For a foreigner, Australia is a place we believe to be, literally, crawling with dangers. A few years ago I had seen a television series in which the 72 most dangerous animals in Oz were counted down. Granted, the kangaroo and platypus were on the list because, technically, they can do serious damage, but topping…

Tim and Khiara left the morning after the second muster and I began making a list of things that needed done. Among these were getting internet service, opening a bank account, re shaping my hat, and sending post cards. The straw hat I had used for the muster had been replaced by a proper felt…

I was supposed to begin setting up internet service so that I could begin teaching, but T and K needed to round up some cows for sale and try to get the cattle fed and watered as the drought continued. I decided that lending a hand with that was more important, so that that took…

Tim owns a panel beating shop in Monto, so once a week he and his daughter make the two hour drive to work at the shop. But this week would be a bit longer because there were cattle that needed mustering (rounded up). The Craigs own a share in a cattle business. Since I was…

Since the morning after I arrived in Gladstone, Tuula had been insistent about bringing me to class for show and tell. Today Tim and Maisey were going out in the ministry, so I had a free morning on my hands and Tuula got her way. Fiona drove us to the school and walked us in….

It was Tim and Maisey’s service day. Maisey is a pioneer. Her name (pronounced MAY-see) has an interesting story behind it.The Dutch word for girl is meisje. The Craigs liked it, but couldn’t get the pronunciation right, so when they had their second daughter they named her ‘Maisey’ as an Anglicized version of the word….

I awoke at about 6 am, which is something I never, NEVER do, but the sun comes up early here and my biological clock seemed to have gotten quickly attuned. I had heard some rustling against the swag a bit earlier and now heard a small whiny bark overhead. I glanced up through the netting…

November 12, 2019  – I had come into contact with the Craig family years before. There was Tim and Fiona and their three girls; Khiara, Maisey, and Tuula. They had been on a MET tour in New York and met a brother I had become friends with during a week’s stay in Warwick. He knew…

I went to breakfast and, mercifully there was no sign of Manny. That is, until halfway through my meal when I heard him loudly making his entrance, talking to everyone and saying nothing. Fortunately he didn’t try to fill the empty seat across from me, but merely said ‘G’day, mate’ and then disappeared outside while…

I had arrived in Sydney on a Wednesday with plans to see the orchestra at the Opera House, but unfortunately I had gotten sick and couldn’t go despite having bought a ticket. This was disappointing because the seat I had secured was excellent and I would’ve gotten to see the orchestra up close. So when…