A couple of pictures of the inland side of Surfers. Our apartment block is the lower sandy coloured one in the middle of the picture. The other is of a typical waterfront property but this one didn't have the helicopter on the dock!!

Have just been able to pick up the comments and am staggered to discover that Muffin appears to know more about blogging than me. Well done Muffin. Its great and you look well and beautiful. M is not with me at the moment in the Chat Room Cafe - Cooking in the sun beside the pool. but will tell her all your news when I get back and no doubt next time she will want to come with me to the blog shop instead of Gucci shop!!

Tuesday. Glorious Gold Coast weather. M plans a day relaxing beside the poolbut first has to endure another two hour boat trip with me - this time a cruise around the canals and riverdown to the ocean. The waterfront houses of the rich and famous costing tens of millions of dollars (Aus) are quite something. M picks one modest little number at a mere A$6million. How the other half live.So far as Icanmake out the whole area is dedicated to and dependent upon the holiday maker. there are dozens of high rise apartment blocks one of which claims to be the highest residential blockin the world although I suspect that claim will soon be exceeded by the building going on in Dubai.
In Queensland they don't have daylight saving time. Consequently it gets dak soon after 6 but is light at 3.30 in the morning (doesn't suite M) Apparently several governments in the past have tried to introduce itbut it has always been voted out by the farmers. Everyone tends to eat early in the evening (oysters followed by Barramundi and chips this evening) and we have been ready forbed before10. Poor old dears!
They have just had the Indy here last week - racing cars around the streets - so there is still an atmosphere of high octaine and petrol heads with very flash high performance cars about the place.
Delighted to hear from home that you are still reading this rubbish and best of all that Ronald is well on the way to recovery after his operation and is expected out of hospital shortly .

Monday27th. Most people are leaving camp today. Always sad when the Circus leaves town. Sadly sme are going straight home but others are off on excursions. Bob &Jean are on a Harley Davidson ride around Sydney. Peter and Jill are climbing to the top of the Harbour Bridge. We fly up to the Gold coast - Surfers Paradise. We have been lent a one bed appartment on the 9th floor of a 14 floor block just a few minutes walk from the beach. When we walked into the appartment the blinds were drawnand when M pulled them back she let out a squeal of delight. There before us was the most fantastic vista lokking inland over the river/canals to the distant hills. Lots of pictures and will try to include some if it doesn't take up too much of the time that I am allowed on this connection. As soon as we have dumped our luggage we hot foot it to the beach. Soft white sand as far as the eye can see in both directions and so we have a paddle in the Pacific.

Hi Guys. I'm getting with it slowly. Have found a Chat Room Restaurant that has free wireless connection if you spen $4. So here we go to catch up on the last few days.

Sunday 26th Oct. Finals day for Marilyn and Pink Ticket day for me. NZwon the champioships by one point from Australia. A great disappoinment for our hosts made all the more bitter a pill to swallow by reason of the victors being their arch antipodean rivals Sad to report that engalnd were beaten out ofsight and only have themselves to blame. It has been a very successful Championships and the Australians could not have done more to make us all so welcome and keep us entertained. The organisation was brilliant. They provided 6 ponies for every team and more in reserve - all transported into Sydney over vast distances. The rugby pitch was a great venue and stood up well to the pounding of the hooves. One man spent his entire days shovelling up horse sh*t as soon as it was deposited so that the field was clean at all times. 270 sat down to dinner in the eveningat the RSL club for the presentations and a knees up. the trophies were presented by 'Er indoors' in her presidential capacity. A good time was had by all and the games were declared to have been the best ever and most important of all the youngsters made many new friends from all over the world. England host the championships next year and have been set quite some challenge.

