24 May 2016

23rd May 2016 The Great Adventure has begun

We are all set up at Condobolin, house-sitting for Wendy and Ian.  The cool weather has been welcomed after the weather in Queensland prior to us leaving.  BUT you need to know what has happened in the middle…………………….
We were due to hand over the keys to Victoria Point at 2.45pm on the 11th April.  We left the house at 10am on the 11th, the real estate agent was going to hand over the keys for us and we said sad farewells to our dear neighbours.  At 2.21pm we got a text from the real estate agent to say that the new buyers wanted to do a ‘pre-settlement’ inspection before they paid the rest of the sale monies…… :C  Really - 19minutes before it is all supposed to be settled!!!!
At 2.30pm we got an email from the Solicitors to say that settlement had occurred early.  So they were obviously pleased that we had left the house clean and tidy.
We drove out to Jimboomba and set up in Beckie’s front yard.  Over the next few days we had appointments to complete and then we headed to Taree to see Darryl’s brother Neville and his sister Shirley.  We spent the first night at Halfway Creek, south of Grafton.  This is a great spot near the Shell service station and we had about 18 other vehicles with us.  We then travelled to Taree the next day.  It was a shock to see the van park at Dawson River almost empty BUT still charging high School-holidays prices ($45 per night and then it dropped to $35 per night on the Sunday at the end of the holidays).  We are really beginning to feel that they are out-pricing themselves for us to stay and we may have to find somewhere else.  We had a great few days there and even went up to Port Macquarie to for a surprise visit to Uncle Max and Aunty Kath. 
 Uncle Max and Aunty Kath

 Free, Aurra and Julie

  Vesna and Nick

  It was also a great day as we managed to catch up with cousin Julie and Free and Aurra, and also Vesna and her lovely husband Nick.  A truly lovely day.
We returned back to Jimboomba to see the doctor and get scripts filled and then it was Beckie’s Birthday (Happy mid-30’s Birthday :D) and then the next day was Mother’s Day.  
 Miss Independant with 'Hulk', Max, 'Bobby', Bec with Lucky Last and Mr Man

Beck, Ben, Barb, Darryl

On Beckie’s birthday we went to a ‘Hippiness and Happiness’ Market that was held at Woodhill Hall.  What a great day we had.  Lots of different stalls from usual markets.  Ben came and joined us for Mother’s Day and we had a latish lunch once the children returned from their prospective fathers.  We had a great evening.  Beckie has been teaching Miss Independent and Monkey Boy how to play Canasta – and they have both grasped it really well.  We all had several good sessions with them.

We set off on the Monday and travelled to Inglewood in Qld.  
  It would seem that Autumn has begun on the road to Toowoomba

We were still debating which way to travel on our way to Condobolin and weren’t sure if we were going to go through Goondiwindi to St George or down to Moree.  The camp spot at Inglewood was well used that night with 8 rigs in for the night.  We had some light rain showers during the night and it was a quite a warm night.
We travelled down to Moree the next day and took rest at Tooraweenah rest area just south of Coonabarabran.  
  Sunset
It was quite overcast and the wind was cool and fellow resters were also from Qld and they found the cool wind very uncomfortable and they were heading to South Australia – so will definitely need their winter woollies.  
 6 degrees and foggy next morning

Next morning it was 6degrees and the wind was blowing again and it was time for long pants and socks and shoes :D.  We travelled through to Condobolin through Narromine and Tullamore and arrived at Condobolin at about 2pm to find no one at home :C BUT Wendy was travelling back from Dubbo and Ian was to get home on Friday from Orange.  We set up in the driveway and then went in and gave Rosey a big cuddle.  
  set up in the driveway :D

  Miss Rosey is 11 years old

We then got the fire going to warm the house and let the chickens out of their pen to have a good scratch in the yard.  Darryl made some chicken and vegetable soup for dinner and Wendy stopped in Parkes and got some lovely crusty bread to go with it.

We all headed into town on Friday and whilst Wendy was at the hairdresser Darryl and I did the shopping.  When we got home we found Ian had arrived and we had a lovely evening catching up.  

On Saturday we chatted and ate and chatted whilst getting the campfire roaring and then Ian and Wendy prepared a lovely roast beef lunch which we thoroughly enjoyed and then sat around the campfire until after dark.  

 Ian checking the Roast in the camp-oven

 Relaxing after lunch - Wendy painting

 Darryl relaxing near the camp fire


We then listened in whilst Wendy and Ian had a skype session with Miss Holly from Poland and we participated right near the end.  It was really lovely chatting with her and all three of them are getting terribly excited about meeting up in Amsterdam in about 18 days…….

Sunday we let Ian and Wendy complete their preparations for travel and we left for Dubbo at 10.45am.  We arrived at just after 1pm and Ian directed us to a pub for lunch.  From here we went to Officeworks so that Wendy could get some pens for drawing for use whilst away and we took advantage of the stop to get some supplies as well :D
  last minute checking at the airport

Once we waved them onto the plane for Sydney, Darryl and I travelled to visit our friends Jenny and Doug and were lucky enough to meet up with Helen and Peter who were on their way home to Adelaide.  The time flew WAY TOO fast and it was very dark by the time we headed on our way down to Parkes and out to Condobolin.  We got home at 9.15pm and had a quite cuppa whilst giving Miss Rosey a good cuddle.
I have been invited to attend a Weaving Day at Forbes on Wednesday and also to join with the Weavers of Condobolin the following week.  So am getting very excited about that also.
Monday and Tuesday we attended to the chores that come with caring for a home and we heard late that night that Wendy and Ian had arrived safe and sound in France.  

Wednesday Darryl and I headed off at 9am for my weaving session.  We arrived in Forbes at 10.15am and Darryl went and kept himself occupied whilst I mingled with the ladies (I did ask him to come in for a cuppa and to meet the ladies but he declined :C).  What a great morning and afternoon – lots of great yarning and learning.  I learnt to make string and also started to weave a fish using twining – which you will see in the attached photos. 
  String from red hot poker plant.

 starting the fish tail

starting to move it out to make the body

 weaving more of the body - concentrating hard

 ready to shape front of the body

 front taking shape

ready for the mouth

almost finished.  Have done mouth and whiskers but now to do eyes and do the dorsal and lateral fins.  Will then make some more string to use as a hanger.
Yucca, cumbungi, watsonia, red hot poker is what has been used to make 'FISH' :D

  Unfortunately, it was the last of these community sessions held by the Orange Fiber Artists – UNLESS they can get more government funding or work out another method of funding.

Yesterday and today I have been getting our laundry done whilst also sitting and weaving the FISH.  It has been a very interesting and satisfying activity.  I look forward to learning more next week when I meet with the weavers of Condobolin.

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