Wangi to Darrawank, September 2012

September 1^st, I went down to Wangi RSL today to watch the Parade for our Aussie Sailors, who won “Gold Medals” at the London Olympics, in the 49er class. They were local boys who had been sailing Lake Macquarrie since they were young boys and members of the Wangi Yachting Club. Their names were, Nathan Outteridge  and Iain Jensen, known locally as Nathan & Goobs. A huge crowd turned out to celebrate their success with them and enjoy the Parade and entertainment. “Channel 9” were there, along with the local newspapers conducting interviews.

September 2^nd, Father’s Day. Greg and Steven both rang today to wish me a Happy Fathers Day. We are seeing Greg next Sunday for Jessica’s Birthday and Steven was busy packing for an overseas trip, so I won’t be seeing them today, but that’s OK by me. I will be getting my FD present in Sydney next Sunday. Val took me out for Dinner, to the Wangi Workers Club for a quiet celebration and won a tray of prawns in the Fishing Club Raffle.

September 4^th, Steven left today for his 4 week overseas trip taking in London, Rome, Amalfi Coast in Italy, back to London then Reykjavik in Iceland, back to London and home, in Sydney on October 4^th. We’re sure he’ll have a great time.

September 5^th, We went to Carole and Robs place for Dinner and Tiles. Rob is recovering from his operation, slowly, and improving every day.

September 9^th, We went down to Sydney, to Greg and Dianne’s place for Jessica’s Birthday, which is tomorrow, and to also celebrate a belated Fathers Day. We gave Jessica a Softball Glove and Softball, which she was thrilled with. She is now playing softball at School and enjoying it. Greg gave me my joint Fathers Day present from himself and Steven, of a Fish Finder. Good choice Boys, just what I have wanted since my old Fish Finder stopped working (I do believe in putting in a request for things that I need). We had a great Pork Roast Dinner, followed by Apple Pie with Passionfruit Icing, that Val had made for desert.

September 10^th, Pack up day today as we leave in the morning for Blacksmiths Beachside Holiday Park, just on the other side of Lake Macquarrie, north of Swansea. I decided to have a last fish before I pulled the boat out of the water. I started off by going straight across the Lake to the sandflats near Swansea, on advice from my closest friends (both named Robert) and after an hour didn’t get a bite. I moved back down the Lake to my usual fishing spot and hooked on to a 54cm Salmon, WOW, what a fighting fish. It had my rod bent over in a complete “U” shape and was running out line off the reel. It was exciting to play it slowly, letting it do its own thing, until I finally landed it and was able to identify it. That was the first time that I have caught a Salmon and I’ve never had a fish on my line that fought that hard. I took it in for a photo and as Val didn’t want it, I gave it to an Asian neighbour, in the Park, who was happy to take it off my hands.

September 11^th, We finished packing up and moved to Blacksmiths, only a ½ hour drive from Wangi, and set everything up again, for our 19 day stay. We will then be leaving for Wallamba River on the 30^th of September.

September 14^th, Joan, Robert, Carole and Rob came down to Blacksmiths for a BBQ Dinner and to play 6 handed Tiles. I had discovered that we had sustained some damage to the roll out awning shaft, when we moved here and I was setting up. We had storms and very high winds in the last couple of days at Wangi, which would have caused the problem. I was discussing the damage with Rob and we agreed that it could easily be repaired with a little help from my friends, as I don’t have a lathe in my toolkit. Rob said “If you sketch what you need I can get the machined parts made at “THE MENS SHED””. Sounds good to me. We used the Camp Kitchen for our BBQ and games evening and had a nice time.

September 18^th, I went to the Men’s Shed near Bennetts Green today, to meet Rob and give him my sketches for an adaptor, to repair the roll out awing shaft. I was amazed to see how well they are set up and the variety of machines they have at their disposal. The place was quite busy, some working and a lot more just sitting talking and having a cuppa and I was made to feel welcome.

September 19^th, Rob went to his Specialist this morning, for more follow up tests. After the Doctors they came down to visit us at Wangi for lunch and Tiles. Rob’s results were good, everything on track. We had fun playing Tiles, so Carole and Rob stayed for dinner and we played some more Tiles.

September 20^th, I installed my new “Fish Finder” to the boat. ready for when we get to Wallamba River.

September 22^nd, Dianne brought Jessica and Annaliese up to Blacksmiths for a 6 day holiday with Nanny and Poppy. Jessica was still getting over a Tonsillitis flare up and was unsure about staying, wouldn’t be able to go swimming etc. Val assured Dianne it would not be a problem and after Mum left Jess made a miraculous recovery, had something to do with making friends in the Park, but didn’t bring her swimmers. The girls soon found some shorts and T-shirts to go swimming in. The girls went to the open air movies at 7.30pm while I watched the NRL Grand Final, which Melbourne won.

September 23^rd, The Girls went down to the beach for a swim and play in the sand. They spent the rest of the day playing with their new found friends in the Park.

September 24^th, Carole and Rob came to the Park with their Grandaughters, Sophie and Ava, for lunch and stayed for dinner, so all the girls could go to the outdoor movie at 7.30 in the Park.

September 25^th, We rang Joan to wish her a “Happy Birthday” and arranged to meet for dinner at the 16 Footers Club, at Belmont, to celebrate. The weather wasn’t great today so I took the Girls to the Hoyts in Charlestown to see “The Diary of a Wimpy Kid”. I wasn’t too sure if this was going to be my type of movie but I thoroughly enjoyed the movie and the outing.

September 26^th, I went up to Rob’s place this morning to help him load his boat onto his car boat rack, ready to go to Wallamba River. They are joining us for the first 2 weeks at Wallamba River Holiday Park. Back home, I took Jess and Annie down to the Beach, but it was too windy and unpleasant, so we were only away 10 minutes, so back at the Park they went to the Pool for their swim. They packed up all their gear to go to the movie in the Park only to find that it was cancelled due to a blown globe in their projector.

September 27^th, The Girls enjoyed a game of Beach French Cricket with their friends in the morning. We all went to the Belmont 16 Footers Club for dinner with Joan and Robert. Carole and Rob were to join us but couldn’t  make it. Joan was delighted with her Birthday Present, of a handbag and matching umbrella, from both Carol and Rob and ourselves. We won a meat tray in the raffles, enjoyed a great meal and Val and Joan couldn’t get any joy out of the Pokies but we still had a great night out.

September 28^th, We packed up all the Girls gear and took them home, to Glenwood, in the afternoon. After a catch up and a  cuppa with Greg and Dianne we headed back to Blacksmiths Beach. As always, Jessica and Annaliese had another  memorable Caravan Holiday with us.

September 30^th, I loaded our boat onto the car, ready to leave for Wallamba River Holiday Park at Darawank, tomorrow. I was going to repair my awning shaft with the spigot that Rob had turned up for me, at The Men’s Shed, but it was too windy to attempt today.