Mount Isa for Christmas and the New Year.

We arrived at the home of Justin, Merlita and family in Mount Isa about a week before Christmas Day and have been busy ever since that day. We have met some of their family and friends and enjoyed their company over Christmas and the New Year. It has been fun living and playing with Maisie, Mason, Keanna and Kayne, water wars and Nerf Gun fights were especially fun. Justin arranged for me to have a tour of the Xtrata Copper Smelter, this is where Justin is now employed. Justin and I spent over four hours in the smelter plant and still didn't see it all. It was especially good to view the smelter plant from the control cabin of a high level overhead travelling crane that is used  to transfer pots of slag and molten copper throughout the plant. Merlita and Judy took the four kids to the cinema to see Mega Mind in 3D. We are leaving tomorrow, thursday 6th, hoping to reach Hervey Bay through Roma and Kingaroy.

We experienced many skies like this one during our stay at 'The Isa', some bearing rain others just lightning and thunder.

Water fights were very popular with the kids. L to R, Kayne, Mason and Maisie.

A rain squall going over Lake Moondarra, we were dry under the BBQ shelter.

Jude and Noel at Lake Moondarra. I'm not too proud of the 'pot' stomach.

Justin and Merlita at Lake Moondarra.

Santa bought new bikes, Mason's first ride without trainer wheels. After the first couple of rides he didn't want to go home.

Maisie was happy with her new bike too.

New Years Eve, dressing up with flouro sticks.

L to R, Keanna, Merlita, Mason, Justin, Maureen (Merli's sister), Kayne with Maisie and Judy in the foreground.

Justin cooking the BBQ for New Years Eve.

The girls and boys with sparklers to celebrate the New Year, the men had to take the pictures.

Then the girls were inside on the Wii Dance Mat.

Drawing off slag from the Central Holding Furnace at the Xtrata Copper Smelter.

Drawing off molten metal from the Continuous Furnace into the holding furnace.

Same process as the previous shot from the other side. The heat was really evident here.

A section of the smelter plant and 'The Isa' city in the back ground from the 15th level of the smelter plant.

Some slag pots in crane alley waiting to be used.

We were invited to dinner with Robert and Maureen and family.

L to R, Kayne, Keanna and Maisie.

Dinner with Maureen and Robert was a feast.

Around the table from the right is Robert, Justin,Merlita, Maureen and Noel.