CARLA

 RIP

Carla van den Berg Lamers

17.11.1950  --  4.11.2010

Carla passed away peacefully, surrounded by her loving family, at her home in Apeldoorn, The Netherlands.

Her indomitable spirit kept her going through the last 3 years of numerous operations, chemo and radiotherapy.   She continued with her painting and travelled extensively during the last year, through Eastern Europe, Canada and Australia.

I will sorely miss her sharp mind and our regular communication.

Dear friend of Laurie, taken too early but no more pain.

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Home at Milnes Bridge

Steve didn't let the grass grow under his feet and we arrived home on the night of Tuesday Oct 12th.

Since then, he has been running around like a chook with his head cut off!
He brought Betty home from hospital last Monday and she has done very well.

In between times, Steve is cleaning up our house.  It is SO bad.  I retched when I first went inside --- the stink was overpowering.  Isn't it great that Steve can't smell!!!!    The mice have been everywhere except in the linen cupboard.  I'm grateful for small mercies.  Steve's cleaning has been meticulous -- just like I would do if I were capable.  He has amazed me!    He has disinfected the kitchen benches and cupboards to within an inch of their lives and finished the computer bench today.

On our first full day home, I put on a load of washing in the front loader in the van.  It did its various cycles as we watched TV and it wasn't until the end that I noticed a little water on the floor.   The more I looked, the more I found.  It had run down onto the lounge carpet and parts of that were squelching.  The weather was cool and it took more than 3 days to dry out.  We mopped it up with every towel we owned.

I'm now washing all the towels --- 3 dozen of them ---- and every other piece of material that was around the house.  The mice camped on everything.  Washing is something I can do --- about the only thing at the present time.

The phone wasn't working when we got home.   It was finally fixed yesterday --- it looks as though mice were to blame for that too.

One of my worries was that I would lose a large photograph that Harvey Norman, Moree,  had sent away for processing.  It should have been back before we left but it wasn't.   I rang them today and gave my name.  Before I could say anything else, the young man exclaimed, "Laurie Jenkinson".  I asked why and  he explained that he had his hands on my photo at that very moment.  Phew.  I haven't lost my money.

We had a visit from my Case Worker, Carol.  She offered help for cleaning up the house but I refused.  I just don't want anyone in there until every mouse sign has disappeared. 

So, we remain in the van until the time is right to move inside --- whenever that might be!!!

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On our way home

This is a very sudden take off.
Steve's Mother Betty went into hospital, with the same condition, a build-up of fluid, so we spent Friday and Saturday packing up and left on Sunday.  Tonight we are in Gilgandra.

We tried to think of everything that had to be cancelled, rearranged, picked up etc --- all except for paying the last few days of rent!    We were given the usual grand send-off and Lindy also rang tonight to see how far we got, so I don't think she is worrying about the rent!

We anticipate being home by Wednesday.

I plan to live in the caravan until I am satisfied that the house is clean and sweet.  Last time Steve went home, he cleaned up a lot of mouse droppings.  No doubt they will have played while we are away.

I planned to put some sounds here last week.   They were of two frogs croaking, one in a pipe and the other on the ground.  I had been wondering how best to capture the sound and Steve came up with the idea of using the video on the camera.   It worked brilliantly. 
Then I wanted to extract the sound, so I downloaded a program to do this.  It went through the motions but didn't make a playable file.   So I downloaded a second program.   It didn't make a difference either.  I think the problem must be Windows 7.   Now I've downloaded about 21Mb unnecessarily and to the detriment of our allocation.   I'll have to be careful until the end of the month!    If I can't find a way to put the audio here, I'll just put up the video and we can watch a black screen and pretend it is night while we listen to the frogs!

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The Shaving Day

On September 20th, Lindy and Steve raised over $1200 for the Westpac Rescue Helicopter, by parting with their hair.  (Not my Steve --- I wouldn't agree to him shaving his beard; he looks like a teenager underneath, or at least he did when he shaved it off about 20 years ago!)

There were about 100 people gathered at the BBQ area for the big event.  Lindy, Steve and helpers cooked a BBQ lunch and drew some raffles, then it was on with "business".

The hairdresser started on Lindy first.  I was sad to see the lovely curls go but having seen her with very short hair in the past, I know that it will grow back quickly.   The whole cut was liberally sprinkled with Lindy's irrepressible laugh!!

I wasn't sad to see Steve's beard go!   I don't like long, straggly beards.  (Sorry Steve.)  His hair and moustache went as well and he looked a very different man.  As some wit called out, "Now he looks younger than his son."    Steve has lived permanently in the park for the last couple of years but he left a few days ago.   He has written a book called, Australia's Great Thermal Way.  

Good on the pair of them for agreeing to part with their hair for such a good cause.   It was a fun occasion.


See some of the photos by clicking on Shaving Day, below.  Choose slideshow on top left of the new page.

Shaving Day

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HE'S BAAAAAAACK

After 11 loooooooong days

_________Steve is____________Steve is
______Steve is back _______Steve is back ho
____Steve is back home ___Steve is back home
___Steve is back home with me.. Ste_______Stev
__Steve is back home with me.. Ste_________Stev
_Steve is back home with me.. Steve i_______Stev
_Steve is back home with me.. Steve is ba______S
Steve is back home with me.. Steve is back h__Ste
Steve is back home with me.. Steve is back home_S
Steve is back home with me.. Steve is back home w
Steve is back home with me.. Steve is back home w
_Steve is back home with me.. Steve is back home
__Steve is back home with me.. Steve is back ho
____Steve is back home with me.. Steve is back
______Steve is back home with me.. Steve is
_________Steve is back home with me.. St
____________Steve is back home with m
______________Steve is back home w
_________________Steve is back
___________________Steve is
_____________________Steve
______________________Stev
_______________________St

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Government Elected 2010

I think that I have just witnessed live, an historic moment. 

Labor can now form a  Government.  This might be the most interesting Government that I have ever or will ever, see. 
I'm not a political creature and I don't know all the ins and outs of everything but I was impressed by Oakshott and Windsor, whose votes for Labor made the total 76 to 74 seats. 
They emphasised that this is not a mandate for Labor.   They spoke for government for the whole country.  
 All 3 Independents spoke at length about the bush not having received equality in recent years.   Yay!!!  But I still don't think that I will get cable laid to my doorstep!!    It will be interesting to see what infrastructure is proposed for the bush.  Maybe we will get our trains back??    This could bring people out of the cities and house them in rural areas and bring businesses to provide work for them.  Maybe it could revive the dying little towns and restore them to their heyday?  It will be interesting to see what facilities are provided.  Hmmmm.

I don't kid myself that this will quickly lead to the kind of Government that I want. 
I want a joint party Government, where decisions are made for the good of the nation, not for the aggrandisement of the party.   This is not only possible but it is also being done now in other countries in the world. 
I want the Ministers to be interviewed for portfolios,  by a panel of experts in each field, so that the best person is chosen for each job.  Outsiders could be considered for each portfolio.   Years ago when I was thinking about this, I wanted Dick Smith and Lindsay Fox on such a panel or as a Minister. 

Julia Gillard and Tony Abbott have not yet been interviewed.  If Julia comes on and is jubilant because she won, I will be disgusted.  If Tony comes on and is disappointed that he isn't Prime Minister, then he has missed the point.  Why can't they speak together and acknowledge that the people really didn't want either of them??? 

Is it impossible for them to work out a joint philosophy, for the good of Australia as a whole???

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The Naming Ceremony

Last Saturday, I went to the Naming Ceremony for Lilly and Kodie.
I have never been to such a ceremony before and the idea has always puzzled me.    Now I understand.  

