Thursday 21 July 2016

Harry Beagle's Outback Adventure - Part THREE - The Australian Outback

 
Harry Beagle's Outback Camping Adventure PART THREE...
(in case you've missed Part 1 or Part 2 scroll down below to the beginning...)
 
Harry heard a low rumbling sound from above, and looked up.
..a plane?
...which was coming in to land just close by.
 Mr Springer bounded up to meet the Flying Doctor
 Also Boomerang suddenly appeared. "Good on ya, mate!" he greeted his Outback friend. "It didn't take ya long to get here"
 The doctor came over to inspect Ingrid, who by this time was wide awake and rather curious as to what was happening.
 "It doesn't look too bad"announced the doctor. Seems sprained. Can you stand on it?"
"It hurts" Ingrid winced. " I don't think I can walk on it"
Boomerang disappeared, then returned with a few branches and a sheet, turning it into a stretcher.
Together they carried Ingrid on it as far as Boomerang's hut, which wasn't far away
 
 "My home is your home" offered Boomerang. "It's not everyday we get visitors in the Outback. Help yerselves!"
 
And they did.
 Ingrid spent the week sitting down with her feet up in style, using the time to complete her travel journal....
And by the end of the week, and back on her feet again, she was learning to cook Outback recipes like damper and stew.
 
 
Meanwhile, Boomerang wanted to show Harry through his opal mine. "When I'm not losing everyone's letters, I like to dig for opals" he explained.

 Harry was a little afraid as he looked down the mine shaft, but Joanne slid down ahead of him.
"Wheeeee this is fun, Harry!"
 
Not taking any chances,  Harry decided to climb down the safer way...

 
 "This way", said Postie Boomerang. "Keep close behind me"

 Harry forgot about being afraid of the underground and started to enjoy the trip, amazed by the different colours in the rock all around them.
 "This is where I've been digging" Boomerang pointed out.
 It was rather an incredible day for Harry. He learned so much and was fascinated by the beautiful streaks of opal in the rock walls.

 By the end of the day they were back at the camp with Ingrid, all three of them keeping warm around the fire while Boomerang recited bush poetry.
 His favourite was "The Roo from Snowy River"
 
 And Ingrid surprised then all with a tune on the Didgeridoo, which she'd been practicing while they were away for the day.

Now that Ingrid was fine again, it was time for them to part ways. Harry and Ingrid were feeling sad about their Goodbyes.
 
"No worries. Cheer up, kids!" Boomerang told them. "I'll come and see you in Possum Creek when I visit the Springers next month"


"And this opal is for you, Harry, for being a brave friend for Ingrid."
Harry couldn't believe his luck. He knew that every time he looked at his rock, he'd remember this adventure and it would give him courage.



THE END
 
Well, there's a few Non-Sylvanian sized items seen in these scenes. I wish I'd known about the fabulous L'il Woodzeez Camping Playset! It would have been perfect for some campfire scenes. Maybe next time!

Monday 11 July 2016

Harry Beagle's Outback Camping Adventure Part TWO - The Australian Outback

Harry Beagle's Outback Camping Adventure PART TWO...
(in case you've missed Part 1 scroll down below to the beginning...)

Harry spent a lonely night sitting beside Ingrid, who slept fitfully. He was relieved to see the sun setting, although he had no idea what they would do once the sun was up.
He'd spent a long, cold night wondering and worrying.
 


Suddenly he heard a noise, coming from behind a bush. There appeared three pairs of ears!!!
 
Yes, definitely ears!

And if there were ears... then that meant there was something there!
Harry felt afraid, but then he remembered his promise to himself to be brave.
Maybe it was someone/something who could help them
"Hello!" he called timidly
Then "Hello" a little louder.


From behind the bush appeared 3 Kangaroos.
Harry blinked. In fact, three very familiar looking kangaroos!
 
"Aren't you Mr Springer from Sylvania?" asked Harry, feeling a mixture of puzzlement and relief.
 
