This Adventurous Age

WEDNESDAY 31 MARCH     HOME

John phoned the Landrover dealer, early. They said he was to take Truck to Frankston. We were rather nervous about this idea, and worried about “cooking” the motor, but he got there alright.

We were supposed to go to John’s nephew’s – H and M – for tea tonight, but due to our problems, I phoned and changed arrangements for them to come here.

So, I walked to the shops to get the items needed to make dinner.

H and M arrived about 4pm, ready for a good talk about our travels – we hadn’t seen them since we were all in Cairns, last year. We ate nibbly things and compared notes.

John got back from Frankston about 5pm – driving a new Discovery that he had on loan. While he’d waited at Frankston, Truck’s thermostat was replaced and the radiator flushed. It still boiled when they tested it. It might be a head gasket problem. All very uncertain and somewhat worrying. Still – like the fridge – it is lucky that it happened here, and not out somewhere remote. Thank heavens we took the extended warranty!

Rather more luxurious than we are used to!

Tea was pasta with ham, mushrooms and cream, followed by stewed figs and ice cream. Our fig tree in the back yard is cropping.

Apart from concerns about the Truck, it was a most enjoyable night.

TUESDAY 30 MARCH     HOME

I went to the doctor in the morning, for a routine check and script repeats. He is happy with my blood pressure, and even more happy that I have lost 7kg of weight since he last saw me!

Drove to Chirnside Park shops, to put the several rolls of film I had taken at the wedding, into the good shop there, for processing.

I then went on to my old school, to catch up with some of the former colleagues I’d missed seeing the other day. Sat in on a Senior Management Team Meeting – just like it used to be!

My visit was interrupted by a phone call from John – the dogs had gotten out and I was to go home immediately and help look for them! So I raced home, to find that it was only P and K’s little dog that had gone. She had somehow gotten out through the fence beside the pool, while John was cutting the cypress back further. There was much panic, and hunting up and down the street. She is so small she could have been hiding in any one of the front gardens and we’d miss her. She is totally disobedient about coming when called, at the best of times.

Then the lady from next door came out and said she had seen her at the doctor’s surgery, behind our place. They had taken her over the road, to the vet’s, where we went and picked her up. Apparently, at one stage she’d been running in the very busy main road there!

We were very relieved to get her back – John had been petrified. It would have been a major embarrassment to have lost P and K’s dog while they were on their honeymoon!

John finished his pruning, including along the fence behind the rented unit. I spent the rest of the day cleaning up a great mass of cut vegetation, after him. He had almost finished when the tenant came home. We had not met him before.

Late in the afternoon, John went and fetched the van back and we parked it back in its spot. I wiped the fridge out with vanilla water, and left the door open to try to get rid of the horrible smell.

Just before teatime, John went out to buy some wine, and Truck boiled – in that short distance. So it would appear that our problem is not coolant. It is intermittent, and very worrying.

Tea was soup and salad.

I was very tired at night – not used to these domestic exertions.

Butch has remembered bad habits – and Fox is a fast learner!

FRIDAY 26 MARCH   HEALESVILLE TO HOME     27kms

Today was moving day for the van. We had to pack everything up from scratch, as we’d had no time to prepare yesterday. As there had been much rain yesterday and through the night – the aftermath of the cyclone still – everything was wet. Later, at home, we spread the awning roof on the lawn to dry, and put out the table and chairs to do so, as well.

Drove home and had no problems parking the van in its old spot along the edge of the driveway.

As we were doing so, noticed that there was coolant coming out from under Truck. We were not sure if it was overheating, or if it was because of the slope on the driveway. John decided Landrover had overfilled it, and rang them to complain, but they said they do not touch the coolant on this service. Oh-oh! Could be ominous.

P had commenced her leave from work as of today, so she was getting final wedding things organized.

K drove to Tullamarine to collect his father and family who had flown in from Brisbane.

In the afternoon, I picked up my suit from the cleaners – it looks good.

We visited the motel in Lilydale where members of K’s family are staying, in order to see his Adelaide grandparents, who we have not seen since 1996. They seem to be ageing well.

P and K went out for a counter tea with the family. We opted for fish and chips, at the van. Much better! We have eaten at the chosen hotel before, and it was very forgettable.

It seems rather strange to be sleeping in the van in our own driveway. On rather a lean, too, but at least our heads are uphill!