Whirlwind April Part 3 – Dubbo Zoo

On to Dubbo !

From Wellington caves it was a short hop to Dubbo. The hotel was easy to find and we happily settled in. Aside from the bullying tactics to make us stay a second night, the pub has a wonderful bistro and the bar staff are quite nice. One lady wouldn’t let Fabian sit in the bar more an 8 m from the bar but that is one person. 

The bed was comfy  but as I was bunking with Sandra, we had two single beds and I kept falling out of mine. LOL. I was excited to get to the zoo. Trouble is, this pub didn’t serve breakfast so we had to hunt the town for something open. Sandra, Fabian and I had done a walking reconnaissance mission the night before so that was covered. We woke up to a small fete in the street which had Fabian and Sandra shopping. 🙂 Sandra discovered Emu oil and is a new convert. Fabian has a thing for statues so he nabbed one. 

The zoo was busy but we were lucky to get a park close to the ticket office. All the experiences were sold out but that was fine. We were going to walk so were happy to not have any time restrictions. 

Who doesn’t like Meerkats? 🙂 Mama leopard would not leave the gate but at least she faced me. The rest of the big cats were sleeping and ALL of them facing the fence 😦 Ah well. Never work with animals.

23561 steps! 🙂 17.6km by the time we got to bed. Dinner was disappointing as EVERYTHING in Dubbo was closed but bloody chinese. Sigh. We hoping for a pub meal but we found the pub had closed at 8pm. Damn. 😦 The late afternoon was spend being mellow and the boy and Sandra had headed off leaving me and Heath in peace. We had some beers at the pub, Sandra had gone to see the Gaol and Fabian wanted the book store. He had found that the store had advertised closing at 1600hrs but when he returned just after 1530hrs it had shut for the day. BOOOOOOO.
We headed off very early the next day to beat the peak traffic home Eastern Monday. As it was, there was congestion at Mt Victoria due to the roadworks there but other than that, its was a good run. Mudgee was where we had stopped for brekkie.
Thus ended Heath’s week off and Fabian’s time with us. We were unable to schedule sky diving which left the boys disappointed but we just didn’t have any days left!

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Whirlwind April part 2 – Wellington Cave System

Off to Dubbo. 🙂 I have wanted to do the zoo again for years. It was a toss up for me between Dubbo Zoo and walking Mt kosciuszko. I wanted to do both, but with Heath returning to work on the Tuesday, both was impossible. BOO. Fabian wanted to go to the zoo so that won. The only place that had rooms for under $200 per night was a pub that actually made us stay for 2 nights, as, they stated, they were booked out and if I only stayed for one night they would cancel my booking and give it to the waiting list. (There was an empty pub/hotel Sunday night so this was revealed to be a blatant lie) Grab for cash right? BOO Still to stay elsewhere on principle would have cost us $500 more so they had me cornered.

Driving up, we were caught in some traffic through Katoomba and Mt Victoria but after that, it was ok. Actually had a Maccas stop and I did regret this later. 😦 Ugh.
Everyone was quite chipper 🙂  As you can see.

Wellington Caves is 40 mins from Dubbo, but 4 hours from Sydney so we were trying to get on the Cathedral Cave tour only to miss it by 2 minutes. 😦
Our options left were the phosphorous mine and the Gaden Cave. We chose to do both.
It was interesting but to see Jenolan first a few days before and then Wellington, it was hard to not compare the two cave systems. I was interested in the mine and its bones but Gaden cave was disappointing which is unfair to this area. Gaden cave has seen too much damage from prior travellers and it is hard to look past that. I did see a broad tailed gecko living the cave. We also spotted an Echidna along with the usual Eastern grey roos.

Gaden Cave (And resident)

Sculpture at the Wellington caves entrance

Next Dubbo Zoo!

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Whirlwind April

Unknown artist. Image from google

Still undecided where I want to go with this blog. It has been in mothballs for a while and whilst there are times I REALLY REALLY miss blogging, my life is so hectic, I rarely have time. Hell, I am struggling to find time to knock over my last few assignments to get my Diploma in Rail management. (Only 3 to go and two assignments. Should just sit down and get on with it)

April saw me and Heath have family from the UK visiting. I had taken time off work to spend time with her and my son but things never quite work out as designed. SOOOO we made other arrangements. Heath had a surprise week off and hence wanted to be with his kids (To be expected 🙂 )
Sunday All of his kids came up for a dinner to see their grandmother for a lunch which is a change. (A good one) Still very awkward but least the other half had a good time with them .
The next day, we took Sandra down to Wollongong so she could spend time with the girls whilst heath and I went rock climbing with Callum. Then icecream!! Winning.

