"Here She Comes Again" ...

...We can hear the old P.S. Melbourne coming as she has to give 3 blasts to let the Lockmaster know she's rounding the bend and will be at the Lock pretty soon...

...And there she is...in her glory once again...a few passengers on board today, but not a lot, but up further - 2 buses of primary school children we noticed - were ready for her when she came into the Lock - standing and cheering and waving to the passengers on board...What a welcome they had today!!..

...We missed their arrival actually, we just heard all the noise, as we were up further along the river, and through the trees, we could see all these little people in their green and gold school uniforms waving frantically to those on board..yes, what a welcome they had today...

...I tried to capture that scene but by the time we got there, they had spread out like little green and gold ants, having a marvellous time chasing each other around.. I think the teachers there were rather busy actually, but what a great time for the kids on the lawns at the Lock..even if it wasn't looking at a boat going down into the Lock, it was great fun charging around on the lawns..The children have some great excersions around here...

...Forty years ago I remember when our son was their age - the Principal of the little school he attended - took them on an excersion to the local Abattoirs - now that was some excersion, they were spared the finest details ofcourse, and no child suffered because of it - they all returned home knowing what happened to the animals eventually, and where the meat came from on their plates from then on..

...Our son still remembers that particular excursion...!

...This is the Country right here, you see...