Our next Stop: “Dog on the Tuckerbox

Tuesday, 3rd of January 2017

Monday evening we had arrived at Holbrook feeling very tired. We stayed in Holbrook in a motel and had a good rest The next morning we got up early and went for breakfast to the Holbrook Bakery.

https://auntyuta.com/2017/01/11/on-the-way-home/

Soon we travelled on along the Hume Highway until we reached the “Dog on the Tuckerbox” near Gundagai. (Tuckerbox means Lunchbox.)

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From Wikipedia about the Unveiling in 1932:

“The monument of the Dog on the Tuckerbox was unveiled in 1932 by the then Prime Minister of Australia, Joe Lyons, on the 103rd anniversary of Australian explorer Charles Sturt’s 1829 crossing of the Riverina’s Murrumbidgee River.

The monument was the creation of Gundagai stonemason Frank Rusconi, another of whose works, the Marble Masterpiece, is on display in town.

Gundagai, 386 kilometres from Sydney, lies along the Hume Highway which runs inland from Sydney to Melbourne.”

“Moses’s poem, Nine Miles from Gundagai, was first published in 1938, several years after the statue’s unveiling. Jack O’Hagan’s song, Where the Dog Sits on the Tuckerbox (5 miles from Gundagai), was published in 1937.”

And now to another link in Wikipedia:

https://janedogs.com/dog-on-the-tuckerbox/

The above link leads to an interesting article about
The Origin of the Pivotal Word ‘Sat’
The Original Writers of the Fable
and the many different versions all ending in:

… for Nobby Jack has broke the yoke,
Poked out the leader’s eye
and the dog shat on the tucker box,
Five miles from Gundagai.

On the Way Home

On Monday, the 2nd of January 20017 we were on the way home. In Holbrooik we found a good Motel to stay there overnight. By the time we arrived there we were very tired.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Holbrook,_New_South_Wales

The following morning we went to the Holbrook Bakery:for breakfast
http://www.holbrookbakery.com.au/central-bakery.html

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Our next stop was Gundagai.

Brief Stop at Benalla, Victoria

Uta’s Diary, January 2017

After we left Melbourne, Benalla was our first stop. We were on the way to a farmstead near Wangaratta to visit our grandson Tristan and his family.

Peter took the following six pictures during a brief stop at Benalla, Victoria.

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From Wikipedia:
“Weary Dunlop Memorial Located within the Botanical Gardens and clearly visible from Bridge Street is the Weary Dunlop Memorial, a powerful statue depicting two Australian doctors (Dunlop being the standing one) helping a wounded and emaciated comrade. Cast in bronze and over 2 metres high it stands on a granite plinth with the words “compassion, integrity, forgiveness, humility, courage, leadership, friendship” engraved on the granite base. It was created by sculptor Louis Lauman to dramatically depict Dunlop’s work helping wounded and dying POWs. The sculpture was unveiled in 1996. Dunlop was both the commanding officer and surgeon for over 1,000 POWs on the Thai-Burma railway. You can read more about him singular life at http://www.awm.gov.au/encyclopedia/dunlop/bio/. The statue at Benalla is much better than the one depicted at the Australian War Memorial. There is also an excellent Visitor Guide available at the Visitor Information Centre. – See more at: http://www.aussietowns.com.au/town/benalla-vic#sthash.owRJLzR1.dpuf”

Uta’s Diary, December 2016

Peter went into hospital on Friday, the 9th, and was allowed to go home on Sunday, the 11th. On Monday Caroline took another day of carer’s leave. This was a great help to us. Peter is going to see his urologist on the 9th of January. An earlier appointment was not possible.

Tuesday and Wednesday were extremely hot days. But Wednesday afternoon there was a change: It became much cooler, and later on it started to rain. It is still raining now, a nice steady rain. After yesterday’s very hot and later on cooler wind, there is no wind today, which makes the rain very pleasant.

Peter and I went to see a GP yesterday. Daughter Monika drove us there. We could not see our regular GP. We both needed a prescription, which another doctor then gave to us. It was no problem. Next week Peter’s GP is back from leave and Peter can talk to him then. He had been advised to do this by the head nurse in the hospital.

I might have to see my optometrist soon, because my eye-sight is not very good at the moment. Our car is still in repair. There is a chance that we may get it back today.
Peter still needs a lot of rest and he is also advised not to lift anything heavy. He is supposed to drink a lot of water. This is sometimes a bit of a struggle for him.

The other side of Wollongong Hospital — From here Matthew picked Peter and me up after Peter was released from the hospital on Sunday morning. Caroline was with us too. We all had to get into the Proton because the Audi needed to be repaired!

Now we are all looking forward to next Wednesday when we are going to have a special lunch for our anniversary.