I must have been slow in my thinking!   I used to wonder why non-religious people went to the trouble of having a Christening that they didn't believe in.   I wondered if they did it out of fear.  Now I can see that there were wanting the ceremony.

The religious Christening has served two purposes --- the religious meaning and the marking of an important event, the arrival of a child.   For people who are not believers, the absence of the religious ceremony also meant the absence of an important rite of passage.  

The Civil Celebrant was very accomplished.  She conducted the ceremony very smoothly, drawing it all together with short speeches at the beginning and end.   The theme or purpose was to welcome the child into the family, recognise its uniqueness and value and to assure the child of the love of their parents, family and friends. 
There were readings from various people, meaningful question and answer rituals, a signing ceremony and two Godparents for each child.    The celebrant had prepared beautiful certificates and a written record of the day.   The who deal was warm, personal and elegant. 

There's a "problem" with having Godparents, isn't there?   If the parents see a "stand in parent" as valuable, then they want someone for the job, which so far, has only the name "Godparent".    I imagine that it won't be very long before there is another name for these substitute parents.  Maybe "Mentor"????.    The celebrant spoke about the Godparents as being mentors for the children, not using the word but speaking of them helping the child to grow confidently, following a good path.

 We all gathered under a large patio at the back of the house, as it was cold and windy outside.  It was a lovely atmosphere and even the many little children present were quiet and still and paid attention.  I had taken my walker to use as a seat but I found that other thoughtful people had provided me with a comfortable chair.  I felt a bit awkward being the only one sitting down, especially as I was front and centre! 

We all signed 2 signature bears for the children and admired the presents as they were opened.   For Lilly, the ceremony was all about changing her name to that of her step-father.   He's a good man, a lovely Father to baby Kodie and  should be able to help Lilly to flourish.

We all went for lunch at the Moree Tavern, close handy.   Our meals had long been ordered in advance, with the reply to the invitation.    Nevertheless, it took over an hour to bring meals for 40 people.   That's slack!    It was a happy afternoon, ending in Lilly cutting a gorgeous cake made of two hearts, decorated with pretty items to please children.   Kodie was sweet and complient for the whole day, going from person to person for a cuddles.

And I forgot to take the camera!

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While the cat's away ...........

 Small hours of Thursday, Sept 2nd.

Steve walked into our home at Milnes Bridge at midnight on Sunday night and found that it had been overtaken by mice!    The evidence was thick, smelly and everywhere, even in our bed!     I feel sick just writing about it!    It was such a cold, wet winter down there and they would have come in looking for warmth and food.   It's easy to get into an old weatherboard house.

Steve left here on Sunday morning and drove 12 hours home, stopping for only very short breaks on the way.  It was a totally uneventful trip, thank goodness.    Today, the clutch "went" --- good of it not to do it out in the bush!

He thought that he could be back here this weekend but his Mother, Betty has two doctor's appointments on Tuesday 7th and he'll stay for those.  Betty is coping extremely well, considering that she came out of hospital last Friday.

I have been busy shopping for Christmas presents online, for the last few months.  They were stacked under the bed and had reached the point where there would be no room for the under-bed items that we brought with us.  Steve had the idea of taking them home with him.   The plan was to stack them in a bedroom.  He decided that this was probably not a great idea, given the mouse invasion.  (Although they have probably all gone by now.)   So, the presents are outside in the garage, locked inside Dominic's broken down car!

We did a big shop before Steve left, with me insistent that I would need "comfort" foods, as well as the normal bread, milk and cereal.   I would have liked to go home too but we would have had to spend 2 nights on the road each way (and it wouldn't have been very comfortable at home, as it turns out.)   I would have loved chocolate but given my addiction, I felt sure that a cache would have disappeared in a couple of days.  Therefore, I got hedgehog, which satisfies the chocolate craving but I'm not tempted to eat more than one at a time.

I ordered my meals from the kiosk.  Bugger the expense -- this way I get all of my veggies and I don't get to drop anything, burn myself or forget what I'm doing until it's midnight and I can't work out why I feel sick!
Marion and Richard, Lindy's parents, run the kiosk and they deliver my meal each night.  Truly delicious, with 6 vegetables.   They are all so helpful to me.  They are very social people and they can't understand that I'm not lonely and I like my own company.   Lindy has sent the girls up each night after school because SHE would feel terrible if she weren't surrounded by people all the time!  She just rolls her eyes when I say that I like being alone.  (Of course, I would prefer Steve to be here.)

The next door neighbours are also extremely helpful.  Margaret comes over every day and rattles off the names of groceries, from A to Z, in the hope that I will get her to buy something.  I've begun to feel guilty for not wanting anything.  I have assuaged my guilt by giving her and Lionel the garbage to take down to the bin!  I'm really appreciating Keith, over the road from me.  He has expressed his willingness to help but he doesn't knock on the door.   We communicate by email! 

It was a glorious day today ---- the temp reached 25C  and it's forecast to be 27 tomorrow.  It's still 15.6 now, at 12.23am.     The high temps for the next 3 days also have a forecast of 70-90% chance of rain.  I don't much like the sound of that -- very muggy.

I heard the sound of rushing water today and on investigating, I found that a hose had burst and the backyard was like a lake.   Good job I went outside to the toilet.  I had the radio playing loudly inside and it must have masked the sound.   I have the bedroom radio and the satellite radio (on the television) tuned to  ABC classical music station all day.

The first snowdrops are out.  These bring very strong memories of my childhood.  It's hard to believe that the little green teardrops aren't painted on by hand.

Happy Birthday to my cousin, Karen Garoni, at Myrtleford.    The first day of spring is a lovely day to be born!

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Federal Election 2010

Voting day.  We voted yesterday at a pre-poll place.   Pardon my ignorance but I had never heard of these before this week.  When did they come in?  If everyone could vote over a week, the counting would be easy and we could have one less week of campaigning.  NO!  They would add on a week!!   The polling booth even had proper, printed ballots for our electorate, Mallee.   They said that there had been a big run on them!  What, everyone's leaving Northern Victoria??

Steve has continued working on the caravan, albeit slowly.  As of today, every cupboard now has a door.   WHOOPEE!!!!!

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In the dead of night

Plastic supermarket bags are still the go in Coles and Woolworths up here in Moree.  We re-use 2 or 3 a day, for the rubbish bin and the waste paper baskets.
When the rubbish bag was full last night, I tied it off and decided to put it outside in the annexe, as it was a bit smelly.  Later, I put another bag of paper with it, ready for Steve to take this morning.

This caravan park has a huge skip near the front entrance and there are no small rubbish bins around the park.  Newcomers are confused by this and many complain.  In fact, it's quite useful because it helps to keep the flies away.  Many people use the walk to drop off the rubbish as their daily constitutional.   The truth of the matter is, that as it's such a huge caravan park, there would have to be hundreds of bins and a full time employee to empty them. 

Well, this morning, Steve went out to the annexe for the bags and they were gone.   He hunted under and around the van, in the unlikely case that a strong wind had blown them away.  We tried to devise some scenarios but nothing good came up.   It was rather unlikely that thieves had come in the night.  

Later in the day, Steve told Neville that our rubbish had been stolen.  Neville believes that he has the answer.   A blue heeler dog has been snooping around for years, scrounging for food scraps.   We have never seen it but it's the only answer that makes any sense.   But why didn't the dog tear open our bags looking for food?  There was no litter anywhere.

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Adeline Mavis Garoni Hill 1920 ---1965

 The anniversary of my Mother's death was on August 13.  She has been gone for 45 years, which seems a very long time.  She was aged 45 when she died, which seems a very short time to live.  
I made up a short memorial email and sent it to all of my kids and grandkids and to my surprise, Patrick and Madeleine answered it.   That was very sweet.

