Derby...

We certainly arrived in Derby at the right time. We just managed to catch the end of the Boab Festival that runs on weekends in July. Saturday night we went to the Mud Crab races. I have never been to anything likt this so it was exciting to start off with, it didn't disappoint.

We bought our first crab for $5 to race, being very thankful to our fantastic sponsors we named him Canon (pretty good racing name). There was a bit of controversary over who won our heat (they took the first 3 crabs to the rope) we thought Canon came 3rd but everyone else thought he was 4th so we were out voted.

We tried again in a later heat and this time Greg took over naming rights (I didn't even know until it was announced) number two crab was Nanger and YAY he came second so got through to the grand final.

Before the final race they auctioned off each individual crab who made it into the last race. Nanger reached a fair $80 (the highest bids were around $150, lowest $30). All 30 or so crabs were then put into a garbage bin and raced together, we have no idea where Nanger was there were crabs everywhere and they were heading right for the closest toes! The eventual winner was a crab called Face Like a Smashed Crab!

The carnage left after the heats, there were even a few claws bit off before the crab even got to race. It was all very funny and lots of laughs. The girls loved it. After the race was dinner, $10 for a dinner of crab and salad, a very good deal. We bought sausages for the kids thinking they wouldn't like crab - we were very mistaken, Jasmine couldn't get enough and Jemma just wanted anything that resembled food. It was a great night.

Sunday night we were told there was the Marsh Art on. We had no idea what it was however it was right behind our van park so decided to hop the fence and see what was happening.

We got over the fence and there were two camels that Jasmine had been watching all afternoon. She was so excited at the thought she might get to ride one we couldn't disappoint her, we also didn't want Jemma to be left out so offered her a ride thinking she might be too scared. The two girls sat on the front seat with me behind (holding tightly to Jemma), as soon as the camel went up, out came the laughs and squeals of delight from Jemmy. They both loved the ride so much they didn't want to get off the camel. The grin on Jasmine's face for the rest of the evening was priceless. Greg got some great sunset shots of us on the camel and he will load them onto the gallery when next week.

The art part of the show was not ready till after dark. They had a whole light kind of show with an indigenous film, slide show of local photographs, performances, fire dancers (who were very funny and one of the guys nearly lost a few dreadlocks) and finished off by lighting shapes of a turtle (pictured), fish, bull, bird, and letting off lanterns that flew up into the night sky. It was great and again the girls loved it. We didn't stay for the band as it was getting a little chilly (yes we had to actually put trackies on!) but the girls could just hear it from their bed which was enough for them.

This morning I took Jasmine to see the School of the Air. She thought it was so great that she wanted to join! We sat in on the news from kindy/grade 1 (I think they were) and then we were asked if we had any questions for the children, Jasmine asked one of the boys about the big snake she had seen at Australia Zoo, did he know what it was? She was very shy and a little scared but there is one thing I have noticed about Jasmine since being on this holiday, she no longer lets being a little scared get in the way of doing anything! The School is no longer over the radio, it is all done through computers. It was so great to see how it all happens and be able to sit in on a class. We also walked through the library and store rooms. What I didn't realise is that it takes $22,000 to set up a new child, they are provided with everything from computer and desk to art and craft supplies and books. These people are amazing in the distances they travel to visit the children.

There is a group of children and teachers comeing to visit Canberra in October. I hope to catch up with them then and maybe we can show them what a great city we live in. Jasmine hopes that they might be able to visit her preschool. She was very impressed but decided she likes playing with her friends too much.

The real challenge for Derby is about to begin. This morning Greg left to go on a Kimberley Discovery Cruise, 5 nights exploring the Kimberley coast, going to regions inaccessible by land. He was very excited however Jasmine was very sad. She took this pic of Greg as he boarded the bus this morning then sobbed for a few minutes until I mentioned I might make piklets to chear her up - it worked. Grandma Jasmine misses your pikelets VERY MUCH!

Tomorrow morning I am taking the girls on a tour to Windjana Gorge and Tunnel Creek. We are all looking forward to it. We were going to visit the gorge however after another flat and the bumpy drive out of the Bungles we didn't really feel like more dirt road. This way we get driven, someone else prepares morning/afternoon tea and lunch and it we get a flat I don't have to pay for it!

Well that will be two days down, not sure how we will go after that - if you are in the Dreby area and have some ideas for me PLEASE HELP!!

Off to bed now. I have been asked to do a radio interview in the morning which I don't mind except that we are two hours behind so I think I will be chatting at about 6am (which will be 8am home time). Our first night without Greg, lets see how things go...