Gran's Cottage

Home again home again jiggedy-jog....

2011-06-26T14:41:00.000-07:00

Well, on Monday 20th, we arranged a tow-truck to take the Van to the RACQ garage to be fixed. Al hopped in and the bloody thing started!! So, I had to cancel the tow-truck and he drove it to the garage, where they spent time going over it and couldn't find anything wrong.

So, when he returned I said, "We're going home!! God only knows what will happen next and the further we are from home, the further to get it towed."

HE was all for going on, so I said, "Put me on a bus."

Anyway, we packed up the trailer and the Van ready for a get-away in the morning. The next morning of course!! the damn thing wouldn't start. Eventually, after a lot of coughing and back-firing, and stopping, we got underway, me terrified that it would stop and never go again, somewhere on the highway.

We had to stop for petrol halfway to Rockhampton, and I was amazed it actually started again.

Made it to Dululu, a free camp for the night, and met more nice people. Richard and Jenny were parked next to us. Had a nice chat and they helped out with fresh water.

Wednesday morning and the van wouldn't even turn over, let alone start. Al wandered over to the Dululu Hall which was being perpared for painting, to ask the young chap if he'd give us a jump-start. Anyway, one of the locals came over and tried to jump-start for ages but no-go. So, he towed Al around and around, coughing and back-firing and carrying on for ages, and eventually it went - sort of.

We made it with a few scary misses, me thinking we were going to be stuck, all the way back down to Monto, where we had to stop for petrol. It did start again which was a big relief!

Finally made it home back to Degilbo around 2:10 pm. A good time to be able to unpack and sort out before dark.

I'm not intending to go away any time soon!!!

Besides it's so cold all over Australia at the moment - not good for tenting when you're not the fittest.

a full stop!!!

2011-06-17T22:02:00.000-07:00

Well, we're still in Mackay witha van that doesn't go. Have spent heaps on parts that are NOT the trouble and we keep getting put on hold for when they can fix it. So, we have decided we're going to get RACQ to tow the van to the workshop and if necessary, we'll hire a vehicle to get us and our stuff home, and then Al can bring the vehicle back and wait for the van to bring it back home.If they manage to get`it going we're still going home. had enough adventure and I'm so worried all the time about what is going to happen next.
At least the weather has been good (cold but fine) while we've been stuck here, but a rubbish heap and a mud pile is not a very favourable outlook! If it rains it's going to be one big bog.

The people in the camp are lovely. Anthony took me into town this morning to Vinnie's to buy some old blankets and towels. Al has been so cold at night, and Smoky needed a bath. Smoky has had her bath and smells so much better. :-)
John took Al for a drive around Mackay this afternoon, so I guess we've seen a little bit of it anyway. :-/

a small pause.....welcome too. :-)

2011-06-13T21:45:00.000-07:00

We made it to Marlborough from Calliope, limping part of the way. Van is not a happy van. Really miserable in Marlborough. It rained, was very cold, and the tent leaked!! I wanted to go home. Was very worried that the van would pack it in so many miles away from home, it would be hard to get back.

Left Marlborough on Sunday, heading for Mackay. Couldn't find a decent place to stay in the book, so we headed for Kuttabul. really run down and depressing there, but it was cheap and the people were friendly and 'interesting'. Edna, lived next to the grassy area where we had our tent, kept offering us cups of coffee. She lived in this dingey /dingy? caravan and had an annexe. The owner told us she was an old circus lady.

I got to practise on my mobile phone Monday morning, looking for a place to stay in Mackay, so we could get the van seen to. Drove here to the Mackay Harbour Tourist place, and when we arrived Cathy said, "Did you know you have your top up?" !!! The cardinal sin of pop-tops. We'd forgotten in our rush to get here, to put the top down. Just as well, we limped here slowly all the way from Kuttabul.
Nice friendly folk here too. It was a run down park, but the new owners are gradually getting it back into shape. At least I got a load of washing done and dry. The tent is not as warm as our old tent, but at least it didn't rain.
Nice and warm and sunny this morning {Tuesday 14th}, and I got to use my mobile phone a lot again looking for somewhere to have the van fixed. All places were too busy so we drove to Repco in Mackay, and Al bought a new coil, spark plugs, and points.
It is at least starting better, but he's taken it for a run to see if that will solve the coughing, spluttering and missing problem when it gets warm.
We also have to get a new towbar put on, as this one is not secure and is coming adrift. That's a job for tomorrow.
I'm happy about staying in one place as long as it doesn't rain!!!

on the road

2011-06-08T21:12:00.000-07:00

Spent the first night at Agnes Water.We stayed in the Van and it was a bit cramped but Smoky loved it because she slept between us on the bed.
Second night we made it to Mt Larcom, and the accommodation was just a toilet on the side of the road!! so we came back to Calliope and found the free camp. Agnes Water cost $35 so we couldn't afford that very often. There are no showers but there is toilets and a nice place to stay.
No photos cos we forgot the camera-> computer connection.

there and back again.....

