Probably just when you had given up all hope that I was going to return to blogging…

It has been that long that I don’t know whether to continue on from the last post or to start with more recent times!

Ok, Well to date one of the most memorable things of the trip happened just a few weeks ago and I know to a lot of people it was nothing!  I had just got into bed and was reading for a minute or to when I felt the dog under the bed pushing up, then as I thought for a second I realised I hadn’t let the dogs into my room a little puzzled I looked around the room to realise that there was a lot of things moving, It went on for about a minute in which time I had to get up and put a hand to the flat screen tv on the dresser before it toppled over and that was that I had witnessed my first Earthquake, thankfully no damage was caused as it was approx 90 miles deep and deep enough not to cause any waves!

So back a bit…     All in all I had a great time on the Sydney to Cairns leg with Simon, and although we punched in a fair few miles we managed to squeeze in a few activities and find some nice eatery’s along the way, the second night of the rd trip we ended up in the country town of Murwillumbah were we camped in the show grounds, for dinner we found ourselves at a kinda trendy cafe called Luffley Cafe where most of the seating was on the street and being a Friday night they had live music in the form of the Lovely Vanessa (Guitar, Vocals) and Richard (drums) I would recommend it to anyone…

Next day we kept the hammer down to get up towards surfers paradise, stopping for about an hour for some grub and a stroll on the beach where we both managed to get sunburnt all down one side, I had been looking forward to seeing Surfers Paradise but on arrival was very disappointed as it is completely commercialised and reminded of Blackpool or the likes but with better weather, 40 years to late I guess!  On up the rd a tad we pulled into Water World hoping to get a wash but they were closing up for the day, so with a little time on our hands we called Chris Brown a friend from home who moved out here back in march to the Brisbane area, finally luck was on our side and Chris was just on his way home from work and only lived a few Km’s away so we met up with himself and Shaz for an hour before getting on the rd for Somerset Dam, unfortunately it was dark and I have no idea what the countryside was like on the way up, but going by what was on view the next morning we probably missed some good views.  On up the road we stopped at the Australia Zoo of Steve Irwin fame but it was absolutely packed, I think Simon was keen enough to go in for a look see (sorry Simon) but I got back on the road and stopped at the “Big Kart Track” were we had a 30min run on the 1.2Km track which was mighty craic and left us both with some sports related injuries, back on the rd we got the length of Bundaberg but couldn’t find the campsite we where looking for so I backed the van up to the sea break for the night, we were rudely awakend by the cackles of two women fishing on the rocks just at the back of the van, so I swung open the doors and gave them a fair old shock!  The craic was good so I got the fishing rod out and threw a line in to and before to long I had the breakfast in the pan!  Well, thats where the fun began, while I was preparing breakfast I threw Simon the rod to see if we could make it a feast, what happened next was probably highlight #2 of the trip and makes me laugh everytime it comes to mind, Simon cast out and a bird thought the spinner looked good and made a dive for it and managed to hook it’s foot, so as Simon was calling for assistance I could hardly stand for laughing at him and while trying to catch a breath I managed to grab the camera…

At least Simon got a shag...

Sorry I didn’t proof read for typo’s etc…

I’ll try and do a bit more tomorrow night…

I finally jacked in the job on the stud to continue my travels…

If it wasn’t for Simon I don’t know when I would have escaped the lights of Gundy, the people where great and the craic was good and I enjoyed the work, I have never experienced a feeling of community anywhere else like I did in Gundy and to be accepted in like I was, well I can’t explain it!!  I’ll not name everyone at this stage partly because there was so many people that looked out for me and they will prob never see this blog to know!