Ruby’s Mount Kembla Restaurant

I found something about the RUBY RESTAURANT here:

http://www.rubysmtkembla.com.au/dining.html

“Ruby’s Mount Kembla is run and owned by Scott Woods.

Having completed his first three years of his apprenticeship at Ruby’s, then fourth year at Aria under Matt Moran. Scott then went on to work under Tom Aikins at Tom Aikins London and Melissa Craig at the Bearfoot Bistro in Whistler, Canada.”

History (according to Google):

http://www.rubysmtkembla.com.au/history.html

“Nestled in the historic mining village of Kembla Heights, Ruby’s Mount Kembla first traded as the village store and Post Office to a thriving community of coal miners and their families in the late 1800’s.

Named after Ruby Moore – a famous local resident and Post Mistress during the 1920’s and 1930’s, the store has undergone much careful restoration and is now home to one of the most well loved restaurants in the Illawarra.”

Pictures from Monday, the 5th of December 2016

The old Entrance of Wollongong Hospital at Crown Street

This month there are two birthdays to celebrate in our family, namely on the 5th and on the 9th of December. Instead of on Monday, we celebrated Monika’s birthday two days early, that was Saturday. We may have to celebrate Caroline’s birthday somewhat later because tomorrow, Friday the 9th, is the day when Peter has to go to hospital. We hope it wont be too long before Peter can go back home again.

Last Monday Peter had to go to the hospital for another blood test. We went into Wollongong by bus. There’s a bus stop right in front of the hospital. We thought that this was great. We liked that better than having to struggle to find some parking for the car. At the hospital Peter did not have to wait long. In no time at all he was out again. Another bus took us to Crown Central where we were taking a few Christmassy pictures. We also used the opportunity to do a bit of extra shopping in Wollongong. At the Churro Mexican Cafe we had something to eat and a very spicy hot chocolate drink. Our favourite! Feeling quite tired we went by bus back to Dapto Shopping Centre where our car was parked. Before driving home, we had first to get a few more things in Dapto Shopping Centre. It was a very hot day. We were glad, when we finally arrived back home to have some delicious ice-cream and afternoon coffee and a bit of a rest.

At RUBY’S MOUNT KEMBLA RESTAURANT

Today, Sunday, Caroline and Matthew invited us to a five course Degustation Lnnch, degustation meaning taking a small amount into the mouth to taste the quality of the food.

Our five course meal was excellent. We sat there for hours enjoying one course after another. We took pictures of most of the courses. As an entree we had tiny cups of delicious soup, also some warm bread and butter. The bread seemed to be damper and was probably baked on the premises. The restaurant is up in the mountains. It was warm, but not too hot. All the rooms were open to the outdoors. No air-conditioning needed! I thought this was great. We felt as though we were being in the country. We were surrounded by lots of things from country life in the past. And we were only a fifteen minute drive away from home! Quite amazing really. The service by the staff was first class. And all the dishes were beautifully presented. We had no problem eating everything on our plates, for the portions were small enough not to fill us up too much.

dscn2557 — These scales are probably from the time when this place was a village store and Post Office.

Opposite the restaurant are some restored old miners' cottages. — Opposite the restaurant are some restored old miners’ cottages.

This is what the restaurant looks from the front.

Baby Carter has arrived!

Baby Carter arrived on the 21st of November 2016, a Monday. He arrived shortly after 5 in the afternoon. Soon after his birth at Wollongong Hospital a lot of family went to see him and his Mum, Roxy.

Roxy is one of our granddaughters. Our daughter Monika and granddaughter Natasha drove Peter and me to Wollongong Hospital the morning after the Baby had been born. Here are some pictures from Tuesday morning:

At the Ocean Beach Hotel Shellharbour

https://auntyuta.com/2016/11/18/the-ocean-beach-hotel/

Last week we were at the Ocean Beach Hotel for lunch. I published then a little post about our lunch with just one picture. Here now are a few more pictures from that day:

The Ocean Beach Hotel

http://www.oceanbeachhotel.com.au/accommodation.htm

I googled the following add about the Ocean Beach Hotel:

“Who said a room with a magnificent ocean view had to cost a small fortune? At the Ocean Beach Hotel Shellharbour, you can wake up to a beautiful Pacific Ocean sunrise for well under $100 for two people.

All rooms have their own bathroom, fridge, tea & coffee making facilities and a TV. At meal times, you’re only a flight of stairs away from one of the areas finest seafood restaurants.”

Our son had come from Melbourne for a visit. He was staying with us for a couple of nights and then drove on to Newcastle. Our daughter Monika, who is on leave right now, drove us last Wednesday for lunch to the Ocean Beach Hotel. The friendly girl, who had taken our orders, volunteered to take a picture of the four of us.