Sandfire, WA

Between Broom and Port Headland is Sandfire in Western Australia (WA) at the edge of the Great Sandy Desert (Western side) and it's a Roadhouse, it's hot dusty, dry and rather barren.  Water would come from underground.  We got some diesel there on our trips in Australian's west.  When the wind blows up goes the sand and it's rather fine in texture and gets into just everything. 

Sandfire is nearly opposite 80 mile beach but inland. Interesting - there are a few birds in the area which can be accessed by the link 'birds'.   There is also accommodation such as a motel, caravan park and a restaurant.

Very small problem!

 I don't mind having a lolly once in awhile so I bought a packed of Butter Scotch Drops at the supermarket the other day.  When it came time that I fancied one I was sitting on the lounge with my laptop on my knee reading your blogs which I do enjoy doing.  Whilst reading I grabbed a Butter Scotch Drops from the packet, couldn't get the packet open, so placed the laptop on a small table went and got the scissors to cut the top of the packet, hurray I got a Drop out but goodness me, I tried to undo the Drop as they are all in separate little packets sealed too.  So, everytime I want one I have to have the scissors to cut it out!  Just a small inconvenience.  Then I thought if I was somewhere else and had to have a lolly for medical reason what would I do to get the damn thing open!  I can't do it with my teeth, that didn't work.  A question is in order for anyone who has an answer/suggestion, how to open in such a situation, or any if no scissors.  If I'd known they were individually wrapped I wouldn't have bought them - but they are tasty :)

To make matters worse the blessed paper after cut sometimes sticks to your fingers and won't leave them. 

80 Mile Beach, Western Australia.

Eighty Mile Beach is a 220 klm stretch of white sand in Western Australia, located halfway between Broome and Port Hedland.  It is a popular spot for fishing and shell collecting, known for its spectacular sunsets and as a vital wetland for migratory birds and a nesting ground for flatback turtles.  Due to risk of jellyfish, sharks, and crocodiles, swimming is not recommended, although some visitors use the caravan park for a base to enjoy the surroundings..

We have stayed at 80 miles beach a few times and enjoyed it.  Walked along part of the beach, collected shells and watched the sunsets.  The area is rather isolated being rather hot in the winter when we travelled there each time with no humidity.

The photo of the Flatback Turtle (borrowed) and it spends 99.5% of its time in Australia.

Inside

These photos were sent to me by the eldest son whilst he and his wife were in Sydney this week.  They went to two concerts, Metallica and Opeth, not my type of music.  I've never been or seen inside the Sydney Opera House myself, so it was pleasing to receive these photos and share them.

Inside looks amazing and filling up with people in readiness for the concert to begin, the Opeth one.  

The Kindle eReader

 I've mentioned before that I'm not a great book reader the main reason is if I pick up a book I read it until I've finished it and nothing gets done in the house.  Sometimes I get my husband to call me to put the book away and begrudgingly I will.  I occasionally will purchase a paper book.

I bought an eReader a Kindle back in 2010 or 2011 my first one and now I bought another this week, a Kindle Paper White Signature Edition brought out in 2024.  I'm reading the Virginia Roberts Giuffre book, Nobody's Girl.  Loving it.

My old Kindle below.

My new Kindle below and so improved with the Kindle case.

Yes, I like to have a Bible on my Kindle. I've only got a sample yet.

Meals and Trivia

Just a bit of Trivia regarding Launceston, Tasmania, Australia where I live. 

These two 'things' I found on the internet:  The sunniest town in Tasmania is Launceston, it's sunnier than Melbourne, Victoria which is a State of Australia north of the State Tasmania.  Launceston has 2,500 hours of annual sunshine, whereas Melbourne receives 2,300 hours of annual Sunshine.

The 2nd 'thing' is what is the foodie town of Tasmania?  Launceston.  The internet says it's a foodie paradise and gastronomic hub officially recognized as a UNESCO City of Gastronomy in 2021.  A meeting place of food, culture, tradition and innovation that connects people with the land in a way that's deliciously down to earth.

Rather interesting I thought.

Some meals we had recently for dinner (evening meal).

The above three meat things are Rissoles with gravy and 6 vegetables.  I/we love potatoes, fortunately we can eat anything at aged 80.

I have a glass of wine most evenings with my dinner, this wine is the only one I drink and it's Brown Brothers Crouchen Riesling which is an Australia sweet wine.  The wine features sweet fruit flavours with a soft finish and aromas of tropical fruits and melons.

Chicken Stirfry and Rice

Baked dinner, baked pork and gravy with 4 vegetables potatoes baked.

Below is Spaghetti Bolognaise. 

Tulip time, Irises, Daffodil

 A few flowers from the garden in winter and spring.  The below flower attracts the bees, and this plant was shifted from the front garden to the back one, it's called ?rose and for the life of me can't think of it's name.  It has flowered all winter.

I've never grown tulips before this year I planted two colours red and yellow, the yellow hasn't come out as yet and it might not. We used to go to the tulip farm along the north west coast, you will find a post here of tulips grown there.

We moved the Irises in late summer to a different area in the garden, they are doing better but the wind knocked them about.

I love this coloured daffodil.

Curtain Springs, Northern Territory.

The outback of Australia.

Curtain Springs Station is an interesting place.  The area is: 416,400 hectares.  Acres: 1,028,948 acres. That is a huge area.  Curtain Springs Station came into being in 1956 with owners Peter Severin and his wife Dawn (dec) along with their toddler son Ashley and 1,5000 head of cattle settled there.  There are 4 generations now living at Curtain Springs Station.

You can read the history [ here ] and the site also shows videos.  If you have time and interested it's certainly worth visiting their site to read the history and what they do now.

We stayed for a couple of nights in the camping area as it is on the way to Ayres Rock (Uluru) a 1 hour and 16 minute drive away. There is no water but of course there is water underground, if there wasn't you certainly couldn't live in Central Australia.

Mt. Connor is larger the Ayers Rock (Uluru) Northern Territory and is seen on the way to Uluru.  Mt. Connor is 859 m high (2,818 ft) and lies within Curtain Springs Cattle Station. There are many camels in the area too.

These photos are far from Curtain Springs Station.

As you can see by the map, it's in Central Australia, far from towns.

The below photos of Curtain Springs were taken from Google Maps and it gives you some idea what it's like to live in the middle of nowhere with hardly any grass.