Tiny things at El Questro

Ornate Burrowing Frog

I love my camera. I am able to take fantastic photos of tiny things. These are a few tiny things I saw on my recent trip to El Questro in the East Kimberley on an Australian Geographic Scientific Expedition.

Ant lion traps.

A Sundew - Drosera sp.

Another Sundew - Drosera sp.

  

 

A stripy grasshopper

Orange Ringlet

Australian or Common Crow

 

Grass Yellow #331

Nymphoides sp.

Short-necked turtle

Photo taken through a plastic bottle

Dragonfly

Damselfly

Water Monitor

  

Pseudantichinus

Small Monitor - Varanus tristus

Two Trains and a Plane

Sunday 21 April

We woke to very welcome gentle rain this morning. I boarded the Ghan after breakfast at Dianne's and morning tea at the Keswick Interstate Station. This train is 35 carriages long with two engines. The layout is the same as the Indian Pacific and now that I've learned that the whistle stop tours are complimentary I am more willing to choose one at each stops, especially when these stops are for 3-4 hours rather than just the 1 hour at Broken Hill. My neighbour is Andrew from Jersey Is travelling here while his partner visits her daughter in Sydney. The rain has stopped already and we are just a little north of Adelaide.

At lunch I discovered that Andrew knows Chris Bailes and Helen who used to live on Jersey. I also met Dirk (Dutch) and Anika (Turkish) who spent the afternoon coaching me in German for the next Chorus Oz performance in 3 weeks time. I will be spending this journey learning for this performance having brought the score and CD with me. Whilst practising the Brahm's German Requiem I watched a magnificent sunset over Iron Knob.

At dinner Andrew and I sat with Joanne and Nancy from NZ and had a delicious meal. Mine was dorpa lamb.

Back to a cabin made up ready for bed and of course very squishy.

Monday 22 April

I woke soon after 6am wondering where my coffee delivery was (our attendant had forgotten!) Along to breakfast soon after 7am with two Japanese people. I spent some time practising my Brahms then lots of time chatting and sharing experiences as we watched the ever changing scenes outside, either in my cabin or in the lounge.

I think this is the Finke River bed.

 At about 1:30pm we pulled into Alice Springs where there is no raised platform. We all found the buses ready to take us on our various tours. I had chosen the Desert Park visit. This started with a talk in the centre where indigenous artists come to pait and saw some fabulous dot work and watercolours Then a walk to the amphitheatre to see a display of trained birds: galahs, boobook owl, kestrel, black kite, stone curlew and barn owl. There was also a demonstration of how the birds are trained. None of them were tethered and were free to fly away if they wanted to. It was an amazing show! The huge nocturnal house came next with many animals out and active.

Two galahs that put on a magnificent display.

The barn owl in training.

A planting of assorted grasses in the Desert Park.

In the nocturnal house.

As we walked back to the entrance there were an amazing number of small birds calling and flying round very close: finches, parrots, honeyeaters, and overhead 4 black cockatoos.

We were back at the train by about 5:30pm then continued on our way north.

A beer and a chat in the lounge was followed by dinner (again with Andrew, Joanne and Nancy) until it was time to retire to my bed in my minute cabin. During dinner it started to rain but we've no idea how much because it is quite black outside.

Tuesday 23 April

Up just before 6am this morning and pleased to receive the coffee delivery.

We arrived at Katherine at 9am  (again no platform) and I chose to tke the Nitmiluk Rock Art cruise along the Katherine Gorge. It is a stunning place! Surrey and I toured it about 40 years ago when we came on our bus trip. We saw a few examples of very old rock art and at the end of the cruise were treated to tasters of champagne, camel and beef (both on kebabs), crocodile sausage roll, and crocodile soup. The only disappointment was the camel which was tough and tasted like dog food.

Katherine Gorge

Andrew at our tasting table.

Back to the train and into our lunch sitting with a nice cold beer to start with.

After returning to the cabin I finished recharging camera and phone then packed ready for our arrival at Darwin around 5:30pm. I had been quite worried about travelling on my own fearing loneliness but was so pleased to meet Andrew with whom I was able to share many experiences. Nancy and Joanne were also great company at three of our meals.

Adelaide River? near Darwin.

I loved the filigree patterns in the tidal flats on the flight from Darwin to Kununurra.

Two nights in Darwin

Tuesday 23 April

Anna was at the station to collect me and after the normal chaos of bag collection she drove me home to Garry and Helen's in time for dinner with the family. Tim from the Blue Mountains is also staying with them so it is a full house for one night at least. The heat and humidity is quite draining!

