General Chat

Thank you to those who wished me well. Having exhausted politics, shall I now discuss religion ... Sorry.
I made it back home safely. I completed my part of the job about 4pm yesterday afternoon. It then took me about an hour to pack up the equipment - desktop computer, slide preparation equipment and microscope. I didn't want to drive at dusk because that is when the kangaroos and other wildlife begin to forage. They are pretty big 'roos, too - western reds can be more than six feet tall and will wreck a car. Then get up and hop away.
I left just before 8 am this morning. A couple of locals had suggested a route that joins up with the main Sydney-Melbourne highway at Yass (near Canberra). I took the road less travelled which is more scenic. more direct and according to Google slightly faster. I also know the Yass-Sydney road pretty well having traversed it at least every couple of years since 1970. Of course it was a very different road, back then.
What I did not take into account was that the Mid Western highway is a two lane road whereas the Hume highway is 4 lane dual carriageway.
It was mostly overcast and frequent showers, but west of the main range there were many yellow flowering fields of Canola and what I assume was wheat - only about a foot high at the moment. A few sheep too.
As often happens on a long drive, I began to get tired early afternoon, and thought about a stop overnight but after another break felt better and got home about 4.30. Never knock McDonalds- they are on the highway, the toots are clean, I find their espresso coffee acceptable (just) and they do a nice toasted banana bread that is not on my diet plan.
As some of you said, it's good to sleep in your own bed, although I had no complaints about the one either at the motel or the caravan park. Besides, it is not as cold this close to the coast.
Linda, a good meat pie is a feed, but a bad one is a punishment. A bit like fish and chips. I believe the best is found in your part of the world, but I don't know what kind of fish they use. Here, it is usually flake, which is a type of shark. Can make a fairly good f & c, but here they often use far too much salt and nowadays vinegar for my liking. I did have some very nice Fish and chips one night last week though.
It's a bit late for the " let's pick on Sue " game, but I do wonder whether she has a car, or a truck to carry the product of her garden shopping. The results are sure to be spectacular however and worth it.
Back to the office in the morning.
My computer battery is low so will disappear for now.
Have a good day up top and if any Aussies are about have a good evening!
Colin

I am glad that you are safely home Colin.
Naturally i like fish and chips, doesn't every one? Having said that we don't buy them very often, usually if we have been away from home and are arriving back late. We will get some on the way back to save cooking after a long journey. That is probably only every couple of months though.

Traditionally in this country the fish is cod. that is over fished now, so often Haddock is used instead

After the glorious day we had yesterday, it has been raining for most of the day. It is noticeably cooler on an evening now and some of the trees are beginning to change colour in preparation for the autumn.

Good Evening Linda,

I hope you have had a good day, and managed to stay dry. It poured with rain here also, but brilliant sunshine now, and looks like there will be a nice sunset this evening.

There is an "Art Club" in the village, where local amateur artists meet weekly. They have an exhibition tomorrow, so I'm hoping to pop up to view their work. It's usually a very good standard, who knows I may find a water colour that needs to hang on my wall.

Tonight I want to watch WDYTYA - it looks like being interesting, as were the previous two episodes.

Colin......We don't have anything as big as kangaroos leaping out at us, thankfully. We just get rabbits, squirrels, and sometimes badgers. Silly creatures seem to run out in front of car, even though there's often nothing in sight behind. We do have to watch out for deer in some areas, but there are usually warning signs. Sheep are a major hazard in this area.
Not all farmers have secure fences or stone walls.
I also like fish and chips if they are well cooked, but as I have to travel a long way to get them, we don't often have them, although we used to sometimes pick them up if we were passing on the way home, if the time was right.

Tec.

I watched WDYTYA tonight and thought it was very good. fancy being able to go back in a straight line and in 27 generations ending up with William the conqueror

The art clubs round here have annual exhibitions. At the last one, I bought a couple of pictures, one for my sister and one for me. The one for me was painted by one of my friends in the tourist office, I particularly wanted to buy one of hers.

I think that was the furthest back anyone has gone in the programme, incredible, and so interesting too. True he had all the resources at hand, but even so - helps to have ones name in Burkes Peerage. I'm not in there unfortunately lol.

I went to the art exhibition last year. There was one picture I particularly wanted, but unfortunately it was sold to another exhibitor before opening.
We do have a very gifted local artist who produces good quality Christmas cards from his original watercolours. Mostly local scenes in winter. They are expensive, but excellent if you don't mind prints.

Tec.

I don't think that I will find any of my ag labs in Burkes Peerage either Tec

It was the Ag Labs that helped keep the Aristocracy sp on their vast estates.

I see that it is GCSE results day tomorrow for your granddaughter and Diane's. i hope they do well

Yes I hope they all do well. I think Amanda's daughter is having her results too. I expect there will a sleepless night for many of them.

Is your granddaughter staying on for sixth form, I assume she is

Yes - she starts sixth form this time, another two years there, then she hopes to get into Uni, but she needs her maths, science, physics at good grades at A-Level to stand any chance.

I think they call it chemistry now, not science

Hopefully she will be fine, after all she has inherited your genes!!!

Heaven help her then lol

It is time for bed,so goodnight Tec and good morning to the upside down people who should be along soon. Diane must have had a hard day again and gone to sleep

Goodnight Linda,
sleep well,
Tec.

Good morning/evening - sorry I'm late this morning. I've been searching some records and have found some marriages, christenings and deaths that I didn't have before in the Kent area. Very interesting.

I seem to have missed Linda - I'll catch up later.

Hope the young people come up trumps with their exam results. Always a tense time for the family - I remember it well.

Sue xx

Good Morning Sue,

So good when you find new facts to put to ancestors names - I really like to find new things about them. Always asking myself why they did this or that, why did they suddenly appear miles away in a new area, then go back again - it fascinates me - names and dates are not enough.

I too remember the trauma of exam time - I always remember my daughter on the day of results - she got up, and said - "Don't look at me, and don't speak to me" Oh dear! LOL.

Hi Tec - I remember my daughter getting her results in what I think you call A levels. There was an almighty yell from her room followed by a day of silence before she decided she didn't need the piece of paper anyway.

Sue xx

The joys of being young lol.

Well I must be off - the Duchess has an early morning appointment at the doc's tomorrow.

So enjoy your day Sue, Allan and Berona if they look in later.

Goodnight all,
Tec.