When I was 13 or 14, my brother Terry and I went shopping in Clarendon St, South Melbourne and bought some crockery for Mum's birthday.  We had saved for a long time and knew what we wanted to get her ---  Four sets of dinner plates, bread and butter plates and dessert bowls.  Everything was sold separately and it took us ages to decide on the colour.  Eventually, we chose 4 different colours ---- one set each of black, turquoise, maroon and grey.   It was all so exciting; we had never given her such a large gift before.  Mum reacted with great surprise and enjoyment.  Naturally, Terry and I had chosen colours that we liked, so we announced which ones we wanted for ourselves, black for me, turquoise for Terry.  Dad joined in the celebration and claimed the maroon set.   He was just as thoughtless as we were.   Still with great happiness on her face and in her voice, Mum said, "I think I would like the grey ones." 
As I write what she said, I can still feel the shudder of pain that went through me when she spoke.  It hit me like a brick that we had left her no choice.  I immediately noticed the sweet look on her face and the gentleness in her voice, as if she had really made a choice.   I then offered her my black and Dad and Terry followed suit but she insisted that she preferred the grey.    Selflessness was a major characteristic of Mum's. 

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My engagement ring has been returned, with a new little diamond.  Both rings now look shiny and new.
The jet beads have been restrung, using nylon instead of cotton.  I know this isn't authentic but they're not a collectible for me and I prefer durability.  Besides, I have another jet necklace, a little shorter and it is strung with the original cotton.  Steve gave me these necklaces for my 50th birthday ---- that was, let's see ----- 5 years ago, wasn't it?????  :-))

We've had a number of cold, windy days and a little rain.   There was a small leak in the centre part of the van.  That's going to drive Steve crazy until he locates the source!

Two parcels arrived yesterday ----- a boxed set of  The Best of Andre Rieu Live, from Carla, and Scott sent a DVD of Carole's Memorial Service.   It's hard to describe to people exactly how much I appreciate these surprise gifts.

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Nothing world shattering

Although many people have contacted me about the lack of updates to this blog, there is not a lot to report, at present.

The most exciting event has been a visit from Betty and Jeff Thompson, from Cohuna.   On their way north to warmer weather, they called in for a cuppa.   It's amazing how we meet more of our friends up here than we do at home!

My Uncle Denis is in hospital in Melbourne, having an op on his legs, to improve the circulation.  The chain of information is not working very swiftly but the last I heard, he was doing well.  I rang him a day or so after the op and spoke to him on his mobile phone.  That was a surprise.  Since when have mobiles been permitted in hospitals? 
I was so disappointed not to be able to attend his 80th birthday in mid July.  Bloody money!   We spent a fortnight's pension going to Jim's funeral in June so we couldn't afford the trip to Myrtleford.   I was sent some photos.   This one shows Denis with his daughter, my cousin Shelley.

A pretty invitation was delivered, inviting us to a Naming ceremony for Lilly and Kody, on September 4th.  I've never been to a Naming ceremony before.   I know the derivation of the words for a Christening but I've never given any thought to how a Naming ceremony is conducted.    A name becomes legal when it is registered at a baby's birth, so the ceremony is not for legal or religious reasons.  I'll be very interested to see what is its purpose.

I finally took my rings to a jeweller, for repair.  The eternity ring (for Trent) was returned in 5 days, with shiny new claws.  They still have the engagement ring (for Tatey) which needs a tiny diamond replaced.   I also gave them my jet necklace to be re-strung.  The old stringing was 6 strands of cotton.  It might have lasted forever if I hadn't tried tying it in a knot. 

Sue and Richard Barrows have just become Grandparents again, for the 5th time.  Their only daughter Amy, gave birth to Abby, a little sister to Archy.   I wish I had had more children!   Then I might still be having new grandchildren now!  I need another baby to cuddle.  Here are the parents, Amy and Aiden, with Abby.

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The week passing in a haze of no sleep or too much sleep.

We had a lovely visit from friends of Steve from the Caravanners Forum this week.  They were also here a couple of years ago.  I recall that Steve knew that Chris and Val were coming but we didn't know then if they were two women or husband and wife; and which one was which??   We soon found out that this husband and wife team were wife Chris.  Therefore Val was the husband.   We don't know his full name.
It reminds me of when of when I lived in the pub at Erica.  A young guy, Val, full name Valeriano, was waiting for his brother to join him.   He told us his brother's name and we all practised saying it properly.  It sounded a bit like a hawk from the back of the throat and then a sneeze.  Spelling his name was much easier ---- it was Jesus.

The previous week we had two other couples from the forum come to visit.  It never rains but it pours.
One pair had a 5th wheeler with a slide-out and were frantically trying to dry everything out where the slide-out had leaked.    That did NOT help my cause.   I've been asking for a slide out for the last 3 years.  It seems that everyone Steve knows has had trouble with them.
I'm expecting Lorraine Garner here soon.  She rang from Darwin last week.

Steve has had a cold for over 3 weeks and is still coughing.  The cold symptoms seem to go away and then return some days later.  We had a doctor's appointment last Wednesday, to get some scripts.  She heard Steve's cough and prescribed antibiotics.  He's feeling better already.   Just to complicate matters, I twisted as I came out of the en-suite on Tuesday morning and my back went into a spasm.   I've worn my brace day and night but I'm still screeching with every step.   I gophered down to the pool this afternoon and soaked in the 37C pool for an hour, so I'm hoping to see some good results soon.   It would be this week that Tom, the massage man, takes his one week in the year holiday!!!!

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OH NO NO NO NO NO

This blog is on blogspot.  Right?  
Well, I got an email from blogger.com and thought I would try out that blogging place.  
I got to blogger and gave it the title of TEST.
I inserted a photo of me in the bathers, with a description that I was using it for test purposes and it wasn't going to be seen by the public.
All of a sudden, I notice that I am not on blogger but blog spot.   TOO LATE.   I have wiped out my picture of green tumbleweeds and replaced it with the fat lady in bathers.  The tumbleweed picture is not on this laptop so I can't get it back!
Fancy blogger and blogspot being the same place!   I'll get them for that one day!!!!!

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Dear Friend No More With Us

Seattle, Washington.   

At 9:10 PM pacific standard time on Tuesday July 20th, 
Carole Jane Morgan-Burke passed on. 

This was the message from her beloved daughter, Dawn.

On Tuesday, April 20, 2010, Carole wrote in her blog:

Happy Birthday

It just occurred to me that this day is almost over and I didn't let you all know that it is the anniversary of the day I was told I have cancer. I am now four years into this battle. Sometimes it feels like it has been forever then other times it feels like it is just sliding by one day melts into another and another and another.  It just occurred to me that this day is almost over and I didn't let you all know that it is the anniversary of the day I was told I have cancer. I am now four years into this battle. Sometimes it feels like it has been forever then other times it feels like it is just sliding by ----- one day melts into another and another and another.
Well, four years and 3 months later, Carole's sliding days are over.  From beginning to end, she battled courageously and with optimism and dignity.   Only 8 weeks ago, she told me that she still wanted to explore the Great Barrier Reef with me.  Perhaps we will do it one day.

Carole was an excellent artistic photographer and after Leiomyosarcoma was diagnosed, she threw herself into using her talents to publicise and make money for research into this aggressive cancer.  She was a great support to other sufferers and an inspiration to deviant art members, where she showcased her art.

Carole started a journal when she was first diagnosed.  It's well worth reading.  Click here.

Scott, Dawn, Patty and all of Carole's family ----may many happy memories give you bubbles of laughter as you mourn her loss.  

