Another Lazy Weekend In Gladstone

It’s beginning to warm up and today should reach 31^o Deg and climbing. Grass is brown and everywhere hot and dry. Having spent my youth in UK I can be forgiven for thinking Christmas time should be cold with everyone discussing the possibilities of a white Christmas. Well not here for sure, unless of course you are going to spent it inside a fridge!!! So imagine our surprise where we saw the real Father Christmas passing us by in a bright red fire truck. We chased after him and managed to get a photo. Still seems a strange setting!!!! But at least after all these years I can confirm he is alive and well and living in Gladstone, Central Queensland. And I’ve got the picture to prove it.

Thai Flood Relief Dinner

I was a bit fast with the earlier posting. Just found out the local Newspaper 'The Observer' did an article on it which came out yesterday. So here it is. Again great evening and of course for those of you who read my earlier blog you are ahead of the game. My blog beat the local Newspaper by a day with a "World Premier Scoop". Watch this space....

Flooding in Bangkok

You might well ask why I am mentioning the flooding in Thailand. Well the local Thai community organised a fund raising event. Actually a dinner dance complete with a good array of Thai food, Authentic Thai dancing and a band to supply dancing music. I estimate about 200 people turned up and a good time was had by all. It was so good I treated myself to a couple of beers. no excesses but it did indeed add to the spirit of it all.

The food as I say was excellent. The three local Thai restaurants had got together and supplied what can only be described as a fantastic spread. Chicken, curry, pork, savouries and both steamed and sticky rice. We went with about 10 friends and it made for a great atmosphere. Most surprisingly to me was that over 50 Thais turned up. Gladstone with a population of about 50,000 means this is about 0.1%. That struck me as a big percentage. It was a fun evening. My only regret was I have my phone camera not a proper camera so crap photos. Sorry............. :( Hence my only adding one to this post......

To top off a really great evening we raised over AUD$ 7,000 for the Flood Relief effort in Thailand. A good effort by all. And I would like to say that AUD$ 300 came from Wanna's employers, Barney Beach Caravan Park. What a wonderful appreciation of her by them and what an amazing kindness. Someone in Thailand does not know how fortunate they are.

Kookaburras

Beautiful. We have been tempting these little fella's for ages to join us in the garden. Well today them finally decided our food was good enough. Some pork we had cooked up on the Bar B Q a few days back.

TGIF We Got The Fish..sort of

We did get to the fishing site. Met a couple of other anglers who gave us advice on how to tie the line, cast etc. We watched them bring in a 5 kilo Barramundi. And yes we to caught one. But it got away. I know the usual excuse but its true. I took a picture of the one the other guy caught. We'll be going back there in the next few days for sure.

After fishing, thirsty work as you know we stopped at the bottle shop for a few beers. Went to the beach and amazingly watched the moon come up. Beautify orange orb. My phone camera could not do it justice. Wanna pointed out he rabbit on the moon. If you look closely its sort of there. But I asked her 'How can a rabbit live on the moon if its made of cheese?". "What cheese?'. At that it was time to head home before we got even move stupid!

Flying Foxes

Gladstone has its fair share of flying foxes. They live just opposite the Gladstone yacht Club. In the day they just hang around in complete open view to every one. They stink..... And at night they are everywhere. Amazingly no one eats them In Seychelles Flying Fox is a delicacy and I've managed to have some. It tastes like pigeon. Very bony but in a curry I suppose I could be forgiven if the taste was somewhat over powered by curry powder and chillies!!!

Anyway here I'm told they carry disease and cannot be eaten. Strange but that is the way it is. Pity looking at all this protein just hanging there waiting to be 'plucked' from the branches....

Friday Night Fishing

Decided I'll go fishing this evening. Think I got the inspiration this afternoon whilst driving through the marina area. Saw a sign over the fishing tackle shop and thought. "I've not been fishing for ages". So maybe after work I should make the effort. I'll pick up Wanna and take her along to spot I've located just north of Gladstone. There is an outlet to the power station cooling water system which is accessible to the public. And I've been advised people are catching 1.5 meter long Barramundi. So tonight's the night!!!! Photos of super big fish to follow. Maybe tomorrow. Just hope I manage to get a good shot of the one that got away before it slips of the hook......

Real Men Use Real Bar B Qs

As I've mentioned several times I won't discuss work in my daily (now seeming to be more like weekly) musings. However this I could not resist. Walking round the site this morning I came across a super Bar B Q. I ask you 'What more could a boy want but a trailer with a double Bar B Q on it with plenty of room for a couple of Eskies full of ice and beer ? Wonderful. Unfortunately for all the tradies there in a strict no alcohol policy on the site. Still think positively, it is nearly the weekend. All we'll need to do it hook up the trailer and off we go. Lovely.

And Work Just Keeps Getting In The Way

I see this bike parked up on one of our job sites nearly every day. One day I'm not going tobe able to stop myself jumping on it and going for a ride. Just a lovely old Harley. And summer's coming.....

Bettings Aussie Stlye

I was going to do a short note on the past weekends events. We along with 4 other families went to 1770 and Agnes Waters for a camping trip. Great fun, good weather and a generally fun time. But, come Monday morning we got back at work and lost on the office lottery. Seem to be making a regular habit of that. Hence writign about camping, again.

However the next betting event was for the Melbourne Cup. Normally I do not bet but office sweeps etc are fair go. Of course you ask.........................I came first.

Dunaden win in Melbourne Cup

2011 Emirates Melbourne Cup at Flemington race course., Race 7, 3200 metres. Winner No 3 Dunaden ridden by Christophe Lemaire by a short nose to Red Cadeaux ridden by Michael Rodd. Picture: George Salpigtidis Source: Herald Sun

IN ONE of the closest photo-finishes in Melbourne Cup history French stayer Dunaden took out the Melbourne Cup by a short half head over Red Cadeaux.

Source...http://www.heraldsun.com.au/sport/superracing/french-joy-with-dunaden-win-in-melbourne-cup/story-fn67siys-1226182710882