Well time has flown, yet again!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
It is so hard to believe that two months have
flown by since our last update. I was
having issues trying to get in last month but that has all been sorted
. My issue today
is that we do not have great reception (even with the aerial up in the caravan)
so will have to upload this (hopefully tomorrow) when we are in better
reception. I must admit that it still
amazes me that there are some towns that have really crappy internet reception
– with all the propaganda that we get told that the companies are supplying the
best and fastest – only to find 2 coast-side towns with crap all service.
Any way that has been my whinge for the day I am sitting out the side of the van, under
the awning enjoying the beautiful sunshine, cool breeze and looking at a house
that is up for sale for a cool - $1,100,000.00!!! Just a little over our budget but would have
great views of the sea! – now to let you
know what we have been up to since our last update…….
We had been due to go to visit our friends
Elaine and Rob in Temora on the 20th June BUT the weather on the day
was shocking and the wind was blowing.
We contacted the police to see if there had been any reports of roads
closed along our journey – none to report.
We contacted Elaine and Rob to find the rain had become torrential at
their end and a road nearby had just been closed – so we decided to leave it
until our return journey from Wagga the following week.
On the 22nd we managed to get some
sunshine at 2pm – which only lasted about an hour – but it was lovely to see.
I continued to go to the Weaving Together group
at Condobolin and have met some very lovely people whilst we have been
temporary residents.
24th June we headed to Wagga and
passed through a weather front on the way.
More rain. We could see where the
road had had water over it in about 6 section before we even got to West
Wyalong – so we wouldn’t have got through earlier in the week.
We were here this weekend to join in with the joint birthday celebrations of brother-in-law Peter and his friend Jo. What a great night we had at the ‘Thirsty Crow’ and the birthday cakes, made by niece Pauline, were divine.
We were here this weekend to join in with the joint birthday celebrations of brother-in-law Peter and his friend Jo. What a great night we had at the ‘Thirsty Crow’ and the birthday cakes, made by niece Pauline, were divine.
On Sunday 26th our niece Kayla,
drove Jenny, Lyn and I out to the Lawn Cemetery and we sat and had a coffee
with Mum, until the wind picked up and the sun disappeared and we felt the full
brunt of the Maximum 4degree day :D
On the 27th we headed back to
Condobolin going via Temora and seeing our friends Elaine and Rob. What a great visit – and as usual – the time
passed way too fast. Next time we will
have to organise to come and stay in their back yard for a few days so our
visit doesn’t seem as rushed.
Managed to get most of the cleaning done on
Tuesday (whilst it rained) for the travellers return tomorrow. During our 6 ½ weeks caring for Wendy and
Ian’s home in Condobolin we had 250ml of rain.
The place was very wet for their return from Europe on the 29th
June. We left Condobolin at 10am to be
at the airport in plenty of time for their flight, and also to catch up with
our friend Jenny. We did this at the
café at the airport so we weren’t stressing about not being there when
the travellers landed. Their flight
actually got in 15 minutes EARLY which was a bonus. Once we collected their bags it was back to
Condobolin – a 2 hour 15-minute drive.
Miss Rosey really loved the extra cuddles and snuggles that were given.
Thursday I headed into town for my final
weaving session with the ladies and we were joined by a group of student
Physiotherapists – who had been doing a tour of the outer communities and
joined us for some relaxation and learning basic weaving from the group.
Saturday 2 July we headed into Condobolin to do
the compulsory voting – Well – Ian and Wendy did, Darryl and I had sent in our
postal votes about 1 ½ weeks ago!!! :D
We then did a little shopping and everyone was wanting to catch up on
Ian and Wendy’s Travels and then we went to a great exhibit called – Waste 2
Art at the community centre. What great
artistic minds some people have and are able to change WASTE into art
works. A wonderful exhibit and whilst we
were there we met some friends at the Art Class and chatted to the ladies who
were doing the crochet work. Wonderful
work indeed. Our last day in Condobolin was spent with fantastic company and
then we had a great roast dinner to end our sojourn of caring for Wendy and
Ian’s home.
On Sunday we headed into Wagga with the van in
tow, as we had an appointment on Monday to get two new tyres for the car before
heading south to Geelong in Victoria.