My Pink Ticket day was very different. Up at crack of sparrow fart to allow myself plenty of time to get intoSydney and catch a ferry to North Sydney Wharf to go racing. Discovered the explaination for the apparent missnomer of the Sydney Flying Squadron for a sailing club is that the founder of the club decided to name it after Sir Francis Drake's Flying Squadron - very appropriate for the speedy 18ft sciffs. Until about a couple of years ago all the sciffs in the harbour - traditional and modern - raced from the squadron but then the sponsors of the modern sciffs decided to move to another club. Consequently only the trads reeeemain with the Squadron. Quite a financial blow as it appears to be very big business here. The regatta today is at another club in the harbour so we are towed there. There are only three of us today one of which has a crew of ten -yes ten- and we have a crew of six. On arrival at the regatta we have to lie alongside a pontoon to get the sailsup. All the gear is very heavy and very basic. No modern gadgets - ever has belaying pins instead of jambing cleats. The boat with rig weighs over 700kgs. I had offered to bring some beers on board but the skipper - John Toon - said he didn't like drink onboard - safety and all that. Imagine my surprise therefore when the last crew member to join us - Fergie - arives late but laden down with six paks of beer and a bucket of ice. so much for an Oz dry boat where they never take any notice of the skipper. This is going to be fun. there is a medium breeze but a bit patchy particularly in the lee of the headlands and islands. The course is a down wind first leg followed by a beat, a run, a beat and a run to the finish. Its a persuit race and we are second to start. We put in a very good 4th windward leg and are neck and neck to take the lead at the mark but the spinnaker hoist is a shambles when Fergie drops the third section of the spinnaker pole into the ogin. (the pole needs to be so long that it is in three 8ft sections that have to be slotted together each time the spinnaker is needed. A nearby saling cruised is hailed to recover the pole but can't get it back to us quickly enough so we have to imprevise with the wisker pole (my boaty friends will know what I am talking about) The front two crew members in the boat handle the spinnaker and the jib, Doug handles the main sheet and John is the helm at the back leaving Fergie and me in the middle to do the rest - Lee clothes (the boat has so little freeboard that there are lee clothes on both sides that have to be put up and down each time the boat tacks - running back stays plus a main back stay used when the spinnaker is used, bailng and weight trimming. Talk about bobbing up and down like a whores draws. The lee clothes are critical because the boat will sink in an instant if the leward clothe is not put up as soon as the boat goes about and the windward clothe dropped to allow the crew to sit on the gunnal as the boat heals. they all get very excited and use some good old fashioned Australian phrases if it looks lke I am not going to get the clothe up in time. The sail back to the Squadron developes into another race but again we are frustrated by the flooky winds under the harbour bridge and beside the opera house where the wash from all the ferries comeing and going knock us back. Once ashore the boat has to be completely de-rigged as it is stored on a road trailer in the road outside Johnn's home. It sure is hard work racing a a traditiona 18ft sciff but a truly wonderful experience and great fun with a friendly and keen crew.

Saturday evening. Today has been a wonderful day which fulfilled all its promise. The games are well under weigh and all the terms that should have done wellhave done well and are in the A finalsand there is very little to choose between them so it should be a great final Aus. NZ France Canada England Wales Luxemburg. For my part I took myself off to Sydney again. This time I have twigged that I can buy an old farts all day go anywhere ticket for $2.50. ( just over £1) Bus into Sydney (got off at the right stop this time)short walk to Circular Quay and catch ferryto what is,I am told, the nearest quay to where Iam aiming - the Sydney Flying Squadron - nothing to do with flying but boats. It is the home of the Traditional Sydney Harbour 18 footer Sciffs - all replicas of the old boats - not the modern highly sponsored modern versions. Trouble is I have been given some bum info and so Hackers has a long walk to the Squadron but at least I am seeing plenty of the area - even the Luna Park fun fair but i didn't fancy a ride. The Squadron has a nice clubhouse with first floor bar and restaurant and balcony overlooking the water. On the lawn beside the building there are 7 sciffs getting rigged ready for launching. Igot chatting to one of the crews and asked them if it would be possible to bum a ride on one of the support boats. No problem mate, buy a ticket at the bar for a place on the ferry that will be following the race. So off to the bar for an old farts ticket for a few dollars, four bottles of beer (to keep up the liquids of course) and a bag of chips (bit of a come down after the oysters yesterday but one has to slum it now and again). The ferry is one of the old wooden double deckers like the one we were on the other night and i stood in the bow with a perfect view of the proceedings. the harbour is teaming with sailing boats from the lowly fleet of 40 lasers to a lesser fleet of Maxis - What a spectacle! Its all so well organised. there are two knowledgable commentators on board and I get a chance to chat with one of them (Paul) while his mate is doing the talking. Also meet a very friendly member of the club (Craig) who mademefeel very much at homeand insisted when I said goodbye that Ishould take his beerglass cooler jacket as a momento. The race was a persuit race lasting about two and half hours in wonderful sunny conditions and a 12 knot breeze and 1 knot of tide. The crew Ihad chatted to before the race and who had told me that Ishouldn't put my money on themcame second. After the race I managed to have another chat with them. The helmsman is John Toon (same name as a rugby chum at home) and it would seem that my luck is in. He has invited me to joinhis crew for tomorrows race - 'Er indoorspermitting. WOW! Ever since the days when ,as a tenager, I used to sail 18 foot nationals at Bosham I have always wonderedwhat it would be like to sail a Sydney Harbour 18. It will mean missing the finals of the IMGA World Championships but she'sgiven me a pink ticket. And so to bed - very excited. There will be lots to tell next timebut not sure when I will next be able to get on line as we fly up to Surfers Paradise on Monday.