Tuesday was spent with two of Heath’s kids walking the whole mermaid pools walk. Even the dog came. I had to keep him on the lead as there were a few other walkers around, but once we headed down into the canyon, past the Mermaid pools, we were alone and able to let the dog go free.
 He gets lost easily now and latches on to other walkers to rescue him. Doofus. 

Wednesday was physio. My shoulder was getting progressively worse over the past few months so, when a new physio opened in Picton, I started with is and he has reduced my pain a lot. I got a lecture for rock climbing (As I has slipped, wrenching my shoulder) but he was happy otherwise that I have the strength for pulling myself up. 🙂
It was raining so I did a quick urban walk in CBT whilst Heath and Sandra headed to the coast. Was nice to have an arvo to myself.
Thursday we headed to Jenolan Caves as the kids were busy for the next week. We were lucky to get rooms as this was a public holiday weekend.

Forever drip

River

Lovely caves

Brain like structures

Helictites

Favourite guide. He engaged the children stopping them from being bored.

Baal looks down into his temple

We had to leave early from the cave area due to it being Good Friday and the road out closes from 1145hrs to 1300hrs. From memory to permit buses to negotiate the bends. This weekend was so refreshing. I felt revived just being away from Sydney. 

Home on the friday to wash everything and get ready to drive to Dubbo via the Wellington caves. Going via Fabian’s place added an hour to the drive. 

The Easter weekend was in Dubbo. Travelling from or into Sydney from any direction on the holidays is a nightmare. For such a large city there are only 4 roads out. 1 to the North, 1 South and 2 to the west but its really one as they join up at Mt Victoria.  Heading along the South Coast there is one road so getting anywhere by car is a total nightmare. 

OK part 2 next post 🙂 

XOXOX

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Fuck I hate banks

Or even a reason to write. I have been despondent today.. I usually get some pocket money on Monday and this didn’t come through due to some heavy lawyers bills and then other bills Heath had so, we have been waiting for bank A to transfer money to Bank B.. This of course has left me with -$6 in my account and a lady wanting her money I promised. SIGH.

I know it will get better but right now, all I cam think of if, I can’t meet my obligations. I loathe letting people down. I have two people going to pay me for dresses in a day or two, but, them putting off paying me means I can’t pay the other lady. SO FRUSTRATING. 

Why, in 2017, do banks take 3 business days to do an Internet transfer. What excuse aside from feathering their nests with the interest do they have? You don’t need to send a signature to the originating branch, just fucking deliver the cash to the other bank. JUST DO IT. CLICK THE BUTTON. FFS. 

My mood isn’t helped by my module for my diploma, its on Train programming and frankly it so boring I am struggling to care enough to get through the assignment. zzzzzzz. Wish I could pay someone. Still. Only last 3 modules and then two assignments before I finish. I passed the WHS unit, I can do this. 

What do you mean interview someone. ARE YOU MAD? God train planning don’t even work my hours. I have emailed them before and they ignore you. They are gods I tell you and wont communicate with a pleb like me. UGH..

Weather in Sydney is weird. Hot and humid then rain then cold and humid. Can it just rain? Or just not? You have to carry a wardrobe for the day. 

Happier news, is… um. 

I have my health? LOL Seriously I have to wait until April for some leave as Heath doesn’t want a fuss for his 50th so I am going to work instead of spending time with the family. I am a tad put out by this but what can you do? 

Looking forwards to July when I can cruise for 2 weeks (Unless we can’t pay on time.. HMMMM)

Below are some OOTD from this past week. 

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Queen Elizabeth

Heath’s sister was in town and she is lucky enough to be a nurse on Cunard’s Queen Elizabeth ship.  The ship arrived in Sydney on Saturday morning but the weather was so crap that everything you did in Sydney was wet and grey. BOOOO. Still Heath got to catch up with his sister on Sunday and I was lucky enough to be invited.

I was on night shift the night previous to the visit so I felt unwashed and wilted. I looked it too. (Damn!)BUT Heath was at my work for 8am sign off and bought me breakfast (Dinner?) before we went for a stroll though the streets of Sydney. I was probably boring the pants off him but Sydney is a city I have spend many years reading the history of. 

