New Blog

Hi

If this is the first time you've looked at this Blog I have to apologise but I won't be adding much in the future as I am now living back in Perth, so Goodbye Kalgoorlie.

But for those of you who would still like to know what I am up to, have a look at my new Blog....

www.lyndaturk2.blogspot.com " Perth and Surrounds......"

Hopefully it will give you a bit of an insight into living in a small city in Australia. Of course I am not a teenager and being a single woman can't promise too many sport stories or the like, but you may find something that interests you.

Cheers Lynda

Thank You Goldfields

To all the people I met in the Goldfields I'd like to say a huge

THANK YOU

for giving me a fascinating insight into life in a Goldfields' town.

Certainly I didn't get to experience all that Kalgoorlie has to offer, but then I am not a twenty something miner and apparently there are a lot of them in Kal. I did however, get to meet many different and interesting people from all walks of life. The mainly transient nature of the population makes it a true melting pot. I met Sudanese, Americans, Kiwis by the bucket load, Germans, South Africans and their Zimbabwean cousins, Thai, many Brits and Aussies from every part of Australia.

It seems they all came for the same reason, a better life, or the where with all to make one. Mining is lucrative, especially when the economy is booming. Some come for a year or two and end up staying twenty or more, others leave within six months vowing never to return.

I don't really fall into either category. Mine was only an eight month contract. I always knew that I would return home at Christmas. As I say in my profile I live a very comfortable life here in Perth. But I'm sure one day I will once more head up the Great Eastern Highway and wend my way back to old Kalgoorlie.

Journey home

Knowing that this was probably my last trip this way for sometime, I stopped to take a look at a sign that had intrigued me. The Rabbit Proof fence was constructed early last century to keep rabbits out of the West. I think anyone who knows anything about rabbits could have told them it would not work........but the legacy remains.

Leaving Town.

The last evenings were spent packing, cleaning and catching up with friends..........It was very, very busy and at times I was very, very grumpy.



These pictures were taken from the same hotel I stayed in when I first arrived. It seems I had come full circle.

Last days

It was also my last evening in Kalgoorlie. My friend, Jo and I picked up our last pieces of pottery..........and believe me we were both pleased with the results.



Thursday was my last day at school.

Carols By Candlelight

I think most Aussie kids would take the memory of, " Carols By Candlelight". into their adult lives. It's something that I can remember taking my son and Mum to for quite a few years. So when I saw it advertised at Centennial Park last week I persuaded a friend of mine to go along. We weren't disappointed.

A Jewel in the Midst

Hammond Park is just that. I haven't visited before simply because, "Dogs are not allowed". Too many other creatures call, Hammond Park, home and Chardy would certainly make them feel less than welcome.

Unlike most parks in and around Kalgoorlie, this park has a European feel. It has roses growing along side the eucalypts and peacocks strut their stuff together with the doves and magpie larks.

The gardens are well tended, and there is a cute little kiosk serving all manner of snack foods.
Play equipment for the littlies is well used. I even spotted a cricket game being played.

Cocktails Anyone?

Cocktail Party a great success.

Finger food,
complements
the evening.



From the balcony of, "The York" a breathtaking sunset.

Silly Season

Yes, it is the silly season and here we are the, "Silly Ones".

Some of the staff of KPS about to prove that it doesn't need too much talent to put on a show.

After the kids had entertained us, we danced to, "Timewarp", the classic from the,"Rocky Horror Show".

And our stage....yep that low loader you see in the background.

A Day Off

A most unusual occurrence . I actually had a day off.

The Packers, after having me on tenterhooks, turned up just after 12 midday.

It took them just under an hour to pack my bric a brac. I am not taking any actual furniture, except the bed, back with me. The rest I'm giving back to the Sally Army.

Lunch with a good friend at the, Hoover Cafe, was next on the agenda. It was my first visit to this eatery and I was very impressed with the decor.

Next on the agenda was a trip to the local rubbish tip. I had to take all those, 'dead' electrical items. My day finished with my penultimate pottery session.

I wonder if I'll manage to sleep on the airbed.

Quick info

• Packers in tomorrow.....
  

• Insurance paid out on the electrical stuff that blew
  

• Police came and had a look at the flyscreen frame.........

Almost didn't make it.......

On their way home............I'm very late!

St Barbara's Parade, held annually just before Christmas.

The biggest parade through town and I missed it, well almost. How? well who knows. I just didn't get there in time for all the tinsel and glitter......but I did manage to catch the main attractions.

A salute to mining, the reason Kalgoorlie exists. These huge trucks were the stars of the show and if BIG TRUCKS are your thing click on the video.

Breakin??

First Attempt
Was it an attempted break in?

Well it certainly looks as though it might have been.

The flyscreen on my bedroom window has been bent. I didn't notice it when I first got home, but then I did have my hands full of stuff and had other things on my mind.

It looks as if, whoever, tried two different places to loosen the screen. I'm not sure why they didn't continue, but it could have been because of my large, cream dog. Hopefully Chardy wasn't too sure what was going on and decided to give voice.

I know he's very gentle, but he's big and well who knows what he would do if he became nervous.

The local police have said they'll patrol the area just in case, but hopefully the perpetrator/s have decided the place isn't worth the bother. Well let's be honest it isn't......I don't have anything here.

Meeting

I saw her in the dim light of the courtyard as I pulled in.

A smiling, bespectacled figure, standing at the entrance.

Parking the car, I climbed out and walked two steps towards my unit.

