Sunday 29 January 2012

Coobowie

So, another rally down and dusted, the first for 2012. This one was a ripper, too. Australia Day themed, for obvious reasons.

We decided to go up after work on Wednesday 25th. I didn't want to, but I'm mighty glad we did. Dobby was the oldest kid there again (she hates that) so she only had one other little 6 year old girl to keep amused. The rest were boys and other kids she didn't really know.

We arrived just on dark on Wednesday, and it was blowing a gale, so we didn't even put up the awning. We just put up the tent. But because it was so windy, Dobby dragged her mattress into the van and crashed on the floor. We followed one fellow and is partner in their van, which was good. Another couple of families were there, along with several families who wanted to "check us out".

Thursday we awoke to even stronger winds. At least it was cool. We just dagged about for the day, with the rest of the attendees arriving through the day. It was very relaxing just to sit and not move. We did put up the awning and a piece of rubber flooring acted as a wind break.

Thursday afternoon we met another couple, who just happened to ask us about Terry, as they were interested in buying a new one. They found we were with the club and let slip they were discreetly checking us out. Well, we put paid to that. We introduced them to all the other members and they spent the rest of the day with us.

As we were all "on holiday" we had dinner at the pub. Man, that was sooo much fun. This new couple are hysterical and it turns out they live right up there with most of the group (not us, we are on the wrong side of Adelaide) and in fact knew some of them (friends of the kids, a soccer mum, that type of thing). They fit right in with our twisted sense of humour so it was a fantastic dinner.

On Friday the wind finally dropped. Also, my friend and her husband arrived. They too want to check us out. He is a lot more sedate than us, so I'm not sure how they will go... We had our customary morning tea, and at treasurer time where we pay our entertainment fees for the weekend, Stewie and Sue joined up. So much for a discreet look! So they were just part of the team, as if they had always been there.

After lunch the kids had kids club, which was really just playing at the playground down the street. Then at what is usually "happy hour", we had Australia Day games. This consisted of a heck of a lot of noise and much laughing.

We were divided into 4 teams, making sure to separate families as much as possible. First game we had to draw a picture of Australia, with all the states and capitals (in the right place, if you please). We also had to then list all the ingredients of Anzac Cookies.

Then we had to bounce some orange ping pong balls into a white bowl. My team won that (naturally! haha!). Then we moved outside for a Thong Throwing competition. For all you Americans, that would be a flip flop to you. Again, one of my team won that!

Our 4 teams then had to first walk with a balloon between the knees, but we could pass it between players with our hands, cause there were lots of kids. We won that... After the indignity of that, we had to use toothpicks and transfer a little lamington finger without breaking it. We won that too, folks!

We saved a couple of games for later that night. First we had a sausage sizzle provided by the club, with families donating salads to share. That was great, except it was sooooo hot! The clear cafe blinds were still down on the camp kitchen we took over, and there was no breeze at all.

After dinner we reconvened for the last of the games. We were asked a series of questions, after which our map and question sheets were collected and scores tallied. Our team, the Bilbies, won. It was a great day.

Saturday after morning tea a lot of us decided to go across to Stansbury to the markets. We have friends in Stansbury so after we checked them out we had a bite to eat and stopped by. John was away at boles but we saw Margaret for a lovely chat.

After that we decided we would join some others at Point Turtin. You may remember we have spent a couple of Christmases there. We thought they were going to do some swimming but instead we found they had gone 4WD driving on the beach. Terry is an AWD, which is sort of 4WD. However, we did get stuck in the sand. Divine providence came through because Stan and Yvonne just happened to be coming the other way and pulled us out. Our friends has heard our plea for help as well and met us up there.

We followed them back to the beach and got lifts down to the water (leaving Terry up on the sand). However the tide was coming in fast so we got out of there.

Now, I am a chicken when it comes to new things. And I was scared. Of the sand driving, getting bogged, and the last bit. In order to leave the beach we had to go over a sort of boardwalk thing. Which was, of course, 4WD only. It was two large hills, covered with boards, some of which were sticking up quite high, over sand dunes. We had to drive down toward the water and take a run up.

Well, we went bouncing over, bottoming out a few times, and jolting a bit. I couldn't help be scared, and the others gave me hell for it. Seems that every thing I said was taken as whinging, and Dobby kept lecturing me and carrying on.

I just wanted to curl up and cry. The others laughed at me too, and it really did hurt. I will just have to keep facing my fear until I have conquered it, because I suspect I am in for a lot more of it.

Anyway, we got out okay and went back to camp, and it was time to sit in the shade with a drink. The clouds started rolling in, and the weather cooled to something far more pleasant.

