Kookaburra sits in the old gumtree......

All Aboaarrrrrdddddddd.................

There is something about boarding and riding a country train that is both relaxing and interesting. This afternoon I am catching a country link train down south to Jervis Bay. After catching an express bus into the city I boarded a train from Wynyard to Central, which is where all of the country link trains depart from. I was pleasantly surprised at how clean and tidy the platforms were and the staff were more than helpful whenever I needed assistance. This seems so different from the old days of public transport. It will take two hours to arrive at Bomerderry railway station, which is as far south as one can travel by train on the Illawarra and South Coast lines. It stops along the way at only a few stations. I was amused to read that some stations still can only accommodate 4 carriages due to their size and after all of these years one can only guess that these tiny country stations have never undergone any upgrade.

When I was first dating your Dad his family had a caravan (weekender) up at the Central Coast. I would often catch a train after work on Friday afternoons and J would pick me up from Wyong station which was a small country station back then. One evening in the pitch black of night I went to disembark the train when I realized that there was no platform to step out onto. To my dismay I remained on the train until the next station which also only allowed passengers to disembark if you were seated on the first four carriages. Not understanding what was going on I remained on the train until we eventually arrived at Gosford station and there was your Dad sitting in his car waiting for me. How did he know what had happened? Well he said that he knew I would never miss a train and that was the only logical explanation. How lucky was I lol. So you can imagination how amused I was to read in big capital letters that this train only had 4 carriages, and this is some 30 plus years later. This train journey is a lovely trip as it travels south down past Audley National Park to Wollongong and then straight down the coastline to Kiama where it cuts ever so slightly southwest. It passes through towns whose names remain in our memories from long ago; towns such as Thirroul, Scarborough, Coledale, Austinmer, Corrimal, before travelling back into Dapto around the great Lake Illawarra. That part of the trip is just as beautiful because the train weaves its way south through lovely fields of greenery and often passes lakes and livestock. Once we hit Scarborough the views changed drastically; the sea was suddenly there and the seaside life was taking place. Above the train were magnificent cliff faces and above the cliffs were Para-sailors leaping into the open air. Below us was a very vivid blue ocean with swimmers dotted along the shores.

The train wove its way through another forest and out the other side to more ocean views surrounding Austinmer and Corrimal. All along the way we passed container ships carrying goods north and then onto South East Asia. Back in the early days of the south coast the port facilitated the export of coal to the Sydney market. Later on it grew to send steel and other bulk cargoes. The groups of ships appeared to sail in groups of fifteen, three abreast. There must be a channel or shipping lane that runs parallel with our beautiful coastline and there they were. We left Thirroul to head towards North Wollongong and I was disappointed to see the hillsides drop down to ground level; my views slowly removed. To the west of this area the Great Dividing Range comes down closer to the coastline so the mountain range looks quite close from here, it was green and thick with vegetation and I would bet that it gets very cold in Winter in this area, the sun and daylight over shadowed by the hills. Further along we passed many areas that had been devastated by the floods last month; every now and then one could see the tramples vegetation and the sodden grounds. In some places we could still see water. Very soon I arrived at my destination with J waiting for me. I had spent a total of two hours enjoying the lovely scenery and the relaxation of the train. Go ahead, have an open mind, try it one day and do something a bit different by seeing some of the world from a train window!

Parma Rd.

J and I spent the afternoon after work finished, taking a drive along Parma Rd. Driving along Parma Rd. is like taking a drive out to the countryside on one of those old dirt roads where one feels like we have traveled back in time. The fields seem to stretch as far as the eye can see to both sides of the road with beautiful olf grey gums and ghost gums standing to attention along the roadsides. They have grown so tall over the decades that their canopies now meet over the top of the road.

The area dates back to the mid 1800s when horse drawn carriages traveled through the countryside to take goods to market. There were many remnants of by gone eras dotted throughout the region.

It is very peaceful out in this area and when we wound the windows down I could hear the beautiful sounds of whip birds.

The surrounding beauty included ferns as well as lots of Australian native trees and bushes everywhere as we drove around and up over hillsides, their shapes carved by wind and rain over decades and centuries. the glow of the afternoon sun enhanced their goldern tones.

In the distance the hills and mountains looked carpeted in green pile; so rich after the recent rains. I thought about the farmers living out in this area, being able to step outside of their homes to take in such magestic views when ever they wanted to. I wonder if they become desensitised after a time and stop seeing it.

The glost gums fascinated us both. We have a large one in our front yard which stands approximately 35 meters and so we have watched the process that it undertakes as the seasons pass. During summer they loose their bark and underneath is the most amazing trunk and branches.

Almost white at first and smooth to the eye it feels ever so slightly rough to touch.
The ghost gums out along Parma Rd. were exact;y the same, smooth and white and they contrasted sharply with the other gum trees around them.

As we made our way home we stopped to watch a helicopter and passengers taking a flying lesson. HMAS Albotros is right near Parma Rd. as well and of course the navy has to train piots somewhere lol.

Tianjara Falls......

Late last year J and I were on route to Canberra when we stopped to take a look at Tianjara Falls. They were a simple little falls approximately 40 kms south east of Nowra. Tianjara Falls is on the Yarramunmun Creek in the Turpentine Ranges. The falls occur where Tianjara Creek drops off the plateau into the valley below. There is a lookout there, with a small section that protudes over the cliff and lets you look straight down to the forest below. I thought they were a nice enough natural falls in amongst Moreton National Park and we enjoyed our visit.

