School Holidays is all of a sudden a problem for our household as Carina is no longer at home to look after and entertain Michael. This sort of caught me unawares, just like the time he got sick when I had to take off work to look after him the very first week she started studying. Sometimes I take things like this for granted. Michael spent a week with aftercare where they did some interesting stuff and the second week I took leave and stayed with him.
We had a long weekend and were lucky to be invited by the Bosch’s from Gawler to join them for 2 nights camping at Coorong. The Coorong is the wetlands area where the Murray River runs into the ocean. It was so relaxing as there is absolutely no amenities; just a stretch of sand next to the ocean. We made really big fires which burned the whole time. Had a proper braai on Saturday and I made lamb neck Potjie the Sunday afternoon. I was a bit stressed as the potatoes went AWOL but all ended well after we eventually found the potatoes just before I was ready to take the pot off the coals. We had really nice weather with no wind, which is apparently not the norm for the area. I duly found this out sometime in the morning hours of Monday when my Gazebo decided to fly away and relocate itself on Chantelle’s tent.
I used two old doors that I found in the “roadside store” (people leave stuff they don’t want beside the road in front of their houses) to build a table for the Model Trains. We have laid out the tracks and will start soon with the scenery (trees, buildings, cars, animals and people). Hope this will keep us busy for some time.
I was planning to join the Army Reserves as one of the advantages was that we could get a concession for Citizenship and get it within 6 Months instead of 4 years. I went for the aptitude testing with a bunch of kids only to be told that the requirements changed a few weeks ago and that I now need to be a citizen to be considered for defence jobs. The recession has resulted in them being flooded with applications and they can now pick and choose. They have to specially nominate me for a job and explain why a citizen cannot do it.
I eventually succumbed to the pressure and also bought a portable chemical loo and tent so Carina can enjoy some comfort on the camping. Still find it hard to understand why she needs this when we have done several hikes through the Fishriver Canyon where you had to a “plasie”.
We ventured into the outback a bit this weekend and visited Loveday 4x4 adventures near Barmera in South Australia. It is on the Rivier Murray. They have a track that they do some serious offroad racing with some of these monster trucks do serious airtime. We camped right on the river with 8 South African families from the Vassitklub of Adelaide. I became a true member this weekend. We once again made nice open fires for the last time till next Winter and did proper braais. The temperature soared to 43oC on Saturday and it would have been a perfect weekend it it wasn’t for the flies. Anyone that spent time on the border will know what I’m talking about. They literally swamp the back of your shirt and take turn to try and fly into your nose, eyes or mouth. Carina and Chantelle sewed netting around their hats ala Out of Africa and Jane from Tarzan style. I found a little reprieve by wrapping the beach umbrella’s sleeve around my head. I am now seriously considering getting a Camping Trailer as it will reduce the packing-unpacking by half.
