The end of March passed quietly with work and a few more leisurely beach walks, associated coral admiration and octopus soccer games.  Fly outbreaks are coming more frequently, always way worse when we've forgotten our head nets.  We just have to be grateful that they do go as well as come, and when they don't bite, you do kinda get used to them.  Recently the bitey ones have been making an appearance, which is a right old nuisance and not so easy to get used to.  We're still working on the best strategies.  We've been in the Pilbara for 6 months now, but we're a ..read more

Peter returned safely from his jaunt back to New Zealand.  All was well at the ranch, and he managed to catch up with the boys while he was there.  It was quite a hot week there too, so he didn't suffer in the chill of a Marlborough summer!  The Pilbara is definitely showing signs of a seasonal change - shorter days, lots of evening thunderstorms and lightening, day temperatures generally hovering around 33 degrees, occasional rain showers.  When we drove to Karratha last week, there was water in the previously dry riverbeds and even a few small pocke ..read more

Peter went back to Onamalutu a few days ago, so I'm getting on with Hedland life on my lonesome for the first time right now.  I was working in Karratha last week after dropping him off at the airport, and was on standby to go to Onslow for the weekend.  Cyclone Lincoln was threatening to make landfall just west of Karratha, but ended up tracking further south west around Carnarvon.  There are no midwives in the small health facility in Onslow, and there was concern that the changing air pressures could pop some waters and push a few pregnant women into labour.  I'm a bit ..read more

We welcomed 2024 in style from party central (i.e. in bed asleep).  It was hot hot hot and we didn’t want to risk driving anywhere that would be too awful if we broke down - that’s nearly everywhere unfortunately.  There is so little shade anywhere, especially out on the open road.   Humidity has also picked up, and that adds another level of unpleasantness.  Luckily we have Pretty Pool beach on our doorstep and other beaches in Port Hedland, so staying at home is really not so bad!  We're still taking our daily evening walk and there’s always lots to see.  ..read more

  We’re settling more into the rhythm of life here in Hedland. Work takes up a big chunk of my time of course, but no other commitments mean that life’s not too hard. Not really even any housework (Peter’s domain these days). We head out for a beach walk most days – plenty of walkable options round here, and several more a short drive away along Cemetery Beach or elsewhere in Port Hedland. We take the tide into account when we choose our route – high tide usually means a walk in the waves, with or without a little fishing, whereas low tide allows us to do some ro ..read more

                  It's nearly 7 weeks into our Australian venture, and crikey that time has flown!  So much to learn about the complex health system here, with its public, private and Aboriginal providers.  Port Hedland is starting to feel a little bit like home, especially as I've spent much of November traveling around WA - Karratha, Perth and inland to Newman, Tom Price, Paraburdoo and Karijini.  Peter has been able to come with me (except to Perth), encouraged by my employer, WACHS, as his presence adds to my safety alon ..read more

                                                   Manchester greeted us with its usual grey skies and rain.  At the time, we never suspected that England was about to enter a heatwave and we'd be #sunburntinYorkshire.  Ann picked us up from the airport, driving to Oughtibridge through some familiar and lovely northern scenery.  She hosted us beautifully for a few days while we de-jetlagged, feeding us with some particularly special delicacies like ..read more

                                                               Here we are on the eve of our departure, and I'm hammering out the last blog.  Not last minute or anything.  We're pretty much packed and that huge list of pre-departure tasks has been ticked off, along with several other jobs that we didn't know needed to be done.  Farewells have been sobbed and lots of alcohol drunk in the name of celebration.  Li ..read more

Wintering down has been happening, despite the winter curve balls of shorter days with some dodgy weather.  Can't complain though.  Europe is experiencing a massive heat wave and we're finally having a run of sunny fresh blue-sky days after lots of wet wet wet.  I'm trying to enjoy the chilly mornings, log fire evenings and long soaks in a hot bath as these'll be a dim and distant memory soon enough.                                                   ..read more

 Lots has been happening in the last 2 months, very little of it related to lifestyle blocking.  Nick's worsening health in the UK meant that I made a decision to return to ole Blighty to spend some time with him.  I flew out at Easter and stayed for the rest of April.  Mostly I stayed with mum and Nick, with a brief break in Yorkshire.  April's blog was duly abandoned.                                                     &n ..read more