I was in the bath earlier, listening to the local FM radio station hoping to hear results of the council elections which were held last Friday, by postal vote.
Rather than go back and change yesterday's post I must make a correction. Not that anyone would be aware unless you were there at the time, but of course my mate Ian (Punjab) would know, but Andy Mitchell did not get engaged to one of the Cantillon twins, it was Kay McCauley, a sultry blonde, sister of Pam who was in my class at school. The radio station was playing rock and roll songs of the era of my adolescence such as Johny O'Keefe, Gene Pitney and memories flooded back, especially the correction I mention. I knew Punjab would pick up on the error. His mum, who died last year, remarried to Reg Cantillon, the Cantillon twins' father, some time after her husband and Ian's father died. It was the music bringing this back to me.
But the news is - EX COUNCILLOR AND MAYOR ED CHATWIN was dumped.
He did not stand for Ranges Ward, depriving me of the pleasure I would have had to put him last on the ballot. He stood for Central Ward in some sort of cunning move.
I'm enjoying a bottle of Beresford cab sav, a top drop.
Below is from the Berwick Leader -
UPDATE 7.37pm: CARDINIA will have five new faces in its nine-seat council chamber at its next meeting.
Voters dumped Mayor Ed Chatwin, who tried to switch from Ranges ward to Central, but welcomed back a former councillor and mayor, Kate Lempriere.
Cr Graeme Legge failed to hold his seat in Ranges ward.
Voting went to the wire in several cases, with preferences deciding the outcome and overall shape of the new council.
The end result appears to be a largely independent mix of councillors, elected mainly on local issues.
Sunday, October 28, 2012
Saturday, October 27, 2012
I Can Hear Music
I spent most of this afternoon on the shed roof. First I raked off the sticks and leaves, Then I swept off the dirt, then I scraped with a steel brush, then I swept again. Then I painted the bad spots with killrust fisholene oil. I had my small transistor radio on the racing channel, and I was half listening in between the noise of brush and broom.
I had done this cleaning of the roof six months ago, but didn't have any fish oil, so I purchased a tin of it but didn't get around to applying it to the roof and the leaves and sticks built up on the roof again. I knew it would be a job requiring a number of hours which is why I hadn't managed to do it.
So it was good to get at it, after trips to Fiji, Wangaratta, Lakes Entrance and numerous storms adding to the litter build up on the roof, even if it was at the expense of cutting grass and getting vegie seeds in and constructing rabbit barriers which is also pressing on my to do list.
For some reason I had two songs going through my head all afternoon, Beach Boy music, 'I Can Hear Music', and 'Wouldn't it be Nice'. This evoked strong memories of my youth. I remembered a carload of us driving to Ballarat to get some Ballarat Bitter which wasn't available in Melbourne. It would have been in 1969 I think, and it must have been a Sauturday as the pubs weren't open on Sundays back then. We were in Laurie Mitchell's Zephyr sedan. It was hotted up with twin carbies and extractors and supposedly a racing camshaft but this may have been bulldust. The car was previously Laurie's older brother Andy's, after previously being their mum's. Andy became engaged to Kaye McCauley who lived in Sherwood Road and he moved on to more sedate and appropriate wheels.
There we were coming back from Ballarat all necking from bottles, including the driver, big bottles, stubbies were not yet invented. There was no 0.05 law. The rest of us were not yet at driving age and of course did not own cars. The Mitchell's were quite wealthy. Their father Mort owned Spaceline Homes, a prominent building company of the time. We had a billiard table at home and both my parents worked which was unusual then, and many of the neighbourhood youths congregagated at our house as a base. We played pool and billiards, cards, watched TV, drank coffee and tea. Everyone smoked and boozed at every opportunity. The boozing was not done at our house. My parents were wowsers and disapproved but were working long hours and frankly we had little to do with them. It was a bit of a wild time.
It's funny the things you remember while working on a shed roof, thinking back more than forty years ago. There was a certain freedom of youth, the Vietnam war was in full swing, all of us youths faced the marble ballot, I think that added to gungho attitude we had. Laurie did get called up later. I haven't seen him for more than forty years I'd say. We all sort of got scattered about as you do as you become adults. I met Andy and Mort one day in the Austin hospital, must have been 1985 as I was visiting my father after his heart bypass surgery. They were doing a bedside vigil, Mrs Mitchell was dying and not expected to live more than a few days.
The Beach Boys seemed to capture the zeitgeist of the late sixties early seventies. It was freedom music to my generation.
Edit 2 Aug 2026 - This post turned up as having been read by someone somewhere so I read it out of interest to find I had said Andy Mitchell got engaged to one of the Cantillon twins. I realize this is wrong - Andy married Kaye McCauley. I have corrected it above. I was in the same year at primary school with Kaye's younger sister Pam.
Saturday, October 20, 2012
Busy Day
The dogwood was early this year. We picked sixty bunches for today's pick up and some snowball and mollis to go with our mixed bunches and bits and pieces.
I took four photos on Meredith's camera, Roger emailed them to me, I have so far only been able to upload two onto this post, the process seems to be playing up, but I'll try again now. If not successful two is better than none.
Robbie helped me. He's reloading everything onto the computer I use usually as it had been playing up for a while. I started a computer course on Wednesday night, for eight weeks, intermediate level at the Emerald Community House, so my skills should improve. I started learning about Excel this week, Robbie has installed it for me so I can do my work book at home.
The dogwood looks beautiful but as I said yesterday it doesn't show up well in a photo.
I took four photos on Meredith's camera, Roger emailed them to me, I have so far only been able to upload two onto this post, the process seems to be playing up, but I'll try again now. If not successful two is better than none.
Robbie helped me. He's reloading everything onto the computer I use usually as it had been playing up for a while. I started a computer course on Wednesday night, for eight weeks, intermediate level at the Emerald Community House, so my skills should improve. I started learning about Excel this week, Robbie has installed it for me so I can do my work book at home.
The dogwood looks beautiful but as I said yesterday it doesn't show up well in a photo.
Friday, October 19, 2012
More Photos for Lesley
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| At Laurie and Joyce Begge's |
Today I came across some more spring colour, better than the photos of the previous post.
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| In Fay Gerber's garden |
Lindy lent me her camera to take these shots. It had a zoom lens. I should have zoomed in on things. The lilac, purple in the background, was stunning but doesn't show up in this photo. We picked all our lilac at the farm as I did at home so couldn't take a photo. Lindy picked most of the waratahs and took them to Fay yesterday. Dogwood doesn't really photograph that well from a distance but it's a most beautiful flower up close. Lindy's partner Ian put the photos on a 'stick' for me. The truth is photography is not a subject at which I am skilled.
Wednesday, October 17, 2012
Gardener's Delight
The six weeks since our holiday have not been idle ones for me. At the farm we have busied picking spring blossom including prunus, lilac, viburnums, pieris, malus, rhodie, mollis azalea and dogwood (I will have left something out). Our garden here in Gembrook has astounded me with its colour and beauty. As well as the above mentioned the flowering of camellias, mintbush, and waratahs, things we no longer harvest for sale, has been prodigious, and with the luscious splurge of new green foliage, I have commented to myself numerous times that this is surely the best spring show I have ever seen. Or maybe it's just that the older you get (now at 60) you appreciate things more.
