CHERRIES?

Yes, there will be cherries this year in Manjimup.
And Mount Barker, and Donnybrook.
In fact, cherry spitters from both town will make their way to Manjimup for the big chance: free ticket to New Zealand in 2008 to represent Australia in the Southern Hemispheric Spitting Competition.
On December the 8th, Manjin Park, heat winners from Mount Barker, Donnybrook, Manjimup along with the 2007 New Zealand Champion Spitter, will make their way to the stage for the big Gob Off, otherwise known as The Globe Vista Australasian Cherry Pip Spitting Championships.
This years crop will not be as fecund (can i say that? I mean as big.) a crop as last year's.
Why not?
Good question.
Plenty of rain, sure, but what has been lacking is cold, need more cold, which is why 2007 was such a bumper year: plenty of cold, bugger all rain.
Get ready, gather wind, make your way to Manjimup, December 8th, 2007.

Oh yes, we'll do it all again

Getting closer.
Closer.
Our Pip Spitting Champ from 2006, Paul Omodei Jnr, is almost on the plane for Cromwell NZ.
He's training, spitting, every day, he said, so I hope he is.
Paul will fly into Queenstown, jump a car for Cromwell, spit like al hell has broken lose and, hopefully, bring the Australasian Cherry Pip spitting Trophy back home where it is yet to belong.
Those pesky NZers may not be able to play rugby when the saliva hits the fan, but they sure can spit.
As for the cherries, not sure this far out.
What is certain is that there will not be as many as last year because although Manjimup has had plenty of rain, it has not been cold enough.
Get ready.
More news coming.