If ever there’s a man who seizes the day it’s Mick, and his wife Judy seems more than happy to be going along for the ride…

Just when I was thinking that nothing much had changed in Mukinbudin, I discovered that this tiny Wheatbelt town was far more progressive than I’d imagined…the Men’s Shed had women members too!

Eaglestone Rock, or as the locals know it Turtle Rock, and Lake Brown near Mukinbudin.

Let’s be very clear here, I am not a bird photographer. I’m not nearly patient enough for a start. But camping in a farmyard in Mukinbudin with galahs our constant companions, I was bound to give it a go sooner or later!

“You’ve got to meet Ann and Three” we were told. “They’re living their life differently.” School teacher Ann and retired firefighter Three realising life was short, made the decision to sell up, buy a caravan and head off on an adventure around Australia. They left Bunbury, had a night in Narrogin and then drove to Mukinbudin, a tiny Wheatbelt town, three and a half hours drive from Perth. That was nine months ago. They’re still in Mukinbudin.

Wilma Geraghty, 89, and her son Peter own the Mukinbudin BP. She still works five and a half days a week because “What else would I do?” As well as working in the office this diminutive lady whose skin belies her years told me “I pump fuel, do the gas cylinders but I gave up carrying the 20 litre drums quite some time ago though…I’m the dog’s body! I do everything and anything but I’m the master of none.”

We caught up with our great mate Tony Docherty out a Elachbutting Rock, north of Mukinbudin in the Wheatbelt a few days ago. He’d been taking part in the annual bird survey near Bullfinch and was heading back to Freo. He’d been sleeping in his swag under the stars for a week and had clearly been using any fresh water for rehydrating rather than washing! Jazzy was pretty happy to discover her own pool of freshwater on top of the rock.