Friday 8th August 2025

Friday 8^th August

SHE SAID:

The clean through & getting everything back to how it was when we arrived day has come around again. We were done by lunchtime. With Geoff zooming into town for last minute things & to get fuel.

We went out to the local Chinese Restaurant for dinner. It was something different, as Chinese isn't usually my favourite food, but it saves cleaning up again after cooking at the house!

Uncommon sighting, all yellow Donkeys 

Another lovely surprise for the day:
Grass-leafed Spider

Third & biggest surprise of the day:
Spectacled Donkey's

HE SAID:

Sometimes I am of more use by not helping so I headed out for an hour or so to get last minute shopping and do a couple of small tasks. The afternoon was spent on our computers, plus Varena Teamed with Her mum, and I watched a bit of footy before going out for a succulent Chinese meal.

Thursday 7th August 2025

Thursday 7^th August

SHE SAID:

Geoff & I headed off into the sunshine early, around 8.30am today. I wanted to see if the Pink Candy Orchid that Geoff saw budding a couple of weeks ago was out. Yes, we saw it open, also a Red Beak that was 95% open. Then on Ned’s Corner Road I found an all-yellow South Coast Donkey, & a single Pink Bunny! What is it this year with just 1 bunny at a time!

Back in town Geoff dropped me at Dempster Head whilst he went to wash the car. I was very happy to find not only the Grass-leafed Spider but 2 Spectacled Donkeys too! Both firsts for the year.

When we returned to the house it was my turn to clean the inside of the car. Now Bluee looks beautiful again!

Geoff reminded me it is our 32nd anniversary of meeting today!!! Wow how long is that!

"Yoga King" & Heberle's Spider Orchids?

A 'mob' of Donkeys, a cluster of Blue Beards
& a 'shy' Red Beak

Pink Candy Orchid, another 1st for the year

HE SAID:

Well, thirty two years ago I met the lovely Varena! I am a lucky man.

Our drive and wanders were fairly successful today. Varena seemed rather pleased. There was footy, enchiladas for dinner, then shows in the evening.

Wednesday 6th August 2025

Wednesday 6^th August

SHE SAID:

Geoff & I headed for Dunn Rock Road & Cape Le Grand again. Not too much exciting was seen, but I am hopeful for some Gnat Orchids in a month or so time!

Once again Geoff hit the jackpot finding the only open Pink Bunny & a single Western Tiny Blue! Yayee hubby, you legend.

Frenchman's Peak

First Western Blue for the season!

Gorgeous Beautiful Donkeys &
Little Laughing Leeks starting to open

HE SAID:

I managed to please Varena with some orchid finds. Even though they were rather fortuitous they still count! The sun seems to affected some patches of skin on my face again today. I do all I can to avoid sun-related problems but still get hit. Hopefully I can heal quickly, and avoid it happening again. 

Tuesday 5th August 2025

Tuesday 5^th August

SHE SAID:

Geoff & I headed out to reccy the Plumed Birds; I’m hoping to do a survey when we are either at Grass Patch or back in Esperance. We found signs of heaps, so I GPS’ed them & took photos. We might have to do the survey earlier than planned as there were already 7 flowering.

The rain returned at the final location, & it was around 25km back to the bitumen, so we left earlier than I’d hoped. The dirt roads are already pretty churned up & slippery, so getting off them ASAP, was the best idea.

Donkeys & Birds

HE SAID:

We were off before 9am, facing the very cold winds as we headed north east of Esperance. Our first stop was just random as I had noticed a heap of little Spider Orchids on the roadside as we zoomed along. Despite the fairly clear sky, and the sun, it was very cold. Varena seemed pleased with the finds for the day, even if the weather shortened the searching. Enchiladas for dinner were a tasty change.

Monday 4th August 2025

Monday 4^th August

SHE SAID:

With dreadful weather around today there was no orchiding. We had some things to do in town, dodging the rain showers & icy wind!

Most of the rest of the day was spent organising a short trip east to Sydney & Canberra, then on to New Zealand. It is my friend’s 90th Birthday & we want to go over & surprise her. As always it was a painful exercise, but we got it done. We heard that Qantas were devaluing their Frequent Flyers points tomorrow so that spurred us on to getting the trip organised.

Paperbarks

HE SAID:

Our morning outing was successful despite the regular blustery rain squalls. I think this year is the wettest winter we have experienced in WA in our seven years here. Apparently there hasn't been even average rainfall in many parts of WA for a long time, so hopefully this winter is of benefit to all. During a break in the weather we had a go at locating the source of a small amount of water ingress. I think we know where it is coming in, around a window, so that is now on my list to fix before we leave Esperance in a few days. 