How wonderful it is to be 60. Old enough to have a lot of memories, but still young enough to be effective and productive, there's little I can't do that I once could and that which I don't I probably never should have anyway. More ladies look more beautiful to me than they ever did, from young to old (although I wish they'd drop the tattoos). By and large I have more empathy for my fellow man than I did in years gone by and I have clearer picture of what I find acceptable or otherwise, and how I like to conduct myself, with less chance of stuffing up.
A highlight for me this week was Robbie's 25th birthday. He's nearly finished his honours degree. It was a pleasure which suprised me with its depth as I lit the Weber for our Sunday roast and reflected on our success, to have our youngest child reach a quarter of a century. Both Gord and Rob are fine citizens. We are all in good health, touch wood. There's much to be thankful for in our bountiful lives and garden. And not least is good friends and neighbours.
There's nothing remarkable about our achievements, many people raise kids successfully and have harmonious families, including grandchildren which Meredith and many friend's enjoy, that we have not as yet, but I'm pleased when I reflect.
The two young fools who sped past me on trail bikes in Cockatoo this evening on my way home, missing me and an oncoming car by inches, made me realize it can be over in a flash. It would only take a car or truck coming the other way to deviate a few feet. It happens. I watched Australian Story last night. Rod Laver had a stroke at aged 60 and would have died had he not been 100 metres from a specialist emergency hospital. I'm happy to go to bed each night, and get up in the morning. I have no great expectations from here on.
Goodnight.
How wonderful it is to be 60. Old enough to have a lot of memories, but still young enough to be effective and productive, there's little I can't do that I once could and that which I don't I probably never should have anyway. More ladies look more beautiful to me than they ever did, from young to old (although I wish they'd drop the tattoos). By and large I have more empathy for my fellow man than I did in years gone by and I have clearer picture of what I find acceptable or otherwise, and how I like to conduct myself, with less chance of stuffing up.
A highlight for me this week was Robbie's 25th birthday. He's nearly finished his honours degree. It was a pleasure which suprised me with its depth as I lit the Weber for our Sunday roast and reflected on our success, to have our youngest child reach a quarter of a century. Both Gord and Rob are fine citizens. We are all in good health, touch wood. There's much to be thankful for in our bountiful lives and garden. And not least is good friends and neighbours.
There's nothing remarkable about our achievements, many people raise kids successfully and have harmonious families, including grandchildren which Meredith and many friend's enjoy, that we have not as yet, but I'm pleased when I reflect.
The two young fools who sped past me on trail bikes in Cockatoo this evening on my way home, missing me and an oncoming car by inches, made me realize it can be over in a flash. It would only take a car or truck coming the other way to deviate a few feet. It happens. I watched Australian Story last night. Rod Laver had a stroke at aged 60 and would have died had he not been 100 metres from a specialist emergency hospital. I'm happy to go to bed each night, and get up in the morning. I have no great expectations from here on.
Goodnight.
Tuesday, October 16, 2012
FIJI DAY15/16
Friday 31 Aug was our last full day on Naigani and we were determined to make the most of it. We rose before dawn to wait for Toka the fisherman to come at the appointed time of 6.00am to take us out deep sea fishing, the trawling with heavy gear stuff that we'd never done before. At the shore in the dark Paul from Christchurch was waiting with his young son. Toka came from the direction of the village loaded with fuel containers. He'd started the generators at the rear of the resort on his way. It was daylight by the time we took off, heading east towards Ovalau Is.
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| As the sun rose |
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| Lib and Paul, Naigani in the background |
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| But you can see clouds building |
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| The bush behind the beach |
Saturday 1 Sep after our last meal in the restaurant we packed in our bure and went to the boat loading area. It was overcast windy day. Some staff gathered to farewell us with a traditional song and we departed Naigani about 10.30.
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| We will remember these people with fondness |
Our man and driver was not there to meet us as he said he was but another Indian fellow with a van was so we had room to give Mark and Tracy a lift to Suva. They were intending to catch a public bus but were glad of a free ride in comfort for the 80km or so. We said goodbye to them in Suva where our driver left us for an hour to have lunch. An hour or so out of Suva, our driver Vinnit who took us Nadi to Natovi two weeks earlier met us and we transfered to his Forester for the trip back to the Novatel Hotel where we had our final night.
Next day we took a cab to Port Denarue, a very upmarket resort area with a boat harbour with many expensive yachts and cruise boats. It was worth seeing but not to our taste so we didn't linger after a lunch and some shopping and caught public buses back to Nadi and the Novatel, where our bags were in the store room.
Our flight was at 6.00pm. We managed to get a bottle of water on board with us. It was uneventful and totally boring except for the spectacular lights of the big city of of Melbourne as we descended on a perfectly clear night. The cold air was a shock leaving the plane but there was something welcoming about it. Gord and Rob picked us up, it was well after midnight when we arrived home much to the delight of Snow and Pip.
BULA VINAKA
Thursday, October 11, 2012
FIJI 13 /14 - Something Strange
Wednesday Day 13 of our Fiji holiday saw us looking for pippies again in the morning, so much had we enjoyed the previous day. We were quite good at finding them this time and quickly had a good bag. It was low tide and a villager was catching fish by sneaking up to the water's edge and throwing a net out to where he saw surface disturbance and then pulling in the net. I went over and he had a dozen and a half little fish in the net that he was sorting through. They were only about 12 cm long but he kept them, I guess they have a way of utilizing fish that size.
When we went back to the bure we put the pippies on the table on the verandah and Lib took a photo of them. We then took the pippies to the kitchen, offered them to the cook or kitchen hand who accepted them gratefully but made no suggestion of cooking them so we went back to our bure for lunch and a read. The room staff made up our bure while we did this, they came in each day and made the beds and swept and filled the water filter. The power was off as it was every afternoon till about five, and we went for some afternoon exercise,walking to the summit. We were away for about an hour and we couldn't understand why all the lights in our bure were on and the ceiling fans were going, and the air conditioner. We hadn't used the aircon once till this point, the temperature always being warm but comfortable.
Our joint conclusion was that the man (usually it was a lady but this time it was a man) who cleaned the bure must have turned everything on as he cleaned without realizing it as the power was off and nothing would have turned on with the switch. I couldn't work out how someone would accidentally turn on every switch, but it seemed like nothing to worry about.
The next morning I woke fairly early and got up to enjoy a cup of tea and read in the front room. Lib was still asleep in the bedroom, I was wearing underpants and a singlet only, when about 7.30 Weiss was on the veranda and he knocked on the glass sliding door.
"Your early checking the water Weiss," I said, feeling a little odd in my underwear as I let him in. I had no clothes handy so I just acted normally as if it was not unusual to have someone knocking on your door unexpectedly while you weren't dressed.
"No, I haven't come to check the water, i just thought I'd pay you a visit and have a talk," he said.
