SUNDAY 1 OCTOBER     KARRATHA

Hot.

We watched the Olympics Closing Ceremony. Thank God that’s over! I think I would have been more proud of Sydney – and Australia’s – obvious success at hosting these, had I not been confined in such a boring park and town, and compelled to watch by needing to be inside in the air conditioning.

But – we had another week to fill in here. Unfortunately, the heat does make it hard to be motivated to do very much at all.

Thought about maybe trying some day tripping into the Pilbara hinterland, but there were big bushfires up there. That will also put paid to going up there when our time here is up. Next year!

John finished his letter, printed copies and got them ready to mail.

I walked some laps of the park.

Tea was roast lamb with the usual vegetables. Cooked in the electric frypan outside. In this heat, I have been using this for cooking, as much as I can.

John phoned R, who was not home. He then had a call with his sister.  I had a long call with V – all is well in her world, although she had been ill – possibly Ross River Fever. Sunday nights, of course, is when we get much cheaper phone calls on our phone plan.

SATURDAY 30 SEPTEMBER     KARRATHA

Today was our 1000th day of grey nomading!

I just wished that we were doing something a bit more interesting on it. I also wished that there could be another 1000 days – at least! I can dream!

It was hot, of course.

Usual Olympics watching.

I went to the shops for papers.

The Games were tailing off now, so John found time to do some work on his latest letter.

Tea was bread and cheeses. The cheeses were a couple of nice ones I’d bought for John’s birthday meals, but had not used

FRIDAY 29 SEPTEMBER     KARRATHA

A similar day.

Went to the shops for food, and to the Post Office to pay our rates and a Telstra bill.

Tea was fish and chips.

At nights, across the flats, we can see the flames of the gas burn off towers at the gas plant near Dampier.

Gas burn off tower at gas plant near Dampier

THURSDAY 28 SEPTEMBER     KARRATHA

A day just like yesterday.

The only real variation was the meal – pasta with a bought bottled sauce.

At least, whilst we are holed up here, we are not spending much money on fuel, so it is a good period for the budget.

WEDNESDAY 27 SEPTEMBER     KARRATHA

Hot.

Olympics still.

I went to the shops for the paper.

I sewed and read and walked around the caravan park.

Tea was lamb chops and salad.

TUESDAY 26 SEPTEMBER     KARRATHA

Hot.

Olympics on TV.

I went to the shops for a paper.

As was usual, I did some embroidery for much of the day, and read, while John watched the TV.

I walked some laps of the caravan park in the afternoon, for a break from the van.

Tea was steak and mushrooms.

MONDAY 25 SEPTEMBER     KARRATHA

Hot.

Olympics on TV.

We drove to the town centre. I went to the Library and got some more reading matter.

John bought himself a new fishing rod, and some other fishing gear, with the birthday money from his sister, plus some more.

Tea was cold roast chicken. We’d had the leftover seafood salad for lunch.

SUNDAY 24 SEPTEMBER     KARRATHA

Hot still!

Today was John’s 60th birthday. He’d received a card and cheque for $50, in the last mail, from sister H. Over the course of the day, she rang, as did another sister and his brother. There was no contact at all from any of the children.

Olympics on TV.

I cooked a roast chicken lunch – John’s favourite roast – followed by a bought frozen icecream dessert concoction. We had a bottle of sparkling burgundy with that meal.

In the afternoon, walked a few laps of the caravan park.

Tea was seafood salad with some prawns. John said I got it wrong – there was too much tea. The leftovers would keep till tomorrow, anyway.

I phoned K at night. Bad news – Butch was put down last weekend. Poor old dog! K still sounded really upset by it. That cast a bit of a downer over the night. I still feel guilty about her. But I know that K did make an effort to keep her happy, these past few months.

Butch in happier times, on holiday with us.

SATURDAY 23 SEPTEMBER     KARRATHA

Hot.

More TV Olympics, which I am now finding really tedious.

In the morning, I cycled to the shops to get the paper. I enjoyed the exercise, despite the heat. It was a rather barren and boring ride, though – the salt flats off to the seaward side and either empty land on the other, or houses off at a distance, behind fences. I did not feel totally secure along that stretch of road, even in daylight.

Read the paper thoroughly and that used up some of the day.

Tea was bought fish and chips. Much nicer than last night’s effort.

John had a tense phone call with R. Just moods. She did not acknowledge his birthday, though.

FRIDAY 22 SEPTEMBER     KARRRATHA

Hot all day.

John watched TV Olympics all day.

I printed some more copies of my Kimberley letter and sent same off to a number of my friends.

I drove to the shops and went shopping for some special foods for John’s birthday feasts, which I am trying to make really special with his favourites.

There was a bag of mail from home – but it contained little of note.

For tea I cooked fries with some flake I bought – it was really tough and not nice.