Christmas 2021

[happy daze john in oz]

Having had all our plans for a trip to Adelaide stuffed by the state premier and the virus we had to change plans.

So we went up the river for 9 days.

Many places we had been to before but some new ones as well, many now only a sign post with population long gone.

Wentworth is in NSW not far from Mildura where we spent a few nights, been there before many years ago.

The main point if interest here is the old Gaol from the 1800's mainly for men all at three to a cell but two female cells with 10 to each.
Biggest crime for females then was to be a member of the Salvation Army, considered to be against the main stream Christian teaching.

In the main court yard there is the large stump of a tree, convicts who misbehave were shackled to this.

For a bit of fun you can try your self, one of the staff dressed as a guard of the time will set the shackle for you.
It was a sunny day, temp about 39, got to 41 by mid afternoon.
Sat there for about 15 minutes before being set free.

In times gone by they were there for up to 12 hours in the sun wit temps in the 40's quite common.

But did find some thing of interest you may consider making, a recipe for a drink.

Half cup of metho
half cup of Cayenne pepper
half tea spoon Indian Opium...........plentyfull at that time and easy to obtain
2 gallons Jamacian Rum...................Rum was also in available in large amounts and was the main grog of the times.
1 gallon hot water

stir well and stand for 24 hours
Store in strong crock.

This along with the heat no doubt contributed to the need for the tree stump and shackles.

[j.sabourn]

Ref. the recipe John can you order it by the jug. ? If so would take 3, should be good for snake bite as well . JS

[Tony Taylor]

Having had all our plans for a trip to Adelaide stuffed by the state premier and the virus we had to change plans.


This along with the heat no doubt contributed to the need for the tree stump and shackles.

ha ha nice one John, the alcohol would probably have evaporated off with the heat, but who would notice as most would be out their skulls on opium and retching up the cayenne.

[happy daze john in oz]

Ref. the recipe John can you order it by the jug. ? If so would take 3, should be good for snake bite as well . JS

Could also be used as an antidote for wild politicians.

[happy daze john in oz]

We visited a number of clubs in our trip, all very welcoming.

In Mildura we went to the working men's club, at one time had the longest bar in the world at just over 100 meters.
Not in one line but overall.

That is now gone and the club is very different now.

I went to the bar for a bottle of wine.
The young lady behind the bar was well endowed and with a low cut top.
Being the prude that I am I looked at the floor, thought I might see more down there no doubt.

When I had to pay I produced my card and she spoke words that will stay with me for ever when she said,

'Do you want to tap it or stick it in'?

[happy daze john in oz]

We are sailing, we are sailing far away across the sea....................

For two years here in Victoria compliments of our state premier we have been some form of lock down longer than anywhere else.

The last cruise was at the end of 2019, some 2.5 years ago.

Well they can sit on it and rotate now, we will be, if all goes well as we plan, be sailing on a cruise from Southampton on June 25.
To Norway and Iceland.
The countries are good but for me the ability to once again be on the ocean, to see the ships wake ad the stars at night from the open deck is all I need to feel satisfied.

So I will be away until late July.