The Learner Galah and a trip in our new tent

We (well Rick with me taking photo's) managed to put up our new tent in record time and without any swearing. It's great, well apart from being a tad heavier than we thought it would be and it seemed to be missing a couple press studs to attach the rolled up outer door to. So a quick call to the tent makers and we arranged to pop in the next time we were in Adelaide for them to rectify the problem. Our trip turned out to be sooner than expected. We got a call to say there was a Hills Hoist (iconic Aussie clothes line for those not in the know) about to be thrown out and there were more Landy spares to be collected and bits to be returned. So without further ado we booked the campsite just out of town and set off hoping 1) our tent could be fixed that day and, 2) our stretchers (camp beds) would fit the tent.

It all turned out very well, lots more space in the tent and as long as you remember there is a centre pole it is a very sturdy structure.

Not wanting to drive the 8 x 6 trailer around Adelaide (can't think why not!) once the chores were done we parked it in Kelly and Micheals garden ready for loading the clothes line on to just before heading back home.  And from then on we took the bus in and out of town from what must be one of the prettiest bus stops ever.

In keeping with tradition it rained the night before we packed up camp and all during the folding of the tent. But it still didn't take us long to load everything up in Dora. The sun came out for the journey home! 

The Learner Galah

We have quite an old tree by the veggie patch a part of it is still very much alive and the bits that aren't are full of lots of different size hollows. Perfect it turns out for Galahs, Kookaburras, Crimson and Eastern Rosellas..... I even spotted a starling having a look but he didn't last long, possibly to noisy for him. The Kookaburras sing out, full blast every morning from the first hint of a sunrise for a good half hour, joined by the Magpies... at times they sound like they are trying to out do each other with noise. It is the most incredible sound and we are so very lucky to have them nesting so close to the house.

The parrots are not as noisy and all are really entertaining to watch. We've been keeping an eye out for the fledglings and finally Rick spotted on.... looking a little dazed just outside our gate on the side of the road. We think he had taken off and headed down hill for about 50 meters and crash landed on the ground. It seems they normally start off practising flying from branch to branch but this one was a wee bit enthusiastic and got a bit carried away. No matter, with rather large and necessary thick leather gloves on Rick very gently picked him up and parked him at the foot of the tree near his parents. But sadly the Maggies spotted him and started to bully the poor little dot. At which point I joined the Galahs parents and scared the Maggies off.

Safely tucked in a strong dark box he settled down while we decided what to do. As it was a Sunday and not an emergency we couldn't ring the vets. Deb suggested feeding him with a runny porridge and we decided to keep him safe in the laundry over night till we could ring the wildlife rescue people for more advice.

So here he is happily perched on our towel rail watching us watching him. He looks very cute but that beak can give a really nasty nip if it gets hold of any vulnerable bits. He didn't seem to squawk when I went near him so we took him into the dining room at have some breakfast. He wasn't very keen on eating but did manage a little cut up pear.

The rescue lady was full of really good advice, we put him back in the box till a little late in the day when the Magpies were busy with other things and away from the veggie patch. Then visited the vets for food supplies just in case we were unable to return him to Mum and Dad.

When the coast was clear I parked him on the towel rail in the carport, shady but in full view of Mum and Dad who were watching the proceedings closely then left them to it. I was hanging around out of sight listening out for Magpies but only heard what sounded like a good telling off from Ma and Pa Galah.... and then silence. What a relief to find there was no sign of the youngster... we think the towel rail was a high enough launching point for him to take off from. And then I caught sight of him watching me closely high up and safe near the nest hollow. What a relief

House work continues... as do the adventures

Well apart from whizzing around the countryside and having a marvelous adventure we've also been 'doing things' at home. Like repairing Landies, tending the trees and veggies, planting more trees and veggies, watching the antics of the birds and animals here which more often than not make far more interesting and amusing viewing than watching TV.

To start with the Landy repairs, this is Ricks report in his words... to good not to share....

'John and his beloved Land Rover "Myrtle" have now been reunited after many years of the old girl languishing in the shed due to fuel problems and a leaking welch plug. I have been helping John fix these problems and John can now run free across his paddocks and attend to whatever needs attending too. There'll be no stopping the lad, literally because the brakes don't work but why should that worry John because the difference between a Land Rover having brakes and not having brakes is inconsequential.'

John with his beloved Series 3 Landy with the longest name ever introducing 

'Myrtle The Sulpher Crested Sapsucker Seeker From Sulpher City'

There has also been much work and many mutterings taking place in THE shed, all things Landy which is far beyond my ken...

At last we caught sight of the native freesias I planted what feels like months ago, these little beauties avoid having a lawnmower leaf cut. I am hoping they will start to spread now  as their scent is fantastic and they are one of our favourite spring flowers.

