Skipworth Reserve near Jamieson in Victoria is a bird watchers paradise. Fairy Wrens, King Parrots, Bower Birds, Wattle Birds, Black Cockatoos, Magpies, Kookaburras, Wonga Pigeons, Currawongs, Tree Hoppers. Big fat Wonga Pigeons scour the grass for tidbits. Fairy Wrens hop … Continue reading The Birdlife of Skipworth Reserve
We’re waiting at the Mansfield hospital to see a doctor. Both full of a chest infection and coughing our heads off it is indeed nice to lie down for a few minutes and just doze. In the opposite corner of the ward a woman’s voice complains to the nurse “Me back’s buggered.” It’s funny how things are triggered in your mind and my mind suddenly lurches back to Christmas Day in the late 90’s when we took our sick friend to Cobram hospital up on the Murray River and we returned to camp laughing our heads off at someone else’s … Continue reading Me Back’s Buggered
Winter 2015 At Barn Hill, WA there is a rock cairn atop the hill that was erected by Alexander Forrest when he passed through here in 1879. It is reminders like these that make our journeys inconsequential compared to the … Continue reading Barn Hill
The famous Bell’s Milk Bar in Patton Street, Broken Hill, NSW has been on the same site since the early 1900’s and hasn’t been altered since the 1950’s. They make their own cordials so they certainly have quality control over … Continue reading Bell’s Milk Bar
On the wall of a pharmacy in Newcastle, NSW: “Strachan’s Pharmacy – yes we still rhyme with prawn” Continue reading A lesson in pronunciation
We partake of the legendary brothel tour on Hay Street in the gold mining city of Kalgoorlie, WA. The stories told by the madam hold us all spellbound. It’s Fifty Shades of Grey +++. We chuckle afterwards when we notice that the EFTPOS dockets are titled C & G Mobile Mechanic. Well they do perform servicing, don’t they? Continue reading The Starting Stalls
A couple of years ago we stumbled into Ariah Park in southern NSW. Never heard of it? Well it is the birthplace of Bulk Grain Handling and Dame Mary Gilmour. The locals refer to the town’s attributes as being “Wowsers, … Continue reading Wowsers, Bowsers and Peppercorn Trees
A meal in an Aussie pub has always been somewhere that one can get a decent steak with chips or a damned good roast. The fish and chips have always been a mainstay but in more recent times, over the last 20 years or so, there has been an interloper. The Parma. Based on the Italian Veal Parmigiana the Aussie Parma has morphed into a square meal of grand proportions. It is best described as a flattened and crumbed chicken breast smothered in a tomato based sauce and topped with grilled cheese. Sometimes you may find a thin slice of … Continue reading Explaining the Aussie Parma
A trip is imminent. The heart is starting to beat faster. No you fool, that’s age, time for your medication. OK, we bring up the checklist spreadsheet and check it against the food in the van pantry cupboards, yep we’ve got enough rice noodles to feed China but we’re out of tomato sauce, that’s right I borrowed it for the house a few weeks ago, damn. Beds made, most of the clothes are on. The All Blacks beanies and warm gloves for winter, sunscreen and broad brimmed hats for summer are all packed. Now it’s Woody’s turn to fill the … Continue reading Stocktaking
Our old mate Toothless Johnno has been at it again. Remember the guy who lost his tooth to a wattle bird last year? Toothless. And Scarce as hen’s teeth. Last week we were camped at a peaceful spot out in the bush. There was a good sized fire pit for us to cook on but Johnno, in his wisdom, decided we may need a little more cooking space so he added his camp oven to the hob. He’s a thoughtful guy you know. Sometime later Johnno went to move the unused and very hot pot away from the fire and realised that he’d … Continue reading How Not to Use a Camp oven