Goodbye, Dear Friend

 12.8.1953 - 20.7.2010

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Dear Friend again

Carole continues to hang in.

I was able to phone her last weekend and we said goodbye.

Two days later, the Hospice care was no longer able to control her pain, so Scott took her to hospital.  Fortunately, they had the answer for pain. Scott wrote,  "It took a while but it was finally decided to use a protocol that sedates the patient in to a state of comfortable sleep and allows the body to continue the shutdown process. We have had several times when she has broken through the sedation and we have had to adjust the levels."

I am so, so glad that she doesn't have to die in terrible pain.   No one should have to die in great pain.   I've often heard of people being put into an induced coma but I've never thought of it being used in death.

I know that Carole had hoped to slip away quietly at home but she knew that it might not happen that way. Fortunately, she had said goodbye to many family and friends in the last week, so it was time to free her from pain.

It is very wearing on everyone as they wait and my heart bleeds for them. The last report was that it will be only another 12 to 36 hours.

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Swivel Sweeper

These gadgets are ideal for caravans.   I've had one for two years and although I was impressed with its efficiency, I was furious at how quickly the battery drained.

When I saw new and much larger batteries advertised, I bought a new sweeper.  The price of a new battery was much the same as a new sweeper with battery!   The new unit has a couple of features worth having.  The most useful one is the way that it is emptied.    The catcher underneath swings open and deposits the contents at the touch of a button.

The deal included a hand brush.  This is a little miracle!   Crumbs are swept up easily into the chamber which is also the hand hold. 

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Dear Friend

For the past couple of weeks, my mind and heart have been very occupied with Carole. 
I promised her that I would be sitting beside her as she died and I feel as if I am.
Carole has battled with cancer, Leiomyosarcoma, for the last 4 years.  She put up a magnificent fight and achieved a lot during those years.  
But now the time has come.   I am receiving updates from her husband, daughter and Mom, who are with her at home, as she receives Hospice care.

Today, her husband wrote,

When we started the PCA it delivered 8mg of morphine an hour and 8 mg of morphine when she pushed the button for dose to deal with breakthrough pain. as of yesterday we are now giving her 24mg of morphine an hour and 24 mg when she pushes the button for breakthrough pain the hospice nurse thinks that the Doctors estimate of 4 weeks is fairly accurate. which means I expect that Carole has about a week or less until she is free of pain and in the arms of the Lord.

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Petition

I set up an online petition about GPs charging late fees.    It has 4 signatures, one of which is mine!   
Online petition - Prevent Doctors Charging Fees for Clients being late for Appointments

Gee, that ought to make them think again!!!!!    :-)

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Dressing Table

Steve has made a dressing table, according to my instructions!  Which means that it's my fault if I don't like it!          I don't like it.
                                         I love it!!
The overhead cupboard beside my bed has a chest of drawers beneath it.   The top of the chest becomes the top of my dressing table.

Steve has attached a mirror to the inside of the cupboard door.   This mirror took a lot of finding!   A normal mirror wouldn't have done because I can't see without my glasses.  It has an extendable arm, which sits flat against the door when it is closed.  

I can sit on my bed, take articles off the shelves and have them close at hand on the chest top.  When I extend the mirror, I don't have to lean.   If I want to see how extraordinarily beautiful I am at close range, (cough cough) I can flip the mirror over to its magnifying side.  Yay --- no more lopsided eyebrows!

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Rambling in the past

Lindy and Marion left today for Newcastle, where Lindy will have her gall bladder removed on Wednesday.  It's tough timing --- Marion's birthday is that day and Carissa's is the next day.   As the girls' school commenced holidays today (strange time??), we thought we might take them out for lunch.  Lindy suggested Macca's or Subway.  I much prefer Subway but it's way more expensive.  Maybe I won't give them a choice!

Rachel rang today when we were in the shop "doing the thing that is a surprise for her".  As I expected, Steve is much better at it than I am. The lady was very bossy but we had fun.  She gave us homework! 

The other half of the shop is her main business of making signs, banners etc so we got a quote for the sides of the van, which are still without any decals.   I have always fancied a type of rainbow.  Because it will be 3 metres long, she wants to come and see the van.  She asked how long we would be here and was surprised that we stay so long each year, so she questioned us about our views on Moree.

Then she dropped the bombshell --- she works for the Tourism industry and wants to interview us for the local paper.   I would much prefer that she didn't!   After accidentally hitting the front page about 4 years ago, I have no desire to be identified.
I was very indignant about the disabled parking spaces being occupied with cars that had no stickers.  I watched carefully, noted down what I saw and Steve hid when I spoke to people who had parked illegally!  I spoke to the Managers of Coles and Woolworths and was told that it wasn't their responsibility.   Then I went to the Roads and Traffic Authority, who were very helpful (sarcasm detected.)  They had heaps of literature on the subject but it definitely wasn't their responsibility.   They told me that it wasn't likely that the Police would ever monitor the situation because they were too busy with crime and advised me to go to the Council.   They were delighted to give me a fistful of stickers, which they told me to wrap around poles and stick on shop windows.    The best one said, "Laziness is not a disability."
Steve went pale at the thought of me plastering stickers around town!!
I will explain why, without beating around the bush and using euphemisms but first, the disclaimer, I am not a racist.  There is a large Indigenous population in Moree.  For some reason, they were the chief offenders in stealing disabled car parks.  For other reasons, they are the perpetrators of most of the crime in Moree, often violent.  Steve didn't want me to be identified and become known to any of the illegal car parkers.

So, I wrote a letter to the Council, just before their next meeting.  I discovered that it had been received the day after their meeting.  My letter was quoted in full on the front page of the Moree newspaper, along with the Editorial about the problem.  It had been discussed at length at the meeting and various suggestions were made.
Before we left here that year, a new ranger was appointed to patrol the disabled parking places and a huge fine was announced.  An amnesty of 2 months was declared.  When we returned the next year, we were stunned to find that the disabled parking was working very well.  The Council was quoted as saying that they were very happy with the outcome (and no doubt with the revenue that was raised!)   So far, there has been no backsliding;  (I can't help but check out the cars occupying the disabled spaces.)

Everyone has probably forgotten what started the rumpus but to be on the safe side, I would really rather NOT have my name or face in the newspaper!!

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Jim Reid

Vale Jim Reid.

My dear friend Sallie, from Gunbower,  emailed this morning to say that her husband Jim had passed away suddenly on Sunday.

Sincere condolences to Sallie, Peter, Jenny, Helen and Kate.

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Elderly Travellers

When I'm 82, I hope that I can be like Doris!  (As I'm already not like Doris, there's not much chance!!)  We had a long talk to her in the pool yesterday.  She has been coming here for 14 years, taking the same cabin.  She and her older, frailer husband, take the Indian Pacific from Adelaide to Broken Hill, then a smaller train to Sydney, where they stay overnight at the same hotel before catching the train to Moree.  While she is here, Doris walks daily and exercises in the pool, all the time talking to old and new friends.

This year, the travel plans were disrupted.  At the last moment, the train from Broken Hill was replaced by a bus.   As her husband had a fall at one station, the idea of being confined in a bus didn't please them.  The bus staff were very solicitous and did everything they could to help, which included ringing the Sydney hotel to ask that a key be left out for them.  This hotel closes up at 9pm and the bus wasn't due in until 2am. 
For the first time in 14 years, the hotel had messed up their booking and there was no room for them.  The bus staff took over the problem.   A new hotel booking was made at another place, courtesy of the bus/train company and all meals and afternoon and morning teas were paid for.    A wheelchair was provided for her husband and there was no baggage to handle.  The new hotel was vastly superior to the old one, so they plan to use that in future.  So they finally arrived in Moree, after 3100 kms and 39 hours of train and bus travel.    Pretty good for a couple in their 80s. 

