Australia Day and lots more adventures

Our third Saturday in Naracoorte arrived and to my surprise we didn't spend it hurtling around a field like mad human sheep dogs after sheep instead this time we went to a clearance auction at nearby Kingston.  It was my very first auction and lots of fun.  Because there were so many things for sale four auctioneers took it in turns to work their magic on the huge crowd.  Hats off to these chaps their energy and skills were very impressive, I watched carefully as they started the bidding far to high, brought it right down to a silly price then worked the crowds to bring the bids up way beyond what they'd first suggested.

Rick did really well with his bidding, we gained a couple of boxes of assorted treasures, we are sure they will all eventually come in handy once we've worked out what they're for!  On our walk around much earlier in the day we spotted two cupboards and an old but much loved wardrobe.  One of the cupboards was old and well made we both thought it would be very useful... for different reasons.  No worries we had to bid for it first.  The bidding started on the other cupboard, that didn't even attract a $2 interest so they lumped the wardrobe in with it and eventually Rick got all three items for $5 and they even through in a pile of timber cos he was a such good sport! And I almost gained a running machine from swatting away a fly at the wrong moment! We ended up with an 8'x6' trailer load of 'bargains' including an 'almost new for less than half price' freezer and felt very satisfied, sun-burnt and more than a little tired by the time we headed home.

26th January is Australia day traditionally a day of relaxing with friends and family.  I am sure a few tinnies were sunk over the weekend at BBQ's and picnics and if it doesn't fall on a  weekend then a Bank Holiday (called an observation day) is granted.  Traditional foods are lamb chops, snags (sausages), and lamingtons (very yummy coconut and chocolate coated cakes), very relaxed and very easy eating.

We held our first Aussie day BBQ for the family here, Debs brought a delicious buckwheat salad with her. Getting into the spirit Fred even wore an Aussie, Aussie, Aussie, napkin in his collar and a great time was had by all! We finished the evening or possibly more accurately the evening finished with us after I'd decided to make an Irish Coffee for us all using Lactose Free Ice cream and a very generous amount of grog... oh dear.... more than one of us suffered from the wobbly boot that night.

The temperatures have been dropping to a deliciously cool 7 c at night and creeping up to the high 30's during the day, needless to say we've all been watering the fruit and veg during the cool times of the day. One evening at Deb and Roberts we spotted this beautiful blue tongue lizard near the house.  With Fred suitably distracted by Robert, Deb went and got a bowl of water for the lizard.  We watched hum drink his fill for about 20 minutes, he must have been so thirsty as they are normally quite shy creatures.  He eventually very slowly made his way to some pipes behind the water tank which we guess is what he calls home.

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Poor old Fred needed cooling off too so we very gently hosed him down and then got a thank you shower in return!

Rick has been a man possessed putting in a very impressive array of irrigation pipes and standpipes, last count we are now up to 7 standpipes, which makes watering the trees a doddle.  The last one he wanted to put in was for my eventual veggie patch, he is a very thoughtful fellow.  But of course this was the hardest to dig for as the soil in this part of the block is sand AND clay, we even used the pick axe to break it up..... it reminded me a lot of the Sussex Weald clay I used to have in my UK garden.... Oh well I was going to have raised beds anyway to make it much harder for the bunnies to attack the crops.

After another unsuccessful attempt at divining we called in the expert, Pete, and after a few goes he found it just under the bit Rick really didn't want to dig.... hmmm, another go with the pick axe and hay presto we had another albeit gentle mist of a fountain.

As we worked the temperatures were rising, so glad we were able to set up camp under the shade of one of our gum trees.  Pete very thoughtfully had brought along some beer in the Esky to use for a celebration, these are the chaps having a much deserved rest and cool off.  Rick is resting in a wheel barrow leaned up against a tree.

And the dragonfly photo I've included just because I thought it was beautiful.... orroo