Life just can’t get any better. In 1989, when Kyran was two, we travelled from Sydney to Perth around the top. It was an amazing six months but I always wanted to do it again and take more time. I keep pinching myself to check that this is real, this is our life, spending several months here in Nhulunbuy. We didn’t plan to stay for so long; we didn’t really have a set plan at all which is what I’ve loved. Its so freeing. Friends keep asking if we are going to stay on and live here – and we could. There is plenty work and housesitting available. But no, we are not. We are coming back to Western Australia later in the year. We miss the family there but they are all very happy to see us doing this trip.

On Sunday we finished housesitting for Angela’s family, looking after Red, Bomber and Cat. We had a lovely stay and enjoyed playing with the dogs and taking them to the beach. (Cat preferred to stay in the wardrobe!)

The next day we moved into Lindsay’s house to look after her two poodles. She is a Remote Nurse with Angel Flight. Sadly, Lindsay’s home in Queensland, and that of her parents were both impacted by the recent floods and it appears they have lost everything. Poor girl has only been in Nhulunbuy for four weeks. She has gone back home to help with the clean up. In the meantime we are taking care of Digby and Louie, her two beautiful pets.

Aside from looking after dogs and houses, I am working lots at the school still and John plays golf at least twice a week. Rarely a weekend passes though without us having some kind of adventure.

One such adventure was another trip to Macassan Beach with some new teacher friends. We took fishing rods, drinks and pickies to share. One teacher, Jane, brought along a friend Linda who is also new to East Arnhem. She is an Early Childhood Teacher who has decided to retire next year. As it’s her last year of work, she wanted to do something different so left her husband and family behind in Victoria and took a job here for twelve months as a Remote Teacher. She is based in Yirkala (a local Aboriginal community) and flies out daily to other remote communties to teach the young indigenous children. I found her fascinating to talk to and we’ve organised to catch up again.

We left for Macassan around 3pm in a convoy of three cars. The track in was very wet and muddy from earlier rain and we drove through lots of water. Luckily none was terribly deep. Our car drives really well on these off road and four wheel drive tracks and it’s something we are used to now. When we first left Dongara, we were definitely inexperienced off road drivers but don’t even give it much thought now. It had been quite a windy day and we thought it might be a quick trip but it turned out to be a perfect evening. No-one caught any fish but we had a lovely time with lovely people.

Another evening we were invited to Middle Beach by Drew and Sam who had recently caught lots of fish and decided to make beer battered fish and chips for their friends. There was quite a group of us gathered with our camp chairs and eskies. Of course they had the traditional camp fire going as well as all their cooking equipment. This was a windy evening but it made no difference to the lovely sunset and our enjoyment. The fish and chips were fabulous – as were the beer battered onion rings, brie and prawns. Lucky us.

Kylie, a friend of Vanessa and Kyran’s, had her birthday recently and invited us all to spend the day out on the boats. We had another spectacular day cruising up Giddies River then anchoring at Granite Island. John didn’t come with us that day, preferring to have a quiet day at home. He missed a terrific day out.

You may have noticed some people missing in these photos! With the borders now open, Vanessa took the opportunity to take the children back to Melbourne to see her family. Tommy was just three when they left Victoria and, of course, Vanessa’s family hadn’t met Joey. Unfortunately, all of them contracted covid within a few days of arriving and they were sick and isolated for a week. Happily they are all well now and having a lovely holiday. We miss them and look forward to seeing them soon.

Who knows what the next weeks will bring? We never tire of the amazing beaches and bush here. They are rugged and beautiful. And the people we have met are great. We have about six weeks left in Nhulunbuy. We will be so sad to leave the family and the town but look forward to seeing more of this amazing country.