I thought today was as good a day as any to send an update, due to the number of requests to do so.

It's hard to believe that 22 years ago today we set off full of excitement, a little bit of trepidation and no idea where we were going - some would say that's how we do everything! Sometimes however I pinch myself and marvel at this wonderful lifestyle that we've created, which is now just how we live.

Today however I would happily be anywhere else. Broome is not being kind to us, the maximum depending on what site you to visit varies from 34 - 37 degrees and wind gusts of up to 57km/hour but the humidity thankfully now is only 61%. Happy to say that our new awning is holding up beautifully and the gazebos as I write, are still standing. The long range forecast isn't promising with a long, hot, dry "wet" season ahead of us.

Since the last update in May, the "maternity leave cover" job at the Port is now mine as she's not coming back and although I do more hours, I still have the flexibility to work when I want.   Kimbo still loves his job and has found himself a couple of drinking buddies (which I think has a bit to do with his love of the job)!!! I don't know how much he'll love it over the "wet season" as he spends a bit of time outdoors.....all will be revealed. However up to now he is coping with it well, and I think the extra hydration he takes after work helps!

It was fabulous to catch up for lunch with Mary-Anne and Steve as they passed through on their Kimberley adventure and dragon boat race down the Ord River from Lake Argyle.

Jane and Jon spent some days with us as they called into Broome as part of their big adventure. No visit here is complete without the obligatory sun downers and dinner at the beach.

The most extraordinary nature event I have ever experienced was whale watching. Thank you De and Pete for making that happen. The privileged 10 of us who were aboard the very special Trade Winds IIIwitnessed a 2 1/2 hour spectacular performance played out just for us
by a gorgeous female juvenile of about 10 metres. Cameron who has been
doing this for 8 years has never witnessed anything like it. He like
the rest of us was in absolute awe of what we witnessed. I cannot imagine anything topping it.

I am now a fully fledged Rotarian and have helped with some fund raising events, such as the s***box Rally the inaugural Broome Camel Cup and the famous Dragon Boat Regatta. All good fun.

We love going to Sun Pictures, the outdoor picture theatre here and try to go as often as we can. It's underneath the flight path, so we're always guaranteed that a plane will come in to land....generally just at the critical time. Hilarious!

We spent some wayward Friday and Saturday nights "Doin' It Sideways In The Dirt" at the speedway with our dear friends Pete and De. But many many more wayward nights with them before they decided to leave Broome and travel. Couldn't blame them for doing that but miss them all the same.

We had an unsuccessful fishing trip up the coast, dear Kimbo he tries so hard but manages only to feed them. The only catch had to be thrown back as it was too small. This time we didn't get bogged as happened last time we went up there.

We spent a lovely evening at the Cable Beach amphitheatre entertained by Steve Pigram, The Bull Sisters and Paul Kelly. Kimbo had played golf in the morning and spent the afternoon at the bar. I think he wanted to have a nice lie down but that was never going to happen!

In August I was part of the Rotating Rotarians "Relay For Life" team. It was a 24 hours relay event raising money for WA Cancer Council. I completed 91 laps which equated to just over 36km and I personally raised over $400 so I was really happy with that. Mind you it took a couple of days to recover from the lack of sleep and walking in ugg boots during the night....won't do that again. It was a fabulous event. Kimbo even walked a few laps with me.

We finally had an awning fitted to the bus and we're loving it. We now have shelter against the elements.........yay!!!! We're still looking at options for the windows on the other side, but not as easy as I thought it would be.

As most of you would know I had a heart event in September but it appears all is well. I call it my "storm in a teacup". But at the time it was a little unsettling

I was getting down the beach most mornings for a walk but now that the weather has turned it doesn't happen that often. I'm now doing Pilates a couple of times a week, jumping on a treadmill as often as I can which I hope in some way goes to counteracting the socialising aspect of our life.

I've been undertaking some volunteer work. I've been having lots of fun being a vollie at the Red X shop and next Thursday I start my stint as a turtle monitor. I'm a bit excited after undertaking the training a couple of weeks ago. We start at 6.00am in the morning and check for turtle nesting activity. I'm hoping these hot humid mornings will cease..........but I know I'm being delusional. I'll let you know how that all pans out in the next update.

We both had birthdays during this time and Kimbo spent his 60th in the exact place he did his 50th, albeit with a lot less participants and this time well under-dressed.

Well that's about it for now...........six months in a nutshell.