We arrived at Circular Quay and still has time to spare so we walked around to the Overseas Passenger terminal, and sat down. Mistake.. I drifted off.. LOL. 

Getting on to a cruise liner as a day guest is an exercise in patience. You need to have submitted your ID days before and then the crew member has to meet you. After that, they take your ID and issue you with a ship one. This has to be clipped to you all the time. You then wait whilst they allow disembarking people off and no one is allowed to queue on the ramp so this means more waiting. I wasn’t took fussed. Happy enough to not be doing anything. Eventually we were allowed on to the ship.

The ship is (As you expect) beautiful. We did get to see the medical facility and that is very impressive. You are safer on a cruise ship, esp this one, than at home. Its pretty awesome really. 

We happily wandered the ship whilst H and his sister caught up. 

I had a great day and was so thrilled to have had this opportunity. Even got to see the crew facilities and their private areas. So much of the ship is hidden and that’s the part that keeps the show part (The public areas)  running smoothly. Well oiled machine indeed. 

Beautiful ship but not for my age group. Mind you when I am the age of the market this ship caters for I will be all in!

Thank you to Nat who took us into her world. XOXO

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Dobson’s cave

Map from Robert Sloss’ book

Being short of staff at work, had meant I have barely seen Heath at all since the 24th of December. I have been on night shifts during his time off and that means, I sleep the whole day.

One Saturday, last week, I didn’t go to bed, but elected to stay awake and spend some quality time. 

Heath chose the route, and after picking me up form the station, (NO trains on the weekend home) we grabbed the dog and some subway before heading out to Buxton.

It has been so very hot but hiding inside was out of the question. I even braved a bikini for this walk with a pair of shorts.. 

Last time Heath and I went on this particular trek, he has done it since with his kids, the place had just flooded. I blogged about it here. June 27, 2016. Damn it’s been a long time.

(Photos above From June 2016)

This time, the bush was dry and brittle. The stream the dog liked to drink out of was bone dry. The look on the dog’s face said it all. He was disappointed.
We pressed on and finally arrived at the pool he had seen a year ago. It was.. murky. Drat! No swimming. The water had dropped.

Both Heath and the dog looked disappointed. The dog was starting to suffer from the heat so he sat in the water that was there whilst Heath poured water over his fur. After a while I noticed tadpoles, YAY! Frogs are good news for any area. 

The dog recovered, don’t worry!!

I spotted some track tags across the lagoon and last time the water was so high that this location had been underwater. Investigating, we found the famous Dobson’s inscription. 🙂 Happy! Heath found a picnic spot under the cliff face that was shady and cool, so we made camp. 

The three of us lazed around the shade for the rest of the day. Dozing mostly, for me but it was so revitalising.

Of course 3-4pm is the hottest part of the day so I got some sun on the way back, but after finding the car, returning the dog to the house, H and I spent the afternoon at the pool! 

Photo from WCLC (Visitors are not allowed to take photos at the pool)

Sometimes you need quality time more than sleep. I had a magical day even if it was 28hours without sleep. 

XOXOOOX

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Returning to old (and good) habits

Way back in the dawn of time, I had a running blog. I was also a mean Bujo keeper and it was these activities that kept me sane when life was nothing but a slog uphill with a boulder.  (10 points of you get that reference without the link 🙂 

The last few months has seen me tip my toes back in to running and it was my teen that got me back almost full time. The caveat is it is inside and on a treadmill due to my old injuries. I am aching but no massive ouchies and I can cope with foot pain. Hell. I wear heels daily, foot pain is normal. 

A lady on one of my FB groups made a lovely spread and so, in my diary, I copied. (I showed her my copy, she was fine with this. He name is at the bottom – myuni referencing kicked in. LOL ) 

I have found this simmering flame of my old running self again and hopefully I will not be sidelined for years with injury this time. Heath did point out that my long runs will forever be out of the question as my knees will not survive 21k or 42km but Fabian has asked me to do the City to Surf one more time and Heath’s colleague ( and an old friend of mine) wanted to go into the Macarthur colour run. All these things have me inspired to follow my year’s word  _ ACHIEVE_. 

If not for my fitness ambitious teen, I would still be struggling to walk 2km. 🙂 Now I can run (slowly) for 10mins. #teamturtle

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OOTD 2016 a year in review

Having been absent for most of the year, I have been trying to keep up some form of self live via just my phone and the hall mirror. Ah such quality.

