Month: August 2020

Monday, 17th Tuesday 18th Wednesday 19th, August 2020

A real nothing-ish day. Put up the privacy screen the length of the awning for the first time, sort of. Couldn’t get all the stakes in. The ground was too hard.

Anne shifted the car so someone could park their van, while I was at the bathroom. Then when she went to the bathroom she spotted a shower alcove used by … I was going to say Miss Piggy, but let’s face it, she was a grotty slag who didn’t give a damn for anyone who followed. Absolute pig bitch.

Made salad rolls for lunch using Leigh Biggs hand made rolls. Very good rolls, clever fellow. Tomato, avocado, cheese, ham, bean shoots. Fairly healthy.

Blogged.

Anne cut my hair.

Showered and had evening meal, watching, Waking Ned Devine.

Eye is much better. You can hardly notice it. (?)

There you go.

Told you it was a ‘nothing’ day.

Tuesday, 18th

Washing and not much till 2.30pm when we went to Casuarina for a pair of shorts, a coffee and to get our little table clock fixed. Very squeezy park so a photo incase car damage when we get back.

Shorts purchased.

Coffee done.

Clock can’t be fixed. Bit miffed. It’s only 20 years old.

Wore T shirt and hat to colour co-ordinate my black eye.

Back home. Beers with neighbor over the road. No red wine left? How did that happen?

Damn.

Wednesday, 19th

Today, we are meeting fellow travelers, Lou and Mick on Stokes Hill Wharf at 10.30am (10.38am really. We are 8 mins late) and it is closed except for one lady who was waiting for a milk delivery. Wharf doesn’t open till high noon. ‘do not forsake me oh my darling’. (I just said that the other day but I do it everytime. It’s a sort of tradition.)

So off to the new waterfront zone, very open and about the only free parking in the city. First 2 hours. Then back to Stokes Hill grub time. Fish and chips $10.90 and a lazy afternoon watching everything and nothing.

That being that over a period of hours, we watched the pilot boat and two tugs go over to the East Arm, pull a ship off the wharf, line it up and half escort it till it got well and truly on it’s way.

The Coresky Ol

The nippy Pilot

Googled the ship and it’s out of Panama.

I even googled the ship for more useless trivia.

What kind of ship is this? CORESKY OL (IMO: 9692741) is a Bulk Carrier that was built in 2015 (5 years ago) and is sailing under the flag of Panama.

It’s carrying capacity is 34302 t DWT and her current draught is reported to be 7.7 meters. Her length overall (LOA) is 179.96 meters and her width is 30 meters.

Vessel Information General, Name: CORESKY OL, Vessel Type –  eneric: Cargo Vessel Type – Detailed: Bulk Carrier, Status: Active, Flag: Panama [PA], Gross onnage: 21561

Summer DWT: 34302 t, Length Overall x Breadth Extreme: 179.96 x 30 m, Year Built: 2015,  Home Port: PANAMA

Departed AU DRW DARWIN, going to AU BMEBROOME, ATD: 2020-08-19 15:22 LT (UTC +9.5) ETA: 2020-08-22 07:00 LT (UTC +8)

In the mean time any and every minor movement of anything that floated or flew got discussed and commented upon.

We named the smaller but identical tender ‘Mini Me’

Three for the price of one.

Helicopter, looked a lot lower by the human eye.

A bit of War Time art on a container on the Wharf.

The exhaust pipes give a hint to the size of the tug motor.

The observers and ‘critiques.’

OK. Maybe Critique is a bit over the top

Next …..

A very pleasant, easy going day which ended with commitment to repeat this or similar in the near future. Enough time to go to my favorite vendor of pleasing liquids and home for a lay down before our evening rendezvous.

Now here I must say, we had such a pleasant evening with Mana Rosa and her other guests, that I did not pause my talking to take a single photo. Never mind. It was a memorable evening and as per usual, Rosa was the perfect hostess and the food was marvelous.

