And there goes my computer screen on it side, I am serious, flipped over 90% to the left. Tried checking it out like that for a few mins but thats no fun after 5 mins, imagine trying to read like that you'd only get a stiff neck. Dear Husband tried a few things but he's advice was turn the Monitor on it's side Yeh right! That only changed all the blues to red, not good.
Well then I got this brain wave and asked google what to do with the screen, expecting no answer. But up comes the answer press Ctrl & Alt and Arrow up at the same time. So if ever that happens to you, you now know what to do.

Now what's happening at your place this weekend, anything interesting?

Neal and Elize are coming for the weekend from Brisbane, flying in tomorrow. The blond one (daughter) and Elize are both Zumba instructors and they attending an Expo or something. Neal my helper is probably expecting his Mom to have some project waiting for him, but I haven't. Bet his just come for his Mom's good cooking too. So I better go bake a Banana loaf and tomorrow I want to bake an upside down pineapple cake.I add a few pics of it after I baked it.

Enjoy the weekend
Rina

Trail Bay Goal

Next we off to view the Trail Bay Goal near South West Rocks ... there's a bit of restoration going on so could not get a really nice pic except with scaffolding everywhere in front of the main entrance. We paid our entry fee which I dare say goes to pay that nice bloke working on the granite walls. First we heading off to watch a short introductionary film (15min) Just grab yourself a Cornetto (ice cream cone with vanilla covered in chocolate) to munch on while we watching the film.



The outbreak of fighting in Europe in August 1914 immediately brought Australia into the ‘Great War’. Within one week of the declaration of war all German subjects in Australia were declared ‘enemy aliens’ and were required to report and notify the Government of their address. In February 1915, enemy aliens were interned either voluntarily or on an enforced basis.




In New South Wales the principal place of internment was the Holsworthy Military Camp where between 4,000 and 5,000 men were detained. Women and children of German and Austrian descent detained by the British in Asia were interned at Bourke and later Molonglo near Canberra. Former gaols were also used. Men were interned at Berrima gaol (constructed 1840s) and Trial Bay gaol (constructed 1889). The internees at Trial Bay Gaol created their own management committees that organised entertainment, sport, culture and arts activities.




The Trial Bay Internees Collection is integral to the fabric of the Trial Bay Gaol heritage site and provides the distinctive character of the place. Its primary significance lies in its relationship to the themes of wartime internment experience, racial antagonism, Australia’s fear of subversion and strict adherence to Britain’s wartime foreign policies. The Collection interprets the story and provides evidence of the experience of the German internee’s life at Trial Bay, the attitudes of the German internees to the war and internment and their relationships to other German communities in NSW both interred and free. The camp newspaper Welt am Montag produced by the internees gave a running commentary of politics, the local German perspective on the progress of the war and an insight to the conditions and grievances of life at the camp. The models and dolls’ furniture the internees made reflect the strong sense of community, boredom and hobbies and activities to fill in time, and a longing for families and children symbolised by care invested in the children’s toys made for Christmas presents



The most important historical site in the area is the Trial Bay Gaol (it is located to the east of the small settlement of Arakoon) which has a museum as well as beautifully preserved ruins. It is under the control of the National Parks and Wildlife Service who have maintained it in superb condition. There is a self guiding brochure available which leads the visitor through the points of interest.



The prison was built between 1877 and 1886 to house 'good conduct' prisoners. It was built out of grey granite which was quarried on the site and is characterised by its hexagonal structure with three cell blocks actually radiating from the main entrance. Its primary purpose at this time was to house cheap labour to help with the construction of a 1.6 km breakwater around the bay. The project was not completed and the prison closed in 1903. In fact in 1903 the breakwater had only reached a little over 300 metres and a storm that year reduced it to little more than a pile of rubble.




Imagine baking bread for the whole camp in this oven. Pic below is taken from inside the Mess hall, looking out, a bit like being inside a cell locked up.



It was reopened in 1915 and used to intern Germans during World War 1. The anti German feeling at the time had led to the rounding up of innocent Germans. Although life was hardly pleasant the Germans established their own band, turned part of the gaol into a tennis court and one visitor described the nights as being more like a pleasant beer hall than a prison.



There is a monument to all the Germans who died while interned at Trial Bay. It is signposted and is located on the cliffs to the east of the prison. The prison was closed permanently in 1917 and the movable parts of the building were auctioned off in 1922.

