This last month it's like I've decided to play grown up and have doing a few activities that people my age have probably been doing for years but I always poo poo'd because I was always out having too much other fun. The missus has even commented that I'm turning into a real old man and as soon as I'm done telling these kids to get off my lawn I'll sit down and tell you all about it.
Last weekend we went to the Batlow Apple Blossom Festival and it was heaps fun. We weren't really sure what to expect, neither of us having been to Batlow before but like everyone in Australia we have seen Batlow apples in the supermarket. I don't know what I was more impressed with, the town or the festival. We rock up on a Friday afternoon and the towns is pretty empty. We check into what seems to be the only hotel next to what seems to be the only restaurant (why do all R.S.L Clubs always have Chinese Restaurants?) and 1 block from what seems to be the only the coffee shop...and straight away I like it. The people who run the hotel talk to you as if you were friends 20 years ago and its good to see you again. We walked to the local supermarket to get some supplies and see people pulling up out the front and walking inside, leaving their cars unlocked and windows down. Head to the restaurant for dinner and people are talking to people other than those they came to dinner with because most people in small towns know most of the other people. It's a very friendly atmosphere and much more like the town I grew up in as opposed the significantly more isolating attitude Canberran's seem to take. Next day, after polishing off some of the best coffee I ever recall drinking we head to the festival to catch the local school choirs performing. They aren't great but that's not the point. The kids have fun and the oldies smile.The markets have lots of local crafts and produce, I stuff myself silly on gozleme and kransky, Chace loves the animal petting area and the dudes doing huge backflips and cliffhangers on mini motocross bikes get everyone pumped. It really is a great time and I reckon we may end up back there next year.
The weekend just gone saw us truck along to The Canberra Times Home, Leisure, Caravan, 4WD, Camping Show. Retarded name but a really damn cool show. Over the last few years I've been slowly stocking up on stuff to make the move from blokes camping to family camping. So while I still have a swag for throwing on the ground next to the fire, I've also got a tent and air mattress. Instead of crouching over a hole with a bog roll on a shovel handle, I have a portapotty and fold up thunderbox. Next step is to stop taking a cake of soap down to the river/lake and figure out a better way of getting clean. At the Crazy Name Show (CNS from now on) they had a portable hot water system that was gas powered, sucked cold water from a bucket up a hose and ejected out warm water out of a hand held shower head. Not sure I want to go that cushy, it still needs to feel like camping to some degree. But I might consider one of those awesome camper trailers. I reckon they had about a hundred different varieties of camp trailer, differents brands, sizes, configurations and level of comfort. I dont need any of the huge 30k numbers and I won't be taking it over any really crazy 4wd tracks but one something that can hold the hold family, handle a little off road and fold down so I can flip the tinny up on top is definitely on the cards in the coming years. The CNS also had some cool 4WD demos with some competition drivers doing some crazy stuff. Good to look at but I dont think the wife will be up for a whole lot of that action. Plus I dont think I want to be re-engineering the Surf in that way. Best demo was definitely the guy showing lures and winding techniques in a big glass sided fish impound. As a fisher guy its sometimes hard to know whats going on under the water and this was the best insight I've ever had. Mad keen for the upcoming hot season and definitely eager to see if I can get out amongst some of the local perch. Maybe see if Chace can catch his first reddy. So a good show just in time for outdoor season.
Well that's burnt me out, this old body needs sleep.
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