Thank you dear lady. It was a great night. Home to sleep. It was a lovely day but a big one for these two travelers.

Cheers.

Bon Nuit.

Sunday, 16th August 2020

I find a few more saw spots next morning.

It was decided last night that even though the aluminium ramp would not rust, there would be other bits and pieces which might cause tetanus. So I am to go to get a tetanus shot. You would be surprised how many people are looking for a doctor on a Sunday morning. We found a very busy clinic in Stuart Park and attended at high noon. (do not forsake me oh my darling.)

Two pages of paperwork for a new customer, almost no waiting, except for a ten minutes after to see if I have an adverse effect. It didn’t.

On the ball.

Just don’t like doctors surgery’s.

N.B.The doctor also had a look at my battle wounds and confirmed all was OK, more or less.

On the way home Anne spots this beautiful vehicle.

Home for left over ‘parmi’ for lunch (see the quiz night), a phone call to mate PCM as I find out he too has had a fall. Well, his was more a drop, but much more spectacular than my episode. He survived and so did I, so life is good.

We coast the afternoon, waiting for our next social event, namely Mindil Beach Market.

And so it comes to pass that we go to Mindil Sunday for the first time in a thousand years (slight exaggeration) with our rug and insulation pack for beers and wine. We grab our meals and meet Leigh and Tess at the prescribed time for sunset, food and a drink or two.

We waited for ‘the after burn’ as I call it. The sun goes down and about 10 to 15  minutes later the sun shines up from below the rim lighting up any clouds very brightly. It’s better than the sunset it self, sometimes. This time, good but not spectacular.

We soak it up and have a pleasant evening but it’s Sunday and tomorrow is a work day. (Snigger. No it’s not!)

One beer and one wine. Able to drive home. I carry the breathalyzer.

Home to our box on wheels for a shower and a night cap and tomorrow is a free day to catch up on odd jobs and addresses of people not seen for some time.

Cheers.

Thursday, 13th to Saturday, 16th August 2020

Lunch with the girls! I was invited as Anne’s partner and I did stay for the meal but did bail out an hour or so early from these lovely seven ladies for a couple of beers just a short walk away with Mr G. We discussed all matters of importance including the attributes of Bulmers Cider over the more pedestrian brown ale and did touch on food, given that I had just eaten some.

We part company due to pressing matters. His matters were pressing. Mine weren’t really. Yes. Un-pressing.

Didn’t get the chance to ask Renee what this was. It’s a corn cobb with ‘things’ out the top of it and there would be no room for it to be a drink, so ….

My seven lovely lunch mates.

The Mall at peak hour.

Salvatores. (below) Now here’s a thing. We found all too quickly that the Council either doesn’t care much about the city businesses or they are not very clever.

That is, we drove around for 20 minutes looking for a free park and were unsuccessful. So we settled to pay for a meter BUT all the meters are coin operated only. No notes or cards except some charge up pay card tourists are not going to be familiar with. So we were trying to go to Salvatores and spend money but gave up  and went to Cullen Bay.

Anyway, that evening, onto The Trailer Boat Club for a quiz night.

I picked up my Parmi top below.  (Chicken Parmigiana), had one look at it and asked for two takeaway doggy bag/boxes.

Seb’s wings looked brilliant and even he needed a take-away box.

Kids serve of Fish and Chips for my lovely.

A very nice sunset not done justice by my pussy little pocket rocket camera.

Seb, Anne and me at best photo conditions. Overexposed and out of focus.

The Northern side of the table, just oozing knowledge and foresight.

We came fifth out of a heap of people so that wasn’t so bad. Known generally as a credible performance.

Friday, 14th

A work day. We enlist the aid of the Darwin procurement oracle Leigh Biggs, who knows generally, what to get, where from, who from, how much and why that place. We lived here for 5 years about 20 ago and given that it has grown significantly since then, we now know a whole lot more. Well done Oracle.