In the evening I helped Varena crumb some fish fillets for our tasty dinner. I always offer to assist, but often my best work is done by staying out of the kitchen. I was happy to assist.

Sunday 3rd August 2025

Sunday 3^rd August

SHE SAID:

I went out with the EWS again on their August field trip. We headed east for Beaumont NR. It was a great day, though very windy & at times a bit wet. I got to meet some other members, too.

We saw lots of orchids, though many of the same types, & plenty of wildflowers too.

Colours of grey...

Pale Dancing Spider

100's of "Esperance" Wispy Spiders

Common Bee, only 1!

Mean looking skies

HE SAID:

While Varena was out with the wildflower group I managed to get a few things done around the van. This was despite managing to watch most of each of 3 AFL matches on today. Multi-tasking!

Saturday 2nd August 2025

Saturday 2^nd August

SHE SAID:

With Geoff busy doing things on the van I headed out again, solo. I had a few places to revisit & had success at all. From Esperance White & King Spiders, Wispies, Blue Beards, Pink Bunnies, Snails, & a single Reaching Spider. I also managed to get back before the coming weather.

I finished the cleaning in the van, did the ironing, & then had a 45-minute chat with Mum on Teams.

HE SAID:

There is always something that needs doing with the van. Some maintenance, same upgrades, some repairs. When I can get things done there is always a sense of satisfaction and achievement, so I'm happy to have a go at most things. Today was the fitting of the rooftop air-conditioner grilles. I had to adapt it to fit properly, but with persistance and a cordless drill I got it done. Mind you, being up a ladder or on the van roof is not much fun, but it needed doing.

I had a good chat with John in Brisbane for an hour or so, catching up again.

Friday 1st August 2025

Friday 1^st August

SHE SAID:

Geoff managed to score some 2nd hand parts for the van; cool.

We headed out the Cape Le Grand & Merivale Rd. I was hoping to find the leaves of the Gnat Orchid which Courtney found 3 or 4 years, but the info he gave us wasn’t very clear & it turns out we were in the wrong area. (I messaged him for more info. & he rang me back later).

We did have better luck at Merivale Rock. There were several orchid types out, I was happy.

We caught up with my brother & Kiyoka his wife on Teams later in the evening.

HE SAID:

I went over to the caravan shop and tackled the removal of some air-conditioner grilles, and some fridge shelves. It took me a little while, as it seems that there are two varieties of grille, even though they looked virtually the same at first. One type involves removing the lid of the rooftop A/C unit, which would be a real pain. So, I took two of each type, and will work it out later. Not all the fridge bits fitted our fridge, but I think I am still very much in the good books for trying!

Daniel is just about ready for his move to Brisbane. Growing up in Canberra, and living there all his life, it will be a big change. He has a job lined up. The house is packed and removalists have taken it all. Now he and Kayla need to find a place to rent. They are hopeful for somewhere near the city. It won't be cheap, but fingers crossed.

Thursday 31st July 2025

Thursday 31^st July

SHE SAID:

It was a beautiful day & I headed up to Dempster Head & Lover’s Cove for a hunt around. I was happy to find that the Sandhills Helmets are now flowering; low numbers at the moment, but there are plenty still to come. No signs of any Western Tiny Blues yet, Spiders are budding madly, though none open. Loads of Snails, 2 types I think, & the Mosquitoes are still going.

I found more Sandhills Helmets on the Wind Farm Road, then to top off the day there were 5 Esperance King Spiders flowering on Keenan Road. The burn there looks like it was very hot as there isn’t much coming up in the burnt areas, but the Kings were along the roadside verge, which wasn’t burnt.

I got back to the house around 2.30pm, which Geoff was happy about as it was still time enough to do some things on the car.

Dempster Head views

HE SAID:

The ute has been due for a tyre rotation for a while now. With the crappy weather, and zooming off for orchids, there hasn't been a good time for me to do it until today. It is not a difficult job, but it is a bit dirty, and a bit sweaty, and sometimes a bit sweary. But now it is done. After the tyres I headed out to fill the ute, the jerry can, and get some petrol and oil for our new generator, due to arrive tomorrow. Across from the servo is the local caravan shop, so I headed there too, sourcing some A/C and fridge bits that will be free if I can remove them myself from their scrap heap tomorrow. Fine by me! 

