This and that

 Kev and Antonin fitted in very well at Larnook and were a delight to have staying with us. They worked hard, they laughed a lot and they even surprised us a few times by making dinner when we weren't expecting them to. HelpX is an excellent means by which people like us can open up our place and our lives and share what we have here with young travellers from all over the world. I really enjoy the fact that it is based on reciprocal exchange - we provide the accommodation and meals and the Helpers provide in exchange, their skills and capacity for work. We've hosted close to 40 Helpers now, with I would think about 60% at least from France, as were Kev and Antonin, from Marseilles and Cannes.

 Last weekend brought another visitor, Russell, from London. We met Russell a couple of times when we were in Sydney just before the end of the year (he's a friend and colleague of a friend/colleague of mine, Gordon, who is a professor in geography at University of Wollongong. Russell is also a geographer who works in the area of sustainability and interior climates. I had invited Russell up to Larnook last weekend and so he flew up last Friday to the Gold Coast where he gave a guest lecture to my masters students on his research. We overnighted in Coolangatta and then we were met by Shane who drove up to get us and return us to Larnook. Russell enjoyed himself and on Sunday we meandered around the Lismore car boot markets where we bought plants for Kev and Antonin, Russell and also Claire, who is another (French of course) Helper who arrived last Wednesday, to plant in our garden.  So Russell is looking very proud of himself after planting a ruby ginger.

 The weekend before last Shane and Steve spotted this lovely carpet python in our shed so I invited it to slide around my neck and shoulders to give the guys a closer look.

 One of the excellent projects that the boys (though much of the initial lantana clearing was the work of Kevin) completed was installing this bench seat on the side of our hill as you head down to the creek. Kevin had spent quite a few days removing the lantana from this area (and almost fell off the side of the slope in the process - he would have fallen completely off, had a pile of lantana that he had already cut not slowed him down. He ripped his pants open on some barbed wire in the process so he was very lucky not to be hurt). Anyway once the lantana had been removed it opened up a lovely view down over the creek so I suggested to the guys they dig out a platform, line it with pavers and place one of our bench seats on it. So once this had all been achieved last Sunday we had an official seat inauguration ceremony complete with ribbon cutting and sparkling wine drinking. So Antonin and Kev cut the ribbon while Claire, Russell, Shane and Steve look on.

Another view of the seat looking down towards the creek. I will enjoy sitting here reading and taking in the lovely view.