My mate Caz

Saturday saw Chris and Will leave on the bus and head for Katherine. Laura and I stayed to help Caz pack a few things and do some filing (boy, my secretarial skills are dodgy, I even ended up with a cut hand!). Then we headed off ourselves with all the animals: Wicket, a pregnant Suzie (who is due any day now!), Mumma cat and the 3 chickens (Stardust, Sparkles and the only hen - Pepper). We had a non-eventful trip, just the way we like it and went straight to Janelles to drop off Laura for a play with Micaelia. Will was already there so they could say a last "seeya" to the kids. We stayed at Meryl and John's and had a delicious tea with Caz, Craig, Janelle, John, Darren and Kelly and it was all going fine until I had to say the first goodbye...then I lost it a little. But what else did everyone expect? Those who know me expect me to cry at farewells, weddings, funerals, get togethers, hell any old time at all really!

Well it had to be done, and on Sunday morning at about 9am we piled onto the big blue bus and drove away from my mate Caz, to continue our adventure around Australia. It was dreadful to leave her so close to having her little bubba (only a few weeks to go), but I know Craig and all the family will look after her. I am so glad to have had the opportunity to spend lots of time with her and to catch up on life and news in general, which you just can't do over the phone. Until the New Year...chow for now Caz and thanks for everything :-)) xxx

Final days in Darwin...

Caz took some lovely photos of the family so I stuck one in here for you all to see, we don't have many good ones of the four of us. Here we are all swished up to go out for tea with Matthew and Shelly, and of course Caz. We went to The Jetty which is an all-you-can-eat place and the food was lovely.

This is another night we went out for tea to Outback Jacks. There is a massive croc on the roof which kept the kids entertained and as a bonus kids ate free on the night we went, super!

Unfortunately it was the last night I got to see Shelly and it was very sad to say goodbye to her (hence the red eyes all round!) I wish I had made more of an effort to catch up with Shelly while we were there, but she knows I love her anyway :-)

Gaz, Jen and the kids got up to Darwin in the week or so before we left. Would have loved another couple of weeks to catch up but had to make the most of the time we had. Took the kids to the waterpark and Will's friend Martin came along too. Kids had a great time as you can see.

Martin, Will and Hughie, in descending order!

Nikki and Laura ready and rearing to go!

Will and Martin, best mates.

Then our time in Darwin drew to a close and it was time for my last night in the most beautiful city I know. Went to the Beachfront for tea and drinks with the girls from 3A (the ward I worked in at the hospital) and had a really wonderful night. Lots of laughs and good memories to take with me, thanks a million girls, you are a super group!

Me, Lauren and Jess

Running out of time!

We are half way thru' August already, only 3 weeks left in Darwin! Where did the last 8 months go? Madly trying to jam everything into these last few days so life is a little hectic, but with Caz - what's new?!! Ha ha. Feeling a little sad, but also very excited to be hitting the road again. Love waking up in our beautiful big blue bus with Chris and the kids, wondering where we will go and what will we see that day. It really is a fantastic life on the road, you should all try it.



So what's news?



Had Caz's "baby shower/girl's get together" in the Casino at the Sandbar. We got our own little secluded area to enjoy our high tea and cocktails, it was very swish.
Our cocktails came in these little tea pots, they were sooo cute!

Here are the boozers: Janelle, Deb, Shelly, Caz, Krystal and Surrinder. Missing are Caz's mum Meryl and her friend Cathy who nipped off to the markets for a stroll.
Janelle and I sharing our pot of "tea". Check out the lovely orchid in my hair!



Kids have both had sleepovers this month for birthday parties. Both came home with their eyes hanging out of their heads but had lots of fun! They have made some wonderful friends, we have been really happy with their time here at Wanguri school.



Another day the family went and had a look at the Darwin Beer Can Regatta, held on Mindil Beach. As you can see the boats really are made from beer cans and some were much more sea worthy than others.

The Bunning's boat was one of the more professional looking fit-outs, but didn't get to see it actually in the water.
The race is on...

Last night we went to the rodeo. It was the first time for Chris and the kids and they really enjoyed it...except for the cattle roping part where they threw the calves on the ground to rope their legs and Laura called out that it was awful and they were hurting them! Oh my special girl, what a greenie she will be!!! There was barrel racing, cattle roping, bull riding and the bucking broncos. Unfortunately we didn't get the camera going until the bulls had finished but we did get some of the bucking broncos. Forgive the shaky camera work,that's Stevo and he hasn't even had a drink...

Yeeeee har, ride 'em cowboy!

Tonight we are off for tea with Shelly and Craig at the seafood place on the wharf, should be lovely. Then tomorrow I start a run of 12 shifts in 14 days, including 4 nightshifts...couldn't get much yuckier than that! Luckily I will have 3 months off afterwards to recover, so I might just survive...