Wednesday 30th July 2025

Wednesday 30^th July

SHE SAID:

Clear skies today & I was keen to get an orchid fix. We headed north; I hoped to find Sigmoid Spiders, Frog Greenhoods, & fingers crossed for the Esperance King Spiders.

Well, tick on all of those, plus most of the expected other regular ones too. We checked a couple of new areas; one wasn’t any good, a EWS NR, but the other random stop was better, with lots of budding Western Tiny Blues coming up.

The end of the day we saw a couple of nice Esperance King Spiders, which was great.

For dinner we tried out the new Pizza & Porter Brewery in town. It was a bit of a disappointment. They hadn’t bothered with any décor, no music, & it was cold. The pizzas were nice, though expensive at $29 each! Geoff didn’t seem impressed with the beer either, I doubt we will be back!

Frogs

South Coast Donkey, Dwarf Shell
& Ravensthorpe Snail

Esperance King Spiders

Geoff's munted Esperance King Spider

Pizza & Porter Brewery

HE SAID:

We had been told the new brewery and pizza place in Esperance was a bit ordinary, but wanted to see for ourselves. Unfortunately, it was just as our reports had said: decent, though pricey pizzas, and average beers. The stout I tried was watery, tasted firstly of pink marshmallows then a touch of chocolate, and just missed the mark completely. The total lack of ambience was also disappointing. 

Tuesday 29th July 2025

Tuesday 29^th July

SHE SAID:

I helped out at the Esperance Herbarium again today. Mary & I managed to finish sorting through the old Esperance samples files. I checked off with the current samples & Mary renamed the ones that needed doing. Then we made a start on the Scaddan files. There are 10 to do, we got 4 of them sorted.

An exciting piece of trivia (well for me anyhow); today in 2011 is the day I found my first Australian terrestrial orchid, a Greenhood!

Esperance Bay

HE SAID:

The weather was ordinary, so Varena had planned well to offer assistance at the herbarium. I stayed at the house, doing chores and stuff.

Monday 28th July 2025

Monday 28^th July

SHE SAID:

A real winter's day, I didn’t leave the house.

Cleaning under the car, WA style!

Geoff's encounter yesterday!

HE SAID:

There was a heap more rain forcast for today so we didn't go out. The squalls came through, dropping plenty of rain, and a bit of small hail.

Sunday 27th July 2025

Sunday 27^th July

SHE SAID:

A dash back to the Munglinup area to search for a special orchid, but we couldn’t any. I think we are too late in the season now.

We had success at the Coomalbidgup burn: 100’s of Cowslip & Little Pink Fairy leaves, a few buds, but I have my fingers crossed for hybrids come September! Geoff’s eagle eyes found me some Western Wispy Spiders, which saved the day from being totally boring!

The car is fully dirty AGAIN. Geoff had to hose the back window as it was caked in mud!

Western Wispy Spiders?

Ravensthorpe Snail & Lort River Snail

HE SAID:

We retraced a lot of yesterday’s drive to get out beyond Munglinup again. We knew from experience that there was an area with Varena’s special orchids but we thought it too late in the season. We were inspired to go for a look after a friend told Varena that they had seen a few of them a few weeks ago. We had nothing to lose by looking, but found nothing. Oh well. We found a couple of other orchids after lunch, so Varena wasn’t too disappointed with the day.

Saturday 26th July 2025

Saturday 26^th July

SHE SAID:

Geoff & I headed west; we had a great day Quite a few orchids found; the Esperance White Spiders have started flowering, also loads of Blue Beards in the Mills Rd burn too, with heaps of Spider sp? budding.

It was 4pm by the time we got back to the house, though it was a late start.

Recent rains have all the fords flooding

Green Range Donkey, Rigid Spider?
Esperance White Spider & a "mob" of Donkeys!

Blue Beards galore
Esperance White Spiders, again!

HE SAID:

After being breathalysed by the police at an RBT near the RAC Caravan Park on our way out of town I was rather surprised at one of our first stops this morning when I saw what I originally thought was a cat merrily trotting towards me down the road. As it got closer it was clearly a fox, but just kept trotting my way until it was about 20m away. Cute as they are, I wish I had a gun. The nearness of nature is nice, but the havoc foxes wreak on our native wildlife is terrible. I see their footprints in the sand next to roads at most orchid stops, and there have been plenty left dead on the roads lately, indicating to me that there is likely an increased population. The fox ran off when I moved, but it is disappointing that it seemed to not have a care in the world in broad daylight. Varena’s crumbed lamb chops and potato bake cheered me up in the evening.