Wednesday 24 April

After a night spent keeping up liquids and sleeping like a log between times I woke at about 6am with the birds. Chaos and confusion while the family left in time to get Helen to work by 8am. Anna and I were left to clear away before leaving for the airport.

24 April - 1 May was spent in the Kimberley - that story will come soon...

Wednesday 1 May

At Darwin I was met by Garry and Helen and delivered home to dinner almost ready. Garry showed me his orchids and native bees then there were photos to see from Garry, Alice and my own from the trip.

I think this photo says it all about Darwin. It is so humid that fish swim in the air.

After dinner, emails and a slow down I eventually turned on two fans and collapsed into bed.

Thursday 2 May

Chats over breakfast in a busy household of comings and goings then lots of time backing up photos, updating diary and dealing with emails before a long shower.

Helen took me to Dragonfly Fabrics and then we went to lunch at Casuarina shopping centre. A bit of a wait at the airport before boarding the plane for the final leg of my journey. I was able to squeeze in two films – Life of Pi then The Dawn Trader (Narnia). Both were good movies.

Home by 9pm to collapse into bed again. What a wonderful experience it has all been!

 

 

 

 

 

A short stay in Adelaide

Friday 19 April

I arrived by Indian Pacific Train at Adelaide yesterday and caught a taxi to Dianne's. This morning I was up at 6am after a great night's sleep. I sat sewing and sipping coffee until Dianne got up. After breakfast I hung out washing then did more sewing inspired by a kimono hanging in the hall.

Lots of chat followed until Louise arrived with Celeste and Fraser for us to mind while she went to a new job for an hour or so.

Once the children returned home Dianne and I went to her favourite Japanese shop followed by a bit of a hunt for some beads for my sewing. I bought some but am not sure if they will be right.

Home to relax again then after dinner we watched “The Voice”. There were so many ads we were able to do all the evening chores while they were on, eventually getting to bed by 10:30 – quite late for us both!

Saturday 20 April

I slept in until nearly 7:30am! After breakfast Dianne and I drove to Spotlight in our search for beads before going to aquarobics. It was cold out of the water but a heated outdoor pool. Of course this was followed by coffee with the girls. Lunch at home, then a drive to the library and a peek in the window of another fabric shop which unfortunately was closed.

The rest of the afternoon was spent chatting, sewing and redesigning my Japanese squares. I finished sewing them while Dianne went to collect our Chinese takeaway for dinner. It was delicious.

For our evening's entertainment we watched “Mama Mia” then “Inspector George Gently” and went to bed relaxed and tired at about 10:30 again.

A beautiful morning in Berry

Last weekend I had a quick trip to Berry but did say overnight. What a beautiful morning!

 

Rauri is growing water chestnuts and medlars.

 

The colours on the verandah and the new ramp are so peaceful.

A day on the farm

Last Friday we had a great day at Berry. A picnic lunch by the river was enjoyed by all.

 

Farm chores included mowing the lawns...

 

cleaning new-found treasures...

 

and tractor work.

Quilts completed

Amongst the chaos that was March (see previous post) I actually finished two more quilting projects for special people.

 

New carpet and repercussions

The lounge room with old carpet but curtains removed for washing.

During March Kim and I spent a lot of time emptying three rooms in preparation for the laying of new carpet to replace the old grey carpet. Curtains were washed, walls sugar soaped, cupboards and shelves were emptied and cleaned and furniture was moved out. We even treated mould with oil of cloves. When contemplating the empty rooms I was able to rethink the position of furniture in the rooms and I am now pleased with a few major changes I have made.

The lounge room with new carpet and new layout. Now I can watch TV without the reflection of the window in the screen.

The old look lounge room with a few speakers removed.

The new look lounge room with a cupboard from the stair room moved in.

  

The biggest change was in the stair room. After I had removed the fish tank (see previous post) then all the clutter I completely rethought the layout.

By blocking off the old back door opening and opening up the old back window opening by removing the cupboard I was able to create what Kim calls my 'book nook'.

By removing the junk under the stairs and the curtain that hid the mess I have created my own 'Harry Potter room' and can now sit in comfort to answer the phone.

The carpet is a few shades lighter than the old one and looks fabulous and now the house has had about a tonne of dust and clutter removed from it. I could not have done it without Kim who now has furniture removal added to the list of skills on her CV. Thank you Kim!