Trial Bay Gaol is open from 9.00 a.m. - 5.00 p.m. For more information contact (02) 6566 6168.













The above cell block is small and very dark, esp for the problem inmates!! There are names scratched into the decaying walls, could they be of prisoners?



I found this video of a young family visiting the Goal on YTube, I have no idea who they are, but I hope they don't mind me adding it to this post. The little one is so cute.



There are no winners in wars!
Until nexttime
Rina

Smoky Cape Lighthouse

Smoky Cape was named by Captain Cook on May 13th 1770 as he sailed north on the Endeavour.

At noom we were ... about three or four leagues from the land .. a point or headland on which were seen fires that caused a great quantity of snoke which occasioned my giving it the name Smoky Cape



These were the fires of the Dunghutti Aboriginal people who had been living in the coastal environment, walking these beaches and headlands for thousands of years. Actual contact with European people was not until 1816, when a sailing ship was wrecked in Trail Bay.



Smoky Cape was the last lighthouse designed by the colonist architect James Barnett. Messers Oakes and Co, won the tender to construct the tower, associated buildings, lightkeepers residences, coach house and stables and work began in 1880. The lighthouse was completed in 1891 at a cost of 18,000 pounds and first lit on the 15th April 1891.



Today Smoky Cape is still a functioning Lighthouse, and the entire complex is listed on the Commonwealth Heritage List. (Great view to the beaches below.)





Coastal Banksias ... Banksia integrifolia


The Coast Banksia occurs frequently along the coast from Melbourne to northern Queensland.

Its distinctive white under-leaf, as well as growing healthily in coastal sand dunes and headlands gives it away.

The Coast Banksia's yellow spikes (flowers) appear in Autumn and Winter.



A sneaky view over the fence with it's double pink hibuscus in bloom


Would you like to stay at this Bed and Breakfast with a view over the ocean?
www.smokycapelighthouse.com




There are a few walks you can do if you so wish. Or just have a picnic or BBQ and relax.



Hope you enjoyed the tour with us.
Thank you for coming along Until tomorrow when we visit Trail Bay Goal
See ya ... kind regards your tour guide.

Rina
(PS what a great camera person she is too)

We Back from the farm

Well we back, a day early to beat the holiday traffic cause every man and his dog normally decide to take off to the country or holiday destination as soon as a long weekend is mentioned. Yesterday we woke to a very overcast day and even before 11am it started to drizzling lightly. We did not attend the local Anzac Memorial Service, but from our veranda we heard the Bugle player and The Australian Anthem. Remembering our Troops that died so long ago. Wreaths layed at the foot of the memorial Stone at the foot of the lone pine tree.

By then we had started packing up and locking the shipping containers, making sure all tools are put away until the next time. 3 months of grass and weeds where a nightmare to deal with, first cutting it down and then raking it up and carting it to the grasscutting compost area ....then running the mower over the grass again to tidy it up. Do you know why farmer's friends (blackjacks) are called that, cause they stick to you like nobody's bussiness. More work than play but we did manage to take a few hours off on route to picking up some roof trusses at our friend Scott's home in South West Rocks ... Smoky Cape Lighthouse and Historic Trail Bay Gaol ... again I took so many good pics to show you, needing 2 posts to do it.



This pic was taken about 2am, on one of my midnight strolls, just wished I could have got closer but it flew after the flash went off. It's a Tawny frog mouth.

But first we had a few night visitors I would like to show you, unfortunately Daisy was very spooked by them, normally she would sleep under the caravan but this time she slept on a carpet next to the BBQ on the veranda.I left lights on to detor the wildlife ...






99% sure this is a female possum cause of the poach on the tummy or maybe not?



This smaller possum dating up the tree caused the most trouble, scaring poor Daisy when it jumped on a crate that was not balansing properly, crate falling on Daisy. Who took off into the dark around the caravan. Possum peeking down from the top of the caravan. That sure woke us up!

Lavender Cottage has been started finally ... George's steelframe which was going to be a shed thingy(on the pic with the owl) has now turned into a small cottage. the steel frame has been removed and the walls of the cottage will be made of timber. The steel frames for the floor have remained which is great cause termites don't like steel, they have been painted with rust protecting paint ... the painter woman's job ... and by the time we left yesterday we had 1 1/2 walls up. This project will need to be done over the next few weeks and our next trip is already planned. Lucky we have a lot of the materials already on site just waiting .....

Please come back tomorrow for Smokey Cape Lighthouse
Until nexttime
Rina