Heading out to Menindee today, you will remember we taught there 30 years ago and have very fond memories of the place. We headed to Don and Joan Bessells, they are Paul's mum and dad and they were very kind to us when we headed out to the back of beyond when we were just kids really - all of 20 and very inexperienced. We parked the van on their front lawn and plugged in and then chatted for hours - those two are great, even though they are quite a bit older they are really good people and we always have plenty to talk about, catching up on gossip, family comings and goings and what's been going on in Menindee.
Don and Joan kindly shouted us to tea at Maidens Pub and we caught up with Hitler and Dominic Dettore. The food was great and there was plenty of it.
Day two and Don and Joan gave us the Tikki Tour of the lakes system and the back roads, again we saw roos, camels, sheep, cattle, goats and thousands of birds. We also found some great free campsites and will keep them in mind for our next visit. Don has promised to take us out for yabbies to the Three Mile Creek next time. Also ran into some old friends and even one of my old students who is now 48. I suppose he would have been 16 my first year out so we were only 5 years different in age. I was quite chuffed that he recognised me and then that he would come over and chat and bring his son to meet me. Nice to know we didn't do any harm and that we were appreciated. A small joy of teaching.
On with the tour. The lakes system is impressive and Don was there from when they surveyed it - it's like talking history - absolutely fascinating. The guys who engineered and planned it were before there times.
Caught up with friends from both the North Coast and Norfolk - it's a small world and it was a very easy and pleasant evening at Darryl and Kim's. We hope to catch up to the at St Patricks races with them on Saturday. Also toured the school - like Wilcannia resources coming out their ears and plenty of staff. Some schools obviously are given more than others.
Back to the Hill on Friday and a couple of tourist spots as well as art galleries and the Musicians Club - site of our first date - who said Ross wasn't sentimental. Paul and Kerryn have put us up once again and they are wonderful hosts, make us feel welcome and it's great to catch up - it seems like we see each other all the time - they are easy and fun. Good friends last over time and distance and the Bessell's, both generations, are those sort of friends. We are lucky to have them.
St Patricks Races tomorrow and then on to the Clare Valley in South Australia.
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