Hot Air Ballooning, Northam, Awesome

Good Morning,

My girlfriend, whom I nick name Mary Q, was given a gift voucher from her Son as a birthday present. It was for two. MQ chose to invite me to accompany her, and I was thrilled. But, very apprehensive. My Mum has suffered from a fear of heights and because of that, I suppose I haven't been subjected to having any of those experiences. And, I must have unconsciously chosen not to put myself out there to try them.

Up, up and away, looking to the East, awesome!

Rainbow Drifter III

So, without thinking about it much, I suddenly found myself 4500 metres above the Earth!!! I was conscious of words 'silently' swimming around my mind at the time, "OMG!, puckity puck, OMG! puckity puck! Cath don't look down! OMG! Cath, we are 4 and a half kilometers above the ground! OMG! No parachute! We are being driven by an Aero-Nut in control of a bubble of hot air! OMG!"

The words 'Enjoy Your Flight' written on the car roof, the team wave us good bye.

I did not verbalise these things, and I you wouldn't know I was thinking these things either as I was 'Miss Composure', looking like I did this kind of thing all the time. (OMG!) No one else was speaking either, all you could hear was silence, broken only the sound of the gas jet flame and the odd dog, barking in the distance, or the flock of noisy, Sulphur Crested Cockatoos that appeared to be swarming several kilometers below us.

The Sulphur Crested Cockatoo's below.

It was amazing, and I would certainly do it again. Awesome! That feeling of being gently lifted, almost floating. You could feel the occasional, cool of the morning on your cheek, the occasional warmth of the gas jet, above. I went to sleep that night feeling like I was drifting in the balloon once more. I will conjure that feeling again when I feel I need to be comforted.

Cath, pre flight, clutching the cup of tea and finding it hard to smile, nnnnervous!

MQ and I set out from home the day before, we deposited the dogs at the kennels and scurried away without looking back, I freak out leaving my dogs at those places, even though, on one level I know they are in good hands.


We drove up to York and visited some friends from the South Beach Doggie Beach that have a beautiful old house up there. It gets mighty hot there in summer and the earth is red and the bark of the gum trees seem bleached, white, from the heat. How they grow such a beautiful garden I don't know. The old house restored with pressed tin ceilings and the shed, out the back, protecting a couple of beautifully restored cars.

Loving restoration

Doggie lovin mates in York, a great shot.

From there it is only a shortish drive to Northam. The trip to either York or Northam only takes an hour and a half to two hours to get to. An, easy, after work trip for a weekend break. Arriving in Northam, MQ and I decided to do an initial reconnoitre. We didn't want to get lost in the dark, going to our early morning balloon departure. You have to be there by 5.45am! But, it is not even a 5 minute drive from the town.

Northam from the balloon.

After driving out to the aerodrome, we chuckled to ourselves at how organised we are. This gloating didn't last long when MQ realised she had forgotten her camera (OMG, I don't know how she can live with herself!) and then, I realised I had forgotten to pack the entire bottom half of my ballooning ensemb'. No warm jeans, paddock walking shoes or socks. I had even left Margs with out one bra! What a ning nong!


We found the Shamrock Hotel in the main street of Northam, and after dropping the bags in our rooms, retired to the bar to enjoy a beer, off the tap. MQ and I so impressed with the rooms, big, comfy beds, lovely. The pub has got character, as do the staff. The meals amazing. I should have taken a photo of the Guinness Pie, topped with yummy mash, it looked like a dessert and very tasty. I did take a photo of the beer (tragic)!

The bar at The Shamrock Hotel, Northam. Note the little shamrock in the timber work.

The team at Windward Balloon Adventures is headed by Damien Hays and run like a military operation. Not for one minute are you worried about your safety. These guys instill in you that they take your safety very seriously and that there will be no room for error. I am impressed, very impressed. They so deserve the awards they have received.

Damien Hays our pilot, or as he joked Aero-Nut

It is an amazing experience. I highly recommend it. I could write 'reams' about it, but at the end of the day, it's something you just have to do. Damien was our pilot, his skills amazing. After taking off a little humour was let loose and Damien teased us by having a 'tree, leaf picking' opportunity!!! Oh thanks! He reverently manoeuvres us through the different levels of the Earths atmosphere and after an hour and 20 minutes landed us back at the aerodrome (no mean feat when we started off miles away in a farmers paddock and the balloon only has the wind to steer it). Then, and no one could believe it, whilst we were still in the basket (all 17 of us), after landing, he again manoeuvres us, back up a little and then, onto the back of the trailer!

