Here she is.

This is her, Karna, Niamh's horse.

She spends Thursday riding, Saturday and Sunday riding, grooming, mucking out, feeding, watering and generally pampering her.

The weather that night was closing. Whilst we were waiting in the office area the secretary took a call from somone who must have been enquiring whether riding lessons will still be on as the was a severe storm.

"Oh no we never cancel alessons due to the weather"

'Come on hurry up.'

This is only about two/three minutes after it started raining!!

Well within 15 minutes, you have never seen lightning or rain, or heard thunder like it. Guess what? They cancelled the lesson, it really was dangerous. Niamh was already out in the paddock with about six other riders, they got absolutely soaked.

It doesn't rain here too often, but oh boy!!!!

Hope your all having a spiffing Golden Jubilee weekend.
The Skerritts in Oz

They Walk Amongst Us!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

True Story
Listening to a late night radio show whilst driving home the other night.
Johnno, the radio DJ, has a quiz which involves answering five questions, for a $1,000 prize.
The gist is, he posts a question, you call in, if you answer it correctly that counts as your first question and provides the opportunity to answer four more and win the prize.
The first question posed was associated with some audio of a golfer saying how his father had showed him how to grip the club and the basic swing and he had taught himself everything else. After about 6 unsuccessful guesses, ranging from Tiger Woods (which it definitely wasn't) to Annika Sorenstan (it was definitely a male voice!!) the DJ gave a huge clue, this person won a major golf title recently. Bingo, Bruce calls in and correctly answered, Bubba Watson.
So Bruce's second question was.
'They are a major dance orientated UK band, who have sold over 100 million records, they are the most succesful male duo in UK recoding history, the dance band members are Neil Tennant and Chris Lowe, what is the name of their dance band? Little Clue Brucie, its The something something something.'
Brucie is v v quite ' Blimey, struth, fair dinkum Johnno, thats a tuff one'.
Johnno, 'Ahh look come on Bruce, they are a major major dance band, you'll kick yourself if you don't get this one'
Brucie 'Mmmmm, don't know that many dance bands Johnno, karn't ya give us a kluw?'
Johnno, ' Shouldn't really Brucie, already given ya one, but if I don't I'm gonna be here all night with this one. Just think, dance band, dance, dance, come on Brucie., Neil Tennant, Chris Lowe, its easy, dance band, dance band.'
Brucie ' You BEWDIE Johnno, I got it, Torvill & Dean'
I nearly crashed the car!!!
Be careful out there THEY WALK AMONGST US.

Close Encounters with the Ugly Kind

Normal rules prevailed the othere morning, up earlyish, nice cuppa char whilst I had a quick check on overnight emails. Then cycled Niamh to school.
When I got back went to finish off my tea and found this rather large specimen splashing about in it!!!!!! He was about 2" x 1/2".

Backstroke!

Still back stroke!

Front (creepy) crawl

I know its a funny angle and the lights bad but can anyone tell if its John, Paul, George or Ringo?
The Skerritts in Oz

Paul & Shan

'Our Kid' was here recently, we had just the best time.
We plied them with bbq's and filled them full of the best in Australian meat, fish, fruit and veg, oh and err yeah, the odd glass of the falling down juice. No toooo heavy though.
Didn't manage to play any golf, just no time really, or inclination for that matter, although would have loved to have taken them to Lake Karrinyup G&CC, hey ho, perhaps next time!!

Don't laugh, he's very proud of it!!!! The water was very very hot you know!!

'Just chilling'

Heading for lunch at The Lucky Shag. Its a pub on the foreshore!!!

The boys after lunch (He even slept in that hat!)

