All Aboard

Looks like I'll be allowed on board Coral Adventurer - Robert Ball too .

Covid test - Negative

Reflections

I grabbed the phone and ran out onto our verandah to snap this PaddleBoarder enjoying the calm conditions in the backyard this afternoon.

It wasn't quite the Eurostar...

 ...but I had a very comfortable train ride from Narrabri to Newcastle yesterday. I can't remember the last time I took a long train ride in Australia. I think it was probably Sydney to Melbourne on the new Southern Aurora in 1969.

On The Southern Aurora in August 1969 (Note the bouffy hair)

The Xplorer two carriage train was spotless, the staff very pleasant and helpful and the $10 hot meal was good value and more palatable than expected. I was expecting the seat to be a bit more spacious but there was plenty of leg room. I was surprised to find that the train was fully booked so I thanked my lucky stars that the seat beside me was unoccupied for more than half the journey.

Always the earlybird

I didn't take as many photos of the countryside as I had hoped as the scratched and spotty windows were a hindrance. Nevertheless I enjoyed the changing landscapes we passed on both sides of The Great Dividing Range.

I particularly enjoyed the free entertainment provided when our two carriages hooked up with a few from Armidale to make a longer train. We were given the option of remaining on the train or "stretching our legs" and watching the procedure. I am so pleased I took the opportunity.

Note the little old lady taking a photo 

Leftovers

We entertained family on Easter Saturday and Easter Sunday. One of the unexpected benefits was being able to enjoy leftovers for dinner on Easter Monday night.

Greetings from our home to yours

 

Crazy Weather Today

I woke to rain then the sun came out.

 

10:55am

11:32am

11:47am Taken through glass door

 It's now pouring again!!

20 Something Snaps - Pensioners Hill Reserve

I've had a bit of a blogging bonanza today blogging here, on my Genealogy blog and my local Family History Group blog. 

Driving home from the country on the weekend we took a break at Pensioners Hill Reserve in Gunnedah to stretch our legs. We found a peaceful space that housed some unique sculptures and totems plus, from the lookout, some vistas of the Gunnedah area.

Seeing the totems from the Kamilaroi people was extra special as my ancestors are from that nation.

A shady resting spot

Traditional Totems of the Kamilaroi People

Book Bargains

Before I left Narrabri this morning I spent a profitable half hour at their Rotary Book Fair. 

I scored this large swag of books for around $60. Some are for me and some are to donate to a local Family History Group.

Reading Challenge Progress - March

On the 27th December 2021 the Goodwill Librarian launched on Facebook her 2022 reading challenge. I made a hasty decision to join this challenge. 

Each month I will report my progress in reading books that fulfil her criteria. I will add a link to the Librarything entry for each criterion I tick off.

Following are details of titles I ticked off in March. You can see the full list of criteria here.

1. With a colour in the name Anne of Green Gables - Lucy M Montgomery
https://www.librarything.com/work/3253/book/213752213

5. That you should have read in school  The Pearl - John Steinbeck
https://www.librarything.com/work/2977712/book/214807164

6. On the New York Times bestseller list My name is Lucy Barton - Elizabeth  Strout https://www.librarything.com/work/16413151/book/214636289

8. With an animal in the name The Fire Wombat - Jackie French  
https://www.librarything.com/work/26068631/book/213786943

23. Involving water  Girl from the Sea - Margaret Wild 
https://www.librarything.com/work/25602548/book/213787358

26. With a magical element Devotion - Hannah Kent
https://www.librarything.com/work/26992876/book/213787008

29. With chapter titles Funerals to die for : the craziest, creepiest, and most bizarre funeral traditions and practices ever - Kathy Benjamin
https://www.librarything.com/work/13757464/book/214446954

31. With a map in the front Is that you, Ruthie? - Ruth Hegarty
https://www.librarything.com/work/4500891/book/214691334

38. Featuring the LGBTQ+ community The Mother - Jane Caro
https://www.librarything.com/work/27922184/book/214251141

43. Of poetry Australian poetry since 1788 - Geoffrey Lehmann
https://www.librarything.com/work/12017864/book/214587150

Although I managed to slot some of the books I read into the challenge categories this is not a full list of the books I read in March. The remainding titles can be seen on my Lbrarything and GoodReads accounts.

I will need to target some titles outside my reading comfort zone to meet some of the remaining challenges!