Catching up with family in Longreach

Before we knew it Tuesday had rolled around and whilst we weren’t originally in any rush we seemed to have managed to drain our caravan battery right down and lost power for a bit.  Well until we turned a lot of things off and then we managed to regain lights at least.  So we took the hint and decided to hitch on and take the van around to Mrs Avery’s place as she was kindly allowing us to leave it out the front of her place for the week.  Poor Mel I don’t think expected us to rock up so early and my kids certainly made themselves at home whilst we un-hitched, hooked into power and then organised everything we needed to take with us.

Then it was straight up to the Longreach School of Distance Education for Hamish to do his on-air lesson with his teacher.  I must admit I was so nervous as to how he was going to behave, yet alone if he would do the work she required for the hour.  So once he was in and settled I just walked away as I didn’t want to distract him.  His studio is called the fish bowl as it is right next to the tourists’ room and they can watch the teacher perform the lesson and of course they can see out.  Every now and then I would try and get a glimpse and he seemed to be doing okay.  Kayla and I hung out in the library until Jason who had been running all over town doing jobs came back and then we watched the end of his lesson.

All ready to meet his teacher.

Hamish and Mrs Lockrey.

Sitting ever so still and behaving for his teacher.

Thankfully he had done well and Mrs Lockrey couldn’t get over the energy he had.  Well at least now she knows what we go through each day and how hard it is to get him to sit still.  Yep next year is going to be a huge shock for Hamish having to join a classroom and sit still for so long.  So now we decided it was time to head out to my parents place but of course made a quick stop into the bakery for some morning tea.  Of course we all treated ourselves to something totally delicious and not good for us before buying some extra treats to take out to my parents place.

Still behaving at the end of the lesson.

The drive out home on the Silsoe Road was like a highway compared to some of the roads we had done in Western Australia.  We even joked when we went over a little bit of corrugation that it was nothing and if anyone ever made a comment over the driveway into my parents place, they need to go and drive into the Bungle Bungles and they will never complain again!  So we made it out in time for a late lunch and of course my kids were straight out of the car and ready to terrorise (well I think their words are play) with the pets.

Turning off to my parents property.  Our car is slowly turning grey.

It is really sad seeing the place so dry and walking through the big empty old homestead, but over in the cottage Mum has the most beautiful garden growing and it is so homely and welcoming.  Hamish couldn’t wait to help Grandad feed the sheep and chooks and loved playing with Toxer the dog.  Kayla tried to make friends with the cat Osama but of course she was way too much in its face that it would just sit way up on top of the cupboard to avoid them.  That night we retreated to our beds in the main homestead and I had the best night sleep I had gotten in ages.  Poor Jason didn’t and the kids did wake up twice but hey at least I got a good night’s sleep!

Feeding more pets.

Grandad's little helper.

Spot the child amongst the sheep.

Unfortunately due to our poor planning and disorganisation we had to return back into town on Wednesday morning.  We needed to have the car’s minor service done.  Also, I could only fit into a doctor’s appointment that day and Hamish’s teacher wanted to review his sight words and letters with him.  So we thought we might as well go in and get it all knocked over in the one day.  Thankfully Mum and Dad were happy for Kayla to stay with them for the day which made things a lot easier for us as it meant that whilst we were waiting for the car to be serviced we could go to the library and focus on school.  As we hadn’t done any the day before we were a little bit behind where we normally like to be so wanted to make the most of the time we had in town.

Our first stop for the day was LSODE so Hamish could do his on air lesson with Mrs Lockrey again and then she would review the work with him.  We made the most of this opportunity and ducked into town for a well-deserved morning tea in peace and quiet.  Then Jason went to pick up Hamish from the school while I made my way over to my doctor’s appointment.  I wasn’t sure what to expect as I had instructions from my OB in Brisbane to get a referral for a blood test.  Thankfully the doctor knew what I needed and had all the right paperwork ready.  Then she asked how my pregnancy appointments I had been going to.  I think my blank stare said it all so she filled me in on what I should be doing for now!  Obviously that is what I had done with Hamish and Kayla but I think with this pregnancy I have been a little blarzay.

I also used the trip to town as an opportunity to buy some more winter clothes for the kids.  I thought I had packed a few singlets for the kids but no, there were only two each which really meant you had to wash every day and when we free camp we can’t so obviously needed some more.  So now the kids are all sorted with some warmer clothes except I totally forgot about Jason and I.  We only have two long pants each and of that my jeans no longer fit due to the expanding baby belly, so I will have to go back and get something more.

When we arrived back home I was relieved to hear that Kayla had been good for Mum and Dad.  We just weren’t sure how she would go since we hadn’t really left her for that long with anyone for a very long time.  Mum then filled me in on all the lessons she learnt whilst looking after Kayla.  For example, not to turn her back on her when she has scissors and is near a pot plant.  Poor Mum’s pot plant got a good trimming back.  Then she found out Kayla could open the gate to get out, so after taking a phone call, came out to find her gone.  Luckily she was only 200m or so from the cottage and at least the dog was going with her.

