So now we are back at home and trying to settle into a routine. It is proving more difficult than we expected but for all sorts of positive reasons.
Yve and John, who had been house sitting, dog minding and replacing me at the farm while we were away, made it all so easy. Ali, our dog, was glad to see us back but she now has two more friends who love her, the house and garden were in terrific shape and the farm was ship-shape. John's expertise in irrigation was much appreciated and is still ongoing at the school while Yve became a regular classroom volunteer. There was another occasional visitor to the garden while we were absent and a good thing it made a slithery departed before we returned.
We landed home one day after our first lot of visitors from Singapore had arrived in town. While I still had one more week of term to complete at the farm, Kim and Syd Pink were on their mid-year break already. Unlike us, they didn't have a 4 week break, only 2 weeks and it was moving fast, so while I went to work during the days, Eric took them out and about including to Litchfield and Berry Springs. Then together we took a road trip down to Katherine and out to Kakadu National Park. It was a hectic schedule and by the time we took them to the airport for the return flight they were probably exhausted.
To our great delight, the next dear friend to visit Darwin was Glenice, another colleague from Katherine. By this time Yve and John had moved to a second house sitting-opportunity in Stuart Park and Glenice stayed there but we managed time together including a night at the Deckchair cinema under a delightful dry-season starlit sky and bastille Day celebrations at our own Life Saving Club which now has a French cafe in operation.
Just before she was leaving town, Robyn turned up with her 12 yr old daughter Gracie Jean (who we last saw when she was barely 3 yrs old). At that time we were visiting Victoria and riding the rail trail loop from Wangaratta to Bright and back. Together with Rob, they still live in Wangaratta but have spent the last term doing relief teaching work in remote Central Australian schools administered through Alice Springs. It was lovely to catch up, but such a flying visit, and now they have returned so Gracie can complete yr 6 and settle into Secondary Sch.
Another colleague from Katherine School of the Air days has been in town lately too. Sue Rose, previously from Echuca, met us the first day we arrived from Cobram at KSA and said, "You must be the Smiths, I believe we have mutual friends. Do you know Mick Butler?" He and I taught together at Cobram High, Eric played golf with him and I played tennis with his wife. Small world. Apart from all the trips and experiences we shared in Katherine, Sue joined us on many occasions over the years, once we had all moved to Darwin, including for 'Drinkin at Brinkin' on the cliffs watching the sunset on a Wednesday evening. On Sue's return she also brought along travel buddies of hers that we have met many times over, including Jen, who I went to High School with! This week at 'Drinkin at Brinkin' we had a a great roll up with Yve and John back in town after completing a circuit out bush. It was fabulous to reconnect and I have a whole swag of new/old friends on Facebook!
Between those two visits though, we also had a lovely few days when Peter joined us from Singapore after his latest trek in Nepal. Together we walked to Lee Point and back, cycled to Nightcliff and did the obligatory visits to the museum and art gallery, Ski Club etc in town. We also fitted in a visit to the Territory Wildlife Park and swim at Berry Springs where a 1.4m crocodile was trapped a week later!
We celebrated Eric's birthday with Sandy and Peter watching an intimate live performance of Shirley Valentine, starring Mandi Lodge, which was a hoot. We have realised this was the first July holiday we have ever spent in the NT as being at the end of Term 2, we've disappeared for the 4 week break. The weather has been beautiful. While it may be Darwin's hottest July on record, it has been in the low 30's during the day and cooler at night. We don't need air cons, just overhead fans at night. I slump into the pool most days though Eric generally only gets in to his knees. The garden is thirsty though, not looking forward to the water bill.
I am still loving the farm manager's job and do almost half as many hours again each week, just for the enjoyment (you can get so much done without the kids!). Last week was the first week of Term 3 and only a short week because the teachers started with a Prof. Devt. Day and then Friday was Show Day. It also turned out to be National Tree Planting Week so between planting 25 trees with Greening Australia and then taking chickens and produce entries to the showgrounds it was busy. There has been great excitement at the farm with the arrival of two sets of twins. Unfortunately one didn't make it so now we have 2 nanny goats and 3 kids. So cute! It is hard to get the students to do any of the chores now though. This week the teacher was away on Monday so I stepped into her shoes and got paid relief teacher wages for what I do on a Monday in any other week.
