Cockle train

Once more I was being a tourist in my own town and while we were having coffee after a walk along the foreshore the cockle train was about to leave.
I was a bit surprised that we actually had the steam train due to the dry weather, it has been known to start a fire with sparks before today.
Any way there it was in all its glory and I really was going to take a photo of it passing the gates and I forgot to turn the camera on and it had gone before I realised. What a bummer!!
Came home to a very sick foal and had to get the vet out, expensive after hours call of course. She was drenched with oil as she had a tummy ache and I was up about every 2 hours checking her all night. Seems fine this morning thank goodness.
We also had another colt foal born, the last I think for this season. Our ratio of colts to fillies is not good. He is rather sweet though.

Old Wife

This rather beautiful fish goes under the name of "Old Wife" I am not sure why and as I am an old wife it pleases me.
I sketched this on Kangaroo Island from a photo as I didnt have the fish in front of me. They are found around jetties in schools and we used to occasionally get one when we were diving, I think they are found around all but the tropical areas of Australia according to the book I have.
I felt I would like to put up a sketch instead of a photo and I am still knitting my second sock and taking ages over it so that wont do and I am trying to finish up some tags for a tag swap but they are not finished either.
This time between Christmas and New Year is always a bit messy I think, people coming and going the excitement is over but mundane things must be done.

Deserted beach Kangaroo Island

This is Antechamber bay on the one sunny day we had on the Island. The sea here is always this incredible colour. There was no one there and we walked almost from one end of the beach to the other.
You can see the mainland on the right, this is a very short stretch of water known as Backstairs Passage (interesting names!) and can be as calm as calm and really rough and treacherous at other times.
I always think there could be a white pointer shark patrolling off this beach for unwary swimmers.
There are very few shells on this beach and this time with the drought the Chapman River which normally flows out to sea here was dry quite a long way back. A popular camping spot now taken over from the Council by the National Parks people, a bit of controversy about this as more rules and regulations and camping permits. The locals are not happy.
John used to spend many happy evenings fishing for brim in the river.

Boxing day

This was a collection of friends watching the boxing day cricket match on the beach at Pt Willunga. The remains of the old jetty are to be seen in the background. I took dozens of photos it was such a fun thing, a bit grey and overcast again.
We went up to the 80th last night and it was a lovely night full of old friends and good food and wine. Stayed with other friends ovenight and am now home. Looked at my waistline in the mirror this morning and nearly had a fit. some sort of diet will have to be in place and lots more walking, hard walking not dithering around drawing!!
Australia post has been particularly slow as Christmas cards are still dribbling in and they have a holiday tomorrow!!

Home from Kangaroo Island

I hope everyone has had a lovely Christmas break.
This is a part of the Penneshaw beach that I walked every morning while we were on the I sland. This was Christmas morning, cold and damp and lovely!
We had a wonderful few days, lots of relaxing, walked everyday sometimes twice a day, got up late, went to bed early and ate great food. Caught up with friends and had a terrific time. I hate coming home, and after having some old and new friends for drinks on Christmas afternoon it was sad to pack up and leave next morning.
It was 13 degrees on the Cape jervis wharf when we arrived and i had sat outside, as I always do in case of sea sickness and I was frozen even if I did have about 3 layers of clothes on.
We headed up to Pt Willunga for lunch with friends and cricket with the children on the beach. Had to pick the cat up around four so home and then unpacking all over again. I think we were in bed by 8!!
Tonight is a friends 80th Birthday so we go to Mclaren Vale to celebrate, his one of those we go fishing at Coffin Bay with and a well known wine maker. We will stay with the other friends, also wine makers who come fishing with us. Should be a good night.

Aftermath of a bush fire

This fire was lit by joy riders who illegally entered a locked gate into a National park and got bogged and the exhaust of their car lit a fire that went onto ajoining farm land and burnt out most of the park.
I drove past it today, less than a week afer it had happened. No where near as bad as the fires in the Eastern states have been but a grim reminder of what can happen. Not sure how good these photos are but this was taken from the side of the road where the full effects would not have been felt
The ground is just a carpet of grey ash. The last time this was burnt was in 1982 and then there was nothing left at all. I would imagine that in Autumn/ winter a lot of these trees may sprout from the bottom again. I hope so.
I am learning not to go any where without my camera.

Christmas pudding

This was supposed to be a photo of John and I holding a Christmas pudding a friend had made, instead I came home tired from hot and horrid Adelaide, had half a glass more of wine than normal and deleted all the photos in my camera!
So sorry Paddy but here is a sketch of it instead, and it looked a magnificent pud as well. I used to make them but these days John is the only one who eats one so I buy one instead.
A hot day delivering presents to family and friends, first my mother, we took her out for coffee and a chocolate biscuit, then my younger sister, a friend and my older sister, home via the post office, dogs fed, us fed, no watering done, perhaps early tomorrow morning, a day up and back is tiring, tomorrow will be even busier.