Friday 16 November 2012

Australia's China Wall

China Wall is one of the major destinations for tourists here in Halls Creek, it is located 6km out of town on the Duncan Road. Recently we braved the unsealed road in Macci and went for a drive to see what all the fuss was about. I think we were both blown away at how stunning it is, a quartz grain that at this particular point makes a rather bold statement as it appears out of the ground. Here are a few iPhone shots...





More can be found about this spectacular natural wonder here

Things have been quite over here, we seem to have fallen into a groove of work, eat, sleep, repeat. I think it's the intense heat, nowhere in the house is particularly comfortable, at any time of day or night even with aircon rumbling away. We had a little rain last night and more is forecast  let's hope we get it and it refreshes us.

Here are a few things:

I found farmers union at the cafe, no-one else seemed to understand my excitement, but B and I thoroughly enjoyed a taste of home.



My camera arrived!!!! Yes, it is stunning and sexy and beautiful to use,. I have a long way to go to learn to use it to it's best abilities and take crystal clear pics. Working on it...here are a couple I have taken with it so far:


PS Isn't this the biggest mango EVER! Kununurra have experienced a stellar crop of huge juicy fruit this year, yummo!


That's all for now, thinking of you all and dreaming of a holiday...

God grant me the serenity to accept the things I can not change...

Friday 2 November 2012

Hobby, hobby, hobbiiiiies!

A male bower bird nest, I think they are spectacular, what an intriguing bird...
In breaking last weeks news, B won the door prize at a Business After Hours event hosted by Argyle Diamonds, I'll let you guess what it might have been, here he is receiving his award! Proud GF right here. 




Now onto the topic at hand, hobbies...
I have never had to occupy quite so much time before. My life has always, maybe reluctantly at times, been filled with school then university and all that comes with living in a town you grew up in, travelling to new places, taking on constant challenges and enjoying every moment. Now, however I am on a quest in search of things to fill my time, more productively than TV/screen time.
One thing I have always enjoyed is writing, if I am in the right mind space I thoroughly enjoy the process of writing or shall I say typing as that is what I am more inclined to do these days. I did have numerous journals growing up, reading back over them I cringe at how corny they were and what I dwelt on as a teen. I can’t believe I am even able to refer to myself as a once teen, now I am well and truly into my mid-twenties...ugghhh!!

Christmas cake, waiting to be iced.
I have always said to people, I enjoy reading, gardening, sport (a select few), running (more recent, but I am beginning to enjoy it, especially that feeling once you have finished), and socialising with friends, particularly spending hours in coffee shops or wandering through botanic gardens (oh how I miss that life). Then there was a slight shift when we started spending summers in WA, rural WA, where there were no coffee shops, or botanic gardens, however there was a library and I could run.

Tomatoes starting to find their place in the world
Here in Halls Creek, we are very isolated, the closest town is 290km away and that is Fitzroy Crossing, basically, it’s the same size as here, they do have the Geikie Gorge and a great very famous resort/hotel, but that it. Not much in it for a day trip. The next closest is Kununurra, much much bigger than here, Kununurra boasts Lake Argyle, Argyle Diamond mine, owned by Rio Tinto, but doing some fabulous things for the Kimberley, the Ord River, El Questro, and the list goes on. However, it is still a country town and limited to an extent with what they offer. I will be making a trip up there in the next few weeks for a dreaded dentist visit, and a shop, but that will be only the second time I have been out there. 

Here is the current list, it is a working list and I am SO open to more ideas and your thoughts. A note on that, please sign up and follow the blog so you can comment at the bottom if you are a regular reader.
  •          Photography, I am in the process of purchasing a Canon DSLR (it should be almost in the mail!
  •          Continuing my Italian learning, particularly the grammar side (my weakest area)
  •          Knitting, I know the temps are exactly conducive to it, but I enjoy it and it keeps my hands busy and away from a screen
  •         Reading, I have quite a few books sitting waiting to be read, and a library I haven’t even been into yet. Currently reading Rob Riley's biography, as if I don't see enough racism everyday, but it certainly is interesting.
  •          Blogging, I do want to get more regular with my blogging.
  •          Cooking, taking the time to enjoy cooking the evening meal is something I have to keep working on, after a long day at work I hardly feel like it, but once I get started I really do enjoy it.
  •          Running, we are both doing the Couch to 5k at the moment; it’s such a head clearer at the end of the day.
  •          Gardening, this one has already started my little veggie seeds are starting to sprout and I can’t wait till I can really start working with them as they continue to grow. I kindly friend out here has leant me some pots and will also give me some shade cloth to protect them from the constant sun.
  •          It’s coming up to Christmas, one of my favourite times of year, so I must get started on presents and cards, I am thinking I will make as much as I can sans sewing machine.
  •            I have decided to contact the school and volunteer one day a fortnight with the kids, wherever they want to place me. Once a fortnight I have Thursday Friday off, so I thought one of those days I could give to being at the school, it would keep me somewhat current in the teaching world.


So, there is my list, I think it will always change and develop, just as long as I have something to do with my hands and that keeps me occupied at work through a rather slow and quite wet season. 

In other news, I took a tour of the Weather Station the other day, it was most informative, rather exciting watching the balloon fill with hydrogen. All, round a worthwhile visit for anyone who has a met centre in their local area, apparently they are becoming something of a lost art thanks to technology. Oh, what would we be without technology?!!?!?! Speaking of, I am still waiting on my iPad, I have very little positive words for Telstra at the moment, and doubt I ever really will!!

        

That's all from me, off to enjoy the last few hours of my "Sunday".


Ciao xox