I told him to sit down, and I did too, and we made small talk for a few minutes, then he said nervously, "Actually Carey, there's something I want to ask you."
"Go ahead Weiss."
"Would you be able to lend me ten dollars? I owe Heppy ten dollars, it's pay day tomorrow, but he wants his money back today, I'll pay you back tomorrow."
"Yeah no worries Weiss." I went to the bedroom to get wallet. I only had F$50 notes. "I've only got a $50."
"That's alright I have change." I gave him a fifty and he gave me two twenties. I told him he didn't have to pay me back.
"Oh no I must pay you back," he said. He thanked me and went on his way. After he left it occurred to me that it was strange he had forty dollars to give me change when he asked me for ten, but then he might have been ten short for what he owed Heppy. It seemed a bit odd though. Some days earlier at Lib's insistence I had given Weiss F$50. We liked Weiss, he impressed us with his politeness and assistance and how he made us feel so welcome. Lib had spent some time talking to him on our boat trip to Levuka the previous week. He was on the trip to go to the hospital to get medicine, he didn't say what for. He had a long term plan to go to Australia and do floral arranging, he said, and he was saving all the money he could for that purpose. Lib wanted to give him $50 for him to save to go to Australia one day. He may be 18 or 19 years old, I'm not a good judge.
After breakfast the tide was well out and it was overcast so we decided we'd go for a walk and gather more pippies. We looked for the camera and couldn't find it. We looked hi and lo and couldn't find it. We always left it on the table in the front room. We remembered the last photo we took was of the pippies at lunchtime yesterday. Lib said she put the camera on the table, as always.
It must have been stolen we concluded. We never locked the bure, in fact we didn't have a key, we weren't given one. My wallet was always with me, and I hid it if I went snorkelling. It didn't seem like a place for thieves.
We went to Heppy's office and reported the stolen camera. He said one was handed in yesterday, some kids had found it on the beach, he went to get it from lost property. Sure enough it was our camera. The kids had left with their family this morning.
We'll never know for sure how our camera got from the bure to the beach, or how everything in our bure was turned on when we went for a walk the previous day. The kids that found our camera on the beach were in the bure next door to ours the first day they arrived, but their parents asked for another one nearer the pool so they moved. We reckon the kids got in our bure and stole the camera and turned all our switches on, but when they found the screen was broken they handed it in saying they found it on the beach. The bure next to ours where the kids family had been, also had lights on in it even though it was vacant, when the generators worked, so the kids had probably been in there and turned things on too.
And it may explain Weiss turning up early to ask for ten dollars, to see if we'd had our money stolen too. He knew our camera had a broken screen, Lib told him about it on our trip to Levuka, so when it was handed in he would have recognized it as ours. Maybe the kids told their parents they found a camera or were seen with it and their parents made them take it to the office. They were young kids, under ten. The family was English, but had lived in Suva for 9 years. He had a diving business.
I hope this has not been too boring. I did want to write about this, and the whole Fiji holiday. It was a memorable and fantastic holiday. Weiss didn't give me the ten back.
Pippies
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| Fisherman |
When we went back to the bure we put the pippies on the table on the verandah and Lib took a photo of them. We then took the pippies to the kitchen, offered them to the cook or kitchen hand who accepted them gratefully but made no suggestion of cooking them so we went back to our bure for lunch and a read. The room staff made up our bure while we did this, they came in each day and made the beds and swept and filled the water filter. The power was off as it was every afternoon till about five, and we went for some afternoon exercise,walking to the summit. We were away for about an hour and we couldn't understand why all the lights in our bure were on and the ceiling fans were going, and the air conditioner. We hadn't used the aircon once till this point, the temperature always being warm but comfortable.
Our joint conclusion was that the man (usually it was a lady but this time it was a man) who cleaned the bure must have turned everything on as he cleaned without realizing it as the power was off and nothing would have turned on with the switch. I couldn't work out how someone would accidentally turn on every switch, but it seemed like nothing to worry about.
The next morning I woke fairly early and got up to enjoy a cup of tea and read in the front room. Lib was still asleep in the bedroom, I was wearing underpants and a singlet only, when about 7.30 Weiss was on the veranda and he knocked on the glass sliding door.
"Your early checking the water Weiss," I said, feeling a little odd in my underwear as I let him in. I had no clothes handy so I just acted normally as if it was not unusual to have someone knocking on your door unexpectedly while you weren't dressed.
"No, I haven't come to check the water, i just thought I'd pay you a visit and have a talk," he said.
I told him to sit down, and I did too, and we made small talk for a few minutes, then he said nervously, "Actually Carey, there's something I want to ask you."
"Go ahead Weiss."
"Would you be able to lend me ten dollars? I owe Heppy ten dollars, it's pay day tomorrow, but he wants his money back today, I'll pay you back tomorrow."
"Yeah no worries Weiss." I went to the bedroom to get wallet. I only had F$50 notes. "I've only got a $50."
"That's alright I have change." I gave him a fifty and he gave me two twenties. I told him he didn't have to pay me back.
"Oh no I must pay you back," he said. He thanked me and went on his way. After he left it occurred to me that it was strange he had forty dollars to give me change when he asked me for ten, but then he might have been ten short for what he owed Heppy. It seemed a bit odd though. Some days earlier at Lib's insistence I had given Weiss F$50. We liked Weiss, he impressed us with his politeness and assistance and how he made us feel so welcome. Lib had spent some time talking to him on our boat trip to Levuka the previous week. He was on the trip to go to the hospital to get medicine, he didn't say what for. He had a long term plan to go to Australia and do floral arranging, he said, and he was saving all the money he could for that purpose. Lib wanted to give him $50 for him to save to go to Australia one day. He may be 18 or 19 years old, I'm not a good judge.
After breakfast the tide was well out and it was overcast so we decided we'd go for a walk and gather more pippies. We looked for the camera and couldn't find it. We looked hi and lo and couldn't find it. We always left it on the table in the front room. We remembered the last photo we took was of the pippies at lunchtime yesterday. Lib said she put the camera on the table, as always.
It must have been stolen we concluded. We never locked the bure, in fact we didn't have a key, we weren't given one. My wallet was always with me, and I hid it if I went snorkelling. It didn't seem like a place for thieves.
We went to Heppy's office and reported the stolen camera. He said one was handed in yesterday, some kids had found it on the beach, he went to get it from lost property. Sure enough it was our camera. The kids had left with their family this morning.
We'll never know for sure how our camera got from the bure to the beach, or how everything in our bure was turned on when we went for a walk the previous day. The kids that found our camera on the beach were in the bure next door to ours the first day they arrived, but their parents asked for another one nearer the pool so they moved. We reckon the kids got in our bure and stole the camera and turned all our switches on, but when they found the screen was broken they handed it in saying they found it on the beach. The bure next to ours where the kids family had been, also had lights on in it even though it was vacant, when the generators worked, so the kids had probably been in there and turned things on too.