The van was the subject of most purchases.

Glue sealant for this partly lifting side light. Must be colour  coordinated. Done.

Ouch for the Diesel additive.

That included a trip to the Asian Emporium for a ‘Jimmies’ satay paste. Just the best stuff.

Day over by 4.30 ish. Things to do.

Saturday, 15th

Parap Market. We went every Saturday Morning when we lived here. Found what must be the best Laksa going by the queue, just after we had bought and eaten our average Laksa bought elsewhere. Got a just ‘OK’ Veg Curry Puff and two excellent mango ice crushes.

A Bedford truck. Bring’em back.

Our ordinary Laksa.

Zebra Rock. Good guy. Knows his stuff and not overly expensive.

Look for the similar face in the stone.

Hey, Mango. Best fruit in the world?

The little lady there is the painter/artist.

Here are her details. Good paintings at reasonable prices. She is travelling around Australia with our common handicap. Closed borders.

This is Kenn. He has been dealing in Didgeridoos for 20 years and what he doesn’t know about them isn’t worth knowing. He can show you how to spot a dud, mass produced or the real thing AND show you how to play it.

He cruises around Australia so like most of us, he will be here for a while yet.

I think a CM Model Valiant, 1978

We were due to go to Mandorah with Cath, Dion and other friends. We are to be at the departure point at Cullen Bay at 5.45pm for a 6pm departure.

We arrive late and all the car parks are gone. Two calls from Cath to hurry up, I bounce over a medium strip to race a car to one lonely park. We face off, nose to nose, both with indicators on the same park. Here is the truth. Size DOES matter. Ranger beats a little Korean sedan. The irony is, the park was much more suited for him. See photo. A big planter box at the rear made the park more suitable for a motor bike. Anyway I got half way in.

Now …  why shouldn’t an over weight aging , unfit man NOT run down an aluminium ramp to catch a ferry?  Scroll down to see why.

It was OK my face broke the fall.

Three Ferry staff administer first aid, but Dion provides the general anaesthetic, produced by XXXX Pharmacies.

A Beer, a Band-aid and back on track.

A nice trip over, even though we are about 45 minutes late on the next ferry.

The eye was swelling but the lip was going down. A good balance for eating. It’s better to taste than to see when it comes to eating.

Home of the MUFF.

Mandorah Ukulele Folk Festival

Simple and straight forward. Why? What were you thinking?

Bus pick up at 9pm. Back on the Ferry at 9.30pm. Back in Cullen Bay 15 minutes later. Farewells. In van 10.15pm-ish.

Showers, a towel on my pillow a short sit up to administer two units of another general  anaesthetic, this time from the Penfolds Pharmacy, which helped greatly.

Tomorrow is another day. (I keep saying that)

Monday, 10th to Wednesday, 12th August 2020

We bid farewell to our next door neighbours who are off to Jabiru.

Today is a work day. House work. Washing. It took hours with me as part time casual assistant ‘assisting’ when and where instructed.

So we stayed in, went only between laundromat drying line and van, had no share sundowner drinks. Not a bad day really. Still here.

Tuesday, 11th

Also a zero day. It was ‘stinking’ hot so we just stayed in the park and most of the time in the van with the air conditioner.

One trip to the office to extend to the end of the month and organize a relocation. The walk back to the van was the long way to have a good look around. We found a monster tree and that was the highlight of the day. Hey, it’s hot and we want the a/c.

Monster tree above, right.

Wednesday, 12th

A slow morning till we realize we have to vacate our old number 22 site by 10am. So we hit the panic button and crash pack the van to move the fifty metres to site 27. Why the big move? It’s got an almost full green lawn site and there are sunset trees. Not big enough for a significant save in the afternoon but a token gesture. Besides there’s a big fifth wheeler next to the trees so there’s more shade from it than the trees.

This time we set up with the awning and chairs out. A hot sweaty task requiring a shower after.

