On 3 June, Sue writes: Tonight we will be on the other side of Australia. Wandering in the evening on the wide terracotta sands of Broome, in Western Australia. Lizzie Hurtt is taking over the reins at Wombat Bend, and has begun by attacking my pantry. I'm glad I won't be here to witness her shrieks of dismay at the age of the spices on the shelves. I am nothing if not well-intentioned, I guess. Why throw out perfectly good spices even in they are several years past their UBD. I always thought aged was good; she says not. Oh well. (As compensation, however, I baked her a huge batch of shortbread yesterday). So . . . the backpacks are packed, the maps are in, and we're off for two weeks in the Kimberley wilderness (that's the mystery chunk of country in the north west corner of Australia) where roads are few, waterfalls are gigantic, billabongs are the size of Sydney Harbour, and the wilderness is pure wilderness. On our previous journey there we discovered eight new species of plants and made several extensions of records of other plants. It's exciting. Even more deeply affecting is the opportunity to discover unrecorded sites of Aboriginal rock art, which are to be found on almost every sandstone cliff and rocky outcrop across the landscape. Most of all, it's one of the final places on this planet where one can stand on a giant sandstone escarpment and gaze across a wide and mysterious landscape barely altered in 500 million years. It's an experience that transcends all others - for us, at least. It centres us entirely. Leaving Ascha, Aerem & Chester is the hard part, but with Lizzie there as Wombat Bend Mum once again, we are so fortunate. I suspect she will have three companions in bed tonight. We'll be back soon enough ---- Sue Excited I should have added an EnzoNote . . . because of course he is always at the front & centre of my mind. Enzo is doing fine after scaring us witless a few weeks ago with suspected stroke, now certainly Canine Vestibular Syndrome. Lizzie saw him last week before coming down to WB and he gave her the trademark knee nudges & delighted greetings. And I will be visiting him in Sydney in early August. And thank you to everyone who has just called in with happy traveling wishes! Waving --- it's time to go Sue Ascha & Aerem & Chester - what? you're leaving us again??? Off to Western Australia On 7 June, Lizzie Hurtt writes from Wombat Bend: News from Wombat Bend finally. Being the slouch I am I've never found out how to put pics in the listıs album . . . You'd think with all the "spare" time I've got here that I'd get around to it but what with catering for the As (food and entertainment-wise); checking Sue's and my emails; fielding Austraflora calls; clearing up my computer (that's tidying up all the files from 3 computers ago :-} and tackling Sue's larder . . . collecting kindling; feeding the wild birds . . . plus a simple run into town to collect the mail and pick up daily needs takes a good hour out of the day - ah, life in the country - busy but not fast - oh it's hard life . . . hahahahaha. Spoonbill at Wombat Bend Anyway, a word about Sue's larder seeing as how she mentioned it in her email. It's a wonderful Aladdin's cave of goodies but as Sue's priorities are her plant work and her wondaireful rescue work she's not much time for keeping it up-to-date - which is where I come in as I'm good at sorting & kitchen-y things hence my little project while she & Bill are taking a long overdue break. I also found a source of cheap ripe tomatoes so I'm cooking up a batch each of my favourite tomato chutneys . I've been here just over a week - Sue & Bill headed west on Monday - four days ago. We've all slipped well into a Sue-less & Bill-less routine although the As inform me it is a mite tedious as I don't build potting sheds, prune trees, tend veggie patches or play much football. On the plus side my food preparation skills are up to Sue's standards (phew!) and I exercise an attraction for the mouse who lives in the bird seed store . . . we've had a couple of exciting and close shaves - Chester is sure he'll score soon though! The As are also very good at conning me with middle-of-the-night toilet calls which turn out to be interesting-nightlife-to-chase calls instead! Enzo waiting for something interesting to happen . . . foodwise I've included a couple of pics of Enzo from last week when I had lunch with Atia just before I came down here. He's doing just fine, enjoying life and enjoying being back with his family. Maia is now free of her 'metal work' and in just a couple of weeks I've been able to see a big improvement in her ability to get around . . . . Enzo pondering the possibility that there's something interesting happening . . . foodwise

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