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.

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.

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.

December

Getting close to Christmas and there are very few people coming through the facility. The days are mostly hot  (up to 40o) but with dips to 23o rain threatens often gut produces very little most of the time.
Had a dust storm a couple of days ago but lucky for us the wind changed and blew it north so we only got the edge of it . Still put a layer of red talcum powder all over and inside the bus.

Don't know how I missed telling you about our new puppy.Before we found Mollie, we had previously looked at a litter of thoroughbred  Staffordshire Terriers and had seen one that Maureen really liked, but had rejected it due to cost. However, a few weeks after we lost her, the kennel owner rang us saying that we could have the dog at a fraction of the price. We had decided to wait until February when we returned from Hong Kong but it was too good to pass up. So now we are proud parents to a very lively staffie pup named ............Mollie.
A couple of long term volunteers by name of Colin and Moira are getting ready to leave next week and we will really miss them as they have been really good company.
Thankfully I still have "JD" to hang out with. He's an old Kiwi with a glint in his eye and a story for every occasion.

November / December

During the last 2 months we have had an epidemic of bushfires mostly caused by hoons with firecrackers and "black lightning" although a few were ligitimate lightning strikes. Fortunately most of the country is low grass and scrub so the fires though bad enough, weren't as destructive as in heavily timbered country but the fires were huge in scope, some were on a 35km front. Last summers' heavy rain had made the grass grow much more than usual and it had died off. In the end they brought in firefighters from interstate and some of the culprits were caught and punished so the problem seems to have gone away.
It is with much sadness that I must report that the little dog whbich wormed its way into our hearts is no more. She got into my medication and died.
I was asked to be the tour guide for Hall of Fame. I have met so many interesting people people and I have learnt so much about trucks. Most of the tours are from Ghan train  passengers together with tourists staying at hotels and schoolchildren both local and remote.
Had some trouble walking and the Doctor recommended a podiatrist who fitted me with orthotics for my shoes. Left foot has been great but right one is almost crippling! Had about 6 lots of acupuncture but doesn't seem to work.
Life here is still great, we both love it
Maureen got a bee in her bonnet about going to Hong Kong and  once she got a glimmer of agreement from me she was like a dog with a bone.... I didn't know she was this tenacious. Think I will hire her out  as an event organiser.
We leave in early February.

October / November

Most of the other volunteers have left  as the temperature has risen sharply to average round the mid to high thirties. The pace of life slows here so it isn't so tough.
Rocky arrived yesterday in his old Leyland with his dog "Ned." Ned has to be the biggest dog I have ever seen! He weighs over 80 kg and is under 2 years old. He's  a huge  gangley slobbering mutt. When I went to pat him he put his mouth over my arm (which worried me a bit)
Last week the papers reported an incident where police stopped A car being driven by a 13 year old towing a dead donkey. On the back seat they found A .22 rifle, a shotgun and a high powered .243 rifle.
He must have been taking the donkey home for the tribe to eat.

Alice Springs - September / October

Have settled into "Alice" and seen a lot of the natural sights like Palm Valley,Trephena Gorge, Simpsons Gap , Standley Chasm, The Macdonnell Ranges, Desert Park.
Were lucky enough to be here when the annual "Henley-on Todd" dry river races were on. What a spectacle!

The yearly reunion at the National Road Transport Hall of Fame has happened and 84 veterans of the  road transport industry were inducted

We have had to endure 10 weeks of idyllic daytime temperatures between 21o- 30o with such low humidity it's very nice.
Have just taken delivery of the newest member of our family.

World ........Meet Mollie

Since we arrived here on the 14th June I dont believe we have had a day without bushfires (a legacy of the prolific growth of low foliage from last years heavy rains) Mostly started by lightening, black lightening and young idiots

The smoke has been so thick for the last few days that Maureen has had trouble sleeping.

This is because of a large blaze to the west of Alice which is tonight on top of the West Macdonnell range.  As the town is in a depression, today it was filled with thick acrid smoke and the hospital has been kept busy with patienrts with breathing difficuilties.

We are about 10 km sou/sou/east from it and the wind is blowing it towards us. Every time the gusts of wind pick up, we can see the flames dance high into the air. 

Will set the alarm for 2am to check on it.