July - here one minute, gone the next!

Well Grandma and Grandpa stayed with us for about 3 weeks. It was cosy here at Caz's but we all managed and it was a wonderful relief for Chris and I who both had to work at times over the holidays and weren't sure what we were going to do about child care. They were also a great help with minor repairs around the house, which I know Caz really appreciated, and the front tap has never looked so good!! They went with Chris and the kids to the wave pool and up next you can watch the little video of them in the water. They also went to the beach, East Point and the water gardens in Rapid Creek. The kids really loved having someone to play with and Grandma and Grandpa hardly ever turned them down, no matter how exhausted they must have been at times!
We have been here twice now, it's lots of fun and the pattern of waves keeps changing so you don't get bored. Will is in the blue tube and Chris is beside him with the cap on. Laura is on the board with the pink and yellow rashie vest, to the right of the screen.
Here are the kids with Grandpa playing french cricket at the Rapid Creek Water Gardens. It was a lovely relaxing day...well for Grandma and I anyway!
Laura and Will having fun with Grandpa.
Stevo and Don went fishing at East Arm and came home with these lovely Golden Trevally. Made for a delicious tea!
We decided to see a few more of the sights before it's time to pack up and leave beautiful Darwin, so we took the kids to see the Fannie Bay Gaol.

They had a special area put aside for naughty kids, and look who found it!
We sure did work up an appetite looking at the Gaol, so we stopped at the Cool Spot for lunch and a "little" treat!! Mmmmm, yummy!
Couldn't miss the Royal Darwin Show which was on last weekend, well I could have but the kids wouldn't let me! They did jobs over the holidays to earn some pocket money to spend at the show and Grandma and Grandpa also helped them out a little, so they had a great time. As you can see in the photo they really enjoyed the fairy floss and the show bags. They had fun going on a few rides, although the ferris wheel took a little getting used to!

Then of course there were those of us who have to work to make a living...yes, I mean ME! I had a terrible 4 nights working with Susan, Claire and Maggie, terrible because I lost the Masterchef Nightshift Cookoff, boo hoo! Claire won with a stunning mexican dip, lamb and feta meatballs with a yoghurt dipping sauce and chocolate brownies for dessert...impossible to beat really. But we all tried hard and althought the real work was a little constant we made plenty of time for nibbles. THANKS GIRLS for a great time!
Would you let these people look after you? I think NOT!!
From left to right...Mags, Deb, Susan, Mel (the ring-in) and Claire..."The A Team"

Well I have to work again this afternoon soI'd better hop to it and get organised. Kids are back at school and Stevo has been relieved of his job as a builders labourer because they employed an apprentice so he's busily doing jobs around the house here for Caz instead. Cheers xxx

A busy month in June

This is a brief look at some of the excitement we had in June... Went to Nightcliff jetty to watch the sunset one night with Michelle and her sister. Very relaxing!
Had a weekend away at South Alligator river with a couple of my friends from the hospital, out in Kakadu National Park. Left the kids at home with Grandma and Grandpa (who had just arrived the day before). It was either take the kids or the esky because we couldn't fit both in Jimny...no real thought involved I must say...just had to organise a babysitter. The weather was good, the fishing was great and the company was wonderful. We had Susan and her hubby Marty (who organised the trip) and another friend Lauren (who was on her first camping trip EVER), and of course Stevo and I. Chris got his second barra in as many months and we ate it for tea, yummo! Didn't see one croc which was a bonus as we had to walk across the river a couple of times.
Here are some shots of us relaxing around the camp fire and having a dip in the morning to cool off before heading home.



Towards the end of June we took the bus for a spin and went down to Katherine. I must say, it felt good to be back on the road. We stayed at Janelle's place so we could celebrate "Territory Day" on the 1st of July with Caz's family. We had a big bonfire and got to let off loads of fire crackers and we all had a ball. I will admit I was a little stressed when I saw Will helping Janelle to light a few fuses but of course like any good mother I just tried not to look and had another bourbon! As a result I didn't get one photo of the crackers but they were very impressive, and most importantly noone was injured!
We took all the kids out for a look at Cutta Cutta caves while we were down there. There are some amazing formations and they are really sparkly and pretty.


This next photo is Caz and Wickett trying to catch a barra in the Ferguson river, just out of Katherine. We had a lovely, leisurely day beside the river and all found something to occupy our time...the kids - eating and exploring, Deb - doing a crossword, Caz and Chris - fishing, and Craig - taking photos.

Will relaxing at Janelle's with her dog "Chilli"

Laura having a little "ride" on Janelle's horse.

