365 days ago...

A year ago today we moved here to this town called Kununurra that we now call home. Stepping off that plane, dazed, immediately wrapped in a warm blanket of heat and humidity. Welcomed by strangers that have become friends. Our thoughts ranged from "What have we done??" to "How exciting!! What an adventure!" We think we are pretty lucky to have scored Kununurra as a placement, such a beautiful corner of Australia. I can see us staying up here for awhile.... To celebrate 365 days here, we went out this afternoon to Middle Springs. We had been here once before, but this time we went to the same place but somewhere a little different.

We walked up the side of the falls, followed the stream. It wasn't a hard walk, 10 minutes or so.

Took in the sights along the way! We have had a few decent days of rain this week and so the waterfalls are flowing.

And up the top is a collection of flowing pools. Some where waist deep, others knee deep, others a few meters deep. All connected by the stream rushing through. I tried a self timer shot but couldn't get back in time! Yes, I am wearing shoes in the water, we all wear them, our trekking shoes we call them. My camera battery died after I took the first photo in this post. The pool in the first photo was on the other side of the pool above. The water fell into the next pool, it was so beautiful up there. I was cross my camera battery died, we will just have to go back again.

Black Rock

We have taken advantage of the rain and having our own 4WD and getting out and seeing some of the waterfalls around only in the wet season.

This one is Black Rock which we have been to a few times before. It holds a special place in my heart as it was the first place we ever visited when we came up here.

The Gold Coast Holiday - Part 1!

We have just come back from a two week holiday catching up with family and friends in the Gold Coast. I took a lot of photos as to be expected, so thought I would break the posts up for the blog. It's usually a sunny part of Australia but at the moment large parts of Queensland are flooded, its the wettest summer in 150 years or something like that. We had a few days of sunshine... Our accommodation was right on the foreshore so we could walk to the beach.

Little bit different to our days on Rottnest. Lots of people, lots of different languages heard as you walk along the sand and the lifeguards! And shadows from the skyscrapers on the beach.

New Years Day saw us all heading to Australia Zoo. It was great and raining but we brought a $3 plastic poncho at the shop and everything was okay. The rain actually kept the crowds down so that was good for us. We had come such a long way we weren't going to let some rain dampen our spirits! I was excited, the girls were excitied just as much! We walked in the gates and up the first path straight into the elephant feeding. Grace was there popping carrot into his trunk and exclaimed afterwards it was like a big vacum cleaner!

We then headed to the Crocoseum. It was amazing! Terrie, Bindi and Bob were all there. Bindi sang a few songs, Bob then sang one and then the show with the crocs started.

Terrie feed him......

And then Bindi feed him too. Note the flying bit of meat mid air! We did see Bindi later walking through the grounds with a minder giving some boy and his Mum a private tour, no photos of that, we were to star struck and only managed to say "Hi Bindi" as she walked past and to her credit she said hi back and smiled at the girls.

Then we went and saw the Tigers which impressed Grace so much she has decided to be a tiger handler when she grows up.

And also Grace managed to pat a koala's bum! It was a busy day, we were there all day and it was fantastic. the grounds and animals are all immaculate, I'd go back there in a flash. Next blog post, Seaworld!

Santa 2010.

There is no Santa Photo Booth at the shops here in down town Kununurra. Hard to believe but true! There was a small ad in the local paper the other week saying sorry no Santa photos this year due to an impending birth. So what is a Mum to do? I have to have my Santa photo, have had one every year since 2004. During my recent whirl wind trip to Darwin while wandering around Kmart, I found a Santa Suit for $7! $7???!!!! So I brought it just for this photo shot. The girls weren't fooled at all about it being their Dad. "When is the real Santa coming Mummy?" Milly asked, soon sweetheart soon.

We will be going here on boxing day for 2 weeks so I'll be taking a blogging break while we are away. Hope everyone has a Merry Christmas, looking forward to sharing 2011 with you all.

Grace's Art Exhibition.

We went to the school's art exhibition last night. Grace had a few pieces on display. Despite being less than impressed on the first day here, I am proud of how well she has settled in. She does enjoy her art classes!

Fishing at Digger's Rest.

On Sunday we went on a 12 hour fishing adventure. Yes, 12 hours.... We went with friends to a place called Digger's Rest. Travel 90kms towards Wyndham, then do a left and travel for an hour or so and your there! We stopped on the way at the old Boab Prison tree. The tree has a circumference of 14.7 metres and is estimated to be between 2000 and 4000 years old. As the name indicates it used to serve as an overnight lock up for patrols taking prisoners to Wyndham.

You can climb in it. Bats live in it now, it was smelly, Milly is holding her nose saying "ewwwww, it stinks!" in the first photo.

The ranges in the distance were amazing, Australia was shot around here for a few weeks. Apparantly the plains were so bare in places due to wild goats eating and trampling everything in sight. Now it is cattle just staring at us, wondering what we are doing.

We were after the elusive barramundi. But all we scored were the ugly cat fish! Grace caught one on her line but she couldn't bring herself to touch it! Mr H. helped!

On the banks of the King River. Waiting, and waiting....

The two tired and dirty fishermen.

Due to the crocodiles, swimming is a definite no go, so I let the girls play in the mud which they enjoyed. Thank goodness for napisan! Although I will admit I just threw their socks in the bin, didn't even attempt to wash those.

Dinner was a chicken roll and an apple under the sunset. We didn't catch any Barra, but we had a great day! Thankful for lovely friends that can take us to such amazing places.

Grace's Merit Certificate.

Grace got a merit certificate on Friday at the school assembly. She was a bit surprised and said to me that afternoon, "I thought you were only supposed to get one a year Mum?" So did I Gracie, but I guess her teacher thought "pushing herself to produce neat and well presented work which is a pleasure to mark" deserves another one. Well done Gracie!