Alroy Downs

In the weekend I was able to get out and see a bit more of the station. It is just sooo massive! Its the end of the wet season now so everything is drying up again. I got to see a lot of the cattle and experience the heat out in the wide open spaces! Here are a few pics...

This is a baby black python that was just hanging out in the back of the trailor...

Hi Kermit

Just found this guy in my bathroom!

Cowgirl in the making

As I get ready for station life I've been taken out to Delany's to stock up! I now have boots for riding, work shirts and jeans. Now all I need is a belt and a hat! 

Possums are a pest?

Last night while I was sitting out on the deck with the kids eating our dinner, something quite unusual happened. We were talking about all the different creatures and living things that I might meet when I get to the station when I noticed something move in the background. It was dark by this stage but straight away I called out (in a bit of disgust) "oh look its a possum!" (I was about to add "where's the gun" - lucky I didn't!) Straight away they all stopped talking and all tried to be really quiet as they crept to the edge of the balcony to see it. Hunter, who's nine, looked at me and whispered "I've never seen a possum in my whole life!". This is coming from a kid who has seen EVERYTHING in the outback. I couldn't believe it!

Thunderstorms and tropical cyclones!

Its been an interesting week weather wise in Darwin with extreme thunderstorms! On Friday night the thunderstorm was directly above the house and happened in the night. There were two massive claps of thunder that were so loud, I jumped about half a metre off my bed! The rain then continued to pour and pour. The heavy rain and the king tide meant that there was too much water for the storm drains to handle and the bottom floor of the house got flooded! We had to top some of the couches over to help dry them out! Last night we went and had dinner by the beach and I took this picture of our view over Darwin harbour...

School, School, SCHOOL!

I have met the kids - they are awesome! I have also been into the school at Katherine and met the teachers which I was very lucky about. They are very organised. All the students have set tasks for each subject that they have to complete each day/week. They then scan and upload their activities to their dropbox account so their teacher can see their progress. They have certain assignments that they have to complete every few weeks that go towards their final grades. Each day they link in to a virtual classroom where they can see their teacher while they give them a lesson. Its all really cool!

As I was a bit late getting here we are a few weeks behind but we are all working hard to get back on track.

Darwin is still VERY hot! 

En route to Katherine

So I'm currently making my way down the Stuart Highway from Darwin to Katherine. I wasn't able to buy a vehicle in the end as there's not a lot around. I'm meeting the family in Katherine so I'm getting excited about that. I'm seeing a lot of road trains on the road! I'll try and get a pic of one... Haven't seen any wildlife yet but no doubt I will soon...