Gets to 4pm and we have a task to do at the end of our DULL three days. The water filter is slowing down and we have had to reverse flush it a few times while here. They say you only get 4000 litres filter out of one filter and we have used this one for 1.5 years. So we bite the bullet and off to the caravan and camping store to throw $130 at the nice chap, who in return throws back a BEST filter.

A bit of excitement. We stop in at Harvey Normans for the last 10 minutes before they close and do a real quick window shop for foot spas, camera lens’s and beds on the way out.

Home for pasta meal with red wine of course, a movie and bed. Is there no end to the joy. We are doing ‘things’ tomorrow.

Cheers.

Saturday, 8th to Sunday, 9th August 2020

We leave the Discovery Park (with van) heading for Acacia Hills and Dion’s birthday celebration.

A short stop at Coolalinga. A quick bite. A Yiros cut in half.

A coffee. See the novelty cup below. They should have the happy on top and an unhappy on the bottom when empty.

Moving on, the inevitable scrub fire. (or two)

… and the hidden entrance.

The day rolls on and people roll up. I am guessing Dion and Cath are experienced at camp ovens

We did a few drone runs but just one here for the birthday. Look for the waves.

At home with inside or outside cooking.

It was a fab sit down meal but the mystical call of the open fire soon drew everyone to the ‘circle of glow.’

A happy night became a happy late night.

The non stayers eventually went one by one and the stayers … stayed for ports and stories.

Eventually we all crashed in the wee hours but were coaxed out of slumber by a classic country cook up. No photos. The photo finger wasn’t working yet.

The crowd further thins and we get down to chasing up old friends. Dion calls Cookie and family, in the top end of Bali and we had a good chat. That’s why Cath is talking to the phone on the photo under. A little quiet in Cookies new tourist accomm business but it will pick up. Cookie asked how the pineapples were going so we sent these four pics below which included a small part of the pineapple crop.

Next an article in the TOLL magazine of Cath’s exemplary job performance and I did flash my last Guide Post for old time sake.

All good things must come to an end. This was ‘a good thing’ but some people had to work Monday, so we left to let home base get back to normal for a fresh start tomorrow.

We get back late but still in time for or 5pm sundowner beers with next door neighbours Dave and Sue who will be off tomorrow. The small brown blur in the near middle of the pic is a scub fowl on the scavenge for grub. No luck. We were only drinking beer and we were not leaving any.

Tomorrow.

Tuesday, 4th to Friday 7th, August 2020

A slow start after a long sleep. Dilemma. Pull the awning down or not?

While deciding, it heats up and smoke from brush fires wafts in. So not just ‘no’ to the awning, but close the windows and turn on the air cond. Ah. 240 volt is just so good.

Yes. It’s my birthday but we eat in for lunch and let’s see what the day brings. It brings nothing much so we continue doing nothing and thoroughly enjoy doing it.

Wednesday, 5th

A lazy morning then we decide to drop in on Leigh Biggs in his and wife Tess’s city apartment. A short walk to anywhere in town with secure undercover car parking and just one flight of stairs. Felt a bit like the old days in Real Estate just for a moment then, during the description.

Perfect host, Leigh makes top coffee AND he even made a banana cake in an hour flat. Would have taken me an hour to look up the recipe and decide I couldn’t do it.

Leigh slaving over a hot Banana Cake.

We talk about nothing in particular and every thing till home time. A good relaxing day.

A knock on the van. The neighbor. ‘Fancy a beer?’ Is the Pope a Catholic? We collect in the shade between the vans and drink, talk and a few nibbles with Dave and Sue. Pleasant end to a pleasant day.

Thursday, 6th

A visit from young Leigh Biggs who wants to inspect the caravan and quickly confirms ‘very similar to his parents van’ which is fair enough because most are very similar except ‘this is there and that is over here.’

