I have just started walking as the weather now has cooled down to a managable walking temperature. I took Janaya in the pram today, she was happily enjoying the ride while I was listening to my mp3 player striding it out in my own world. We were walking in Baynton and got to a point where I could go a few ways, I decided to go under the underpass and walk down through a new suburb which is bare with no houses yet but all the cycle tracks are in place. I had just got to the other side of the tunnel thinking 'phew', as I kind of get a little uneasy when walking under the main highway, and just happened to glance down as I was about to step on a snake who was in a mighty hurry coming towards me. My instincts thankfully kicked in and as I was bringing my foot down to connect with the thing, I somehow managed a spring off the back foot just managing to clear it, and set off in a sprint while I was yelling some language, which shouldn't have been said infront of my girl, but I don't think she noticed. then I stopped looked behind me and watched it slither away quickly in the other direction. If my heart rate wasn't up by then is was fair pumping now due to a massive adrenaline rush. I stared freaking out a bit as I was literally in the middle of an empty suburb and quite a long way from anything. I really picked up the pace and walked with my eye on the ground, every now and then I would check behind me just to make sure the snake hadn't decided to follow me. I realised that I have become quite complacent regarding snakes having only seen one at Xmas time, but really they give me the heeby jeebies. Then as I got further away and started to feel braver I began thinking how I should have taken a photo with my phone, but really, as if I'm going to stalk a snake for his picture...
Sean had only suggested yesterday that we go for a walk over the hills, I was keen as mustard but the track is a narrow dirt track through the longish grass, I don't think im that keen now as it will be harder to spot a snake than out in the open on a concrete path.
Sometimes I do wonder about one of us getting bitten and I pray it never happens as I have no faith in the hospital here, though Im sure they have all the antivenom they need, but really the place doesn't have a very good reputation. There is a 2 week waiting list to get in to see a doctor (crazy I know), so many people resort to going to the hospital. Just recently a young lady died, a couple of hours after giving birth to her baby, a collegue of Seans in his 40s went in with stomach pains and died!!!! and the most recent was a man off one of the ships who ate a poisonous fish and died after getting to hospital. 3 very sad events. A friend of a friends little boy broke his arm and had to wait 3 days for a doctor from perth to arrive to set it. The family couldn't afford the costs involved to fly to Perth and get it fixed. I think about 80% of cases end up getting flown to Perth with no assistance financially at all.
Though in saying all that, our friend Brent, was admitted to hospital with a suspected snake or spider bite to his foot which ended up spreading a nasty infection right up to his hip, he spent a couple of days in hospital and managed to come out unscathed and without being shipped off to Perth.
It just makes living here that little bit more exciting, and keeps you on your toes. Did I mention how beautiful the wheather is lately? 55 days since we had a drop of rain... All worth it!!!
Wednesday, June 20, 2007
Roebourne Races
On Saturday we went to the Roebourne Races. It was a family themed event and had heaps to keep the kids amused. It cost all of $5 for a family to get in, and with the entry price the kids got a show bag each from Qantas, with the kiddy packs you get off the plane, a party hat pencils notebooks, whistles etc. They also got a free ice cream, drink and fruit salad. (I love free stuff). Tayden found a few friends so went off with them for the day and we saw him occasionally when he wanted money. lol. The kids had a blast and had many rides on the mini cars and bouncy castle. There was a skydiving display and of course the horses.
Sean and I had a flutter on all the races and I had 3 wins. I backed the only NZ horse in one of the races, it wasn't a favourite so it was paying out a fair bit. I am now kicking myself for not putting more on it and having faith in the NZ horse with the pink rider (much to Kahaylas delight) as it came in first. It was a rush though, and I came away smiling.
The winning NZ horse.
We also went in the draw to win a family trip to Bali and I was sure either Sean or I had the winning ticket. But no we weren't lucky that time, maybe I'll have better luck winning the 20 million lotto draw...
On the way home I managed to take a picture of a road train we passed. This one was a amall one, sometimes we see them with 4 trailers or 3 longer trailers than this one, they are quite impressive, and manage to stick to a good speed (no hills to slow them down I suppose).