Saturday 24th. To use one of Pat Lewis' pet phrases - "Turned out nice again". At last the sun is back. Spent the day in Sydney yesterday. Bought a day tripper ticket for $16. which entitles me to go anywhere on the trains buses and ferries. Fantastic value. Bus into Sydney (45 mins) Missed the stop for the ferries so had to walk back through the city centre to get to cirular quay where the ferries go from. The place is very busy and the pavements are crowded with every colour creed and nationality under the sun. So much for white Australia. The new high rise office buildingsare impressive - lots of glass. Take a ferry cat to Watson bay. v fast. Lots of yachts out sailing - a wonderful sailing breeze. Have lunch at Doyles on the Wharf - not the maun restaurant on the beach but just as much fun. You order your fish at the fish and chipscounter and then when its ready you take it to the tables either inside the building or on the veranda overlooking the wharf and the beach. Rather than have the fish and chips I opted for half doz oysters gollowed by sea food salad - king prawns smoked salmon oysters crab and greenery washeddown with a glass of Sauvignon blanc $30. Scrummy. After lunch walked up to Southern Head lighthouse - the entrance to the harbour where there are the old Victorian fortifications. Wonderful great Armstrong Cannonguarding the entrance. Lots of flowers growing wild on the headland - a sea of blue morning glories. On the way to the headland the path passes by some steps leading down to a nudist beach. Peering through the trees in the hope of catching a glimse of the glorious female form I was disappointed to see only middle aged men strolling up and down the beach and it was only when they started towave toeach other with their dicks that I suspected that it may be a favourite rendez vous for the Sydney Gays - a team I certainly don't play for!! Missed the last ferry back to the city so hade to take the bus which was driven by a female hell bent on making sure every one on the road knew who was in charge. Interesting ride. Spent the evening at another Surf club - not so good as the previous one but the drinks are fairly cheap .

Zoom in on the surfer an see if you recognise her!!

Friday At last this morning bears promise of a fine day for the first day of the world championships. It is a brilliant sunny morning made slight;y cloudy by the arrival at 7.15 of the painters who started to paint the outside of the Chalet. My loyal readers will know only too well how the banging of the ladders against the side of the wooden walls will have been received by her indoors at that hour of the morning. Nasty!! Yesterday morning Itook myself off for a walk to the Surf Club via the cliff topsin the pouring rain and howling wind. At one stage I wondered what I was doing sitting in a bus shelter on the underside of the world (Sunny Oz) just the get out of the wind and rain. The surf was good and watched 18guys havingfun in the rain. Took some video but don't think I will be able to post on the blog at the moment as may take up too much expensive tie downloading. Yesterday eveningwas the officialopening ceremony of the games held on the rugby ground. A covered stage (Like a pop concert) was set up on the pitch in front of the Grandstand . A local highschool band played some hot music (v good) the junior choir sang some good Australian songs, All the teams were paraded. The Mayor declared the Games open and then some pop/rock singers (don't ask me their names) entertained us for the next three hours or so with some belting songs and some disco music in the interval. And all the time the rain fell in sheets. Such a shame for the organisers who have put so much effort in.
Today Marilyn will be doing her stuff at the Games so I plan to take myself off to the flesh pots of Sydney City and will report tomorrow. Cheers.

Thursday 23rdOctober. Yesterday was the coldest October day here for 30 years. Snow in the ble mountains behind Sydney. Pissing with rain and howling wind allmorning but happily it cleared up in the late afternoon when we embarked on a wooden 100 year old ferry for a trip"Round the 'arbour mate" with a so called supper on board - I would have called them nibbles. The most striking thing for me about the harbour is that the waters edge is all steep too sandstone rock. There do not appear to be any shelving beachs in the oparts that we passed. Consequently all the properties at the waters edge have their private landings and masses of boats/yachts moored off in all the bays. The houses rise up the slopes so that even the ones at the back have a view out over the harbour. The Sun set when we were half way through the trip so that when we returned to the central Quay in the middle of the city beside the Opera Houseand the Bridge we had a wonderful light display. Everyone still very hungry upon return to base (but well oiled and plenty of singing on the coach) so Pizzas all round. Weather today no better. More rain but it does not seem to have worried the surfers. Will try to send pictures later.

