TUESDAY 31 AUGUST 2021
Last Sunday after church, Denise and I joined some of the Church members for a meeting and lunch at the Batchelor Butterfly Farm. I didn’t get to see the butterflies, however the owner, Chris was a very entertaining and eccentric man who entertained us with his banter. The pink and white bougainvillea at the entrance were spectacular.
Last Saturday the Local Council elections were held. Unfortunately Norm and I could not vote, although we feel like we have been here long enough now to qualify as locals! One of the Comallie friends, Col Freeman stood for election to the local rural council, so we have watched the proceedings with interest. Of course we wish him well and hope his efforts are successful. I am wondering though, how ‘Bunters the Dog’ will fare.
LATEST ON LINUS
Daniel, the AutoElectrician rang a few days ago to report that there was not a single key chip in the whole of Australia for our keys. Over the days we have been sitting here, Norm has tried several times to start Linus with no success. Last Saturday, Daniel called in again for another attempt to fix her. His first step was to ask Norm to insert the key and try to start the engine. GUESS WHAT – SHE ROARED INTO LIFE!! The day before, Norm had sprayed the engine bay and inside the car in an attempt to murder all of the ants that had moved in. We can only surmise that part of the problem must have been an infestation of ants which affected the electrical systems.
The Tropical Fire Ant or Ginger Ant has become a very unwelcome guest in our camp, our van, our bed, my computer, our car….
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Every time Norm has attempted to start Linus since, she has fired up first go, so we are starting to feel more confident about continuing our ramblings and turning south. At the moment we pan to stay here at Coomalie until at least the end of next week. Denise and James will be visiting Kakadu on the 8-9 September, so we will stay to miind the dogs etc.
COOMALIE UPDATE
Life around camp has continued along the usual theme of mornings from our ‘verandah’, and evenings together enjoying each other’s company with drinks, nibbles and meals at James’ & Denises’. The days in between have been spent exploring more of Comallie or lazing in the plunge pool, or popping into the Batchelor Pool for a dip with Denise, or reading one of the many books that Richard has leant us.
Morning View from our Verandah 
Fivesies 
Richard & Norm’s Chicken Bake 
Bananas & Custard 
James & Carli – photo by Denise 
Sweet & Sour Chicken Drumsticks 
Norm & James 
Denise & Richard
EARLY MORNING AMBLES
Rosie & I have continued to enjoy our early morning amblings as the sun rises, sometimes in the mist and at other times on bright clear mornings such as this morning when I enjoyed the most glorious pink, purple sunrise with the half moon still aglow in the sky.
WEBS IN THE MIST 
MISTY Web 
SUN IN THE MIST 
MISTY RUNWAY 71 
HALF MOON 
TAXIWAY 
Historic DEMOLITION SITE MOSQUITO Aircraft 15 August 1945 
ANT HENGE 
HEFE COMES THE SUN 
SUNRSHINE ON MY SHOULDER 
LOOKING DOWN THE RUNWAY FROM CRICKET PITCH
COOMALIE NOOKS & CRANNIES
Now that we have wheels again, Norm and I have enjoyed several adventures exploring some the nooks and crannies of this wonderful place.
THE BIG DAM
ANTILOPINE WALLAROO 
NEW GROWTH AFTER THE FIRE 
RENEWAL 
THE MALAY HUT AND OLD SITE OF VERBURGH’S MARKET GARDENS
CLIMB TO TOP OF MACHINE GUN EMPLACEMENT HILL
TRACK UP THE HILL 
SNAIL SHELL 
OLD BISCUIT TIN? 
CLIMBING HIGHER 
NORM WITH PIECE OF IRON 
ROCK-FILLED FUEL DRUMSLWALLS 
44 GALL DRUMS FILLES WITH ROCKS 
NORM STILL CLIMBING TO THE TOP 
VIEWS FROM THE TOP 
SUE AND RUBBLE WALLS AT THE TOP 
ROSIE CHECKING OUT GUN EMPLACEMENT 
ANTI-AIRCRAFT GUN EMPLACEMENT 
NORM WALKING BACK DOWN FROM THE TOP
VISIT TO THE MEN’S SHED
This morning we drove into Batchelor to visit James and some of his friends at the Men’s Shed, which is in the old Batchelor Fire Station. I was blown away by the beautiful blossoms on the nearby Red Bush Apple Tree (Syzgium suborbiculare.)
Red Bush Apple Blossom
ON THE ROAD 