WAL

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WAL .IRON KNOB. APRIL 2013

Wal's new cottage

SECOND GRANDCHILD may2013

Philippa & Emily

On May 5,on the due date,Philippa,kerrys 2nd daughter,delivered a lovely baby ,called Emily (her oldest daughter,Nicola,had baby Rose on 30dec).So this is Kerry's 2nd grandchild.kerry and sophie were already up at philippas for the birth.Philippa and Andrew,live in Middlemount in central queensland.
So on wednesday I flew newcastle to brisbane,then on to Emerald.1700 km.this adds up to 10,870 km  flying in australia since I got home- its a big country!
Andrews mother Elaine also flew in. Andrew then drove us the 1 1/2 hours to middlemount.Philippa and Emily got out of Emerald hospital on Tuesday.It has been a full house and lots of  fun.We gor for daily long walks with their dog Hunter,read all the news,watch sport on TV,and have lovely social meals,interspersed with breastfeeding,baby baths and ipad.

ANDREW & EMILY



Sophie,Kerry & Elaine on kitchen duty

TWO NEW CALVES may2013

brown cow

what a pretty calf

After 1,750 km,I arrived in Sydney ,from Whyalla,via Adelaide.I stayed at the Ibis Hotel near airport,and that evening caught up with my good friend David,who is also a sailing,locum obgyn.He had just finnished a locum in Darwin,and was shortly off to his boat in Fiji.So lots to talk about.
The next day with drove up to the farm at Maitland.On the way we detoured to Newcastle,where David shouted me a birthday lunch at the yachtclub.We were joined by Olivia.Itwas a lovely event.Then to continue the nautical theme we went to see Con Tiki.then eventually home to the farm where Gaby had the fire going ,making the house very cosy.So I cooked some steaks and opened a bottle of red.

two old goats

The next day we went for a walk to see the animals.Cossie was still huge and pregnant,but her 2 twin daughters had both just had calves,both girls.the light brown and white one is beautiful.Kirsten,our next door neighbour,had already put ear tags on them.Jasper the  old goat particularly liked ...David.

black cow,calf and steer

BROTHER WAL in IRON KNOB. May2013

Wal's new cottage

From Kalgoorlie,it was a 600 km flight to Perth,then a 2694kmflight to Adelaide,then  300km flight to Whyalla,where my brother Wal picked me up,and we drove to Iron Knob,about 60 km.I thenhad lovely few days catching up and relaxing.
Wal has just bought a lovely little cottage to live in.We had a look at it.It needs some painting before he moves in.It will look great with a new paint job.Mango will enjoy the big yard.
The next day we drove out to Point Lowly.There is a lovely white lighthouse.Many grey nomads occupied several campsites in the area.

Mango

KALGOORLIE HOSPITAL 2013

I did a 2 week locum at Kalgoorlie hospital.Kalgoorlie is a mining city in the middle of western australia.It has one of the biggest open cut gold mines in the world,called the superpitI had worked there several times before,and enjoy it.
To help get my brain back into work mode I did lots of student teaching.Revising is much easier these days with hospital and state obgyn guidelines,online journals access,and Up To Date On Line-self expanatory.the students were very nice,and fun to teach.

Home on the farm - april,2013

After easter we were home for a few days.our new house sitters ,sara and gaby,have the house and garden looking great.they are well settled in with a new vege garden,and have converted a dogpen to a fowl house,with 3 brown hens and 5 chickens.They go out to paddock so they can freerange without the 3 labradors.I love hearing their contented chirping.
Mick ,next door neighbour ,rang up to say we needed tp renovate our boundary fence.so 3 busy days of farm work.we had to replace 5 big strainer posts,then reattach and tighten all the barbwire strands.a job well done- we think it should now outlast us.
The 6 steers we bought in summer are settled in and looking good.Our 3 cows are pregnant and due soon
We had our annual dermatology consult and are aging gracefully despite our sailing lifestyle.