Sean and I had a flutter on all the races and I had 3 wins. I backed the only NZ horse in one of the races, it wasn't a favourite so it was paying out a fair bit. I am now kicking myself for not putting more on it and having faith in the NZ horse with the pink rider (much to Kahaylas delight) as it came in first. It was a rush though, and I came away smiling.
The winning NZ horse.
We also went in the draw to win a family trip to Bali and I was sure either Sean or I had the winning ticket. But no we weren't lucky that time, maybe I'll have better luck winning the 20 million lotto draw...
On the way home I managed to take a picture of a road train we passed. This one was a amall one, sometimes we see them with 4 trailers or 3 longer trailers than this one, they are quite impressive, and manage to stick to a good speed (no hills to slow them down I suppose).
Sunday, June 10, 2007
School Photos
Well I'm scraping the barrel with the previous post and this one. I know that there isn't anything of interest on the agenda for the next few weeks so the next few posts will be quite trivial, so bear with me!!!
I have just scanned the kids school photos and emailed them to mum and thought I'd post them on here, as something to post.
I really liked the kindy one, I think its cute.
I have just scanned the kids school photos and emailed them to mum and thought I'd post them on here, as something to post.
I really liked the kindy one, I think its cute.
About me
I get sent these emails all the time with Questions you have to answer about yourself. So instead of driving everyone crazy in my contacts list I decided to post it on here and be done with it. It kind of reminds me about being back in intermediate and we had these profile books that you would make all your friends fill in, this I guess in the online equivalent...
1. Were you named after anyone? No I don't think so, I believe my Dad chose my name, mum wanted to call me Phillipa Louise (Thanks so much dad!!)
2. When was the last time you cried? The day my parents and brother left to go back to NZ. (I cried most of that day)
3. Do you like your handwriting? most of the time when I'm not rushing.
4. What is your favourite lunch meat? salami
5. Do you have kids? Yes, 3 little darlings.
6. If you were another person would you be friends with you? I hope so, we would have so much in common.
7. Do you use sarcasm? umm... yep!
8. Do you still have your tonsils? No, I had them removed nearly a year ago.
9. Would you bungee jump? Before I had kids I would have said 'bring it on', now I'm too much of a wus. Its a maybe now. (strange how having kids turn you into a big chicken)
10. What is your favourite cereal? breakfast? Special K (with the berries)
11. Do you untie your shoes when you take them off? No I'm too lazy for that, though I growl the kids if they don't (They haven't learnt the art of doing it without wrecking the shoes.)
12. Do you think you are strong? Physically? No! Though I am getting there.
13. What is your favourite ice cream? Not really an ice cream fan but if I had to choose it would be a mr whippy choc dipped with a flake.
14. What is the first thing you notice about people? Hard one...Their Hair.
15. Red or pink? red
16. What is the least favourite thing about yourself? ummmm....being naive
17. Who do you miss the most? My family definitely! and my good friends at home.
18. What colour pants and shoes are you wearing? khaki green shorts, no shoes (but I did have brown jandles on earlier)
19. What was the last thing you ate? A carrot.
20. What are you listening to right now? Incredibles playing on the tv.
21. If you were a crayon, what colour would you be? Blue
22. Favourite smells? my kids when they've had a bath and washed their hair.
23. Who was the last person you talked to on the phone? Brendan (Joshs dad)
24. Do you like the person who sent this to you? Of course.
25. Favourite sports to watch? The kids soccer games
26. Hair colour? Blonde
27. Eye colour? bluey grey
28. Do you wear contacts? no
29. Favourite food? anything out of the sea
30. Scary movies or happy endings? Scary movies scare me too much so I would have to say happy endings (the ones that make you cry)
31. Last movie you watched? Shriek the third (yesterday)
32. What colour shirt are you wearing? black
33. Summer or winter? At home - summer. Here - winter. (10 days into winter and its still hotter than our summer at home.)