January and Feb saw my under the knife, so I know Feb was covered in bandages.. Lets see. 

Jan

Just before my surgery, I was down on myself but I am so lucky that  Heath and my mother were there for support. I couldn’t choose between these two but both are just tee shirts.. 🙂 

Feb

Outta surgery and this was the first time I felt really good about myself. Still sore and had bandages under everything but I felt good!

Mar

I loved a few outfits in March but this stands out for cool and comfort 🙂 

Apr

I have very few photos from April. Go figure. 🙂 

May

Always be bright when the night is dark. May is always a tough month for me Lots of crappy history

June

Slim pickings for Juny. I lived in Jeans apparently

July

Depth of winter.. !!

I love this “sweater”  dress. I actually have three in different colours.

Aug

Exam month for uni. Weather still cold… The thickest cardi I owned with my fav, sea creature skirt from Betty Le bon Bon

Sept

Spring!

This was a cool month, so you see a rare cardigan. The end of this month saw me on holiday to the UK 🙂 

Oct

This month saw me and Heath in the UK with his family. This was one of his favourites so its a happy memory.

Nov 

Lots happened this month that was negative. 3 deaths in 3 weeks and so many bills Heath and I was left a tad breathless at the constant stream. This photo was the first time I got to see the efforts of my exercise and food management.

Dec

 

Do you like any of these? Should I have included some fancier dresses? 

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Review last quarter 2016

There are times when I have missed blogging. Most of the time though, its been a relief to think up things to write, or whinge and put myself out there, but it is the end of the year, and I have been thinking more and more of reviving my blog. Maybe I am ready to return? 

Since August, a few things have occurred. I have since complete 2 terms of the year long Diploma of Rail Management. One term to go and this last term seems the most frightening.  8 Modules and 2 assignments in a 13? week period. Still one term means it if almost over, more than half way. 

I went to the UK to visit Heath’s side of the family. His mother was a lovely and welcoming as ever and I got to meet some awesome people. Heath’s father, for one. Thought, I think he is as stubborn as I am :). I had some initial misgivings of travelling to see people I didn’t know with a guy I have only known for just over a year but what the hell. It worked out great!

  Two of Heath’s teenagers travelled with us and they were easy to travel with. We made the best of the short time we had with them, and then travelled even farther afield.

I got to meet the beautiful Philippa and her man in Manchester and then the amazing hooman that is Leah in the south. Her beloved was sick so we had a lunch i the pub without him. Because of my friends, I got to go to places I had never seen in the UK. (Forgot to get a photo with Philippa, which was stupid.. BOO but Leah and I didn’t make the same mistake. ) 

Leah and Me!

Heath’s Dad took us to Ireland where Heath and I discovered a love for Galway and I had my first drive is foreign land. I have always and still do, love Ireland and I hope Heath and I can explore it further in the future. 

I dragged Heath’s mother across the countryside by train, a 12 hour ride she may never recover from. Ha, she and I had a ball and Heath managed to get us to John o’Groats by bus on a weekend.  My love of wild remote places is intact and Thurso is certainly one of those!  

Sooooo glad Sandra loves adventures and was willing to head off to a point on the map just because I asked her. 

November was mostly a drag, due to having been hit by a lot of HUGE bills. The day after we returned, the car needed rego and there goes $2000 in insurance and tax etc.. then my license expired. MORE money gone.. (I did get 50% off due to great records) 

Work work work.. 

Heath, Callum, Fabian and I went to Jamberoo Recreation park and had a ball. I challenged myself with fake waves in the wave pool, and was doing great only to be dunked (Heath says accidently) and I was back to square one. Bah. Even scraped my foot in the panic to get out of the water. 

Back to the gym, due to Fabian prompting me. The local gym is working out for me.  I can barely walk on my sore knees, but get on a treadmill and the years melt away. I can enjoy running due to the soft treadmill surface. 🙂 Up to 3km.. inching towards 5km then, 10. 

Xmas I spend with my brother Stuart, his wife, Mel, her mother, my mother, Fabian and Heath. We had a ball trying to make balloon animals.

Now, working through to late January. 😦 The next year bring a mass exodus for the women in my work, leaving only 4 of us.  Goodness knows how many guys will leave. Some are talking the next few months. We are so short staffed already and this will only mean more hours at short notice. Least I will be able to pay the mortgage eh? 

Anyway.. lets bring on 2017!

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Blackpool

Heath wanted to show us Blackpool and its lights. Very.. Victorian.

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