Tuesday 21st Oct. Surprisingly it's not a hot sunny day - overcast and windy. All Australia will be down in the dumps as they lost the second test against India by over 300 runs. An excursion has been arranged to visit the Reptile Zoo which is an hours coach ride back up the highway that we came down on Sunday so won't be seeing fresh countryside. Tthe star attraction at the Zoo is not a reptile but Tasmanian Devils which are becoming an endangered species due to a very contagious epidemic of facial cancer. they appear to be very bad tempered but we are assured that this is all part of their usual behavour. The most popular animals are of course the Koala bears and the Roos which are very tame and allow you to stroke and feed them from hand. Can't say we got very excited by the Crocs Aligators and venemous snakes. Spend the evening at the Warriewood Surf Life Saving Club on the edge of the beach under the cliff. Felt very much at home as the club house has been built by the members themselves and do all the catering and bar staff with volunteers. The only paid employee is the administrator. The principal activity is safety patroling the beach but they do all the traditional life saving drill competitions rowing boat races through the surf (four oarsmen and a steerer) Surf boarding etc. Met the Captain returning the boat on a road trailer to the boathouse in the basement of the clubhouse. A lot of the rowers are rugby players in the winter months so you can understand that I felt we had a great deal in common. A beach BBQ had been planned for the evening but the weather was against us so 170 of us moved inside the club for a very good cold meal followed by a disco. The kids are all mixing well and having a great time. Pity about the weather. As I write this on Wednesday morning it is cold wet and windy!! Cheers for now.

Sorry I have been off line for a few days.

Sunday 19th Oct. Today we return to Sydney. Fond farewells to JimAly and Shelly over coffee at the breakfast bar. Everything used to be free here when it was first opened as a facility for all the impoverished visiting grooms but because it became abused by the surrounding populace who started to drive in from Scoon to have a free breakfast they now charge for the grub. Easy drive (after the first 20km all on dirt roads) In the area surrounding Scoonthere are lots of stud farms and between them we are told that they produce 6000 foals a year. I have never seen so many horses all ept in beautifully groomed paddocks with post and rail fences. Stop at supermarket to shop for supplies for the next week. All the essentials such as tonic water (bought the gin at the airport)coffee and six packs of beer. Also stop at a vineyard in the hunter Valley in the mistaken hope of being able to buy some half decent local wine at sensible prices. Wishful thinking as it is geared very much for the tourist with swanky restaurant and dolly birdsin the house uniform handing out tasters. we buy a couple of bottlesof Chardonnay $20. each (£10) Stop at a supermarket wine shop where the same wine is $13. a bottle. Much happier. One thinks of the Hunter Valley as one of the major Australian wine producing area but from the main road running through the region on the way to Sydney one only sees a few vineyards and the most striking thing is the very extensive open caste coal mining which has totally reshaped the landscape. Arrive at Sydney Lakeside Holiday Complex at Narabeen in the late afternoon without any navigational trouble so your scribe and she who must be obeyed are still on speaking terms. The holiday complex contains Chalets/Villas and a large caravan parking area. we have a two roomed Villa overlooking an inletfrom the sea (Tasman Sea). Very comfortable with all mod cons. For the benefit of my world wide readership I should perhaps explain that the main purpose of our visit to Oz is to attend the World championship of the Internation Mounted Games Association.which are to be held at the Pittwater Rugby Ground here in Narrabeen which is maybe 20 miles north of Manley. The ponies have been provided by the host country so all the competitors (except Australia) will be riding on borrowed ponies. The disappointment is that only 11 countries instead of the original 17 which were hoped for will be competing. Ireland and Scotland are two of the defaulters which is a poor show, I think they blame the economic situation but Iam not convinced as they would have had to enter at least a year ago before the s**t hit the fan in the economic world.



Monday 20th Oct. I have to get the car (Toyota Camray?) back to Budget in downtown Sydney by 10am but we are somewhat late in getting started this morning and as you may all know the navigator is hardly sweetness and light before noon. She is put to the test after we have crossed over the bridge into centralSydney and we are a hour late in returning the car. Manage to blag my way out of having to pay for an extra day. The return journey to Narrabeen will be by ferry and bus. The ferries run from Circular Quay close to the Opera House so we walk there via Hyde Park and the Royal Botanical Gardens and the Oper House. Have unch beside the Quay. Seafood salad - expensive and not nice. The 40 minute ferry ride $8 each was interesting and I was pleased to see Sydney Harbour Heads - the entrance to the harbour from the ocean. Manley is nice and will try to visit it again later in the week. Eat your heart out Geoff McNicol. I am getting stuck into Vegemite but it ain't as good as Marmite. Dinner this evening at the Pittwater RSL Club which is a Returned Servicemens Club (a bit like our Ex-Servicemens Clubs but much bigger. better equiped and many many more fruit machines which provide all the profit to keep itgoing. Am afraid i am going to be a bit stingy on the photos for a day or two as Iam having to pay £5 an hour for the internet link here. Cheers for now.