34. Hugs or kisses? Both
35. Favourite dessert? Chocolate Log and mums cheesecake
36. What book are you reading now? The Power of One (Bryce Courtney) I have been wanting to read Tandia (as its Janayas middle name) and Sean told me I had to read the power of one first. Will be reading Tandia next.
37. What is on your mouse pad? I don't have one!
38. What did you watch on tv last night? Nothing was on last night so I studied till 10.30pm then watch Survivor Fiji.
39. Favourite sound? little kids belly laughing (Janaya belly laughed her way through Shriek yesterday, it was funnier than the movie).
40. Rolling Stones or Beatles? If I had to choose, I would pick Rolling Stones.
41. What is the farthest you have been from home? Canada.
1. Were you named after anyone? No I don't think so, I believe my Dad chose my name, mum wanted to call me Phillipa Louise (Thanks so much dad!!)
2. When was the last time you cried? The day my parents and brother left to go back to NZ. (I cried most of that day)
3. Do you like your handwriting? most of the time when I'm not rushing.
4. What is your favourite lunch meat? salami
5. Do you have kids? Yes, 3 little darlings.
6. If you were another person would you be friends with you? I hope so, we would have so much in common.
7. Do you use sarcasm? umm... yep!
8. Do you still have your tonsils? No, I had them removed nearly a year ago.
9. Would you bungee jump? Before I had kids I would have said 'bring it on', now I'm too much of a wus. Its a maybe now. (strange how having kids turn you into a big chicken)
10. What is your favourite cereal? breakfast? Special K (with the berries)
11. Do you untie your shoes when you take them off? No I'm too lazy for that, though I growl the kids if they don't (They haven't learnt the art of doing it without wrecking the shoes.)
12. Do you think you are strong? Physically? No! Though I am getting there.
13. What is your favourite ice cream? Not really an ice cream fan but if I had to choose it would be a mr whippy choc dipped with a flake.
14. What is the first thing you notice about people? Hard one...Their Hair.
15. Red or pink? red
16. What is the least favourite thing about yourself? ummmm....being naive
17. Who do you miss the most? My family definitely! and my good friends at home.
18. What colour pants and shoes are you wearing? khaki green shorts, no shoes (but I did have brown jandles on earlier)
19. What was the last thing you ate? A carrot.
20. What are you listening to right now? Incredibles playing on the tv.
21. If you were a crayon, what colour would you be? Blue
22. Favourite smells? my kids when they've had a bath and washed their hair.
23. Who was the last person you talked to on the phone? Brendan (Joshs dad)
24. Do you like the person who sent this to you? Of course.
25. Favourite sports to watch? The kids soccer games
26. Hair colour? Blonde
27. Eye colour? bluey grey
28. Do you wear contacts? no
29. Favourite food? anything out of the sea
30. Scary movies or happy endings? Scary movies scare me too much so I would have to say happy endings (the ones that make you cry)
31. Last movie you watched? Shriek the third (yesterday)
32. What colour shirt are you wearing? black
33. Summer or winter? At home - summer. Here - winter. (10 days into winter and its still hotter than our summer at home.)
34. Hugs or kisses? Both
35. Favourite dessert? Chocolate Log and mums cheesecake
36. What book are you reading now? The Power of One (Bryce Courtney) I have been wanting to read Tandia (as its Janayas middle name) and Sean told me I had to read the power of one first. Will be reading Tandia next.
37. What is on your mouse pad? I don't have one!
38. What did you watch on tv last night? Nothing was on last night so I studied till 10.30pm then watch Survivor Fiji.
39. Favourite sound? little kids belly laughing (Janaya belly laughed her way through Shriek yesterday, it was funnier than the movie).
40. Rolling Stones or Beatles? If I had to choose, I would pick Rolling Stones.
41. What is the farthest you have been from home? Canada.
Tuesday, June 5, 2007
Our Visitors Part 2
We decided to go up to Port Headland for lunch (488km round trip) A long way to go for lunch but it only took 2 hours each way and driving over here is so easy just set cruise control and cruise all the way.