Anyway, I left my job at the great Kitchwin Hills on Friday 26th of June in preparation for meeting up with Simon, that night I went to a friends place where I learnt how to kill and skin a few lambs!  The next Day when I should have been packing my gear back into the van I ended up helping with running repairs at the Gundy Rodeo Ground and after that a few repairs on a friends Landcruiser and when the work was done we gathered up a few beers and headed out on a pig hunt despite the dogs jumping a couple of times we didn’t come on any pigs!!  So typical me everything was left to the last minute and after my lie-in I got up and got stuck into my laundry pile and other chores before I could even pack, then It was up to the farm to say my good-byes to everyone then back to pack the last of my clothes from the drier and pick up Rosie to head for Sydney about 4hrs later than scheduled…

We arrived in Sydney around 18:30…  I tell you it clearly isn’t everyday a Falcon Panel van pulls into the valet parking bay of the Hilton Hotel Sydney, they clearly assumed I took a wrong turn and they looked even less impressed when Rosie and I jumbed out and told them to be careful with the auld girl, so with the van in the hands of valet parking Rosie And I made our way to the Lobby to meet Simon and have a beer!!

to be continued…

… Continued

After a bit We went to find the car for Rosie to get her bags and go to her hotel…

Valet parking know a good one when they get it!!

After we got Rosie on her way I had to check out our room, it was probably the cleanest most luxuriess hotel room I have ever seen, from the tv in the double shower cubical to the electric black out blinds and so on, it was fantastic (cheers Simon…) we then went to meet up with Gee and Anne for a pizza and beer (good to see ya’s again)!!   We spent the next couple of days touring around the city and sampling some of the local beverages!

Slightly worse for wear we bailed out of the Hilton on Wednesday morning and first stop was to see Baby Connor and Lorna of course, then it was to the northern beaches to explore, It was ok for me but I think Simon was a bit shocked moving from the Hilton to the back of  my van in some random carpark on Barron Joey Head!       Next morning after our short hike to the lighthouse Simon was keen to go up market again after slumming it in my van so it was to the very nice Boat Shed for a ***** breakfast!!  We met Julie for a quick cuppa but unfortunately the boys where at school!  We got on the rd and drove for around 5 hrs to our first camp spot a fair bit inland from Port Macquarie in a spot called Ellenborough which we found in the “Travelers Bible” which lists thousands of free camp sites around Australia…

Just to let you know I’m still in the Great town of Gundy NSW, Working away and having a great auld time!!  Nothing major to share these days, I’ve been lying low this week as I have a touch of a coldy flu type bug, but got to a chemist today so hopefully I can shift it soon…

Got to go, closing time again…

  Next day I got on the rd again and headed up the coast to Newcastle then on out to Port Stephens and Nelsons Bay, pretty as the area is I was getting fed up with the tourist trail of the coast and turned back and headed more inland to see what there was on offer, that night I landed up in a place called Gloucester to find the streets lined with Motorbikes but I drove on round to the campsite and got a pitch with no problems, found the onsite  BBQ and had a good feed of  stingray and crusty bread, then off to the pub to find out why all the bikers where in town, had a good nights craic with a good bunch of bikers who where all on a charity run and where running a bike show on the sunday in town! 

  Sunday morning up and round to the bike show for a look about and another chat to some of the folks from the night before, then a couple of Km’s out of town for an hour or two at the horse sales and a bit of craic with some of the locals, met one auld boy 89 I think he was fought in the WW2 came home and got struck by lightening while milking a cow, I had to believe him, he told the story so well and has pretty bad scars to show for it! Then I went for a bit of a drive around some of the surrounding area, mainly dirt roads and a lot of fords to cross which did concern me slightly as they got deeper and deeper but the auld girl pulled on strong, just relaxed the rest of the evening and had an early night!

  Next day was decision time again where to go, I decided to stay of the coast for another bit and headed further inland over one of the most spectacular roads I have travelled on, The Barrington Tops, a dirt road around 100miles over a mountain range to an altitude of  1500mtrs  then down the other side through Moonan Flats etc to a small place called Gundy where the CAW book showed another cheap site with power etc, As I pulled up to the general store the lights went out but thankfully Pauline stayed back a few mins to sort me out with the keys etc of the Show/camp ground and told me a brief bit about the area!  Got set up down on the village show grounds and took a walk over to the Linga Longa hotel, a lovely spot but due to lack of demand they don’t serve food on monday and tuesday, so a bag of crisps and a beer for dinner!  I was quite surprized to find the young fella (Sam) behind the bar was from South England and all but one of the customers where from England, had another early night, though I did wake up a couple of times through the night with a couple birds running about screeching at each other!

