable. The food was very good and plenty of it.
The second night we pitched our tent in their caravan park (a new experience for Maureen) We had a great time.
shortly after we arrived, another volunteer named John Dods, a 74 y.o. divorcee in a ute and caravan turned up.
A likeable fellow, he was very clever with his hands and soon settled into mechanical repairs. We became friends and began going to Garage sales together. Problem was he was a talkative kiwi and if he picked up any trace of an accent or any other excuse, he would stop for a chat, so we never got very far.
On a Saturday in late March he began to mention that he was not feeling well after a hot day on the tractor and slasher and put it down to heat stroke, but he didn't improve. On the Saturday evening, I said I should take him to hospital to which he readily agreed. but a doctor checked him out and pronounced him to be in good health. The following Tuesday he was having dinner when a valve in his heart blew out and he fell down dead.
His relatives came from Brisbane and N.Z. and stayed for a week to make arrangements and have the funeral
Liz Martin the CEO here did everything she could to make their stay comfortable, arranging a memorial service and a Saturday night dinner,as well as giving them accomodation and the run of the place.
well, fortunately Mollie isn't in pup! HOORAY
Although Maureen has been keeping fairly good health her weight is still a reason for some concern, so we decided to give weightwatchers a shot. Early signs are that it is working as we have both lost weight.
We took a few days and travelled out to the West Macdonnell Ranges where there is some stunning scenery. Stayed at "The Glen Helen Resort" which is the remnants of a big old cattle station. The accomodation was basic but clean and comfortable. The food was very good and plenty of it.
The second night we pitched our tent in their caravan park (a new experience for Maureen) We had a great time.
Saturday, March 24, 2012
March at "the Alice"
The weather has cooled to a balmy 30o or thereabouts most days and the nights have settled round 15o.
As it is not yet reached the busy season here, there is still not a lot of work to do, but we are filling our minds with plans of moving on. We have both been shedding some of the "stuff'" that accumulated over the last 8 months.
Maureen is pretty muich over the moon tonight as I surprised her with a new washing machine today. She was complaining of flu like symptoms but looks like it disappeared as soon as I told her about the washer.
Mollie, our little staffie pup is now 8 months old, has been through her first season and looks like she is in pup to the neighbours dog. Thankfully is is only a very small animal. Actually I think it must have stood on a milk crate!
But seriously, We wanted to avoid her having pups until she was fully grown. Not a lot we can really do about it now.
As it is not yet reached the busy season here, there is still not a lot of work to do, but we are filling our minds with plans of moving on. We have both been shedding some of the "stuff'" that accumulated over the last 8 months.
Maureen is pretty muich over the moon tonight as I surprised her with a new washing machine today. She was complaining of flu like symptoms but looks like it disappeared as soon as I told her about the washer.
Mollie, our little staffie pup is now 8 months old, has been through her first season and looks like she is in pup to the neighbours dog. Thankfully is is only a very small animal. Actually I think it must have stood on a milk crate!
But seriously, We wanted to avoid her having pups until she was fully grown. Not a lot we can really do about it now.
Saturday, February 18, 2012
February 2006
Can't believe how long we've been here....... arrived on 13th June last. Seen and done so much.
Had a small function in the Ghan tearooms for Xmas day together with the other volunteers that were still here. (about 10 of us)
The newest Kenworth prime mover was delivered early this year and has taken it's place with all the others in their pavillion.
They were also gifted several old trucks from various donors.
A beginning has been made on a new paviullion at the rear of the cmplex which will measure 60m x 40m
Our week in Hong Kong has come and gone. We had a great time, not long enough but srtill a relief to get home where there is some space between people!
We flew to Melbourne on 7th Feb and waited 8 hours for a connection to Singapore, with only enough time to walk from one end of the airport to the other before we left for HKG,
On arriving at the hotel (the selection of which I had put a lot of research into) we were shown to our room after a story about it being a belated honeymoon gained us a bigger bed on the8th floor and a bottle of champagne,
After Maureen had unpacked, I returned to the reception and returned with a booking for a a suite on the 29th floor.... I thought she would be happy,
The view from our new room helped mollify her somewhat,
we were surprised at the cleanliness and development of the place with a new state of the art underground rail system, all modern double decker buses and almost no traffic jams
The place was sooo clean considering a population of 7 million.
Disneyland was good with the grand parade spectacular. Access to the park is by it's own rail link and the carriages are decorated with mickey mouse figures.
Went on a conducted bus tour to "The Peak", a mountain behind the city from which the view is fabulous.
Each day brought it's own adventure and we were kept busy day and night
Maureen scored a new watch and I got an Iphone and camera.
Met up with an irishman named Ronan and his friend Janet who were staying at the same hotel. Sure made a fun time ofv breakfast and dinner.
One night .Ronan, Janet and their friend Tony came up for a party in our room and then decided at 1pm that we were hungry so went out for yum cha.
The return legs to Singapore and Sydney were by A380 for the first one we were seated on the top floor and the second, the bottom floor. The plane was so quiet we could pretty much only hear the wind rushing over the fuselage
Stayed overnight with Lachlan at Cronulla. Must say the cool sea air was good.
Was very impressed to see Lachlans physical improvement, the result of a 10 week boot camp as he wants to take on Kokoda in April.
Home at last to dust and 42oC temps.
Had a small function in the Ghan tearooms for Xmas day together with the other volunteers that were still here. (about 10 of us)
The newest Kenworth prime mover was delivered early this year and has taken it's place with all the others in their pavillion.
They were also gifted several old trucks from various donors.
A beginning has been made on a new paviullion at the rear of the cmplex which will measure 60m x 40m
Our week in Hong Kong has come and gone. We had a great time, not long enough but srtill a relief to get home where there is some space between people!
We flew to Melbourne on 7th Feb and waited 8 hours for a connection to Singapore, with only enough time to walk from one end of the airport to the other before we left for HKG,
On arriving at the hotel (the selection of which I had put a lot of research into) we were shown to our room after a story about it being a belated honeymoon gained us a bigger bed on the8th floor and a bottle of champagne,
After Maureen had unpacked, I returned to the reception and returned with a booking for a a suite on the 29th floor.... I thought she would be happy,
The view from our new room helped mollify her somewhat,
we were surprised at the cleanliness and development of the place with a new state of the art underground rail system, all modern double decker buses and almost no traffic jams
The place was sooo clean considering a population of 7 million.
Disneyland was good with the grand parade spectacular. Access to the park is by it's own rail link and the carriages are decorated with mickey mouse figures.
Went on a conducted bus tour to "The Peak", a mountain behind the city from which the view is fabulous.
Each day brought it's own adventure and we were kept busy day and night
Maureen scored a new watch and I got an Iphone and camera.
Met up with an irishman named Ronan and his friend Janet who were staying at the same hotel. Sure made a fun time ofv breakfast and dinner.
One night .Ronan, Janet and their friend Tony came up for a party in our room and then decided at 1pm that we were hungry so went out for yum cha.
The return legs to Singapore and Sydney were by A380 for the first one we were seated on the top floor and the second, the bottom floor. The plane was so quiet we could pretty much only hear the wind rushing over the fuselage
Stayed overnight with Lachlan at Cronulla. Must say the cool sea air was good.
Was very impressed to see Lachlans physical improvement, the result of a 10 week boot camp as he wants to take on Kokoda in April.
Home at last to dust and 42oC temps.
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