We hadn't been to Port Headland so we were looking forward to going to a new place. Noone really has much good to say about Port Headland, I thought it was really nice, Its quite a bit bigger than Karratha having South Headland and Port Headland.
In the town itself you can't help but notice the mining industry happening around you, coming into town was a huge salt hill and in town there are mountains of Iron ore. Walking down the main drag they stick out like a sore toe, and is ugly, the houses in this area are covered in red dust from the iron.
An Iron ore ship (massive)
But away from that end of town its really nice, Their houses are built next to the coast and they get some amazing views, Million dollar views.
The thing that really stuck out for me was the town pride, all grass verges mown and kept tidy something Karratha lacks big time. We saw some evidence of the destruction caused in cyclone George, houses still with no roofs fences mangled and one house completely demolished but aside from that it looks like they have recovered well. We shot over to South Headland to have McDonalds for lunch about 10kms away, very nice homes. We took the kids to a really neat playground nothing like I have seen before, they had a blast. Then after a bit more of a look around it was time to head home.
Mummy
We stopped at Whim Creek pub (roughly halfway between Headland and Karratha) A neat little pub stuck in the middle of nowhere, I didn't go in as the guys were just stocking up on a few beers for the trip home, but they said it was really nice inside with a pool for the kids, (a place to revisit oneday).
Sean and I swapped driving duties while he piled in the back with Dad and Mark to enjoy a few beers. Mark wonderful Mark had given the cruiser a bit of a birthday the previous day, new shocks and suspension put on, changed all the filters and spark plugs, handbrake fixed and petrol flap fixed (I don't know what it is with us and petrol flaps our BMW's one always use to fall off and the cruisr one was impossible for me to open). It was like driving a new car and felt alot stabler on the road. We cruised comfortably all the way home doing 130 -140kms. It just goes so much better now.
Saturday was a bit of a hectic one. Tayden had his first Taekwondo Grading, at the same time Michelle and Paul were getting their daughter Billie christened. We had borrowed Brents spare ute so Mum, Dad and Mark took the kids to Taekwondo while Sean and I went to the christening. After the christening we raced up to where the grading was taking place and luckily we hadn't missed our boy. They did them in threes and not being bias or anything he looked awesome, so much stronger with his moves and he knew the drill down pact, I was so proud. About 12 or so white belts were going for thier yellow belt and only 5 of them passed one being Tayden, so now he proudly wears a yellow belt 1 stripe...Then it was off next door for the christening party.
A bit more sight seeing here and there over the remaing days and lots of shopping. On the Sunday we went to a restaurant that has only been open for a few weeks, It was so nice the food was fantastic and being there made you forget you were in Karratha, it was really flash.
Mum, Dad and Mark spoilt us by coming home with 3 georgus barstools, Something we have been wanting to get for ages. I love them and the kids can now sit in the kitchen and eat and they think thats pretty neat. Plus mum had already bought us heaps of stuff during their stay. I had to learn not to point out things I thought were nice as they seem to just appear everytime she went shopping. soooo spoilt.
A few pics of a game of cricket when Josh was over
Wednesday was a sad day, they were leaving in the morning. The kids had cross country that day and Kahayla really didn't want to miss it, the decision was completely up to her and she agonised over it. But decided to say her goodbyes in the morning and go and do the cross country. Dad and Mark took a tearful little girl to school, I was so sad for her. I gave the guys a haircut and mum a blow wave and then took them out to the airport. It was the hardest thing saying goodbye again and poor Sean had to remove us from the airport once they had hopped on the plane, due to Janaya howling, and Tayden and I sobbing away. We drove to the other side of the airport and parked up to watch the plane go. For the rest of the day I moped and shed a few more tear, it was so hard. When I picked Kahayla up from school I was greeted to a very happy girl wearing a red ribbon on her uniform. She just about burst and said I came first in the cross country, well I cried again, I was so proud of her and sad at the same time that I had missed her big moment. All she wanted to do was ring poppa and tell him. So we rang them on his mobile to tell them the good news and when I spoke to them I started crying again. lol. They said they had a nice day wandering around perth before their long flight back to Auckland that evening.
