1 November 2015 The big ....

Yes - another new month has arrived - and I know this well because I can't easily turn the calendar over (without standing up out of the wheelchair) so it's generally a Brian task.

We've had another basically stable week with little change - except that on the whole Brian is experiencing some improvement in his general well-being, though we both experience a bit of fatigue - then again, perhaps we're just getting old!

Actually I like it when we look at things and appreciative the positives  - not only personally but also in our communities or towns. It's one of the things Brian and I have enjoyed discovering in our travels, and it has prompted me to do some homework into just what it is that inspires towns to celebrate and hold festivals for. 
For example, did you know that:
 *Augathella QLD is the 'home of the meat ant'?
 *the 'big wheelbarrow' is found in Port Hedland WA?
 *the 'big koala' is found at Dadswell's Bridge VIC?
 *and believe it or not, the 'big poo' was once built at Kiama NSW!

Well, did you also know that in recent years Portland has begun a celebration of the Bonney Upwelling? 
This is a 7-month-long natural ocean occurrence where krill form dense swarms which trigger a feeding frenzy attracting whales, tuna, seals, seabirds and the like. Hence the Upwelling Festival held in Portland annually in late October, consisting of a street parade, markets, and a variety of artistic, musical and water-based pursuits. 
Yesterday (31 Oct) was the day of the festival and so Brian and I went for a bit of a drive around, although we didn't tackle the considerable crowds during the street parade. Even later in the afternoon there was still plenty of activity, musical performances, whaleboat races, amazing sand sculptures and the like.
It would have to be better than 'the big poo' wouldn't it?

Each school participated in the street parade, after making huge seabird puppets.  

The end of one of the whaleboat races held during the afternoon. 

Our drive also took us to check on Adrian's cricket - we hoped he would see us in the car  and do a bit of showing off, but not a great deal happened while we watched, although Adrian did take 2 wickets for the match.