Doris is a cheerful, optimistic lady, not given to complaining so it makes me feel good to  know that a travel service can take the initiative and look out for the elderly.

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Jemma

We rang Jemma for her 6th birthday, June 22nd.  All she could talk about was the guinea pig that she got.  If I heard rightly, its name was Beethoven, but I could be wrong.  She answered the phone in such a grown up fashion.  sigh.   They grow up too quickly for Nana!

I've arranged to go to a place tomorrow to do something that I've never done before and I know that I won't be very good at doing it but it's important to me to do it.  I've had this planned for 6 months.  I'll take Steve because he will be better at it.   No, I'm not going to ask you to guess what it is!  I can't mention it in case Rachel sees this.

Wimbledon --- so many late nights and early mornings.   Roger Federer wouldn't have made it without me!   Lleyton didn't need my help but I gave it anyway. 

The clutch on the Landcruiser gave out so Steve ordered the part and repaired it today.  Surely there can't be much left to repair???    Silly me!!!

Steve fell INTO the caravan tonight and put a long gash on his arm.  He was hurrying, because I had a hypo and he was feeding me soft drink and jelly beans.  In a very befuddled state, I attempted to inspect and dress the wound.   I knew that I wanted to bathe it in salty water but for the life of me, I couldn't think how to make water salty!   Ho hum -- we got it all done eventually and he's feeling fine.   It wouldn't be Steve if he didn't have something bleeding or scabbing! 

Home Again

It's Friday and I totally forgot my 3pm massage appointment with Tom.   How could I??!!  After the last few days, a massage would have been heaven.
We were both nervous about how I would manage Thursday's travel, so I mixed medications and came up with a blend that put me into a very deep sleep!   I was a groaning mess when we finally arrived back in Moree but at least I was spared the pain of travelling.  The pool today was just fabulous!!

Some poor travelling couple pulled up with their van this afternoon and the man immediately had a heart attack.  The ambulance arrived and worked on him for a long time.  We haven't heard how he is.  It must be terribly scary to be away from home when this sort of thing happens.

The park is full to overflowing.  There are vans parked in all sorts of odd places and hooked up to power coming from sheds.  We have people beside us, in a spot that is rarely used.  They had a loud argument about where to park.  I don't know who won but we could reach out and touch them through our bedroom wall.   On the other side of their van, there is space to park two cars vertically and one horizontally!!

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Peak Hill ---- Wednesday

Groan, groan, groan........   We drove for over 7 hours today and I tried hard to be still and silent but it became way too painful.    Consequently, we are the only guests at a sweet motel in Peak Hill.  (There were two cars at Finley last night!)   There are 12 units altogether and they are all decorated like little cottages, with hand painted name plates on the front.    There seem to be more people using caravans that motels.

Perhaps another 7 hours will see us back in Moree tomorrow.  It might be easier to travel that last leg, knowing that our comfortable van awaits us.

I bought 4 mandarins in West Wyalong and ate 2 of them before we left the car park.  They were so beautiful that I sent Steve back for 10 more.   They had 3 pips between the first 4 of them and are very firm but juicy.

Having portable internet is wonderful!   I enjoyed our satellite internet but it was only portable when we were at a place for a length of time.  It took a while to set it up and position the big dish.   Now that we have changed providers (to Bigpond), and have wireless internet, we just have to plug in the lightweight modem and we are in business, providing the mobile phone has service.

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Finley

We made a very late start from Melbourne today, 3.30pm.  Consequently, we are only at Finley tonight, a long way short of our target for the day.  We stayed talking with my Aunt, Sylvia and two of my cousins and I could have continued there for much longer.

Steve has announced that we will be in Moree by tomorrow evening (Wednesday).  Ummm???  It's over 900 kms and google maps says that it's an 11 hour trip.  See the map.   I was stiff and sore after the relatively short 4 hour trip today.    Oh well, we shall see!!

I set Madeleine's web cam up with Skype yesterday and we tried it out a few times.  I contacted her for a quick chat tonight and was able to say goodnight to her and Josh, which was great.  Marvellous technology!

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The Funeral and beyond

We made it to Victoria in two days, with only one overnight stop at a motel.
For the last few hundred kilometres, the car had no alternator!   Being a diesel, it still continued on, so we made it to Cohuna and took it to an electrical engineer. He promised to try very hard to have it ready for the funeral the next day.
After some discussion, we decided to take up Marion's offer of her car.
We stayed at Marion's on Thursday night --- she had a lovely tea ready for us  --- and every other thoughtful comfort that a person could offer.    After the long journey and the stress, we felt warm and cosy.  Marion has the ability to make this happen, without suffocating people.

We made a short but nice visit to Betty Jenk and wished that we could have stayed longer but there was still much ahead of us and she understood.

The funeral was simple and dignified, which fitted Jim.   Jenny (Jim's wife), Rachel and Talitha spoke beautifully, from their hearts.   I was very proud of my daughters.   I felt humbled and honoured to be mentioned in the funeral notices and in the service as "Jim's former wife."    Jenny introduced me to her friends and relatives, using this title, but by the end of the long day, she was calling us, "The Old Wives' Club."
It was particularly pleasing to see that Jim's nephews, Peter and David Hol, had come from Portland.

 David and Peter Hol, first and third from the left, with my three.

There were also a few of Jim's old staff members at the funeral.  Unfortunately, I wasn't able to look at them and say, "You don't look a day older."  I'm no longer very good with faces.''

We all gathered at Jenny's house after the service, where the kids played and ate and the adults mixed, mingled and ate.  I had many opportunities to share with Jenny, things that probably only the two of us could share, both having been married to the same man.  We were aware that some people found it strange that we were such good friends and that the four of us had many good times together.  That's the way it happened, for us and I'm glad that it did.
Rachel and particularly Talitha had cooked up a storm, so that after most of the friends had left, about 14 of us ate a delicious dinner.

The 5 cousins and 7 grandkids

From Bendigo, we returned to Cohuna and had another night with Marion.  The car was ready on Saturday morning.  New brushes were put in and the "bad news" was that the spline, whatever that is and the bearings would need replacing soon ----- parts costing "$500+.
We had breakfast of bacon and eggs with Mandy and the boys, which was great.   Earlier, we passed Dom and chatted to him on the roadside, as he headed for the football match.   We sort of caught up with him later, at Elmore footy field, where he was calling the match on FM radio.   He was terrific!!!   He had all that loud excitement of a competition, plus background on players and all the fill-in patter that you hear on commercial stations. 

I have no idea what I thought I might do in Melbourne.  I really hit the wall on Saturday night and was asleep by 9.30, while I tried to watch TV.    I was supposed to be minding the kids while Talitha went out but I woke at 11.30pm  to find Josh happily watching Batman, beside me.   It's amazing how quiet kids can be when they have their own reason for not waking adults!!  When she came home, Talitha and I talked and reminisced into the early hours of Sunday morning and I  then had an 11 hour sleep!


Tatum and Wes, Talitha, Maddy, Steve and I all went to Colombo's, to celebrate our 28th wedding anniversary.   We have been going to that restaurant for about 20 years and the only food I have ever eaten is fetucinne carbonara.  I know that the rest is delicious but I just love their carbonara.    This time, I found that they no longer serve entre size dishes, so everyone got to try my food and were all impressed.    We finished off with a delicious sponge cake that Madeleine had made during the afternoon.

Wes, Tatum, Madeleine

Monday is planned for Steve showing Tarl how to do a grease and oil change on her car and Tuesday will probably be the day that we head back to Moree, after first visiting  my Aunty Sylvia.

