here are some photos of the set up for the Gapan Gallery

first you get a stringy bark forest

attach some lights

 get a bucket of gapan (white paint made from clay)

grab a handful

and wipe it on the tree trunks

like so

 up the ladder - nina with aimee

dave and lauren

 cords and cross-bars

 done ....

 its a messy job, and yes there were gapan fights ....

on wednesday we got new tee-shirts delivered .... and then the Melbourne Cup turned up with an entourage of trainers, race board representatives and photographers so not only did we get to see the melbourne cup but we got to wear our matching tops and get a group photo taken ... hilarious moment  - there were speeches and all sorts....things like this happen all the time up here, its bizarre but true, like the ex-captain of the australian women's netball team Liz Ellis calling me a 'dirty kiwi' on TV ... buts thats another story ...

here are the photos of the melbourne cup and all of us at Buku

 the yolngu crew from left - jerome, watjumi, barrupu, neil, wanapa, nyayanyapa and  jamie

with the whole buku staff and garma volunteers included! jane, ranydjupi, barayuwa, sally, will, jerome, neil, kade, wanapa, dhamula, ishmail, jess, dave, lauren, katie
second row - vanessa, watjumi, barrupu, nyapanyapa, me, jamie, aimee and nina
and ROB on centre stage

we went to Cape Arnhem on saturday for a nights camping with jane and rob - convoy style .

Cape Arnhem is the bestest spot in the area and since only 10 vehicles are allowed in at one time not only is it beautiful but it is quiet and you can easily be the only people on the beach .. which we were.

We got a campsite - played at the beach, cooked fresh oysters off the rocks and had them with champagne, entertained the kids with a hammock,  a hand made swing, and sparklers,  ate roast chicken from the fire and slept a terrible nights sleep with the four of us in our tiny tent ...  it was just like a camping trip should be ... and to top it all off we got seriously bogged in the sand and almost tipped down a ditch on the way out ...

jane testing the waters

drive along the beach

campsite

swing made from drift wood and a dog's lead

bottle

beach

sunset

sparklers

night

morning swims

postcard pic 1

jane and iggy

rob spiritual leader

diggin while dog watches

coast

spear fishing

postcard pic 2

afternoon snack

afternoon sleep

The Bog

saved by a tree

dug out, pulled out,   S A V E D