Friday 25th July 2025

Friday 25^th July

SHE SAID:

I didn’t leave the house today; the cold southerly wind was still strong, & it wasn’t nice to be out in it.

I got the Blog Book up to date but didn’t really do too much else during the day. We finished watching the latest Netflix show, an Australian drama set in Tasmania called The Survivors. Geoff had the AFL on in the late afternoon & evening to keep himself entertained.

No recent photos, these are more from our trip to Canterbury in May.

The Crooked House

HE SAID:

The winter weather in Esperance was back again today. It was barely worth going outside for anything, unless you wanted to get wet, or to blown off your feet. We don’t watch much TV during the day, but it was a good opportunity to finish an Australian drama series we’d been watching. There were a few plot holes that irked us, but overall it was entertaining, and probably also a good tourism ad for Tasmania, with plenty of scenic coastal scenes.

Thursday 24th July 2025

Thursday 24^th July

SHE SAID:

I headed into town for a pedicure. It wasn’t the weather to be out in, but I survived. I don’t think it got above 12C today!

In the late afternoon we braved the weather again to go for dinner with Kylie & Ean over at West Beach. As always it was a great evening of food, drink & catching up. They are great company & hosts.

Geoff marked a momentous milestone today, 15 years on a pension & he’s only 57!

Again, no photos from here, so back to England!

Kneeling cushions

Horsham's riverside walk

HE SAID:

It was a very blowy and squally day, so I stayed in for most of it. Our evening over at Kylie and Ean’s was the usual fun time. Kylie is a good cook, and tonight was Massaman beef with rice, beans, naan, and poppadoms. Tasty.

Wednesday 23rd July 2025

Wednesday 23^rd July

SHE SAID:

With the weather being kinder today I suggested a ½ day out around some local-ish locations. I found more ‘Esperance” Wispy Spiders on Crawford Road, & the Beautiful Donkeys were now flowering at Old Smokey, which was good to see. There also might be hybrids of the Beautiful & South Coast Donkeys there too.

The bigger spiders were not out anywhere; I’m just being too eager, like every year! They are coming but not just yet.

We were back at the house by 1.30pm. Geoff had some tasks to do on the van, 1 of which was my suggestion for trying to make space at the entry to the van. We are forever tripping over piles of shoes, as there is nowhere to put them ...till now! I asked Geoff if he thought we could remove the fire extinguisher holder & put the shoes in the cavity behind it. 

Long story short, YES, it worked. We can easily put at least 5 pairs there & the fire extinguisher will stand up there too! Only took us 13 years to figure this out!

Beautiful Donkey

A colourful Hakea in full flower

HE SAID:

I was expecting our wanders this morning to be very wind-blown, but luckily it wasn't too bad, just rather cool to start with. We didn't find much, but there was still brownie at elevenses. We ate our lunch overlooking Lake Windabout, about 5 minutes from the house. There was a spot Varena wanted to check there, but lunch was first! Homemade hamburgers for dinner were great, as always.

Tuesday 22nd July 2025

Tuesday 22^nd July

SHE SAID:

Geoff dropped me in at the DBCA office in town. I was helping Mary, the Esperance Wildflower president, with some of the old files which needed going through. We worked away from 9.30 till 1pm, managing to get through 5 files of samples. A good start.

I also got to meet Emma, the local Esperance DBCA officer, who I have been trying to talk to about getting access to Helms Arboretum. It has been closed since a fire in January, & it looks like nothing has been done to clear the burnt & fallen trees, just closed for access. Unfortunately, there is no access for the foreseeable future as they don’t have a time for the contractors starting to clear the fallen, burnt, & dangerous trees. So, I nor anyone else can go in! 

BUGGER!

No recent photos, so I'm using some from the Horsham flower festival.

St Mary's Parish Church, Causeway, Horsham, West Sussex

HE SAID:

Varena was busy with the wildflower lady in the DBCA office so I managed a few jobs around town during the morning. I even surprised myself by going into a workwear shop and buying some new duds. My current ones have a bit of life in them yet, but can't last too much longer. After collecting Varena and having lunch back at the house I managed to finally fit the 2 grille replacements for the van's roof-top air conditioner. It took me several years to source these buggers, and I think they were 3D printed, as they are made of a different plastic to the originals, but as long as they work I'll be happy. I'm yet to source, 3D printed or otherwise, replacement grilles for the sides of the air-con. Even businesses that said that they have them have let me down, as the didn't actually have any, and when they tried to get some they couldn't, same as me. Beef curry for dinner was very tasty.