  Tuesday…   I dropped the keys back into the General Store and had an egg bap for breakfast and a good chat with Pauline who said there might be work in the area and to just ask around at the local farms and studs etc and I did…  The second place I called took me on for a couple of days to pick olives, I didn’t actually know what was in store for me though, until I got there at 7.15 the next morning!  The Couple I was working for where a joy to work for, they fed me well and the craic was good, they took me for a tour around the farm and told me the history etc, although picking Olives got a bit tedious in the mid-day sun I really enjoyed the couple of days experiance and the family I was working for!  I returned to their place on friday to do my laundry and spent the day chatting to people around the farm and taking photographs etc! Then to the pub for grub and a bit of craic!

  Saturday was the main day of the festival in the close by town of Scone, So up I got and headed over the road to town for the carnaval parade, then to town show ground for the rodeo, most of the afternoon was junior rounds etc and the main rodeo kicked off at 5.30pm, all in all it was a mighty days craic and I’m glad I hung around for it, I just kipped in the van at the showground!

  Today, sunday I’m still in Scone, found the Info center have internet, so here I am!  Gonna go back over to Gundy and camp there for the night and ask around about more work as I really like this area!!

Catch ya’ll soon…

Ps. Didn’t get chace to proof read so excuse the odd mistake!

  Friday,  I headed back across to the entrance for a nosey in day light and decided to join half a dozen other anglers on the south side just west of the bridge, the craic was good and I found myself beside a crazy ex-con who tells me he learnt his lesson and wouldn’t wish prison on anyone and can’t understand repeat offenders, although we weren’t catching much I decided to check into the campsite 100yards along the rd and do a bit of late night fishing!  So I got checked in to El Lago at the scary cost of $25 for one night on a powered site (keeps the fridge going) grabbed a portion of chicken and chips from the Kiosk next door and got back to the fishing!  Well it was pretty un-eventful up until around 12.30am when I was thinking of packing up and hitting the swag for a few hours kip when my hand line started to jig then bang, it tightened with great athourity and I learned very quickly never to have the line wrapped around my finger, ok ok I know that is common sense but it was only a small piece of bait on a pretty small hook, luckly for me in a round about way the line snapped before I lost my finger!!

To be continued… just been told this place closes at 4pm  I’ve picked up a couple of days work here in Gundy just a few miles east of Scone!

Keep’er country…

Anyways, my current task is trying to get my head around the construction of a single bed that can fold out to a double when required and have storage underneath if only I was at home with a welder at hand I would throw together a basic steel frame but that isn’t an option here, so it is gonna hadda be timber which I struggle with a bit!   So I’ll leave you now with my current headache, quite literally I may add, split my head yesterday on the corner of a tailgate at the breakers yard!

Chat soon folks,  Hopefully with some progress on the bed front!  I have been told I have to hang around here until next wed as I am being takin out for my birthday! My only plan is to be in Canberra for 9th-13th april for the Australian Folk music festival to hear Eric Bogle and the likes then on to Melbourne after that!

Later folks…

So far I’ve been to the Blue Mountains for a day and saw the Three Sisters mighty fine they are to!  That was a good day out with Kate!  Kate and I also had a day in the city and did the Harbour Bridge and the Rocks market etc but unfortunately the weather was against us that day not that it dampened our spirits at all!

Friday past Kate took me down the coast a drive to Kiama a lovely sea-side township where we had lunch on the rocks looking over the beach and from there up to the Crooked River Winery where we had a wine tasting session and bought a few bottles to take home most notably the chocolate “Pyjama Vino” which is possibly the nicest port I have ever tasted!

The next day I had a fairly early start for a Saturday when Kate’s Bro Trevor and his wife Lorna took me to the Parklea Markets where they buy there fruit and veg every week, it was a pretty impressive place similar to a lot of markets I have been to but on a much larger scale and a bit more friendly than most, Pat took me for a tour about the neighbour hood on our way to lift Kate from work and to the liquor store for me to buy the boss a case of “Tooheys new”!  That evening I joined Kate at her friend Louise’s birthday party in the Orchard Bar about 25Min’s away from the house!

