Katherine - Days 115-118

Katherine is about 300Km south of Darwin and in the weeks running up to our arrival it had been reported as the hottest town in Australia. It's a little like Riviersonderend, just bigger. Our 4 days (way too short) in K'town gave us good insight on how Mac and Gail's lives have changed since leaving the UK.

After the camping in the bush they treated us to a Fish braai - the star ingredient was Baramundi fillet, that Mac had caught earlier in the year during the wet season......Yum! Not one to be able to sit still for too long, Andrew convinced me to play a round of golf on Sunday at the the Katherine Country Club - we played 18 holes in 37 degrees but, the guy time with and old buddy more than made up for the conditions. A honourable matchplay draw was a fair result on the day - can't wait to dust off my clubs in CT!

Monday was back to school for both Mac and Gail but, Gail took and early day and took us out to another watering hole, Edith Falls. I'm still amazed at how this place manages to produce such beautiful oasis' in what seem to be incredibly dry conditions. Gail managed the short walk with us into the rocky Gorge and we spent an hour or so lazying in the water under the falls.

Back home we were treated to photo's on the laptop of their last 4 years. They done some amazing things: crossed the remote deserts in 4WDs and Andrew has even managed a 55Km, 4 day walk on his own in the bush - madman! We were also introduced to Mac new alter ego, Jean-Paul lePoep. You know those impersonations you heard over the years? Well.\, this guys is a Frenchmen who finds lots of satisfaction in pronouncing his virility to anyone that will listen. Highly amusing and I can't wait for them to put it on You Tube for the rest of the world to see.

I've always said that if I could choose someone to teach my kids then a guy like Andrew would be a dream choice. Even in trying conditions here in the Outback where indigenous families are brought up without any values and discipline - Andrew seems to want to make a difference. Although he sounds incredibly frustrated at how the system in Aus has decimated a once proud indigenous people to a society that he become dependant on "guilt" handouts from the government, he still manages to love his job - and in the Australian bush he has found an environment that he thrives in.

Mac and me at the Last Chance Saloon chatting to the locals who's primary goal was to bum free beer off us.

It's quite evident that he has spent the last 4 years embracing the indigenous culture to such and extent that they now consider him one of their own (true story!). I saw evidence of this relationship 1st hand when mac took me to the "Last chance Saloon", a pub where the locals spend their weekly wages in one day trying to get as boozed as is humanly possible. For all their misgivings, Andrew still finds time to engage in conversation with these guys and they absolutely love him him for it!

He still the same madman we've grown to love so much and Gail (bless her soul) has the patience and character to appease his "energizer bunny " lifestyle. It warms both Kimmy's and my soul to see them so happy and positive about the future. 13th of January will see a new addition to the family, leBean lePoep - I have money on him becoming the next Steve Irwin (although it may be controversial wearing a SAFFA rugby jersey on national OZ TV.

Andrew and Kimmy in Mac's pride and joy, 4.2litre Deisel1990 Toyota Land Cruiser