The Changing of the Guard

Today was Madlen's last day with us. We will miss her so much. I have already told her that if she gets into any difficulty, she is to RING us and we will help her. Not to mention a short fat woman with dangly earrings and dyed red hair will have words with anyone who doesn't look after OUR Madlen.

She is leaving for Yalgoo tomorrow. The weather will probably be warmer there, which will be a bonus. And she will be on a sheep station in the Gascoyne and will probably have a blast of a time! Did I mention we will miss Madlen?!

Yesterday we welcomed Simon to our home. Simon is a twenty-two-year-old from Bordeaux in France. He has been in W.A. for two weeks and is hoping to improve his English whilst he is with us. We have already worked out that he is willing and able, has a brilliant sense of humour and likes red wine! We are crossing our fingers he stays a while. We would really like to take him to the Goldfields for an outback camping trip in September. We suspect the Goldfields will be like nothing he has ever seen.

So, Simon has proved himself handy with the electric screwdriver today. And he has cleared the back half of Shop 4 in the Forbes Building. He also helped Michael begin to take up the poor, neglected floorboards.

Madlen has worked on the scaffolding in Shop 1 again, plastering. As ever, she had her wonderful smile on her face and worked like a trooper. Tonight, she is packing her backpack ready for an eight o'clock start for the seven-hour drive to Yalgoo. Did I mention we were going to miss Madlen?!

So this is our farewell to Madlen and hello to Simon. He is already fitting into the house fine and we have no doubt that he will prove to be as invaluable as Madlen. However, did I mention we would miss Madlen?!

I am hoping that saying goodbye to Simon and future Helpxers won't be quite so difficult!

Madlen 26.7.2015

Simon Hoff enjoying an easy life in Beverley...

Why is this old bloke standing over me?

Thank God he's left me alone.