A week in Longreach

You think its a long time - but its not really...

A little about what we have been up to whilst in Longreach. Having been here a number of times theres only so many times you can do the touristy stuff.  I’ve come out here to see my sister and for my kids to both get to know their cousins and to experience some real Australian bush life.  When I was growing up, we had cousins who lived in Mackay who we only saw once a year.  We adored those times and were so close to them as we grew up.

Although some of them are a little older than my kids, the age differences aren’t so great that we can’t all do fun stuff together. Morgan has committed to mastering riding his push bike so that at Easter next year, he can learn to ride a motorcycle. We will all get a bit better at our fishing skills ( like the tying of knots) so we can go fishing in the boat next time as well.

Last night I sat  looking up at the velvety darkness, sprinkled with stars so bright and near  reckoned  if I reached my hand up just a bit higher I could reach them. The bonfire was gorgeous, so warm and full of fire dragons, I wished I could have sat there all night. 

I really love it out here and want Morgan and Lilly to keep experiencing the bush and country life.  We get so sedated in the city. Its all so clean and safe.  I do know I couldn’t live in the country again for a long stint; but it doesn’t stop me from enjoying the stillness, the beauty, honesty and harshness of it all.

Its been a very relaxed holiday; unlike our last trek out here where we covered nearly 4 thousand km over 5 days going from Longreach out to Birdsville and back in a very round trip.

Yesterday we went fishing at the billabong; where Lilly caught a tiddler.  I’m sorry to say I didn’t believe her when she said she had a bite - not until she hauled it in.. and she reeled it in on her own hot pink fishing rod all by herself. She was so delighted and proud. We did throw it back - just in case you were wondering.

Morgan cast some good lines out into the middle of the waterhole, but his bait was taken each time. I got a bit frustrated with the fishing rods continually tangling. Cheap  and nasty lines and ineffectual sinkers.  I’m going to raid some of our old ones when I go to visit my parents in a few days.

Julie and I are taking it a bit steady with the drinking. A few nights ago we went for a few quiet ones at a neighbours.  Two bottles of port, a bottle of vodka and a bottle of wine later we were singing at the tops of our voices to the country and western radio show; phoning in requests and laughing so hard my ribs still hurt.  gotta say I’m embarrassed how much country and western lyrics I actually know.  The first bottle of port was a really good one - $50 one.. the other one was a clayton special - a great big goony… anyone remember that mcwillimas cream port?  it still tastes the same. gross on the way down, worse on the way up. We made it home and straight into PJs and bed.. who knows how with kids in tow.

We’ve been to the Hall of Fame and to the Qantas Museum, have had picnics, played board games and driven round the town and property.  There are enough kids at Julies to play a decent game of baseball - so we had a hoot doing that - limited rules to include the little kids and to dampen the competitive spirit of the teenagers.  Today we had a huge table of craft and art things with plenty of inspiring creations happening.

On the cards over the net few days is a very competitive game of squatter with some neighbours.  cracks me up that farming folk love this game so much - well we did when we were kids. the banter and wise cracks as we go along I think is the best part of it.  Some craft and painting sessions, visit to the new heated pool the town has and dinner at Longway Station with a tour of the house.

Then its pack up shoot off down to Mum and Dads where they are shearing, stay there a few nights and back to Brisbane, just in time to catch a Lions Match and for me to shriek remembering I have to prepare for a term of teaching science and that the kids have a dance competition the following weekend.