A Trip to Tenterfield.

So...today, while Will was making cheese, Anne and I went south to Tenterfield. Tenterfield is in New South Wales, 50 kms  away from Frogknot and about a 35 minute drive. Tenterfield is the birthplace of Peter Allen, a songwriter, musician and entertainer and the first husband of Liza Minelli. Tenterfield is also famous for being the place that Sir Henry Parkes, Premier of New South Wales, delivered his famous federation speech in 1889. This speech led to the Federation of Australia in 1901. The Federation of Australia was the process by which the six separate British self-governing colonies of Queensland, New South Wales, Victoria, Tasmania, South Australia, and Western Australia agreed to unite and form the Commonwealth of Australia, establishing a system of federalism in Australia.Anne was disappointed by the shops but still managed to find some earrings to buy. We had a hot chocolate, saw the view from Mount Mackenzie, visited the Cork Tree, the Weather Rock and the Henry Parkes Museum.

Queen of the Castle.

So...today we finally escaped the confines of Frogknot for a bush walk in Girraween National Park. We took Anne up Castle Rock. It was sad to see the aftermath of the recent bushfire in February for the first time though it was not as bad as we expected it to be and already there are signs of new growth returning...

Flossing in the Sun.

Anne making the most of any sunshine!

Taking in the Sun.

Anne enjoying some sunshine at last in front of a pair of my underpants.

Still settling in.

So...it is Day 3 in Blue Moon House. Tonight we are all off to the 'McCarthy Uprising', a party next door at our neighbours, to celebrate the rebuilding of their house after the fire two years ago.Yesterday I was working at the Book Cave all day and Anne had a wander in Stanthorpe for a few hours until Will picked her up after cheese-making. She had booked a hair appointment for today and so came in with me again this morning as I was back at the Book Cave until lunchtime.She said she had had a great day yesterday but then spotted her first 'tiny' spider. I didn't have time to rescue it and relocate it before she squashed it flat.We had 6 mls of rain today, only half of what was promised but nowhere near enough to top up our dwindling dam.There was drama this afternoon too when a fox attacked and grabbed Thor. Will gave chase and Thor escaped and has recovered well from his ordeal. We shall have to be more vigilant now. The fox must be hungry to be out during the day.