Sorry guys. Have missed a day. Just didn't feel up to writing the blog after a long day on Friday nor indeed on Saturday but woke up at crack of dawn this morning (Sunday 19th October) and write this to the tune of the dawn chorus - mostly the screech of parrots. Love your comments. Keep them coming if you want me to keep this up as it encourages me to know that at least someone is taking an interest. You ask for more photos so will attach a load. I haven't mastered the layout very well so the continuity of the photo may be a bit confusing. I can't seem to get the photos beside the text that explains the content but will be able to make all clear upon our return at the illustrated talk!! No falling asleep at the back there.

The Quad bike is great for getting about here at Ellerston - plenty of street cred - but Marilyn enjoys the Golf buggy - see photo of her with Aly - our hostess - and Monty the mut. Most of the men get about the place on Uts (Utility Trucks). More about my exploits on the Quad later. Next photo - Marilyn with her latest bestest friend - a jack of all trades official Kangaroo culler, tree doctor (he was at the house here to inject some gum trees that are looking a bit sick) better on the horses. Marilyn has got some tips for the Melbourne Cup. He put his teeth in just for the photo. Next a couple of shots of the Vets clinic followed by two of the main guys Johno and Stuart with sun glasses on his hat(Jim's brother who was one of the top Australian players with a 7 handicap whose playing days were ended about three years ago when he had a terrible accident and broke his neck. Now has plates to hold him all together. Next is a homestead spotted on our drive into the ranges. Then a long distance view from the ranges. The gum tree speaks for itself. Another homestead not the portaloo dunny in the back. Return to Ellerston from the road. I have never seen Marilyn play golf but she did at one time. She never told me her handicap but perhaps it was the fact that she was never told that you have to buy a set of clubs. The next two are the par 5 9th hole. first the tee to the crest of the hill second from the hill to the green behind the trees on the left. In the middle of the course is the Gocart track. Hole 7 is a tricky one . Its a par 4 and from the tee to the fairway is over 220 yards. The green is guarded by the bunkers to the right behind the tree. Then a photo of Jim Gilmore our host - the general manager. Finally a group of supporters watching Ellerston White playing in the Tournament that started on Saturday.L to R Mandy Fisher (Husband Jeff plays for Ellerston Black - he comes from Wale) Marilyn. Helen (another small world case - she comes from Hayling Island and went to school with Hedgers) Jim G. and his son Neal. Hope that all makes sense.

Friday morning was another morning spent with Al watching him shove his arm up Mare's arses. He uses an ultra sound scanner to check if the breeding mares are at the right stage to be inseminated or the receptor mares are ready to receive an embryo. Also he treated a mare that was very lame indeed. To my ignorant eye it looked for all the world that she had a shoulder injury but in fact it was a stone bruised hoof which I am told can be very sore indeed and prevents the animal from putting her hoof to the ground. Its a bit like a blood blister under your nail that hurts like buggery until the pressure is released. In the afternoon M & I took a tour around on the Quad bike - M driving with me on the back. Quite happy and pleased with herself until she read the warning signs on the bike that no passengers were to be taken.there follows a wobbly but manage to persuade her that it would be OK to continue as the signs were only there to protect the manufacturer against claims. Even so she got off and I had to drive down some of the steep slopes. Called on Shelly (Surrogate mother to the baby Wombat) where we found her with Aly and Ella having a sundowner on the veranda. Marilyn insists on a last cuddle of the wombat. Dinner in the evening at the Club You go to the hotplate counter where you are served the meal of your choice lamb, pork, chicken etc Vegs which included pumpkin -v nice - sweet corn and all the usual. You can also cook your own steak on two big grilling griddles. The cold counter has nice salads king prawns oysters Asparagus etc.There is a well stocked help yourself desert table in the middle of the room. Marilyn considers the Pavlova is to die for. We also went there on Thursday evening when Jim suggested we had steak. He cooked two of the most enormous T bone steaks I have ever seen. Sadly they were a bit tough and I think the reason is that they don't hang the carcass for long enough. When we went to the butcher earlier in the week I had seen a carcass that had only just that minute been slaughtered and he told me that they hang them for two weeks.

