SATURDAY 24 JULY     GEMTREE

Last night was very cold – close to zero, I think. The cold wind was still blowing today. I think it affects my sinuses, hence the headaches.

We went back to Mud Tank for another go at the zircons. John has the mining bug!

We did not do as well, today. John may have gone a bit deep and got out of the wash layer. Later on, he changed direction and depth and seemed to do a bit better.

Someone else had been digging in the hole, yesterday, in our absence.

It was tiring work, seeming to be harder because of the cold wind.

We went back to camp mid-afternoon, cleaned up, then sat round the fire for a while, before tea, talking with our neighbours. Discovered that she knew John’s brother, from Teachers’ College, and that he used to make furniture, so there was plenty to talk about.

Tea was soup, cold pasties, coleslaw and Chelsea buns.

We decided not to go across to paddy melon bowls – it was just too cold and we were weary.

John spent the usual time on his computer. I read and went early to bed.