Camping - continued

We have no idea really what to expect this weekend. We've got all the new gear - and just hope it's the correct stuff. We just hope we don't pitch our big tent, whilst everyone else arrives with little tunnel tents to camp in.

The weather is predicted as dry - although not too warm.

Saturday Fine.Min 8 Max 23
Sunday Fine.Min 8 Max 22
Monday Fine.Min 8 Max 21

We've had some really cold nights of late, so we'll be taking extra blankets just incase.

W has got two weeks off work (starting this week) as she's got engineering exams coming up, which need a heap of revision.

Meanwhile I've had a heap of trips to the doctor, as my blood sugar has been all over the place (going to lots of not good places). My blood pressure has been on the rise too - probably thanks to all the work I'm putting in lately. Hopefully the weekend break will calm things down.

My eyes have also changed (not sugar related) - but I've now been without glasses for 3 weeks - waiting for new lenses to be put in. Luckily my eyesite is still classed as fine for driving, although I feel like things aren't as sharp as I'd like.

Off camping

After a nightmare of hours at work, due to the changing of the hardware on which we run our Classified system, W and I are off camping for the 3 day weekend.

It's with the 4wd club, and here's the details from their site.

ELACHBUTTING ROCK - LWE 2-4 JUNE 07
This trip is from the book “4WD Weekends out of Perth”, although the intention is to spend both nights at Elachbutting Rock. According to the book, it is an 840 km round trip from Perth through what is described as “wheatbelt wonderland”, especially in the Spring, when the wildflowers (water permitting) are supposed to be “truly magnificent”.Apart from Elachbutting Rock, we should also take in Sandford Rocks, Baladjie Rock and Eaglestone Hill.Elachbutting Rock is a spectacular natural rock formation similar in shape to Wave Rock, which has numerous larger cavern areas. The name Elachbutting is thought to mean ‘that thing standing’ which is quite feasible as Elachbutting is a large granite rock, a prominent landmark standing out from the surrounding countryside. Elachbutting is located north east of Mukinbudin on the Elachbutting Rd and Echo Valley Rd or via Beringbooding Rd and Masfield Rd, if continuing on from Beringbooding rock.Elachbutting Well is a feature of this area. The well can be found to the rear of the rock and quite a distance between the well and the base of the granite rock. The well is circular and extremely deep there is approximately 3-4 rows of dry wall stones then either clay or stone that looks if it has been drilled. The water seeps in about a metre from the top through the rocks. This well is significant of the typical wells that were built within this area. In providing a natural water supply to the settlers. Parking facilities and a walk trail have been developed jointly by the Westonia Shire and DEC.Sandford Rocks is situated approximately 10 kilometres north east of the Westonia townsite, along the Boodarockin Road. It protects 806 hectares of granite outcrop, pools, wildflowers, scrub and woodland. It has many diverse species of flora and fauna. Silver Mallee and Purple Peacock Beetles are found only on these granite outcrops. The trig point (HK 148) is set on the highest point of the rock towards the rear of the outcrop, where you will find a cairn of stones depicting the highest point.Eaglestone Hill: Situated in the Nungarin Shire along Brown South Road, the Hill abuts Lake Brown. Patches of York Gum woodland abut the rock which has stands of red Kunzea pulchella adding patches of colour in late spring. Wedgetail eagles are often seen perched on the Rock.Baladjie Rock is a popular picnic and camping spot for locals and visitors to the Westonia Shire. It is located on the newly sealed Korda-Bullfinch road, 42 kms north of Westonia and 55 kms north west of Southern Cross. The extensive rock outcrops are situated in an attractive woodland adjacent to the Baladjie Lake Nature Reserve. A climb up the main rock affords a spectacular view over the lake system and surrounding landscape. Ornate Dragon Lizard (Ctenophorus Ornatus) is a popular resident at Baladjie Rock.

Christmas mini light

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Originally uploaded by robandwend.

We've started working on some mini light trees for the christmas lights - we should have about 9 of these in the end. The first one took three sets of 150 bulb lights - we'll probably have to cut down or we'll run out of lights.

Weekend work

Once again it looks like I'll be working this weekend - it wouldn't be so bad if we could get our time back (or some other renumeration). Oh well, hay ho - it's off to work I go (again) - we've got a big upgrade planned for next weekend, and today it's testing time. Once the call-room closes it's all hands to the keyboard, as we try to get a totally new computer working. Needed since our old one (now 15 years old) really is out of use-by date.

In three weeks we go on our first camping trip. It sounded a good idea when we arranged it. Now winters set in, and it's getting really cold at night - I'm not so sure.

Time for me to pop to the Doctors - my blood glucose level is going all over the place, so I need to get it sorted out.

On your bike.

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Originally uploaded by robandwend.

I’ve wanted this for some time – try taking Bingley for a run, with me on the bike. It’s not that I’m lazy, but I certainly can’t sustain the effort of running with him, although I do keep trying.

So today, I got the bike out (having replaced a perished inner-tube), put Bingley on a short leash, and we gave it a go.

I do admit that it’s not probably the safest thing to do – once false move, and I could easily mow him down, plus he’s not the brightest dog – road wise… Anyway we gave it a try.

He absolutely loved it, he just kept running, almost pulling me along, with a huge smile on his face (you can see it if you know what to look for). I’m hoping we can make it a regular thing, although it will have to be early morning, as now daylight saving has ended, it’s always dark by the time I get home.

Ebaying

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Originally uploaded by robandwend.

I've put a bunch more of our DVD's up for sale on ebay, having had such good success last time.

This time it's a bit of a guilt thing having ordered another light controller in the week - this lot should more than offset the cost of it. But not the cost of all the plugs / lights etc. thats now needed.

We've just put up another big pole in the garden - to extend some of the cat netting. It's not that cookie is getting out - he doesn't appear to try too hard these days. The problem is another big cat getting in, and eyeing ujp our chickens. It's also killed one of the doves that regularly visit (for the chook food). For some reason Cookie doesn't go after the birds - perhaps he just knows he's no good at it.

Anyway, I've dug the hold, and planted yet another pole - next weekend I need to get some netting and get it connected.

W's studying in every spare moment, as she's got exams in about 8 weeks.

Greg Taylor's Last Day

Greg Taylor Last Day24
Originally uploaded by robandwend.

After 25 years at the west today was Gregs final day.

I got roped into cooking the snags at work - here's L (my boss) with the cooked results in the background.

W's liver results

Were all clear, a big happy anticlimax. After doing scans and lots of blood tests - finding nothing wrong, they re-did the original test, and it too was clear.

They don't know why she had the original funny readings, but she's all clear now, and thats what matters.

:-)

Whiteman Park

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Originally uploaded by robandwend.

We've got a could of guys over from CCI in Denmark (the people who provided out editorial system) for a couple of weeks at work. So on Saturday W and I met up with them at Whiteman park - a wildlife park about 15 mins drive from our house.

Click on pic to see the whole set.

Another watch

Another watch
Originally uploaded by robandwend.

Argh -- another watch

someone stop me!