After I left you on my last post, we decided to go along to the Junior Rodeo which was on.  The reserve we're staying at is actually an equestrian reserve and I think the caravan side things is a handy fund raiser on the side.  We had the polocrosse carnival the weekend before and this weekend was the rodeo.  It was great fun to watch the little kids (and I mean little) being led around the poles in the pole bending or held on to the  poddy calves bucking. Then some of the slightly older ones came on and you could see they were going to be champions in the future.  I've included a couple of videos - unfortunately we weren't that close so had to zoom at bit which tends to lose a bit of definition.  We didn't stay for all of it and headed home for tea.

Sunday we went and got a few groceries and then I thought I'd change the bed - not just the sheets but the doona cover, cushions etc. so I got them all done and they dried very quickly on our line under the awning.  Sunday night we headed over to Mindil Beach markets - a local icon.  There's the usual market stalls plus a multitude of food stalls.  So we wandered round the market where a couple of dresses might just have jumped into my bag then got some yummy Asian food and sat down and watched the sunset along with a few hundred other people.  Gary and Janice were there too and joined us for tea.  Monday was a public holiday so thought there wasn't much point visiting tourist spots as the locals would also be out in force.  We took a drive into the water front and had a walk around and enjoyed an ice cream before heading back in time for happy hour.

Tuesday was the big day with Craig's visit to the specialist.  He was a really nice guy and we liked him even more when he said that surgery wasn't warranted at this stage and he felt that the fracture would heal ok but said that the MRI also showed a labral tear.  He says that another three weeks of sling (or just keeping close by his side and minimising use - which isn't difficult as if Craig tries to do anything too much it hurts so in effect it's self limiting.) He gave us a referral to a physio to get a graduated programme of exercise starting with very gentle movement over the next three weeks then gradually building up the range of movement and strength. He did warn that there was always a possibility that down the track he might require surgery but he was reasonably confident that with time and effort it could be avoided.  But as a fallback he's given us the name of a specialist in Perth should it still not be right.

So that was cause for celebration and we both heaved a massive sigh of relief.  We'd arranged to go out with Gary and Janice and David and Cheryl to another seafood restaurant that night.  It was called the Jetty down on Stokes Wharf.  We'd a great table outside over the water and had a lovely meal though were disappointed there were no oysters.  That's where we usually get our money's worth!

Yesterday I'd called John and Carol who were also in Darwin to chat about what their plans were - they're the couple we're going to buddy up with when we head across to WA.  We decided that lunch would be the go and Silks - the restaurant at the racecourse were doing $15 lunches!  But first we had Craig's physio appointment.  It went really well and Clair has given him a great graduated series of exercises which should get his shoulder to come good over the coming months.   We'd a great lunch and catch up with John and Carol then headed back to the van where it was nearly time for happy hour with Janice and Gary.

Today we've done a big shop as tomorrow we're heading off to Kakadu for a few days.  But first we're going out to Merrikai as Ken and Susie are coming to Darwin after having been at Kakadu for a week and they're staying for a couple of nights at a little campsite beside a boutique brewery.  So we'll head there tomorrow - only an hour or so down the road - then on Saturday drive to Jabiru.    Now Janice has just been on the phone saying its Mango Daiquiris for happy hour - oh dear! and we're doing a joint tea of pizza - standard meatlovers from us and seafood from them.  A good night coming up though bittersweet as we now go our separate ways and are unlikely to catch up again this trip.  But once home Gracemere isn't very far from us!