I miss them so much but its now only 6 months till we come home for a holiday in December , and in September our friends Greg and Paula are coming for a visit so we are very much looking forward to that.
Thats it for now......
We hadn't been to Port Headland so we were looking forward to going to a new place. Noone really has much good to say about Port Headland, I thought it was really nice, Its quite a bit bigger than Karratha having South Headland and Port Headland.
In the town itself you can't help but notice the mining industry happening around you, coming into town was a huge salt hill and in town there are mountains of Iron ore. Walking down the main drag they stick out like a sore toe, and is ugly, the houses in this area are covered in red dust from the iron.
An Iron ore ship (massive)
But away from that end of town its really nice, Their houses are built next to the coast and they get some amazing views, Million dollar views.
The thing that really stuck out for me was the town pride, all grass verges mown and kept tidy something Karratha lacks big time. We saw some evidence of the destruction caused in cyclone George, houses still with no roofs fences mangled and one house completely demolished but aside from that it looks like they have recovered well. We shot over to South Headland to have McDonalds for lunch about 10kms away, very nice homes. We took the kids to a really neat playground nothing like I have seen before, they had a blast. Then after a bit more of a look around it was time to head home.
Mummy
We stopped at Whim Creek pub (roughly halfway between Headland and Karratha) A neat little pub stuck in the middle of nowhere, I didn't go in as the guys were just stocking up on a few beers for the trip home, but they said it was really nice inside with a pool for the kids, (a place to revisit oneday).
Sean and I swapped driving duties while he piled in the back with Dad and Mark to enjoy a few beers. Mark wonderful Mark had given the cruiser a bit of a birthday the previous day, new shocks and suspension put on, changed all the filters and spark plugs, handbrake fixed and petrol flap fixed (I don't know what it is with us and petrol flaps our BMW's one always use to fall off and the cruisr one was impossible for me to open). It was like driving a new car and felt alot stabler on the road. We cruised comfortably all the way home doing 130 -140kms. It just goes so much better now.
Saturday was a bit of a hectic one. Tayden had his first Taekwondo Grading, at the same time Michelle and Paul were getting their daughter Billie christened. We had borrowed Brents spare ute so Mum, Dad and Mark took the kids to Taekwondo while Sean and I went to the christening. After the christening we raced up to where the grading was taking place and luckily we hadn't missed our boy. They did them in threes and not being bias or anything he looked awesome, so much stronger with his moves and he knew the drill down pact, I was so proud. About 12 or so white belts were going for thier yellow belt and only 5 of them passed one being Tayden, so now he proudly wears a yellow belt 1 stripe...Then it was off next door for the christening party.
A bit more sight seeing here and there over the remaing days and lots of shopping. On the Sunday we went to a restaurant that has only been open for a few weeks, It was so nice the food was fantastic and being there made you forget you were in Karratha, it was really flash.
Mum, Dad and Mark spoilt us by coming home with 3 georgus barstools, Something we have been wanting to get for ages. I love them and the kids can now sit in the kitchen and eat and they think thats pretty neat. Plus mum had already bought us heaps of stuff during their stay. I had to learn not to point out things I thought were nice as they seem to just appear everytime she went shopping. soooo spoilt.
A few pics of a game of cricket when Josh was over
Wednesday was a sad day, they were leaving in the morning. The kids had cross country that day and Kahayla really didn't want to miss it, the decision was completely up to her and she agonised over it. But decided to say her goodbyes in the morning and go and do the cross country. Dad and Mark took a tearful little girl to school, I was so sad for her. I gave the guys a haircut and mum a blow wave and then took them out to the airport. It was the hardest thing saying goodbye again and poor Sean had to remove us from the airport once they had hopped on the plane, due to Janaya howling, and Tayden and I sobbing away. We drove to the other side of the airport and parked up to watch the plane go. For the rest of the day I moped and shed a few more tear, it was so hard. When I picked Kahayla up from school I was greeted to a very happy girl wearing a red ribbon on her uniform. She just about burst and said I came first in the cross country, well I cried again, I was so proud of her and sad at the same time that I had missed her big moment. All she wanted to do was ring poppa and tell him. So we rang them on his mobile to tell them the good news and when I spoke to them I started crying again. lol. They said they had a nice day wandering around perth before their long flight back to Auckland that evening.
