Boom Time

While the rest of the world's economies (especially our home countries US and UK) are in near recession it is boom time in parts of Australia, especially Western Australia and Queensland. This is the result of mining (coal, bauxite, uranium, diamonds... you name it and it's buried somewhere here) driven by demand from Asia and shows no sign of abating any time soon. As a consequence property prices remain sky high and the jobs are plentiful for those who can tolerate the tough conditions. Our most recent location in Mackay is the centre of coal mining and the dedicated coal port at Hay Point is working flat out with queues of ships waiting off shore. No wonder there's so much smog in China...

Of course other parts of this country are suffering some of the economic woes, especially the cost of moving food in this huge land. We are lucky to be where most of it grows right now, the centre of mango, tomato, sweetcorn, and capsicum production in Bowen, Queensland. The local fish is pretty good too though none too cheap.