Easter long weekend

Well the Easter break is the only 4-day weekend of the year; provided you don't work bank holidays. And here almost everyone (especially retail) do! This is a cultural thing for us I guess, but many businesses make the most of the LONG weekend and close right through. No sale of alcohol on Good Friday and the fish markets are over run in the run up. Just not really traditions we are used too. I think Easter is almost as big a deal here as Christmas, or in some cases more so.

But after a few years, we were expecting this, so it gave us plenty of time to get on with a few jobs around the smallholding.

A bit of Autumn cleaning? Well we definitely gave the living areas, fans, vents etc a good clean. This is something I associate with the clocks changing (in the UK). Which was this Sunday- guess this is from my Nan... or my Dad. But then it would be 'Spring cleaning', but as the seasons are reversed here, I guess it would be Autumn cleaning... either way the house needed it, following the long, humid, damp wet season...so now it looks a lot fresher.

It's a little strange, as I guess we prepare for the winter here as we did the summer in the UK. As we actually use the outside more, and are relieved to be free, after weeks/months cooped up from the weather.

The garden had a bit of an Autumn clean up too. The patio and furniture was jet washed, the lawn is low and strimmed; though we desperately need a new stimmer/ whipper snipper- one of the things we could not get this weekend.

Most of the beds in the veg patch are weeded and mulched. I even put up a shade over the one garden bed and fenced almost all of it off- to stop the free ranging chooks from eating all my seedlings! Having the garden beds fenced off, should mean they are safe from the dogs too- so hopefully I can finally plant those Rhubarb seeds; Rhubarb leaves are highly poisonous, to humans and most animals. So I haven't been game to plant them... just in case- not sure I would forgive myself.

We put up the temporary fencing along the back garden. So the birds now have more room in the day, but cannot get to the rest of the back garden... in a hope that the lawn will grow back. It hasn't really recovered following the tank moving last year and it's already looking better. Now the birds are not eating the shoots as soon as they make it through the soil!

Sunday we headed out in the boat. As it was smooth and the winds were supposed to be good; Ideal conditions for a small vessel like ours in open water, so we set off... Every man and his dog, must have had the same idea, and no one appeared to be catching, just moving from spot to spot. So we cut our losses and headed back and take our chances in the creek instead.

This paid off- Some mighty muddies!

Madogs first Boat trip

So this weekend we had a bonus long weekend- for the Queens jubilee we had a seconds Queens birthday holiday. Though next year the Queensland government are looking into exchanging this date for either the other Queens birthday (usually in June) or Labour Day, as this is held in May in Qld but on the first Monday of October in many other states. So to make the most of the weekend we hooked up the tinny, packed up the swag and camping gear and headed off to Kinchant dam with the dogs.

 Intention was to try and catch 'red claw' and work out the logistics of having the dog with us onboard. The red claw are a fresh water crayfish. Very tasty and something Matt had tried whilst on his bush trip. He had read of people catching them there, but mostly this dam is used by waterski and jetski enthusiasts. though you do get the odd angler who nabs a Barra. So we sorted ourselvs ot with a fresh water permit and some pots. To give it a try.

 It was Madogs first boat trip. Ffion has been out to sea a few times, both on a camping trip as a pup and on our ‘old’ boat (though it was quite a bit larger). So she is quite familiar with the water and is quite happy as a sea-dog. I think introducing Madog to this process on smoother waters was a good idea; as he’s a pretty big dog for a not so large vessel! Though he did like the wind in his face, and took quite a liking to the crab pot floats, though he resisted the temptation to jump overboard.

Hopefully on our next outing we will actually catch some dinner. But all in all a lovely day on the water, followed by a camp dinner, a sleepless night (due to others on the campsite)  and an early morning dog walk around the deserted dam a dawn. Least this way the dogs could have a run and a paddle.

No fish but lovely day

Well we took the tinny for its first run. We almost landed a beautiful travelly before we'd even finished setting up the rods. Unfortunately that was to be the only bite of the day... other than that we definitely caught the sun!



Rockie



Before we set off on our maiden voyage aboard Fred & Barnie (told you I wasn't sure abou the name) we dropped Rockie and Ronnie off for their show debut- Will update tomorrow on how they went.

Ronnie



We also had a few more arrivals. But so far 2 ducklings from the borrowed incubator, first to pip had done little more. Poor thing had dried up and was stuck to the dhell. So again broke the rules and helped with the hatching. Unfortunately no signs of anymore.
Also potted my first batch of Augusts seeds. And planted out the strawberry plants and did a little weeding- nearly pulled a few out before realising I had beetroot and fennel coming! So not weeds at all!





Poor duckling had dried up in the shell

Fish finder bought and fitted

Fish finder purchased and fitted... now to see whether it tells the truth

TInny hunt continues this evening

Well the search for a tinny continues, but I'm rather excited by this evenings viewing. Fingers crossed it’s on good nick, unlike most of those we’ve seen so far. Especially since it will be a 250km round trip to see it... am not sure about the name either.

The idea that I am searching for a smaller boat is probably more amusing when you consider I suffer from seasickness. Not so much on larger vessels, but smaller crafts and/or rough seas and in Matt's words I'm a "gone-a".

Now don't get me wrong this is not a flash new boat, the hull is nearly ass old as me, though the trailer and the motor are quite a bit younger. But this fulfils a promise I made to Matt when we bought this place. I said we'd (hopefully) be able to buy a (reasonably priced) tinny by the end of this year to compensate for his loss. As a tinny would be more practical than a bigger vessel; such as the one we sold to buy this place. 

Our cuddy-cab (we sold last year)

One of the appeals of living in North Queensland is the barrier reef and the amazing fish varieties and clear waters. So not surprisingly the Mackay Region has one of the largest boat ownership rates per capita in Australia. And was one of our more "extravagant purchases" since living here. Not in that it was pricey or flash and as I have pointed out around here it's not really "extravagant", as everyman and his dog has one (of some size or description)... it's part of the lifestyle. I guess it's just extravagant in that it's not a necessity. I guess before moving here I would never have thought of owning a boat, or of myself as fisherman but now I think I would find one anywhere. Just for the experiences, let alone the freshest, free food!

Trip to Carlisle/Brampton Island

  

Our previous boat was a 20 year old cuddy cab, but she was neat and served us well; enjoying many sunny days on the sea, fishing, snorkelling etc. Even with my seasickness; which I wasn't aware I suffered from until we bought her.  But Matt made the ultimate sacrifice to buy this place. So this is something I have aimed to repay.

Previous-prawn hall

Now a tinny by definition is not a cuddy cab, but a boat like the old one would not be as practical where we are. Here there are amazing creeks and small boat ramps, perfect for a smaller craft and for fishing, prawning and crabbing.  Not that crabbing has been something we have had a great deal of success with in the past- most we had ever caught was a six pack of beer! Most would have been happy with that, but it was Gold and it would have been our first catch- am guessing it was worth while too, since they left anything at all!



Previous catch



 

Previous catch

Will let you know how tonight’s viewing goes...fingers crossed we'll be on the water soon.