For those who've come across the sea......

...we've boundless plains to share...lah lah lah, wub de wub, in joyful strains then let us sing, Advance Australia fair. To be fair, the Ozzy national song is a bit jollier than God save Freddie Mercury and Brian May.

So, first day on Mars Mission and my body clock was surprisingly compliant with local time; I woke at 7.30am feeling...OK. A breakfast of homemade muesli and greek yoghurt and thence to some toil 'with hearts and hands' as Don and I cleared the fire break at the road end of pesky bush plants. I even got to zip about on the quad; a rare treat for a city boy like me. Later Don ferried excited children around chez Gilchrist,

Later, later, the family turned out in force for a classic 'strine barbie. We didn't chuck a shrimp on, but stone the crows, it was a good do nevertheless with cousins from a' the airts gathering. Don expertly instructed me in the art of the Ozzie BBQ as I slaked my thirst on Little Creatures Pale Ale and Bundy Rum.

I haven't seen a spider, snake or a great Galah yet, but it's early days.