Darwin

Japes and scrapes at the Frogshollow Hostel, Lindsay St, Darwin. Thank you.

U r gr8 u kno – I can message my thanks to Linda at Optus for $50 phone credit donation

To the shiny happy fella called Harry at Greater Union Cinema who sought no renumiration, nor fought with us for honour, when we asked ever so sweetly if please, sir, can we watch ‘Australia’? With Jackman pecs-out and Kidman full-pout it was an epic not to be missed. Droooover! Me like the cheeky filem.

Thanks to Anastasia at Bakers Delight who gave us a bag of baked treats for lunch and for dinner. Mmmm.

To the lovely lady, Leonie Giles, at Karen Sheldon Catering in Parliament House Library who gave us coffee and lunch.

Bok bok! Thanks for the chicken salads Brooke Callahan of Energy 2 Go.

Rache at Melaleuca on Mitchell for being ever so sweet and for the internet access too.

To Youth Shack and Chilles backpackers for sorting us out with some meal vouchers.

To the Vic Hotel, for the jug o' beer, and the food

Ever so many thanklings to Bee at Global Gossip for the internet card.

Get in there! Outback Jacks.

They may not be French but Gloria Jeans do a good line in good people who serve good coffee.

Massive Thank You for the stall and the feed to Wendy McCallum on the Parap Markets.

As do Just Coffee Beans, in the Parap Markets.

Chip n fish on Mitchell Street for the fish n chips we ate in the street.

Natural Yum's Bert at the Parap Markets deserves a smooth fondling for the drinks he gave us.

Big Thank You to Nightcliffe market too.

To Bill Day who donated a copy of his book 'Bunji' to us, and fed us too. Nice gent.

Ooh sailor! For the trip around Darwin Harbour and the nibbles and stories we are indebted to Michael Allen of Sailing Adventures NT (www.sailnt.com.au)

Palmerston, Darwin

We wasted no time in contacting Lou and Bernie, who live in Palmerston, and went to stay with them, and their kids Jake and Tayla. Thanks for being so hospitable. Bernie, a truck driver, took us for a ‘blockie’ in his road train, after we’d washed it of course. Honk! Honk!

Thanks to Gareth’s mum, mum, who sent a Christmas hamper that got to the Post Office in plenty of time for Christmas, but found no one around to pick it up and eat it for its Christmas destiny. Mince pies, chocolate money, bottle of wine and all the goodies you’d want, in a hamper, Jesus sized, as he was, that day, the one when he was born. But we weren’t there to pick it up were we eh. Bloody hell!! But we got to it eventually, and it was good, and lo, it was rejoiced in memorium.

Mataranka

Mataranka Springs Homestead – they say it’s the home of the Never-Never, but Never-Never say die, we say, especially when you have such people as Deb who will gladly feed hungry travellers steak sandwiches.

We went in for an afternoons work cleaning rooms for a little fuel at the Mataranka United Roadhouse and Hotel, and by the end of it we were offered free board, two weeks work, a bar tab, and lo ho ho and beho-ho-hold we were grafting in the Roadhouse, the pub, in the Yard, and in the motel, and saw-in our first Aussie Christmas, an Aussie New Year and got to know the locals. Massive appreciation to Chris and Christine, who run the whole shebang, to granddaughter Cassie and boyfriend Kiel who worked there alongside us and drank alongside us, to Lou, Cassie’s mum and Chris and Christine’s daughter, her husband, the irrepressible Bernie who made us so welcome, their cheeky blighters young Jake and little Tayla, to Nipper and Heidi and Darren, the staff, who got us so very very drunk on bourbon and to regular customers Kiwi and Wingnut who entertained us, and all the rest who made our time there so memorable. Over $1600 raised for Book Aid, and fuel too, we left well rested, well fed, and, well, sad to leave.