Saturday was the start of the week long tournament. There are four visiting teams and two from Ellerston Each team plays one of the other teams each day and then there is a finals day. The horses are stabled in the guest stable blocks scattered about the estate. The vehicles they have are vast. They can each take 21 horses. Spent the morning having a tour about the estate on the Quad bike taking photos and planned to spend the rest of the day watching the Polo but my plans went slightly adrift when the bike died on me in the middle of the golf course. Out of petrol so walked in what I thought was the right direction to get back . Fortunately I found the farrier shoeing one of the visitors horses and got a lift back to the house. Now we leave Ellerston and drive back to Sydney. Had hoped to be able togo viaNewcastleway and look up Tara but sadly she will not be at home today. Lets hope the driveback will be less traumatic than the drive out. Will stop in the Hunter valley and hopefully buy some wine.

Thursday 16th. A glorious sunny fresh day not too hot. (20c) I have spent the morning with the Vet - Al Simpson - watching him at work. I get the impression that he is one of Australia's leading vets in his field of experties in horse breeding. He has over 700 horses to look after here on top of which he also treats animals from outside. I never thought that I would get interested in such a subject.This afternoon we took the Land Cruiser (complete with refrigerator for the drinks) and drove up to Barrington Tops which is a national park up in the hills/mountains where the temperature was 7 degrees lower than in Ellerston. Fifty mile drive during which we saw one other vehicle. Spectacular views but dififficult to capture the sense of space on the camera. Plenty of dead Wombats in the road (very like Badgers in the UK) also plenty of Roos (dead and alive) One Roo nearly came to a sticky end when it jumped into the road in front of us. Saw several Wedge Tail Eagles. They have a 7foot wing span and we were able to get within 50feet or so of them roosting in a gum tree but I was not organised enough to get a decent photo. Very spectacular. The locals tell me that they will often take a lamb. Saw one or two being mobed by several small birds. The colours of the birds here don't cease to amaze me.

More proof today that it is such a small world. Marilyn walked into the walled garden (about an acre!!) and was talking to the lady gardner and the plumber who was fixing the irregation system. It turns out that the gardner is married to the sister of Poppy and Mathew who played mounted games with the boys.

Another box has been ticked in the list of things to see. Duck Billed Platipus spotted by M in the river. Sadly no Koala bear yet. Will have to wait for that at the Steve Irwin Australia Zoo in Queensland which we plan to visit week after next.

Wednesday 15th. Good fun today. Go on a mini tour around the homestead garden in search of a Bower bird's nest.(look it up on google - David Attenborough on You Tube). We find a couple of nests in the making. They are fasinating little birds that pick up one colour articles to attract a mate. In the case of our nests they have gone for anything Blue. Ribbon, plastic, Biro etc. Aly drives M on a golf buggy for the start of out tour looking for all the world like a Popemobile. M looks very anxious as they slow almost to a stop in the middle of a ford crossing of the river. Later transfer to quad bike. Never thought I would see the day when M sat astride any form of motor bike or that I would have the courage to allow her to drive it with me on the pillion. Needless to say she was quite pleased with herself once we all got over the initial shock. Saw three large birds soaring in the distance and at first thought they may be Buzzards but have been told that they were most likely Eagles. The blossom in the gardens is wonderful particularly the Jacaranda. Stop to watch some Polo but rain started so ran for cover of the stables. Signing off for now. Keep the comments coming folks.

Not much to report today as it pissed with rain all afternoon. Had hoped to have been able to watch a few Chukas but they had to abandon. Jim and Ali's bungalow is very spacious. Tin roof of course and when it rains it don't arf rattle. The rooms have high ceilings (12ft?)Kitchen/Sittingroom 20ft by 45ft four over oil fired Aga. Lounge/Diningroom same size. Not sure how many bedrooms- probably four. We are in the guest wing with our own vast bathroom (Bath, Shower his and hers basins etc) Around the whole building there is a verandah supporting wisteria vines and roses. With the onset of rain it has brought all the snails outand they are crawling all over the verandah. the gardner in me requires that I spend half an hour collecting them up and putting paid to them (warm salt water). Attached a few pictures .Views accross the valley which show a couple of the stable blocks and one of the polo fields. The other is of a couple of Roos.You might have to zoom the see.

