Washpool National Park

Have been very wary of heading east as its been raining all along the coast for awhile and I’ve been avoiding wet weather like the plague. (this blog could be a joke) I have to get over to Byron Bay to hang out with Imo, Tilly, Adogg and Maddie so I have to get my big girl pants on and make a move.  Washpool was on my hit list and about half way from Pilliga so figured I’d go there for Easter.  I was also a bit anxious because the “talk” was... it’s Easter… It’s the school holidays… you wont get a spot there! Blah blah blah

Kaputar National Park with cotton plantations

Sawn Rocks ~ Kaputar

wind farms are spaced out

Roxy theatre in Inverell

God the traffic is a cow

Standing Stones

The drive over to Glen Innes was pretty spectacular taking in the Kaputar National park and walking into Sawn Rock, fabulous rock formations like organ pipes. Travelled up through Inverell and was tempted to stay there. What a gorgeous little town with old milk bars and picture theatres. Stopped at Glen Innes for a night, which was bloody freezing cold, stocked up and visited the rangers office to get the lowdown. Again was told I'd be lucky to get a spot with it being the holidays.  I channeled Doris Day, sang que sera sera and hit the Gwyder highway for Washpool. Visited the Standing Stones, a sort of tribute to the Celtic population around the area, a couple of lookouts and eventually the rainforests of Gibraltar and Washpool National Parks. STUNNING! There was a bit of traffic around and already I could see camping areas filled so my heart was racing.

God fingers ~ when I found the high ground

Arrived at Bellbird campground and only one out of the fifteen spots was taken. What luck! Birdsong is the background track and lyrebirds everywhere. I chose one that was handy to the camp kitchen, wood heap and toilet and set up post haste. Feeling accomplished sat down for a fag and a glass of wine when out of nowhere a torrential downpour. My so well thought out campsite was a lake and water was lapping at the floor seam of my tent! Fuck! I had to move. Skulled the wine, then peg by bloody peg I resurfaced in a ‘by FAR’ better site on higher ground.  Pretty glad I accomplished that feat and then experience allowed me to light a fire with wet wood… Wooden ya know it!! And whilst I developed some excellent techniques over those 5 days of getting fires going I know that I will be buying fire starters for my essential camp kit from now on!!! Everything got damp!!! But boy could I write a whole blog on fire lighting… seriously everything was damp!!

The place did fill up over the next day and I was glad no one was around watching my antics. It is a rain forest, so rain is on the table and it’s so green and beautiful. I did end up in the best spot, went on a couple of walks and found so much colourful and weird looking fungi, spotted more lyrebirds and avoided leeches by spraying aeroguard on my shoes. 

Now to dry out!!!

Pilliga Pottery

Up the Newell Highway and nestled in the gutz of the huge Pilliga State Forest you will find Pilliga Pottery. An oasis in the middle of the largest remaining native forest west of the great divide. 

I had no idea what to expect as I was just going on a recommendation of a fellow traveler. I met Jodie at the Warrumbungles and we planned to meet up there for a few days of fires, wine and possibly a wheel-throwing workshop. 

What an amazing place established by a couple of German backpackers back in the early eighties. They had also gone to the Warrumbungles and on their first night looking up at the stars they loved it so much they decided to settle in the area. Bought the huge farm and went to work building it up to what it is today; an organic Barkala farm stay, massive pottery studio and awesome café with the best food, coffee and freshly made sourdough bread daily. YUMMO! I was in heaven. 

farmstay option

Best drop dunny ever

There is a very European atmosphere there and the whole place is eco friendly. Water is collected in huge tanks, solar powered and all the buildings are architecturally gorgeous made of locally sourced timber and mud bricks from the block. Some of the houses are available to stay as well as a massive unpowered campground that we basically had all to ourselves.  

 I felt like I was on a commune with all the wwoofers*, paid staff and extended family members all working and playing together. So peaceful and art farty. The gardens are laden with beautiful sculptures and pottery and ponds and bridges and interesting gadgets. Even the drop dunny was a work of art. So much love and care in every artifact on the block. I’m just gonna upload some photos to do the talking.

 *Wwoofers willing workers on organic farms 

camp

toilet

the blue wren is their symbol … there are so many of them flitting around the place.

garden sculptures

this kiln was the size of a room!!!

hand painted glazes

the detail ~ dunny door

throwing

The shop~ just one little bit of it ~ massive

the ole corral with the p[ottery tree in the background.

Hand Basin in the shower block.

Warrumbungles National Park

Getting back into the Warrumbungles was like going back to the beginning. It was the first location that I came to, that was planned, and I got blown away… literally.

the setup…

Checked into the rangers station and scored a list of all the easy short walks in the park and other useful info. I was feeling excited and pretty lucky too. The weather was absolutely perfect, the fire ban got lifted that very day, and when I set up camp I found that I was right next to a great stack of wood that would last me weeks!!! While the days are clear and beautiful, the nights are cold and there is nothing better than cooking on a fire and warming the bones before bed with a nice glass of red. LIFE IS BLOODY AWESOME!!!!!  

View of Breadknife from Blackmans Camp…. Pretty good view to wake up to everyday!!

The largest Telescope in Australia at the Siding Springs Observatory … Massive

Unbeknownst to me, my arrival also coincided with the black skies that are the best time for galaxy viewing. Got my Nikon and tripod out and had a few cracks at shooting the stars but found lying on the swag out in the field a lot more relaxing. I felt like I was lying in a crater and looking up at the Milky Way I got inspired and came up with a concept drawing of a work that I can’t wait to invest time in when I get home. 

Visited the Siding Spring Observatory to get the lowdown on our galaxy and also found out that I was in fact lying in a crater. The whole area is volcanic. The observatory gallery was so informative and I just hope I remember a tenth of what I took in that day like, how to find south three many different ways, the formation of the sun, stars, earth and all the planets. The 3D movie was a bonus and telescope is massive. Biggest in Australia apparently!!

volcanic rock walls on the Nature Trail.

Nature walk

Wambelong Canyon Walk

White Gum Lookout.

I mainly just hung around the camp drawing, writing and reading and doing domestics. Went on the Wambelong Nature Walk up a canyon of volcanic rock walls, over a few creeks and up a rocky outcrop that had awesome views of Siding Spring and Belougery Split Rock. Lots of yellow box and red gums, emus, eastern grey kangaroos, lizards, rosellas, currawongs and these awesome little apostle birds that hang around preening each other making lots of noise.

a little work completed.