Sat was our wet weather trip to the city, in fairness it was a lovely morning and we weren’t to know the change ahead, not that it created any problems at all in fact it steered us into some very nice shops and cafes, we had our lunch in “Pancakes on the Rocks” which was lovely then a stroll through the ROCKS markets were Kate bought some nice jewelry, we then walked round the shore to Darling Harbour and James Squire pub were we sampled some home brew and had a couple of games of  pool out of the rain!  When we saw a break we headed to the ferry to take us back to Circular Quay for a spot of afternoon Tea before catching the train home!

To be continued…   (photo’s are on my facebook page until I work out the best host for them!)

Off to check-in I went to find out they wouldn’t give me my tickets for the international leg of my trip, just the belfast to london leg (because I have two british passports long story) but when I got to London they said the boy in belfast was a prick and that it was all fine!  London to HongKong was a good flight, good grub etc!

I nearly missed my flight in hongkong, got confused with the time and when I wandered down to the gate they knew me by name which I thought was pretty cool until they told me I was the last person to board, so the second I walked on the they closed the door behind me and we took off! Not sure if it had anything to do with the lashings of brandy and ginger they gave me between london and hongkong! I didn’t get 640 quids worth but I tried my best…

To be continued…                   …Continued

Well I landed in Sydney around 7.15 am sunday 1st March dreading the grief about two passports and my visa on the old one with the corners cut off it, but 30 seconds saw me through customs, I couldn’t believe it, he just said to drop into Imigration in the city sometime it suits you and they will put ya on the system for work etc, well i only had to wait a few moments on my bags and out to look for that old fimiliar friendly face…  Well there he was not looking a day older than the last time I saw him in 2005, out to the car we went and headed straight for the Harbour Bridge, What a view tired and all as I was that was a sight for sore eyes the size of the Opera house was the most notable thing!  We then headed west again for where my home is for a week or 3 and to surprise Kate, well that was very funny, Dennis phoned the house from his mobile, gave me it and brought the house phone up to kate while he put on the best surprised “Kai, Kai from Ireland, yeh I’ll put Kate on the phone for sure” so I spoke with her for a moment and then asked to hold the line as I bounced on to her bed, the facial expressions were priceless!  We just caught up and chilled on Sunday…

Over the festive period and into the new year there was just to many things to write about that I decided not to write about any as I tend to go of on a rant without much warning!  I hope all had a good Christmas etc and are making the most of the new year!

One thing that has been brought to my attention of late is the new “Driver CPC” from the DVA that is “the Driver Certificate of Professional Competence” at first I thought it might have been a good enough plan but as I read own I very quickly realised that it would appear to be just another harsh money making racket by those already over payed scheming so and so’s in the civil service! I could start a full scale rant about the not so civil service but I’ll spare you that one in the mean time! Back to the driver cpc, What is the problem I hear you ask, well correct me if I am wrong but in my experience Lorry drivers aren’t a bad bunch, despite what that clown Jeremy Clarkson says they’re not all gear jamming, prostitute murderers, in fact I reckon the regular lorry drivers are about the most courteous drivers on the roads in the UK, they are the first to flash you in on the motorway or warn you when smokey is just around the next bend, so some would say the DVA have gone arse about tit with this one, but don’t we actually know it is carefully planned in a way that will bring in the most revenue as it is aimed at the commercial drivers which there are hundreds of on our roads and are the most experienced of the lorry drivers about, but I wouldn’t need it for a horse lorry that I drive 10 or 15 times a year and it takes me about the first 25miles to get used to the size of  it every time I drive it and am probably the most likely to have or to cause an accident the same applies to car and bike race teams etc which I have nothing against I might add! I’m just completely browned off with government bodies coming up with schemes to rob the working man of every last penny he earns when they could weed out their own gardens and save the country millions if not billions of £’s, after all they are only coming up with these hair brained ideas to line their own pockets and create jobs for the boys!

Maybe someone can sway my thoughts but in the mean time this is my true belief!

Until the next time…    Ten-ten – we’ll do it again