TAMWORTH

MURPHY'S PIGS

FRIDAY 22.01.2016: The 8.00am bus departure certainly takes a toll on both humans and poodles! Hit Tamworth and headed for the Town Hall - hour long free concert by Murphy's Pigs which was excellent, ultimate entertainers. Also saw an unscheduled performance by two Canadian sisters that fiddled!

Onward to the FanZone and the designated Peel/Turner roadside curb seat that we occupied last year - Sybil sitting and standing is rather like the analogy of the beached whale, not a pleasant picture! We saw the following artists:

ADAM ECKERSLEY BAND

BECCI NETHERY



BBU - FELICITY URQUHART, LYN BOWTELL & KEVIN BENNETT

JASMINE RAE

THE McCLYMONTS



KATE BALLANTYNE, KAREN O'SHEA & LYN BOWTELL

Stood in line for our Toyota Hat - all profits this year are returning to the McGrath Foundation. Glen McGrath was present to sign hats and have photographs taken four times a day for ten days. The cues stretched for miles - just have to admire his ongoing support of the Foundation and the enduring love for his first wife Jane. Bella were scheduled for a radio interview so of course the "groupies" were present to show their moral support. Just to prove we were at Tamworth we also had the traditional FanZone photo taken.

LYN BOWTELL'S STREET BANNER



NUNDLE

PHIL CHAFFER AND LOU BRADLEY

Thursday 21.01.2016: Visited Nundle's local shops and as per usual, stopped for a drop at the Peel Inn. Had a relaxing day and in the evening Fossickers Tourist Park provided the entertainment by Lou Bradley and Phil Chaffer.

TAMWORTH

THE SUNNY COWGIRLS

WED 20.01.2016: Time to hit the 'big smoke' of Tamworth! Began the day at the Longyard Hotel at a show featuring The Sunny Cowgirls. We are so thankful to have been offered the use of a car for the day so the furry numbers are "suffering" in the air-conditioned motorhome! Next Stop was at the West Tamworth League Club for the 'BBU' concert - Lyn Bowtell, Kevin Bennett and Felicity Urquhart Debut Album Launch Concert. Had lunch, a flutter on the pokies and the made our way into the concert. The show was opened by Gretta Ziller, an artist that Lyn Bowtell has been mentoring. The evening was stunning - one of the best performances you will ever be privileged enough to experience. By the end of the show the audience was as "pumped" as the performers - brilliant night.

LYN BOWTELL

FELICITY URQUHART, LYN BOWTELL & KEVIN BENNETT

NUNDLE - POPULATION: 289

TUESDAY 19.01.2016: A new day dawns and who else would you telephone for help, but 'Watsons at Coffs Harbour'! Hello, this is the Peel/Turner motorhome and yes, we have yet another problem. Jayco kindly advised us of the gas leads to be purchased and where a distributer was located even though it was not a Jayco agent. We humbly thanked them and headed into Tamworth. Located the business, purchased two new gas connections and received the instructions for their fitting. The food had weathered the overnight conditions so the day was evolving as a good one! Arrived at the Fossickers Tourist Park and settled in. As we are on a powered site the gas problem can be addressed tomorrow.

VIV JENKINS

Spent the evening listening to Viv Jenkins and enjoying supper supplied by the park management. On our arrival at Nundle Madison found the heat a little overwhelming so she made sure she had prime position in front of the fan!

WALLABADAH, NSW - POPULATION: 746

Monday 18.01.2016: Where does one begin - the dedicated traveller checks their vehicle thoroughly before all road trips, ensures every mechanical and technical aspect of the motorhome is in pristine working order - and then there are the Leyland Sisters! Yep, did make an effort and booked the motorhome in on departure day to have the pre-ordered windscreen wipers changed! Arrived at the mechanics at 9.00am:

1. Wrong wipers.

2. Ring  Mercedes - correct wipers, but still cannot fit them!

3. After an hour, return home to pack the motorhome for departure. Received a call, may be able to modify and fit the wipers.

4. NO - need a completely new fitting, will not even note the cost of this exercise!

5. Oh, have to order the replacement, "ha, hope it doesn't rain in Tamworth!"

6. Checked the gas bottles at home and discovered that gas was leaking from one of the cylinders. 'Swap and Go' a full bottle believing it to be faulty and had the smaller one filled.

Good to go, but by the time we exited LTP it was midday! So much for an early start. We finally arrived at the First Fleet camping area at Wallabadah ($10.00 daily donation), and proceeded to set up - it was then discovered through the highly sophisticated water and washing up liquid test that gas was actually leaking from the fittings and not the cylinders. Okay, how does one keep the food frozen with no gas. It was at this point that Carole threw a major "hissy fit" believing that Sybil had burred the fittings when changing the gas cylinders. Did keep fellow travellers entertained and overall it could be understated that the day had not run particularly smoothly!

THE "THIS IS IT" PARTY!

Saturday 5.12.2015: Ah, those infamous words, "No, we will not be undertaking any further parties..........." Time heals all! Sybil had never had a birthday party (her choice), so Carole in her infinite wisdom decided it was time. It also seemed like an ideal way to serve as payback given Sybil's insistence on the "O Party" taking place. Only spent 12 months organising this party so one could say that this time around we were way better prepared. Friends Judy and John again put in a huge effort for the day - must be said to the point where both looked a little weary by party time.

The party theme was "All Things Christmas", with guests obliging by donning some form of Christmas garb. The entertainment was provided by Karen O'Shea and Lyn Bowtell and as per usual, it was thoroughly enjoyed. The poodle family coped marginally better, with Madison only spending a short time in her kitchen "panic cupboard". We had some 40 plus guests and it was great to catch up with everyone. It has been jointly decided that this will DEFINITELY be the final birthday party for either person, but having said that, we had a great day, following it up with the Christmas Carols at the local Tilligerry RSL, then a return barbecue breakfast on Sunday morning for any guests before they journeyed back home. The party animals were a little weary!



PARTY ANIMALS HAVE HIT THE WALL!