Introduced them to some of the locals

Yeah its only a tree, but a pretty spectacular one

Missing you both, come back reall real soon.
The Skerritts in Oz

Fairbridge Festival of World and Folk Music

Fairbridge Festival of World and Folk Music is Western Australia’s most popular family camping festival which takes place annually in April. It is a friendly celebration of folk, roots, blues, acoustic, celtic, a capella and world music in a traffic-free, self-contained bushland site at Fairbridge Village, South West Highway, 5 km north of Pinjarra, Western Australia. A 2 hour drive from Perth CBD.
This year, 2012, was the 20th Fairbridge Festival and all the signs are that the momentum and enthusiasm continues to grow. The scene is set for another great weekend of joyous music making. As well as a growing number of top international, interstate and home grown artists there are the youth and children’s festivals, numerous workshops, street theatre, a vibrant markets area, poetry and much much more to enjoy.
Fairbridge Village makes a wonderful festival site, with graceful, mature bush and sweeping views over the Darling Escarpment about 100 km south of Perth’s outlying south-eastern suburbs. Over the weekend the site comes alive with music in numerous marquees and permanent buildings, and in the church which is the home for a now-legendary Sunday morning Gospel session and a plethora of a cappella singing in its natural habitat.
The festival is now established as a major event on the WA cultural calendar with a devoted audience base, a strong pool of volunteers, and a remarkably stable organising committee led by president Carole Winfield. Its reputation has spread to the point where each year it receives well over 500 applications from acts wanting to play, many of them from interstate. It has stayed true to the original vision of catering to a family audience, and presents probably the largest children’s program, in proportion to the festival as a whole, of any such event in the country.
The success of the festival is an inspiring example of what can be done from the grass roots, at the far-off, sparsely populated end of the country, by a small group of people dedicated to the love of folk music and community events.
So we decided to go and have a look.
It was a very pleasant drive, east of Perth. Along the way we saw the now compulsory plethora of bikeys, classic cars and inumerable towable camping caravans and Winnebago's.
Arrived about 11.30am, made our way to the entrance to be greeted by a very nice lady wanting $240!!!! We never imagined that there was even a cost, but anyway, we had travelled to far not to go and have a look.
Well, it was brill. The place was wall to wall folkies, earth dwellers, you know the type. embracing the flower power era, dressed how I imagine Glastonbury/Woodstock people would be.
A flavour of the acts!
The Ball Point Penguins - comedy
Big Rory & his Great Scottish, (very amorous and incontinent) Beer Hound, Ochie.

Big Rory

Ochie

They were really really funny

He just pee'd on anyone who came near him!

The Chipolata's - A trio!!!!
My Friend the Chocolate Cake - singing duo, folkie name or what?
Ye Old Mucky Duck Bush Band - what do you think? Say that when you've had a few.
Rocket Girl - Rocket Girl Rocket Show is a spectacular and exciting outdoor performance. Fun for all primary school and lower high school aged kids Rocket Girl introduces the science of rocket flight, 'Newton's third law' and 'conservation of momentum'. Safe and inclusive educational fun - well Peter liked it!!
Perth Morris Men - Yeah they even have 'em over here.


Same the world over!

Perth Scottish Fiddlers - I'll let you guess.
Shogglenifty -Famous the world over for inventing techno ceilidh, acid croft and hypnofolkadelia, Shooglenifty is one of Scotland's most unique musical exports. NEVER HEARD OF 'EM.
Spookeymen of the West - I watched these for a while, and they were right!!
Stiff Gins - aboriginal
All in all a good day out. Think we might indulge in a bit of 'Glamping' next year.
The Skerritts in Oz

York

Went off to York a couple of weeks ago. About 1.5 hours east of Perth. I can tell you it ain't nothing like York, UK!!!
York, in the Avon Valley of Western Australia, is situated 97 kilometres east of Perth, a pleasant 1.5 hour drive (yep, correct) It is one of the most charming and picturesque (no wouldn't describe it as that!)  towns in Western Australia.
Founded in 1831 on the banks of the Avon River, it was the first inland European settlement in WA.
York has a long history and a unique past, with many of its old buildings still being utilised today (no, I'm afraid I wouldn't say that either). It has much to offer (mmmm, they are stretching that a little bit), from its naturally beautiful scenery to picturesque farmlands, and an abundance of activities and attractions. (now they really are shaving the truth)
York is also well known for annual events and festivals, ranging from music, to arts and crafts, to vintage motor vehicles, cultural sporting events and its historical gardens and roses.(Didn't spot them!)
York is a must to visit and warmly welcomes visitors to the town. (Yeah, would agree with that)

Interesting eh? Definitely picturesque!!!!!!!!!

Great drive though, 60 kms of sheer nothingness.
The place itself is just like something from the wild west. One High Street, properties both sides of the road for about 6/700 yards, nothing behind them. Most places were up for sale, looked like the place was struggling to me.

The High Street

Not exactly Yorkminster! Quaint though

The local Vicar was from Telford would you believe?

Very popular with motor bikers and eccentrics with Morgans (Our Kid) and the like!!!!

Found somewhere nice and safe to leave Peter

Whilst we had a walk around the local shopping centre

And then grabbed some lunch.

Then high tailed it back home.
The Skerritts in Oz

The Fish!

Peter has been swimming for the school again, did him self proud with a second and a fifth. They were third in the relay.

What a boy!!

Some of these Aussie kids are like flippin' dolphins at 12-16 years of age.

Third man in the relay, away he goes.

Raring to go

Swimming underwater all the way is just not allowed Pete!!!!

The school finished 4th out of eight, which considering they were competing against much bigger and more established schools was a magnificient acheivement.

The Skerritts in Oz