Dear Diary,

I started working for Rural Solutions SA on June 16th at Murray Bridge for at least 4-6 weeks and then who knows where. Very limited work on the Eyre Peninsula due to reduced govt funding so again a huge change for Linden. It is a very different environment but the rural community focus is "known" to some degree; strangely I had little connection when staying back at Utunyah for a week and have certainly missed the people living In New Mexico. I had an interesting dream  one night recently of standing in  a line of people waiting to board a tour bus for the next destination. Feet firmly in place and quite relaxed at what the next section of the journey is about, we never know until we walk it or "bus" it.

Hope to write up in the next few week as time permits some fantastic stories. I am caught between finishing the last week at Newcomb, to a quick European trip (this is the pictures below) and to those in the USA wanting news on Australia. Speaking of which I came out to work the first morning driving through the Adelaide Hills past the Chain of Ponds with huge Eucalypt Gum trees, green grass , fog, Rosella parrots, Galah's and Correllas; and then out onto fields of freshly planted wheat. What a welcome home to the Mallee Country. I am reminded as I write this that walking into Adelaide from the suburbs I was stopped by a smell of "wattle" and found I was chewing a gum leaf. To cap it I had a meat pie and a Kitchner bun. There are some things that are Australian other than vegemite and footy. Speaking of which I went on this first morning walk in Adelaide past a newspaper headlining "Bird man hard to replace" what bird man is this? I asked from the zoo or bush, No Brett Burton the crows footballer, I get it  a crow!!bird? you will need more than the birdman fans.

For those waiting for the next update here is a picture sample.    After the wedding in Normandy travelled to London under the Channel,  then across the Channel from Dover to Callis off to Belgium, (have a look at the chocalates and lace and the very famous Manaken Pis (they tell me is photographed as much as the Eiffel Tower in Paris. Yes it is doing what you see that is the Pis part I think and and they sell many cork screw figureines) In Brussels in the town square that night we were entertained in  a packed open square a Jazz marathon of about 15 players even a Baby Grand piano and a conductor! it was fantastic but very different to the American jazz I had been treated too.  We travelled through the Black Forest in Germany ( saw cuckoo clocks made from; Yes:- Linden Trees), Switzerland (a beautiful clean neat country through cities of Lucerne, Lausanne, Interlaken and then back to France Paris. Perfect weather and June the best time to see these countries. It was an eye opener. A great wind down before starting work again in Australia Thanks Kym and Jo for the trip.

The English trip to the New Forest aqnd  Cotwolds will come later I loved this area and will share it with you.

The pictures tell the story. Shane Masters and Florence Bethet were Married in May  17th 2008

Many stayed at Chateau De la Ferte Frensall in Normandy about 120km from Paris beautiful countryside. Had meals and reception in the Chateau and a BBQ in the grounds on Sunday. The wedding was held in a Catholic Cathedral in Sees an amazing structure with many beautifull features.

The other house picture is the Berthet's and yes the men playing in the park. Check out Paris a little more tomorrow before leaving to London.

I have a new colour after living 16 mths in NM it is called GREEN many different shades as well I have seen,

Well winding down time before leaving NM on 15th May. Flying  to Paris then a couple of weeks touring Europe before returning to South Australia for work on June 16th.

I have 2 sections to post, if time allows to give you some interesting reading.

A weekend that included Hovenweep National Monument in Colorado (more Annassi ruins reaching almost  a 40 mile of activity spreading from Messa Verde). Had the privilage of a person that does vegetation and animal surveys in the area take me through a personal guided tour. Then over the border into Bluff, Utah to visit The Canyon of the Gods, the colours as then sun set were of reds purple and gold. WE would hav eloved to camp that night out in the middle of no-where, but got back to Cortez to go on Sunday to The "Meltdown" a Blue Grass festival with several top Bands from the USA that gathered in Durango Colorado. Serious Texas BBQ was visited again as a goodbye to a great eating house.

The next weekend a trip again to Monument Valley and The Valley of the Giants in Utah near Kayenta where many John Wayne westerns were filmed. Amazing country and was able to catch the sun setting on the huge formations then revisit them on a 20 mile dirt trip the next day. We also went to Navajo National Monument before sun rise and caught the golden glow as the sun penetrated into the cliff dwellings. An interesting feature of this place is the fact that the environment was upside down. How so? In the Valleys of the Canyons were Douglas Fur and the white barked timber that only grows on top of maintains where were was pinion and cactus on top. Usially it is the other way around. The bottoms still has snow and ice and the sunlight hardly gets down so the water and light and coolness allows the "mountain top growth to live upside down or is it inside out. I will try a better explaination when I write up and put pictures on sometime. Oh for those interested the Dine Bi Rural library at Newcomb has 50% more space an additional building) so we can spread out. Last family night I estimate 100 people watched Alvin and the Chipmunks and ate ice cream donated by Dairy Queen. New areas have been created for the young adults and pre schoolers section to sit and hear stories when visiting, New book shelves go in this week and the adult area has lounges for newspaper reading and socilaising. It is GOOD. "Hagonah" tilll next time. Oh we have increased the childrens computers from 2 to 5 and an aditional 4 new ones for adult research and fair dinkum assigned use.

