CONGRATULATIONS TO ALL MY FRIENDS WHO WERE BORN IN THE 1930's 1940's, 50's, 60's and early 70's !

CONGRATULATIONS TO ALL MY FRIENDS WHO WERE BORN IN THE 1930's 1940's, 50's, 60's and early 70's !
First, we survived being born to mothers who drank while they carried us and lived in houses made of asbestos .
They took aspirin, ate blue cheese, raw egg products, loads of bacon and processed meat and tuna from a can.
Then after that trauma, our baby cots were covered with bright coloured lead-based paints.
We had no childproof lids on medicine bottles, doors or cabinets and when we rode our bikes, we had no helmets or shoes, not to mention, the risks we took hitchhiking.
As children, we would ride in cars with no seat belts or air bags.
We drank water from the garden hose and NOT from a bottle...
Take away food was limited to fish and chips, no pizza shops, McDonalds , KFC, Subway or Nandos.
Even though all the shops closed at 6.00pm and didn't open on the weekends, somehow we didn't starve to death!
We shared one soft drink with four friends, from one bottle and NO ONE actually died from this.
We could collect old drink bottles and cash them in at the corner store and buy Toffees, Gobstoppers, Bubble Gum and some bangers to blow up frogs with. We ate cupcakes, white bread and real butter and drank soft drinks with sugar in it, but we weren't overweight because....... WE WERE ALWAYS OUTSIDE PLAYING!!
We would leave home in the morning and play all day, as long as we were back when the streetlights came on.
No one was able to reach us all day. And we were O.K.
We would spend hours building our go-carts out of old prams and then ride down the hill, only to find out we forgot the brakes. We built tree houses and dens and played in river beds with matchbox cars.
We did not have Playstations, Nintendo Wii , X-boxes, no video games at all, no 999 channels on SKY , no video/dvd films, no mobile phones, no personal computers, no Internet or Internet chat rooms..........WE HAD FRIENDS and we went outside and found them!
We fell out of trees, got cut, broke bones and teeth and there were no Lawsuits from these accidents.
Only girls had pierced ears!
We ate worms and mud pies made from dirt, and the worms did not live in us forever.
You could only buy Easter Eggs and Hot Cross Buns at Easter time...
We were given air guns and catapults for our 10th birthdays,
We rode bikes or walked to a friend's house and knocked on the door or rang the bell, or just yelled for them!
Mum didn't have to go to work to help dad make ends meet!
RUGBY and CRICKET had tryouts and not everyone made the team. Those who didn't had to learn to deal with disappointment. Imagine that!! Getting into the team was based on MERIT .
Our teachers used to hit us with canes and gym shoes and bully's always ruled the playground at school.
The idea of a parent bailing us out if we broke the law was unheard of.
They actually sided with the law!
Our parents didn't invent stupid names for their kids like 'Kiora' and 'Blade' and 'Ridge' and 'Vanilla'
We had freedom, failure, success and responsibility, and we learned HOW TO DEAL WITH IT ALL !
And YOU are one of them!

CONGRATULATIONS!

Contract for friendship: 2011

2011 Contract
After serious & cautious consideration... Your contract of friendship has been renewed for the New Year 2011
It was a very hard decision to make... So try not to stuff it up!!!
My Wish for You in 2011
May peace break into your home and may thieves come to steal your debts.
May the pockets of your jeans become a magnet for $100 bills.
May love stick to your face like Vaseline and may laughter assault your lips!
May happiness slap you across the face and may your tears be that of joy
May the problems you had, forget your home address!

In simple words ................
May 2011 be the best year of your life!!!

