BACK IN ALICE...

A wonderful family Christmas, and the best of everything for the New Year to all my dear family and friends in NZ.

These beautiful icons of our NZ Christmas I took last week in Brown's Bay, Auckland.

I have been back home for a month- consequently not a lot of blogging going on!!!! I went home primarily to attend Anna's graduation ceremony- what a wonderful day attended by so many proud parents. I am so proud of Anna- she has really worked her little bum off- and has now the joy to be able to be employed doing what she loves,working with families at a very special time of their lives. She has a job as a locum in Ranfurly until mid January, and then joins 2 midwives in their practice in Ashburton early February.

Anna Talbot, B M , !!!!!

Anna and Craig

As well as the graduation the girls and I spent some time together,I really enjoyed reaquainting myself with my grandson- Hugo 11mths. Madison and I spent a day at Orana Park-we did have a lot of fun meeting the tigers for lunch, and the giraffes.

Before I returned to Alice, I spent some time staying with Sara and Thibaut in Auckland.Even tho it was wet each day, it was such a change to ALice's dryness, and didn't stop us doing much.

Sara,Hugo and I drove down to see some old friends,(not that old-but longstanding!!!!) of mine south of Hamilton for a day.Hugo enjoyed being a farm boy for the day.

Here he is being introduced to the farm dogs....

My friends have just built a beautiful new farm house, this is part of the view from the lounge window. It is so typical of the green rolling hills of the Waikato, but to me it was such a contrast to my red earth here.

It was great to catch up with a lot of you over the time I was home. I am now house sitting for 4 months, with a pool.It is so nice being out of the "accommodation"- I think I am too old for communal living. I now have a landline so look forward to hearing from you.

Have a Happy Christmas and may the New Year bring you joy.

OUT OF ALICE FOR A MONTH......

I am actually in Christchurch- just enjoying time with my family, and reaquainting myself with my grandaughter and grandson.

Before I left Alice I spent a weekend north of Alice in Tennant Creek- about 450kms from Alice. It is a small town made famous for its gold 80yrs ago. There is not much there, but I enjoyed fossicking around. My friend I went with was working, so I had time to explore, and take pictures.

This is the Telegraph station in Tennant Creek. It was a booster for messages from the Station in Alice. It is well preserved, and really interesting to wander around.

The Devil's Marbles in the early evening light are really spectacular. We spent a short amount of time there, but judged the timing well....

On our way south we met a guy who was travelling thru central Oz with a vehicle being drawn by 2 camels. Interest overcame us, so we stopped and chatted to him. He was German and had been in Oz for 40yrs. He was very interesting, keeping in contact with outside world via a laptop powered by a large battery. He introduced me to his 2 camels.

This is Blondie- she loved her ears being scratched to the point that she laid her head on the ground quite mesmerised.

My friend made sure he was enrolled to vote- and did a postal vote so he did not miss the election.A very interesting experience...

SOUTH AND BACK OUT OF ALICE

Last weekend a friend and I decided to head away for the day and explore the Mereenie Loop. It is a road that cuts south across from the Stuart Highway,(main highway Darwin-Adelaide), goes into Kings Canyon, and then heads north again to come in West of Alice Springs. It is 4WD most of the way.It is not coincidental that we have the use of a large 4WD!!! It would have to be one of the most beautiful areas I have ever seen.The variation in landscape is hard to comprehend.

This is off the road which leads into an area where thousands of years ago meteors hit.The land is like a lunar landscape.There is actually a sign saying NASA used the area to train astronauts!!

Very soon the landscape changes again, and is quite lush with these juvenile forms of Desert Oaks.

These are the adult form of the Desert Oak.

After the resort of Kings Canyon, we climbed up onto this ridge......

which had the most beautiful escarpment of red rock running for miles.We climbed up and this was the view.

We stopped to have a break under this tree..nothing special but with a hot dry wind blowing I enjoyed the movement I captured in the foliage.


I haven't done a lot of 4WD so enjoyed the opportunity to gain some skill on roads like these.They are quite firm underneath, but have varying amounts of "softness" on top!! Interesting driving.