I miss them so much but its now only 6 months till we come home for a holiday in December , and in September our friends Greg and Paula are coming for a visit so we are very much looking forward to that.
Thats it for now......
Our visitors
Its been a long while since I last updated this but I do have an excuse…
My mum, dad and brother Mark have been over for a visit and sadly they have been back in NZ for a week, and its taken me this long to find some time to write about their visit.
They spent the first night and a good part of the next day in Perth and it was agonising knowing that they were here in WA but still so far away. They decided to spend the morning having a look around Freemantle, so jumped on a bus to the Train station, and the bus they were on CRASHED!
THE UTE OCCUPANTS
Apparently a ute came into the bus lane and hit the bus then the ute was sent airborne and landed on the grass verge on the other side of the bus. Pretty scary for them all but no one was hurt but their bus was a bit munched, so they hopped on a replacement bus which took them to the wrong place. What a good way to start their holiday, but they made it to Freo and had a nice wander around.
They arrived up in Karratha in the afternoon, Sean was at work, so the kids and I got out there extra early and sat waiting patiently for a glimpse of the plane. As soon as it touched down, out of no where I burst into tears. I just couldn't’t believe that the plane had my parents and Mark on it. Seeing them in the flesh again was so awesome, and a few more tears were shed. As it was about 5pm I thought oh good its nice and cool for them but when we got out to the car park, Mark said something about it being really hot, and I said no it’s a bit nippy. We got in the car and Mark said boy I hope your air con works, I said of course so we set it to high and after a few minutes down the road, I was freezing.
The kids gave them all a tour of our house and showed everyone to their beds, then we settled down to catch up. It was like xmas with all the gifts we were very spoilt, there were bags and bags of snifters, pineapple lumps, perky nanas, onion soup and smoked fish, all the things I have been missing from home. Sean had asked dad to bring over some truck tie downs, and the kids got soooo spoilt with lots of goodies.
Mark and Dad were still commenting on the heat so I turned the air con up a bit and by the time Sean got home the place felt like a fridge. Sean laughed and said you finding it a bit hot. To cut a long story short for the next two weeks we all wrapped up in jumpers and jeans at night apart from Dad and mark. Mum didn’t find it too hot, she found it quite comfortable.
The weather at the moment is just bliss barely reaching the 30s some days and getting down to as low as 20 over night.
The other thing that they had to contend with was the flies, they were so persistent, we don’t usually have that many flies but they have been really bad the last few weeks, you just get one annoying little fly that will constantly come back and land on your face, no matter how hard you wave your hands.
Sean worked the next day but was off on a rostered shift off after that and he didn’t go back to work till after they had gone home. Janaya and I took them for a tour around the place showing them this and that, then I took them to the shopping centre. Mum could have stayed there for hours I think, We did leave her there for a while as Dad and Mark had seen enough so I dropped them home and went back to fetch mum.
When the kids got back from school I took them out to Dampier and Hearsons cove, Dad was quite fascinated by all the red rock around the area, big hills of the stuff and it looks so unnatural an like a dump truck as dumped it all over the hills.
Mum really wanted to go and have a look at Roebourne she had read up on the place and thought it sounded interesting. I joked about it, as to me Roebourne isn’t a place you would want to stop at, I explained that it was kind of like driving through Otangarei…. How wrong was I. We went to the old Jail and the place is preserved in History, I learnt a lot about the area and got a bit more of an understanding why the aborigines are so hostile towards the Caucasians. They were treated so badly its quite sickening. We offered to leave mum at the pub in Roebourne so she could mingle with the locals, but she declined.