Ellerston Polo Club

Monday 13th October. This is the most fantastic place and I wish my proes were up to giving you a true feel for the scale and beauty of the place. A bit of background may help. It is owned by one of the richest if not the richest men in Australia - James Packer inherited from his father Kerry Packer inherited from his father Sir Frank Packer. The homestead and surrounding enclosure of nearly 2000 acres is all fenced in with wire mesh fence and is referred to by the stockmen outside the fence as the "Goldern Triangle" with some good reason for it encloses an entire community of people engaged in the running of the establishment. This consists of the Polo establishment and the Golf establishment and all the supporting infrastructure. To list just some of the facilities : Three H shaped stable blocks each leg being approx 200 feet long and 60 feet wide. Each block has about 45/50 boxes offices toilets washing machine room rest room etc.

Several polo fields in immaculate condition. Vet's clinic - said to be one of the best in the southern hemisphere. Farrier's shop. Dozens of bungalows scattered about within the trees (15000 have been planted) to accommodate the staff. A gymnasium, tennis courts, Cinema, Clubhouse with restaurant, school (20 children and two teachers), general stores, countless additional stables for visiting teams, dozens of bungalows for the visitors. On the golf side there is the most incrdible golfcourse designed by Greg Norman kept in immaculate condition and probly one of the most chalenging courses to be found anywhere in the world. There is a 1km go cart track, helicopters, hanger and support crew and pilots - the list is endless. Outside the fence there are tens of thousands of acres for sheep and cattle rearing as far as the eye can see to the distant mountains. There is an inhouse butcher who does all the slaughtering of the home grown meat. Sheep shearing sheds and accommodation for the shearers of the highest standard - thousands of sheep and thousands of herefords. Hope you've got the picture, It's BIG.

Jim is the polo manager and has been here for 23 years. When KP first employed him he had been Australia's best polo player and his input has been a very major factor in the success of the Ellerston Club and the very successful breeding operation. Today he took us on a conducted tour but like a prat I left my camera in the house so you are going to have to wait for pictures. First we visited the maternity paddocks to inspect the new born foals. One born within the last hour and woud have liked to have taken a photo of its first touch by human hand. Next to see the Vet - Al - testing the mares for ovulation. The routine is to collect the stallions semen, splt it into three measures and then impregnate three mares. Once the mare is successfully pregnant the embryo is flushed out and implanted into a surrogate mare. The success rate is about 80% and I am staggered to be told that the success rate for all pregnancies in humans is only 40% - a figure I find hard to believe. There must be over 700 horses here and that takes some looking after.

It's a small world as we all know and just to prove it Marilyn has met a young English Polo player here who was in the Goodwood Pony club when Marilyn taught him Mounted Games - James Harper. In the afternoon we visit the Vet's wife to see the orphaned baby Wombat that she is nursing. They have decided to call it Angelina. Have seen more Roos and the most fantastic assortment of coloured birds.

Thanks for the comments guys.It's great to know that someone is reading this rubbish. Have had an e-mail from Muffin to Mummy. All appears well. Mummy has replied to Muffin - of course!! Much to report on todays fun but too late now to type (1.30am) so will try to find time tomorrow. Cheers. Hackers

I had hoped to have been able to make use of the time in the aircraft to write up the next posting having read in the splurge about the aircraft that they have a facility for charging laptops and sending e-mails etc. At 33ooo feet over the South China sea I asked the Airhostess - sorry ,very non PC - the flight attendant to 'plug me in' thinking that there would be a plug beside my seat (after all this is business class don't you know) but nothing quite as grand as that. The plug is in a cupboard in the service area so she has to put the computer in the cupboard. Two hours later I ask for it back only to discover that the dozey b**** has forgotten to plug it in. She was mortified and asked if there was anything she could do for me to make up. Now its not often I get an offer like that and was about to suggest that we join the mile high club together but then realised that my bag may be a bar to membership so I just gave her a smack hand and she gave me a box of chocolates. Nothing spectacular on the second day in Bangkok. Marilyn is delighted with the new silk jacket. At the airport there was a somewhat comic scene. Checking in at the First Class desk was a young stubble chinned Arab with about eight youngish women in tow - all dressed in black robes and gold jewelery - with a veritable mountain of luggage. M and I moved on into the hospitality lounge and were settled down to G&Tfor her, champers for me and a delicate plate smoked salmon and nibbles when the Arab team enter all with large paper carrier bags bearing that world famous logo - "Burger King" - and proceeded to stuff themselves with chips. Marilyn's face was a picture. Spent the waiting time on the internet getting a route plan from Sydney to Ellerston.

Sunday 12th October.

