This Adventurous Age

MONDAY 10 JULY     LITCHFIELD

As said, John’s flight arrived at 2am.

We set off, from the airport, to drive back to camp. Neither of us was particularly happy about driving these parts in the dark – too much wild life about. So we both kept our eyes peeled, to the point of getting a headache.

Just before Batchelor, the passenger side front tyre blew out. Loudly. Gave us both a fright. We had to do a wheel change by torchlight – not ideal. I was just so very pleased that it had not happened when I was driving on my own. Was also pleased that I keep a decent torch in Truck. The large, steel wheels of the Defender are bloody heavy to lift and heave around.

We got back to camp at 5.30am. Had to get up at 7am to get ready for work!

I can’t claim it was my best day in the kitchen, but got through it with no muddled orders, even if I did feel like a zombie much of the time. Can’t do lack of sleep like once I could – must be getting old!

John worked till 5pm. I worked till 6.30pm, with only a 15 minute lunch break.

John was actually glad to be back!

We had a very early night.

Someone not feeling enthusiastic about the coming day…….

WEDNESDAY 5 JULY     LITCHFIELD

I had another day off.

I slept in. Did the washing, tidied the van and outside area. Got it all looking pretty immaculate.

Later, I phoned son’s place to see if John got there ok – son had been going to collect him from the airport.  Talked to daughter in law. John had arrived as planned. He and son had were up at our house checking  it all out.

She said that John had phoned the cafe last night, to check that I had gotten back alright. Boss 1 did not tell me that. Typical.

FRIDAY 30 JUNE – SATURDAY 1 JULY    LITCHFIELD

I managed to grab some time, in between kitchen duties, to make some phone calls and contact L and R, our house sitters from last year. The family circumstances that had made them unable to commit to sit for us this year, had changed. They were currently doing a sit in SA, but could take over ours, from 20 July – three weeks away. That would be a great piece of good fortune for us. They were very happy to do it. So I arranged that, there and then.

Had to do our usual work for the rest of the day, despite a racing mind and feeling very distracted. Then had much discussion through the evening.

What would we do until 20/7? We wondered how bad the house really was, in terms of needing cleaning? What would happen to D’s belongings? We certainly did not want her back in the place, even when she was released from hospital.

It was decided that John must go home and sort everything out. That made me feel a bit better about things. It would cost us, though, in terms of John’s lost wages, and air fares. At this peak season time of year, fares would be at a premium.

We contacted son, who had work history in the travel business, to try to get John onto a flight.

We thought John might remain at home until L and R arrived.

At least, that would give John some respite from the increasing unpleasantness of boss 1. Actually, even boss 2 seemed to be throwing the odd tantrums these days, though those were not directed at his employees.

Recent attempts by boss 1 to make John’s life harder included a ban on him using the blower to remove leaves from the gravel paths  around the cafe – on the grounds that the blower created corrugations in the ground. Only hand raking was to be allowed – unless it was boss using the blower.

Corrugated path?

On another occasion, John and French John were tasked with picking up – by hand – any stone in the large car parking area that was bigger in diameter than a 10 cent piece. That was an awful lot of stones, and after a few hours spent on same, one day, the task lapsed and no more was said about it.

Staff showers

WEDNESDAY 28 JUNE     LITCHFIELD

The day was routine.

The evening was livened up by the cutting of pilot S’s hair, after the cafe had closed for the night.

The staff group and WOOFERS were sitting outside on the lawns  after tea – a rare occurrence, because we usually all went our separate ways. But some of the ranger staff from the National Park had come to visit, for drinks, and a couple of the local people, who were involved with the art venture in the gallery rotunda, were also there. There were no guests in the safari camp and no diners. The gathering turned fairly raucous, fairly quickly!

S commented that he really needed a hair cut. John volunteered to do it, and went off to the van to get the gear I used to cut his hair.

John started the clipping process, by torchlight, but then local lady K got in on the act and finished it off, amidst much hilarity.

Fortunately, using clippers with a set length attachment, there wasn’t too much that could go wrong.

It was a fun night.

TUESDAY 27 JUNE   LITCHFIELD

We both had the day off.

We got the usual early start, in order to take Truck to Darwin for the radiator core to be replaced.

Travelled in via the dirt road route.

We were getting a bit low on fuel, so John topped up the tank – with just $7 worth, at Berrimah, on the way in – $1.44cpl.

Collected the hire car again – this time, we had to pay for it.

Went back to the Cool Spot for brunch, again. Then  browsed some shops to fill in time.

Truck was ready to go by early afternoon.

Filled the fuel tank at Coolalinga, on the way out – $1.37cpl.