Daughter got wings then flew the coop

It has been a couple of interesting weeks for us as Helen was due to migrate north to Queensland and greener pastures. This was delayed as she had to be re-tested on some aspects of aeronautical navigation like, how not to get lost! Well last Tuesday on Yues's 60th she passed the exam and we went out to Hoxton Park Aerodrome for a photo opportunity. That night we celebrated at a local Thai curry shop. Next morning at around 4am we set of for Mascot to put Helen on a flight to Coolangatta which is south of Brisbane on the Gold Coast.

Helen and her boyfriend are renting a flat up there, it will be interesting to see what happens, watch this space. It is all a bit like Ramsey St as you know it on the TV.

Here are a few photos taken out at Hoxton Park. In September this will not exist, it is to be re-developed by one of the big banks who bought it cheap.

So after seeing Helen off we took a trip to Mudgee which is about 150km NW of Sydney it has a lot of history, that will be my next post.

All the very best to you all until next time.

Middleton-in-Teesdale

Geoff and I spent a few days in the North East recently. We had weather of all sorts, but being March we went prepared and our enjoyment was not spoiled. We revisited Durham, and were pleased that they now have an excellent Park and Ride. We also went to see High Force waterfall, billed as the longest drop in England. I must say I was a little disappointed as it did not appear much more of a drop than our own waterfall, but it was lovely all the same.The Bowes Museum at Barnard Castle is wonderful inside and out. It was built by a Mr Bowles as a museum for his great collections, so that the public could get pleasure from them too. Unfortunately, he died before the building was finished, which was rather sad after all the work he had put into the project.

Something nice for a change

Hi everyone, we are now coming in to autumn downunder and it is still pretty hot and humid. Temperatures on some days are in the low 30's. We have had a fair bit of rain which has brought the Sydney dam levels to over 60%. To the north of the state and up in Queensland they have copped severe floods.

We have put in some native plants and shrubs in the garden in order to conserve water. Now the things are in danger of being drowned. This is a photo of a Bottle Brush it's an albino variety as they are normally red in colour. The native birds love them for their nectar. Have been trying to get a photo of the Rainbow Lorrikeets that have started to visit a tree next door. The things are a bit skitzo so its hard to get a shot of them. You just would not believe their colours, just like they were painted.

Here is a photo taken ealy one morning looking south from our back verandah, I was hoping the balloon would come our way but the wind had a different idea. We get quite a few hot air balloons passing overhead some are higher than others. A couple of years back one came over so low I thought it would land on our roof. Luckily, it was some other poor sods roof over the back of us.

Bye for now, and enjoyed your photos of Crosby Dorothy. I just hope that guy in the water has steel capped safety shoes on what with ships propellers and windmills milling around the place. I reckon he should have a little more protection than a hard hat.

Last week we went over to Crosby to see Andrew Gormley's iron men. They looked fantastic, just like real people on their way to the sea. The sky was a real blue one, so all pictures came out very clearly. There was lots of shipping to watch and windfarms operating, but it was absolutely freezing!
I am hoping to be able to attach some photos - if I can't, my Personal IT Consultant will get another call!

Just when you thought it was safe - Tarantula

Australia Day, just got out of bed went down the hall and spotted this little chappie hanging around. We call them Tarantulas, but I think they are Huntsman. These little critters, big as your hand, fair-dinkum are fast too. Got to be fast on the draw with the old insect spray.

Here he is on the move, he's spotted his prey, me! Going as fast as he can, see those hairy legs go. At the last moment I quickly replaced my camera for the spray can, and it was all-over red rooster for the spider.

The spray only stunned the spider, which enabled me to catch it. It was later returned to the garden. Next doors not ours! Not nice our neighbour, hope it bites on his big toe.

Was hoping to take some pics of a Blue Tongued Lizard that visited our garage last week. It's about a foot long, could still be hiding behind my workbench, not sure.

Bye for now from Bob

Who can get in size 14 trousers then? Sorry about the boast but couldn't help myself.
Carl came over this week to help Geoff remove and apple tree. A job well done!
Geoff and I had to go all the way to Bridgemere to find a decent tree nursery. We bought 3 white barked silver birches to replace the apple tree. They should look good when we can actually see them. They are only about 6ft at the moment. Hope everyone is well. Will try photos soon

Introducing Cicada

Hi everyone, here is our favourite visitator over the hols. Some call this a Xmas beetle. They pop out of the ground over Xmas and make one hell of a noise. They all start chirping at once and after a while stop, like all together.

Here is a pic of a dead one found on our front verandah. The coin is our 20C piece about the same as your 2/- or 10p I think. This is a baby, they can get a fair bit bigger.

Here is another look at the little beauty, talk about what aliens from other planets look, just have a look in your garden. And, finally a shot for the family album, only a face a mother could love.

What a gorgeous smile, happy little chappy ain't he. These little critters can, in a group, start chirping to produce a noise level of about 120dB. This is a bit less than a jet liner at take-off from 100 feet. It is almost at the threshhold of pain in the ears.

So there we are, hope you don't have nightmares.

Bye for now from Bob.

Nuritional value: Forget it!!!