Roon and Family around Oz

Feb 7 -9 T+10  Coledale The wind howled like a bunch of Liverpool players refused a penalty, the rain was relentless like their appeals to the ref, the hail threatened concussion and imminent destruction of the Beast. Worse, after 36 hours held captive in the Beast our supplies were running dangerously low. I knew then that leadership was required, hard decisions had to be made. I’ve been a captain (well corporal) of industry and watched everything Bear Grylls ever made. Sacrifice and selflessness were required. So, after thoughtfully ensuring that Jane was dressed head to toe in waterproofs and accurate directions given for the petrol station 2km away, she managed to force open the door against the gale, looked at me and said ‘I may be some time’. As she disappeared off through the quagmire of our camp site in search of milk and tea bags, I anxiously awaited her return and could hardly concentrate on watching the latest United game and the last of the chocolate bi...

Feb 4 – T+ 7 Berry Somebody said Berry was worth a look whilst in the area and having spent quite a bit of time in Bury during my youth it seemed like a plan. The same somebody recommended the Showgrounds as a good place to stay. Mention of Showgrounds and we’re transported back in time to Lusaka. After Jane and I fled from the great milk kettle disaster of ‘81 we decided to leave the country in a hurry. As fate may have it, my boss in Manchester tapped me on the shoulder one day in October ’81 and asked if I’d like to go out to Zambia for 3 weeks to install a mainframe computer system (for those in the know they were ICL ME29’s). After consulting an atlas and as United were struggling again, I thought why not, and asked tongue in cheek could I bring Jane as well (at their cost).     Much to our surprise ICL agreed and 48 hours later we boarded a Zambia Airways Boeing 707 (we were young and foolhardy) and we were off for 3 weeks in the sun. Five and a half ye...

  Feb 2   T+4 Lake Conjola – Kiama   Jane and I first met at the animal experimental laboratory at ICI Alderley Edge in Cheshire in 1980. That’s almost but not quite the full truth, as we did have a brief encounter on my first day as a graduate trainee at ICL in Manchester a few months previously.  Nobody had a clue what to do with me, so I was told to go and sit at that desk ‘over there’. I listened and obeyed, made myself comfortable, pretended to look busy, only to be rudely interrupted by a very annoyed but gorgeous person telling me that I had taken unlawful possession of her desk and to vacate forthwith. Jane. I think that’s what they call an inauspicious beginning. Anyway, clearly there was something in the air at Alderley Edge (we were installing computer systems by the way) and it wasn’t long before it was time to take Jane home and impress her with my high level of domestication. First up was coffee which Jane said she liked with hot milk. ...

Jan 31   T+2   Bowral - Lake Conjola via Kangaroo Valley The Beast and family reluctantly leave behind cricket heaven and with conflicting emotions head south towards Lake Conjola, close to Jervis Bay. As you may be aware so many areas which rely on tourism have suffered horribly in recent weeks. Not only the destruction of habitat and homes but also livelihoods. So, the dilemma for travellers is a very real one - to visit or not? We are happy to spend our dollars and make our small contribution, but are we just getting in the way of the recovery efforts, block up the roads, be seen as rubberneckers? Nothing, but nothing prepares you for the scale of the destruction and sheer desolation. As we drive through the Southern Highlands towards Kangaroo Valley literally thousand   There are islands of untouched forest and the randomness of the whole thing gets to you. We stop briefly in the village of Kangaroo Valley, a great little town, but it is 40 deg ...

 ROON & FAMILY AROUND OZ  JAN 2020 - 2021 1 Roon + 1 Jane + 1 Josh + 1 hound = 1 year / 24sqm Jan 15  T-14  Farewell Honda CRV There goes the paddock basher. 15 years of loyal, selfless service only to be packed off in its old age to a new and uncertain future for $3000. Strange how we get attached to inanimate objects. It was shiny new and hi-tech in 2005, washed, polished and respected. It was purchased as a mobile hound wagon for Bear the Newfoundland in our Black Rock, Melbourne days. Bear weighed 75kg and had to be lifted into the back. Chiro and Vet bills resulted in a second mortgage and disability pension. Alongside Bear in the back was Pippy the Miniature Dachshund (4kg). Why we bought this animal remains a mystery. Pound for pound it was the most vicious creature known to mankind. A canine honey-badger with anger management issues. Jane once accidentally sat on him and ended up in hospital. I used to sit in another room as he wouldn’t ...