Late Fragments by Kate Gross

I was lent this book in Singapore, I've just finished it.

Quote
'Kate Gross worked at 10 Downing Street for two British Prime Ministers. At thirty four she was diagnosed with advanced colon cancer.
Now terminal it is clear that she'll die before her children finish primary school and probably before they reach the grand old age of six.'

Sadly Kate died on Christmas Day 2014 at 6.29am just minutes before her children woke and asked 'Is it morning?'

This book is well worth reading, it's not soppy or full of horrendous cancer detail, written for her children.

Window cleaning day

The window panes are like horizontal louvers, when open, which they are most of the time, the dust settles on them. It's quite an easy job cleaning them, as they sit about ten feet in under the veranda no rain or sunshine ever reaches them. Advantage is no smears! What a blessing.
However the patio doors are marked by the cat, children and adults alike who leave finger marks and fur! A little more elbow grease is needed to clean them off. Again no smears! I'm loving this job but need to sit at regular intervals to drink plenty of water.

However, the highlight of the day was a trip out to Humpty Doo again.  Bamboo plants needed to give some screening to the garden. It seems to me that Humpty Doo is the Northern Territory's answer for most things rural. A bit like Lye in the Black Country.

This is what being a Bamboo enthusiast does! Brian did know his bamboos though. There are over 1,000 species. Who'd have thought it?

Apparently the one in the picture is not at it's best, looked pretty good to me!

This looks a bit tatty though, but come to look again in three months time it'll be spectacular

A nursery area. Give them another four to six weeks and they'll be ready to plant out

This plant fanned out all the way up the stem. Brian was giving Tim the low down on how to propagate bamboo at every turn! Needless to say it mostly went over his head.

This to my mind is the most beautiful, bushing out right up the stem giving much cover.

Brian was trying to grow this one as a hedge to give shape to the nursery patch, however, as soon as he makes a little headway customers come along and as he needs to sell to make a living his plan keeps failing

Austin rode his bike furiously through the bamboo and other plants. He listened to conversations and made observation to be talked about later.

Dale left Tim and me to have lunch at a nice little cafe in Coolalinga

Woolworths supermarket was in the same shopping centre, Dale had left instruction. 

What a sensible sized jacket potato and chilli. Beetroot is served with most salads.

That pleases me.

Tim's toasted BLT was a good size for a growing lad!! 

Tim managed it well

'Daddy, can I go up - slide down please?'

was todays priceless snippit from Austin

More window cleaning tomorrow, this is quite a big house

Saying goodbye to Tom

Tom, my travelling companion of two weeks. a family friend, has left Darwin on The Ghan.
So named, says Tim, because Afghan people built it.

Whoever built it it's been a source of conversation and excitement for many a long year.

In temperatures in the low 30c's we stood for a while but decided to leave for Daisy to have her morning nap at home before it pulled out of the station.

You may be able to imagine the length of the thing!

Tom proudly standing for a photo shoot before boarding. He was so excited.

The rest of the day has been spent at home except for a quick flip to the shops to buy my next gadget to review. To also visit the chemist - a warehouse pharmacy!! Up to 50% of some items.

I'm not used to the money, I only know that to imagine the UK £ is roughly half the Australian $ is about right.

Rest time today was about Austin having stories on my bed. I've got to make the most of these precious times.

Dale is reading up what to plant in the garden, bamboo, lavender, rosemary to name a few she'd like

The view of the 'yard' - what a dreadful word to describe this lovely garden - from the utility area under the veranda, or Daddy's quanquete, as Austin says!

And here's the said utility, washing machine and sink open to the elements, which of course have no detrimental effect on the pipework!

Round to the left is the granny flat which sits at the back of the garage

However, granny doesn't live there as the new nanny and partner are in residence.

A wonderful arrangement, especially when they turn up with BBQ food  

The pool is protected from the harmful sunshine rays by a sail like canopy

Round to the right from the utility is the car port, Austin's bikes and trucks are parked here too, usually lined up and in an orderly fashion, like his Uncle Ed did as a child.

Directly opposite side of the house is the lounge area. Tom is working here, last eve saw the BBQ set out on this table, note the Weber in the background.

The Weber is a portable BBQ and also an oven in which Tim and Dale are as likely to roast a Sunday, or any other day, joint of meat.

Mushroom risotto at a restaurant in the Casino building. A beautifully cool airc on! Dale used her linen napkin as a blanket

Australia Day!

Monday was spent as a Bank Holiday, shops closed, people in real holiday mood, the Australia flag displayed on fences, cars and even on the head tied on with a cable tie!
Austin was given one at Bunnings, the local B&Q, he proudly waves it while playing

The highlight of the day was a trip to see the jumping crocodiles about thirty minutes drive away from home


Tom went off to purchase the tickets while Tim and Austin had a look at a snake, even held it for a while. Then it was Tom's turn. Funnily enough I managed to avoid the experience, why would I want to hold a snake?

Time for a cuppa before leaving

 Austin, like many little boys explores at every opportunity, what happens if .......

Being on the boat watching for crocodiles was just what this boy and his companions wanted to do for Australia Day. Great anticipation all round

An all woman crew today! How about that? On the very day the first woman to be consecrated Bishop too! We were told by the skipper that we should stay still on the boat, no running from one side to the other to view the crocs. The boat is not very stable she said, we could sense the stress this brought, but no going back, we were already out on the Adelaide river.

Austin made friends with Rayner, the crew member who was to feed the crocs. He had a good seat for a while in the cabin. don't think he had hold of the ship's wheel though

And there he is, Stumpy, I've seen him on other occasions.