Be Proud of our Heritage Australia

Subject: FW: Australian.... lest we forget-Courtesy of Craig Leggett (Ex SAS & 1 RAR)?[Scanned]

WAKE UP TIME
When the shearing sheds are silent and the stock camps fallen quiet
When the gidgee coals no longer glow across the outback night
And the bush is forced to hang a sign, '. gone broke and won't be back'
And spirits fear to find a way beyond the beaten track

When harvesters stand derelict upon the wind swept plains
And brave hearts pin their hopes no more on chance of loving rains
When a hundred outback settlements are ghost towns overnight
When we've lost the drive and heart we had to once more see us right

When 'Pioneer' means a stereo and 'Digger' some backhoe
And the 'Outback' is behind the house. there's nowhere else to go
And 'Anzac' is a biscuit brand and probably foreign owned
And education really means brainwashed and neatly cloned

When you have to bake a loaf of bread to make a decent crust
And our heritage once enshrined in gold is crumbling to dust
And old folk pay their camping fees on land for which they fought
And fishing is a great escape; this is until you're caught

When you see our kids with yankee caps and resentment in their eyes
And the soaring crime and hopeless hearts is no longer a surprise
When the name of RM Williams is a yuppie clothing brand
Not a product of our heritage that grew off the land

When offering a hand makes people think you'll amputate
And two dogs meeting in the street is what you call a 'Mate'
When 'Political Correctness' has replaced all common sense
When you're forced to see it their way, there's no sitting on the fence

Yes one day you might find yourself an outcast in this land
Perhaps your heart will tell you then, '. I should have made a stand'
Just go and ask the farmers that should remove all doubt
Then join the swelling ranks who say, '. don't sell Australia out'

My Beautiful Bat Plants in flower

This is too funny not to pass on...enjoy AN ACTUAL CRAIG'S LIST PERSONALS AD To the Guy Who Tried to Mug Me in Downtown  Savannah  night before last. Date: 2009-05-27, 1 :43 a.m..  E.S.T. I was the guy wearing the black Burberry jacket that you demanded that I hand over, shortly after you pulled the knife on me and my girlfriend, threatening our lives. You also asked for my girlfriend's purse and earrings. I can only hope that you somehow come across this rather important message.  First, I'd like to apologize for your embarrassment; I didn't expect you to actually crap in your pants when I drew my pistol after you took my jacket... The even ing was not that cold, and I was wearing the jacket for a reason.. My girlfriend had just bought me that Kimber Model 1911 ....45 ACP pistol for my birthday, and we had picked up a shoulder holster for it that very evening. Obviously you agree that it is a very intimidating weapon when pointed at your head .... isn't it?!  I know it probably wasn't fun walking back to wherever you'd come from with that brown sludge in your pants. I'm sure it was even worse walking bare-footed since I made you leave your shoes, cell phone, and wallet with me. [That prevented you from calling or running to your buddies to come help mug us again].  After I called your mother or "Momma" as you had her listed in your cell, I explained the entire episode of what you'd done. Then I went and filled up my gas tank as well as those of four other people in the gas station, -- on your credit card. The guy with the big motor home took 150 gallons and was extremely grateful!  I gave your shoes to a homeless guy outside Vinnie Van Go Go's, along with all the cash in your wallet. [That made his day!]  I then threw your wallet into the big pink "pimp mobile" that was parked at the curb .... after I broke the windshield and side window and keyed the entire driver's side of the car.  Later, I called a bunch of phone sex numbers from your cell phone. Ma Bell just now shut down the line, although I only used the phone for a little over a day now, so what 's going on with that? Earlier, I managed to get in two threatening phone calls to the DA's office and one to the FBI, while mentioning President Obama as my possible target.  The FBI guy seemed really intense and we had a nice long chat (I guess while he traced your number etc.).   ;In a way, perhaps I should apologize for not killing you ....... but I feel this type of retribution is a far more appropriate punishment for your threatened crime. I wish you well as you try to sort through some of these rather immediate pressing issues, and can only hope that you have the opportunity to reflect upon, and perhaps reconsider, the career path you've chosen to pursue in life.. Remember, next time you might not be so lucky.Have a good day! Thoughtfully yours, Alex

 The Defence Force  thinks a man over 60 is too old to track down terrorists. You can't be older than 42 to join  the military. They've got the whole thing arseup. Instead of sending 18-year olds off to fight, they ought to take us old blokes. You shouldn't be able  to join a defence unit until you're at least 35.

For starters:  Researchers say 18-year-olds think about sex every 10 seconds. Old blokes only think about sex a couple of times a day, leaving us more than 28,000 additional seconds per day to concentrate on the enemy.

Young blokes haven't lived long enough to be cranky, and a cranky soldier is a dangerous soldier. 'My back hurts! I can't sleep, I'm tired and hungry' We are impatient and maybe letting us kill some arsehole that desperately deserves it will make us feel better and shut us up for a while.