Dad with the ball and Chain
In the slammer
Then we went over to Point Samson to go have lunch at the restaurant overlooking the beach. Being a Sunday it seemed that everyone else in Karratha had the same Idea, the place was packed. Sean suggested we go to Wickham and find something there, but everything was closed!! The supermarket, the service station, everything closed. With us all getting quite hungry I suggested we try the café at Cossack, Sean was adamant there was nothing at Cossack and it would be a waste of a trip, and I was sure there was. He was made to eat humble pie as we saw the CAFÉ OPEN sign come into view, but not for long, as they only served pies and sausage rolls, so $40 worth of frozen pies and sausages rolls heated in the microwave (which took half a day) we were finally eating, it wasn’t quite the nice Sunday lunch I had envisioned but it was something. We sat on the wharf and watched the people fishing, dad getting some tips on crabbing while he was there. Then we went and spent the afternoon at Walcolt beach, had a nice swim and headed home.
On Monday Mum and I took the kids to school (they had days off here and there depending what was on the agenda) When we got to kindy, Mrs Blackman asked if we could stay and have nana as Janayas news. I was so proud of my wee girl standing up there in front of all her little kindy mates, She told everyone that this was her nana that came on the plane to see her from NZ, Then the map came out and they showed the kids where NZ was and then there was Question time (yes in kindy) so a few questions were thrown at her. One little boy put up his hand and she said Yes Daniel, and he asked ‘which ones your nana’ lol.
Dad really wanted to go crabbing and it was all he talked about, he talked to a few people to get ideas, and got some long steel rods and fashioned some crabbing tools. Sean, Dad and Mark left early one morning off on the great crab hunt. They went out to 40 mile and walked 10 kms for 3 crabs. hmmm. He later found out talking to someone else, that you can get them off the town beach quite easily. (Oh well never mind)
Dad and his crabs
Wednesday we went out to Seans work to look through the visitors centre, Sean and I had never been through it so it was good for me to go have a squiz and see what he gets up to.
WOODSIDE
It was a pretty big flare that day
Later that night we invited a few friends over for a BBQ so that they could meet the Whanau. Was a really good night, and we finished up around 1am.
Fishing was the next must on the agenda, the guys hired a boat and headed out for the day. They didn’t catch much but enough for a feed of fresh fish which they fried up in the fish fry. It was so good as we have only had fresh fish once since we arrived.
To be continued…..
My mum, dad and brother Mark have been over for a visit and sadly they have been back in NZ for a week, and its taken me this long to find some time to write about their visit.
They spent the first night and a good part of the next day in Perth and it was agonising knowing that they were here in WA but still so far away. They decided to spend the morning having a look around Freemantle, so jumped on a bus to the Train station, and the bus they were on CRASHED!
THE UTE OCCUPANTS
Apparently a ute came into the bus lane and hit the bus then the ute was sent airborne and landed on the grass verge on the other side of the bus. Pretty scary for them all but no one was hurt but their bus was a bit munched, so they hopped on a replacement bus which took them to the wrong place. What a good way to start their holiday, but they made it to Freo and had a nice wander around.
They arrived up in Karratha in the afternoon, Sean was at work, so the kids and I got out there extra early and sat waiting patiently for a glimpse of the plane. As soon as it touched down, out of no where I burst into tears. I just couldn't’t believe that the plane had my parents and Mark on it. Seeing them in the flesh again was so awesome, and a few more tears were shed. As it was about 5pm I thought oh good its nice and cool for them but when we got out to the car park, Mark said something about it being really hot, and I said no it’s a bit nippy. We got in the car and Mark said boy I hope your air con works, I said of course so we set it to high and after a few minutes down the road, I was freezing.
The kids gave them all a tour of our house and showed everyone to their beds, then we settled down to catch up. It was like xmas with all the gifts we were very spoilt, there were bags and bags of snifters, pineapple lumps, perky nanas, onion soup and smoked fish, all the things I have been missing from home. Sean had asked dad to bring over some truck tie downs, and the kids got soooo spoilt with lots of goodies.
