City bloke is asking the farmer for directions to his farm. Farmer “… continue down that road until you see the dead wombat. Turn left and it’s the second gate on the right.” City bloke “What if someone has moved the dead wombat?” Farmer “Don’t be bloody ridiculous. Nobody moves a dead wombat.” Continue reading The Dead Wombat
Did I hear you say “to enjoy the warm weather”? Wrong! It’s doctor season. Yes, it’s time to visit the GP, the specialists, have the checkups, the once overs, the day procedures and the much needed little ops. Time also to stock up on prescription drugs (yes kids grandma is on drugs and when it comes to superheroes grandpa is truly the Bionic Man) and in general make sure that the body beautiful is in good shape to hit the road for another winter up north. To save the hassle of counting out pills we now keep our prescriptions and … Continue reading Why do Southern Grey Nomads go Home for the Summer?
The drive up the Hume Highway is quiet and made more enjoyable by a little classical music while Woody snoozes, Priscilla (our van) is humming away behind us. All of a sudden something starts hammering on the roof like hail. I wake Woody (deafness has its advantages), he opens the sunroof blind and says “Oh it’s the tape on the windscreen, it’s come undone.” “Tape, what’s tape doing on the windscreen?” Next thing we’re in the emergency lane, he has the step ladder out and he’s climbing up to put new gaffer tape on the windscreen, while cars whiz past … Continue reading Tape ? What tape?
We once visited tiny Toongabbie in Gippsland to see the railway station which we’d heard was a real beauty. Sadly the railway line is now a rail trail and the station no longer but a short punt kick away is … Continue reading A Grander Grandstand Would be Hard to Find
That Western Australia produces and exports both diamonds and talc. That is both the hardest and the softest minerals on earth. BASF extract beta carotene from the pink lake near Port Gregory in WA. It is the world’s largest beta carotene production plant. That Broome has the only RSL Club in Australia that doesn’t have walls. Which is not as silly as it sounds as it is a high roofed pavilion like those that you see in tropical resorts. Derby is close to the halfway point between Sydney and Kuala Lumpur. Which is ironic as Geraldton to Derby was our … Continue reading Did You Know?
I stumbled across an old family recipe book recently. The Woman’s Mirror Cookery Book from 1937. I thought this may recipe be just the thing for a heart winning dinner. Anyone who goes to this amount of trouble is surely … Continue reading A Valentine’s Recipe
Cooking on the road is different and here are two examples: It’s freezing cold and a windy 9 degrees up on the Darling Downs in Queensland. While Woody simmers a pot of homemade pumpkin soup on the outside stove, I … Continue reading Cooking on the Road is Different
We’re in Rochester in central Victoria when Woody calls me into the bank to look at the high ceiling which is decorated with delicate ceiling roses and as we leave I meet a retired shearer who tells me that the bank will be moving from this building in April. What a shame. The shearer goes on to explain of how he teaches school kids how blade shearing was done in the old days, but he reckons that the ‘animal libbers’ are onto his every move. The song line “it’s tar here Jack” from Click Go the Shears comes to mind. … Continue reading Shearers and roses
Rain, hail or shine we prefer to drive with our lights on for safety’s sake and even in the best of weather sometimes cars can seem to disappear into the shimmer of a mirage. Working our way south through New South Wales last winter we had days of relentless soaking winter rain, here’s an extract from the diary: The rain has finally stopped but although it is clear, it is icy cold. The highway is misty and the sight of acres of golden canola in the mist is magical. The fog rolls in, a real pea souper and we listen … Continue reading Clear Advice From the Professionals
When a town reaches a certain size and is on the tourist trail you’ll always find an Antique Shop. This one is in Lancefield in Victoria. Continue reading For Sale
itchingforhitching 