An 18-year-old doesn't even like to get up before 10 a..m. Old blokes always get up early to pee so what the hell. Besides, like I said, 'I'm tired and can't sleep and since I'm already up, I may as well be up killing some fanatical arsehole.

If captured we couldn't spill the beans because we'd forget where we put them. In fact name, rank, and serial number would be a real brainteaser.

Training would be  easier for old blokes.. We're used to getting screamed and yelled at and we're used to soft food. We've also developed an appreciation for guns. We've been using them for years as an excuse to get out of the house, away from the screaming and yelling.

They could lighten up on the  obstacle course however. I've been in combat and didn't see a single 20-foot wall with rope hanging over the side, nor did I ever do any pushups after completing basic training.

Actually, the running part is kind of a waste  of energy, too. I've never seen anyone outrun a bullet.

An 18-year-old  has the whole world ahead of him. He's still learning to shave, to start up a conversation with a pretty sheila. He still hasn't figured out that a baseball cap has a brim to shade his eyes, not the back of his head. He still hasn't worked out that below the hip, jeans or shorts will trip him up one way or another. But who said it looks good anyway?  Duuuuur

These are all great reasons to keep our kids at home to learn a little more about life before sending them off into harm's way..

Let us old farts track down those dirty rotten coward terrorists. The last thing an enemy would want to see is a couple  of million pissed off old farts with attitudes and automatic weapons who know that their best years are already behind them.

My Jungle garden and orchids.

Fish

Feed te fish, click in the square and they will come.  They follow your pointer, Cute!

There are plenty of other towns and cities in between that we travelled through.
We travelled over 100,000k's on Harleys around Australia and we travelled the States in a Rentacar. These days we are a couple of grey nomads and we travel with a caravan pulled by a cheap Jeep. Luv it!!!

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Minty

My baby is growing up.  Minty

Let's Cruise

This was sent to me as an email. don't you just love it??

Tina

Met a really interesting lady called Tina.  She is travelling around by herself and a lovely old Heinze variety dog about 10 years old.  Never married, no kids, says she was a social butterfly and a party girl.  Now 54, sold up her home and looking for somewhere to settle.  Nice lady but I think a bit sad.  The dog is gorgeous, happy to play with the terrible two and no threat at all.  We had a nice chat and "Happy hour". 
Nothing like fish n chips for dinner.  (so much for the diet) Some of the locals take advantage of the tourists, $45 for a carton of beer, bit steep, still, I guess they have to make a living and they know we are on our way tomorrow.

Homehill

We had a nice easy drive down from Ingham to Homehill this morning.  Weather was just nice with a bit of cloud cover so it isn't too warm.  We are free-camping here tonight.  Homehill has fabulous free facilities provided for travellers and vanners.  There are toilets and showers, a big kitchen area with bbq's, all under cover and fully maintained.  They encourage people to stop here as it brings money into the town, everyone spends something when they stop.  It might be fuel, groceries, drinks or a meal at the pub.  It all helps the town. By tonight there will be dozens of vans, mobile homes and campers pulled up along the road.

We are on our way to Mackay, for the funeral of an old friend who passed away last Friday night.  It will be sad, but still nice to catch up with the family who we haven't seen for a lot of years.

Elections

Things are really looking interesting on the Aussie Government front.  Can you believe that people in this country would actually elect a 20 year old child into Parliament????  He wasn't even old enough to vote in the last elections..... a school kid!!  Never mind any sort of degree, how about a bit of life experience.  My God!

Party politics should be banned!  Members of Parliament should be there to represent the people who vote for them and should vote on their own conscience, not what the party dictates.

It will be very interesting if the Hung Parliament comes down to the three members who are independents.   Might make the rest of them think about what the Australian public really want. 

Musical Ship

How's this for a bit of fun on the weekend,  It has chimes, a xylophone and drums.  The kids have a great time on it, even the big ones!

Got home today, bit miserable, grey and overcast, with a bit of occasional drizzle.  Have a mile of washing of course, it'll have to wait till tomorrow.

