The Terowie Tin Men of SA
This is an amazing site (sight) !! just driving along in the middle of nearly nowhere when a field full of tin men suddenly appeared !!! Must have taken lots of hard work making and installing this lot.Further down the road is the ghostly town ( heritage listed) an will describe a litttle bit more in my next blog ( with pictures of course)
Getting a Ghost Writer ( BRIAN )
This is my new “Ghost Writer” who will be filling in for a few days while I go down to the pub Hope he does OK
he will be doing next blog
Peterborough & Trains & Blacksmiths
This town is a fascinating look at times gone by when around 100 trains a day used to go thru (now around eight) The museum is a must see and hands on exhibits include trains & carriages of days long gone.In the complex is a HUGE circular roundabout and could turn a dozen trains on track very easily !! I found out where the local (retired) Blacksmith lived and gave him a visit.Hes an expat from Newcastle UK ( Geordie Colin ) and a very talented man He made HUGE signposts of metal model trains ( Photographed) & lots of wrought iron work he had hand made( I related to all of his chat because of my own training as a wrought iron blacksmith) The stay was very pleasant ( I was also informed at this Town that my Australian pension had been approved & back dated to August 1 !!) The next Blog will give details of our visit to a “Ghost Town”
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Blacksmith Shop in Melrose
this was a quaint little town ( SA seems to have a lot of them) and the Blacksmith Shop took me back to my youth The pictures taken here are reminiscent of my apprentice days at Marton Forge in Blackpool (owner George has just retired & left the Forge exactly as it was) we are currently looking around Orooroo in SA the pub is very friendly & the Campsite owner is a lovely loke & runs a very clean & cheap site.We were looking at property here and the VERY top of the range is a Mansion valued at $340 K !! and the cheapest around $60 grand!! Interested? ava look http://www.realestate.com.au/property-house-sa-orroroo-106874108 We saw RAIN for the first time in ages here Very Refreshing We asked in the pub about the Golf Course (and seriously) we were told the grass was too long because the sheep havent been let loose on it yet !!!
On our way to Orroroo South Australia
You havr to hand it to Australians they come up with weird & wonderful names !! We have left Wilmington after a lovely time,A night we were fortunate enough to spot a Possum.Annie fed it pieces of apple & the creature had NO fear of us The town is old but lovely Although I went into overkill on my last blog ( cant help it I LOVE puppets !!) I’ll keep this entry short
Wilmington & Sansouci Puppet Museum & Gallery
We arrived at Wilmington SA & ventured into the puppet museum !! Brilliant !! best move Ive made for a while.The puppets were incredible and one of them (Brian)actually picked me and has come to live with us (I’m currently teaching him Didgeridoo) Annie bought some hand puppets & Marionettes >Me & my younger brother Brian spent some time as kids on Blackpools North Pier watching with deep fascination !! The shop owner is a great personality hailing from Southern England ( Brian) He suffered a stroke a few years ago and feeling very down ( he at that time had NO knowledge of Puppets etc.) A mate of his ( ironically named Geoff ) gave him a box of old puppets. Brian got himself off to the children’s ward in his wheelchair,did an impromptu show.The look on the kids face turned his life around and he converted an old bank into a Museum & now has over 1000 exhibits Even Archie Andrews & Basil Brush was there !!! IF any one visits Wilmington go see his shop,he will delight you with his talk & showmanship Memories for me came flooding back reminding me of the terrific times I had as a child Tell him Pommie Geoff from Blackpool sent you ( NO he wont throw you out !!) Pictures will follow & there are lots !!!
Me an me new pal Brian
He choose ME ! out of millions of customers We are gunna be GREAT pals !!
We have just been into a puppet/marionette shop and had the best time !! The memories of yesteryear when me n ower kid (Brian) used to go to the Marionette Show on Blackpools North Pier The owner was magic & showed great interest in his trade !! Pictures will follow & I ve got a new mate Brian He choose ME ! out of millions of customers We are gunna be GREAT pals !!
Wilpena POUND Great campsite reminiscent of my younger days
This place is great.very reminiscent of my younger days camping in the Pennines(Nicky Nook) of course bit more luxurious now we have a built in toilet !! Kangaroos were wandering around and have no fear of humans Same as Emus Mother walking around with 5 chicks (wouldn’t you know it? I’ve accidently deleted the photo s !!!!! The setting is very bush and popular Camp fires were aglow most of the evening as we sat outside our home sipping ice cold beer (Annie on diet coke !!) Birds came up to our door for a feed of bread<We left next dat to return to Quorn (it really is lovely here) parked up and met with a nice couple & we enjoyed a few beers together BUT more coincidently they are from my birth place of Timperley (Altrincham, Manchester!!) We also watched a 1951 Manchester Steam Train roll into the station ( My brother Brian travelled all over North England collecting train names!!) All in all another great day
Parachilna the Outback Pub miles from anywhere
This pub is in the middle of Nowhere the surrounding abandoned buildings are a stark reminder of affluent days when railroads were the lifeline of these isolated outposts.We decided to stay overnight & our immediate next door neighbours came across and chatted ,they are working residnts of the pub ( Barmaid &Chef) we parked the bus into a very cramped gravel space &thought it was going to be a dull evening The pub is the only standing building in the now derelict rail stop over We decided to go and have a beer & was surprised to see SO many people in there !! The menu advertised bush tucker (Emu/Camel/Kangaroo) I was very brave and had Chicken !! Annie had ( and enjoyed) Kangaroo The evening turned into a good night out and we chatted with some very interesting people Hence the adage Never Judge a Book by its Cover Next morning we set of to Wilpena Pound more on that in my next blog
Watch me play Didgeridoo
Geoffs Life After Work ! 