2011-06-06T15:35:00.000-07:00

FINALLY, we're on our way. :-) Heading to 1770 today.

that little voice is shouting louder.....

2011-06-05T15:05:00.000-07:00

Well, we had our dramas. I had an attack of the *flutters* (of the Atrial kind), and had to keep going instead of resting. The drugs didn't work either.

Al worked up until 2:00 am and still needs to do things so we are taking an extra day. I need the rest and he needs to finish things.

We think we're ready........

2011-06-04T01:34:00.000-07:00

Yet another set-back today. We've had nothing but hold-ups all the way. We'll be glad to get to a peace and quiet place!

The people that were looking after our chooks rang and said to come and get them. They were causing problems at their place. So, I had to go and bag them all up and bring them back to the shed I'd cleaned and stripped all ready for winter. We changed things a bit so it'll be easier for our neighbour to look after them. I'll have to go out and clip one of their wings though, and I hate doing that.

We also killed a Taipan this afternoon, and I was hoping with the shed all clean, the mice would stay away and so would the snakes. They are probably looking for a warm place to sleep. It'll be lovely and warm in the hay in the chook shed. :-/ Little bugger rose up and struck at Al when he raised the spade to chop it up. They are not easy to kill either. I would just annoy it and it would attack me if I tried it. Al had to use a really sharp spade and a lot of strength to chop its head off. He chopped it in half first to stop it moving away.

Tomorrow i hope we have no more dramas, and can get the Van packed ready for an early get-away on Monday.

Dramas!!

2011-05-29T23:32:00.000-07:00

We set off for Childers to finally get the rego for the van, taking the econovan for a run. We got about 1km up the road and Al said, "There's something wrong." Then we could smell burning rubber.

We crawled back home with the overheated wheel, and took the Tarago to Childers.

The lady at the Court House couldn't believe the trouble I'd had trying to register the econovan early, until I told her about the Government - trying to debate what to do with the CTP charges.

Then she understood the delay. We had to do an *estimate*, second guessing what the government was going to decide with charges. Then she wrote me a letter, explaining WHY I needed an early rego, and a certificate to prove I'd paid.

At home, Al has taken the wheel off to see what happened to the van, and is in the process of eliminating causes.

I suppose it was just as well it happened now and not when we were loaded up ready to hit the road. Which we should have been already. :-/

....there and back again...

2011-05-26T14:55:00.000-07:00

Off we go again to Bundy. THIS time to do the eelctronic set-up stuff so we can use the laptop in the outback, and charge stuff from the Van through the lighter connecty things.

I've got a portable DVD player, but the battery is not working. I've never used it, so I guess that could be why.:-/ I've tried recharging it, but NOWHERE in the instruction book is it even mentioned let alone tells me how long it needs charging for. I'll take it anyway - we can use it if we're hooked up to 240volt power.

Talk about baby steps!! :-/

2011-05-25T17:12:00.000-07:00

Damn. I forgot to edit the photos and cut out the black bits. We went to Bundaberg yesterday to get more stuff. It took ALL day. It takes forever to find what you are looking for . We did notice a huge difference in prices so it does pay to do the legwork.

I bought a table from our local hardware for $60.00. The exact same table was $115.00 at the camping shop in Bourbong St.!! What a mark-up. Needless to say we bought nothing there. The drinking water hose we bought at Bunnings for $20.00, was $30.00 there. So we figured everything else would be overpriced too.

I had to buy a little step stool to get up into the van more easily and that took hours to find. The fire extinguisher was easy - and fairly reasonable too.

...and we haven't even got half the stuff yet!!

Getting Ready

2011-05-22T00:44:00.000-07:00

Spent all day today with the Charity Golf Day for the Dallarnil Lodge. Ended up doing the cooking! Me - a useless cook - never mind, all I had to do was turn over the steaks. Everybody enjoyed them so they must have been good.

TOMORROW , we can start on our list of things to be done. Everything just takes so long. I have to register the Van early cos it comes due when we're on our travels, and I can't do that till Tuesday. Our tolls have to be topped up, and I have to learn to use the mobile phone. So far, my texting is crap!

2011-05-20T16:03:00.000-07:00

here 'tis. Our home for the next few months, and hopefully our little van will get us to new spots.

there and back again....

2011-05-20T15:34:00.000-07:00

ahhh. I've found you. I need to have a blog for my trip and thought I'd reactivate this one - if i can remember where to find it. Then I can give eople the URL, and they can see where we are. :-)

Maybe. If i can work out what to do.

