Still bouncing around Aussie land…
Got a down day yesterday, and spent the day with Julie, her family and Shooting Buddy, sadly I wasn’t able to catch up with any of the other WA shooters. Miss 12 was participating in a fire run competition, being run by the WA Fire and Rescue service (thank you for the hat too).
Now a bit of explanation is due here…
This is the rural fire rescue departments spread throughout Western Australia (one team came from 1200 miles away); and consists of junior and senior auxiliaries. Basically the juniors ages 11-16 are taught how to make up/break down fire hoses and equipment and compete in various evolutions both as individuals and two person teams. They don’t get to drive trucks (although they all probably could); the senior group does get to perform evolutions WITH the fire trucks.
When you consider how ‘rural’ WA is, hell MOST of Australia is, teaching youngsters how to assist the fire brigades only makes sense. I was impressed with the kids from all the teams, not a single one ever gave up, NOT A SINGLE ONE! Even if they were dead last, they ALL completed the evolution…
This goes to the determination these kids have to excel and is also a tribute to those volunteers who mentor and train them. Also, I never saw ANY bad sportsmanship!
After the day of watching the kids run their asses off, we met up in Frio for dinner. On the way there, I saw this, and couldn’t resist posting this for Roberta X!
It’s a low-rider bike! Somebody obviously put a LOT of time into this one, and worked hard to give it a ‘rat rod’ look…
And the ‘headlight’ is from early 1900’s and is a Carbide Lamp!
And there was FOOD!
I didn’t go for any of the ‘game’ dishes, since I don’t care for Roo (although Julie claims it’s good), Buffalo (had it), Crocodile (had Gator), and the birds were too damn small… So I stuck with good old fashioned steak!
The food was excellent, the service… well…
It was a good day all the way around, even if I did have to get up way too early to get to the airport for the next leg, and missed a shotgun shoot at the club today.
And Julie and her hubby BOTH tried to explain Cricket to me… But I give up… BORING… 🙂
Sounds like you are having a good day or two of low-stress and good people.
Laughed at the reference to “Frio” – I briefly lived in WA late 80’s and finally had to get a local to translate where the heck “Frio” was (since I couldn’t find it the map). Should have guessed it was an Aussie-ism for Fremantle.
Pax 🙂
Next time we’re together, remind me to tell you about “The Worst Vegetarian Restaurant” in Adelaide…
Safe travels, as always…
I was wondering if you’d get a chance to meet up with Julie and the family.
That’s great. Now go study the Cricket rule book.
I find it quite interesting to watch.
Travels always seem to introduce new foods which aren’t quite palatable to the traveler; guess you have to have grown up with some of these things.
Sounds like good times on your end, though.
Australia is on my bucket list. I hope to make it there one of these days.
My Dad always talked about what good people they are, and how friendly everybody is.
Good to hear you’re getting a little time off down there, and it sounds like they’re doing a hell of a good job raising their kids!
Pax- Don’t feel bad, I had to ask too! 😉
WN- Looking forward to it…
Skul- Mostly like watching paint dry LOL
Rev- Yep, good times!
drjim- They are and the parents are doing GREAT jobs by and large!
I didn’t know you COULD explain cricket… I thought it was just something like a genetic disorder you were born with.
Cricket is easy to understand.
Just like the Americans tweaked the rules and made a 60 minute game of football last three+ hours, the British tweaked the rules and made a three hour game of baseball last five days.
See? Simple!
It was great to catch up with you again Jim.
And just to let you know we did end up getting quite a good discount from the restaurant because of the “service”. (I didn’t even ask for it!).
Now next time, please don’t come on a weekend where we’re all tied up and I’ll take you out hunting!
PH- LOL
Sendarius- LOL, sorry I missed you sir!
Julie- Good news, and you’re on! 😀
Sounds like y’all had a good time. Australia is one of the places Irish Woman and I need to go visit, should we ever have the funds and time with no kids.
DB- It’s worth the trip!
I don’t get the game of Cricket either. Its so boring, I’m amazed that 1/2 the players on the field are facing the right direction . . .
I’m obviously missing something though.
But now they have 1 day and even shorter cricket matches. When I’m there and get a refresher I can sort of understand it. Always thought some of their better batsmen should try baseball, if you can hit that bouncing, spinning thing, a curve should be a piece of cake. My friends use it as background noise and glance at the score occasionally. Only Roo I’ve had was heavily marinated but stood up to severe overcooking quite well.