A trip into Framington to visit McGee Park for a Gold Country and Western concet saw the very top atrists come from all across the USA. Man that was something, still they didn't see much of Slim Dusty! Which reminds me last night went to THE Appple Barn an old apple shed that the country and Westerrn fans from Cortez Colorado frequent on Saturday nights and sang a song "I believe", with red shirt, balck cowboy hat and a new pair of yes cowboy boots that will go back home.

Oh in case I don't visit this site for a while a farewell dinner Mutton Stew and Fry bread is on Thursday night 8th May for your truly and will conduct a Shearing demo for entertainment. A Large 3 horned Truro ram is the object iof interest I hope not me.

We saw a completely different part of the country by going to the Deep South.  The environment, is lush and green and vibrant with trees and flowers.  The air is heavier and more humid.  The pace is slower, speech patterns and phasing different.  Linden added five more states to his list of places visited during his stay in the U.S.  Marilyns family enjoyed the Aussies sense of humor, curiosity, and love of life and Marilyn loved the chance to reconnect with nieces, nephews, brother and sister, and the opportunity to see new parts of the country.

We were blessed with good weather, and fortune.  It was a trip we will remember with joy for many years.

St Augustine is the oldest continuously inhabited city in the U.S. and Castilo de San Marcos an old fort to protect it was where the Pirates of Penance was filmed. I ate allegator tail and a key lime pie for lunch. Some amazing building and Tiffany stained glass originals in many buildings.

Finally we drove up and over the Great Smokey Mountains and the Apalachians through Cheroke back to Knoxville Tennessee.  Again details in ""read more"

Wow the best few days of my life; well during the trip to the "deep south".

Spending an hour eraly morning in a bird hide watching water fowl and associated birds on what was an old rice plantation. Howfyl Broadview Plantation was one of the few not burnt down during the Civil  War and is intact even with furniture two famous spinster sisters left to the State for historic purposes.

Okefenokee Swamp where the Suwannee River starts and boating down the tributaries in a little dingy; scaring alligators was a very different experience. One alligator had the previous Sunday attacked the boat as it had just laid its eggs. Only little mumma’s compared with our crocs although these do grow up to 14ft long in this area and black as black. I loved the water ways winding in and out of the tress accompanied by many butterflies, blue sky and the world was at peace. A huge fire a once in a lifetime 100 year job had burnt back the undergrowth giving  a bit deeper look than was normal, even exposing an old liquor still thta was rumoured in the area.

It was a far cry from singing "Way down upon the Swanee River' at the Verran Strawberry Fete huh.

I will leave the main context of the story in the “read more” section; it is good so have a read.

 Hey fresh water swamps don't stink, how about that!

Pictures show some birds the Howfyl Plantation Yes Oaks and Spanish moss but can you believe 50ft tall Magnolia trees near the house and of course Okefenokee Swamp

A continuation of the Spring Holidaystrip (oops trip!) 2008 to Southern Eastern USA.

   Day Five.  We had learned our lesson trying to walk the streets the evening before so we drove to the old city area of Savannah and decided to take a trolley tour of old Savannah.  This was a great plan.  We took an “on and off” tour that covered the entire old city.  We had guides to explain (if you could understand the southern accent) who had built what and what was significant.  We could get off anytime we wanted and explore on our own, and then get back on the trolley and have a guide for the next area.  Donna had expressed the wish to eat at Paula Deen’s restaurant, “The Lady and Sons” which the tour guide pointed out to us.  We were lucky enough to get seats and each of us ordered something different so we could share bites.  The food was good, Green Fired Tomatoes even and not unreasonably priced.  The service was excellent.  Paula Deen is a TV star of Southern cooking. I couldn’t believe that you could just walk in off the street and get a table. Weeeel there was a cancellation and four was a good number it was a real blessing.

   After we finished the trolley tour, we went to Fort Pulaski National Monument.  It was named for a Polish general who fought for us in the Revolutionary War.  He was named the “Commander of the Horse” by the Continental Congress for his work in developing and training the Revolutionary Army Cavalry.  He died of wounds during the battle for Savannah.  The fort was built in the early 1800s and was a major battle site during the Civil War.  The Union forces lost the battle because the Confederates used a rifled cannon  (new invention) which was able to breach the masonry walls of the fort and if they kept pounding then they would have hit the powder magazine certainly not a good look.

Leaving the Savannah area, we drove south to Darien for the night.  We were so tired and still so full from lunch, that we had snacks that Linden and Howard purchased at a grocery store for supper and called it an early night.(little did we know that less than 100 meters away alligators were lounging alongside of the managers pool. Now don’t get excited “the pool” was a huge dam 40 ft deep in the middle and butted straight into the swamp forest. Of course alligators would be there.