Barcoola – Page 2 – Jenn J McLeod – small-town storyteller

Posted on 31/07/2016 by Jenn J McLeod — 6 Comments

A-weema-weh, a-weema-weh

Yes, the lion was sleeping. Wish I had been. Instead we were up at 5.30am and dressing in so many layers I looked like the Michelin Man.

“It’s fun”, they said.

“A not-to-be-missed experience,” the brochure claimed.

Not only was it only 3 degrees, it was a foggy day in Dubbo today. We thought the fog might have ruined the up close encounters. Instead it added a serenity until about 10am when it finally lifted.

We walked about 10 km and we’re totally exhausted, but what an experience. Not hard to tell my favourites. We are going back for more tomorrow.

I so wanted to do this with a heat lamp!

Posted on 31/01/201531/01/2015 by Jenn J McLeod — 1 Comment

Out and about in Barcoola

It’s been five months since selling up and moving into Barcoola and we have experienced a few ‘events’ Barcoola style.

After our windy weeks in Corindi (we were staying close to home for Dad) turned into a few months, we finally hit the road on December 15 and headed for Casino, NSW. Both stays have been filled with fabulous characters and fun.

Melbourne Cup Day Corindi Van Park style!

Here I am with Hans and Denise and their merry band of Tallowwood Travellers. We were invited to stay on for dinner but didn’t want to leave little Daiquiri on her own any longer. She had lost her mate of 12 years the day before and the crowd knew we were all grieving.

Next thing we hear is Denise knocking on the annex door. There she was with two generous serves of her fabulous paella, with garlic bread! Exactly want we needed to cheer us up.

What wonderful people we’re meeting. You can look out for a Hans and Denise mention in book 4, April 2016! I have a feeling there will be paella!!

Christmas Casino Style

The beef capital is a great town. I am, however concerned. I don’t think the locals are used to seeing little white fluffy dogs. We all went for ‘walkies’ down the main street and people everywhere stopped on the spot and stared with comments like . . . “Oh, a little white fluffy dog!” Maybe they are not used to a dog in a backpack. Or the Blue Heeler and Kelpie are the dog of choice? (Clearly, no one has seen how a cagey, one-dyed white, fluffy dog can fool a mob of sheep!) I did like this Casino local and his mate.

Our hosts for Christmas was The Big 4 Resort, Casino

The Big 4 Resort at Casino is two things:

a caravan park ideal for the Biiiiig Riiiiig (you are supposed to draw out the words Biiiiig Riiiiig with a really deep, echoing voice)
an entire community of houses especially built for people who own and need to park a Biiiiig Riiiiig.

This place is everything we hoped for. Did I mention there’s a swap library? And guess whose book I found on the shelves?

Our first Christmas was very Casino. That means HOT! But the Christmas lights were pretty cool. The permanent resident cottages are just delightful, with small, manageable gardens (unlike our unruly, triffid-type garden on our property. We have NOT missed the gardening part—yet!) I reckon one of these will be a nice little retirement plan. With room for Barcoola (which will double as guest quarters!) when winter comes . . . .off we go, while the house stays secure in a fenced estate.

Casino Library Author Chat

I’ve done a few library chats but Casino… you have set the bar pretty high. Wow! It was a great turnout. Here I am with a few hangers oners. I was sent home with a platter of yummy, homemade country-style treats (which I was assured were not fattening!)

Australia Day

I met a Bonalbo bloke at my library chat. Lance (pictured) drove into Casino to attend my chat, so I drove out to Bonalbo for their Australia Day celebrations. They clearly knew I was there because the band played a song from my up-coming release – Season of Shadow and Light!

We’ve had a great time exploring Casino. Time to head back to Corindi for a while. I have a book to launch in May. 🙂

Play this video. Celebrate Australia and Season of Shadow and Light with me.

Posted on 09/10/2014 by Jenn J McLeod

Grass will NOT grow under my feet!

grass under feet You know the old saying about not letting the grass grow under your feet?

That is NOT happening here in Corindi Caravan Park. No, no, no!

This week was all work, work, work.

But busy is good, right?

As for that grass growing through the annexe floor — a floor pegged down on all sides and unable to be pulled up without dismantling the annexe?

That is not so good!

Today I fixed that problem. First I cut the grass in the puppy courtyard. (see exhibit A!) cutting grass

Then I found a way to rid the flooring of that pesky grass without out too much effort at all, which meant our chores were all done by morning coffee time!

I hope you are not letting the grass grow under you feet.

HEALTH WARNING: do NOT run with scissors and do NOT try this lawn cutting technique at home on large lawns!)

Oh, and then there’s the small thing about sending another round of edits for Season of Shadow and Light back to Simon & Schuster. This is the final ‘uh-oh’ version that the printer will be binding into what’s called an advance reader — or proof — copy and S&S will send out to reviewers and book buyers. That means this edit had to be pretty spot on. I get one more go to dot those t’s and cross those i’s (only joking!) before the final books are printed.

ABC radio Coffs studio

So, book three is getting closer to those shelves. I can’t wait. I totally love this story and the messages woven through it.

While it was all chores, chores, chores, the week started out with a bit of fun. The lovely Janine (who, by the way, has her own fantastic, entertaining, and often thought-provoking blog (Shambolic Living) invited me to chat on air with Fiona Wyllie. We were supposed to be talking about downsizing from a house into a caravan, but we talk a lot about books and laughed a lot.

You can CLICK to listen.

If you would like to experience a little Shambolic Living, pop over to Janine’s blog. Prepare to laugh, to cry, to feel, but, most importantly, to love life.

ABC local radio