"Excuse me", a slight pause, "have you ever locked yourself out of your unit?"

Turning, I replied "No. Is that what you've done?"

"Yes", was the somewhat sheepish response.

And so I met my new neighbours, Cathy, and her friend, Molly, who appeared a minute or so later. Between them they explained how they had heard the fireworks and stepped out to see what the noise was and the front door closed behind them.

I did the neighbourly thing and asked them in for a drink, then drove them to where a second set of keys had been sent via the estate agent.

Christmas at the Rep

It's an annual event.








Theatre restaurant at the Rep.

Especially written for the Kalgoorlie Boulder audience, the musical was full of funny one liners.

Pre dinner drinks were served in the foyer prior to the show.



Most of the cast were in this number.







Guys in, "Drag", well it is Christmas after all.







Then there was the audience, "Sing Off".

Great fun was had by one and all, except I did end up wearing a glass of red wine.

Christmas comes to the Goldfields

Day time view

On Thursday evening I met some friends and we watched the Christmas Tree in St Barbara's
Square light up. For the hundreds of children there it was obviously very special and there were lots of Ooohs and Ahhs. Not too sure if the dogs were enjoying it as much.



Fireworks too.........

Olive Oil Anyone?

Food, wine and good company........
what more do you need for a mid week boost.


Everyone knows the good oil...Olive

and I, along with a number of others, were invited along for a sampling of some delicious products.

Not only food, but skin products that were as smooth as the oil it came from and reasonably priced.

They make great Chrissy presents.

W A made no less. How could I go wrong?

Spot the Difference

Before and After shots.....can you tell?

Organizing the photos drives me mad...they keep moving.

This is another view of Lake Ballard. I think the artist captured the vastness of it all.
Tree theme ...

Sunday was better.

AGM - Eastern Goldfield's Committee Members
After the brief meeting dogs and owners were treated to games and a BBQ breakfast...........

In the afternoon I went to the Boulder Town Hall.


Curtain adorning the stage of the Boulder Town Hall

I was there to see an Art Exhibition that is held annually. It highlights budding artists in the district as well as, well known local identities.

Wet Saturday

Rain and reports .. delightful!

When nothing happens, it's boring.....

I like to think that when things don't go to plan.......it stops the Boooring from taking over.

Why else would my request for my furniture to be moved back to Perth fail to get approval.

"I can't understand how I missed yours", was the oh so sweet comment from the lady at the other end of the phone. Hopefully she has now sent the appropriate email.

I guess I've been around long enough to know to check up on these things. Lucky I did....

Oh and yes, I will continue to do that until they pick the stuff up..........I hope it isn't one.




My Chardy is feeling a bit sick. He has got one of those awful, 'hotspots', that his breed is subject too. He has a large, weeping sore just below his jaw. Ahhhhh

A visit to the vets was on this afternoon's agenda. Antibiotics is the go and I've also booked him in for a clip and shampoo, (photos will be posted) as the hot weather which disappeared last week, will soon be back with avenge ons.

The Pub down the road

Just a walk down the road to the local pub, "The Piccadilly Hotel".

Still potting

Yes, I'm still going to Pottery on Monday nights. I may not be turning (that's a pottery pun) into a real potter, but I am laughing and having fun.

Let's face it that's what it's all about!

Hen's Party ....

The STAR of the show LIANA

and her entourage...............

These are the tame ones!

Early.......

My first Christmas cards.



For decorative Northern Hemisphere Christmas preparations have a look at two of the sites I've listed .....

No Use Crying.....

" The Culprits"

More woes........

Most of this week my car has smelt like a brewery.....no I mean a winery, a red winery!

On Saturday evening I had taken a bottle of, "Dolcetto & Syrah" a sweet, sparkling red to the party. It hadn't been opened and lay on the floor in the back of my car.

"Oh no! the bottle's broken," I thought when I opened my car on Monday morning. In fact the cork had removed itself and lay in a pool of wine a centimetre or two away from the neck of the bottle.

I am assuming the bubbly, bubbled away during the heat of Sunday and nature took its course.

Luckily I had a thick wad of sheeting on the floor which absorbed most of the red liquid, and the smell, well to be honest I like a glass of red, so it wasn't too bad.

Then on Wednesday evening for no apparent reason, my new printer died. Just another thing I will have to replace, along with the other four or five electrical items littering the spare room.

Jacarandas

Splashes of purple everywhere. The trees lift the skyline with their beauty.

Congratulations Rochelle & Travis

Engaged!


The happy couple put on a great Engagement Party to which all and sundry were invited, (or at least turned up) .....hence my appearance.

The evening began early and went on till late.

Lots turned up from all walks of life. Predominantly chalkies, but there were also actors, miners and the odd media representative.
All mixed happily at this weekend event.

It's Official

I will be leaving the Goldfields in December and heading home for a real sea change. My new school will have ocean breezes to cool it down.

Balzano Barrow Race

Runners and walkers of all shapes and sizes covered some 25kms this morning, pushing barrows.

It was the annual, Balzano Barrow Race. Some ran as teams, the more hardy (or should that be foolhardy) ran the whole way themselves pushing a barrow.

Balzano, an old Italian prospector from Kalgoorlie's vibrant past, recorded his life in the Goldfields' in a journal. The race is a celebration of all those prospectors who did it the hard way, pushing barrows from one end of the Goldfields to the other and back again. Balzano may not have been the most successful prospector, but he left a legacy that is still remembered today.