Old Mogo Mining Town

On Thursday Frank and I felt like replenishing the coffers from the red alert wallet attacks we'd (but mainly me) been suffering. Mogo, now a village, grew to a population of 15ooo with 38 pubs from 1825, during the gold rush.

Fancy a paddle?"

a water dragon, keeping close watch


entering one of the old mines

there's a spare bed in here

the barber was also the surgeon and undertaker -Frank trying the "fit"

"gissa job Matt behind t'bar"


even a temple for the Chinese immigrant labour
Marg's new washing machine

prayer for a lucky strike...?

"Reckon we should try them thar hills instead Kev?"

Church is nearer Frank

Offered to pay with my solitary grain of gold dust -can't repeat the response

All alone on Mckenzie beach, Batemans Bay

Holidaying's such a bind!

Just cruisin'

On Tues 2nd March we took a gentle cruise up the river Clyde on the "Merinda" stopping off at Nelligen for a quick lunch before the hooter recalled us to the boat for the return trip. It was interesting to see the numerous oyster leases and houseboats. Later in the day we called on Nalda (a cousin of Liz) and Ross for a drink and they recanted their recent trip to the UK when they stayed at Eyam for a while and enjoyed the Peak district. Then we had a walk home...their gardens back onto each other!

the Merinda

The Bay's boardwalk

the "Jack Daniel"

All Aboard

Lifting the Clyde Bridge for the Merinda

Moored up at Nelligen

Waiting for our Phad Thai takeaway!

Enjoying ourselves at Nalda and Ross's place

Mogo Zoo

After getting a taste for wildlife we took a short trip to Mogo on Monday 2nd March -an old mining town/village, which we might revisit later to do some panning for gold-and visited the local rescue zoo which amongst other animals, are breeding rare white lions. We stopped off at Gail and Steve's place for afternoon tea and witnessed the mob of wild Kangaroos that cruise around the back of their place by day, and run amok in the gardens at night!

the things you do for a photographer!

one of Frank and Liz's many local beaches...!

...with a local bum of course

Gum blooms

Marg's look out at work apparently

the workers keeping their heads down

the magnificent white lions.. (Liz let me off handling these)

red pandas, less energetic than the Koalas!

snow leopard

Blokey talk going on at Gail and Steve's

the "mob"


Marg on Maloney Beach

Birdland in Bateman's Bay

February 1st March -first day at Frank and Liz's. We decided to visit the local "birdland cum mini zoo", it was a warm and showery morning but a little warm rain after the UK's snow and ice was a welcome change! Courtesy of Liz's speaking and nodding terms with a local ranger, we were afforded up close and personal priviledges! Not sure that was always a good thing though as you can see from the shots below of me with a black constrictor python. ("take off your black jacket Kev, so I can get a better photo") -cheers Liz!

the Roos take an interest in Marg

I get to chat to one of the Koalas (which are not bears at all, but marsupials)

do I look as daft as I felt on the kids' train? (YEP!) By the way, that's Frank at the front behind the driver!

Marg getting to grips with a young wombat...I think he wanted to get a grip on her

"feed me"

You can tell I am enjoying Liz's photo shoot. Marg kept her distance.

"Liz, help. This big bloke's even hungrier!"

"and just one more for your grandson Kev"

Who's the old goat feeding the animal?

"hello, how are ya?" He went bonkers when I answered. My pommie accent they reckoned.

an orphaned joey

this randy little b****took a liking to Marg's arm

In the evening Frank and Liz invited two of Liz'z cousins round with their husbands for a great meal and plenty of wine etc. It was a fun, side splitting evening, and some the old pommie jokes (or jokes from the old pommie!)went down pretty well.

Hubbies Ross and Steve below

From the left: Liz's cousin Nalda (married to Ross), then Steve next to his wife -and another of Liz's cousin -Gail (who incredibly has only recently undergone surgery to remove a brain tumour) followed by Kev, Liz, Frank and Marg.