As the sun sets gently in the west- Cobar NSW |
(My apologies for
changing my comments setting – dues to the hoards of anonymous spam messages being left, I have
been forced to make it comments from registered user only)
Balmy evenings |
afternoon storm clouds |
MrJ has been busy doing odd jobs around the boat or out helping Rob with the work on Babe’s keel while I get to stay home and find things to do out of the heat, like spring clean and play with photos.
We did have the use of Fern’s car for a while but all good things have to come to an end more sooner than later and so the car went back leaving MrJ and I to catching the bus everywhere, one more. I don’t mind catching the bus, it gives you a great ride around town and cost next to nothing – I pay $1 and MrJ is free with his Gold Card. We may find it harder to get to some faraway place, this we have yet to find out.
January is my big holiday month when I get to go south to see the grandkids.
I had been busy getting my travel sorted, my street clothes sorted and washed, after being stuffed in a locker for so long. The plane ticket from Darwin to Sydney we purchased online last year in July, to be able to get the best deal. My train travel from Sydney to Dubbo and a bus from Dubbo to Cobar I also bought online. This internet shopping is great...!
Farewell Darwin |
The day came for me to go and as luck would have it, MrJ was able to borrow Alison’s car to get me to the Darwin Airport, on another very hot and sticky day. It was so hot and humid that as soon as I stepped outside my glasses would fog up making hard to see anything. I certainly did not miss the humidity!
Up and away in no time I was the air for the four hour flight to Sydney. Darwin is 1 ½ hours behind Sydney. Although I left Darwin at lunchtime I would not be getting into Sydney till 7.30 at night. Once off the plane in Sydney, I was able to collect my baggage without any holdup, jump in the first available taxi in a huge line up of waiting taxis and make a b-line straight for Marj’s. It was a very hot evening in Sydney, one of the hottest days Sydney has had for many years. At least there was not the Darwin humidity
Hello Sydney |
Marj’s old house is not insulated and Marj does not have any
air conditioning, just a couple of small fans. I really don’t understand how
Marj can live like that. (Not being critical - just my own thoughts – each to
their own).
The taxi pulled up outside the old house; I pulled my bag up
the small steps and was greeted at the front screen door by my sister huffing
and puffing with near heat extortion as she came down the dark hallway to let
me in. The poor lady was so hot that the beads of perspiration were sliding
down her face. It was good to see my sister; I just wish that she would do
better for herself.Very early the next morning I showered in a bathroom that only half of the taps work and the wall leaks above the bath, dressed, woke Marj to say thank you and see you on the return trip and then caught another Taxi to Central Train Station where I was to board the early morning XPT for Dubbo after which I changed from the train to a Country Link bus for Cobar. Being school holiday, the train was packed with holidaymakers. There were a number of people travelling on to Parkes for the Annual Elvis Festival; what a colourful lot they were and we all had a cheerful trip with little sing-songs happening throughout the carriage.
I got off the train in Dubbo at lunchtime; the heat hit me and was glad when I was on the bus in the air conditioning again. The bus driver was a bit sus, a bit of a slime-bag, touching my hand, arm or shoulder whenever he came close to speak with me. He even came right away from the bus at Cobar, when after I had grabbed my bag and moved away to the side road to wait for Carla and Corey to pick me up, to remind me about what to do on the return trip. What a wanker...!
Bella Edward & Livy |
The Cobar grandkids, Bella, Livy and Edward, were so excited
to see me. Big hugs and kisses all round. I tossed my bag in the back tray and
climbed in for a ride through the red dirt heat. By now it was late afternoon
so we all settled inside, out of the Cobar extreme heat.
Bella had once again given me her bedroom for my stay while
she was bunking on the floor in Livy’s room. Oh what excitement!Beautiful Bella, the placid one whose face lights up with an infectious smile and dazzles you with her so grownup conversations. Lively Livy is always on the go, so keen to be helping and doing or instructing you on how to do stuff. Edward, the baby boy, asserting his ways in a house full of girls, likes to be left alone but at the same time does not want to miss out on anything.
The two girls were very busy with giving Nan the grand tour of their wonderful things as Edward stayed a little in the background watching. The next day Edward was just as eager as the girls to have Nan look at all his stuff – I knew he would come around sooner than later.
Carla (my youngest daughter) and Corey have a nice tidy little house in a quiet street towards the western edge of Cobar. They still have Ruby the pussycat, the two dogs Chevy and Rebel and a pen full of chooks, one of which crows like a rooster. How funny!
At the house I spent my two days playing games, doing puzzles and drawing as well as helping Carla put out or bring in the huge loads of washing. I had forgotten about that side of having a small family.
