So surprised. The bus people have left us. I woke to the sound of their music and thought to myself golly you are a bit early this time girls, but then I looked at the clock and discovered I had actually had myself a bit of a sleep in and they were not that early after all. Shortly after that, they and their bus departed. Just when we were about to ask them to dinner too.....NOT.
It is time for us to make our next payment to the office and we had been debating just how long we could put up with them for neighbours and what our options were if they stayed much longer.
Lets hope whoever gets that site next are the usual couple of days visitors or at least someone who has a better understanding of caravan park living!
Himself is still coughing up a storm and after feeling wonderful for a couple of days I have got up this morning with a nasty cough and do not feel too flash. Living in a caravan sort of confines all those germs to a small area, thus making sure that everyone in that area shares the toxic air. I have tried to get Himself to go to a doctor but he will not go. I have come to the conclusion he will see a doctor one day.....in the morgue!
Being ill is not something we do very well. We are both horrible patients. Full of advice to others but completely ignore that same advice when it comes to ourselves. In the meantime I guess we can push fluids, eat lightly, rest and try not to share our bugs with too many others.
I am off to take my aches and cough to bed. See you all again on the other side of this dark cloud!!!
Sunday, November 30, 2014
Friday, November 28, 2014
Friday...28 November 2014
So this Black Edlerberry seems to work. I started taking them as soon as I knew I was in trouble and one day later I already felt much better. All I have now is horrible muck running down the back of my throat and a slightly snuffly nose, but the aches and pains and the cough are all but gone. Himself is still coughing a bit but is no longer moaning and groaning.
We got to see the new grandchild again yesterday after having put ourselves into quarantine when we took ill. She is doing very well.
Surprise news today, we have visitors coming tomorrow. Another daughter and her two grown boys are coming to visit. Officially it is to see us but we all know it is to see the new baby! They are fitting in a quick trip before harvest keeps them closer to home.
We got to see the new grandchild again yesterday after having put ourselves into quarantine when we took ill. She is doing very well.
Surprise news today, we have visitors coming tomorrow. Another daughter and her two grown boys are coming to visit. Officially it is to see us but we all know it is to see the new baby! They are fitting in a quick trip before harvest keeps them closer to home.
Tuesday, November 25, 2014
Tuesday...25 November 2014
Well I was wrong about the bus people, they were just busy organising themselves a car. They are so pleased with the result they celebrated!!! I do hope they get a house soon. I am not sure my ears are up to a whole summer of that noise.
Meanwhile, Himself is a loving, caring, SHARING sort of bloke. After 8 days of him being sick and miserable and me waiting on him hand and foot he is on the mend.... but not before passing his bug on to me!
For a moment I thought maybe this is a good thing. Maybe he will soothe my brow and fetch me all sorts of goodies to tempt my jaded appetite and tell me to rest while he does all the washing and cooking and cleaning for a change. Then there was this unholy row, (coming from the sound system in that blasted bus), and I woke up and the dream faded into darkness. Reality is so shattering some days. If this bug kills me it will at least stop the noise from the bus so I guess it is win win!
Meanwhile, Himself is a loving, caring, SHARING sort of bloke. After 8 days of him being sick and miserable and me waiting on him hand and foot he is on the mend.... but not before passing his bug on to me!
For a moment I thought maybe this is a good thing. Maybe he will soothe my brow and fetch me all sorts of goodies to tempt my jaded appetite and tell me to rest while he does all the washing and cooking and cleaning for a change. Then there was this unholy row, (coming from the sound system in that blasted bus), and I woke up and the dream faded into darkness. Reality is so shattering some days. If this bug kills me it will at least stop the noise from the bus so I guess it is win win!