And it may explain Weiss turning up early to ask for ten dollars, to see if we'd had our money stolen too. He knew our camera had a broken screen, Lib told him about it on our trip to Levuka, so when it was handed in he would have recognized it as ours. Maybe the kids told their parents they found a camera or were seen with it and their parents made them take it to the office. They were young kids, under ten. The family was English, but had lived in Suva for 9 years. He had a diving business.
I hope this has not been too boring. I did want to write about this, and the whole Fiji holiday. It was a memorable and fantastic holiday. Weiss didn't give me the ten back.
Wednesday, October 10, 2012
FIJI Day 12
Just as we were turning into the bush Tracey's voice boomed, "Where are you two off to?" I don't know if they'd seen us and followed, but there they were. They'd asked us where the track was before and we'd told them but they were keen for us to show them how to get to Picnic Beach so up the hill we all went. We took them across the top through the bush farms/plantations to where the descent became steep and from where they couldn't go wrong, then we went our own way following a track through the plantations heading south hoping to end up at Sacred Bay.
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| Mark Tracey and Lib |
We didn't get all that far when came across a village farmer who was friendly and courteous but said politely that we were on his farm which was OK but there was no reason for us to keep going that way, it was just people's farms. We took the hint. He said his name was Toka (must be a common village name) and he told us the names of trees and edible plants and enjoyed answering our questions.
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| Toka the farmer with a bunch of Taro |
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| This lady was so nice |
Mark and Tracey came back quite late to the resort, after walking back around the shore not wanting to go up the steep ascent. They left it pretty late and had to go quickly to beat the tide they said.
Tuesday, October 09, 2012
FIJI DAY 11
Monday morning was the best weather we'd had on the island. Clear blue sky, no wind, calm sea. We decided to kayak round the north end of the island to Picnic Beach.
By now we were feeling relaxed and confidant on Naigani. We knew most of the staff and our way around and the routine, even getting a kayak off the rack and heading out did not have that self conscious element we felt the first week. We'd been waiting for a calm day to venture out of sight of the resort in a kayak around to the other side.
Mark and Tracey from Sydney turned up on cue just as we were about to leave. They were back from their morning scuba dive. They were out on the dive boat every day, except the one when it was cancelled because of the weather. They had a knack of finding us when they weren't diving, "What are you two up to," Tracey's loud voice would demand before you'd seen her.
"Were off to Picnic Beach, perfect day for it."
Mark chimed in, "The young czech bloke kayaked round there last week. He reckoned it took him 20 minutes to get to the point."
Off we went, Lib in front, me in the rear trying to remember to co ordinate with Lib's paddling. The water was blue green and clear then deep blue as we were over deeper sections. There was a gentle swell right to left that hardly affected progress and I was surprised at how quickly we went. Checking the watch it was right on twenty minutes of steady paddling as we reached the point and turned left to travel the north of the island. It was much quicker than walking along the shore on the slippery rocks. The gentle swell of two or three feet was now coming from behind us and pushing us along. It was exhilarating.
We reached Picnic beach in about forty minutes or so since leaving the resort, again we we had it to ourselves and there are some times in life that you remember clearly forever and this day will be one for me. We decided to make use of the calm weather and continue around the island. We didn't take the camera for fear of getting it wet but we did on the following Friday, FIJI Day 15, so I'll put up a couple of snaps when I get there. This shot below is someone else kayaking in front of the resort but it gives an idea of the scene.
It was a solid paddle down the west side past Sacred Bay and then past Cannibal Caves. The sea became rougher as we rounded the south side back to the east side. Now we we were heading into a bigger swell coming directly towards us and a head wind. The last half hour or so past the native village and back to the resort was hard work. The circuit took us about two and a half hours of which half an hour was stoppage time on the beach.
As we returned Mark and Tracey were about to leave on an afternoon diving trip. "Did you go right round? Was it hard?"
"No it was good mostly, but the last bit was a bit tough, the sea was rougher and the wind stronger."
The Czech guy was with them. "I went round last week, it took two hours and the last bit was hard."
We had a little rest in the afternoon, well pleased with ourselves that we'd rowed around. We didn't set off intending to, it was meant to be a stepping stone for a circuit later in the week. Next time we said to each other, we'll take flippers and snorkels and camera and lunch at Picnic Beach.
By now we were feeling relaxed and confidant on Naigani. We knew most of the staff and our way around and the routine, even getting a kayak off the rack and heading out did not have that self conscious element we felt the first week. We'd been waiting for a calm day to venture out of sight of the resort in a kayak around to the other side.
Mark and Tracey from Sydney turned up on cue just as we were about to leave. They were back from their morning scuba dive. They were out on the dive boat every day, except the one when it was cancelled because of the weather. They had a knack of finding us when they weren't diving, "What are you two up to," Tracey's loud voice would demand before you'd seen her.
"Were off to Picnic Beach, perfect day for it."
Mark chimed in, "The young czech bloke kayaked round there last week. He reckoned it took him 20 minutes to get to the point."
Off we went, Lib in front, me in the rear trying to remember to co ordinate with Lib's paddling. The water was blue green and clear then deep blue as we were over deeper sections. There was a gentle swell right to left that hardly affected progress and I was surprised at how quickly we went. Checking the watch it was right on twenty minutes of steady paddling as we reached the point and turned left to travel the north of the island. It was much quicker than walking along the shore on the slippery rocks. The gentle swell of two or three feet was now coming from behind us and pushing us along. It was exhilarating.
We reached Picnic beach in about forty minutes or so since leaving the resort, again we we had it to ourselves and there are some times in life that you remember clearly forever and this day will be one for me. We decided to make use of the calm weather and continue around the island. We didn't take the camera for fear of getting it wet but we did on the following Friday, FIJI Day 15, so I'll put up a couple of snaps when I get there. This shot below is someone else kayaking in front of the resort but it gives an idea of the scene.
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| A Kayak in front of the resort, looking more or less ESEast |
As we returned Mark and Tracey were about to leave on an afternoon diving trip. "Did you go right round? Was it hard?"
"No it was good mostly, but the last bit was a bit tough, the sea was rougher and the wind stronger."
The Czech guy was with them. "I went round last week, it took two hours and the last bit was hard."
We had a little rest in the afternoon, well pleased with ourselves that we'd rowed around. We didn't set off intending to, it was meant to be a stepping stone for a circuit later in the week. Next time we said to each other, we'll take flippers and snorkels and camera and lunch at Picnic Beach.
FIJI DAY 9 /10
Saturday was the day a number of our new friends were leaving. John and Jenny and Seth and Sarah from Los Angeles, Paul and Odette from Montreal, Terry and Kristie from Florida, and Andrew and Gill from Sydney all gathered about 10.30 to board the boat back to Viti Levu. The staff gathered to sing a traditional farewell song for them and Lib and I said our goodbyes.
Lib had come down with the very sore neck and swollen glands and had fever as well so after the farewell we went to the little store (which opened for half an hour each day if anyone turned up) to buy some panadol, then we went back to the bure to read and rest. Lib stayed resting till dinner, I took an afternoon walk to the summit before happy hour.
