Saturday 25 June 2022 Coomalie
Richard proposed a sunset equinox picnic down at the ‘shack’, which was left by the Search & Rescue team. Unfortunately council meetings and other obstacles meant that we celebrated the winter equinox a day later on 23 June. James stayed home cooking up a storm for our evening feast. Norm, Coomalie, Rosie and I were first to arrive at the shack. I hadn’t visited it since the Search & Rescue team conducted their training exercises. There were some very impressive holes piercing the walls and doors.
Richard, Denise and the rest of the furry family were next to arrive, followed soon after by Jaap, who rode in on the Quad Bike like some hero from a Western Movie.
Whilst we sipped pink and white bubbles and other beverages of choice and nibbled on crackers, dip, cheese and salami the setting sun painted a perfect kaleidoscope of colours across the sky. It was a wonderful picnic, shared with such lovely friends. We are so blessed to call Coomalie our other home.
Talking about feasts, we have shared many that would challenge any gourmet chef, with our Coomalie family around the Wrightie’s Table at Coomalie Central.
The extensive menu has ranged from Bangers & Mash with Steak, Mushroom & Onion Gravy; James’ famous Butter Chicken; Amie’s Green Lip Mussel Chowder; Denise’s gourmet pizzas; Jaap’s mouthwatering Nasi Goreng; James’ Marinara, Corned Beef with carrots, cabbage and white sauce (both Norm’s version and James’) and Denise’s Spaghetti Bolognese which would challenge any Mumma from the home country. The diet will have to wait until we leave this wonderfully welcoming, hospitable and generous place.
https://www.darwinaviationmuseum.com.au
Yesterday morning Richard gave us a personal tour of the Darwin Aviation Museum, of which he is a past president and long time member. Although we have previously popped into the Museum on an earlier visit up here, having Richard share his background stories was immensely informative and entertaining. He described the dilemma when certain USA Military personnel thought it only fit and proper that the B52 Bomber should be donated to the Museum. A hitch arose when ‘boffins’ at the upper level of hierarchy proposed that it would not be in line with protocol to donate the plane, and that a sum of money, far in excess of the Museum’s pursestrings should be paid for it. Arrangements were finally made that the plane would be delivered full of fuel, which the Museum could be able to sell to recoup the purchase price. THEN the question of how to fit the enormous machine within the walls of the museum had to be addressed. An extension to the side wall was required to accommodate the nose of the plane, and the rear tail plane needed to be laid flat to fit through the rear doors. With ingenuity and no doubt at some extra cost, that magnificent aeroplane is now proudly on display.
I was amused by the quirky caravan that some very creative family had converted from part of an old Liberator Bomber. What fun it must have been to set out on family holidays with that unusual home in tow.
Whilst we were in the museum, the airforce was conducting flight training (or something) which involved powerfully noisy jets roaring overhead in quick succession. It provided the perfect contrast as we reflected on the stories that were being revealed by the displays from previous days that we enjoyed inside.
ON THE ROAD 