Willow's gemfields

Dear Famly and Friend

We have been warmly welcomed back into the Willows Gemfields by everyone that we have been able to see in just the few days since our arrival. Ricky, Sharon and Jessica along with their pets Georgie, Groovy, Puppet, Shitty Kitty and Wobbles and Casper (who looks very much like Amos, Sharon and Nath's Cat (prior to Roman) when he was just a kitten, and sleeps in the same weird positions as Amos did) have made us feel very much at home.

We are in for a good time over "Gem Fest" which goes from 11th to the 14th Aug and is actually held in the "School of Arts Hall and the Allen King Memorial Park" at Anake. One of the key attractions is undoubtedly the "Jewels of the Outback Exhibition" which features rare and exceptional sapphires, many that can only ever be seen at Gemfest. Can't wait to see some of them.

We were very privileged to have been able to see close up three of these sapphires. One green Sapphire we saw was valued at over $8,000 and it will soon be featured in a gem magazine.

The night before we left Jericho our generator started to make an awful noise and Ken really thought it would be unrepairable so we were in a quandry as to what we would do. It cost us around $1800 and we didn't like the idea of having to buy a new one. So when we got to Emerald on Tuesday we found a repair place that would look at it. Thankfully we got a phone call a couple of days later telling us that it was a bolt off the fan had come loose and that was causing the awful noise. Weren't we happy with that phone call.

Before we arrived here we spent two nights in Emerald where we stocked up on food and did laundry.

Friday night sees a few of the locals and a few ring ins like us and people from the two caravan parks rock up to the community centre for a night of entertainment, mostly karoke, pool or whatever. Last night there would have been around 25 in all who came along. The centre opens Sat and Sun nights as well and light meals are served. Tonight it's meat pie, potato and mushy peas. since we were last here they have now put in an outdoor fire to sit around. It was made by one of the locals and it looks a bit like a pot belly stove. Throws out a good heat.

Barry, Ken's mate from a longway back arrived the day after us and his van is backed up near ours so it works out really good for all of us. I have a lovely place to sit in the mornings where I can catch the early morning sunshine.

We are heading off soon so that's it for now.

Love to one and all

God Bless
Ken and Lyn.