Walked the White gum track and lookout with great views over the Grand High Tops and the famous Breadknife. The Warrumbungles is pretty gorgeous.

There was massive fires through this park back in 2013 that seriously devastated 90% of the park so its still recovering but I love all the black trees that shoot up 

Totally loving the lifestyle of camping. Just the domestics of it are good. Collect some kindling, prep the fire, organize food, sit around, stare and think about it all …...aaaaahhhhhh!

It was so good in fact that I ended up going back into Coona and stocking up for another 4 days. PLUS get another go on their amazing ice machine… ice ice baby!!! 

AWESOME!!

from the stretcher… Lazy dayzzzzzzzz

Siding Springs Observatory from my camp

leaning tree of Coona

Katoomba

Sonia and I packed up in no time, dodging the intermittent rainfalls, and headed out of Wombeyan for the Blue Mountains driving through the thickest fog ever. SO exciting for us Top Enders since we might get to see a light mist once a year if up early enough.  The road, as well as tree shapes and oncoming traffic, appeared as we are just about on them. It was just so beautiFULL and mystical!

Abercrombie Road … I only just realised that a lot of the roads have second names….‘The Tablelands Way” :-)

Lowes Mount Road

Stopped in at Oberon to have lunch and rummage a few second hand shops, then made our way into Katoomba visiting historic locations and lookouts along the way. Scored a gorgeous little boutique hotel just up the road from the famous three sisters and settled in for takeout, wine, lounges, TV, games and laughs.   

Honeymoon Lookout - Cliff Drive

selfies at Echo Point

The next day was totally glorious and perfect for a sight seeing adventure around Echo point and the Three Sisters (the crowds were phenomenal), Cliff Drive and into Leura for lunch. What a quaint little village with all its cafes and speciality shops. 

Back to Katoomba to drop Sonia off to the train for her trip back to Darwin. Thanks for coming down Sonia… It was a total Hoot!!!!!

the beautiful blue Mountains

I stayed another night in Katoomba but the next day was very very cold, overcast and raining and I just needed to find a space to dry out and warm up!!! I was pretty much over the rain thats for sure. Consulting the weather maps for NSW and a quick call to cousin Jacinta to ensure there even was a sun, I headed back out  to Dubbo for some chill out time, lots of cupolas* excellent company, good food and some country livin!  Checked out the ZOO, bought some ugh boots and stocked up for a return to the Warrumbungles. 

Grose Valley, Fareeeeeezing COLD

Windamere Dam near Mudgee. The whole area is beautiful!!! I have to get Hill End Next year!!!!

Ring Tailed Lemur… so cuuuuute!! at the Dubbo Zoo

*cuppola

Wombeyan

After nine days of rain and cold my mantra “bloom wherever you are planted’’ was wearing a bit thin. I needed to creatively visualize some clear, warm, sunny weather!!! 

Wollaaah!!! Sonia arrived, the sun did shine and it was so fabulous catching up with my mentor and good friend to go on an arty farty adventure. My dream of driving the amazing, tunneled and spectacular scenic back road to Wombeyan from Mittagong was dashed because of the storms. The road, already known as treacherous, was suddenly a ‘No Go Zone’ with washouts and accidents.  We decided to head down the Hume highway, and then up through Taralga to get to the caves.  Big Safety queens!!

Mt Gibraltar

Love the little stone structures ~ the fairies dunny!

We did the tourist drive up to Mt Gibraltar, visited the Milk Factory Gallery in Bowral, and lunched in historic Berrimah before headed into Gouburn to stock up on the essentials, wine and diesel. 

The road out to Taralga was absolutely stunning! I just LOVE these back bush roads that weave through farmlands and gorgeous little villages with their old country pubs and historical reference. This pub had a bullet-riddled bit of art on the wall with a story of the Publican dodging that bullet, so to speak.

Their local craft brew wasn’t bad either, or so we thought until we met these awesome local, lasses, who after some hilarious banter, told us it was simply NOT that great! Maybe we were real thirsty.

Road to Taralga

Wombeyan

Road into Wombeyan Karst Conservation Reserve

Driving into the Wombeyan Karst Reserve was again a totally inspirational drive. I know I seem to say this AAAALLLLL the time, but it really IS always exciting and blows me away! With Sonia there on the same bent, we practically ooooooed and ahhhhhhhed all the 30 odd kms down the mountain into the campground…. which was, I might add, simply stunning! Poplar lined little roads that take you into massive grassed parkland areas. The campground was empty, except for big mobs of kangaroos grazing, and complete with fire pits, access to a massive camp kitchen plus a dining room with a huge fireplace, toilets and HOT showers!!! What more could you want.

Camp Wombeyan

We set up camp post haste, got the fire going and had afternoon delights with the Wombeyan cave guide. I wish I could remember her name!! (if you’re reading this please message me, it was a fabulous night)  . 

Gang-Gang cockatoo

artist at work!

Wombeyan Creek

Sonia cooking up a storm……mmm mmmm

Spent five days there in the reserve painting and drawing, eating, laughing, wining, talking art and dodging intermittent showers with our deadly raincoats! DelightFULL!!! The kangaroos were awesome they’d bound in across the parkland in the mornings, graze, lounge about, bound off to another area, graze, lounge.. Why two of them even broke out into a huge punch up!! Hilarious.

The weekend came and the park filled up with loads of people (and seriously I could tell a few funny stories there*) then the week started again and we had it back to ourselves again… perfect formula man!

*Topics for discussion so I do not forget:

‘I just saw a mystical white hooved beast’

sunset over Wombeyan

‘Their setting up for a big night, like 1am… I know, because we have done that’ 

‘Look with your eyes’ 

‘‘The ‘girl’ with the red rubber boots’ The conversation about the politics of using cultural identity to distinguish one from the other. 

‘Look at the pie shaped fog’  

One day I ran a little drawing workshop with some kids in the campground … The Work….LOVEX

Valley~Coast~Highlands

Winding roads through tree lined tunnels, spectacular mountains, valleys, coastal vistas and lush rainforests took me from the kangaroo valley down to the south coast and the southern freeway to Austinmer. CARAZY time getting into the ‘traffic’ and the hustle bustle!!!!!