I'd stopped making diary notes diary notes by this point so my comments for the rest of the trip will be from memory totally and brief, but there's yet to come some interesting stuff I'd like to record and some more photos I'd like to put up so I'll persist over the next few days to finish my commentary of our Fiji trip.
Sunday was a rest day if I remember, with Lib still a bit crook. I took a solo walk in the afternoon, it was from memory the worst day weather wise, with the wind at its worst and some drizzly rain.
New people hadarrived on the Saturday return boat, Paul and ? from Christchurch NZ, Nobby and Ray and wives from Murray Bridge in SthAust and Jim and Patricia from the Gold Coast.
I just checked and we took no photos on days 9 and 10, probably because Lib was crook and we didn't do much anyway. I made a serious dent in Michener's 'Carribbean'.
Lib had come down with the very sore neck and swollen glands and had fever as well so after the farewell we went to the little store (which opened for half an hour each day if anyone turned up) to buy some panadol, then we went back to the bure to read and rest. Lib stayed resting till dinner, I took an afternoon walk to the summit before happy hour.
I'd stopped making diary notes diary notes by this point so my comments for the rest of the trip will be from memory totally and brief, but there's yet to come some interesting stuff I'd like to record and some more photos I'd like to put up so I'll persist over the next few days to finish my commentary of our Fiji trip.
Sunday was a rest day if I remember, with Lib still a bit crook. I took a solo walk in the afternoon, it was from memory the worst day weather wise, with the wind at its worst and some drizzly rain.
New people hadarrived on the Saturday return boat, Paul and ? from Christchurch NZ, Nobby and Ray and wives from Murray Bridge in SthAust and Jim and Patricia from the Gold Coast.
I just checked and we took no photos on days 9 and 10, probably because Lib was crook and we didn't do much anyway. I made a serious dent in Michener's 'Carribbean'.
Tuesday, October 02, 2012
FIJI Day 8
After breakfast we walked to the summit and instead of returning the same way we continued along the track which wound it's way back around the hill and came out back at the resort at the staff quarters, after which we took our books and read by the pool. Lib swam.
We had lunch in the bure and in the afternoon went on the village tour. Our escort was Weiss, I think all the resort guests came on the tour, perhaps 16 people.
A senior man, Raoul I think his name was, greeted us and gave us a talk about village and some of the history. The village used to be on the top of the hill where they were safer from marauding tribes coming by canoe as they had look outs constantly watching for encroachers, and a bit of a fort as a last resort. The missionaries came about 100 years ago and it took about 20 years but the chiefs eventually agreed to put away the war clubs and live in peace. They then relocated the village down to where it is now on the shore. Raoul gave a demonstration of blowing the conch which one man is elected to do for one year to call a village meeting. There were basket and mat weaving demos and a carva ceremony. The village was super clean and tidy and the villagers so warm and friendly. It was a memorable visit.
It was explained that before the resort was built in about 1980 the main source of income was dried coconut powder, the only commercial crop, their other farming of bananas, cassova, taro etc being for their own food. Going way back a white man lived on the island, an escaped Irish convict from Australia named George Riley who escaped by boat and befriended the chief on Naigani who allowed him to build a house there. Riley's descendants lived there right up till the resort opened if I remember rightly and the resort restaurant was once the Riley household, if I'm right. Since the resort opened the villagers have employment and income and electricity from generator a few hours a day for cooking and washing machines etc and even TV in many houses. The diesel to run the generators is costly.
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We had lunch in the bure and in the afternoon went on the village tour. Our escort was Weiss, I think all the resort guests came on the tour, perhaps 16 people.
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| Lib and Weiss |
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| Raoul with conch and kids under vessy tree |
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| Roaul and me |
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| Carva ceremony |
Sunday, September 30, 2012
Grand Final Day
Lib left for Lakes last Wednesday with Gord and I came down yesterday evening. I brought Robbie's old laptop with me and arrived about 7pm. I'm sitting at the dining table facing the ocean which is postcard blue in the bright sunshine and flecked with thousands of whitecaps in the strong wind. Lib's gone for a walk to Bunga before we fire the barbie to cook our steak and sausages, I'm listening to the races at Mornington and Morphetville, there being no city Melbourne meeting probably because the footy grand final is on.
Lib's taking a long time so I'll leave of here to finish later and go and light the fire.
Well, here I am Sunday morning finishing my post. Same table same view, Lib and Gord are yet asleep. Lib came back as I went down to light the barbie yesterday and took over the cooking, she loves cooking on the open fire in the little barbie. Lunch and timing was good, the game starting as we finished.
What a great game and Sydney are deserving winners. I enjoyed the game and result as much as if my team won it I'm sure, but you could argue that I wouldn't know as the last time I experienced that it was 1964 when I was 12 years old.
I'm heading home today, I'm about to slip down the street to see if I can find some bog or putty to repair some rot I found late yesterday before I go. I don't think hardwares are open here on Sunday and I don't think the supermarkets stock that stuff, but I'll try.
Lib and Gord will come home tomorrow.
CHEER CHEER THE RED AND THE WHITE
Lib's taking a long time so I'll leave of here to finish later and go and light the fire.
Well, here I am Sunday morning finishing my post. Same table same view, Lib and Gord are yet asleep. Lib came back as I went down to light the barbie yesterday and took over the cooking, she loves cooking on the open fire in the little barbie. Lunch and timing was good, the game starting as we finished.
What a great game and Sydney are deserving winners. I enjoyed the game and result as much as if my team won it I'm sure, but you could argue that I wouldn't know as the last time I experienced that it was 1964 when I was 12 years old.
I'm heading home today, I'm about to slip down the street to see if I can find some bog or putty to repair some rot I found late yesterday before I go. I don't think hardwares are open here on Sunday and I don't think the supermarkets stock that stuff, but I'll try.
Lib and Gord will come home tomorrow.
CHEER CHEER THE RED AND THE WHITE
Wednesday, September 26, 2012
School Holidays
It's school holidays at the moment, which is of little significance to me except that there are no young ones walking to school bus in the mornings. I miss them. I like to wave and say "G'day have a good day" to the regulars I cross paths with. I love their youth, their nervousness, their seriousness that breaks into a smile sometimes when they return my offer of greeting. I was once like them. I understand far more than they know I do.
One day not long before we left for Fiji the teachers were on strike for more money, so there were no kids that day. A few days after we got back the teachers were on strike again, no kids again. I love seeing the kids. I really do feel for them. The week after we came back their was a Four Corners' program on youth suicide which is apparently statistically on the increase to alarming levels.
I don't have any answers. I do know kids ask themselves the meaning of life, and have self doubt and fears of failure in this capitalist, competetive, winner and loser society we thrust them into. It sucks. The best things in life are free for most us; fresh air, sunshine, friendship, love, nature. I don't have to own it, and money can't buy it. It's all there every day if I'm open to it. I don't worry about the meaning of life. I don't know what it is. I had this discussion with my son Rob just the other day To me it's a mystery we all share, whatever paths we follow. I don't think the dentist who screws me $80 for a ten minute examination and clean, or the specialst who charges $110 to read my blood tests last year are any happier than me. No wonder then the plumber gets ideas and ups his fee. We've had the cops on strike this year, the ambos, and the fire brigade too. They all want more,more, all the time. It's not the answer. If I could think of an answer, best I could offer, "Open your your eyes and your heart." But I don't want to preach.
