Last time I went to Tom Price was 2 years ago for Christmas as a suprise for my family... Dad organised it and I thought it would be the last time as the folks were keen to get out.... alas, they are still there, hopefully leaving later next year 2009, that is.
So I decided to go home for Christmas, spending a few days in Perth with my pop and catching up with a few friends before heading north.
Tom Price is a small mining town in the middle of the Pilbara. Born in the TP hospital 34years ago, I have some amazing memories of the place, it is always nice to go "home"but for me TP hasn't been my home for many years now - I still enjoy going back to the diverse landscape, the dark red dirt, with the gumtrees, spinifex and depending on the rain fall the gorgeous wildflowers that bloom. It is an oasis in the middle of nowhere. Memories in the form of smells and sounds, the rain on the hot bitumen, the sweet smell of the flowers after the rain, the water in the gorges with the rocky taste.... the deafening sounds of the galahs and cockatoos having a good old gossip in the gumtrees, causing a right mess as they do so.
Great to spend Christmas with Mum, Dad and Kerrie... not forgetting Tyson... the world's most spoilt Chihuahua (before Paris'Hilton's that is....) he demands where he walks.. it is hilarious the trails he takes you on around town and his favourite patches of cool grass and puddles of water to lye in, in my next life I would like to come back as a Chihuahua. He is cute, affectionate and has thinks he is a rottweiler. Small dog syndrome.
Cyclone Billy occupied the area during my visit bringing some awesome thunderstorms - how I love listening to the sound of lightening and thunder, makes you sleep like a puppy (or in my case cuddling a little puppy scared of the noises).
The outback attire, the cold beer and down to earth attitude of the people that live in the Pilbara made my Christmas, such a simple life, but made me realise that I love my lifestyle in Sydney... a different diversity.