The balloon, ready for take off.

I like the aspect that they then take us to huge and delicious breakfast afterward. A glass of champagne, a buffet and,, a hot cooked breakfast. It all gave us a chance to digest our experience, and get all the 'ooh and ahhhhs' out. Thanks Damien. A job well done. Thank you Mary Q & Son for gifting this experience to me. I really appreciate it. And it will be something I will never forget. I have posted a heap of photos below. Just have to share them.

Our carriage leaving the hangar on its way to the farmers paddock, we follow behind in  a bus.

Windward Balloon Adventures
http://www.ballooning.net.au/

How organised is this!

Other baskets of varying sizes.

Filling the balloon with air.

Filling the balloon with gas.

This shot taken from the balloon looking at our reflection floating over the Avon River

Patterns in the Earth

Love the way the smoke is drifting along the land, the contours flattened out by height

Note the light aircraft below!

Rainbow Drifter III being deflated, how gorgeous is that!

Many hands make light work.

Ballooning logistics, see how close we landed to the tarmac.

The Shackette Demands Attention

Good Morning,


In bed, cup of plunger Yahava Romeo coffee, nursing a hangover, merrily blogging away, feeling better by the minute.

Note the lovely new ceiling!

Gosh, so much going on, not sure where to start... Have spent a heap of time getting the house back together after the ceilings went in. This time last week I was sealing the floors with a 2nd coat. Gosh that stuff gave me a head ache. I had to vacate the house and medicate with a couple of beers. So since then, I have repopulated the main bedroom, the kitchen and bathroom with their respective furniture and bits. Everything getting a good spring clean. Adrian from Swiss Antiques came and put the furniture back together in a proper manner. Correcting the removalists handywork.


Caught up with mates from South Fremantle Doggie Beach, lunching at Settlers Tavern. Everyone enjoyed their meals, Pork Sausages & Mash, a BLT and I had Chicken Satay with their home made satay sauce, Yum.

The kitchens lovely new ceiling :), the old wood burner out, a big thanks to a mate.

Stuart, the Roof Plumber, Leeuwin Ridge Roof Plumbing, has come to discuss fixing a few issues, like what to do with the roof water run off, going down, the down pipe and then, let loose under the house, as I had just discovered. That is not the way it should be!

Must Wine Bar with a group of mates, Friday, after 5 drinks and then their 'sliders', I was drinking Plan B, Tempranillo + Viogner, and the girls were sipping on Lychee Bellini's 

Then, I had to call the plumber, Tom Wenman, as I thought I had a case of Carbon Monoxide poisoning from a leaky stove. When checking the gas pipes under the house, Tom discovered that the kitchen sink was not plumbed in after the trap!!! Right, 'not happy Jan'! Especially not happy because  prior to purchasing my gorgeous little shack, I had employed a Structural Engineer to give me a full building report. The kitchen sink plumbing is something one would think he would have picked up! Any hoooo!!! It was one, of a list of 'interesting' plumbing issues we discovered. I wont bang on about them, as I was allowed to 'vent' last night at Must over a wine or two.

Baby sitting Miss Harriot

Oh, Tom couldn't find a gas leak. So not sure what is going on there. I can smell gas when the bottles are on. He is organising someone from Kleenheat Gas to come and give us a second opinion.

Grunters

Getting closer to committing to the Bunion Surgery with Dr Wu in Hong Kong. Spoke to a lovely lady who had it done and she was thrilled. Said it was expensive but worth it. Dr Wu's surgery has a high success rate, far less pain and rapid recovery. Sounds good to me. Planning to put that on the June agenda. Need to get these plumbing issues sorted first.

I went to check out a friend of a friends property near Rosa Brook, they were pouring the concrete slab for their new house, very exciting.

It was my turn this month to take photos of the regeneration of the coastal dunes after the November 2011 Fires. We have had a few heavy rain down pours along the coast, and whilst on one hand it was good soaking rain, which got a lot of little plants growing, on the other hand, it was so heavy it washed quite a bit of nourishing top soil away in some places. You will see it in the photo.

