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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