Unfortunately, we won't get to see Rachel as she, Tom and Indy went to the opening of the snow season, straight from the funeral.  I have no idea where they will stay when they return, as there's a huge plumbing problem at their place.

It seems such an anti climax now.  I think I would like to belong to a culture that has weddings and funerals going on for a whole week!!!

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RIP

Jim Baxter

21.1.1937 - 8.6.2010 

Husband of Jenny

Father of Dom, Rachel, Talitha

Friend of Laurie and Steve

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Hair Cuts

When we were here last year, trees were marked to be lopped because they were dangerous to the aircraft taking off and landing.  Does that give you an idea of how close they are to us????

The hair cutting has just been done, clearing the airways and providing entertainment for the onlookers.  It was an "in-house" job, as usual, lacking the normal safety features!   Not a hard hat or a rope to be seen!   The limbs either fell to the ground or were thrown down from the basket of the cherry picker.   It was successful, of course!  Everything that Neville does is successful!

The tree beside us wasn't over the height, although it had been marked and is very close.  Hopefully, it will go at some time when we aren't here.

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3 days

Friday -----  Rode my gopher to the new BBQ area of the park and enjoyed a musical interlude, along with 50 others.    The Driftalongs,  Cliff Berry, the singer, on electric acoustic guitar, his wife on bass electric guitar, her sister with tambourine and singing and sister's  husband on electronic drums.   They travel in campervans together and put on a bit of a show wherever they go. 
I really enjoyed them.  As I could sing along with everything, I'm guessing that the group was around my age.   I bought one of their tapes to give to Uncle Buzz for Christmas. 

Saturday -----  Skydiveoz are staying at the park and operating from the Moree airport.  They had a few jumpers come down today.   I came very, very close to booking in!   If the dives weren't so expensive, I would have been there in a flash!  I still carry within me the exquisite feelings, sights, sounds and smells of that wonderful day in 2007. 

Sunday ----- This will be our first market day here this year.   Looking forward to it.  The Gopher is loaded on the truck, ready for an early start.

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It's Raining

The sky has been dark for the last 5 days and it has rained a little every day.  Just light showers, though, giving us about 35mm in that time.   This is unusual weather for Moree but it's welcome and it hasn't ended yet.
We have made a quick dash to the pools most days, even though I had a woolen poncho wrapped around me on the cooler days.

Yesterday, I stopped and talked to Laura, a woman alone in a very small camper van.  She told me that she hadn't slept the night before because of the mice.   She lay awake, listening to the constant patter of their little feet in the van, even against the windows.  In the morning, there were no tell-tale signs of them.     I heard those mice too.  It was a very heavy mist/light rain!   Her next door neighbour agreed with me.  Laura was very relieved.

We're cooking a roast of pork in the glass Turbo oven tonight.  I haven't used it for a while so I had to experiment with the time and temperatures but it's looking good and smelling delicious.

A week before we left home, I picked up my *replacement* hearing aids.  They have a thin tube that goes into the ear, unlike previous models where the inside is moulded in the shape of the ear.  The thin tube has a tiny cap at the end, like a mushroom.   Only days after I got them, the left one wouldn't work.  I tried new batteries but no go.   I rang the audiometrist from Moree, and was advised to send it back to Echuca.  It was packed and ready to go when I was given some information.   A man in the pool told me that the problem was probably wax in the little mushroom cap, as he often dealt with it.   Steve operated on it and got out a tiny piece of wax.   Problem solved!    *Let me tell you why I needed replacement hearing aids.   In a nutshell, Steve diligently included them in the rubbish collection, along with a heap of other important stuff, of which the most important to me was a letter I had been writing for about 15 years. 
...sigh ...

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Steve's Trip 2

Monday
Steve was back here again by 10am today.   That's 50 hours since he left here, including 28 hours of train travel.   I had hoped that he would sleep Sunday night back at home in Victoria but he said that the house was freezing.  Oh well, 7C when it was 23C up here!  Naturally, the Landcruiser needed a lot of persuading to start up.  He wasted no time gathering up the bits and pieces that we needed and set off again.  He spent a little time with his Mother, Betty and was in Deniliquin by 6pm.  
Up until then, I was constantly in contact with him by phone and text.   At that time, I got the distinct impression that he wasn't going to let the grass grow under his feet;  I slept the night with the door unlocked, so that he could get in if he arrived during the night. (When he got home, he reminded me that he had keys with him!)  He cat napped when necessary in the car and keep on coming.

His train trip was interesting.  When he first got on in Moree, he was allocated to a seat that was turned around the wrong way and faced another seat.  He said that his legs were entwined with the two ladies opposite him!  Many station hands tried to turn the seat but it wouldn't budge.  Finally, the conductress directed him to a seat in first class.  Neat! 
He wasn't impressed with Sydney Central Station, mainly because he had to go outside for food.  He phoned me from there, saying that there were only 8 people in the whole carriage.   His jubilation didn't last, as many people boarded at stations further down the track.   A man joined the woman in front of Steve and to his disgust, they struck up a loud and animated conversation at 1am.  By the time the man got off, Steve felt that he knew both of them and their family details intimately.

Meanwhile, back here in Moree, I was never lonely.  I was visited by Marion, Emily, Carissa and Lilly on a number of occasions.   Carissa told her mother that she felt very sorry for me being all alone, so she spent hours here with me.  Sweet.  Even Lindy said that she would hate it, as she likes to be surrounded by people at all times.  I missed Steve but I liked the alone time, (not that there was much.)
 During Sunday afternoon, everyone rushed outside when we heard a loud plane, coming in very low.  Keith, over the road from us, took an artistic photo overhead.  He would laugh at my description of artistic;  he, like I, just wildly clicked the shutter button.

 Meanwhile, I was swearing because I was trying to get photos close up, for Steve to identify the plane, but keeping it in the view finder, on full zoom, was almost impossible!   I wasn't even sure that I  captured anything, until I transferred photos to the computer.    

Carissa told us that the Navy was putting on a day for Sea Cadets.  And what a demonstration it was.  The plane did all sorts of rolls and dives and stunts over our heads.  Steve hasn't yet named the plane but he believes it was one that would have been on an aircraft carrier in the 50s and the wings probably folded up. 

 

Lindy and Nev picked me up on Sunday night and we went out for dinner at The Tavern.   Good meals, nice people.  I had a little flutter on the pokies and managed to turn $5 into $47, which I brought home in $1 coins!!!    There was already around $30 in coins in my handbag; now it's so heavy that I can barely carry it!   I'm not complaining, mind you!

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Steve's Trip

Steve is catching the train in Moree at 8am today (Sat) and everything is packed ready for his departure.    I couldn't sleep so I got up at 4.30am;  I wish I could go with him.   I'm very nervous ---- country boy in the big smoke!!

The trip to Sydney is 9 hours.  He has over 3 hours there before he catches the overnight train to Melbourne, an 11 hour ride.   There's only an hour wait before he gets on the train to Kerang, where Dom will meet him after the relatively short 4 hour ride and take him home.  There he will gather up a few things we left behind and head back here in the car.

This was all his idea, so that we would have the car up here.  Riding around in the truck, without the van on behind, is very uncomfortable, so we tend not to go anywhere.  But I'm not too sure how comfortable 28 hours of train travel is going to be!!!   Then he will have to reverse the performance to get both car and truck back home.  I won't think about that until December!