Monday, November 24, 2014
Monday...24 November 2014
Himself is still not well. For every bit of feeling better in one area there comes a whole lot of aches and pains or snuffles in another part of him. He is a bundle of misery. Codral and some super strength antibiotics we had have not cured him although they did clear up his infected sinuses which has made breathing much easier. Yesterday he bought some black elderberry from the chemist. One of the residents of the caravan park told him a surgeon she knew recommended them. The box says it will cut the life of a cold in half. Always worth a try! He is so unwell we cancelled our weekly outing for dinner with his family. I have had a scratchy, sore throat and a ticklish cough for a couple of days now too. Last night before going to bed I gargled with a strong salt solution. Tastes awful but the throat was not so sore this morning. And to cap it all off, as if being all achy and miserable was not enough, the weather has gone all grey and miserable too! We are having showers and wind gusts and earlier this morning a large part of the town lost power after a big clap of thunder and it is expected to be out for some time so I guess there might have been a lightning strike with that clap of thunder.
Now that the swap meet and caravan show have passed, most of the campers have left, leaving space around us again. Even the bus people have gone quiet....for now!
Now that the swap meet and caravan show have passed, most of the campers have left, leaving space around us again. Even the bus people have gone quiet....for now!
Sunday, November 23, 2014
Sunday...23 November 2014
Sitting at my computer early in the morning while I wait for Himself to wake up is a great time to watch the comings and goings in the caravan park. The variety and sub species are endless!
Some folk forget they are on holiday and are up at sunrise, maybe they do not want to miss a minute of this precious time out of their normal routine. Those with no where to go and all day to do it are more relaxed and take their time getting their day started.
Men head for the shower block with a towel slung over their shoulder and a cake of soap in their hand. They are gone for only a short while. The women will appear with a couple of carry bags in hand and are mostly gone for quite some time. Now I do not mean to denigrate the ladies, to be fair some of them have probably put the washing on and stopped at the camp kitchen to cook bacon and eggs for their men who sit coffee cup in hand, reading the newspaper, while waiting for their breakfast to be served. One might see a rough and ready male but the women never wander around unkempt. The children on the other hand just take a quick dip in the pool and that sets them up for the day. Sort of like a communal bath for all the kids in the park!
Lets not forget the exercise brigade and the puppy walkers. The fit and keen do laps of the park in many forms. Some take a gentle stroll, while others power walk or run. Wears me out watching them! The variety of dogs on display is amazing. The maltese & shitzu are by far the most popular breed with the retired caravanner. The spaniels, heelers, border collies, poodles, labs and retrievers all appear regularly. And yes we have met people travelling with their cats. Some even have them trained to walk in a harness and they go walkies just like their canine friends. Budgies and other small birds seem to like travelling too.
When moving day arrives, there are two distinct species. The quiet and very organised type and the loud look at me and by the way I haven't a clue what I am doing variety! The second set are an endless source of amusement both arriving and departing. Somehow, no matter how inept they are, they all manage to find the front gate and head off on another days travel. Those left behind will adjust the awning, tighten some ropes, wander around and inspect each others rigs and have a bit of a chat while waiting for the missus to get done with her housework so they can go out for the day.
There is a whole heap more I could say on this subject but I should get my own housework done so will return to this theme another time.
Some folk forget they are on holiday and are up at sunrise, maybe they do not want to miss a minute of this precious time out of their normal routine. Those with no where to go and all day to do it are more relaxed and take their time getting their day started.
Men head for the shower block with a towel slung over their shoulder and a cake of soap in their hand. They are gone for only a short while. The women will appear with a couple of carry bags in hand and are mostly gone for quite some time. Now I do not mean to denigrate the ladies, to be fair some of them have probably put the washing on and stopped at the camp kitchen to cook bacon and eggs for their men who sit coffee cup in hand, reading the newspaper, while waiting for their breakfast to be served. One might see a rough and ready male but the women never wander around unkempt. The children on the other hand just take a quick dip in the pool and that sets them up for the day. Sort of like a communal bath for all the kids in the park!
Lets not forget the exercise brigade and the puppy walkers. The fit and keen do laps of the park in many forms. Some take a gentle stroll, while others power walk or run. Wears me out watching them! The variety of dogs on display is amazing. The maltese & shitzu are by far the most popular breed with the retired caravanner. The spaniels, heelers, border collies, poodles, labs and retrievers all appear regularly. And yes we have met people travelling with their cats. Some even have them trained to walk in a harness and they go walkies just like their canine friends. Budgies and other small birds seem to like travelling too.
