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.

Southern Highlands

Last Friday (27th Feb) Marg and I said farewell to Leura House and the Blue Mountains and drove down to Bowral in the Southern Highlands for an overnighter at the Briars Motel. Frank and Liz travelled up from their home in Bateman's Bay to meet us there and show us around as it's where they lived and farmed (Angora Goats) for a number of years.

Relaxing in the grounds of the Briars outside our units, after our 3 hour journey

Hats off to the great Sir Donald Bradman at the Bradman Oval in Bowral

Liz checking out her Mum's old home

Visiting Berrima, beautiful old village in the southern highlands, complete with its own prison, built when the area was first colonised (and still a working prison)

Taking a load off in the Surveyor Inn's garden, with the prison wall in the background

red alert again...wallet attack...I'll stay out here!

Refreshments at Oz's oldest continuously licenced inn.

Hampden Bridge -the only surviving wooden suspension bridge in Austraia

Fitzroy Falls -the start of the descent from the "high country"

Kangaroo Valley

the second and final descent - Cambewarra Mountain lookout

Ulladullah harbour, close to our destination of Bateman's Bay