So called because he lost a leg in a fight

Back safely on land and off to the Wetlands viewing point

The wetlands viewing point is just what it says, a building built above the wetlands which sports buffalo nad vegetation for miles around. A view similar to the Shropshire plain from the dizzy height of Overley Hill on the A5. However inside there is inteactive detail, buttons to press, jigsaw pieces to lift to reveal details of species, pictures and information to read.

Much work has been completed since my last visit, amd indeed Tim and Dale were pleasantly surprised at the improvements.

Coffee shop upstairs where you could buy snacks and drinks to consume whilst enjoying the view or watching an educational video

Termite mounds are all around us, I must remember to take pictures of real ones and tell you of the different kinds. The natural world is amazing, so much to see and learn about. 

Tim, like his Dad, has the knack of telling stories - I believe what he says, no reason to doubt!

This cardboard cutout might be the nearest thing to a kangaroo I might see.

Kangaroo on the menu

Salad, chicken and rissoles to finish off Australia Day

'Daddy' whilst out in the car today,

'Yes, Austin'

'Can you drive on two wheels please'

Sunday 25th January

I am aware I reach the next day before the UK by nine and half hours.
The humidity is 94% today, a bit difficult to stay awake after a sleepless night.


This is, Tim and Dale's, where I call home for the next few weeks.
Tim has enhanced the picture using the app 'snapseed'
The walled garden is in fact quite straight not with a corner!
However, it is quite an expanse of ground, 21/2 acres. Dale is trying to contend with the weeds, which takes some doing in this wet season.

So, Sunday morning was spent with Omar who is four today. We travelled south on the Stuart Highway for about fifteen minutes, past Humpty Doo, Noonamah, the jumping crocodiles and the didgeridee shop. Sadly at this time of the year the shop is closed, I'd really like to take a didgeridoo back to the UK on one of my visits.

Partying with Omar this morning in strong sunshine, the pool had been erected under the gazebo, such a good idea

Omar's grandparents have an amazingly huge garden which they're setting up as Open Garden and tearooms later in the year. 

The remains of a bonfire complete with pans

A few metal items are mounted in the trees with plants trailing through

Trying to capture the expanse of garden, failed, a pretty picture nevertheless

Plants growing over some plastic piping to give shelter from the sunshine

A sewing machine tractor? A great innovation 

An ant made out of propane gas cans, I thought it was Rudolph at first, friend Mali put me right

A beautiful place to behold. We might be calling out here again

The rain storm has been epic this afternoon, and with humidity of 70% it's been hard to do anything but to sit still. A good exercise as we watched a pair of curlews struting about the garden looking for food I guess.

Daisy rode on the little plastic car. which Austin has outgrown, backwards as yet but at 81/2 months was pleased with herself. 

Saturday 24th January

Sue's birthday! Happy birthday Sue, hope the flowers arrived!

Today is also the day my Solihull family are celebrating Honor's two years. Her birthday is in two days time, party today without Grandma, sending love, will FaceTime later
I'm hoping for more celebrations with Honor on my return

Being at Tim and Dale's home is so normal, how can that be? The other side of the world in temperatures unheard of in the UK, humidity to melt the human body away. Australian people talk about the weather too, they go into Tim's motorbike shop and announce, 'it's hot out there'
Yes, that's what it is at the top end!!

Pretty good rain yesterday accompanied by thunder. Austin loved it and the temperature dropped a little.
Have you seen the film Australia? We watched half on Thursday eve, the other half on Friday evening. Much of it was shot at The Wharf where we ate dinner last evening. The locals are 'proud' of their history in a strange way as it was pretty gruesome in places. The lost generations of children being so terribly sad. The prime minister in 2008 announced an apology to the indigenous people, that was important but doesn't take away the absolute desperation and heartache of that people

A little snippet

'Mummy, can you put on the airc?'
'What do you mean Austin?'
'Put the airc - on'

Thursday 22nd January

A HOT night, quite disturbed by the heat and the running of the airc - on. Go on, say it as Austin hears it! We'll put the airc - on!! Funny boy!

Breakfast of cereal and raisin toast. We might call it currant bread, only it's raisins, or fruit teacake!!

Off to meet Mothers' Union members, whom I've become friendly with having visited four times, at the museum coffee shop/restuarant.
Pam, my online friend and with whom I make these arrangements
Annette, who is reader with her husband at St Peters Church
Margaret a new member
Rae a longstanding member I see each time I come
Lynn a new member and retired home economics teacher
Diana a member from down south - that's anywhere away from Northern Territory!! I think actually she's from Victoria (Victorian means something quite different in Australia!)
Two other members whose names escape me, sorry!

Sorry for the closed eyes!

Rea about to tuck into raisin toast

Pam and another about to tackle a pumpkin scone each

I thought a slice of arrange and almond cake would be simple

Cornucopia coffee shop at Darwin museum doesn't do simple

I dollop of double cream and a scope of ice-cream completed the delicious presentation

Meanwhile, in the museum display of hurricane Tracey of 1976, Tom was becoming more and more hungry and polished my left overs off when he joined us!

Tom is exploring a little of Darwin on his own, I drove back to Tim and Dale's home to be with them and the children for lunch.

After lunch, low and behold, Tim is gardening! Tim's siblings will perhaps be surprised but his Dad would have been proud and probably have joined in with his advice.

But not without the trusty John Deere!

Now to watch the film Australia in Australia!!

Today's footnote

     On geting out of the car at the museum my glasses steamed up! I bet you who are in the depths of winter have the steaming up on entering a building or car!! Such is the humidity in Darwin.

The afternoon was spent out on the quad bike 

Austin loves the water, it was difficult for him to keep away, but there might be crocs!!