When moving day arrives, there are two distinct species. The quiet and very organised type and the loud look at me and by the way I haven't a clue what I am doing variety! The second set are an endless source of amusement both arriving and departing. Somehow, no matter how inept they are, they all manage to find the front gate and head off on another days travel. Those left behind will adjust the awning, tighten some ropes, wander around and inspect each others rigs and have a bit of a chat while waiting for the missus to get done with her housework so they can go out for the day.
There is a whole heap more I could say on this subject but I should get my own housework done so will return to this theme another time.
Saturday, November 22, 2014
Saturday...22 November 2014
Oh my aching legs!
Getting to the camping expo was easy, just a couple of kms down the road, easy to read signage to locate the parking area and plenty of parking attendants to keep the traffic flowing and the parking under control.
Getting into the actual show was another matter.
The first day of a well advertised and popular three day event, no advance purchase tickets, the entry queue snaked back into the very large car park, and they had two out of eight ticketing windows open. A long slow walk in the sun with no shade just to get into the event, AND the drinking water was inside the fence! I did have my hat on but I could feel the exposed parts of me burning. Oh well, lesson learnt. Bring your own damn drinking water.
There was plenty to see and do. All the usual bits and pieces that make camping that little bit more bearable. We got a simple little folding wind break for our single burner gas ring. This will be very useful as using it even in a gentle breeze is frustrating and while the carry case it comes in can be turned on its side to create a wind break, it too blows around in a breeze.
Lots and lots of caravans and camper trailers. I am always fascinated by the camper trailers. They are very clever with what they build into these. Seriously, some of those are nearly bigger than our caravan once they are fully folded out and all the extra awnings and stuff are put up. And not only do they have the kitchen sink but yesterday we saw one that came with portable air conditioning! Another caravan had three tv's, one of which was a 60 inch screen! Brilliant! Necessary? Probably not!
I love going to these events but after a while it all becomes sensory overload. So many displays and so much colour and variety. You walk and walk and when you stop for a break you realise you have only seen half of the whole thing and that there is several more hours of walking left to take in the entire thing. When my legs were at screaming point I sat down under a tree and let Himself wander around a bit by himself. It was probably the most fun he had all day!
I wondered how Himself would go with his cold but he was determined to find it a new home or kill it off with exercise. I do not think he has succeeded in either direction but he is definitely on the mend. Today is expected to be quite warm so doing very little is a good idea. We can use it as recovery time for us both.
Getting to the camping expo was easy, just a couple of kms down the road, easy to read signage to locate the parking area and plenty of parking attendants to keep the traffic flowing and the parking under control.
Getting into the actual show was another matter.
The first day of a well advertised and popular three day event, no advance purchase tickets, the entry queue snaked back into the very large car park, and they had two out of eight ticketing windows open. A long slow walk in the sun with no shade just to get into the event, AND the drinking water was inside the fence! I did have my hat on but I could feel the exposed parts of me burning. Oh well, lesson learnt. Bring your own damn drinking water.
There was plenty to see and do. All the usual bits and pieces that make camping that little bit more bearable. We got a simple little folding wind break for our single burner gas ring. This will be very useful as using it even in a gentle breeze is frustrating and while the carry case it comes in can be turned on its side to create a wind break, it too blows around in a breeze.
Lots and lots of caravans and camper trailers. I am always fascinated by the camper trailers. They are very clever with what they build into these. Seriously, some of those are nearly bigger than our caravan once they are fully folded out and all the extra awnings and stuff are put up. And not only do they have the kitchen sink but yesterday we saw one that came with portable air conditioning! Another caravan had three tv's, one of which was a 60 inch screen! Brilliant! Necessary? Probably not!
I love going to these events but after a while it all becomes sensory overload. So many displays and so much colour and variety. You walk and walk and when you stop for a break you realise you have only seen half of the whole thing and that there is several more hours of walking left to take in the entire thing. When my legs were at screaming point I sat down under a tree and let Himself wander around a bit by himself. It was probably the most fun he had all day!
