Hi Guys, when did I write last, it feels like ages? The web site has been going through some upgrades and it has put me back a little bit. You may have noticed that the pics on the last instalment are not ours. We are now in Darwin and sweltering in the heat! I had to shave the girls (that would be Pip, Carrie and Heidi) today because it is just too hot for them. Sorry if that offend any of you that are feeling the winter months creeping in.

We ended up doing the day in Katherine gorge. That is truly a magical place. It is now called 'Nitmiluk' which means place of the cicada. It is co managed and owned by the Jarwong people and the NT govt, they have the say in what tourists can and cannot do and to their credit, it is impressively done. We went with a boat load of the older generation again. Like I said, it is nice being the young ones for a change. We went up 5 gorges, each one more beautiful than the next and wouldn't you know it, just as we were about to enter into the show stopper gorge, MY BATTERY RAN OUT!!!!!! Here I was amongst some of the most breath taking scenery in the world and I am shooting with a bloody drunk's camera - aim and shoot!!!! Could not believe it!!!! You will have to wait for the pictures as the web site is still down for upgrading. One of the gents on the trip kindly down loaded his shots for me so I have not missed out totally. Another amazing thing about the gorge is that I actually swam in it. Yes......I got in again. The water was about 20 degrees but I braved that and the bloody friendly cat fish that reminded us of scuppy waiting for her food at dinner time - all congregating at the bank of the river waiting for the scraps from lunch. Don't tell me that fish don't have feelings or intelligence. Swimming in the gorge is up there with one of the most special things I have done. The gorge is apparently 1.3 billion years old, the aboriginal art dates bake 10,000 years but we did see a modern sculpture. You wait to see it, you will be very impressed! We were actually allowed to photo it which has not been allowed up until that day, we were very lucky.

Katherine is also the home of my father's cousins and he felt obliged to visit them as he has not seen or heard from or of them for the last 8 years. Proof here that you cannot pick your relatives, which is why we chose our friend for family heh guys? Any way that was an eye opener for him and us when he got home to report. I do not know how people can exist day to day with nothing to look forward to or nothing to break up the monotony. The brothers live together with another woman; I would expect that dad's visit was the high light of their year. Apart from that, Katherine was in the middle of an exercise (military) and the base was off limits - dad use to work there, it would have been nice having a little look around for old times sake.

Next stop was Adelaide River. I have never heard of it but we soon found out it is one of the most important places in the story of our success and reason for our freedom today in the 2nd war and the attack from the Japanese. I was not aware that Darwin suffered more casualties, more bombing attacks, more decimation than Pearl Harbour. Darwin saved us from the imminent invasionand potential success by the Japanese. They had already caused the fall of Singapore, worked their way into the Philippines, Thailand and out to Hawaii and several other places. Darwin was the strong hold of the allied forces and our men managed to keep hold until they could fight back. They were so unprepared and so unsuspecting of this attack which is why it was so incredibly destructive to the town and life. The Japanese were actually at a great advantage as some 2 years prior a Japanese firm had photographed the topography of NT; this is what they used to plan their attack. They attacked without warning and without any civility - they did not care about the big red crosses on the buildings and boats, they were all fair game. I suspect that we Aussies were not so careful either. But as the saying goes, only the victors write the stories of war.....so who is right and who is wrong? Where Adelaide River comes into play is the retreat that the Aussies had to make to save their people. Darwin was evacuated until plans could be made to make the town safe. There is a joke that my Grand pop told my dad, he served in Darwin during the war......it was said that the mayor of Darwin rode his bike to Adelaide river so fast to tell of the attacks from the Japanese before he realised his bike had no chain. Adelaide River was a sombre place, it has a beautiful cemetery that commemorates the fallen of the attacks Darwin and the allied forces suffered.

What Adelaide River is also famous for is the bull from Crocodile Dundee. He is stuffed and mounted in the pub that was right next to our caravan park. Such a convenience! Dad remembers him from all the days of his travels in the air force. Apparently the pub was/is opened 24/7. One was able to get a drink at any time of the day, night or morning. The bar man would sleep on a camp stretcher behind the bar and serve if anyone turned up. AHHH the beauty of the territory, such liberal ideas AND you don't need to order a meal to have a drink, fancy that! When Hugh and I decided to brave the coffee in the pub ( it has a machine that Lisa would be somewhat familiar with, not the same but the same concept) we were astounded to see so many people there. Apparently the cops had arrived to check out a greyhound bus driver as all the passengers refused to get back on the bus until replacement arrived. They complained that he had fallen asleep at the wheel and the bus has jolted a little way up the road. He of course denied it but still the people would not get back on. I tell you my friends....it is all happening in Adelaide river. I have to also say that I rate the grass here as did the girls. They were in heaven; it is the first place we have come across where we did not have to worry about the prickles or the dirt.

As I said, we are now in Darwin, the place of my birth and I have to tell you, I feel like I am back to my roots. No competitions with the suntans here....they win hands down. I will fill you in hopefully tomorrowwhen I can put the pics in and Hugh can tell you all about his fishing adventure. Boys are you ready for it. Let's give you a little teaser. He actually gave a 10kg fish away because we had no room to store it........Any way guys, all our friends, we miss you every day and think of you more. We also miss the coffeeeeeeeeeeee!!!!!!!!!