Alice Springs 9 September 2013 We're back in Alice Springs again, Merri and I.

We have to come up at least once a year. Staying as always with Bill and Ann Davis, Davis Hotel, five stars, 49 Giles Street.

We flew up from Adelaide yesterday and right from the start the fun began.

Bill picked us up at the airport and took us to Davis Hotel, where we've been staying for about thirty years now. We reciprocate when Bill and Ann or any of their three kids come to Adelaide.

After a catch-up with Ann we went out to the Araluen Art Centre, where the annual Desert Mob art exhibition has just opened. This is a huge offering, with paintings and sculptures by Aboriginal artists grouped by the bush art centres where they were created. There is the usual display of mind-boggling artworks in traditional and new styles. At Adelaide airport we had seen a Qantas jet gaily decorated with orange and red Aboriginal motifs. At Araluen we ran into Rene Kulitja from Mutitjulu, who had created the design and won a competition many yearh. I always refer to it as Rene's Aeroplane. Also ran into Judy Trigger from Mutitjulu, who had a piece in the exhibition. She was on the board of Nyangatjatjara when I first started work there in 1996 and is renowned as a teacher of traditional dance.

 Here is Judy's unusual work, titled Wati Nyali, which translates as giggly, flirty man. It is acrylic and pokerwork on board.

Apart from the art the art center has on its roof the biggest solar PV array I have ever seen.

Back at Davis Hotel we found that Bill and Ann's daughter-in-law Miru had arrived, with little son Ruben, a most interesting kid. Miru comes from the Maldives, where they also had national elections of September 7th. Miru's uncle, an eminent politician, did not quite achieve the majority he required to become prime minister, though he was far ahead of the other two candidates, so now there will be a runoff between the two highest. Soon we were off again with Ann down to the lawn next to Flynn Church in the mall, for a choir recital. Aboriginal women from several far-flung communities sang a selection of hymns in the usual beautiful harmony.

When we returned home we found an old friend Julia Murray waiting for us with a bottle of champagne. A long and interesting yarn ensued, while Bill cooked hot curry.

During the meal, around the venerable back table outside, a most amazing event occurred. It needs a bit of background. Last June one night Ann was sleeping at home alone when the house was burgled. Thieves took her ipad, mobile phone - which was next to her bed - and $250 from her purse. Very distressing. The groundkeeper at Ross Park primary school found the ipad in a skip several days later and returned it as it had Ann's name and number engraved on it, but there was no sign of the phone. Last night, as we were sitting down to dinner, two young men arrived at the front door. They had Ann's phone, which they had found under a bush on a hill near the Old Telegraph Station. It was flat, but they charged it up and were able to access it. They found photos of Ann and Bill's kids, whom they knew, did some detective work and brought the phone around. Ann was amazed, so were we others. We sat the young blokes - Ben and Knies - down, gave them a thankyou beer and listened to their yarn. Interestingly, the thieves had taken some selfie photos on the phone so when Ann takes it to the coppers it may be a simple matter to catch them.

So that was the first day. We'll see what tomorrow brings!