Back From The Big Chill

Back from the SouthWest – but did not catch that trout as the Karri Valley trout fram has been closed for a couple of years - but had a brilliant time with the family.

Highlights from the Road-Trip:

• Driving through small country towns like donnybrook, Bridgetown, Pemberton and Nannup – where the General store still has not been replaced by a chain supermarket and someone still serves you at the petrol bowser.
  
  
• Walking through the forests of Pemberton and Karri Valley, where the trees are second only in size to the Redwood trees in California (I’m told). Climbing the massive Gloucester Tree and trekking through the forest to see Beedelup Falls.

• Visiting a farm where the kids could feed the llama’s, alpaca’s, goats, sheep, swans.
  
  
• Staying in a secluded bush cottage at Margaret River complete. Waking up on first night thinking somebody was breaking in – only to realize the heavy ‘thump, thump, thump’ was actually a large kangaroo bouncing around outside.
  
  
• Seeing the main break at Margaret River in good form – waves of double head height and glassy, watching some ‘tow-in’ surfers at the ‘Bombie’, and also seeing a whale breaching beyond the breakers.
  
  
• Visiting the Margaret River Chocolate factory, Westwood Winery (where I picked up a case of clean skin red ‘quaffer’) and having a couple ‘chilli’ flavored beers and Nacho’s at the ‘Wicked Ale Brewery’.
  
  
• Driving around listening to a belated birthday present 'Rebirth of Cool' (from my sister who we visited in Bunbury) which just brilliantly captured the moment in music. Ray Charles’ – ‘Out of My Life’ is definitely the song of the moment for me. (Do youself a favor and buy the album!).
  
  

In a nutshell- You’ve got to get away to really ‘Chill-out’.

Real Chill time cannot be replicated at home. There’s always something to do, work tomorrow, friends to see, family events. You need a different environment. The absence of distractions, fresh air, winding roads and a cold beer and barbecue.

Its really given me some time to think through some bigger issues regarding career directions and talk them over with my wife…

Batteries now recharged - ready to kick-start the Group Financial System upgrade project tomorrow. This will last 6 - 8 months then it may be opportune to embark on a new adventure!

And as for those chores around the house - well about 40% completed...