I just wish the teachers' union would bugger off and stop setting such a terrible example and let me enjoy seeing the kids go to school.
One day not long before we left for Fiji the teachers were on strike for more money, so there were no kids that day. A few days after we got back the teachers were on strike again, no kids again. I love seeing the kids. I really do feel for them. The week after we came back their was a Four Corners' program on youth suicide which is apparently statistically on the increase to alarming levels.
I don't have any answers. I do know kids ask themselves the meaning of life, and have self doubt and fears of failure in this capitalist, competetive, winner and loser society we thrust them into. It sucks. The best things in life are free for most us; fresh air, sunshine, friendship, love, nature. I don't have to own it, and money can't buy it. It's all there every day if I'm open to it. I don't worry about the meaning of life. I don't know what it is. I had this discussion with my son Rob just the other day To me it's a mystery we all share, whatever paths we follow. I don't think the dentist who screws me $80 for a ten minute examination and clean, or the specialst who charges $110 to read my blood tests last year are any happier than me. No wonder then the plumber gets ideas and ups his fee. We've had the cops on strike this year, the ambos, and the fire brigade too. They all want more,more, all the time. It's not the answer. If I could think of an answer, best I could offer, "Open your your eyes and your heart." But I don't want to preach.
I just wish the teachers' union would bugger off and stop setting such a terrible example and let me enjoy seeing the kids go to school.
Tuesday, September 25, 2012
FIJI Day 7
Thursday of week one was a quiet day, with a kayak session after breakfast followed by snorkel at low tide in front of the resort.
This time we took a single kayak each and paddled for about an hour in front of the resort. I felt we'd reached a bit of confidence with kayaking and the plan was to pick a nice calm day and paddle round to Picnic Beach soon. And to kayak around the island if weather permitted was also a goal berfore we left.
To snorkel at low tide we had to walk out to the little island at the front of the resort and then some more across rocks to reach water but it was worth it. I was by now also reaching a level of confidence with the snorkel and enjoying it far more than at the start, keeping up with Lib and sharing the maagnificent underwater scenery.
After our picnic lunch in the bure we had a sleep in the afternoon. We'd selected vegetarian stir fry for dinner, after which we talked to Andrew and Gill Stringer from Sydney who had arrived on the island the previous day. Most of the arrivals and departures were on Saturdays apparently but there were a few during the week. Of the five couples that arrived on the previous Saturday including us three were staying a week and Tracey and Mark from Sydney were staying for two as Lib and I were.
Gill and Andrew were from Sth Africa originally. They went to Canada soon after marrying in 1979 with Andrew's work with an accounting firm and because of the political turmoil in Sth Africa were not in a hurry to return home and lived in Canada 8 years. With a young family they migrated to Australia after deciding they wanted to bring up their kids in a warm outdoor climate similar to what they grew up in with the traditional summer sports. Interestingly Gill's background was Spanish but she was raised in Sth Africa. Andrew's grandparents of one side had migrated to Sth Africa from Kyneton Victoria no less in the ealy 1900's. After the Boer war there was depression in Australia and a Kyneton resident returned from that war telling his grandfather he should try Sth Africa for work. It was a British colony. So grandfather and his brother hopped on a ship to Sth Africa and found work and liked it there so they brought out their fiances from Kyneton and married them straight away almost on leaving the ship.
This time we took a single kayak each and paddled for about an hour in front of the resort. I felt we'd reached a bit of confidence with kayaking and the plan was to pick a nice calm day and paddle round to Picnic Beach soon. And to kayak around the island if weather permitted was also a goal berfore we left.
To snorkel at low tide we had to walk out to the little island at the front of the resort and then some more across rocks to reach water but it was worth it. I was by now also reaching a level of confidence with the snorkel and enjoying it far more than at the start, keeping up with Lib and sharing the maagnificent underwater scenery.
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| The small island in front of the resort. The other large island in the background is Ovalau island on which Levuka is situated. |
After our picnic lunch in the bure we had a sleep in the afternoon. We'd selected vegetarian stir fry for dinner, after which we talked to Andrew and Gill Stringer from Sydney who had arrived on the island the previous day. Most of the arrivals and departures were on Saturdays apparently but there were a few during the week. Of the five couples that arrived on the previous Saturday including us three were staying a week and Tracey and Mark from Sydney were staying for two as Lib and I were.
Gill and Andrew were from Sth Africa originally. They went to Canada soon after marrying in 1979 with Andrew's work with an accounting firm and because of the political turmoil in Sth Africa were not in a hurry to return home and lived in Canada 8 years. With a young family they migrated to Australia after deciding they wanted to bring up their kids in a warm outdoor climate similar to what they grew up in with the traditional summer sports. Interestingly Gill's background was Spanish but she was raised in Sth Africa. Andrew's grandparents of one side had migrated to Sth Africa from Kyneton Victoria no less in the ealy 1900's. After the Boer war there was depression in Australia and a Kyneton resident returned from that war telling his grandfather he should try Sth Africa for work. It was a British colony. So grandfather and his brother hopped on a ship to Sth Africa and found work and liked it there so they brought out their fiances from Kyneton and married them straight away almost on leaving the ship.
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| A few of the boys putting a roof on |
FIJI Day 6
Wednesday was the day of the tour to Levuka, the old capital on a large island, at a cost of F$80 each or A$50 thereabouts. It was about an hour's boat trip. This was where Fiji was ceded to the British in 1874. There's a large fish cannery there, a hospital, a museum and quite a lot of shops. Several of the resort staff including Frank (skipper), Mila, Weiss, pronounced Wice, Toka, all Naigani villagers, came for the outing and stocking up, and another, the bloke who sang and played guitar in the restaurant each night whose name escapes, also came as his home was there, high up on a steep hill that he pointed out. We later met his wife and kids on the shopping strip.
Our main purpose besides sightseeing was to stock up on tuna cans and sardines etc for our lunches, and of course wine and beer as much as we could comfortably fit in our bag. Food supplies other than potato crisps and Twisties, Pringles were not available on Naigani, obviously they wanted you to eat in the restaurant. We'd taken the two meal package, breakfast and dinner, leaving lunch to be what we had brought which wasn't much, and or what we could knock off at breakfast like a few slices of toast and fruit (concealed in our floppy hats which were in hand not on head). The 2 meal package was F$65 pp so that was F$130 each day or about A$80. If you add a bottle of wine, F$40, the cost was getting up. Those prices aren't bad when you compare them to any restaurant in Aus, but who eats every day at a restaurant?
We enjoyed the trip and lunch on the balcony of a second floor restaurant. Fish chop suey was my fare at about F$8 while Lib went the chicken chop suey which was quite salty I noticed when I finished it for her. Toka sat at our table. He solemly said grace before eating, and asked us if we were of a particular church to which I replied "Not really, you could say Church of England I suppose."