Austinmer Beach

a little lino cut of a concept for Trinni

Went to Catriona’s, (fellow artist extraordinaire) to make some artwork ideas for her new little business.  We took a walk of her immediate environment down to the main beach, very beautiful!! This coastal village is perched seaside underneath the huge rocky mountain, Stanwell Tops, so I reckon they get taxed on a good hour of daylight everyday. 

Spent the next day working on a little lino print, eating yummy food and playing some games with Hugo and Nushi, and of course, talking art with Trinni. Was a great catch-up!

the beautiful Trinni…

and her daughter, the budding photographer Nushi

up the Macquarie Pass

Carrington Falls

Then I headed back out into ‘the traffic’ towards the Southern highlands to have another crack at entering Bundanoon NP and decided to take the Macquarie pass up the mountains through Robertson and Budderoo NP. Stopped in at the Carrington Falls where the Kangaroo River plunges over 50 metres into the plunge pool below. Stunning. The countryside was so lush and green and there are loads of horse studs and beautiful rock and hedged fences that border the properties. I felt like I was in England but I wasn’t. It was the back of Bowral, Mittagong and Moss Vale.

Bundanoon was again closed, so headed to Mittagong to catch up on washing, blogs, power up and even visit some rellies. THEN it started raining and did not stop for 9 days so I spent my whole time in the Camp Kitchen that was fully equipped with stoves, fridges, telly, lounges and even a heater!! I wanted to set up my swag in there!

Caught up with my “so grown up’ nephew Kalen and his daughter Alyrah. XXXX

I meditated on my mantra “bloom wherever you are planted” for 8 of those 9 days in Mittagong and then had to take control of the weather situation by following and understanding where the fucking rain was coming from so I could pack up my tent in-between storms and as dry as I could, before picking Sonia up the following day for our adventure. 

I literally put up about 6 or 7 blogs in that time spent in the camp kitchen, played games with other travellers and learnt a few new ones. (I must remember to get Rummikub, great numbers game)

Kangaroo Valley

Decided to drive the Highland Way, take in a couple of lookouts over Morton National Park and stop off at Bundanoon to camp a few days on the way. This ‘tourist road” runs alongside the railway line through the gorgeous little villages of Tallong, Wingello and Penrose to Bundanoon and accesses the tracks down to Badgerys and Longpoint lookouts. When we were kids we used to come out here and buy cases of the most beautiful apples straight form the orchards. Didn’t see any orchards though… bloody Woolworths!!

From Badgery’s lookout over the Shoalhaven River, Morton National Park.. Stunning

Stepping out at Badgery’s lookout, Tallong

tempting spot to sit. The fall is a bit big.

View of the Shoalhaven Gorge from Longpoint lookout near Tallong, NSW

Bundanoon was closed due to some backburning so down the mountain I head past Fitzroy Falls on a beautiful winding, forested road with hairpin bends and ear popping sensations into this beautiful and fertile Valley. 

Down the pass into the infamous Kangaroo Valley

my future wheels for balls

Kangaroo Valley, a sloping wide vista surrounded by the southern highland mountains, was one of the ‘must do’ locations when I set out on this trip. Bendeela was a huuuuuuuge grassed, free campground right on the very wide and stunning Kangaroo River that weaves its way from the Shoalhaven through the valleys and escarpments. PLUS there were toilets. I was in heaven!!!

A couple of Kookaburras watched me from their perch as I set up my camp with a million dollar view. Actually they watched me the whole time I was there. I worked on a couple of little oil studies, made some drawings and took in the beautiful surrounds for three whole peaceful days. Weather Perfect!! Loads of ducks waddling around everywhere and then the wombats come out in the early evenings and scratched around, gnawing on grasses and scratching their backs on the diff of the car. I think they had the mange!!  

The iconic Hampden Bridge.

Bendeela Campground

under the watchful eye…

My million dollar view…

Up the Kangaroo River

Down the Kangaroo river

On the Kangaroo river

Then the weekend came and the place filled up so fast with people from all over the local areas. Lots of families, scout groups, fishing, hiking and kayaking enthusiasts, as well as lovers and party animals!  Got a bit crazy on the Friday night with people rocking up late into the night and running their cars with headlights on while setting up the most humungous camps I think I have ever seen; complete with trailers full of toys from bikes to kayaks, showers and toilets and even ride-ons to get to the toilet block and back. I was probably a bit jealous of the ride on BC I couldn’t just piss outside my tent at night when the convergence happened. LOL

gnaw gnaw! Isn’t there a children’s book about this?

Packed up and headed for Catriona’s at Austimer…..

Having a scratch…..

Bungonia State Reserve

Grandma and Grandpas old home

A quick stopover in Goulburn to deliver a painting to Kerry, stock up on supplies and head out to Bungonia, the village where my Grandparents lived and gateway to the Gorge.

Aunties Edna and Kathy and Uncle Ross came out for “a cuppa”

Grandma’s old blue stone home used to be the police station there and memories of the place are still quite vivid. Drawing/scribbling on the wall along the back of the couch is a stand out alongside the lock up gaol cell, which ran off the kitchen. It was all wood stoves, hand washing, irons on the hotplate, wood chop down the back near the outhouse, meat safe covered with a wet hessian bag hanging from the pine and lanterns from memory. Grandma was a most loving and beautiful lady and I still miss her being. Back in the day, it was a bit of a drive from Goulburn on a pretty windy dirt road and sometimes there would be as many as 6 kids in the back seat if we were heading out for a family gathering (no seatbelts in them there days) and always so much fun and food with the Hogan clan. Today the road is sealed, the house still stands in all its glory shrouded by massive trees with a couple of extensions to boot and the gorge is a National Park.

What a beautiful campground, and all to myself!!!

A G A I N!

Pays to get away from the hustle and bustle of the south coast!

Set up a great sprawling camp studio, went on lots of walks, had a visit from my Aunties and Uncle Ross for afternoon tea and finished a couple paintings. Winning!

View over the Shoalhaven River from Mt Ayre

pen and ink drawing from Mt Ayre

I received news that my beautiful friend Nat passed away in her sleep on 28th, just 20 days after her 45th birthday. This was a bit of a shock and brings it home how important it is to be ‘with’ people when the opportunity is there. I knew her as the Adventure Queen; an amazing and compulsive artist who could make art out of anything and was planning a new adventure to the Americas. I was grateful for the time I had with Natalie and also the fact that I was here in this beautiful wilderness, alone, to process this news. The magic here, is that after a few tears and a couple of wines, I looked up into the trees and said out loud… “Ok Nat, I know you’re still hanging around this planet for a few days … so just let me know that your OK” At that a chorus of kookaburras started laughing for the longest time!!! It totally blew me out… I knew right then and there that it was all good and just so typical of her. Thank you my friend! I did not hear the kookaburras again for the six days I spent there. 