Mark and Dad were still commenting on the heat so I turned the air con up a bit and by the time Sean got home the place felt like a fridge. Sean laughed and said you finding it a bit hot. To cut a long story short for the next two weeks we all wrapped up in jumpers and jeans at night apart from Dad and mark. Mum didn’t find it too hot, she found it quite comfortable.
The weather at the moment is just bliss barely reaching the 30s some days and getting down to as low as 20 over night.
The other thing that they had to contend with was the flies, they were so persistent, we don’t usually have that many flies but they have been really bad the last few weeks, you just get one annoying little fly that will constantly come back and land on your face, no matter how hard you wave your hands.
Sean worked the next day but was off on a rostered shift off after that and he didn’t go back to work till after they had gone home. Janaya and I took them for a tour around the place showing them this and that, then I took them to the shopping centre. Mum could have stayed there for hours I think, We did leave her there for a while as Dad and Mark had seen enough so I dropped them home and went back to fetch mum.
When the kids got back from school I took them out to Dampier and Hearsons cove, Dad was quite fascinated by all the red rock around the area, big hills of the stuff and it looks so unnatural an like a dump truck as dumped it all over the hills.
Mum really wanted to go and have a look at Roebourne she had read up on the place and thought it sounded interesting. I joked about it, as to me Roebourne isn’t a place you would want to stop at, I explained that it was kind of like driving through Otangarei…. How wrong was I. We went to the old Jail and the place is preserved in History, I learnt a lot about the area and got a bit more of an understanding why the aborigines are so hostile towards the Caucasians. They were treated so badly its quite sickening. We offered to leave mum at the pub in Roebourne so she could mingle with the locals, but she declined.
Dad with the ball and Chain
In the slammer
Then we went over to Point Samson to go have lunch at the restaurant overlooking the beach. Being a Sunday it seemed that everyone else in Karratha had the same Idea, the place was packed. Sean suggested we go to Wickham and find something there, but everything was closed!! The supermarket, the service station, everything closed. With us all getting quite hungry I suggested we try the café at Cossack, Sean was adamant there was nothing at Cossack and it would be a waste of a trip, and I was sure there was. He was made to eat humble pie as we saw the CAFÉ OPEN sign come into view, but not for long, as they only served pies and sausage rolls, so $40 worth of frozen pies and sausages rolls heated in the microwave (which took half a day) we were finally eating, it wasn’t quite the nice Sunday lunch I had envisioned but it was something. We sat on the wharf and watched the people fishing, dad getting some tips on crabbing while he was there. Then we went and spent the afternoon at Walcolt beach, had a nice swim and headed home.
On Monday Mum and I took the kids to school (they had days off here and there depending what was on the agenda) When we got to kindy, Mrs Blackman asked if we could stay and have nana as Janayas news. I was so proud of my wee girl standing up there in front of all her little kindy mates, She told everyone that this was her nana that came on the plane to see her from NZ, Then the map came out and they showed the kids where NZ was and then there was Question time (yes in kindy) so a few questions were thrown at her. One little boy put up his hand and she said Yes Daniel, and he asked ‘which ones your nana’ lol.
Dad really wanted to go crabbing and it was all he talked about, he talked to a few people to get ideas, and got some long steel rods and fashioned some crabbing tools. Sean, Dad and Mark left early one morning off on the great crab hunt. They went out to 40 mile and walked 10 kms for 3 crabs. hmmm. He later found out talking to someone else, that you can get them off the town beach quite easily. (Oh well never mind)
Dad and his crabs
Wednesday we went out to Seans work to look through the visitors centre, Sean and I had never been through it so it was good for me to go have a squiz and see what he gets up to.
WOODSIDE
It was a pretty big flare that day
Later that night we invited a few friends over for a BBQ so that they could meet the Whanau. Was a really good night, and we finished up around 1am.
Fishing was the next must on the agenda, the guys hired a boat and headed out for the day. They didn’t catch much but enough for a feed of fresh fish which they fried up in the fish fry. It was so good as we have only had fresh fish once since we arrived.
To be continued…..
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