We played club game, after which I looked behind me and saw the most fantastic sunset through storm clounds (we didn't get any of it, but it sure made the weather cooler for a bit).


I was going to put up photos but because my computer now runs so bloody slowly, you can check out some of them for yourself here:


Sunday it was time to face reality and come back to town. We were packed and ready to go by morning tea, so a small convoy of Al and Sue, Stewie and Sue, Leanne, and us headed back together.

We stopped in Dublin for lunch, and Dobby and I ordered wedges. They were in one of those styrofoam divided take away containers, and because they had run out of sour cream, we just had chilli sauce. But man, those were the BEST wedges we have ever had. Crispy as!

After about 45 minutes it was time to go. We got home around 3pm. Now it's down time. Dobby has everything out ready for school tomorrow, Fluffy has put away his stuff, and I have done two loads of laundry and downloaded my photos from the camera. I got a fright because twice it was interrupted so I thought I had lost the pics. Whew! I didn't.

Anyway, next rally is in February. I may have something to post next week, but don't hold your breath. Not much happens in my life... :-)

Monday 23 January 2012

Just checking in

I don't have too much to report, though next weekend should be a good one.

After our holiday we have been back to the whole work, eat, sleep routine. Dobby has had a friend or two over, and spent two nights at a friend's house, so that gave her a bit of a break.

I have been furiously working to get mum's scrapbooks complete. But then I found that I am actually out of room, with still so many good photos to mount, so I bought a 3rd album yesterday. That has taken up most of my spare time.

I also rearranged my "play" area, making a bigger space with things a bit more organised. I think when I get these books done I might have to actually finish our New Zealand holiday? But sadly we lost the written account of the trip, which formed the basis of the album, so not sure how to work around that now.

Nothing terribly exciting has been going on. This weekend we moved Dobby's room around. Not ideal but she likes it anyway. A good opportunity to give it a bit of a clean. If she keeps it clean she can start to make some money again, but I'm not hopeful. Yesterday, although she actually made the bed, she did get it into a bit of a mess again.

It's hard to believe that the holidays for her are now over. Well, almost. We head off to Coobowie on Wednesday night, and when we return on Sunday, she will have one sleep till school. First day back she has school photos in preparation for their identity cards, and on the Tuesday she has cadets. She has agreed that this year she will be more committed to cadets, going every week as if it were a job. Fingers crossed.

Yesterday Dobby and I went into the city to visit the museum, something she liked to do as a child. We paid $20 for both of us to visit their special exhibition on the abyss in the ocean, and frankly, we were ripped off. They had a kids play thingy right next to the viewing screen, and there were kids just running rampant in there. Running around, yelling. Not a parent in control anywhere. Then, the displays were just dead, wrinkly fish in glass boxes. There were little boxes you lifted the lids on to feel or see things, but they were so hard to see in the dark. Overall, it was totally crap and I wish we had kept our money.

Because lunch set me back $30. We had nachos and a drink each. Mind you, they were great nachos. Worth it. But I wasn't expecting it to be so expensive. Wait, yes I was. Museum food is always dear. It was a lovely day out though. Hot, bloody hot.

The Tour Down Under has been in town the last week. For those who don't watch the news that's an international cycling event that floods the town in lycra. I hate it personally. Well, I like what it does for Adelaide's profile, and what it does for the town financially, but I hate being held up on the roads by millions of cyclists and wannabe cyclists. This week, however, I hardly saw any. While we were in town, they last of the road races was held, and it wound through North Adelaide. The main bridge from the city to North Adelaide was closed off. We were on North Terrace, where the start of the closure was, and as we were waiting for the lights to change, we looked down toward the cycling event and saw the support vehicles racing around the bend in the crowd. Well, what we actually saw was car after car of bicycles - we could only see the bikes strapped to the roofs. However, that, and the hovering helicopter, provided some light moments. As did the 8' tall bagpipe player in the mall. I had a hard time convincing Dobby that he wasn't really that tall, as his costume was so good it all but hid his stilts. He had a long kilt, long socks, good leg covers, and a tall black fluffy hat. His babpipe playing wasn't bad either. He disappeared into Darryl Lea, where we had just been a few minutes earlier...

Well, at this point in time I can't think of any further things worth gossiping about so I'll leave it here. I'll post a better one next week after our trip, which will hopefully see some photos. Till then, ciao.

Tuesday 10 January 2012

Pictures

So, as I have already described my holiday, I'll just put up some pics. I will add, though, that last weekend we went back down to pick up the van. This time Dobby came with us, and as some of the club came back for the weekend too, there a young lass to keep her company. We all had lunch on the Saturday at the local hotel, and when we walked back to the ice-cream store, outside which our car was parked, Fluffy noticed something under the windscreen.

