What book are you reading?

What an amazing story @"Annie C" .  I have read a couple of books on what it was like. I couldn't have imagined living through the experience.    I have driven quite a few times NT to Qld and you see quite a few of the old airstrips along the the Stuart Highway.  Even General MacArthur visited the old airstrip at Batchelor back then.  
The great thing about Darwin is that it is a great gateway to so many places to visit.  I remember when I first went up that way the old Darwin airport was just a tin shed with overhead fans.  Times have changed but you still get glimpses on what it was like.  I love some of the Australian books which relate to that neck of the woods.  "We of the Never Never",  " No place for a Woman", "Boss Drover "  Plus Tom Cole's Books.  xox

So your parents werent compensated for the loss of land and house?   That is tough.  

My dad was in Darwin for the bombing and was injured which contributed to his early death at age 50. He was the Army dentist.

@kitkatb
I love Darwin. If I ever have to leave my little town because travelling for medical became too difficult, Darwin is where I would head.

My parents were in Darwin from 1937 to 1942. My older sister was born there and was 3 weeks old when she and my mother were forcibly evacuated on the SS Koolinda.

My father was still in Darwin  when the Japanese bombed. He had just left the Post Office, heard the sound of planes, looked up and realised they were not friendly.

He owned a block of land (as well as a house at Vesteys Beach where Darwin High School is) just near the post office. He had dug drainage ditches on the block and took shelter in one of them.

My father was employed by the Public Works Department and worked on the airstrips along the Stuart Highway.

My parents never returned to Darwin to live after the war. I think that having lost the land and house and having to leave everything they had worked for behind affected them deeply.

We hope to wet a line somewhere!!  Yes, we went to the Gove Peninsula with my brother & whilst Keith & I stayed on the beach - he went out for a swim, which I thought was incredibly stupid - as there was one croc slide halfway along the beach ....... 

Back on track .... Keith is currently reading Raelene Boyle's autobiography and finding it riveting.   She was denied the chance of a gold medal twice.  

Once, she was disqualified for 'breaking' (which she disputed) but was not allowed to compete in her 'pet event' the 200m at the Olympics in 1976.  Showing the start of the race in slow motion at the 1.10 minute (using the settings wheel you can slow it down to .25) - it was quite obviously the girl in lane 5 who moved first ..... 
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qJWB-jSmn_k

And of course the other one where she came 2nd to the East German who later admitted taking steroids - but she was never disqualified & Raelene was never given her Gold Medal  grrrr

I'll read it after Keith finishes!

Hi @arpie,   That's a tough one as we usually had the boat.  You can try for the Milk fish on bread with fly. They turn up in the dry season generally.  We have caught quite a few fish around the harbour it has been a long while though now but you could try the wharf they used to fish off that.  If you feel like a bit of a drive head down to shady camp as quite a few people fish from the bank there.  ( be very very careful though with the croc's always plenty around )   You do occasionally see some idiots with a cast net in the water waist deep. !!  crazy crazy.  I have worked at two different places in Arnhemland where  people have been taken by croc's. Its just heart wrenching.
You two are just going to have a blast and @"Annie C"  you should definitely not behave yourselves.  Whats the saying "Go big or Go home "  LOL  xox

 And my brother up there is a dentist who has worked all over the NT  (and for princes In the UK and Emirates) ,,....... so wouldn’t want to embarrass him with his friends and colleagues!

But we MUST go fishing!   @kitkatb .... any suggestions??

Now reading Ford's second book "Boys will be boys".  Much less over the top than the first one and interesting.

Okay we won't.

No problem with getting arrested - my nephew is with the
NT Police and in charge of the Central Lockup and loves his favourite aunty. 

@"Annie C" and @arpie - oh, don't behave yourselves, please! And take photos.

@arpie
Darwin won't know what has hit it when you and I meet up. Only 5 months to go!

Shall we be on our best behaviour or just normal?