Good day catching up and a big, unexpected bonus. Leigh brings two home made pizza’s ‘with the lot.’ (Supremes) The clever chap used to have a pizza shop and knows what he’s doing. Even makes his own pastry and tomato sauce base. Is there no end to his dynamic talent?

Damn good Pizza’s

A real good day catching up and talking, past, present and future.

Now a tried and tested practice, 5pm drinks with the neighbours again.

Friday, 7th

Message to Dion as it is in fact his birthday today but the Festa tomorrow.

A quick birthday call to little niece Naomi (45. It’s a term of affection, not description) who is having a break at Broome with husband Paul and ‘sparkling’ daughter Alice.

Off to the city to meet Tina and also Jo and Carlos’s daughter Kiki. (Sorry in advance for the spelling if wrong. I went by singer Kiki Dee)

Great couple of hours at the waterfront at a little (big) Irish bar/café with excellent food and Guinness.  Me, bangers and mash and two pints of the lovely black stuff.

Visiting Ibis, apparently also known as ‘bin chickens.’

A great catch up with wonder woman. (Tina) WW because she can achieve pretty well anything and manages to get through the tough stuff, still with a positive attitude.

A short wander to take in the environment.

The left overs of the HMAS Darwin. As media, Anne and I boarded it in Dili when it visited.

I knew it was going to be de-commissioned and I sent numerous letters to try and get it sunk off the East Timor coast to boost tourism. Can’t find the letters. I would have posted them here. It was a good argument on my part, with all due modesty.

Back at the car, it’s breathalyzer time with my flash, $150 top notch breath tester. My rough rule of thumb calculation is … One pint of Guinness is maybe 1.25 to 1.5 standard drinks times two so at .02 alcohol per drink, that is .05 to .06 so call it .055  . The body dissipates alcohol at .02 per hour so .055 less .04 = .015 . Blowing into the analyzer, reading is .013 . Who needs a breath tester? I do because of course, this is under a very controlled environment with limited drinks and hence easily monitored amounts and calculations. Past this, you don’t get in the seat without the tester saying OK.

A drive around looking for a free park to get a coffee at Salvatores. The whole city is now pay and display so we end up at Cullen Bay at the OLD Buzz café.

N.B. I wonder if the council is tying to kill the city by not only leaving NO free parks in the city but making them coin opp only. As we move towards big brothers cashless society, the damn things are only coin payment. No notes or cards. Progressive big brother on one hand and Neanderthal on the other.

Bottom line, skip the city. Too hard. Anyway, Buzz is now L … something or other’s Pergola. Ha! Googled it. Lola’s Pergola. Has the old one way view urinal wall to the dining area. That is when the men are facing the wall in the bathroom, they can see out but the diners can only see mirror. That didn’t stop the diners counting to 45 (seconds to make sure their male friends were well and truly engaged in their exercise before turning around and waving at the mirror. Can be very off putting.

Left, view from inside. Right, flushing.

They have it decked out with kids gear.

By the way, no milk so black coffee only and the one big park next to Seafood on Cullen where you could get a park is currently being built on. It’s all looking tired and high density now. I think someone is studying ‘How to stuff up a development’ and following it to the letter.

Anne admiring her ‘booty’ from Andamooka and Coober Pedy.

The council killing the city and the developers killing Cullen Bay. Well at least there is consistency across the board.

Diesel top up ….

They state on the pump, ‘suitable for diesel engines only.’ We really are catering for total dimwits now. Aren’t we.

…. and booze top up  then home for soaking feet in the pool then a sit down and sticking to the now system, a couple of drinks with the neighbours.

Tomorrow we go to Dion’s birthday Festa.

Monday, 3nd August 2020

We depart for Darwin. The entrance to Dion and Cath’s little paradise could be easily missed if not on the ball.

View leaving.

View from outside. Front gives no hint of the little paradise inside.

