Oban Scotland West Cpast

Hi, we catch the ferry here for Iona.

a couple of pictures good fish and chips. look at all those chimneys!

Arohanui Ian and 

.'I belong to Glasgow'

Not really ' yet Scotland to date we find a most enjoyable place.

Friendly faces and haggis for breakfast! Yum,yum, quite delicious along with all the other food available.

 History of a salmon fishing town,a tobacco market, once 53 mighty shipyards declined to three at present .  A  city which has shaken off the bad press of being depressed and violent.  Made over to become a tourist and convention centre , presently sprucing itself up ,polishing many statues . For Glasgow hosts the Commonwealth  games next year. 

There thats my commercial for the city which has been looking after us the last couple of days.

I write this from the West of Scotland Oban tomorrow we catch a couple of ferries and head out to Iona.

The landscape we travelled through   was very much like  NZ hills and trees sheep.  Though the sheep here have long fat tails ,the cattle are highland cattle big horns and shaggy coats ready for the snow.

The stone fences and castles you come across it very different and you expect to see the odd dragon.

Here are some Glasgow and  Lochh Lomond

God Bless  

 Arohanui

Ian and karen

teabagcreek@gmail.com

teatotennant.blogspot.com

Arabian Magic Carpet

The magic of people sights and sounds.

The carpet was a wooden water taxi ,which once we had got on board andpaid two   dirhams along with 20 others it took off landing us at the spice and gold market.

At the wharf it was fascinating to see workers unloading a wooden  dhow no cranes or fork lift machinery the strong backs and arms of men unloading textile.  Some being opened right there and some being cut off . I wondered if that was their payment.  Karen thought perhaps they were samples for buyers.

This city of Dubai which is all so new and modern (it didn't exist forty years ago ) here is ancient transportation and trading taking place.

The spice market was great  colours, sights smells everyone seemed dead keen on selling us saffron, which is apparently very cheap here. We have never cooked  with it, so settled instead  buying some frankincense   and myrrh following some wise men long ago example.

Thought we were going to be vanished one part of the morning a very persistent man said to come and look at his shop , he lead us around the back down a couple of ally ways then up a narrow staircase about four flights unlocked a door another guy appeared we went into a small room filled with knock off label watches and bags then they locked the door.

We remained strong and wouldn't buy things we didn't want. I wondered do I have to king hit on one of them to get out. Karen smiled and said no many times as did I they unlocked the door and we scuttled down the stairs wary of being led away from the busy crowds.

Today we head for Scotland . Haggis and porridge a change from the curry on the breakfast menu here.

Will let you see our next adventure from the land of my ancestors.

God bless

Arohanui Ian and Karen

email :

teabagcreek@gmail.com

Heading on OE Walkaabout

I think OE is overseas  experience, I say adventure so So Dubai,Scotland, Italy Greece, Irelland Britain and France here we com!.

Five weeks we are away , the first steps are Alice Springs Sydney.

The past couple of months have been busy especially for Karen she deserves a wonderful break.

I gladly carry the bags.

I'll post some pictures of what we have e been up to My walking frame sculpture won a prize.

 Our tomatoes !  We have started a community garden by the Op 

Banjo playing and Magic at Desert Harmonyp

 

karen out and about at Eppenara

on the road now catch you later

Arohanui

Ian and Karen

Northern Territory Day Celebration

Last night was like living in a war zone with the bangs,whistles,and explosions of high powered fireworks.

We went  to  the AFL Ground where there a good crowd of people enjoying the evening out.

It is nice to have Tuiana with us for a couple of weeks in her term break from studies. She couldn't get over how  the children have grown in the year she has been away.

We are into winter now it was 10 last night so an opportunity to get wrapped up.

Karen and Margaret wrapped up for the cool evening along with Tuiana and Prahbu

UBX Band  Unbroken Expanse played and entertained along with the fireworks.

 

 Last week  I was up in Darwin , with Tiba, Tsuasi and Peter from the church here attending the Uniting Church of Australia Northern Synod and the  Pilgrim Presbytery of Northern Australia meetings. 

A most enjoyable time at Kormilda College.

They enjoyed our singing accompanied by the ukelele

There was great music every day.

Arohanui

Ian and Karen Davidson

email:

teabagcreek@gmail.com

blog:

teatotennant.blogspot.com

On the road

Another occasional blog from Ian and Karen in Tennant Creek

Over the past four  weeks We have spent a lot of time on the road between Tennant Creek and Alice Springs a five hour trip.

Our reason for the travel Karen has been attending conferences and workshops related to her work.

Of late,Karen has been attending meetings and often giving presentations at  the CQI Collaborative , and the Community Public Health Advisory Group Alyawarra.  She attended a Continuing Quality Facilitators Collaborative  recently 

Later this week we head to Alice Springs again for a working group on Childhood Anaemia in Central Australia.PDSA  PLAN DO STUDY ACT exercise.

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The picture above is Karen heading off to work at Anyginnyi Aboriginal Health today. 3rd June 2013

Below we are getting to know landmarks along the road like the Devil's Marbles

Sunset coming back from Elliot North of Tennant Creek.

 Karen had  been reporting back from an Audit at the Government Health Clinic there. 

Below another couple of pictures on  the road to Alice, Bonnie Well.There was some rain hence the green grass.

 Wycliffe Well UFO capital of Australia A handy roadhouse break, only aliens there.

On the road the other day we saw a dingo running alongside us for a bit, I'm sorry no photo as I was too busy enjoying  looking at the fine looking animal in its natural setting. However I snapped a couple of camels in a cattle yard  they are ready for a camel race coming up.

T

Big news at the Uniting Church Rev Peter Wait inducted to minister at Tennant Creek and the Barkly  Patrol  Minister.

A couple of NZers working in Australia at present  were there for the occasion .Katini with the Anglican Church at Alice springs and Colin a Patrol minister based at Alice Springs who both drives and flys around his area.

Some of the things we have done of late is face painting and making balloon animals to help

fund raising for cancer research.

I still work at the op shop and have taken a couple of classes at the high school Teaching fun stuff balloons , and magic tricks.

Karen plays most Sundays for church and I take a service sometimes. We have a Ukulele group which plays in church most Sundays

Orewa  and Karen at after church lunch.

Kids with their flags ready for  anti nuclear waste march in Tennant  Creek.

Ranger catching a Mulga snake  also know as the formidable King Brown  in  our neighbours yard .He pinned and binned it, but wouldn't open the bin for a photo opportunity.  Instead he took it for a long journey out of town .

As you can see we are well, happy busy and well travelled in the Northern Territory.

Bye for now will catch up some other time. Always  room if anyone wants an adventure

Arohanui 

God bless you,

Ian and Karen Davidson

teabagcreek@gmail.com