He has fussed around making sure that I'll be OK while he's away and I've been given instructions that I'll never remember.  He has made up my medication in its little boxes and put meals in the freezer.   He made sure that I have the staples ---- chocolate and cigarettes!   It will be easier for me to live here than to live at home alone ..... heating, lighting and people around if I need them. 
LATER 9.15am
I rode down to Reception on the Gopher and saw Steve off with Neville.  He had been willing to walk to the station but Lindy offered a lift.  I was in my swim gear so I had a great swim.  Lots of people there --- a very different group to the ones we usually see.  First ever time on my own in the pools --- I managed beautifully!
Marion and Lindy insisted that I take mobile numbers in case of emergency!!  They also invited me out for tea on Sunday night.
Here I am, trying to enjoy independence and everyone wants to take care of me!!!

Steve has 'texted' me from the train ----- HIS FIRST EVER!!!     He hates phones.

Carissa has been up to entertain me for the morning.  After a cuppa, she dried the dishes and offered to help me to tidy out cupboards.  I could do with the help as the overhead cupboards are a bit high for me and Carissa is much taller than I am but I didn't have the energy.  Pity to lose such a good oportunity!

It's a glorious day -- no wind, not a cloud in the sky, temp is 20C at noon.

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Tuesday

When the sky turned grey on Sunday morning, Steve put up the annexe and by night it was raining.... not a lot but any amount is gratefully received.

I had been planning on getting some loose cotton from the sides of the road but now I'll wait for it to dry out.  I had no idea how the cotton is transported from the farms but yesterday, I saw 3 huge bales filling the back of a trailer on one semi.

I visited Mrs Heffernan's shop yesterday ---- "Heffernan's Family Outfitter".    It's always a great pleasure.  She is a sweet, chirpy lady in her eighties and has been running the shop for over 50 years and living behind it.   It's quite small but it is jam packed with nice clothing, a few shoes, jewellery and a room full of second hand books.    The clothing is of good quality; nothing is cheap but by comparison with large department stores, it's not terribly expensive either.   She had a variety of lovely tops on display and she explained to me that she will only buy one of each design so that people can be sure that they won't bump into someone else in town wearing the same top. 
I went in for a pair of bathers and that's what I asked for.  She looked blank, so I quickly substituted 'swimsuit'.   I think they call them 'swimmers' in NSW.  In Qld, they are 'cossies'.  As always, she had a few pairs in my size. 

We had seen the refurbishing of the town's oldest hotel written up in the paper so we cut out the 2 for 1 coupon and went in for lunch.  I had nice roast lamb and vegetables and Steve had fish and chips with salad, all for  the grand total of $10.

Steve bought his railway ticket from Moree to Melbourne, for next Saturday morning.  He'll arrive in Melbourne 24 hours later and be back at home by 1pm.  He has a few things to gather up then he plans to hit the road again, in the Landcruiser.  With that up here, we will be freed up to travel wherever we want.  Driving the bobtail truck is very uncomfortable and we never take it anywhere further than into town for shopping.

I had lovely visitors this morning ---- Tracey and her 3 month old girl, Kodee.  The little one slept over my shoulder for an hour while we talked and then rewarded me with lots of smiles and gurgles.   Steve told Tracey to be careful, that I had all the signs of a babynapper!   I love interacting with babies and little kids and that baby smell drives me crazy.  If it could be bottled, I would wear it as perfume!
Tracey is Lindy's sister (reception), Marion and Richard's daughter, (kiosk).  We went to her and Scott's wedding this time last year.  Lillee is Tracey's older daughter and unfortunately we were out when Lil came to see us yesterday.  She is 10 and I think she is sweet.  She is still having a lot of trouble at school, mainly her behaviour and interaction with other kids.  I feel sure I could help her but I can't interfere.  I can only do my best when she is with us.  She responds beautifully to one on one kindness and consistency. 

The rain has gone and the new washing machine is rumbling gently away.  The first lot of clothes came out clean but it's a mystery to me how they do, with so little water!   This is my first experience with a front loader machine.

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Massage

Tom greeted me enthusiastically, with 3 kisses ----  one cheek, the other cheek and back to the first.  How common is that?    He has put up his fees by $5 and spent a long time apologising.  Nice massage (but I miss my usual masseuse, Kat.)

Great news coming from Holland.  Carla, who stayed with us in January, has had brain tumours removed and is doing well. 

How nice it was to hang out the washing at 11am and bring it in less than 1½ hours later.   Rain is desperately needed.   We left our hoses behind so we haven't been able to water the garden yet. 


Steve finally managed to get his Telstra pre-paid mobile phone going.  After 3 visits to the shop and numerous phone calls, he was getting pretty hot under the collar.

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Thursday in Moree

SLEEP, SLEEP, SLEEP
I woke for breakfast at 10am, lunch at 5pm, tea at 9pm and was asleep in between.  By midnight I was sound asleep and dreaming again.  Anyone would think I had jet lag!   Fibromyalgia sets its own agenda for recovery!   Massage with Tom today so I should be well set up for the weekend.

The 'new' washing machine has had its first workout and passed the test.  This is the first time we have ever used a front loader and I'm unsure of how much I should put into it.

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Arrived in Moree

 So, here we are in Moree, setting up and unpacking for the next 6+ months.
It is Wednesday 12th.  Note that the dates and times are American.
Also, note that the newest posts are at the top.

In an effort to get me moving faster this morning, we decided that I would just get dressed and into the truck.  We stopped a little way down the road for breakfast.   It worked quite well but I wouldn't want to do it very often.  None of my body parts worked and I staggered along like a drunk!

The Warrumbungles looked magnificent in the early morning sunshine.   They have sharp peaks, smooth rounded tops, flat bits, pieces that look like turrets on a castle, hills that look like houses......  In the hazy sun, they looked as if they were painted onto the sky line.   The truck negotiated the hills very well, unlike the Toyota pulling the old van.

      For the first time, we saw cotton being harvested on one farm.   Perhaps the harvest was a little later than it normally is??  The road from Narrabri was littered with cotton, more than usual.  It just sits there, stuck to the grass.  That's sad for me ---- I like seeing these things move and take on human characteristics!!!

Lindy kept sending text messages, telling us to get a move on.   One message told us to come straight up to our usual site, without stopping at reception.  She arrived up here later with the girls, not telling them first that we were here, so there was a lot of yelling and squealing!  They have both grown a lot.  It's funny how kids always seem to grow, even though it's only 6 months since we last saw them! 

Our section of the park, the old part with the en suites, is quite full.  We haven't been to look at the rest of it yet.   As this is the last section to fill up, I imagine that the rest will be jam packed.

Time to swim!!!   The rest of the unpacking can wait.

Later

Wonderful, magic artesian water!!!    We started off in the 37C pool then had a short time in the 39C pool.  I then did a quick plunge into the cool pool to get the adrenalin flowing!!   The other swimmers thought that I was crazy as the outside temp was pretty cold!  Little do they know!!   The buzz that I get from the plunge from hot to cold is mind blowing and well worth the minor discomfort!!

We caught up with Neville (Lindy's husband and the skilful man who maintains the whole park), for a long talk.   He gave us all the news ---- the by-pass road is still unfinished, after many years; BigW is still a possibility (after many years);  Richard and Marion are running the kiosk again after their daughter found it too much, (we had a jubilant retirement dinner for Marion just before we left here last November!);  Steve, the author of a book about artesian pools, lost his wife to a heart attack a month ago.   They have stayed here in their van for the past year, with Steve going off on his Harley every so often, to explore more pools.   Steve said that she had had a severe heart attack about 8 years ago and was told that the next one would be her last.  The result of the autopsy showed no problems with the heart.  It was then handed over to the police for criminal investigation.  Steve is now in Western Australia where his wife was buried, trying to collect information from doctors about her heart.  (Or so the story goes.)

Tomorrow we will stock up the pantry, get books from the Library and do a tour around town (to see how many more houses have burnt down!)