Tuesday we headed toward Melbourne, stopping
for the day at Seymour – a day of changing weather and ending with pouring rain
:C
Wednesday we arrived at Torquay going down
through Bacchus Marsh and fog so thick you could barely see 100metres in front to come out at the bottom to an overcast but ‘sunny’ day.
I contacted Bronwyn Razem (who I was to spend 4 days with learning weaving using local grasses) and she invited me to go with her tomorrow to the Melbourne Museum and learn how to make bush toys. So Thursday morning Bronwyn and her grand-daughter Aliyah, collected me from the van park and into Melbourne we went. We spent until 3pm showing adults and child alike, how to make toys using straw/hay and wool. An exhaustive day considering I only learnt that morning :D
I contacted Bronwyn Razem (who I was to spend 4 days with learning weaving using local grasses) and she invited me to go with her tomorrow to the Melbourne Museum and learn how to make bush toys. So Thursday morning Bronwyn and her grand-daughter Aliyah, collected me from the van park and into Melbourne we went. We spent until 3pm showing adults and child alike, how to make toys using straw/hay and wool. An exhaustive day considering I only learnt that morning :D
On Friday Darryl and I went and had Lunch with
Bronwyn and then Darryl went back to the van.
Bronwyn and I couldn’t go ‘bush’ as had been planned due to someone
burning out her motorhome, so we stayed in her unit and wove using raffia. Saturday we went to the local Aboriginal
Corporation Centre – Narana – and had a lovely lunch, before heading back to do
more weaving.
Sunday we headed into Melbourne to Southbank
and the ABC Radio studio – where Bronwyn was to be interview for the ‘Sunday
Sesh’ and somehow I ended up being interviewed as well. It was a very interesting experience.
Monday we headed to the ‘Saltwater Community
Centre at Point Cook’ where we spent the day covering nylon rope with natural
raffia, so that we could wrap it around a wooden frame to form a tree. This tree will branch out and have leaves
attached to it and a Gugaa (Goanna) climbing it.
Tuesday Darryl arrived to collect me at about
2pm and we headed back to the van.
Darryl stating that the AC in the van could not keep the heat up to the
ARCTIC BLAST that was bashing the coast at that time. When we got back to the van it was to find
that he had all the top hatches open and the Windows in ensuite, kitchen and
bedroom were opened about 20cm. Once
they were closed it was amazing how warm the van became. [Silly bugger].
Thursday we met up with Darryl’s cousin
Christine and her daughter Erin at Highton.
Another blustery cold day but at least the sun was trying REALLY hard to
get through the clouds. We enjoyed an
hour and half walk along the river front as well.
Friday 15th we left Torquay at 10am
and arrived back in Wagga at about 4.30pm.
Darryl has somehow kinked his back over the past couple of days and it is
causing him some real grief. So out
comes the TENS machine and the Fisiocreme and rest. It will be great to spend some more time with
sisters Jenny and Lyn and their families.
Sunday I spent a couple of hours with my dear
friend Gail, showing her what I had done over the past week and also sitting
and yarning about life and what I want to get out of my weaving. This was a wonderful time for me.
Monday we headed off to have our pathology
needs attended for our Dr’s appointments once we get back to Qld. We also visited cousins and met the new twins.
Thursday 21st we headed to
Condobolin again, to collect my woven FISH and to see Ian again. Wendy was on her way to Melbourne for her
sister’s – Eva Stimson-Clark – exhibition of art in Fitzroy.
We left Condo on Sunday and headed north toward
Queensland and arrived at Jimboomba on Tuesday 26th – just in time
for BEN’s birthday. Our BABY turned 34 –
makes us feel really old :D. We had a
great evening with all the Grandchildren and Ben.
Wednesday night we met with friends Karyn and
Peter for a nice dinner at the Park Ridge Hotel. Was so good to catch up with them.
Thursday 28th July – WHOA!!!!