Hamish's new pose for photos.

Still all in all it was a good day and I must admit it is so nice to come home to a delicious cooked meal and your washing done for you.  It is certainly nice having those extra two sets of helping hands when you need them after a long day.  As we were sleeping over in the main homestead we couldn’t send the kids to them early in the morning.  Hamish was especially up early the next day asking if Grandad had already fed the animals.  Of course I said he probably hadn’t so we had to quickly got dressed and head over to the cottage for breakfast.  Well for me it was for breakfast and for Hamish it was to make sure he didn’t miss out on feeding the animals.  If we were smart we would have just let them go over, pretending we were coming and then sat down and had a cuppa in peace!

Out feeding the sheep.

More of them running along.

Grandad's two little helpers.

That morning I went for the drive with Dad and the kids to feed the rams and the sheep down in the front.  It is so dry out here it is quite hard to see and Mum has pretty much warned me about going down to see the house dam as it is so low, so I think I will avoid that one.  Once we were back Jason and Dad went out to Cavell (a back paddock of the place) to move the pump so I tried to do school with Hamish.  We had fallen a bit behind so I was determined we were going to catch up that day!  Of course Hamish had other ideas and trying to keep him still to do it was harder than normal it seemed.  I must admit there were so many more fun things that he could have been out doing.

Checking out the cattle in the yard.

Guessing Kayla wanted to get home fast.

The men came back and we enjoyed a nice hot soup for lunch along with salads.  It is certainly colder today than the day before but still not too bad.  That is really a good thing considering my lack of warm winter clothes.  In the afternoon Jason tried to do some more school with Hamish and soon learnt why I had been frustrated that morning.  Funnily enough Mum didn’t volunteer to teach, guess she has done way more than her fair share teaching us girls and was probably sitting back laughing and thinking about how it is great that karma has come back to bite me!

Off to collect the eggs.

Jason cooked up dinner and put it in the dream pot and then we went down to Puds dam to throw in the Yabbie pots.  Hopefully by leaving them in overnight we might manage to actually catch some.  If not we might try Pink Dam.  That night we enjoyed Jason’s dinner and then sadly watched the cowboys getting beaten by the Rabbitohs.  Well Mum was happy as she had tipped the Rabbits!  It was all too much for Hamish and Kayla who fell asleep whilst watching the game.  It was so beautiful seeing Kayla snuggle in with Grandad.

Fast asleep on Grandad's lap.



Well I woke up after yet another fantastic night sleep.  I really think I need to steal the pillows and blankets as I am so snug and warm.  It helps too that the kids didn’t wake up until 6:30am so it felt like we had gotten a sleep in.  We quickly got dressed and headed over to the cottage to have breakfast and so the kids wouldn’t miss out on feeding the sheep and collecting the eggs.  Honestly I have never seen my kids move so fast in their life.  I think we are going to have to get a few pets when we settle back down again.

Helping Grandad.

Wherever he went two kids followed.

Still helping.

Jason went out to help Dad again in Cavell whilst I stayed back and did a bit of school with Hamish before helping Mum with some gardening jobs around the main homestead and the cottage.  Of course after that we decided that we deserved a break and enjoyed morning tea on the verandah in the sun.  Hamish really loves the chocolate cake that Mum had made and I had to say no after three pieces, otherwise I wouldn’t have gotten any the next day!

Helping Grandma feed the lambs.

Now one must feed the chooks.

Hamish making friends with the cat.

 

After morning tea we headed out to check our yabbie pots.  Unfortunately there weren’t any yabbies but we did manage to catch a few shrimp so at least we could use them for bait.  We decided to try our luck at another dam so on the way home called into the dam and threw them in there.  Fingers crossed that we have more luck this time.  After lunch Mum and Dad went to have their rest and Kayla just stood at the door watching and sort of banging it a little bit until Mum invited her in.  Mum then put her up on the bed beside her where she fell asleep.  Talk about making herself at home this kid.

Having a nap with grandma.

Checking the yabbie pots.

The kids loved watching the shrimp.

We then did a bit more school before waiting for Bid to arrive.  Unfortunately she didn’t arrive and Mum started to get a little worried so tried to contact her on the radio and then call back to their main homestead.  When there was no response Mum and Dad set off in the Landcruiser to find her to make sure she was okay and hadn’t gotten into any trouble.  Thankfully the car had just overheated so they found Bid making her way back to her place.  I was so grateful when Mum called to say that everything was okay and that they were just going to be a little late to the catch-up at the four corners and that we should go ahead and pick the tree and start the fire.

Grandad getting some coals to cook with.

The kids playing with shovels.

Well didn’t we feel the pressure, I mean yes how hard is it to pick a tree and start a fire, but which tree do you pick to not spread a fire.  After a false start we found the perfect one and managed to have the fire going before the Gordon’s (my parent’s neighbours) arrived.  It was a great evening spent around the fire with great company of course.  I even managed to burn my hand trying to move a log closer.  Not my finest hour but it will survive and if I am truthful it is really just one finger on the hand, not the whole hand but that doesn’t sound as dramatic.  Another lesson I can teach my kids of what not to do.