We met this little fellow- Long- nosed Dragon Lizard while we were walking. He was not bothered by us at all. He even allowed his portrait to be taken....

Take care all of you- I am looking forward to catching up- in 2 weeks I will be back....

IN AND AROUND ALICE....

Another week in and around Alice. Last Sunday went out of town to one of the communities and an associated historical Aboriginal area.
The landscape was very rugged, but still beautiful.


Some of the local scenery.....

and more....

Hidden in,and under some of the rocks were some beautiful rock art. These images are produced by blowing a mouthful of dye over hands- quite eerie to see- especially considering the time the art has been there.

My favourite Ozzie icon...again.....

We also had clouds last weekend........quite a rarity.....

Near where we were is a historical place where late 19th century was a Lutheran Mission. We intend going back as it was closed when we arrived. I poked my camera through the fence- magnificant gum trees again....I will report on the mission when we return.

The old mission buildings are superb...there will be an update.....soon.....

Take care all of you.......

AROUND ALICE.....

I haven't done a lot over the past few weeks- just enjoying Alice. Chased a sunset one night last week and came up with these images of Alice town late evening.

This is the shopping area looking south.

And of course, the sun sank in the west leaving the usual beautiful colour in the sky- something to do with the red dust in the atmosphere.

This caught my eye as the sun dropped. This is a fuel tanker with 4 trailers, which regularly travels to Darwin and return. When this road train starts moving it cannot stop quickly......
A friend and I spent some time on Sunday watching the Ghan come in from Darwin, and 3 hours later heads south towards Adelaide. The complete trip takes 2 1/2 days. In earlier times, pre 1929, the train came part way and was met by Afghan traders who ferried people and cargo to the other end of the train link on camels. In 1929 it was joined up by rail. Thus the name "ghan".

The Ghan coming through the "Gap" out of Alice to go south to Adelaide.

I hope spring is in full bloom, I am looking forward to seeing ChCh in about 4 weeks.

take care....

and again....

CAMPING WEST OF ALICE.....

At work we have had 2 senior students with us fron Newcastle Uni. This weekend they finished so to give them a special memory, 8 of us from work took them camping. We went to a place called Glen Helen about 120km west of Alice. It was a real Allied Health weekend- radiographers, rad students, radiology nurse, dietitian, occupational therapist,sonographer- so we had most events covered!!!




This was our campsite-I really enjoy sleeping in a swag- they are very comfortable.Lying looking at the stars is something very special.



2 of us decided we would do a short helicopter ride over the area. It is so vast it really is the best way of seeing the land. Being a photographer I asked if we could go up as late as...so it was arranged that we fly about 6.15pm- sunset about 6.45. I wanted that lovely soft evening light.
This is our little chopper......

This is the Finke River, which according to local knowledge has never changed course, and is one of the oldest flowing rivers in the world.

Finke River cutting thru the gorge- the colours really had to be seen to be believed.

While we were flying- the pilot said he had never flown at that time of the day- and how everything looked so much more textured. So I gave him a very short lesson on soft evening light....etc etc.... (photography 101 I think it was!!!) He was delighted.

More of the area....

I was rapt with the short flight, and the images I got. Sometimes things all work together.

There were still a lot of these beautiful guardians of the rivers..........

A very large full moon completed the beautiful evening, plus a wine or two of course.

I hope you are all well...look after each other.....

JUST LIVING IN ALICE.......

Just a short post today..I am meant to be working !! I haven't a lot of news just working and living. I have added some photos of my little car- it is my freedom to get out and about- wonderful. I am also house sitting at present- this is the front of it....

My car isn't too bad eh!!

Out and about found this interesting sign post...!!!

A friend and I decided to head out just before dusk on Saturday- to blow away some cobwebs.....

He has a proper vehicle for the area- so were able to go cross country and pick this spot to watch the sun drop ......

and even further into the warm atmosphere.......





until we were left with this icon of drought/struggle/ and history.

It is an amazing place to live and work- no one can say it is easy living here, but it is truly beautiful.
Hope NZ is getting warmer..I would love to share the heat with you- its 31' here at present.

take care ....