Bella in the old train carriage |
Edward talk on the old phone |
Livy poses with the old pram |
pool antics |
walking at the Newy |
Friday morning Carla, Corey and I took a short walk, with
the kids riding alongside on their bikes, around the Newy, the town lake. And of course there was a stop to play in and nb the water's edge. How could we not?
That
afternoon we all climbed into the 4X4 and went for a bush-bashing drive through
the dead dry red dirt countryside; seeing wild kangaroos and emus.
Friday
afternoon is also Happy Hour at home. Carla, Corey and I sat under the front
carport have a couple of cold beers while the kids played in the portable pool
or rode their bikes in the driveway. It was just a great time to relax and
unwind with lots of chit chat!
Carla says that once Edward starts school next year that she will be promoted from a stay at home mum to a stay at home wife. Hahaha – so funny! Corey is still having the back problem issues and is now on a permanent disability pension. Not so good for such a young man! But I will say will all the hic-ups, medical issues and troubles that Carla and Corey have been through in their young lives it is great to see the love, understanding and caring still in their eyes. I take my hat off to them for working through everything together!
My visit to my Cobar family was over in no time at all when
I found myself on the bus this time leaving Cobar behind. I waved vigorously
out the window to just as vigorous waves and kiss back.
The four hour bus trip back to Dubbo passed quick enough,
with me nearly finishing one of the books that I had packed. And there was no
creepy bus driver this time!Jack, Bridie, Kai & Piper |
Manda (my second daughter) picked me up from the train
station where the bus terminal is too. The heat was still the same in Dubbo, a
hot dry heat that dried your throat. Piper came to pick me up too while Kai and
Bride stayed home to finish their Saturday chores which they were just
finishing as I walked in the door. Everything was dropped for a great big round
of hugs and kisses. How much they have grown up over the past twelve months!
Bridie and I bunked in the double bed in Kai’s room while Kai bunked in Bridie’s bed in Bridie and Piper’s room bed. Kai is a big sixth grader this year and Bridie is growing into a very bright beautiful young lady. I didn’t slip past my shape eyes that Bridie still takes the old bit of sarong material that I had given her to bed with her as a cuddle blankie. How cute- -makes me feel all warm and fuzzy!
Manda was on holidays from the Police Force; she is still
enjoying her job and looking forward to working for a long time yet. Clint is back at work after the Christmas New
Year break.Bridie and I bunked in the double bed in Kai’s room while Kai bunked in Bridie’s bed in Bridie and Piper’s room bed. Kai is a big sixth grader this year and Bridie is growing into a very bright beautiful young lady. I didn’t slip past my shape eyes that Bridie still takes the old bit of sarong material that I had given her to bed with her as a cuddle blankie. How cute- -makes me feel all warm and fuzzy!
That afternoon Cassandra (daughter number one) came around
with little Jack (the youngest grandkid). Jack had turned one at the end of
last November and I had not seen him since this time last year. Jack is
certainly the one year old, cute as a button and a blonde blue eyed handsome little
dude. And I’m not bias! Jack had not long woken up from his afternoon snooze,
he was not too sure of me so I let him play around on the lounge room floor
with his cousins. As I watch them play I could see that Jack never let his mum
get too far out of his sights.
Sunday family exercise |
old rail bridge across the Macquarie River |
This is a newly constructed walkway with a footbridge crossing the Macquarie River beside the old railway bridge. This new walkway now this completes the old walkway to the Western Plains Zoo making a circuit back to town. On the way home Manda and Clint swopped places with Manda riding the bike home with Kai.
I thought we were here to catch yabbies..........................!!! |
How many yabbies..................? |
We did manage to catch a few yabbies, Bridie and Piper
looked like they were doing most of the work but in reality I think Manda
caught the most. The boys spent most of the afternoon splashing about in the
muddy water and in the end the yabby catching was given away for the water fun.
An old foam boogie board became the entertainment of making a mud home for the
yabbies and then giving this game up for more splashing about and jumping off
the board.
Even Bridie was getting in on the act, leaving Piper to patrol the yabby lines. Meanwhile Nan, after doing my share of yabby catching out in the hot dry sun, was sitting comfortably in the shade of an old gum tree watching the kid’s antics of splashing about in the old mud dam.
Even Bridie was getting in on the act, leaving Piper to patrol the yabby lines. Meanwhile Nan, after doing my share of yabby catching out in the hot dry sun, was sitting comfortably in the shade of an old gum tree watching the kid’s antics of splashing about in the old mud dam.