Jenny this is my attempt at an artistic shop.

Kept us nice and warm.

Both kids were exhausted and fell asleep before we even left.  It must have been all that running around and throwing of rocks at each other!  Honestly sometimes I don’t know who owns these two, but it is always fun and games until someone gets hurt and funnily enough it seems to always be me (I had a rock narrowly miss me, thrown by Kayla)!  So yes I was very grateful once they were asleep and luckily they transferred easily to their beds when we got home.

Another early start with the kids busting to get over to Grandma and Grandpa’s place as they don’t want to miss the feeding of the animals or collecting the eggs.  After a lesson of school Dad took us out for a drive to where he had found the remnants of an old saddle.  It is quite amazing hearing all the theories and we tried to look for more little bits but it is really like looking for a needle in a haystack, yet still very addictive.  Maybe we need to organise a week out here with metal detectors to help find more of the missing parts and help solve the mystery of whose saddle it was.

Kayla having a look around.

Looking back down at the channels.

We didn't have any luck.

After lunch we went down and checked the yabbie pots again but still there were no yabbies but we did get a few more shrimp.  Then later in the afternoon we headed off fishing to one of Mum and Dad’s dams.  Normally you wouldn’t fish there but due to the drought the water had receded to the main dam part so Mum and Dad thought it was our best bet and did it pay off or what.  Of course the first thing we did on arrival was collect sticks for a fire.

Hamish having a go.

Kayla checking out Jason's first fish.

Getting some more water for the fish.

At first I didn’t hold much hope, especially when there were three pelicans that flew off on our arrival, but then you started to notice all the fish jumping.  It took a little while, but really not that long and Jason was reeling in the first one which was followed closely by another.  Both being keepers.  We were all so happy as now we at least had enough fish for a meal for the adults at least.  Poor Mum and Dad weren’t having much luck on the other side of the dam but that most likely had a lot to do with my kids hanging around them and Kayla throwing rocks in exactly where Mum was trying to fish.

No idea why they moved to the other side of the dam!

Kayla having a go.

I was proud of my fish.

After a while she stopped throwing the rocks into the water and took to throwing them at Hamish who of course retaliated.  It was all fun and games until one got Hamish in the head.  I don’t think Kayla realises just how good of an aim she has or either that she does and takes the opportunity of being on the other side of the dam to get at her brother.  Luckily Hamish was okay.

Dad with his first catch.

Of course Jason had to outdo both of us.

Mum warming up by the fire.

In the meantime Jason had set me a challenge as he had now overtaken me in the catching of fish (we only count keepers) for our trip around OZ.  Mind you I only had 1 to my name but I was just ahead of him on 0.  Not long after offering up the challenge I reeled my first one in so I just turned to him and confidently said challenge accepted.  However after Jason reeled in another three in close succession I admitted defeated and went to work on cooking some damper on the fire.

From the top of the dam bank.  Normally it is all water.

The kids decided to dress up.

Another great way to end the day.

Dad then also managed to reel in two fish and then Jason another two.  By now Mum and I had decided that we really weren’t required on the fishing front and was trying to cook (and not burn) our damper on the fire.  Once our total had reached 10 fish and it was dark we decided to call it quits and return home for some dinner.  Of course Mum had already defrosted some mince so we had some yummy tacos for dinner.  This gave the guys plenty of time to clean the fish.  Jason went to bed very happy and proud of his massive fish haul of 7 that night.

Our catch for the day.  All were measured and legal.

I can’t believe how fast our last day had rolled around.  It just seems to go so fast when you are all having fun.  So I decided to hand over the teaching of school to Jason for the day, but of course we couldn’t do it before Hamish had helped Grandad feed all the sheep.  Whilst Jason got into school Kayla and I went over with Mum and Dad to take some netting off one of the mandarin trees.  Kayla had fun picking the mandarins and eventually we managed to get the net off the big tree and prune out some of the dead sticks.

Moving some furniture back to the homestead.  Open air caravanning.

Then back to the cottage we all headed and I helped Jason out with the school and Mum cooked us some of the yellowbelly for lunch.  It was so delicious and we couldn’t help but go back for more until there was none left.  I then tried to catch up on my blogs but felt like everything was just not working in my favour.  It just seemed to be not worth the effort but I managed to get one done and another one ready.  Meanwhile I was falling behind again in the actual typing of the blogs.  I also had to send some school emails and convert recordings which all take time but I got there.

Goodbye family photos.

Grandparents with two of their grandkids.

As the day rolled to an end we had to do the dreaded packing up of everything and find all the bits we had managed to spread over the two households.  Whilst we were doing this, Mum was spoiling us with a delicious roast mutton for our last night there and we sat around chatting before it was eventually time to get the kids to bed.  We really have enjoyed coming out and spending some quality time with my family, it is always hard when the time comes to leave.  Thank you Mum and Dad for putting up with us, feeding us all and letting us use your precious water.  We are truly grateful.

Also a big thank you to Mrs Avery who let us store our caravan out the front of her place.