Slot Canyon from Adams Lookout.

Beautiful tracks out to the lookouts. I saw a lyrebird on this walk, the camera was tucked away in backpack :-(

20 Clicks to Canberra, oil on canvas 30X30cm

I did see a lyrebird on one of my walks which was totally amazing… we both stood frozen for a moment and as soon i went to retrieve my camera she scurried into the undergrowth. It really was a most stimulating sighting. Such a beautyFULL creature! Am I turning into a bird lady??? Mmmmm

I headed back into Goulburn to deliver my Edna and Ross painting, stock up for my next adventure and say a final goodbye to this part of my journey.

I am off to the Valley !!

Installation

Room for rent

Letterbox alley, along the Bungonia road to Goulburn

hanging with this legend Kez, X

Beautiful backyard @ Kerry’s

The last of the home bakes and ……………………………

………………………………………………..cook ups for a while.

Thankyou SO MUCH Kerry, Aunties Edna and Kathy and Uncle Ross for all your love and care and chats and tea and beers and wine and peace. It has been the absolute best hanging out with you all. See y’all soon up in D-town. LOVEX

Deua National Park

Headed south towards Moruya looking for another coastal camp… very busy and expensive, so decided to go inland and start heading north. Again, excited by the back roads and adventurous tactic that I have come to love so much, took the Araluen Road west up the escarpment and coastal foothills into Deua National Park.

Found the best campsite alongside the Deua River and stayed four nights in this Eucalypt forested highland wilderness.  SCORE! 

avoid the crowds LOL

….a very happy camper

Set up a little bush studio amongst the acacias, read my book, wrote letters and had excellent fires everynight. The weather was pretty warm through the day so got to swim in the river and take in a couple of bush walks where I spotted an owl!!! Seriously turning into a bird lady!!! A few people stopped in over the days for a night here and there so it was very very peaceful with daily visits from this massive goanna that just plodded through the camp at leisure and went about his business… man they can scale the trees pretty quickly chasing the birds…

Riverside studio. Too lucky with the riverside camps and love love love having a fire.

Deua River

I drove out of the camp and continued on to Araluen  through the most beautiful countryside that was  so green and rich. When we were young we used to come out here to collect mushrooms and it was so funny seeing a sign on a gate that read “NO magic Mushrooms here” Was not quick enough to get a shot of that and probably should have gone back cause it mnade me laugh out loudest longest time ever.  The village was totally gorgeous and I am a bit fixated on some of the glorious churches out in the country. 

Back through Braidwood and onto Goulburn to stock up and finally get myself out to Bungonia National Park.

Bakers Flat from the range

beautiful country roads

No Mushies here buss

Rosedale, A little oil study for Kerry

Depot Beach

Wild ginger garden at my front door

I have such vivid and fond memories of this part of the world. It is now the Murramarang National park. Its really busy down the south coast with the *Second Wave. Camping grounds are way over the top expensive and you have to book ahead online for the National Parks as well. I did book into Pebbly Beach, just for old times sake and set off down the Mount Agony road into sheer jungle rainforests filled with the most beautiful tallest spotty gums.  I just get so excited travelling some of these absolutely stunning winding roads with the sneak peak views over the bluest Pacific Ocean.

Pebbly was not appropriate for my set up so headed around to Depot beach and was lucky enough to transfer my booking over. Scored the best little site with a wild ginger garden at my front door, easy access to the beach, access to lots of walking tracks and a LOT less goannas than at Pebbly. As much as I love the wildlife… the Goannas freak me out a bit.

Walked the beaches and forest walks, did drawings and paintings daily, sat around fires at night and loved every bit of my camp there. The coastline is stunning and the villages are much the same as they were 40 years ago, preserved from the huge developments that are going on along the South Coast. Loads of eastern grey kangaroos that just laze about with little joeys, willy wagtails, king parrots and rainbow lorikeets and little blue wrens… SO beautiful.

I totally wanted to stay on but the weekend was totally booked out, as in back to back campers with gyre ropes overlapping, so I had to move on.

Next adventure……

Rainforest walk

*second wave: terminology given to nomads that holiday ‘after’ the school holidays mostly from Vicoria chasing the rays… lol That could be me… mmmmmm 

Rosedale

Heading down the coast towards Batemans Bay brought back so many memories. Braidwood seemed to have stood the test of time since it has hardly changed at all. Such a gorgeous quaint little village with beautifully kept old pubs, buildings, gardens and bakeries.  Then driving across the bridge at Nelligen, I remembered how we used to have to line up and drive onto a car punt that would take us across the Clyde River. At holiday time, it was always a bit of a wait, we used to count the cars in front of us and work out (@9 cars per punt) how long it would take before we got on!! All very exciting for us kids, probably not for Dad. Got into Batemans Bay had some pretty average fish and chips then headed down the coast. Thanks to my new GPS, compliments of Imogen and Matilda, I was able to drive directly to Cath and Jacks place at Rosedale. 

Morning Douggie walks with Cath

Cath’s Beach- Stingray Bay

a gorgeous installation on Stingray Bay

Their house, Dale cottage, is tucked away amongst forests of the tallest spotty gums and overlooking Stingray Bay, just south of Malua Bay. Gorgeous!! The king parrots, lorikeets and cockatoos come in daily to the verandah and are so cheeky looking for feed. What a peaceful and beautyFULL lifestyle! 

Spent days walking with Cath around the Rosedale community following tracks that wove in, out and around the beaches, toured the coastline down to Moruya and out to Mogo, watched the most amazing hail storm come in and even went on a rowing adventure up the Tuross River to have the best fish and chips ever at the Boathouse.  Such a great day out! 

Jack

The beautiful Cath with douggie

Ominous Hail storm brewing yonder at Moruya

Crazy weather… Rosedale

These birds….

King Parrots are just the best.

Print workshop

Bit obsessed with these trees… they are so awesome!!

through the spotty gums

Tuross River

Row…

row

Row…. ya boat

The Boatshed at Tuross

Love

One day we had a little print workshop out the back of Dale Cottage and made some lovely prints, Jacks a budding printmaker now!! 

