Baby Koala

Just a year old, how cute is that! 

Koala

 

More Platypus

The platypus eat yabbies, a small bright green freshwater crayfish. They are fed live to them in the tank. 

Another Ambition Achieved

In July, I travelled to Melbourne with work. Tracy followed me out a week later. I have always wanted to see the duck-billed platypus and they had several at the Healesville Sanctuary wildlife park. 

Tracy Driving the Joy-Mobile

 

View From the Ridge

This is one of my favourite views. The hut is at the foot of the mountain on the right and across the river. 

Don't tell The General!

We managed to get the Joy-mobile across the river and up onto the ridge.

Group Photo

Back row (left to right): Pete, Dan, Alex, Dougal, Garry, Steve, Terry, Trevor, Brian and Me.

Front row (left to right): Belinda, Erin, Islay, General Joy, Carol, Barbara and Tracy.

Touchdown

After re-entry the rocket buried itself a couple of inches into the ground with a satisfying thud. 

The New Zealand Space Program

Terry (on the right) brought his compressed air and water powered rocket launcher. We made the rockets out of drinks bottles and used a bycycle pump to fuel them. 

Keeping Warm 2

Inside the fire was roaring. We listened to the All Blacks vs the Lions on the shortwave radio. The All Blacks stuffed the Lions. 

Snug

 

Target Practice

After several beers, what could be better than a bit of target practice with a pump action shotgun. 

Keeping Warm

The clear skies were replaced by snow. That's Tracy, Brian and Barbara stood round the brazier.

On the Way Down

That's the hut at the bottom of the picture. As we climbed down the weather changed. In the space of a minute, the crisp, still air suddenly gave way to a bitterly, cold southerly. 

Avoca Valley

Midwinter xmas in the Avoca valley. This is the view on the way down from Lake Lillian. The weather was perfect. 10 minutes later a southerly hit and it snowed all afternoon and evening.

Team Photo, Avoca Valley

From left to right: Brian, Pete, Belinda, Barbara, Islay, Carol, General Joy, Trevor, Tracy and Terry.

Torville and Dean

Only better looking. General Joy had a fit because we all went skating. 

Lake Lillian

A beautiful spot. The lake was frozen. 

Ice

I found this hanging above a babbling brook on the way up to Lake Lillian. 

A Post Breakfast Stroll

 

Breakfast

Suasage, bacon and eggs cooked on the barbie, beans warmed on top of the log-burner. Eaten outdoors on a frosty winters morning and all washed down with a couple of cold Speights, yum! 

Midwinter Xmas, Avoca Valley

Another trip to the Avoca Valley, this time for midwinter xmas.

Sculpture, Wellington

Hills near Twizel

Tracy's dad took me fly fishing. Did not catch anything but the autumn colours made for some good photographs.