Two Birds Without a Tinnie (I guess you had to have watched the program?)

My mate Marie and I decided to take a road trip last Saturday. Nothing planned. Just us two birds in a Prado, a loaf of bread, chunk of cheese, bottles of water and a camera.

Marie was in search of Conckerberries and I wanted photos of 'groves of boabs'. Spotting Conkerberrie bushes on the side of the road and a little way in was my first lesson. The bush is not all that distinctive, but the berry is amazing to eat, so I soon learned to spot them. We found lots of the bushes in flower, but not many with any berries ready to eat. It seems Christmas is the time, so another trip is planned. (the bushes have to be not TOO far in from the road, so we don't run into any King Browns)

Boabs grow in self established groves. It is quite wonderful when you teach your eye to look beyond the 50 metres either side of the road. If you let your eyes look far enough, the boab groves go as far as your eye can see. Photos just don't do them justice. The boabs are just something else! I know that over the Christmas break, these are something I have to paint.

Termite mounds are amazing feats of engineering and architecture. I am yet to work it all out, but they change shape and structure between FX and Broome .. like they are a different 'family'. I am sure that is it.

We have had some rain, although most of the rain has been further north. The Mighty Fitzroy River is fed from North and the Old Crossing Bridge is already under water!! Just with the small amount that has fallen. The river is flowing rust red, which I am told, means the rain has been caught in the Margaret River (not the wine country from down south), which doesn't flow often, so begins with silt. We have tried to take photos from places we can take comparison photos from later on. (silly me, though, never took one of the Old Bridge showing before it flooded)

Another thing I love ... dogs are just dogs here! They are playful, work in packs without fear and without aggression. They JUST ARE! Love it. Dogs just roam around, without noticing humans.

Anyway .. here are the photos. Enjoy! (more to come - having trouble uploading)

..... back from civilisation

Hello everyone,

It has taken awhile for me to post. Sorry.

I had THE MOST AMAZING time in Melbourne. All of my remote study so far, crystallised in one 3 day contact session. Did I say 'just'? This was a very intense 3 days - 9 am to 6 pm each day. Empowering, to say the least!

It was, also, very nice to be back in civilisation. The city, restaurants, wine and dine. I think I flipped back pretty easily.

Just know from me, that the reason I am in FX, everything I have done and experienced in my life so far, has lead me to where I am .. right now. I knew that coming to Fitzroy, without knowing why. I am loving it now! (FX is still a challenge!!:-) My life ongoing, though, is special .. me being me.

Sounds too gooshy? LOL Get over it! :-)

I don't know where I am headed from here, town/city wise, but I do know what I am going to be doing! Now, that is a first!

Had a great day with Jack and Tim ..more Jack and Lauren than
Tim. Tim was hungover from his work Christmas Party the day before - focus was an issue for him! Jack and Lauren were wonderful to spend the day with. (photo of Jack attached for those who wonder what he looks like at 20 - Mother wishes he didn't shave his hair! AND how like his Dad is he?? ALTHOUGH, can't you see Tim in him?? and Tim is my clone!)

Coming back to FX is not easy. Honestly, it is after 9:30 at night and the outside temp is still near 40C .. inside, with air con flat out is 38C. It's tough.

Promise some more wilderness pics after this coming weekend.


xx

Home ... and transformed!

Did the full Female Therapy in Broome. The experience was as blissful as expected. I felt renewed ... and pretty.

Melbourne was transformational!!

I returned home today ... a couple of hours ago.

Watch this space.

x

Respite

I am off to Broome tomorrow morning, on my way to Melbourne. I am SO looking forward to my day in Broome (although the weather will be revoltingly humid). I have an afternoon of Female Therapy - hairdresser, manicure, pedicure ... bliss! Costing me an arm and a leg, though - Broome pricing is very high. Still, I am worth it. :-)

It is quite strange packing for a trip south. I have almost forgotten what clothes will be needed for the cooler weather, especially with the cold snap happening down there.

Hopefully be able to post some pictures of me with Tim and Jack when I get back.

... soon
x

It's a Wild Life ..

Here are some of the new friends I have ... all have names, of course.

Liz and Larry the geckos (only Liz pictured). Liz and Larry come out each night at sit on my front window and door for a feed of insects.

Then there is Tiger the tata lizard. Named Tiger because he has overcome his fear and developed at trust in me. I can move around (not quickly) the verandah and he doesn't run away. He tells me when it is time to water my ferns ... the run off is a stable supply of drinking water. I am hoping he will hang around so I can watch him grow.

Reality Check ...

Well, my first real reality check came last week. Everyone was back on board at work, so I had my first real week at work. It was hectic having everyone about, all trying to catch up and be filling in on everything that had happened in their absence. A couple of Political Correctness issue got me confused and somewhat uncomfortable, too. And ... I got lonely.

By Friday, I had got to the stage of "What the @#$% am I doing in Fitzroy Crossing??". The others I work with assured me it happens to everyone, and not just early in your stay; regularly. So, I took Friday afternoon off from work and allowed myself to just feel rotten.

Picked myself up and went with Marie to Happy Hour at the Lodge (my second excursion to the Lodge). The whole town had been locked down, due to a death in town, so only a light beer Happy Hour!! :-) I met a great new person (Karen), who is someone I will be having a great deal to do with in my work. We finished up unearthing a bottle of vodka and all sitting on my front porch for a few hours. Ended up a good night.

Karen invited me to dinner for Saturday night, with some friends of hers. Good night there, too. One of her guests is a guy called Joe. Joe has been in FX for nearly 30 years! He bought up his sons here. There is nothing he doesn't know about the place. Hopefully, a fishing trip with Joe will be on this weekend!

So ... The weekend finished up being really nice. A phone call or two from friends and I am now over my little hissy fit and feel OK again now. Still missing everyone, though.

I AM looking forward to my trip to Melbourne! Only three weeks now. After my contact days in Melbourne, I am taking a whole day in Canberra to see Tim and Jack. I am SO looking forward to lots of hugs!!

...... more later xx

Meet Harry .... and the barra!

Get a look at this barramundi! Harry (and his grandson) caught it at the weekend - Well, as the story goes, the barra caught Harry! There is a tale to be told there. It is sooo big, I wont even pretend I caught it myself.

For a size reference, Harry is about 6ft tall and the tail of the fish is half laying on the ground.