This Adventurous Age

TUESDAY 12 JANUARY     TOOWOOMBA

We were rather reluctant to use the loan vehicle, in case we damaged it!

Walked to the KMart Plaza. There, went to our bank, to transfer the money to our cheque account, that is our wedding present for P and K. Browsed in Mega Books and I bought a book on Hardanger. We purchased a Brumby’s focaccia bread and ate it as we walked around, for lunch.

Went to Video-Ezy, at the local shopping centre, paid a $20 deposit, then rented a video for $2.50. We will get the deposit back, when videos returned, so it is a cheap way of obtaining same to watch.

Bought a nice card and then mailed the cheque to K.

Walked back to the van. It was a fair walk, in all; probably about 7kms.

Then, I pickled some onions we’d bought yesterday. John has a hankering for home done ones. Made barley and vegetable soup, using the lamb stock.

John felt like doing some cooking, so he made pasties, which we had for tea, with the soup.

I phoned K to let him know the cheque was in the mail. He had news that he has been promoted at work, to Reservations Supervisor. I asked him to send the next lot of mail to Stanthorpe, which will be our next destination – not sure for how long, though. There seem to be some interesting National Parks not far from it, so it will, we hope, be a good base for a little while.

Watched the video we’d hired – Good Will Hunting. It was very good.

MONDAY 11 JANUARY     TOOWOOMBA

We had to get up early – alarm again – in order to take Truck to Flohr Motors for its scheduled work. I admit to some “separation anxiety”, leaving Truck behind for surgery to its roof!

We were lent a replacement vehicle – a utility style Defender 110 that has only done 500kms. It is good that we are not without wheels. However, this style of vehicle has definite drawbacks. The groceries I bought had to sit out in the full sun, in the tray back, and thus the shopping was not secure, either, for us to go anywhere else and leave it all in full view of passers by. I wonder if this is why farmers always have dogs chained on their ute tray? Might not help much with meat, though!

Our borrowed Defender

Back at the van, John played computer games and I sewed, then he watched the one day cricket on TV.

I boiled lamb shanks for tea – it is a favorite  meal, and I use the stock thus generated to make soup, next day.

SUNDAY 10 JANUARY     TOOWOOMBA

There were storms and rain, on and off through today.

Harvey Normans was having a big computer software sale, so we went to that. John bought a couple of games, and one that he intends to give K for his birthday.

After that, we just filled in time as usual, back at the van.

Later in the day, we unloaded just about everything from Truck and packed it all into our en suite bathroom. It was pretty crowded in there!

Tea was soup, baked potatoes stuffed  with coleslaw and cheese, and fruit.

FRIDAY 8 JANUARY     TOOWOOMBA

We used the alarm to get ourselves up at 7.30am, in order to play morning bowls at the Drayton club. It was a pairs event, and John and I played together. We lost the game – by 16! I played very poorly. John was alternately brilliant and erratic. We did not seem to have much luck, either. It was not an enjoyable morning.

After lunch back at the van, we drove to the dental place, to get the tooth reattached to its bridge. While that was being done, we went to the Central shops and walked around for a couple of hours. Checked for mail – there was a birthday card for me and Xmas card from R – rather late!

The tooth repair was excellent – my front teeth are all back to normal. It only cost $30, which I thought was very reasonable.

Back to the van, where John watched the cricket.

We ordered Domino’s pizzas for tea, and very nice they were, too.

WEDNESDAY 6 JANUARY     TOOWOOMBA

John decided he wanted to play bowls this afternoon. He had some trouble finding a game, but eventually got in at the Toowoomba Club.

While he drove around, visiting clubs, I shopped for food for tea.

Then I had a swim before lunch, after which John went off to bowls.

T arrived about 2.15. There was much “school” talk, bringing me up to date with last year. We walked up to the Japanese Gardens and around those. It was a pleasant day to do so.

John was back from bowls when we returned from our walk. The men talked technology and the like, while I prepared tea – steak, potatoes in foil, mushrooms, salad, bread, followed by fruit and cheese.

T left about 9.30pm, to go stay with a local cousin.

It was a most enjoyable afternoon and evening and a break in this fairly monotonous time here.

TUESDAY 5 JANUARY     TOOWOOMBA

It is a calendar year since we set out on this trip! Hasn’t that gone fast? From my perspective, right now, can see us enjoying lots more years of this.

I did the washing in the morning and it actually got dry. It still feels quite humid and damp out there.

John watched the end of the Ashes cricket series.

After lunch, drove to the Tourist Information Centre, seeking some inspiration about things to do in the area. Then went walking for an hour on the paths at Picnic Point.

Received a phone call from friend T. He is coming to visit tomorrow. That is exciting news – it will be great to see a face from home.

We had fish and chips, and a nice bottle of champagne, to celebrate the year on the road.

I broke a front tooth off my bridge, eating tea! Not good. Fortunately, I carry the old plastic plate, from years ago, for just such an emergency. Does not feel a great fit, but will fill the gap until I can get the titanium one repaired.

Reviewed my photo albums for 1998: they are a great record of the year.

MONDAY 4 JANUARY     TOOWOOMBA

We had the usual slow morning.

John went to bowls in the afternoon, calling in at the Post Office on the way. Our bag of mail had finally arrived, from home.

When he got home, I had a lovely time sorting the mail and reading lots of lovely Xmas cards and letters. But I was surprised and saddened to read that a former boss of mine and his wife had separated – after forty years of marriage!

John was rather grumpy because there were no cards from anyone at his former workplace.

Tea was kumara soup, sausages and salad. We are still eating up our Xmas ham as lunchtime toasted ham and cheese sandwiches. I think I should have bought a smaller ham.

SUNDAY 3 JANUARY     TOOWOOMBA

There was more rain today.

After lunch, walked the local streets for an hour, for our exercise.

Apart from that, it was a computer, sewing, reading day. This really is a slow start to our year. It is just a matter of waiting out the main holiday crowds – and the bad weather.

Tea was kumara soup.

With all the rain of the past few days, I have appreciated having the ensuite site and not having to walk any distance to go to the bathroom.