In answer to my question he said his was "All Nations".
I asked him could I get him a drink as I went the bar and he said "Yes thanks, a soft drink." Later, as if to return my gesture, he carried our heavy bag from the supermarket to the boat. We only saw the museum in the last ten minutes before we were due to leave but in our quick look I was fascinated and could have spent hours there I'm sure.
The only downer for the day was a painfull neck that developed and got worse during the day. At the back of the neck, in the muscles at the side, most irritating to turn the head or look up or down. I thought maybe the snorkelling had irritated, I spent much time self massaging which I think annoyed Lib a bit because it distracted me from whatever she was saying or pointing out. Wives don't like that. I had a few jabbing pains in other parts like feet, knees and elbows, but not alarmingly. The neck was sore for a couple days, but not to stop me doing anything.
Three days later Lib's neck got very sore, same place, and she had quite pronounced swelling, and other pains like I'd had, and she also had a fever. We decided it must have been a virus.
Our main purpose besides sightseeing was to stock up on tuna cans and sardines etc for our lunches, and of course wine and beer as much as we could comfortably fit in our bag. Food supplies other than potato crisps and Twisties, Pringles were not available on Naigani, obviously they wanted you to eat in the restaurant. We'd taken the two meal package, breakfast and dinner, leaving lunch to be what we had brought which wasn't much, and or what we could knock off at breakfast like a few slices of toast and fruit (concealed in our floppy hats which were in hand not on head). The 2 meal package was F$65 pp so that was F$130 each day or about A$80. If you add a bottle of wine, F$40, the cost was getting up. Those prices aren't bad when you compare them to any restaurant in Aus, but who eats every day at a restaurant?
We enjoyed the trip and lunch on the balcony of a second floor restaurant. Fish chop suey was my fare at about F$8 while Lib went the chicken chop suey which was quite salty I noticed when I finished it for her. Toka sat at our table. He solemly said grace before eating, and asked us if we were of a particular church to which I replied "Not really, you could say Church of England I suppose."
In answer to my question he said his was "All Nations".
I asked him could I get him a drink as I went the bar and he said "Yes thanks, a soft drink." Later, as if to return my gesture, he carried our heavy bag from the supermarket to the boat. We only saw the museum in the last ten minutes before we were due to leave but in our quick look I was fascinated and could have spent hours there I'm sure.
The only downer for the day was a painfull neck that developed and got worse during the day. At the back of the neck, in the muscles at the side, most irritating to turn the head or look up or down. I thought maybe the snorkelling had irritated, I spent much time self massaging which I think annoyed Lib a bit because it distracted me from whatever she was saying or pointing out. Wives don't like that. I had a few jabbing pains in other parts like feet, knees and elbows, but not alarmingly. The neck was sore for a couple days, but not to stop me doing anything.
Three days later Lib's neck got very sore, same place, and she had quite pronounced swelling, and other pains like I'd had, and she also had a fever. We decided it must have been a virus.
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| Levuka from the jetty |
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| Main street Levuka |
Sunday, September 23, 2012
Footy Tipping
Final scores in the footy tipping comp, according to my records which have been difficult to locate, were as follows-
Robbie 152
Carey 148
Rickyralph 144
Gord 132
Lib 132
Rickyralph congratulated me on my victory over him by email yesterday. He said I won by 2 which differs from my records but I may be wrong as I was away for the last three rounds and submitted my tips before I left and had a devil's job trying to go back over the results and sort it out so I may well have made mistake. In our little private comp the loser buys the winner lunch (and wife) so there's a bit rides on it but it's a good way to keep connected weekly as a fun thing. Rickyralph won the previous four on the trot, now I have 2 on the board and intend to back up again for a threepeat next year.
Hawthorn vs Sydney Grand Final next week is a first in history between those clubs. Hawthorn will be strong favourites but I'll be hoping that Sydney can get up. I'm older enough to remember clearly when Hawthorn had never won a premiership, before September 1961. The only kid in our neighbourhood who barracked for them was Graeme Strachan, later 'Shirley' of 'Skyhooks'. Now every second person follows them and they have won ten premierships. I dislike them they are as bad as Collingwood almost, powerful and arrogant.
Not that I could give a stuff really, the AFL is an insidious money grabbing, contriving monster, and my reluctant interest was ingrained into me from early childhood. I have not been able to purge myself.
Robbie 152
Carey 148
Rickyralph 144
Gord 132
Lib 132
Rickyralph congratulated me on my victory over him by email yesterday. He said I won by 2 which differs from my records but I may be wrong as I was away for the last three rounds and submitted my tips before I left and had a devil's job trying to go back over the results and sort it out so I may well have made mistake. In our little private comp the loser buys the winner lunch (and wife) so there's a bit rides on it but it's a good way to keep connected weekly as a fun thing. Rickyralph won the previous four on the trot, now I have 2 on the board and intend to back up again for a threepeat next year.
Hawthorn vs Sydney Grand Final next week is a first in history between those clubs. Hawthorn will be strong favourites but I'll be hoping that Sydney can get up. I'm older enough to remember clearly when Hawthorn had never won a premiership, before September 1961. The only kid in our neighbourhood who barracked for them was Graeme Strachan, later 'Shirley' of 'Skyhooks'. Now every second person follows them and they have won ten premierships. I dislike them they are as bad as Collingwood almost, powerful and arrogant.
Not that I could give a stuff really, the AFL is an insidious money grabbing, contriving monster, and my reluctant interest was ingrained into me from early childhood. I have not been able to purge myself.
Saturday, September 22, 2012
FIJI Day 5
It was a clear still morning so we went for a kayak trial followed by a snorkel before breakfast. After a read and a rest we packed a picnic again and flippers and snorkels etc and headed off to find the track entrance I had found on day 3. It did continue and rose up the ridge and across the top of the island and then descended to the other side at Picnic Beach as we suspected. Along the top of the island there were cassova and banana plantations in obvious farm type situation in the bush. We kept moving in the direction we thought Picnic Beach would be, following what looked to be a track. The descent to the beach was very steep.
The snorkelling was fantastic in clear water amongst the multicoloured coral forest with millions of tropical fish in brilliant colour. I had never snorkelled before this holiday and struggled a bit with water getting in the pipe but I improved as we went and Lib just loved it. She's a good swimmer and snorkelled as a kid.
Again we had the beach to ourselves. Finding the track back was difficult to start off but once going up the steep rise there was no problem discerning the route. It was a difficult climb and it was easy to lose footing and slip. It was only an hour or so each way but due to the steepness down to the beach and the climb back up it was not something you'd do every day, at least not at our stage of life.
The snorkelling was fantastic in clear water amongst the multicoloured coral forest with millions of tropical fish in brilliant colour. I had never snorkelled before this holiday and struggled a bit with water getting in the pipe but I improved as we went and Lib just loved it. She's a good swimmer and snorkelled as a kid.
