@wotsup - so you are much closer to Perth than I thought - I still go 'down to the coast' every so often, still have friends on a property in Burekup and friends in Bunbury, in Capel - knew a large farming family in the Busselton area who now have retreated into a very lonesome area in the bush and are running a restaurant and tourist cabins from there - but too far for me to visit often.
I was even friendly with relatives of a famous Australian painter who had an equally gifted brother, who lived down south, very close to the ocean, but he was more into woodwork and metal-work, died relatively young.
I used to work for the TAB district office in Bunbury when such a thing was still necessary, now everything is fully computerised; but that's where i got to know a lot of people - via my phone calls to the various country agencies for their bets.
I do miss all these interesting people - I know only a few here now in Perth, but have enough imagination to never get bored and I am still creative in many practical ways. I absolutely love country people and live where I do, because it reminds me of the good times.
My husband renovated two houses and almost completely rebuilt the one I published a picture of - and he had a job as well - a responsible one up here in Perth, lots of work, some long country drives for work (to wheat bins). Given a choice (mine are limited now - haha): I respect and prefer people who can work with their hands and have lots of energy, forget those talkers and big-noters, who never get anything done!
I understand why your wife might have some privacy issues with Hotcopper, because I sometimes feel I am pouring my heart out here, but I have know everyone on here for some time now, I even met some personally, and they are all good sorts.
Go well
Taurisk