It was a purple note with an apology, and personal details. Seems a fellow had swiped Terry while parking his car. The note was obviously written by his girlfriend, but when Fluffy contacted him he accepted full responsibility and has done everything through is own insurance.

Fluffy has booked the car in to get repaired on Monday next week, but the insurance company won't give him a car until the day after the car goes in. So tell me, how does he get from the repair mob, to work, then home, then to the car people to hire one? Hmmm. Never mind, he'll work something out.

So, on with the show...

This first batch were taken at Meningie, on a lovely part of the South Australian coastline called The Coorong, at the edge of Lake Albert, Christmas Day.



















This time last year this lake had hardly any water in it.

The second batch of photos was at Goolwa, on the Fleurieu Peninsula in South Australia. Dobby went to Streaky Bay with another family while Fluffy and I met up with some of the caravan club for a few days. Lots of relaxation here.













The above was for our dress up night for New Year. I was Cyndi Lauper. Looked terrible but fun night.

Anyway, hope you enjoyed the scenery. Catch you next time.

Tuesday 3 January 2012

Back to it then

So, when it's all done and dusted, one has to wonder if it really happened.

We just had the best holiday ever. Away ten days, some with Dobby, some without. I don't have pictures yet, as we are actually going back on the weekend to pick up the van and the camera is still there (along with my make up and hair brush - someone wasn't thinking straight then!)

I was supposed to finish work at 1pm on Thursday 22nd December. I had made a physio appointment for my back for 3pm. Sadly, there were delays and I didn't get away until 3 so missed the physio appointment. Will have to try fit one in this week...

I was planning to have Friday at home to get everything ready for our trip, but Fluffy wanted to leave early. He arranged with the Lake Albert Caravan Park at Meningie to come a day early and we were off.

We had planned to leave a noon, and we did. I managed to get the washing out and back in before we left. Left the key out for the cat lady and we hit the road. It takes about two hours to get there, and we arrived with plenty of time to set up. Our site was a nice large one, so we could put the awning extension out, along with Dobby's tent. The weather was lovely too, which helped.

We stayed there until the 27th. I got some lovely sunset photos from Meningie, and some of the birds on the lake, which backed onto the caravan park. We didn't do anything, except for Christmas. I, as always, got some lovely gifts. I feel very spoiled!

On the 27th we packed up, took our time, and headed across to Goolwa. Some of the SAPI caravan club were camping behind the Scout Hall, which backs onto the Goolwa Channel, a fresh water water system. Again, we were so lucky with the weather. The first part of our time there was actually quite cool, with our van being the best wind break from the cold sea breeze.

But I digress. We got the van set up, and then brought Dobby back into town, in preparation for her trip to Streaky Bay with Sarah and her family. We dropped her off and headed back down to Goolwa (about an hour out of Adelaide).

The next few days were pure bliss. It was lovely to have all the kids around, yet there was so much time to just stop. We got plenty of rest, great company, and a wonderful New Year.

We had a dress up theme, 80's singers, complete with terrible impersonations. Luckily not too many actually sang, but there was a lot of miming and lip syncing. Fun! I was Cyndi Lauper and did "Money Changes Everything". Sadly, I looked really, really bad...

Anyway, I kept receiving updates from Dobby. Poor kid. On this week away she:

1. Cut her finger quite badly
2. Got terrible sunburn and was forced by the families to go back to the beach despite this
3. Got chaffing
4. Was forced to spend the last few dollars she had on long pants (the mother made her buy size 20's!) to cope with the chafing
4. Was stung by a jelly fish (but I don't think she told anyone, silly girl)
5. Was stung by a bee...
6. The mother kept using her credit to make calls and cracked up when she said her phone was flat - needless to say Fluffy not happy with this one! Her new plan is mostly data with just a small amount of credit for talk and text. Now we have to top it up again when she comes home tomorrow.

So we'll see what today brings, won't we?

Anyway, Fluffy and I came home yesterday. It was nice to have the house to ourselves. Mind you, it was in the middle of a heat wave. The weather had been perfect for our holiday, but yesterday the northerly desert wind picked up and blew tents down, made packing up hard, and threw hot dirt at everyone. Most of us left, some to return on the weekend, some not. One family stayed for the rest of the week.

I got done what needed to be done then soaked in a cool bath for an hour. Bliss! I missed my bath. And my kitty Roger missed me. He hardly left my side, smooging and purring, and meowing. Lovely to be missed!

Today it's back to work. Dobby comes home tomorrow, then Friday night we head back for the weekend.

I will put up pictures later....