SATURDAY 29 JANUARY     DOVER

During the night it became extremely windy, and turned into one of the windiest days we’ve had in the van.

I drove up to the General Store to pick up the papers.

The power went off for a short time.

We stayed around the van, thinking it was too windy to go driving in the forest country around here.

The annexes of some other campers blew down. John had our awning roof firmly anchored.

We watched the Australian Open tennis on TV.

Late in the afternoon, we walked around the coastline, away from the town, for a couple of kms, following the road that parallels the coast. There were houses for a distance, then farmland. In places, there were small stretches of sand – little narrow beaches.

Rough weather at Dover

It is so scenic here. In every direction, there are peaks and mountains in the distance, be it over the water towards Bruny Island, or in other directions. There are little islets in the bay – Hope, Faith and Charity Islands!

I cooked roast pork and apple sauce, with vegetables, for tea. It was very nice. I also made a cold beetroot and onion soup for coming days.

THURSDAY 27 JANUARY     HOBART

We slept in until nearly midday – a measure of how tired we both were!

It was too late to do the washing, as I’d planned, and the weather looked threatening anyway, with much grey cloud.

The annexe sides were dry, so we took those down, along with the roof. Repacked Truck with all the things that had come out to make room for the third person.

John phoned the trustee dealing with his sister’s will, to find out when that might be settled. While R was here, we promised to give her an amount the same as we’d given the other three offspring, in recent years,  as their wedding presents. She can choose whether to invest or spend it. But we said it wouldn’t be until John received his bequest. Looks like that might be another couple of months yet.

We drove to Glenorchy and did a food shop and I collected photos I’d put in on Tuesday. Went to the bank, who seemed satisfied that “someone” had put the unauthorized charge on our card account. They cancelled the cards immediately. We would get the charge reversed, but would have to wait for new cards, and eventually collect them from a branch. Hmmm – that could pose an interesting challenge. They would phone us when the cards were ready to be sent on. We then went on to a caravan shop at Moonah to get a replacement light for one that had “exploded” a couple of days ago.

Back at the van, John fitted the light and it worked ok.

We spent some time talking to the couple who have a fairly large van, parked at the top of the hill, just across from the amenities. We have gotten to know them over our time here, as we walk past their van a number of times each day! They have just returned home to Tasmania after two years of travel, and are waiting for the rental on their east coast home to finish. He has an artificial leg, courtesy of an industrial accident. He would like to keep travelling but being close to the grandchildren is an issue for his wife.

We had an impulse tea of “special” pizzas from Dominoes.

School went back in Victoria today. I was so thankful not to be back there, doing that! It was the second anniversary of John’s official resignation too.

FRIDAY 21 JANUARY     HOBART

Today was still windy and definitely colder. Heatwave over!

We put the sides onto the annexe, to make a “room” for R’s coming visit, and rearranged the storage inside Truck, to free up the back seat for a passenger. Set up the banana lounge bed, complete with the two sleeping bags, since it is getting colder.

We drove to Glenorchy and did a food shop. At the library there, John had booked an hour on the internet. I’d planned to try to do some research on mum’s family, while he was doing that. However, I needed CDRom access to the Pioneers Register. I was able to apply for a full birth certificate for mum, to start the backtrack process. That cost $25. It was a pity I didn’t start this process earlier, as I could have gotten a booking for the CDRom at the library.

We went back to the van, unloaded the shopping, then John went to bowls practice at the local club.

Tea was gazpacho, bread, cheese. John also had some little skinless franks. I had coleslaw. Stewed apricots to finish.

After tea we chatted for a while with a 14 year old who was camped near us. He told us his dad had been killed by falling logs, eight years ago. John tried to persuade him not to leave school too early.

We drove out to the airport, to collect R from her flight, arriving at 10.35pm. Then it was 15 minutes late. It was dark by then, and R seemed very impressed with the city lights and their reflections in the river, as we drove back across the Derwent. It really was very pretty.

Back at the van, we talked for a while, so it was 1am before we all retired to bed. R said she was satisfied with the annexe arrangements.