One evening two Maggies caught our attention, they kept rushing up and poking a very spiny, fast moving bundle, which turned out to be an Echidna. It looked like it was on a bit of a mission and certainly not deterred by the Magpies, they eventually left it alone and Rick and I watched it walk from one side of our block to the other in about 10 minutes.

Fascinating creatures which are well known for creating rather large burrows, not being to fussy where they dig I think they have upset a few gardeners. But so far we've only seen this lone fellow and no evidence of him living here.

And then we had to whizz off for a short break to Adelaide to pick up our tent YAY and stayed a couple of days with lovely friends who have a beautiful sanctuary in the Adelaide Hills. And while we were there someone rescued this little fellow and popped in to show us before taking it to the local Wildlife Sanctuary. I could not resist holding it and all it wanted to do was curl up and sleep.

No idea just how much excitement it was causing

And the adventures continued... in the blink of an eye we were off to the coast, Kilarney to be exact (which still sounds odd to me as previously I was only aware of the one in Ireland). Trailer attached, Deb and Fred... poor old Fred totally unimpressed with having to wear the muzzle, without it he would have driven us insane with his excited and very loud squeaking and singing before we'd even left Naracoorte.

As a treat once all was loaded up we took him off to the beach for a good run around. He loves chasing the ball into the sea but is scared of the waves if they come over his toes! Hilarious to watch, he did eventually go in for a bit of a paddle and then much to Deb and my amusement went and shook himself over Rick who'd gone off for a snooze......

Our journey home took us through many sleepy little towns Merino being one of them, This sign made us laugh and of course slow down.....

Fred was delighted to have the muzzle off 

All good fun

And so to home

We have at last after what seems like forever got our dining room doors, fitted, glazed and with posh handles and lock. It is amazing what difference they make to noise and drafts, next winter we may even get too hot with the fire going. I'm not sure the photo does them justice, they really are stunning and incredibly heavy.

Land Rover Club birthday and a merry jaunt home

The oldest four wheel drive vehicle club in Australia is the Land Rover Club based in Victoria, which of course needed to be joined. To far (even by Aussie standards) for us to attend monthly meetings so when they announced a club anniversary celebration we decided to make the effort and go. Planning to make an adventure of it.

What a shock Melbourne was after the peace and quiet of living here. There were more than two cars on the road, indeed there were often four lanes of traffic albeit not moving very fast. AND soooooo many people. We were very lucky to have a tram stop just across the road from where we stayed and so didn't have the challenge of  avoiding toll roads, the many traffic lights and finding parking spaces. We could move around fairly stress free, which I think was a great relief to all of us... I am including Dora in that statement!

Two nights in Melbourne was enough for us new country folk, lovely place which I'd recommend to anyone to visit BUT. We packed up Dora and set off to Ballarat and the goldfields for a couple of nights.

We heard about Sovereign Hill which is a living museum, replicas of some of the buildings erected in the 1850s during the goldrush. The whole town is an incredible story of hardship and fortunes... crafts men and women work there and patiently show their skills to up to 4000 visitors a day. All the machinery used is powered by steam produced from two huge boilers which are themselves over 100 years old. It really is a step back in time and a very easy place to spend two whole days wondering around. Two chaps run the blacksmiths and the farrier looks after the 60 horses used here to take the visitors around on carts and wagons.

The wheelwright using original machinery to shape the hub.

Clever piece of kit making perfectly spaced holes in the hubs

All of this machinery saved the tradesmen so much time as well as effort.

Those were the days, how lucky we are to have running water

There were of course extremes with the living quarters

A fairly successful fossikers house

The post masters house

The copper in the laundry. All in a separate house out the back.

The Chinese quarters were down the hill away from the hoi polloi these poor people mostly had tents to sleep in. I can not imagine how tough it must have been during the winters there.

A metal turner, who also runs the tin smiths making plates, lamps anything needed by the good towns folk but now of course anything needed by the good tourists....

The candle makers

Due to the population explosion Ballarat was suddenly under policed so they brought in convicts from the brutality of Tasmania to act as law enforcers!

Local Schools bring their students along and for a day they are dressed in the traditional fashion of the 1850's and spend a whole day playing, having fun and learning what times were like back then.

Getting to play with traditional toys, they certainly looked like they were having a whale of a time.... and not a mobile in sight!

These are the mine-shafts and in the fore ground of the first photo the white pipes are how the steam is transported around the whole site.

It was an amazing place to visit and the trades people there were fascinating to talk to... I think you can tell I was enthused.....

Onwards then next stop Hamilton which is in the Grampians to visit/meet some old/new friends and then a night in Port Fairy well actually Kilarney to stay with more friends. Which was a perfect way to finish our gallivanting around.

This all happened last month and I can not believe its taken this long to write about......

Ooroo