Back to the 'Top End'

Disappointed by our near purchase of the Corella House, we travelled home to the Northern Territory. Melancholy with the loss of our perfect home and farm dream we vowed to make the best of what we already had.

Whilst the children grew, we made more of an effort to explore the "Top End". We enjoyed time with extended family, saw waterfalls, went to wildlife parks, museums, beaches, gorges and gardens.

We bought a worm farm and a chicken coop - the Taj Mahal - it was called and we coated it with varnish to protect it from the tropical extremes of weather. Our two chickens, supplied us with two brown eggs every day.

In our tiny vegetable plot we grew 6 foot high snow peas, zucchinis rambling below and then red, juicy watermelons and sweet potatoes that threatened to take over the world - climbing up and over the neighbours fence.

We attended vibrant, multicultural markets, marvelled at the colours of the sun setting over Mindil Beach ~ pink and yellow from dry season fires burning off the dried out vegetation that a wet season of nearly 2 metres of rain can produce.

We watched, entranced as the wet season storm clouds (and humidity levels) built up higher and darker until finally lightning strikes forked across the sky, turning night to day with brilliant intensity.

https://video.wixstatic.com/video/fffe2c_a19bc6ba7100428e8a809127283dd54e/480p/mp4/file.mp4

Despite some difficulties (subject for another day perhaps) and Michael's frequent absences with the Army, we eventually welcomed a new baby boy to our family.

Our family was complete