I wondered how Himself would go with his cold but he was determined to find it a new home or kill it off with exercise. I do not think he has succeeded in either direction but he is definitely on the mend. Today is expected to be quite warm so doing very little is a good idea. We can use it as recovery time for us both.
Friday, November 21, 2014
Friday...21 November 2014
We are off to the Nomad Muster today. This is what our children call a Caravan and Camping Expo! Probably will not find anything we want but it is always good to see what new things have come on the market to make our life as wanderers more comfortable. Not sure how long we will last.
Himself is still unwell with a head cold that has migrated into his chest too but he is determined to go. I am feeling a bit ordinary myself. I am hoping it is lack of sleep after an extremely muggy night and not the early stages of Himself's bug. If there are bugs going around we are sure to meet all of them in today's outing! We are usually disgustingly healthy and this is probably aided by our nomadic life. We rarely venture into large crowds or places that could spread disease. Still a 'muster' is an event we cannot miss.
Himself is still unwell with a head cold that has migrated into his chest too but he is determined to go. I am feeling a bit ordinary myself. I am hoping it is lack of sleep after an extremely muggy night and not the early stages of Himself's bug. If there are bugs going around we are sure to meet all of them in today's outing! We are usually disgustingly healthy and this is probably aided by our nomadic life. We rarely venture into large crowds or places that could spread disease. Still a 'muster' is an event we cannot miss.
Tuesday, November 18, 2014
Tuesday...18 November 2014
Himself has the snuffles! This is serious stuff. If you ask him to tell you where it hurts, his reply is that it is easier to say where it does not hurt. Sounds like he has a head cold. He went out during the weekend, just him and 20 thousand of his close friends packed into the one big event and he says he did not buy anything but I am thinking that he came home with a little something for free!
He has made it to happy hour so I guess he is not on his last legs yet. Maybe the alcohol will kill the bugs. Stranger things have happened!
He has made it to happy hour so I guess he is not on his last legs yet. Maybe the alcohol will kill the bugs. Stranger things have happened!
Saturday, November 15, 2014
Saturday...15 November 2014
Now look here Boss Man, you know I am not a happy camper when You send the wind and rain and thunder and lightning at night time. I am not happy not being able to see what is making all that noise out there in the darkness! My scardy cat levels go through the roof in the dark. They are not improved by the sound of Himself laughing at my nervous twitching!
I thought that after all those years of sitting through cyclones in the dark You would cut me some slack in my retirement and send this noisy stuff in daylight so that I can see what is happening around me. I am much braver when I can see what is happening. It is raining, there is continuous thunder that goes on and on and on. The weather mob say it will have passed by the morning, I do hope they know what they are talking about!. I do not mind rain, we need it any time we can get it in this arid continent of ours, I do not like getting it in the dark while I am in a tissue thin caravan. As soon as there is a drop of rain or a hint of a breeze my mind starts flashing like a set of kids learning cards with graphic pictures of the damage that has been done to caravans during nasty storms. There goes another nights sleep!
I thought that after all those years of sitting through cyclones in the dark You would cut me some slack in my retirement and send this noisy stuff in daylight so that I can see what is happening around me. I am much braver when I can see what is happening. It is raining, there is continuous thunder that goes on and on and on. The weather mob say it will have passed by the morning, I do hope they know what they are talking about!. I do not mind rain, we need it any time we can get it in this arid continent of ours, I do not like getting it in the dark while I am in a tissue thin caravan. As soon as there is a drop of rain or a hint of a breeze my mind starts flashing like a set of kids learning cards with graphic pictures of the damage that has been done to caravans during nasty storms. There goes another nights sleep!
Thursday, November 13, 2014
Thursday...13 November 2014
Golly it was warm today.
