TC 13th July

Well, school’s in, our visitors are gone and the wind is back. Guess all’s right with the world?
Do you ever get asked, “Why do you live here?” Often, I bet. Sometimes I do wonder, then a week like last week happens and I thank God that I do live here. City people miss so much. The new butcher birds have arrived and compete with the dogs for their food. Every time the birds win I get the benefit of their wonderful whistle.
Then the bower bird has his go. Strange that the dogs always seem to be the target. He confuses my boys by mimicking “Bossy” from the hotel, or sends them running because a cat sounds in distress. Chasing the happy jacks completes the day’s work-out. Simple things, but things I missed during my working life.
The Golf Course is looking good. Barry ha been busy mowing in preparation for September’s big tournament. Locals are brushing up their strokes in hopes of being able to compete this year.
Christine Scott rang from Charters Towers last week to find if the wattle is out yet. It was a miserable, grey day when we drove into Charters but on the way out the sun came out just as we reached the hills. It illuminated them, was a spectacular sight. Also lots of soap bush, gravillia and melaleuca out on the ranges to colour trip home.
Lots of bikers on the road now, both pedal and motor, some returning from a rally around Cape York dropped in for supplies yesterday and that reminded me that the Burdekin River V Twin and Vintage Charity Bike Show will be on in Charters Towers on 17th July, at the Show Grounds. Entry for Adults is $15.00 and kids under fifteen are free. For more information call Steve on 04 28511 168.
I believe Steve and his gang plan a trip out to Torrens Creek later in the year.
Remember our Darts Nights? They were fun, weren’t they? A games night, including darts, pool, cards, Xbox or board games, has been organized for the last Saturday of the month starting around 7pm, after the Torrens Creek Progress Association Meeting which begins at 5pm. Ring 47 417378 for more details.
Another Aussie Pioneer Staple. Camp Pie.
Meat in the bush was often tough—for your own needs , you killed only the beasts that were no good for selling. So people devised ways to make the meat more edible and easier to store for periods when there was no fresh meat. Camp pie was born. Commercial versions of this recipe used a lot of sodium nitrate to break down the meat fibres, horrible stuff!
Ingredients:
700gm shin beef, 250gm bacon, 1 tsp. salt , mace, 1tsp cayenne pepper, 1/2 tsp mustard, 1 tablespoon geletine, one egg beaten.
Method: mince the beef and bacon, add salt, a little mace and cayenne pepper, the mustard and the geletine. Mix in the beaten egg to holdthe mixture together and pack tightly into a billy can. Cover with buttered paper and put the lid on. Steam for 2 1/2 hours. Then take it from the fire, remove the lid and put a weight on the camp pie until it is firm. Serve sliced, with bread, butter and salad or on sandwiches.