Eric came along as my manager on that occasion. He is committed now too with maths tutoring at the senior college that our son Luke used to go to. He had his first students today, but I haven't had a chance to see how it went as he then dashed off to play comp at the golf club. He was joining another old colleague of ours who plays off a handicap of 3 so that will either be a good thing or completely do his head in. He was due home some time ago...... I have been known to have a hit too lately. We both have new clubs and buggies. Played a few rounds of 9 holes and this week did all 18. Keen to get my handicap so we can start playing comps together on a Fri when we are both free.
In between all the visitors we are trying to keep fit walking Ali, (she is partially blind and deaf now and I can keep up with her), riding our bikes and golf. Eric also runs HHH when he can fit it in and I tend to our own garden. My job is pretty physically taxing so on those days I don't need to do anything else. On days when we are both busy or I have too much to carry, I can now take my new set of wheels. Adrian has given me his scooter to zip around on and although I have only had it a week it is proving useful, though challenging. I still need to build my confidence to go more than 45kms/hr. That feels safe to me, but I understand no one else wants to be stuck behind that sort of driver in a 60km zone.
August is Festival time in Darwin. We just had a long weekend for Show Day, next week is Picnic Day and the running of the Darwin Cup. We won't be there though, heading out to Litchfield to stay for 3 nights. Expecting early morning bird watching and afternoon swims. Then the festival begins in earnest with live performances every night. We have booked for 5 events at the festival spanning cabaret, comedy and music. One of the highlights each year though is visiting the grounds that link the different venues together. They are populated with delicious pop-up food outlets and we have been known to go just for the atmosphere there. Saw Tapestry last week with Debra Byrne and Linda Bull and looking forward to Midnight Oil on their return from their overseas tour. Who would have thought they would ever play Darwin?
So life moves on very quickly but with lots of highs. The boys are both fine doing their own things but with us just around the corner, we see plenty of them.
Perhaps we are just not meant to establish a routine.
Yve and John, who had been house sitting, dog minding and replacing me at the farm while we were away, made it all so easy. Ali, our dog, was glad to see us back but she now has two more friends who love her, the house and garden were in terrific shape and the farm was ship-shape. John's expertise in irrigation was much appreciated and is still ongoing at the school while Yve became a regular classroom volunteer. There was another occasional visitor to the garden while we were absent and a good thing it made a slithery departed before we returned.
We landed home one day after our first lot of visitors from Singapore had arrived in town. While I still had one more week of term to complete at the farm, Kim and Syd Pink were on their mid-year break already. Unlike us, they didn't have a 4 week break, only 2 weeks and it was moving fast, so while I went to work during the days, Eric took them out and about including to Litchfield and Berry Springs. Then together we took a road trip down to Katherine and out to Kakadu National Park. It was a hectic schedule and by the time we took them to the airport for the return flight they were probably exhausted.
Just before she was leaving town, Robyn turned up with her 12 yr old daughter Gracie Jean (who we last saw when she was barely 3 yrs old). At that time we were visiting Victoria and riding the rail trail loop from Wangaratta to Bright and back. Together with Rob, they still live in Wangaratta but have spent the last term doing relief teaching work in remote Central Australian schools administered through Alice Springs. It was lovely to catch up, but such a flying visit, and now they have returned so Gracie can complete yr 6 and settle into Secondary Sch.