Following the severe rains of the past few days J and I decided to take a quick trip down there and see the difference in the volume of water passing over the falls.
What a surprize we got upon arrival......the water was spurting over the escarpment and down into the valley. The roaring noise was wonderful and so much water was still running that through the trees on the valley floor we could see a veritable river, all formed by the flooding of the national park surrounding it. We could not see where the water led on to because of the numerous banksias and spiky grass trees, the entire valley encased in rugged natural bushland; it was beautiful. Worth every kilometerof the drive; I hope that my photos do it justice.

Its raining its pouring......

The rain continued today, by 2pm we had had 200mm of rain since 9am. Water lay everywhere and many streets were flooded to the point of bringing the traffic to a stand still. A large number of homes were evacuated on the south coast although HMAS Cresswell was not disturbed. We lost power for a very short time but life and work went on anyway. The rain pelted down in deafening torrents and several times I stopped to make sure that we had not sprung a leak. At the end of the day J and I decided to call by Falls Creek to see what difference the torrential rains had made there. Now Falls Creek often has a trickle of water running down but certainly not much more than that. It sits half way between home at Callala and Jervis Bay Road. The rain water from local falls runs to this point then into a creek and eventually out to sea. However, with this exceptional water fall today the water came from all directions to Falls Creek creating a swirling magnivicent natural water course. One could not hear yourself thinking with the noise but it was wonderful to watch. The flash flooding swept through the national park at such a rate the by the time the water hit Falls Creek it was deafening. I shot a few photos and J and I had a short walk around before we decided to head home. I am in awe of mother nature's strength at her most daunting and amazed that at the same time there can be such beauty becausef it.

Sunday all day......

I woke up to pouring rain this morning, the water poured down onto the tin roof top and rolled on down the walls on the outside of the house. It soaked through the trees that stand in line with the front verandah and drenched everything in it's path. The sheets of rain hammered down the road almost white in colour and the noise was deafening; sheets of rain so thick that I couldn't see anything. Over at the beach it rolled down the shoreline from the south and dumped huge torrents of rain along the sand. The water in the bay became extremely choppy and dark grey. In fact it rained for several hours and afterwards everything smelled wonderfully clean and fresh. When I am at work I can often smell the rain before it arrives and the humidity rises to meet the grey clouds, that can be seen everywhere almost like a mist. Here at home those first few drops remind me of some puppies running along a tiled floor, their weightless paws tapping on the floor. I love the sounds of the rain.

I have found that one of the positives of living in a raised house is that I can peg the clothes on the line under the house and in rain, hail or shine they continue to dry, which is what is hapening now. I think this will be a DVD day and some time to finish my latest book.

Love You 'till The End

I just want to see you
When you’re all alone
I just want to catch you if I can
I just want to be there
When the morning light explodes
On your face it radiates
I can’t escape
I love you ’till the end

I just want to tell you nothing
You don’t want to hear
All I want is for you to say
Why don’t you just take me
Where I’ve never been before
I know you want to hear me
Catch my breath
I love you ’till the end

I just want to be there
When we’re caught in the rain
I just want to see you laugh not cry
I just want to feel you
When the night puts on it’s cloak
I’m lost for words don’t tell me
All I can say
I love you ’till the end

For all of the candles that you lit

For all the dinners that you loveingly prepared

and for all your thoughtfulness

....love you till the end

The Beauty of the Bay.............

Cresswell has to be one of the most beautiful places that I have seen and each day or change in the weather changes every facet of the landscape. Sapphire blue seas can become raging grey waves and beautiful green lawns quickly after, turn into wind swept brown foliage. The slightest change can be dramatic beyond imagination.

But on a good day the seaside is lovely. Today I stood at the water's edge and looked at the varying colours of Jervis Bay and each time a cloud moved so did the changes in clour of the water. Emerald greens, royal blues, aqua blues and soft hues.

The calm waters sparkled and appeared almost magical as the sun moved across the bay. One can watch the graceful movements of the birdlife as pelicans, sea eagles, honeyeaters and crimson rosellas fly about. Its beautiful and very protected by those that live by. These photos do not do the area justice.

Black Cockattos.......

In amongst the incredible diversity of wildlife here at Jervis Bay is one of my favourites…the Black Cockatoo. At present there have been a lot of yellow tailed black cockatoos around Booderee National Park. J and I can always hear them before we see them coming as their squeal is quite unique in contrast to a white cockatoo who shrieks. They are such a huge majestic bird with a large body. Its plumage is mostly black with body feathers edged in yellow. They appear out of nowhere calling to one another while looking for food. Because Cresswell is surrounded entirely by a national park there is plenty for them to feed on especially seeds and pinecones. The pinecones that J and I have watched them feeding from are almost completely black and have a burned-out look about them. It is fascinating to watch them fly as their wings appear to flap slowly as though they are weightless for such a huge bird. They must have been around here forever because when we are on route to Nowra we pass a sign that says the word Nowra means Black Cockatoo in Aboriginal dialects.
Now this afternoon J and I were at Vincentia shopping center when something caught my eye; at first I thought that it was a kite. It was in the shape of a hawke, with a wing span of approx. one meter wide and had striped feathers on its wings. I called to J and pointed to where the bird was when I realized that it was a real bird, flying low as though it were ready to swoop and pick up its prey. It did not flap its wings but rather glided on the wind as though it were a plane rather than a bird. I stood mesmerized for quite some time when it landed in a tree top and simply sat there. I could see its hooked beak and striped wing feathers, Nowwwww I have another favourite.