It was time for home and a good hose off. The yabbies that had
been held in a bucket of muddy water had been released as most of their mates
had escaped from the mud corral on the boogie board leaving no enough yabbies
for a feed. The kids got hosed off and the afternoon turned into another one of
those backyard Happy Hours with Clint and the kids in the blow-up pool or the
kids jumped on the trampoline, Manda and I relaxing in the shade, a couple of
cold beers and lots of time for more chit-chat.
Monday was a lazy day around the house. Bridie and I were
kept busy trying to make bead bracelets for ourselves and Piper while Kai
played his games. I helped Manda put the washing on the line and that was about
it for my morning.That afternoon we went up to see Cassandra and Jack at home. Jack loves to play with his cousins and the two girls love to mother him.
While in Dubbo I could not miss out on spending a night with my youngest grandson. Tuesday I went over to Cassandra and Martin’s for the afternoon and stayed the night. Little Jack with his bubbly temperament was having such fun in his own house, flashing his bright eyes and giggling out load as he explored the world or investigated mum’s kitchen cupboards.
Jack had an open and shut thing happening; just at that age and small height to be into all the cupboards. Breakfast time was help mum with the dishwasher. How funny! Cassandra and Martin are doing well; Cassandra with her personal training business starting to expand and Martin has taken to driving trucks instead of driving a restaurant kitchen (more evening hours at home).
Tuesday morning, before going up to Cassandra’s, I borrowed
Clint’s and went and spent the morning with my dear friend Eilleen. Eilleen
greeted me at the door with a big hug which I held for a long time. Eilleen tells
me that she thinks of me as one of her daughter; that makes me feel very
emotional. We sit out in the back sunroom for hours chatting about our lives
and life in general. So good to see Eilleen again and she is looking very well.
Good!
Wednesday Manda the kids and I went to the movies to see the new Hobbit in 3D; great movie on the same lines as Lord of the Rings. The 3D glasses did not fit so well over my glasses but that didn’t stop me from enjoying the movie and ate load of pop corn. It was Miss Piper’s first big movie show; how well behaved she was, sitting through the whole movie without a boo. I think this movie was a great stimulation for her very active creative mind. Back at home I spend some one-on-one time with Bridie finishing our bracelets and colour-in one-on-one time with Piper. Kai is happy to watch TV.
That afternoon I took some fun family shot around the
backyard.
Thursday Manda the kids and I spent most of the day at the
local Dubbo swimming pool – thank goodness there is a lot of great shady areas.
I did a bit of splashing around in the little pool with the kids and left the
big pool to Manda and the two older kids while I kept an eye on Piper still in
the little pool.
Sometimes Manda would take Piper with her in the big pool and
then cousin Jess arrived and all the kids went screaming down the big
waterslide.
Once again I took loads of photos of the grandkids at play.
Manda and Clint had asked me to do some formal portrait shot of their family. I was on the last day of my visit, Thursday that we did manage to get them done. Late in the afternoon we drove out to Clint’s Aunty Deb’s house on the Macquarie River – Clint’s mum, Narelle lives out there too. The only place in the west to have any greenery was by the river and we could not have picked a better spot for photos with great subtle afternoon light and the beautiful Macquarie River as a backdrop. It had been a long and energetic day for the kids, all doing their best to look good for the camera in the numerous setting we choose to stand or sit for the photos, but kids being kids they did get a little restless especial young Piper. I thought it would be good just to let them do a few shots being silly and poking our tongues. Hahaha – it worked and we were back to looking great for the camera again.
The morning I had to leave Manda was called into work, some court hearing, and Cassandra was to pick up Bridie and Piper after her morning class had finished, meanwhile Kai had stayed out at Debbie’s and Clint had already gone to work. Cassandra had come home from work and now Jack was asleep. Cousin Jess was called in to stay in the house with Jack while Cassandra came down and picked me up. It was a quick drop off at the station, hugs and kiss and then they were gone and I was left to sit and wait for my train....................................................................... :o(
I was sitting in my sad thoughts when there was a tap on the shoulder. What a surprise to see old friends Tom and Hilary standing there. They were at the station to farewell a friend and could not walk past without say G’day. Just in time to cheer me up!
I board the train back to Sydney carrying with me many great memories that I will hold dear and carry with me for a long, long time; memories to recall at quiet times or when I’m feeling down, memories that will lift my heart and spirits and will make happy, memories of family and good times.
You don’t really want to know all about my long trip back to
Darwin and my second stay at my sister’s, so I’m not going to write about it.
All you need to know for a good ending is that I made it back safely to my
darling MrJ, my beautiful clean home on ALANA ROSE and I had one of the best holidays
with my gorgeous family.
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