We all got together while I was back in Perth, to celebrate my sister-in-law’s birthday

I think the fact that she’s managed to put up with our family for over 20 years should make her eligible for some kind of saint hood award thingy is an achievement on it’s own

And she’s still kind of normal

emphasis on the KIND OF

So we went down to the marina by Mum & Dad’s place

It’s always so good to see my nephews

Search, Destroy & Leadbelly

The twins are 11 now

And Leadbelly will be 8 later this year

All 3 of them are nearly as tall as me

and have been since they were like, FIVE how scary is that?

They’re such good kids

And sat patiently while the adults talked bullshit & drank too much caught up

And when boredom set in

The good ol’ iPhones saved the day

The boys even overcame my gay blingy sparkly, girl phone covers

And created some fugly Poppy pics fun stuff

It’s always a big BOOOOOO saying goodbye to the boys

And goodbye to this

These sunsets are pretty special

Maybe one day soon Diamond & I will have our own speccy sunsets

And a bigger house so my nephews can come & stay with us whenever they want

For as long as they want

And I’ll never let them leave keep them forever

Some might call it kidnapping

I call it AUNTY-LOVE

I love to take photos

And when I travel

My camera is always within reach

Except when I lose it

But other than that

It’s always right with me

On this trip

Because I am clearly losing my mind for some unknown reason

I have been taking photos of flowers

I just have a little point & shoot camera

Nothing fancy

But I’m thinking that these don’t suck too bad they turned out OK

I’ve been wanting a real, big girl, grown up bulky & horribly expensive camera for a while

And I’d love to see what I could do with that

I had fun taking these

Who’d have thought?

Me, a flower photographing chick

Don’t be too concerned though

I’ll still take photos of the good stuff too

Imagine the clarity of testicle shots I could get?

Bulls balls in 3D!!

.

.

.

PS – if you click on the photo it will show it in greater detail. Good for the flower shots. The animal ones? Not so much.

I started off this tour with some solo shows in Western Australia

I had a few days to fill

So I picked some of my favourite places to play

I always have a ball in Geraldton

So that was on the list

And I’m kind of from Perth

So that had to be on the list

But I’m also FROM Kalgoorlie (left when I was 10, for Perth)

I kind of have 2 hometowns I guess

.

When I play in Kalgoorlie

I always play at the same place

It’s actually in Boulder

The town that’s adjacent to Kalgoorlie

They’re both part of an area known as the GOLDFIELDS

So, I try to remember to say that I’m playing in the Goldfields

‘Cause you know how I HATE to piss anyone off

.

Kalgoorlie & Boulder are like siblings

They give each other shit

And you never want to be thought of as being from one of them, if you’re from the other

Blasphemy!

It’s a lot like the Australia / New Zealand relationship

Or the U.S.A / Canada relationship

Each gives the other one a hard time

But would totally beat the shit out of anyone who messed with their neighbour

.

Just like siblings

.

Anyhoo

A million years ago when I was just starting out with my band

My COUNTRY band

Go on, I know you want to laugh

Let me make it easier for you

I called my band the WHAM BAM THANK YOU BAND

Oh yes I did

.

So back when we were first starting out

Getting gigs was never easy

Getting venues to give an unknown act a shot was hard yakka

In fact it was fucking hard yakka

But eventually it did get easier

We became more popular and it wasn’t such a drama anymore

But in the beginning there were very few places that gave us a go

.

One of those places that did give us a shot

Was the Grand Hotel

In Boulder

It’s one of the original pubs left in Kalgoorlie/Boulder

Not done up at all

Nothing fancy

It’s the real deal

I love the place

And it was almost blasphemous for a Kalgoorlie girl to play in a Boulder pub

But you know what?

Those KALGOORLIE pubs didn’t want to know us back then

And that’s why I like to call myself a GOLDFIELD’S girl

It seems to keep everyone happy

.

That first gig in Boulder was a LONG time ago

Maybe 15 years (?)

And I’ve been back to gig in the Goldfield’s a lot since then

And every time

I play at the Grand

I guess it’s a loyalty thing

But it’s more than that

.

Frankie & Ken, who run the pub

Have become like family

They’re good people

Good family people

They have five children

And over the years all of them

And their grandkids

Have worked / lived at the pub at some point

A lot of them still do

It’s like a clan

.

Since I last played the Grand

Frankie & Ken’s son Mick passed away

And I can see a change in them both

They’re holding their family just that little bit tighter

But they’re still the good, GREAT people they’ve always been

.
And fuck do they sure know how to have a good time

And laugh?

We sure did

.

After the gigs there, Heiny and I headed back to Perth

And the next day

THIS HAPPENED

Holy shit!

.

I’m happy to report that everyone’s OK

.

And I’m hoping the Grand will still be there when this Goldfield’s girl goes home next time

.

.

UPDATE: The Grand needs a few repairs – but it’s not going anywhere. You beauty!