Here we are not long to Christmas and still the harvesting hasn’t finish. Only one day off for Chris in the last couple of weeks, that we could go for a drive. Grain storages are starting to fill up now. 
Also came across these vintage bikes somewhere out in the middle of nowhere. 
We went for a drive out to Xantippie to see an old ute, lit up for Christmas. Well done to one of Chris’s work mates, who ownes the farm. 
I also have put some lights in the trees beside our van and some decorations in the van. Just love Christmas, no matter where we are. 
The old saying of it’s not what you know, it’s who you know, came to the fore, the last week before Christmas. Chris was carting out of the farm, that his boss’s daughter and husband’s family own, so he organized for me to go out to the farm and go for a ride in the header. What an experience, and I now know a bit about grain farming. A win win ! This family are just so friendly and good to us. Here are some photos of my time on the farm.
The young cattle dog was determined not to give up his seat in the tractor to me, so was eventually was escorted back to the ute, so I was able to get in and be taken out to the paddock that was being harvested. 
Uncle Robin, was the header driver and showed me all the workings, so high tec these days. 
The drivers just set all the computers in the cab, then it’s all remote control. 
Drivers can then just sit back and watch the screens. The bin chasers follow the harvesters around, and without stopping the grain is transferred to the bin, and taken back to other storage bins.
Then the truck drivers, like Chris, fill their trailers from them, and take it into the co operative, storage areas in town. 
This day was certainly one of my highlights this year.
Here is a couple of photos of the old tractors still being used.
This harvest season, has been one of the best ever, so the farmers are saying, in both price and quantity. Storage facilities are almost full to capacity.
We are both getting tired now, and really looking forward to the end of our stint here. The experience has been good, and thankfully the family Chris works for are great. They treat their drivers like family and Mary likes to dish up a cooked meal for them at the end of day. I have been made feel very welcome and Mary and I have had girl time out for lunches and shopping . Animals are also family, 3 dogs, 2 cats, an avery full of birds, goldfish and a lamb that thinks it’s a dog !
Last weekend we had their Christmas party, Mary and I did all the cooking for it, so much food, and of cause drinks.
A big night in this little town, with most of the local farmers there.
It was a lovely night and Steve [boss], had lights all around the yard and depot.
I really enjoyed being part of it and was able to give Mary time with their guests, while I did most of the serving of food.
And boy did they eat, amazing how much they consumed.!
With only a week out from Christmas, I’ve done the big shop, pork, ham and made a couple of boiled fruit cakes and rocky road, towards our, very quite Christmas. We will miss our kids and family this year, but still I think we are both looking forward to a day of rest. We have been invited to have it with Mary ,Steve and family, but we feel they need family time, after such a big harvest this year, so thinking, just having a quiet one on our own, is the way to go. Sure will be different. Even the church up the road, doesn’t get used.
At the back of the park we have a flock of black cockatoos, hard to get photos of, as they are so black, and their eyes don’t show up.
Love seeing them in flight, as you can see the red feathers underneath, that don’t show when they are settled in the trees. 
There are lots of other birds around enjoying the grain crops as well.
That’s it for now.
He doesn’t do many kilometres in a day, just loading the grain at the farm and taking it to grain storage. Quite often it is to the storage across the road from the caravan park . The storage facilities are open till 9pm , 6 days a week.
Others go 7 days a week, so due to the farm Chris was on last week, he hasn’t had a day off for 2 weeks. Now hoping he has tomorrow off. So not much for me to do, feel a bit guilty, just watch tv, chat and facebook on phone. And take photos of coarse.
I like the drive into Northam, fills in the full day for me. Although I did get one hell of a fright a couple of weeks ago. Was following a scrap metal truck, next sheets of metal were flying into the air, lucky it was windy, so while it was still airborne, it gave me time to back off , before it crashed to the roadway in front of me. 
It took the truck driver a distance to stop, he then came back to see if I was ok. All good. 
However I did pull up further down the road, taking a break and some photos of the pink salt lakes. 
Love the colours of these wastelands 
More relaxed I headed into town and brought some lottery tickets!! 
This last week the weather has been kind to the farmers, and they are harvesting the paddocks of wheat across the road.
So it was a good opportunity to get some photos.
It’s a bit overwhelming when these big harvesters are heading towards you. They probably thought I was mad standing there with my camera.
It’s very dusty work and with the sun setting, made for some fun shots. 
Chris is hoping to get me a ride in a header, so that could be interesting. Although it is very remote here, I don’t feel alone, as there is lights and movement all around me.
When i went into Northam this last week I stopped to have a closer look at the metal that nearly got me the previous week. Not good, think it would of been curtains, so you just never know!
It turned out to be a scrapped wheat bin, and too heavy for the driver to have completely moved off the road.
He had managed to move the smaller piece into a gutter nearby. 
Till the next time, out for now.
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