We get to the Discovery van park and have just enough time to unhitch and arrive on the wharf, a fashionable nine minutes late. Getting out the car, Leigh and Tess walk past our car a fashionable 10 minutes late and Munga and Lisa an even more fashionable 12 minutes late.

A tidy little group of permanent ex Dili-ites and Seb and Renee temporarily evacuated Dili-ites. Seafood all round, beers wines and various beverages as we all catch up a few years, soak up the ambiance and be at peace and in harmony with the world. (How lovely. I should be publishing some of this)

Damn! Didn’t take one photo of the great food.

Various crafts go by.

One high and dry in the restaurant …

…and a couple tied up but ready for action.

The wharf is looking good.

Now in fact, this was Leigh’s Birthday and while the focus gravitated more to catching up, we did not lose sight of the fact and did manage a ‘Happy Birthday to you…’ in various pitches and volumes.

The Birthday boy.

The ladies table.

A chance to wear the light, summer dress purchased on the isle of Capri last September.

The afternoon goes all too quick and we bid farewell and return to the park courtesy of the designated sober driver.

Our morning started in Dion and Cath’s paradise and moved onto a seaside delight. A good day all over far too quick. Thanks to all who attended and added to the fun.

Tomorrow.

Sunday, 2nd August 2020

They say, where there’s smoke, there’s fire. Right? Well this morning it is the opposite. There was fire last night, now there’s smoke this morning.

Water bomb planes are flying over but I have down loaded the respective app and there appears to be no present danger .

Up at the crack of dawn. 8.30am. There are varying degrees of ‘crack.’ A little clothes washing and a fab brunch from the maestro, then they have an event to attend and we have chores to attend, including this blog.

A pretty flash ensuite for us just next to the van.

Morning tea a la shed.

A big block with lots of exercise through ‘to and fro’.

‘High Vis’ socks to keep the OH & S man happy.

A feast for brunch. Eggs, bacon, toast, mushrooms, tomato and spinach. Healthy and wholesome.

Party crasher softly removed.

Perfect shady spot.

Another quiet day with evening chit chat and a few drinks and good food.

Tomorrow we go to Darwin.

Saturday, 1st August 2020

We depart Katherine for another Catherine and a Dion. Yes. We are off to catch up with Cath Byrne and Dion Layton, ex Dili-ites and now Darwin-ites, that is, an outer edge of the Darwin region about 45 minutes out.

Another damaged and deserted car. Heaps of them.

However, to get there we must pass through a few spots that deserve mention. We pass Edith Falls with a promise to return. Not a throw away promise as, wherever our next direction is, be it east or west, subject to opening borders, we do have to go back to Katherine for either.

We duck into Pine Creek for a bit of history and flying foxes Three or four mango trees FULL of them.

Next Emerald Springs to share a lunch burger and chips.

In the mens toilet. A bit cruel.

The guy in the top left is actually looking at me.

A memorial plaque out the front remembers four Irish youths who got a blow out and collected a road train back in 2000. Damn shame. Young people cross half the world to take in the country and plain dumb bad luck robs them of everything.

On to Adelaide River for a few reasons. Firstly to check out the wartime cemetery. I remembered it as good but we haven’t seen for over 20 years. Now dramatically improved and with many memorable stories. Even one of a Japanese pilot. Also, the story of Archie Tindal where our NT base gets it’s same. Very moving stories I might add.

Then the adventure to find Dion and Cath’s place. Plain entrance and thick scrub, we enter down the track to come to an open clearing of grassed semi-paradise with veggie enclosure, huge decked veranda’s for true Territory living and a shed to end all sheds.

We park the van in the shed, connect the vitals and sit for a chat and XXXXGold. A walk around the property and collection of veggies ready to go, works up an appetite easily satisfied by ‘the queen of the kitchen’, Cath. Well she cheats a bit. She’s a catering guru.

As night falls, we see the glow of a ‘not that distant’ but relatively harmless scrub fire.

A nice night and we retire.