We are already nearly half way through our time at Wee Waa, the days are flying past.
This was the beautiful sunrise during the week.
At the end of the first week I had extremely sore feet and was very thankful that it was a long weekend. Bun is helping out in the shop on Saturday mornings so when we shut the shop, we went across the road to the supermarket and bought some chocolate each. My choice was this new creation, I've always thought that it's not really chocolate if it's not Cadbury! I am happy to report that this stuff is amazing!!!
Bun had chosen another (much smaller) chocolate bar for himself but says that he was just helping me by eating this too. I actually think that is all we really ate for the rest of the day and that I might have been working my way up towards a chocolate headache by the evening :)
On Sunday last weekend we went to Narrabri to go to Woolworths as there is only an IGA in Wee Waa and it doesn't have heaps of choices. While we were there, we went to the RSL Club for lunch. The decor there is certainly interesting. It looks like you're in an outback town in the evening. When they start a soundtrack, it sounds like you're in a thunderstorm, complete with rain (real water) running off the roofline right next to where we were sitting!!
The second week in the shop has flown by and because of rain last Monday and Wednesday, it has been a good week of sales so I'm feeling reasonably confident that Robbie will be happy with figures when she returns.
Bun has been busy feeding animals, running the young dog for exercise as well as pruning fruit trees and keeping the lawn mown and free of clover.
Today (Sunday) we drove to Gunnedah to see Len and Jan, we met them back in April. After following instructions on how to get to their place, we had morning tea and checked out the view of town from their house on a hill. Then we had a guided tour of the town and surrounding areas and Jan managed to catch us out in one photo before getting more of a posed one. It's nice to have a photo of both of us as usually I'm the one taking photos.
After a lovely lunch at one of the local pubs, Len and Jan took us out to their farm. Len's family were originally from Lameroo but some of the family moved to this area around 1937. Len was only 1 when he arrived. Over time more land was added to the family holdings but now with Len being the only family member left, he has the most AMAZING sheds Bun has ever seen!! Honestly you would have thought Bun was a kid in a toyshop! The sheer amount of equipment filling the various sheds on the one farm left is nearly overwhelming. I said to Len and Jan that when they ever decide to have a clearing sale, we will return and drink some champagne with them because it will be a BIG day!
I emailed a photo of this bike to Dad today as I knew he would be interested. It is a 1934 Triumph Silent Scout, only a couple of years younger than Dad! Len's father rode this bike from Lameroo in 1937 to check out this area and another to see where the family would be able to settle. He repeated the trip once more before they bought land.
Len and Bun in one of the sheds. I think I lost count of the number of lawnmowers, both push and ride-ons, after I saw 8 or 9. Jan said that 3 generations had never thrown anything away :) Len said he will always remember hearing me say Oh my God! I think that there is some much history in these sheds but I for one am glad I don't have to decide what to do with it all. Some machinery will be going to the museum which will mean many people will get to see it.
The multiples of nearly everything are because the contents of many (I think Jan said 8) houses from the various farms and elderly family members have all ended up here.
The views from the property are beautiful.
Bun had a lovely time checking out the machinery in the biggest shed. He said everything is immaculate inside, looking like it had been cleaned the day before.
Len's dad still liked to sleep out in the verandah area until he had to go into a nursing home a few years before he died, moving the bed to catch the sun or shade :)
The outcrop in this photo gave this property its name, Gibralter.
There are 2 old Commer trucks parked at Len and Jan's farm so Bun thought James might like to see them. There is also the old motor home that Len's parents travelled in for many years.
All in all, we had a great day with Len and Jan. Bun came home and said it was the best day he'd had in weeks! This is one of the best things about travelling around, the people that you meet and find that you have things in common and really enjoy their company. Hopefully we will keep meeting people just out of the blue like this and expand the circle of friends we already have!
I took some photos inside Robbie's shop, for Riverlanders it is like a scaled-down version of Yates Menswear but with more upmarket ladies wear added in.
I haven't sold any of these boots yet but they are cute.
The assistant helping on Saturday mornings seems to think that reading the paper is included in the list of duties!
Apparently there is no such thing as too much bling on a belt!!
Stroker likes to say hello with a kiss if he gets the chance. Bun usually waits until I've left for work before letting the dogs out so that I can arrive at work with muddy paw prints.
We've talked to all the kids today and they are all well. Some discussion about the impending arrival has seen a few different dates thrown around for when we think bubs will make her debut. Kara thinks
17 days early, Steven 9 days early, Callie 7 days early, Bun 2 days early, Ben 1 day early (I think that's because he has booked a flight into Adelaide for late on the due date) and I think 2 days late. We'll all have to wait and see. The prize for the lucky winner is a small bag of fries from McDonalds but Kara reckons that if she wins, she gets chocolate!!
Anyway I'd better finish up and go to sleep, ready for another busy week in the shop.
Cheers
Anne
