A Winter's Tale

It's early evening in Charleville, the sun's dropping, and a damp chill is settling in.

We've had a front move through after a brief storm at Tambo yesterday, and it will be crisp tomorrow.

Charleville's a great base to work from to access Cunnamulla, Quilpie, Augathella and Tambo, and I seem to be spending a lot of time here lately.

I reckon I could live here, but would probably appreciate an alternative for a month or two at the height of summer. A donga by the sea at Carmilla beach would probably do the trick.

Wasn't that all the go at the height of the Raj?

Except that the alternatives were hill stations, and they came with Wallahs of all kinds. I'd not be comfortable with a Wallah, but someone to do the ironing would be good - not my bride - she deserves a break from that also.

It's been a good trip. Bush kids are inspirational, and they keep me on my toes.

I just wish these same toes (and other parts of my ageing anatomy) were better at keeping up with me. I'm finding getting down on the floor (essential with pre-schoolers) is not as easy as it used to be.

To be precise, it's the getting up again that's the problem.

We missed the transit of the F111 from Roma to Longreach yesterday. I'm buggered if I know how we managed that - it was 4 metres wide.

Dunno why they didn't fly it from Amberley to Darwin whilst it was still airworthy.