It was great to hang out with these two absolute legends for a while and check out their place and the environment they live in. It truly is a beautiful and peaceful part of the world!

Cath and Jack went on a little getaway for a week and I stayed on setting up a little studio out on their verandah for a week playing with the oils, drawing and finishing off some work for Matilda’s Birthday. 

Excellent!!!

Studio set up at Rosedale

An oil painting I made for Matilda’s 30th birthday, Alpine Country- It’s been really interesting, and challenging, playing with oils…

Goulburn Celebrations

There were a lot of celebrations happening while in Goulburn. My visit coincided with Uncle Ross’s Citizen of the Year award for the 40 odd years of community service that he selflessly gave to the community, Cousin Jenny’s visit and birthday, my birthday and just any reason to get the Hogan mob together for some good cheer.

This blog is mainly family photos from some of these events. There were so many and the cull was hard.

Thankyou Aunty Edna, Uncle Ross, Aunty Kathy, my cousins who came from far and wide, Helen and Pete and Kerry, You are all such a beautyFULL mob and I bloody love you all!!

Big Budjus XXXXX

dinner out at Fireside Jenno’s Birthday

Iconic Goulburn Restaurant

Uncle on the front Patio

Aunty in the kitchen… Best meals ever!!

Jen’s dream come true. Hogan salads, prepared cold meats plus Aunties Cheesecakes and Grandma’s fruit salad to boot. Heaven!

Aunty Edna and Aunty Kathy KNOW how to put on a a Hogan feast. The main spread…. SPOILT!!

Kathy’s Cheese cakes PLUS Grandmas fruit salad!

Aunty Helen, myself and Kerry

The berautyFULL Martine

Sistagirl Kezza

Have you met my cousin Jenny?

Aunty Kathy and 2nd Cousin Nathan…. Legends!!

Second Cousin Noah whom I have just met for the first time. What a darling.

Uncle Ross

Cracking up laughing constantly- Edna and Kathy

The old Paragon Cafe… once removed!

Uncle Peter

Wazza… hope you are all better!

This crackin’ rockstar, Cousin Jacinta

NO… there are not 61 candles on this cake.

Born and Bred

NSW Roads into Goulburn

Hit the Monaro Highway and got so excited seeing the Goulburn signage, the lines of poplar trees and familiar country vistas. Got completely lost going in and out of the ACT and suddenly I was at the top of Lake George! OMG.. No water at all and a wind farm on the horizon. I stopped at the rest area, cracked a beer and looked out over the plains remembering some of the horror stories from that strip of the Federal Highway that ran along the lakeside; UFO sightings, mysterious beings, people that disappear down the rabbit hole and even the story that when this lake fills up another lake in Tasmania/China empties.  

“DO NOT STOP” along this stretch of road if driving to Canberra to see a Slade concert!!! LOL

Born and bred @26 Furner St

Driving into Goulburn I noticed the Big Merino swamped by an industrial area and there was Mary Street… and Furner St… I pulled up in front of 26, the old family home my father built where I was born and bred, took a photo and promptly burst into tears. The front door was still the same but everything looked a lot smaller and the sides of the house where we used to tear up and down on our pushbikes looked so narrow. I totally wanted to go inside!! 

The Old Town Hall

First, a lap of the main drag, Auburn Street. Back in the day we would lap this street endlessly. That was the thing. The girls would hang around Rogers corner (a beautiful old department store) and the lads would do the laps until they could score the car parks, up from Rogers, in their EH sedans, Shaggin Wagons or Torana’s with their cartridge decks sounding off the beats of Led Zeppelin, Alice Cooper, David Bowie, Black Sabbath or Pink Floyd, Tubular Bells and Money being big Favourites. What a different place it is today. Most of the stores are chains and all the speciality shops are done and dusted. Knowlmans and Rogers are gone. Lots of empty shops which seems the norm everywhere in Australia now as we give over to big chain stores who suck the business and soul out of a place!!! There are huge property developments to house people who commute to Canberra for work. The estates have crowded the main town and some of them seem to swallow up the Wollondilly River, especially around Marsden’s Weir. 

My Nan and Pop had a Grocery Store here back in the day, “Huggett and Sons”. Residents would drop their shopping lists in then go “Up the Street” shopping while the lists were filled and then delivered to their house. As kids we would often get to hang out at the shop and loved it!! Biscuits were sold by the pound and were kept in these beautiful big black tin boxes. Arnott’s Monte Carlos and the like were stored on the top shelf in the store room and when we could, we would climb those shelves ……… mmmmmmmm sooooo naughty!!!

Now. A cuppa with my aunties!!!!... FOR 3 WEEKS!!! 

Aunty Edna and Uncle Ross

Aunty Kathy

Riversdale Homestead

Riversdale High Tea

check Uncles Look OUT! LOL

out in the shed…. saddle up!

Riversdale Homestead NB: the silent cop!!! who remembers those cute thangs!!

Pots calling the Kettle black hey

Uncle Ross was awarded the citizen of the Year while I was visiting.. He is an amazing caring and giving human being!!!

…finding a car park was a bit crazy… don’t scratch the hilux!!!

Back in the day I payed the tenor drums in this very band!!! I notice they don’t have to do the full dress these days… Man that was full ON!! You had to have your spats as white as!!! Goulburn Highland Society.

from the verandah of Ernies, a gorgeous old heritage pub overlooking Goulburn Railway station.

The old stomping ground. Had a lovely walk through memory lane in my old High School. Gorgeous!

Hanging out with my aunties and uncles, cousins and people I had not seen for decades was totally beautyFULL. I needed to book my car in for some work and sort out a few things as well so the timing was perfect. It was so awesome staying with Edna and Ross who have knocked up 48 years of marriage already! They have a beautiful loving home and are the most peaceful and loving people I know. We played endless word games, watched the tennis, poured through albums and books on our families histories (Aunty is a total historian) ate in and out and seriously over 10 cups of tea each and every day!!! Like coming home. X

Aunty and Uncles home was so full of love and peace. NB: Hot Tip here in one of these photos Edna X

Cuppa Tea anyone……..

I caught up with sistagirl Kezza!! What an absolute treat, an emotional and beautiful time we had. Went on a d trip out to Crookwell tracking all the backroads and spent days together in her gorgeous little heritage house just hanging out, chatting and smokin’, pouring over where our kids are at and lots of quality time… beautyFULL!! 