Looking from the Gas Bay carpark, note the top soil run off from the heavy rains

This coming week is going to be lots of fun. Weather permitting, Mary Q is taking me up with her in a Hot Air Balloon. And, don't forget Mother Day next weekend!

Looking from Grunters, past Gas Bay all the way down to Redgate in the distance

A few interesting things happening in the Margaret River region. Xanadu Winery are holding a charity dinner on Mothers Day, Saturday the 12th of May. All proceeds going to the Children's Cancer Institute of Australia. Sounds very good.

Gnarabup last Wednesday

Quay West up on the cape, at Bunker Bay are holding a 'Welcome to Fabulous Bellagio At Bunker Bay'. Looks huge on the entertainment factor. Also on the 12th.


Aravina Estate, Knee Deep, Clancy's, Bootleg Brewery are just a few organising a special day for Mum also. I see that Southern Skydivers are suggesting that taking your Mum tandem skydiving is a good gift idea, yep, I could just see my Mum and I leaping out of an aeroplane!!!

Lucky this is blurry, you can see less wrinkles! :)

The Shackette Gets A Ceiling Makeover

Anzac Day
Remembering all those who have served and died for their country, thank you!

Polimeno's flying The Flag

The Week!
Well, Troy Docking and the boys arrived Thursday morning, 0645. Down came the ceiling, up went the new one and they walked out just before 1800. All done! One day, and a lovely job it was too. I'm very impressed. His number is 0411603 481.

Troy Docking & the lads working in the bedroom

The ceiling in the kitchen has come down

There was a bit of mess, but nothing like I had imagined. I wanted to prepare for the painter so called Sam and she dropped everything to come and help for a couple of hours. She cleaned the front porch, then swept down the walls. I followed behind her, mopping the walls. That girl is worth two. If you require some help, call me for her number. We were all done and dusted by that afternoon.

David Maiolo, always with a smile

Davids preparation, very impressive!

Then David Maiolo arrived on time Friday afternoon, a little more work than he had anticipated as Troy had kept the original architraves for me to 'keep the look' and to save me money, he prep'd with a smile and then returned Saturday to a magnificent job. He is a traditional style painter, is very neat with clean drop sheets, and meticulous. His number is 0410 045 391.

Kangaroos and Wallabies, Margaret River

Walking the dogs Margaret River

Early morning in the bush, Margaret River

A big thank you to my girlfriend Noofi for putting me up at hers. Very much appreciated.

South Beach Doggie Beach

Colin and friend, just preparing a chicken curry breakfast for the  gang

Fremantle Yacht Club from the Doggie Beach, South Fremantle

I then had to go to Perth to do some work. That was a change over at the apartment. Full on as always. Managed to catch up with some mates and do a bit of socialising at the doggie beach.

Miss Scarlet, you can see why she gets the pats! That's a loving look for Aunty Cath

This is the cutest little park on Marine Tce, set up for the kids, I love wandering through here.

This seat is the work of one of our favourite local artists, Richard Coldicutt. I have just confirmed with him that it is indeed his work, and you can feature 'The Feet Seat' in your garden also for $2,000 his M:0404 268 038. I think it would look fabbo under my Oak Tree!

What a great little kiddie wonderland?! The locals look after it, a gorgeous lady, Pam seems to be seen doing a bit of pottering around in there. Well done all!

Another big thank you to my girlfriend Mary Q for also putting me up at hers in Fremantle. Very much appreciated also. We had Spag Bol at Ruocco's. Lunch at Il Lido, Cottesloe, would have to be my favourite restaurant. Dins at the Joy Kitchen, we love the Peking Duck Rolls and the Szechuan Chilli Fish. Breakfasts at Aubergines and Xwray and another lunch at Tasty's!

Il Lido Canteen, Cottesloe, just before the lunch rush

Aubergines for breaky

The Aviary, Murray St, Perth, definitely go back. Might try the restaurant next time.

A trip into Perth for a lovely treat at The Aviary. Good fun, a schooner of Pure Blonde 'off the tap' and a Chorizo and Prawn Pizza. And then, a train trip from Maylands to Fremantle. And then, the 3 hour drive home. A delicious takeaway from Chow and in bed by 8.30pm!

I do like some forms of graffiti, like this little fox (or is it a wolf?), South Fremantle