On the day we got back to Darwin one of Caz's chooks was hatching out the last of the eggs she has been sitting on. Here are the kids with 3 of those 4. They seem to spend more time in the kids hands than they do under their mother but so far they are surviving! Two of them were attacked by ginger ants and have problems with their legs now but we are trying to help them along as best we can. We have warned Laura that only 2 might live and she was very teary last night that the mother chook would be sad if 2 of her babies died. If love can get them thru then Laura will get them there!

Well after 7 days off I am back to work this arvo, and not that keen I must say. Poor Don and Bett have been busy all morning trying to fix a broken pipe in Caz's front yard and have just succeeded so thankfully we have water again. Call me posh but I really have trouble surviving without water on tap! Chris is at work and so is Caz and the kids are at the kitchen table making something with the beados. All in all another lovely day in paradise! Cheers to you all xxx

FINALLY, A FISH!

This is Shelly and I at the Pine Creek Races, enjoying a cool beverage and waiting for the racing to begin.

Lynne came to stay for 3 weeks in May/June. Here are Laura and Lynne cooling off in the backyard bath.

One night we went to watch the sunset from the Dripstone cliffs with Susan (a friend from work) and her hubby Marty. Here is the beautiful view we were enjoying!

We went for a second try at Douglas Daly Tourist Park while Lynne was up, it was much better with no rain and a lovely time had by all. Craig, Nate and Surrinder all came. Shelly was supposed to be there but wasn't well and couldn't make it. Unfortunately for Shelly we were also celebrating her birthday and had to eat the cake without her, mmmm, yummy! We had a swim both mornings in the hot springs and it was so relaxing you really did not want to get out. The food was scrumptious and after the roast lamb and vegies Caz cooked in the camp oven we will definately be buying one of those when we get home.

What a picture of domestic bliss, food and warmth all in one!

Here are our beautiful girls Laura and Micaelia.
Caz tried her hand at catching a barra, but no luck. I didn't put in the one where Caz is up to her knees in the murky water!
But STEVO GOT ONE!!! Craig brought his boat up and he, Chris and the two boys went out on the Daly river for the day. This was the only one they got to keep but I was impressed. At last! It's in the freezer at the moment, waiting for Don and Bett to come up and help us eat it.

So that has been our exciting life for the last month or so. Only 2 days left until school finishes for a month of holidays, boy I can hardly wait. Good news is Bett and Don are coming up for 2 or 3 weeks and will help out a little while Chris and I have to work, how nice is that!! They just sent a text message to say they are leaving Port Augusta now, so won't be all that far away. Kids are very excited and miss Grandma and Grandpa a lot. Hope they travel safely, and to anyone else out there on the road also, have fun and be safe xxx

Last month's post

May is here and we thought the wet season had finally finished for this year. We've been enjoying a few cooler days and the dragon flies have been flitting about, a sure sign the dry has arrived, but as I type this blog the rain is belting down on the roof of the bus! What The?!! It is very unseasonal and don't let it fool you, while it rains it will be hot and muggy, no relief like you might think.



So what's news?



Mum and Dad came up for a flying visit a couple of weeks ago...woke me up after a night shift, stayed 2 nights and then hit the road again and haven't been heard from since. They were heading to Kakadu/Jabiru/Katherine way, then over to W.A. and then back down south. Hope they enjoy their travels. It was Mum's 60th on the weekend after she left but unfortunately as I hadn't been expecting to see them I had nothing organised and OK, lets be honest...I forgot! Hope she had a good one.



Went to the Pine Creek Races a couple of weeks ago with my mate Michelle, it was a blast! Stevo decided to stay home with the kiddies and missed a great time, but I'm sure he didn't miss the hangover I was sporting the next day! I took my camera and took one whole photo, so when I get some from Shelly I will post them.


Got back to a message that some fellow travellers were in Darwin so we went to visit with Helen and Barry and caught up on all their news. They have been down the west coast already so we got some tips and had a very relaxing night.



What else is happening? Janelle is up here for a course and staying for 4 nights. Lynne is due to arrive for a 3 week holiday on Saturday and Craig, Nate and Michaelia will also be here for the weekend so the house will be full to bursting! Caz is getting bigger every day and says little "junior" is kicking all the time, she looks great. Chris has been getting 3 or 4 days a week in his new job as a builders labourer and seems to be enjoying it, except maybe the jackhammering! I started an orthopaedic course last week which was lots of fun, still a bit to do so I'm off to the library now to get some books. Kids are due to knock off school and it's still raining so they will get drenched, ha, what a surprise!!



Hope family and friends are all well and can't wait to see you all at Chrissy time! Love and kisses from the Stevos xxx