Amy: The First Week Went Fast.

Due to a change in facilities, the Teachabout program is running a bit differently this season. We are running a Teachabout Jnr. session in the morning on the community basketball court and then running a session for older kids in the afternoon on/around the oval.

On Wednesday morning we made pom pom creatures, it was challenging but a lot of fun. The afternoon was filled with games of O, 5, 10 and shared writing sessions.

On Thursday morning the kids had a great time painting self portraits and other pictures, they painted so many that we ran out of room on our drying rack and the ALs were left holding pictures while trying to control the mass of kids and paints at their feet. After a lengthly clean-up session involving the kids and the basketball court we headed to Renyan for the afternoon. The older kids went for a swim and had a great time learning how to use the new GoPro camera.

We had a relaxing friday; loom bands and soccer on the oval.

On Saturday we spent 12 hours going for our weekly shop. We headed to Katherine early to pick up the last of our team, Kevin. After stopping for a Mataranka pie we headed an hour and a half up the road to Woolworths. The shop took a couple of hours and attracted a lot of attention, apparently 3 weeks of food for 6 people is something not seen in Katherine very often. We went back via Mataranka to get Kevin a pie, then back into Minyerri for a well deserved rest.

Tara and Jesse demonstrating how long our receipt was. 

On Sunday I wanted to catch a fish. Robin offered to take us out to Minamia, which I was very excited about because it was my favourite place we visited last dry season. On the way, we realised Jesse had forgotten the prawns which we were to use for bait. Robin said not to worry because we could pick up some bait on the way. When we pulled into Minamia we saw trees full of flying foxes. Robin showed the boys how to use freshly cut branches to knock out the flying foxes. Robin eventually hit one at the top of the tree. The only way to get it down was to cut down the tree which Tom excitedly agreed to help out with. Once we had the flying fox, Robin taught us all how to tie a hook on to a line properly and we used the red meat from the flying fox for bait.

Tom and Robin chopping down the tree.

Fishing attempt 1: we all found a place along the river to put in our lines. After fishing for an hour, with a brief pause to lose my bait to a tree we went back in the troopie to go up the river a bit further. No fish. Fishing attempt 2: when we arrived at Flat Rock we put our lines in along the river and waited again. Eventually we decided to take a swimming break at my favourite swimming hole. No fish.

Tom and Jesse jumping in for a swim.

Fishing attempt 3: while the others swam I headed up further on Flat Rock and put my line in to a number of pools. No fish. Fishing attempt 4: we headed back to the site of attempt 2 and had another go. No fish.

Minamia.

Fishing attempt 4.

Fishing attempt 5: after a quick snack and a nap for some we tried once more along the river.
Needless to say, I didn't catch a fish today.. luckily we will be heading out somewhere else next weekend to try again.