Au Revoir Australia

Our final weeks in Australia were a whirlwind of packing and catching up with family and friends. Thank you to everyone who hosted events for us and had us as guests. We had a wonderful time.

View from the plane

View from the plane

After a 38 hour journey, we find ourselves on the other side of the world and at the start of a great adventure.

Visiting Friends in Bathurst

Bathurst is an Australian town in New South Wales. Getting to Bathurst by train and bus takes about four hours. The scenery on the way is beautiful and rural.

We were in Bathurst to visit friends. The town has an attractive and family friendly feel. We happily strolled around with our friends’ two little boys running and playing ahead.

Park and two foozles

Park and two foozles

It was wonderful to catch up in person with old friends.

View of Bathurst and surrounding countryside

View of Bathurst and surrounding countryside

Bathurst courthouse

Bathurst courthouse

Bathurst war memorial in the town centre

Bathurst war memorial in the town centre

Bathurst war memorial

Bathurst war memorial

A visit to Bathurst would not be complete without a circuit of the race track.

View from Bathurst race track

View from Bathurst race track

Vacuum Bags

I do not remember when I first encountered vacuum bags. It must be many years ago now and I can not imagine moving or travelling without them.

Vacuum bags are designed to reduce the storage size of your bedding or clothes. They are plastic bags that allow air trapped inside to be pumped out. You put your clothes or linen inside, then you vacuum out the air. The result is an impressively shrunken rigid bag.

Typically the vacuum bag requires a vacuum cleaner to suck the air out. Some smaller bags can be rolled to remove the air; this type is great for travelling.

Today I got the chance to photograph and film a new vacuum box being used. This box was a new variation on the vacuum bag theme for us. The vacuum bag is fixed into a semi-soft box. When compacted the bag is neatly contained in the box. The box makes the final rigid bag easier to pack or ship.

Watch the bag being compacted on YouTube in High Definition.

An empty vacuum bag

An empty vacuum bag

Vacuum bag with 3 duvets inside

Vacuum bag with 3 duvets inside

Compacted vacuum bag holding 3 duvets

Compacted vacuum bag holding 3 duvets

Close up of the compacted vacuum bag inside the box

Close up of the compacted vacuum bag inside the box

Closed vacuum bag box ready for storage or transport

Closed vacuum bag box ready for storage or transport

Native Australian Flowers

Megan had a surprise farewell lunch at work and brought home a beautiful native Australian flower arrangement. Having grown up on the other side of the planet, this arrangement was a delight to see and touch. Plants in Australia tend to be much more hardy; they have thicker and broader leaves to cope with the harsh sun and dry regions.

Radiant native Australian flower

Radiant native Australian flower

Native Australian flowers

Native Australian flowers

Detail of a native Australian flower

Detail of a native Australian flower

An amazing clustered flower native to Australia

An amazing clustered flower native to Australia

A white flowering plant native to Australia

A white flowering plant native to Australia