"Why, it's Harry! Harry Beagle" exclaimed Joanne Springer, "from my class at Berrygrove High School last year"
"Hello, Harry. How amazing to see you here!"
"We visit our Outback cousins  here for a Springer Reunion every year."

 
 
He explained Ingrid's mishap and their predicament.
 


 
"Oh how dreadful", said Mrs Springer. "When you poor children are so far from anywhere"


"At least she's sleeping", said Mrs Springer. "That's probably the best thing for her right now. But we do need to get her some help."


"Cooooooooooeeeeeeeeee!"
Harry jumped at the loud shout, wondering who had arrived...




"It's only my cousin, Boomerang the Outback postman", Mr Springer explained.
"G'day Mate!" called Boomerang. "Good ta meet ya! I'm the postie here, just going about my rural deliveries today and collecting up all the letters I lost yesterday" 
Do you need a hand?"


His cousin explained Ingrid's situation, and Postie Boomerang thought for a moment.
"Rightio, I know just the bloke you need. Leave it to me, I'll see you right"...
 


and he hopped off at high speed, strewing a trail of letters behind him.
"That's why they call him Boomerang" Mr Springer explained.
"Most of his deliveries come back "Return to Sender"
 
 
Glossary: Cooee! ( /ku:'i:/) is a shout used in Australia, usually in the bush, to attract attention, find missing people, or indicate one's own location. When done correctly - loudly and shrilly - a call of "cooee" can carry over a considerable distance (Wikipedia)
 Part 3 to be continued next week....

Saturday 9 July 2016

Harry Beagle's Outback Camping Adventure.... The Australian Outback.

  •  
A Camping Adventure in the Outback of Australia hadn't been Harry Beagle's idea. Harry's idea of a holiday would be staying in his own backyard. But.... Harry's best friend was Ingrid Blackberry the Brave...
or so Harry thought. He wished he had a shred of Ingrid's courage and adventure.
He also wished he hadn't been talked into being Ingrid's camping trip buddy.
 

Fortunately Ingrid was a well prepared girl scout. Campfires, finding food, setting up camps... no problem. Leave it to Ingrid.


If they came across a fast flowing river, no worries, Ingrid would find a way to cross.


Harry always a few steps behind....
Ingrid stopped to reflect on nature.
"Isn't nature so beautiful!" she exclaimed.
"Well, not quite as nice as my own backyard" Harry kept his opinion to himself.  It all seemed so big, so wide...rather frightening.


Day Two found them clambering along a rock ledge, Harry's eyes shut tightly. He daren't look down! He was sure he'd have nightmares about this for years!


 
And fighting their way through a Jungle, keeping closely behind Ingrid... afraid he might get lost!

Ahhh....finally they found there way through.... and saw what was beyond....

The Great Australian Outback stretching out before them.
After a long day's journey Harry looked forward to a campfire dinner and a sleep.


As Ingrid counted stars and pointed out the Southern Cross constellation, Harry thought about his own cosy bed at home.


The next morning having breakfasted, Ingrid spied a hill she wanted to climb. "I bet there's a great view from the top!" as she raced off, leaving Harry to struggle upward.

"Look how far we can see" pointed out Ingrid, "Aren't you glad we're here?"


But suddenly she lurched backwards....
 And when Harry looked around she wasn't there anymore!
 Ingrid he shouted, and plucked up courage to scramble down the side of the steep bank as quickly as he could.
 "Ingrid!" he shouted, but there was only a moan.
"Oh no! Are you alright??!!"
"I think I've hurt my ankle", she groaned. "I don't know if I can walk on it. It 's very painful"
 
"What are we going to do?" wondered Harry. "We're out in the middle of the Outback... miles from anywhere."
"You'll have to be brave for me, Harry", she winced.
"Me? Brave?....."
He had to be.
What was he to do now?
To be continued next week.....