Country Goulburn~ backroads to Crookwell

so the blurry eyes are from tearing up when we first caught up. We had not seen each other for 10 years or something ridiculous like that.

……………....and here we are just toooooo cool for tears. Out at Crookwell checking out the local vinnies and playing the ultimate tourists

Streaming Alpine Style

Barwidgee Creek

Drove out from Myrtleford in Happy Valley, Victoria to head for Kosciusko National Park taking in a few detours along the way. I am continually in awe at the absolute beauty and changing nature of the landscape with its running streams, lakes, dams, rolling hills, livestock, wineries and tunnels of trees. I just LOVE it!!! Stunning, beautiful country and man do I love travelling on these little backroads!!

Ovens River Myrtleford

Back Roads to Yackandandera

Stopped in at Yackandandah, a well preserved historic town, to dawdle about and check out a hand dug gorge and gold mine. Spent a couple of hours drifting through haberdasheries, antique shops, bakeries and pubs on another ‘heat waved’ day in Victoria.

There Is something very peaceful about wandering around old historic towns. So many stories and hangovers from the mid 1800’s and of course theres always a link to good old Ned Kelly wherever you go….. laying claim to the famed outlaw!!

This gorge was actually hand dug, probably used a bit of dynamite. the extremes one goes to to get the gold!!

Back of Lake Hume along the Murray Valley Highway

Geehi River Flats Kosciusko Nat Park

Went onto Colac Colac planning on a sleepover and realised I only had 30 odd kilometres to go and would be into Khancoban, the gateway to Kosciusko. Figured I could grab a hamburger, fuel up and camp. BUT there were no shops open, the park looked boring and the signage ‘Thredbo 82km’ lured me into the National Park. I pulled up at the first stunning viewpoint over Kosciusko, cracked a Furphy and quickly decided I had enough dry food and daylight to get a camp in the park and eat 2 minute noodles for dinner.

Spot the ducks~ Geehi River Flats

Excitement clawed at my entire being as I took the plunge and kept driving deep into the winding narrow entry into the mountains.

It was late avo…Daylight saving!! Plus I was completely stimulated since my mate Wendy was in Thredbo on a fam bam holiday… Lets go!!

Famous last words! 

Camp view Geehi River

God it was the most jaw dropping beautiful drive, the whipbirds, the mountains, and the brief vistas; when I could take my eyes off the cliff hanging, winding roads that were literally single lane and carved into rock. Again, amazed by the extreme change of the landscape. So exciting, I was exhilarated maximus!!

After about an hour I realised I had only traversed about 25 kilometres and there was no way I was going to make Thredbo so just started praying for a random campsite…. Sooooooooon!!

Skippy taking a bounding leap into the sunrise

and there she blows… Geehi Flats Campground! Gorgeous!! set up camp, boiled the water over the noodles and then some campers swung by for a chat and invited me to dinner… Hambugers!!! What luck!!

The Geehi River was not freezing cold and just so beautiful and clear and there was a plethora of wildlife. Lucked out bigtime. Took a long morning walk and came across an old Alpine hut. it’s an excellent camp spot and also the entry point to get further into the park via the Geehi River crossing. The whole drive in from Khancoban is the best. Totes recommend!!

Alpine Hut Geehi Flats

Went onto to Thredbo and found Wendy Cam Fam and ended up staying in a lodge for the night. Wendy took me up the Kosciusko Express Chairlift so we could be on top of the world. It is just the most beautiful space. we spammed insta with selfies and came back down for a picnic on the Thredbo River with the family. what a cracker bunch, had a great time with them and it was just awesome catching up with some homies on the road!!

Leatherbarrel Creek

Headed out the next day to camp up river but half of Canberra were there with their bikes and fitwear and both Ngarigo and Thredbo Diggings were packed. School holidays!!!

Im going home nahhhhhhh

I would head to my birthplace Goulburn. XXX now that is exciting!!

Kosciusko Express Ski Lift~ In the summer they modify the lifts to carry mountain bikes… its huge!!! the mountain is covered with families and fit people riding the slopes!!

Bike tracks up top of the mountain

Love

Lift back to Thredbo Village

Crackenback Ridge

Wendy and I on the chairlift

Cameron, Wendy, Pak a punch Caroline and Stephen.

Time for Smoko

My artist residency has gone AWOL whilst I break for some more social loving, head back to the high country from Kyneton on back roads to Bright and seek out old mate!!

us mob selfie stylish

Driving the Great Alpine Road through the very fertile and picturesque Ovens Valley with its quaint little villages, tree lined streets, mountain peaks and shaded crystal clear running creeks and babbling brooks was like driving into a fairy tale setting. Seriously Victoria.. It’s one botanical feast to the next!! I could be in Europe, southern France or Italy… absolutely stunning and bursting my senses with delight!!

Bright Beach

Hoola doola

I found my long time old mate Faith ‘GrabbaGallagher’ whom I have not seen for 3 decades in her gorgeous barn house at Smoko. We were like those babbling brooks I just passed, tearing up, hugging, and talking. We giggled and cried, babbled and bellyache laughed for next 4 days.  Faith and I shared a couple of houses back in the early eighties and went to art school together, so there were a lot of very funny memories, reminders and our big bold lives that shifted and changed over the years to unravel.

Faith is a brilliant chef, host and tour guide and took me around to the very best of this area. Picnic and swims at ‘The Beach”, winding our way up to the top of Mt Buffalo with its haunting Chalet and drop dead gorges and views, historic Harrietville, the stunning Mt Hotham and driving along the highest roads in Australia to visit Dinner Plain with its truly unique architectural village. ThankYOU Faith, I have been blissed out maximum!!

I think I said ‘OMG this is beautiful’ over a hundred times!!! So we conjured up some crazy ideas about art camps and I will be back… Could spend a year in this place. Would love to see the autumn!!

See you next time Bright one!!

Alpine Hut

Road to top of Mt Hotham

Victorian weather ~ One day it’s hot and sunny…

Alpine National Park ~ Mt Hotham

Dinner Plains

Faith Josh and Taylor.

View form Hotham

Top of Mt Buffalo

….Next day winter!

Smoko Studio

Study for new work ~ view from Faith’s Barn, ink on paper

Faith GrabbaGallagher~My Beautiful Friend, ink on canvas 30X30cm

Those who hola hoop stay in the loopXX The inner party animal remains solid!!