Today we had arranged to go and see our dear
friend Sue Pockson at Brown’s Plains. All was going to plan UNTIL ----- I was ready and Darryl was cleaning his teeth
so I thought I would go and start the car to warm it up. We had had a 1-degree night and a heavy frost
and the car was parked where it was in the shade so I thought it would be good
to warm it up. I went down three steps
from the top lawn and the next thing I knew was that I was sprawled on the
gravel with grazed palms, right knee and a left ankle that felt like I had done
something truly serious to it. :C :C I
called out to Darryl as I could not stand and he came out and said “What the
hell are you doing down there?” He managed to get me up and after a couple of
minutes I was able to put weight on my ankle.
I got back up to the van and treated the grazes and could move the ankle
– so off we went to meet Sue.
We had a lovely morning catching up and we also
had Beckie and her friend Ev, join us.
Afterwards we went to the Plaza with Sue and as
we were heading back to the car my left ankle REALLY started to pain. So we called into the chemist and got a brace
for it and put it on and continued on our way.
When we got back to Beckie’s though – I could barely put weight on
it. So inside and RICE was applied and
swelling was becoming quite evident.
The next morning the swelling made my left
ankle and calf look quite crooked. So
rested as much as possible as we were going out with Ben for a birthday dinner…
That night we headed out with me hobbling –
dramatically – as it really had increased in pain. We went to cousin Julie’s house at Belbowrie
for a fun filled night with the family and she gave me some Arnica gel to
massage into my ankle – which was done a few times during the night and the
next morning it didn’t SEEM as painful.
Beckie and us two left the next afternoon (allowing Ben to party on with
his Cousins) as we needed to get back to feed the pets. We continued with the regular Arnica gel
massages, elevation and wrapping.
Tuesday we had an appointment with the doctor
and because most of the pain and some good bruising, was going up the out part
of my leg, he thought that maybe I had given myself a spiral fracture of the
Fibia :C. So off to the local radiology
for an x-ray to rule that out. Finally,
we got the word – NO fracture BUT the bruising was a concern. So we continued with the Arnica gel massages
and wrapping but now we were concentrating on the ankle and shin rather than
ankle and foot. I found a supplier in
Australia for Arnica Gel and ordered some online along with some pilules to
treat it from the inside…….
Thursday (a week after the twist) was a Sports
day at the school for Gemma – so off we toddled with a chair and a leg support
for me to watch but by lunch time it was time for me to go as the leg was
throbbing and I needed to lie down :C.
Gemma did well in her events and then on Friday it was Max’s turn. He came home with two thirds and a
first. Well done to both the
Grandchildren.
Sunday I was booked into a ‘Twined Mat weaving’
day at the Botanical Gardens on Mount Coot-tha and I was so glad that Darryl
agreed to drive me there and back.
Without his support it would have been impossible. I had a wonderful day with about 20 other
women and young girls learning this wonderful craft and using pandanus fibres
dyed with natural dyes in Arnhem Land. A
big Thank You to Rene Bahloo for sharing her story with us at the gardens.
Tuesday Darryl drove me into Capalaba so that I
could meet up with the Jajari Jimbaljin Women’s group and yarn and show them my
weaving projects. What a great day I had
and it was so lovely to see the women again.
Tuesday was also CENSUS night – so Bradley came for Dinner and we filled
in the census with us all there. We had
a lovely night with home-made Pizza’s for all and the company was great.
Wednesday we headed out again – this time we
went south to Pottsville North Caravan Park.
We wanted to stay at Kingscliff BUT the first park with a vacancy was
Pottsville north. We had four wonderful
nights there and Darryl managed to do some fishing and I completed my pandanus
dilly bag. I then started weaving a basket.
Sunday 14th we headed further south
and arrived at Brooms Head for a couple of nights BUT this turned into 4 and we
are heading northward again tomorrow.
Brooms Head is a lovely council run caravan park that goes right along
the beach front and the beach is so lovely to walk along between the
tides. Firm compacted sand made for a
good amble for my leg.
We are now 3 weeks post initial injury – the
bruising has settled but the tenderness on the outer part of my leg can still
take me unawares. I KNOW!!!! It will be
another few weeks before it is anywhere near 100%. We have so much crammed into the calendar over
the next few months BUT promise to take care of it :D
Take care everyone.
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