2017 - THE YEAR THAT HAS BEEN
What a year 2017 has been
with marvellous things heard and seen.
We ventured off looking for gold
putting up with hot and cold.
We started out on the coast
on the beach we cooked a roast
and went to a wedding in Shark Bay
saw turtles, sharks and even a ray.
Soon we were out on gold-bearing ground
at first not a lot of gold was found.
There were bottles, relics, buttons and pretty stones
and there were lots and lots of dried up bones.
Standing high on a riverbed wall
I wasnt really expecting to fall
but over the weeks it happened twice
and neither time was particularly nice.
The bones in my foot cracked like an egg
there were cuts, gouges and scratches all over my leg
and a noisy, painful vertebra crack
as I landed awkwardly on my back.
Later in the day came the whopping bruise
the best response was a really loooong snooze.
The coming days Im forced to hobble
my balance is shot and I tend to wobble.
The rest of the trip there was a painful twinge
and - you guessed it - a constant whinge!!
So Phil set up the sat tv
and kept me calm with a cup of tea.
Out came Zimmer, our baby quad,
and very soon it got the nod.
Taz loved to hop on and go for a ride
hed sit up front and be our guide.
In places there was intense shimmering heat
it would come through your boots and burn your feet.
Wed still try for a reconnaissance walk
the air so dry it hurt to talk.
I was statically charged and set off sparks
like tiny zapping lightning arcs.
So we'd hop on Zimmer and go for a trek
looking for that one nugget. even a speck.
And then one day, for goodness sake
I found a nugget, in the sun it did bake.
That set us up, wed found a patch
the relentless heat was the biggest catch.
During the day we stayed out of the sun
sitting for hours was far from fun
but as it cooled down late in the day
wed grab the detectors and head off to play.
We tried dryblowing, sieving and panning
with four of us it took some planning.
Of gold I did not expect to find any
but at the end the nuggets were many.
In most places we generally found none
in others we managed to dig up some.
We finished up with the odd golden gram
and celebrated with scones, cream and jam.
We picked up a travelling mouse
that decided our bus was his new mouse house.
From odds and ends Phil made a trap
and safely caught him; it made us clap.
There were monstrous lizards all around
as Taz stood quivering on the ground.
They sauntered up just to say Hi
then curiously looked and said Bye bye.
We caught up with friends in many towns
with giggles, stories and worried frowns
as Taz launched up into the sky
on a drone he managed to fly so high.
We dug with friends in tips and dumps
and occasionally wed come up trumps.
Wed battle bugs, mossies and blue-arsed flies
and finish with brilliant sunsets - rarely sunrise.
But enough was enough and we were done
four long months and 364 grams plus was the sum.
It was certainly great to finally get home -
except for the annoying ring of the phone!!
That was our year with its ebbs and flows
a real mixed bag but thats how it goes.
So, eh you, happy new year to everyone
we wish you health, wealth and lots of fun.
by Sandra Box
Copyright 31-12-2017.