Yea to the New Year

Coming out of the Alpine Country and back into the real world I was greeted by an onslaught of traffic. Trailers, caravans, Winnebago, motor homes, bikers and everyone sporting a boat.. Or a Dog (V.C.R.T.)

The Garden State

This fire hut is amazing, big circular house with a central fire place and seating all around the walls.

Imogen and I were pretty gross after being out bush for a while however, Imo was heading back to Melbourne and all I wanted was a park with a good hot shower, washing machines and WIFI. Everything was booked solid! Nada…Nothing…ZIP!

The ladies at the Information shop in Mansfield rang everywhere; even Bonnie Doon was Packed to the Rafters… or was it The Castle?

Finally scored a few nights at a beautiful riverside park in Yea and the campground had super gorgeous facilities including spacious grassed shady sites, excellent camp kitchens, fire hut, lounge areas, pool and permanent and annual residents to party with for NY. There was also an impending heat wave (scoff scoff) and Victoria was definitely “on the move” so I decided to stay put for New Years celebrations! Yay in Yea!!  I even tried a couple of resolutions.

JEEZTHATDIDNOTWORKATALLLLLL

The 1.5 hour drive to Kyneton took me about 5 hours to traverse. It was probably one of the very best drives so far, taking all the little tiny back roads and tracks across country and stopping for the most precious things like an echidna crossing the road, collect pine cones as if a five year old or just to smell the hay.  Had to stop and get directions a lot; the old road maps don’t cut it and I should invest in a GPS one day!

I was totally in my element the whole way, inspired by country and it was like Victoria really is “the Garden State”.

 I want to live here!!

Fam Bam Tram

Elspeth

My timing was impeccable as Lani, Imo, Matisse and Elspeth met me at the Botanical Gardens in Kyneton, and we all headed to “the Tram’ our Airbnb in Laureston for the New Year. What a cool little set up with a cottage, fire pit, butterfly gardens and lots of sheds and caravans. The kids were in heaven switching on the fairy lights, having concerts and exploring the pine tree dotted property.

Imogen’s car can go anywhere and what a perfect start to the year perusing this beautiful location; frequenting cafes and country roads, gin distillery, lavender farm, the Convent, natural springs, train rides and stopping for photos at every conceivable opportunity.  

Lani makes absolutely beasty Gin and Tonics, to accompany our scrabble matches and shithead games, and the girls just played for hours in and around the tram. Proper holiday look!!!

Thanks LanDogg and Midgimo for the best time!

Training

Lavender

Matisse and I at the Convent, Daylesford.

Elspeth.

Timing~ #checkthecomposition!

Early career move for Matisse

LanDogg and Matisse both sporting some black eyes from xmas LOL!!

Elspeth and the golden egg

A big, happy, creative and productive New Year to YOU all………….. 2019 is sure to be a celebration!!

Dog walkers

Footnote; V.C.R.T.  ~ Victorian Child Replacement Therapy

Seriously everyone owns a dog, can travel with them almost anywhere and treat them like their babes.  All spaces have facilities for our four legged friends. 

Off the Grid ~ Christmas

From the Warrambungles I started my journey south to Victoria stopping off at Dubbo to visit my gorgeous cracker of a cousin Jacinta to laugh away a few days. Love that chick!!

Excitement set in crossing the Murrumbidgee River and seeing signposts to Gundagai and Wagga Wagga, knowing that my next big river was going to be the Murray. Checked in to Albury for the night, then headed across the border for the Howqua River region, Alpine Country: the High Country, just bloody beautiful country. 

Not sure I was that prepared for the long winding dirt track with blind corners every 100 metres, escarpments, mountains, glorious vistas and grassy flats along riverbanks that led me to 7 Mile Flats camp. This country is so beautiful!!!

I did arrive at the site and there was a huge horse trekking mob set up all wearing their akubras, drizabone’s and boots. Where was Clancy?? Tom Burlinson and Sigrid Thornton…. Total Man from Snowy River setting. 

Set up camp and lucked out big time with our own personal swimming hole flanked with the tallest trees, grasses and wildflowers. Seriously was expecting Tom Burlinson to cross the escarpment on a wild stallion!

Our very own swimming hole….

I went on a wood collecting mission as it was raining a bit so the nights were absolutely freezing and pulled every conceivable warm thing out of my ute to snuggle up in.

Imo arrived the next day with all the fancy fare…she is the total rock star!!! We ate like queens for days!! And the X-mas decorations were so natural as they kept flying in and out, all reds and greens with dashes of blue; Parrots, Black cockatoos, Willy Wag Tails and Rosellas.  Just so gorgeous!!

Moét…..What a corker!

Obligatory Choccy Soldiers for breakfast… well it was nearly lunch time ..

The next 6 days were perfect; excellent weather, drawing, reading, painting, eating, swimming, beauty treatments, laughing, drinking and stoking fires. Birdsong, rustling peppermint trees, babbling waters and whip birds was the only soundtrack and exquisite beauty at its best our only vista.

We took a million photos and I have culled them maximum … it was a brilliant “off the grid” Xmas!!!!

avi beers around the pit..

Enticing the Christmas decorations to hang around

….four books in 6 days ain’t bad!!

Beauty Spa.. pedicure anyone???

Bush studio

hello… prawns and pinot gris for lunch… riverside!

Bacon and eggs for breakfast….

Shag on a rock.

Domestics… collecting water from the river.

Christmas Off the Grid!!!

Dust to dust

Rear Vision, Same Vision

Leaving Darwin was easier than the 3 grand worth of straight desert roads klm’s that lay in front of me. It takes two days just to get out of the Territory.  I was tempted to go east just to see some green and a few different vistas but I stuck at it down through dinosaur country Winton, Longreach and when the road was still moving whilst stationary, I figured it would be time for a good break!!

I stayed for a few days in Mitchell so I could frequent the artesian baths daily. How EXCELLENT are they!!! Dipping into 40 degree pools and soaking in the healing minerals then popping into a <19 degree pool… seriously could have been a Turkish baths in Budapest.

The camp was a lovely riverside camp and it was totally a revive/survive stop. Crunched another grand just to get to Coonabarrabran. What a treat driving into country with hills, gullies, sheep, emus, shacks, chimney’s and winding roads! Very Stimulating!! From here on in it will be easy drives under 4 or 5 hundred km’s at best.

the Apocalypse!