Another colleague from Katherine School of the Air days has been in town lately too. Sue Rose, previously from Echuca, met us the first day we arrived from Cobram at KSA and said, "You must be the Smiths, I believe we have mutual friends. Do you know Mick Butler?" He and I taught together at Cobram High, Eric played golf with him and I played tennis with his wife. Small world. Apart from all the trips and experiences we shared in Katherine, Sue joined us on many occasions over the years, once we had all moved to Darwin, including for 'Drinkin at Brinkin' on the cliffs watching the sunset on a Wednesday evening. On Sue's return she also brought along travel buddies of hers that we have met many times over, including Jen, who I went to High School with! This week at 'Drinkin at Brinkin' we had a a great roll up with Yve and John back in town after completing a circuit out bush. It was fabulous to reconnect and I have a whole swag of new/old friends on Facebook!
Between those two visits though, we also had a lovely few days when Peter joined us from Singapore after his latest trek in Nepal. Together we walked to Lee Point and back, cycled to Nightcliff and did the obligatory visits to the museum and art gallery, Ski Club etc in town. We also fitted in a visit to the Territory Wildlife Park and swim at Berry Springs where a 1.4m crocodile was trapped a week later!
We celebrated Eric's birthday with Sandy and Peter watching an intimate live performance of Shirley Valentine, starring Mandi Lodge, which was a hoot. We have realised this was the first July holiday we have ever spent in the NT as being at the end of Term 2, we've disappeared for the 4 week break. The weather has been beautiful. While it may be Darwin's hottest July on record, it has been in the low 30's during the day and cooler at night. We don't need air cons, just overhead fans at night. I slump into the pool most days though Eric generally only gets in to his knees. The garden is thirsty though, not looking forward to the water bill.
I am still loving the farm manager's job and do almost half as many hours again each week, just for the enjoyment (you can get so much done without the kids!). Last week was the first week of Term 3 and only a short week because the teachers started with a Prof. Devt. Day and then Friday was Show Day. It also turned out to be National Tree Planting Week so between planting 25 trees with Greening Australia and then taking chickens and produce entries to the showgrounds it was busy. There has been great excitement at the farm with the arrival of two sets of twins. Unfortunately one didn't make it so now we have 2 nanny goats and 3 kids. So cute! It is hard to get the students to do any of the chores now though. This week the teacher was away on Monday so I stepped into her shoes and got paid relief teacher wages for what I do on a Monday in any other week.
Eric came along as my manager on that occasion. He is committed now too with maths tutoring at the senior college that our son Luke used to go to. He had his first students today, but I haven't had a chance to see how it went as he then dashed off to play comp at the golf club. He was joining another old colleague of ours who plays off a handicap of 3 so that will either be a good thing or completely do his head in. He was due home some time ago...... I have been known to have a hit too lately. We both have new clubs and buggies. Played a few rounds of 9 holes and this week did all 18. Keen to get my handicap so we can start playing comps together on a Fri when we are both free.
In between all the visitors we are trying to keep fit walking Ali, (she is partially blind and deaf now and I can keep up with her), riding our bikes and golf. Eric also runs HHH when he can fit it in and I tend to our own garden. My job is pretty physically taxing so on those days I don't need to do anything else. On days when we are both busy or I have too much to carry, I can now take my new set of wheels. Adrian has given me his scooter to zip around on and although I have only had it a week it is proving useful, though challenging. I still need to build my confidence to go more than 45kms/hr. That feels safe to me, but I understand no one else wants to be stuck behind that sort of driver in a 60km zone.
August is Festival time in Darwin. We just had a long weekend for Show Day, next week is Picnic Day and the running of the Darwin Cup. We won't be there though, heading out to Litchfield to stay for 3 nights. Expecting early morning bird watching and afternoon swims. Then the festival begins in earnest with live performances every night. We have booked for 5 events at the festival spanning cabaret, comedy and music. One of the highlights each year though is visiting the grounds that link the different venues together. They are populated with delicious pop-up food outlets and we have been known to go just for the atmosphere there. Saw Tapestry last week with Debra Byrne and Linda Bull and looking forward to Midnight Oil on their return from their overseas tour. Who would have thought they would ever play Darwin?
So life moves on very quickly but with lots of highs. The boys are both fine doing their own things but with us just around the corner, we see plenty of them.
Perhaps we are just not meant to establish a routine.
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