Saw dawn rise over Oz and landed in Sydney about 8.30. Hire car from Budge and armed with a street map of Sydney (supplid with the car and the route instructions downloaded from Google?Multimap we set off. So far as I can recall we have never reached a destination with me driving and Marilyn navigating without having had a blazing row and this trip would prove to be no exception. Much to our mutual surprise we manage to get out of the city without too much trouble. If it had been a weekday the traffic would have been whole lot different. Sidney Harbour Bridge is pretty damned impressive. The Pacific Highway is super but after a hundred miles or so we get a bit anxious that we may have missed our turn off. The route instructions are not very clear. We drive for a further half hour or so and decide the time has come to exit the motorway and that's when the first grumblings start. Stop at a roadside shop and ask directions. We have come off the motorway too soon. Marilyn not happy with the route instructions and says I was too bloody mean and should have hired a 'sat nav' with the car. Stop at a services and buy a map. Things get better but it's too good to last. Having left the motorway we are driving through a small town in the Hunter Valley when the instructions from the navigator are not sufficiently clear to the driver who invites her in a manner which was not to her liking to put her f****** glasses on. That was when the balloon went up and there was a serious explosion in the passengers seat. The language was such that if it were too be repeated here I would be in danger of having this Blog closed down. Let me just record that at that moment I was left in no doubt that I was not the flavour of the month, that I would from then on be doing my own navigating and that her only wish was to return to England to be reunited with Muffin.

Our hosts for the next few days are Jim and Ali Gilmore and Jim has given us intructions to meet him at a Polo match where he is playing. Our arrival there following an eight hour flight and a five hour drive (the last two hours of which being spent in an artic atmosphere) was not the most auspicious. Ali is not there as she is taking daughter Amy back to boarding schoolin Sydney and Jim is just about to take part in the Final Chuka. However we are made most welcome by their friends and the perma frost begins to thaw. Jim's team lost the final but it was fun to watch. The last time I watched Polo was probably more than 60 years agoand without knowing much about the game it struck me that the field was hardly suitable for the game it was that rough. This impression was confirmed when we later got back to Ellerston when Jim drove us around the estate. Here the polo fields are immaculate. Have our first sighting of Kangaroos (some dead - road kill) Supper in the Clubhouse and then round to a neighbour's house for a few drinksthen back to Jim's house by which time Ali is back from Sydney. Come 11.30 M & I can hardly keep our eyes open and so to bed.

Friday 10th October. Have arranged a trip up the river this afternoon. Spend the morning - v.hot and humid - on shopping expedition to look for a ladiesTailor as Marilyn wants a silk jacket made for her. No success. I am so hot and sweaty that Iam ashamed to report that Iam driven to taking a dive into an 'English Pub' just to take advantage of the air conditioning. The traffic is amazing and at the height of the rush hour a team of paintersare painting the kerb stones. No barriers/no signs/no lane closures/no traffic cones. Just get on with the job. How refreshing.

The boat trip was fun. Up river on a fast sight seeing on a fast 24m launch then transfer to a former rice barge to return at a more leisurely pace. The rainy season has just finished and so the river is high and many of the riverside shanty houses are indanger of flooding. All the boats seem to be fitted with ex-car/truck engines. The fast narrow boats have them mounted on a stand with a long propshaft extending out over the transom. They go like the proverbial off a shovel throwing up a cock'scomb of spay from the prop. Take lots of photos of engines. You know me. Back to the hotel in time for 'Happy Hour' and guess who is gasping for a G&T. She's so keen to get stuck into it that she tries todrink through a plastis swizzle stick mistaking it for a straw. Likes the shape of the glass so much that she nicks it!. Can't take her anywhere. It's only now that we have got back to the hotel that Marilyn discovers a Tailor in the building and arranges for a jacket to be made in 24 hours. In the evening we take the Skytrain - a high level railway - to have supper at a restaurant that Marilyn found when she brought her mother here nearly thirty years ago. Its called Cabbages and Condoms and is run as a charity with all the profits going to the promotion of contraception and safe sex. A super meal. More than we could eat and drink for less than £25. for the two of us. When the bill came I didn't take much notice of the goodies on the plate thinking they were mints but I realised that I might have found them a bit chewy when Marilyn suggested that she took them home for the boys. You'veuessed it. They were packets of condoms.

Wandering around the Patpong street market tonight it struck me how very few of the Thai people are over weight. Can't say that about the tourists. Not many smoking either. Have been told that blocks of modern one roomed flats do not have kitchens. The cooked food is so cheap in the street markets that people don't bother to cook at home.