I was really looking forward to getting out to the Warrambungles to test drive my studio set up!  The park is so beautiful and I was totally inspired to get drawing. Scored a yearlong All Parks Pass and wound down into this gorgeous campground.  Then the apocalypse came! I had almost finished getting the tent up when I heard a bit of a rumble. Looked up and saw this pinky, orangey, dirty brown cloud bellowing up over the mountain.

The Spire

My first thought was bushfire, but there was no smell and it was moving in and fast. I literally started chucking shit in the car and tying down all the canopy sides when it just hit! 120kph dust storm. I was in Interstellar!  It just ripped through pulling out my tent poles and making my tent look like a tissue as it flapped wildly with the wind. I was shitting myself … where was Matthew McConaughey???? And is my tent going to get shredded??? 

I few tree’s got stripped and The rangers came round to check on us, warned there was a massive storm front coming through and we’d probably be ok. At that point it was as clear as! I totally tied that tent down with every available guy rope and seriously drilled those pegs in proper.

Some other campers pulled in and I was very happy that they stayed camped next to me. Uta, Jorge, Linda and Benno… in a van! If it got hectic… I was jumping in with them!! had an excellent evening with red wine, cheeses and fruit and laughed and laughed… till about midnight when the storm lashed down. Again shitting myself!!! Blair Witch Project came to mind at about 3am as I sat inside the tent and feeling like a sniveling, scared old lady using up all my data looking at bloody weather maps!!!

Seriously THAT’S when I grew some balls and went to sleep for a couple of hours.

The following day I gave Bertha a clean out.  Sorted the dust and had a very good nights sleep… with one thought in my mind… TOMORROW I’m test-driving the studio!!!!

Bush Studio

Get Outta Town

I am going on an artist journey for as long as I can manage, hopefully 5-6 months, heading to NSW.

Packing for a BIG trip is no mean feat, nor is clearing out the house and setting up for a very special resident while I am gone.

I have literally gone through my 60 years and have had this massive purge and the process has been full of emotions. Excitement, nostalgia, sadness and joy!

I have a proclivity to hoard the extraneous, however there have been times in my life where I have had ‘The Big Clean Out’ and regretted throwing things away in my haste to ‘lighten up’. All my diaries from my youth for one!! But then I would have taken another week reading through them as well. There aren’t too many times in your life where you really go through allllllll your belongings and scrutinise their value for the now or for the future and it’s really a task that takes time. A lot of time!

All the little treasures, keepsakes and portraits of my daughters, Lani, Imo and Tilly. Dusting them off and reframing some before packing them into boxes!  The tears have flowed as I look at the years and years and years of their growth. I love them so much; it could have been yesterday when they were 5, 8 and 10 years old.

My grandma kept all my letters that date back to the mid seventies. WHAT a laugh!! All my views and experiences right there in black and white. A lot of the letters are from my days in England and written on very thin airmail paper or that paper that is also the envelope. I’ve written so small I can hardly read it. Economical??? I don’t know how my dear Grandmother went; she would have needed a magnifying glass. 

Deadly drying box

The studio has been a Pandora’s box!  Working out what to take was crazy hard, so I have basically packed everything. Oils, inks, acrylics, charcoal, pastels, watercolours, canvas, boards, paper, sketchbooks and printmaking stuff.... Man, I’m going to have some fun!!!

Then my neighbour took a look at a little drawing design I made for carrying boards and has made this amazing little drying box come rack. I can paint in oils and not worry about the drying time. It holds 6 boards @ 80 X 30cm so I can rotate them through as I do layers. They will be able to dry without the bugs, dust and dirt. Spent days preparing boards for this little manifesto and I love it!!

Check it out!! 

The new Beast Toyota has the number plate CB 60 BS so I have aptly named her ‘Country Bounty @60 Bertha Star’ At least I can remember my number plate when I need. LOL

See ya round HomiesX

bin awhile……

Well its clear that other social media has replaced this blog. For me, Im going to pick this up as a diary because I’m packing up my studio to go on an adventure to NSW drawing and painting and want to document this major event in my life.

SO…. Were did the last 4 years go??
In a nutshell!!!
It has been an exciting journey over the last couple of years. My last blog was from that fabulous visit to Vee’s in France. She had been saying for years and years to come visit, that it will change my life and would it not be grand to sit over a glass of wine and catch up on 20 years of our lives, our three daughters and the highs and lows since art school in the eighties. Well ultimately, it did change my life. Vee if your reading this I ThankYOU. 

This photo was take on our last big night out in Paris at the Moulin Rouge and I feel its appropriate to post this as it gives my blogs a flow considering the last 4 years have been totally neglected!

Soon after arriving back in Australia I went  on an artist residency to Alice Springs with ArtbackNT for six weeks. Another game changer for me!

Confronted with a different landscape that was in sheer contrast to my Top End works was a bit of a challenge and culminated in the exhibition ‘Alice Rocks’ At the CDU campus and then a selection of works “Desert Roads’ went to Melbourne for a month, at Glimpse Art Space. Successful shows!!

ArtbackNT are an amazing support for the arts across the Territory and I still have ties with them with the Artists on Tour program. Leading artists deliver workshops around a range of art forms including dance, visual arts, story telling, sculpture and theatre. Check them out @

https://artbacknt.com.au/what-we-do/artists-on-tour/

I took another year away from my work as Arts Senior at my local high school and pursued my practice with many successes along the way. Katherine Art Prize and then finalist in the John Leslie prize for landscape were won within weeks of each other!! Too happy with that. It’s amazing how uplifting and confidence building winning an art prize or making finalist can be. It’s really quite validating!!!

In 2017 I won a significant artist grant from ArtsNT to develop a body of work about the Territory landscape that culminated in my first solo exhibition at a prominent commercial gallery in Darwin. This was an extremely exciting period in my artist life! Inspirations came like waves of delight, followed by tsunamis of trepidation. Throughout the process I was fully supported by my beautiful daughters Lani, Imogen and Matilda, Paul Johnstone, peers and friends. Big Huge thanks to Cath, Franck, Sonia, Rob, Wendy… this list could go on and Don. Darwin has an incredibly supportive arts community and I totally love it!!
Stone Country was a very successful exhibition and so was the after party that was organised by Matilda at this gorgeous wine bar next door to the gallery. Big celebrations!!!
I am now represented in Darwin by Paul Johnstone Gallery and he is an absolute legend to deal with, plus he shells out wine when he visits the studio and thats gotta be a big bonus!! 
16 months later and I’m up for my second show there in a couple of weeks. Bring it AWN!!