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Gilgandra

The seat is wonderful!   I don't feel like I have to pick gravel out of my bottom every time we hit a bump.  It has some lumbar adjustment and it lays back a long way further than the previous seat.   I can lie back with my feet up on the dashboard (and drive from that position!)   Just kidding.   The seat is filled with air from the compressor tanks on the truck and I can have it adjusted to whatever level I want.

We left Temora at 10.30am and arrived in Gilgandra at 5.30pm, with an hour off for lunch at Parkes.  That was about 400kms.  We don't travel very fast.    The trip was about 2 hours too long for my comfort. 

We are having a bought lunch each day and cooking something simple for tea.   This is much easier for Steve who has to set up the van, power, water, TV and internet when we arrive.  He became cook a few years ago when I had difficulties.  The Clubs along the Newell Highway have excellent meals at good prices.  Only $8 for cottage pie and vegetables.

This caravan park has a disabled toilet and shower ---- well they are OK --- it's the people who use them who are disabled.   It's going to be a great relief to be able to sit down and have a shower again.

For most of the journey, swarms of locusts battered themselves against the windscreen.   We thought that the cooler weather may have put paid to them.  During summer, we had the little buggers hopping around in the kitchen.

The most fascinating scene of the day has been the seed heads that have blown across the road, twirled and danced in the wind and piled themselves up against fences, trees and walls.  One long paddock had them  stacked up against fence posts, in a regular pattern, with nothing in between.   I don't know what grass they come from and have no name for them.  Steve calls them "Father Christmases" but he doesn't know why. Each one is shaped like a tree, with branches.   If anyone, (maybe Robert or Roger?) can tell me the proper name of the grass, I would be delighted.  I'm still delighted with them, even if I never know the name of the grass.  They behave like the tumbleweeds but they dance instead of rolling.  They flit and flee at the whim of the wind.

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Days 1 and 2

As usual, we left bitching at each other but stopped before we turned the first corner (as usual.)  We know to expect it now.  The pressure of trying to get everything right when you plan to be away for at least 6 months, is definitely bitch making!!

We left a few hours later than planned, (as usual) and spent the night in Deniliquin instead of Jerilderie.  Nice to go to a different park.  We had a lovely site, close to the Edwards River.

The truck is rolling along very nicely, giving no trouble at all, unlike last year.   We travelled  via Wagga, to a huge wreckers' yard.  Steve bought a new wheel to use as a spare for the truck and also ---- wait for it ---- an air suspension seat for my side.    He already has one of these and says he doesn't really feel the bumps.   I not only feel the bumps, I wallow in them!

The van is towing well.  We are still chasing insurance for it.  The first quote, 2 years ago, was $700, so we  insured just the truck.  Now I've found an insurer who specialises in motor homes and they are willing to count the truck and van as a motor home.   We have a cover note and are slowly negotiating the deal.  I've sent photos of our no claim bonus and of the van being built.   The hardest thing now is to get it valued.   We might have to stop in at some caravan dealers along the way and see what they say.

We had lunch at Lockhart, a town that I've never visited before.  It's fascinating and I plan to spend a few days there on the way home.   Both sides of the main street had verandas the whole way.

The original quaint names of most of the stores were painted on the verandas or set into the brick facades.  Each shop was beautifully restored and many of the overhead stained glass windows remained.  Some of the original outside tiles were still in place.  There were some vacant shops, as in most rural towns, but it was quite hard to detect which shops were vacant as all of them had window displays!    These clever people are catering to tourism!

Many of the light tan bricks in the footpath were sponsored by district families and engraved with their names and often a small picture.  I walked with my head down, reading the bricks and a number of locals spoke to me, to say how pleased they were to find a reader.   One brick interested me ---- it had the name O.Gilpin.  That rang a bell ---- it's the name set in the doorway of the newsagents in Cohuna.  An 85 year old lady saw me reading that particular brick and came up to tell me that O.Gilpin had employed her at his store. He sold haberdashery, the same as in Cohuna.  A very quick google showed me that O.Gilpin had many country stores.

Our home for tonight is in Temora.   I can't imagine that we'll get out of here without seeing the aeroplane museum!   This is a funny little caravan park.  There is no resident caretaker.  We rang the phone number to tell her that we were here and because I was urgent, asked for the code for the key pad at the toilet!   When I was on my way back to the van, a man stopped and asked me how I got into the toilet, as his wife was desperate.  She was trying to wait for the caretaker to come around at 6pm to collect fees.

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Friday and Sunday were the two possible days that we would leave.   I continued with the "farce" of Friday up until a few hours ago but now it's quite clear that it will be Sunday, Mothers' Day.  There's still a lot left to pack.  I can't wait for the day when the van is finished and we won't have to pull anything out to work on it.  (Let's not kid ourselves!!  I'll be long dead before that van is considered "finished".)

Steve rang a large wrecker's yard in Wagga Wagga and found that they have a wheel and an air suspension seat that will fit the truck.  They aren't open on Sundays so if we get there on Monday morning, that will be fine.   Our first night will be at Jerilderie which is only two hours from Wagga.
The driver's seat is air suspension and is extremely comfortable, Steve says.  My seat, a good one out of Tarl's old car, is not so great.  It bottoms out on every bump in the road.  This was probably due to the springs, which Steve recently worked on.  We should probably forget about the new seat this time and give the repaired springs a trial.  (The seat is worth 4 weeks rent at the caravan park!)

We slept comfortably in the van last night and woke up to the bird songs.  It's much warmer than our bedroom, which is very welcome now that the weather has turned cold.

We're still on the trail of insuring the van, despite the fact that it has done a few trips already.  Because it's considered neither a caravan nor a motor home, and because it's home built,  it has been difficult finding someone to insure it, without mortgaging the house!  Finally, we have found an insurer who will take it on, at a reasonable price.  They want to consider it to be a motor home, so all of the literature refers to it as one unit, although we have to insure  truck and caravan separately.  Questions are asked which are impossible to answer!   The value?  Well, Steve has a heap of receipts;  I wonder if they want those?   They want to see our No Claim Bonus.   I asked our local broker and the answer was to send them a copy of the last invoice, which shows NCB 60%.   I didn't understand that but I was told that 60% is the top rating.   Huh???????

This problem of insurance, plus numerous other loose ends will occupy us for the next couple of days.
Meanwhile, half the house is inside and the other half is in the van.  It isn't easy to take off for 7 months!!
I tremble when I write that figure......  the thought of not seeing family for that long is gut churning.  Thank goodness for email. 

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Ready to Go

Nature says it's time to go........ The green tumbleweeds have turned brown and are preparing to roll away. They have been plumper and more plentiful than ever, this year. There are so many paddocks that haven't been watered, due to the drought, and the tumbleweed has really taken hold in the bare ground.
When the time is right, they break free from the earth and start rolling in the wind.

They blow along in groups, reminding me of a bunch of lemmings making the death rush! When they reach a fence or bridge, they pile up on top of each other. I hear them screaming, "Me first, me first."

Steve has been busy making more cupboards in the van (and making more sawdust to clean up, but who's complaining??)

The toilet has been shifted into the shower room and the old toilet room is becoming a wardrobe. There will be a breakfast bar where we planned to put the wardrobe. I think. Originally, Steve thought that the plans he drew up were fixed. Then I looked at them!! This 5th wheeler will probably be a work in progress for the rest of its life.

There's a big pile of "stuff" in the house, ready to be transferred to the van. The weather has cooled off and we've had to light a fire so our departure is imminent. As far as I can recall, we left on Mothers' Day last year. It's quite likely that we'll do likewise this year.

Thermal pools of Moree ----- I'm ready for you!