We meet some lovely people at the fields, Tom an old friend of Don and Sandra’s, who has been gem fossicking for twenty years or so. And another couple who were camped with us, Peter and Margaret a very nice couple who kept giving Andrew cheek and vice a versa. Margaret is an excellent cook, which she showed us by inviting us all to candle light dinner under the stars one night – pea and ham soup – delicious.

Tom also put on a mean feast for all of us when his daughter – Kelly – arrived to take him home after been there for three months.

After a week of shovelling dirt, sifting dirt, washing dirt we got to have a day off and headed into Anakie for the gem festival. It gave us the opportunity to refill the water bottles, for the shower and willouby oh and the toilet. :0

The festival was interesting, it felt more like a market than a festival but worth going to see. Lots of pretty sapphires worth a fortune, Andrew has to work harder, so I can get me some of that jewellery. :)

Well the day started nice but ended not nice, as most know the truck at the moment is no longer on the road. RACQ had to come and get us, but not before we finished our holiday.

For the rest of the time Don and Sandra couldn’t do enough for us, they became our chauffeur, so we got to fossick for one more week which really isn’t enough time, you get in the rhythm of it and only find small gems but you want to keep going – very addictive.

Thursday came too fast, watched the Nissan get put onto a tow truck heading for home a very sad sight. :(

But our adventure was not over, our chauffeurs took us to lunch at Rubyvale Hotel before catching the train home (sleeper of course). The train was comfortable didn’t have to worry about traffic, could walk around eat drink or sleep whatever you wish to do. We watched movies until dinner, which was mediocre, than to bed (not very comfortable). Only to be woken at 5:00am in the morning, the conductor asking everyone to get off the train as powerlines in a tunnel somewhere had come down.

Off the train, free breaky and wait for the bus to pick us up. After a few hours we were heading home in a cramped packed bus, stopping in Caboolture than Roma Street, finally at home for lunch and an afternoon nana nap.

Again, we cannot thank Don and Sandra enough they are the best.

Looking forward to 2013.

Susanne & Andrew