Things are heating up in the caravan park as well. We have two ladies who appear to be in a relationship in a bus a couple of bays down from us. They start drinking around morning tea time and stop late at night. In the meantime they play music very loudly! Today someone told them to turn the music down and they did.....for a little while then cranked it back up. I was outside and the music was rocking their bus and their outside furniture and I decided to take a walk to give my ears some rest from the volume. I was not too surprised to notice that they were sitting in the camp kitchen quite some distance from their bus watching the tv, which surprise surprise was turned up real loud! So there we are having to put up with the noise of their music and they are not even "home"!!
Personally I am all for slashing their tyres, but that would mean being stuck with them for heaven knows how long! Lets just hope they move out sometime soon.
Things are heating up in the caravan park as well. We have two ladies who appear to be in a relationship in a bus a couple of bays down from us. They start drinking around morning tea time and stop late at night. In the meantime they play music very loudly! Today someone told them to turn the music down and they did.....for a little while then cranked it back up. I was outside and the music was rocking their bus and their outside furniture and I decided to take a walk to give my ears some rest from the volume. I was not too surprised to notice that they were sitting in the camp kitchen quite some distance from their bus watching the tv, which surprise surprise was turned up real loud! So there we are having to put up with the noise of their music and they are not even "home"!!
Personally I am all for slashing their tyres, but that would mean being stuck with them for heaven knows how long! Lets just hope they move out sometime soon.
Tuesday, November 11, 2014
Tuesday...11 November 2014
Remembrance Day.
Well mum and baby came home yesterday. This is remarkable as baby was expected to have to stay a bit longer having arrived so early but she has astounded the paediatrician by being the first premmie he has seen who never lost any weight post birth, She has settled well at home and is happily drinking and sleeping.
I would be doing the same but apparently drinking enough to fall asleep is not considered good form for an old granny!
Well mum and baby came home yesterday. This is remarkable as baby was expected to have to stay a bit longer having arrived so early but she has astounded the paediatrician by being the first premmie he has seen who never lost any weight post birth, She has settled well at home and is happily drinking and sleeping.
I would be doing the same but apparently drinking enough to fall asleep is not considered good form for an old granny!
Saturday, November 8, 2014
Saturday...8 November 2014
My how time flies when your days are a blur of shopping, visiting and hospital trips. Saturday already and it feels like only yesterday we were driving the long haul to get here. Baby continues to make good progress and is cute as a button (of course!). Mother is well and father seems to be in the land of muddle. I am not sure what causes this mindless muddle that some new fathers manage to create around themselves. Are they in meltdown trying to cope on their own at home? Is the reality of fatherhood overwhelming? Are they burning the candle too far trying to be superdad and have every thing done and ready for baby and mum to come home? Do they too go days without proper sleep as they continue to support their partners in a caring sharing role? Whatever the cause I am sure they love it when their world settles back into a more natural rhythm after baby comes home.
The weather right now is good. Mostly warm to hot days and pleasant evenings so I have been able to put the extra blankets away and only use a doona again. Bring on summer.
The weather right now is good. Mostly warm to hot days and pleasant evenings so I have been able to put the extra blankets away and only use a doona again. Bring on summer.
Tuesday, November 4, 2014
Tuesday...4 November 2014
Its a girl!
Much excitement and drama and of course we missed it all! Our tenth grandchild was born yesterday. Baby was not due for another month so she caught everyone by surprise. We were an 8 hour drive away in the next state and could do nothing but pace the floor of our caravan with mobile phone in hand waiting for the intermittent updates.
She is in the special care nursery and we can only look at her from a distance. Very frustrating for her parents who are desperate to have their precious bundle in their arms. For now we are just grateful that she is being so well cared for and that with a spot more "cooking" she will be just fine.
Much excitement and drama and of course we missed it all! Our tenth grandchild was born yesterday. Baby was not due for another month so she caught everyone by surprise. We were an 8 hour drive away in the next state and could do nothing but pace the floor of our caravan with mobile phone in hand waiting for the intermittent updates.
She is in the special care nursery and we can only look at her from a distance. Very frustrating for her parents who are desperate to have their precious bundle in their arms. For now we are just grateful that she is being so well cared for and that with a spot more "cooking" she will be just fine.
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