Here's a couple of pics from along the way

Still in Cooktown

This is a really interesting place! Talk about history! Cooktown is as old as Australia is
itself. Where Captain Cook came ashore to repair damage done to the Endeavour after
grounding on the reef in 1770.

 There is a wonderful museum here housed in a beautiful old victorian building which was originally a convent in 1889. It holds the Endeavour's anchor and one of it's cannon along with a complete history of the region.

In the 1870's, once gold was found in the region it became a boom town with 50 hotels at one time. It was also the first port of call for ships coming into Australia from the north. Some of the buildings are 130 years old and are restored immaculately.

The Botanic Gardens were established in the early days and commenced in 1878 when the chinese gardens was established. The gardens were allocated 62.3 hectares (154 acres) and are the 2nd oldest botanic gardens in queensland. Many of the original plants are still there to be seen and the drains, wells and pools are still in use today.

Cooktown

Mount Molloy

Terrific free camp. There must have been about 50 odd vans, mobile homes campers and tents set up. They provide toilets and a cold shower for a gold coin donation. Met some very interesting people coming and going from and to cooktown. Up on the tablelands it is quite cold at night and we got some rain. Some folks stay for long periods, one van had been there for over 6 weeks.

Cooktown.
The drive down from the tablelands is fascinating. The landscape keeps changing as you go down. The top is bushland with grasses and Euclayptus, typical Australian bushland. At one place I would have sworn we were out around Mt isa as it was very dry and sparse. You soon know when you get close as we are back in tropical rainforrest.

Cooktown ~ love it! spent most of the day looking around the town. Surprising the prices are very reasonable, compared to the rest of the country, I don't know if they are subsidised but they are very camparative. Great little Italian restaurant last night, good tucka, terrific spagetti and yummy seafood risotto! anyone would think they were wogs! yummo!!

Had a nice night at the RSL tonight, Roast Pork & lots a veges, Real home cooked meal!...$25 bucks for 2. Even picked up 30 odd bucks on the Pokies. Sad to see our most vulnerable people, all indigenous, sitting at the pokies for hours on end, today is Wednesday ~ pension day.

Bit windy tonight, hope the annexe is still standing in the morning!.....

Mission beach - Tablelands

Mission Beach

The first night of our trip to Cooktown we cheated and didn't even sleep in the van. We spent the night at Mission Beach with Glen and the boys. Boy can Glenny cook a mean Laksa, lots of fish and prawns...to die for. Had a nice night catching up. The house is situated on the top of a hill and surrounded by gardens and natural rainforrest. He has a fabulous view, I think he has about 4 or 5 acres, not sure exactly.

Malanda

We decided to go inland today, and head for the Tablelands. We turned off the highway just before Innisfail and headed for Milla Milla. 'The drive is truly beautiful, there are canefields on the lower slopes and they are harvesting at the moment. We are often pleasantly surprised at what views are revealed when the cane is cut. Higher up there are wonderful vistas of mountains, green valleys, farms nestled in the hills and lazy fat cows with short legs on one side (so they can walk on the slopes without falling over).

Its quite a climb up the range, and the Cheep Jeep found out what a bit of work was like. She got a bit warm but pulled the van up without a worry. You can still see some of the aftermath of Larry ~ Trees broken off and uprooted, and even a house that was wrecked and hasn't been repaired. Quite sad really, they probably had no insurance.
On to Malanda and we are staying at the Malanda Falls Caravan Park. Will go for a walk later and have a look at the falls.

The falls are not high, only a few meters, but very pretty and they fall into a huge swimming pool. Pity it is so cool, it would be lovely to swim here. Must come back in summer instead of the middle of winter. It is amazing how much the temperature drops when you come up in altitude. It is lovely and warm down on the coast and really quite cold here, yet still the same latitude.

Getting Started

Just set up this Blog and really don't know what I am doing.  Thought it might be a good idea to keep a bit of a diary whilst travelling. 
We have just bought a new caravan, (our 3rd) and hope to do our first trip in it in a few weeks.  Just getting everything set up with the van and Jeep and our gear at the moment. 
We live in Far North Queensland which we believe is our own piece of Paradise and can understand why so many Southerners come up here at this time of year.  There are caravans and motorhomes everywhere on the roads.  Don't blame them!