Again we had the beach to ourselves. Finding the track back was difficult to start off but once going up the steep rise there was no problem discerning the route. It was a difficult climb and it was easy to lose footing and slip. It was only an hour or so each way but due to the steepness down to the beach and the climb back up it was not something you'd do every day, at least not at our stage of life.
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| Lib on track across island |
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| Lib on Picnic Beach |
FIJI Day 4
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| Picnic Beach |
After Lib's massage we packed a picnic and took off on a walk around the north end of the island as the tide was receding, with Picnic Beach our destination on the other side of the island. The NZ couple had given us a description of the shoreline right around. Picnic Beach, just around the north end, on the west side of the island was great for snorkelling and fishing they had said. The next bay around was Sacred Bay which was special to the villagers and they didn't want anyone fishing or mooring there. Further around there was 'Cannibal Caves' and then as you rounded the south of the island back to the east side there was the village, and then on around a jutting steep outcrop you were back at the resort.
There were organized boat trips every couple of days around to Picnic Beach for snorkelling, at F$20 per person, but we preferred to do our own thing. Walking on the slippery rocks turned out quite difficult especially for Lib but it was worth the hour plus a bit effort as Picnic Beach was an idyllic tropical island scene which we had all to ourselves. Lunch was sardines on bread and bananas and pineapple and water. After an hour or two we looked for a track heading inland that might take us back overland to avoid the slippery rocks but the likely looking course all petered out into thick vegetation, so we had to go back via the shore line. We made it back comfortably enough before the tide came in which could leave you stranded if you left it too late.
The week before we arrived, the Kiwi's had told us, a group of Chinese were staying at the resort. Apparently none of them wanted to do the organized activities like skuba diving, fishing and snorkelling boat trips or round the island boat trip, sunset cruise or anything else. Two of them did choose to walk around the island, which is possible if you leave when the tide starts to go out and you don't dilly dally and get stranded. There's one place between Picnic Beach and Sacred Bay where you can't walk even at low tide and have to swim about 100 metres. At that point there's a large rock which is out of the water at high tide but is surrounded by water as the tide comes in.The ywo Chinese did not return for dinner and the alarm was raised. The villagers put a boat out at night and with an educated guess found them on the rock at about midnight. Apparently they could not swim.
On our walk back we saw a number of sea snakes in the rocky pools, these abour 1-2 ft long but harmless we'd been told. By now we were aware that the weather conditions changed quickly. The wind was still about but eased and strengthened , clouds came and went, it was by no means perfect but hey, it was always warm.
Cheer, Cheer, The Red and and The White
I woke up with this lovely feeling. I had to share it. Words are inadequate. Try song.
CHEER CHEER THE RED AND THE WHITE
CHEER CHEER THE RED AND THE WHITE
Friday, September 21, 2012
Wangaratta Weekend
Molly's house finally sold and the three good sisters and spouses had to remove all furniture prior to settlement which was today, so last weekend we, Lib, Gord and me, tripped north with trailer in tow behind the carryvan, and the old Subaru. The trip up was eventful. A highway patrol car passed me near Bonnie Doon going the other way and promptly did a U turn and pulled me up, issuing an infringement notice to cost me $141 for not having the trailer registration sticker attached to the trailer.
Dinner at 'Rinaldo's' on Friday night wasn't bad, fortunately the tab was picked up by the estate. Saturday morning saw me tracking down Gerard O'Brien to borrow paint and brush to touch up trailer number plate, the obscure condition of which had been the attractant for the brave defender of justice and law and order who pursued me the previous day.
Saturday arvo, a typical warm sunny north east spring day where you could get sunburned if you didn't have a Fiji tan, saw us at the O+K grand final at the Rover's ground between Whorouly and Nth Wang. After a nervous and scrappy first half they settled down and played some good footy after half time, Whorouly coming from 4 goals down to level the scores at 3/4 time. Nth Wang ran away with it in the final term. Greta FC was doing the catering and I bumped into a few I knew- Squeak Dinning, Johnny McCarthy, and Franny O'Brien. Franny was well recovered from a recent stroke and was on duty in the bar. I was amazed at the amount of cans consumed on our half time walk round the ground. Wangaratta is a boozy town. Someone said Greta would have pulled $50K profit on the catering. They borrowed one of Bushy Dinning's refrigerated dairy trucks and had it chock full of pallets of cans out the back and sold nearly all of it.
Sadly I learned of the passing of Andrew (Max) George, CHF in our 1980 premiership team, claimed by bowel cancer. I met Max in 2010 at a reunion for the first time in 30 years after he left for WA where he became a successful businessman. He was then in remission.
Saturday night saw us at Dianne Murray's 70th birthday party, a gala event where we renewed aquaintance with many old friends. Catering was by the chef at Rinaldo's who came in with his equipment and cooked on site a succession of superb apperatifs or entrees continuing through the evening.
Trip home fully laden on Sunday with furniture and Molly memorabillia was uneventful. Little Suzy van handled the big load over the mountains easily and there was no repeat copper heroism.
The end of an era. Lib has been melancholy since, finding place for Molly stuff, including paintings posters, crockery and nic nacs. It's all very sad really.
Dinner at 'Rinaldo's' on Friday night wasn't bad, fortunately the tab was picked up by the estate. Saturday morning saw me tracking down Gerard O'Brien to borrow paint and brush to touch up trailer number plate, the obscure condition of which had been the attractant for the brave defender of justice and law and order who pursued me the previous day.
Saturday arvo, a typical warm sunny north east spring day where you could get sunburned if you didn't have a Fiji tan, saw us at the O+K grand final at the Rover's ground between Whorouly and Nth Wang. After a nervous and scrappy first half they settled down and played some good footy after half time, Whorouly coming from 4 goals down to level the scores at 3/4 time. Nth Wang ran away with it in the final term. Greta FC was doing the catering and I bumped into a few I knew- Squeak Dinning, Johnny McCarthy, and Franny O'Brien. Franny was well recovered from a recent stroke and was on duty in the bar. I was amazed at the amount of cans consumed on our half time walk round the ground. Wangaratta is a boozy town. Someone said Greta would have pulled $50K profit on the catering. They borrowed one of Bushy Dinning's refrigerated dairy trucks and had it chock full of pallets of cans out the back and sold nearly all of it.
Sadly I learned of the passing of Andrew (Max) George, CHF in our 1980 premiership team, claimed by bowel cancer. I met Max in 2010 at a reunion for the first time in 30 years after he left for WA where he became a successful businessman. He was then in remission.
Saturday night saw us at Dianne Murray's 70th birthday party, a gala event where we renewed aquaintance with many old friends. Catering was by the chef at Rinaldo's who came in with his equipment and cooked on site a succession of superb apperatifs or entrees continuing through the evening.
Trip home fully laden on Sunday with furniture and Molly memorabillia was uneventful. Little Suzy van handled the big load over the mountains easily and there was no repeat copper heroism.
The end of an era. Lib has been melancholy since, finding place for Molly stuff, including paintings posters, crockery and nic nacs. It's all very sad really.
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