Once upon a time....

2009-04-04T15:24:00.000-07:00

This is my eldest grandson at his Mum's wedding. He very proudly took her down the aisle with his Grandad on the other side of his Mum. He has turned out to be a lovely boy - very talented. A credit to his Mum who has done it on her own most of the time.

2008-07-27T23:06:00.000-07:00

This is Mt Walsh just near the town. If you get it at the right angle, the group of bushes near the top of the Mt look like a galloping horse. I always know we're nearly home when they look like that. :-)

A window of time

2008-06-08T23:45:00.000-07:00

This picture reminds me of the small window of time, I shared my visits to my Mum, with one of my earliest friends. I found her through her brother, who was registered in the same *Old Schoolfriends* site that I was.
For 2½ years, we made a point of spending time together whenever I was in Christchurch. It helped that she lived 'round the corner' from my Mum for 1 year.
We went on a stroll through the blocks adjacent to my Mum's flat, through the cemetery and to a coffee shop. It was a very pleasant afternoon, as indeed all the time we spent together was.
There's something very precious and special about friends who *were* friends when you were very young. They know you thoroughly - and the road you've travelled.
Now that time is gone. I'm glad it happened.
She lives in another city, and my Mum has passed on.

Mum's Room

2008-05-31T17:00:00.000-07:00

This is Mum's lounge room. The one I used to stay in when I visited. I never saw her in any other place for which I am thankful.
Everything in this room was doled out to friends and rellies, and Mum was in a 'Home', before she died.
I like to look at this photo, and remember the 'good' times we had there.It was quiet and relaxed, and we talked a lot.

J M Barrie

2008-04-10T22:00:00.000-07:00

Under the lamppost in Barrie St, is the plaque. It's a bit hard to read because old ladies cannot get down to photograph it front on.!

I didn't know until I read the plaque that Barrie wrote "The Admirable Crichton". I saw it at the movies when Kenneth More was quite young.

Barrie St.

2008-04-07T22:49:00.000-07:00

My Mum used to live in Barrie St in Christchurch. The council had this 'improving' spree, where they prettied up the streets.
This lamppost has metal 'leaves' and a nest. The words around the band say,"Why do birds build their nests under the eaves?" Peter answered, "So they can listen to the stories."

..more chook struff....

2008-04-03T16:35:00.000-07:00

Millie is 3 yrs old (the chook at the back), and has accepted Molly(only one yr old) very well. They spend a lot of time together.
Lately, Molly has been pecking at Millie and pulling her feathers out. I've been wondering why she let her do it.
This morning I noticed stuff like dandruff on Millie's feathers, and I think she might have lice.
It would make sense then, why she has stopped laying eggs, why she huddles in a corner now and then , and why she lets Molly peck at her.

Now I'll get some Pestene, or something similar, and see if it helps.
Then maybe, we'll get some more eggs.

struff.....

2008-04-01T14:07:00.000-07:00

I *do* like it when it says it'll save my drafts automatically. :-)
I have a habit of typing away and finding out too late I've hit a wrong button and it's all gone away!

Chillies. You really do learn something new every day.
We built a wee fence around our chillies to stop the chook eating them.
Ann-down-the-road told me yesterday that Alan-over-the-road feeds his chooks with chillies to make them lay.
Our chook Millie stopped laying a couple of months ago.
Maybe she misses her chillies.
?

I'll feed her some and see if it works..

the dish on the roof

2008-03-29T20:52:00.001-07:00

We had a lot of rain. Our satellite connection became crap. It would cut us off in the morning, and we couldn't get back on until night.
The lad from Woolooga came and replaced the *unit*. I think that's the black box thing up by the dish. It was full of water. Not surprising really.
I presume [probably a silly thing to do], they've improved the design and this last lot of heavy rain we've had, won't give the same problems.
Hasn't so far.

wet wet wet

2008-03-27T22:52:00.000-07:00

We're getting real rain! Filling our tanks and watering the garden.

Too much fruit!

2008-03-25T15:56:00.001-07:00

I knew I was doing the wrong thing. But it was yummy, and I just kept having more.

what a day!

2008-03-25T00:23:00.000-07:00

What a busy day. Started early with Tai Chi - nearly completed 21 forms. Can at least do 12 and reverse no probs now.

Shopping. Yuk. Cheered myelf up with a visit to the bakery and bought pies and a sausage roll for Oscar.

Lots of sewing. Too hot for knitting.
The bloke from Woolooga came and FINALLY fixed the computer so we can be online all day!
'twas just a lot of water in the wires. Not a surprise after the torrential downpours we had in February.

NOW, I have to feed the chooks and get tea ready.