1st - Lovely sleep in. Lots of lovely messages from family and friends for New Year. Let’s hope Australia and the rest of world has a better year than last year.
Jenny came back with her son Ben and his daughter Charlotte. I took her height on the wall to add to all the others. We have been measuring the family since 2000.
Erica and I joined the other ladies at the Bowls Club for Bingo. Erica had 4 wins - I nearly got there waiting for 1 number on a couple of games. At least Erica made a profit. We played the pokies for an hour after that and ended up winning $1 each! At least we didn’t lose.
Back home for a late lunch. The boys had a relaxing morning chatting with Phil.
Misty rain scuds are coming over. Hopefully we won’t get any more deluges on the camper while it is up.
Paul joined us for afternoon drinks. Ben arrived and showed Charlotte how to play pool. Neal and Dael came back from Hervey Bay and joined us for a chat too.
Leftover savoury mince for dinner tonight. Played Dice - the easy way first that I showed them all to introduce them to it. Then we showed Erica the real way which is a bit harder.
No more rain.
Greg sent a photo of Mum and Dad on New Year’s eve. They only made it til 9pm before nodding off. When I rang Mum she said she heard the fireworks go off in Cairns at midnight.
2nd - Slept in again as it is overcast so the sun didn’t wake me at 5.30am. Started on our washing then did the sheets etc for Erica. Good breeze even though it was overcast and everything dried quickly.
Gael, Dael and Jenny popped in for a chat. Steve had found boxes of shells in the shed so Erica decided to have a sort through them and see who wants some.
Steve and Terry finished off a couple more jobs then Steve dropped the camper top and resealed around the shower vent/light as we had a drip coming in there from the heavy rain the other day. He has decided to buy two more actuators for the roof as with the water pooling on it the roof has sagged in the middle.
After lunch I started packing up stuff inside the camper - easy to just ‘drop’ things when you are parked up for a while.
Steve and Terry ‘tried’ to get the mower going as the grass has been growing nicely with all the rain. At last with the help of ‘Start You Bastard’ it surged its way over the grass!
After smoko Erica and I finished off checking the stories she had written about her and Terry’s lives.
Drinks with Steve’s cousins.
Dinner then we watched some old slides using the old slide projector. The bulb heats up quickly so we didn’t watch too many as Terry’s fingers were getting hot each time he changed the slide. Needed to load them into the cartridge - maybe next time.
3rd - The sun is up early. Steve joined me for a walk along the beach as the tide was well out so we could walk on the wide flat sand.
Clouds came over from the east blocking the sun but it was still lovely.
Put the camper back onto the truck - everyone stopped to watch the process. We moved beside the house so Steve could mow the lawn that had grown under the camper in the past two weeks.
Jenny, Ben and Charlotte came by heading for the beach for a swim so I joined them. It was beautiful and crisp and clear and the sun was out so it was just perfect.
Back home for a shower then a cuppa. I helped Erica with her computer, deleting a lot of repeated photos etc.
Had lunch then played pool against Stephen while Erica and Terry rested. I nearly beat him! I missed my chance on the black ball then he got a go and put it in!
Gael and Dael came back after visiting their aunt Maree (Erica’s sister) in the nursing home in Bundaberg. After chatting we said farewell as they are heading home today.
Ray and Carol had invited us over for a BBQ. As Terry’s car has only two seats and we didn’t want to move the camper, they drove and we walked. Wasn’t far at all.
Had a lovely afternoon/evening chatting and eating. They brought out two aerial photos they had of Woodgate in the 1970s. You can just see one of the three swimming enclosures on the right hand side so Erica can work out which street it is and the houses built then.
4th - Woke at 5am with a red glow for sunrise. There were two roos eating Ted’s grass next door so I went out to get a photo.
Walked down to the beach but the sunrise was blocked by a band of cloud so wasn’t very exciting at all.
The roos were waiting from me to return.
Steve joined me again for a beach walk at 6am as the tide was out again.
Packed up and said goodbye to Paul, Jenny, Ben and Charlotte.
Roald rang to say Dennis had been visiting but is leaving about 2pm and wondered what time we would be arriving as he would love to see us before he left.
We finished our cuppas and hugged Erica and Terry goodbye and took a couple of photos.
Headed off at 10am so we could be there by 1.30pm.
Rang Mum as we headed out of Woodgate to say we were on the road again. They have been getting good heavy rain from the cyclone that started in the gulf but passed over Cairns as a low depression. My poor van will be growing mould!
Headed south to Roald and Joan’s near Noosa. Steve is apologising to ‘girlie’ when he hasn’t slowed quick enough for her. She keeps him under control!!
Arrived with half hour spare to have a quick chat with Dennis and show him the truck and camper before he had to head off. We parked the camper near Roald’s shed - plenty of room here. Friends had just arrived too so they all checked out the camper.
We headed into the house for a cuppa and caught up on the family news. Mel and Tonia went off for a drive - they were from Gladstone but are now living in Kingaroy which is where they met Roald and Joan last year.
Had a lovely evening chatting over a delicious dinner.
5th - Up early so I uploaded my blog now I have better internet reception here. There are plenty of birds here too singing the morning chorus.
Joined the others on the deck for a cuppa and chat. Tonia took a photo of the four of us before we headed off.
Down the motorway to Brisbane, through two tunnels to Styromax at Darra to pick up some more boards so Steve can make the last set of overhead cupboards and put the doors on the existing cupboards. Samantha (the owner) was impressed with what Steve has achieved since he picked up the camper shell in October. We explained about the roof so she can advise other customers. One of the staff came out and took a heap of photos.
The panels were longer than the roof rack so Steve cut off a section and we mounted them on the roof rack - lets hope it doesn’t create that noise! The other cut off bits fitted in the back seat area. We had our lunch there and another customer, Jim, popped in to ask about the internal panelling as he is making a small camper for his DMax ute.
We headed east to Leanne and Rick’s place at Wivenhoe Pocket. Very dark clouds ahead. Hope we make it before that hits. I checked the BOM and a storm is forecast for there. A big flash of lightning ripped across the sky in front of us.
No rain yet, through Fernvale - nice little village. The wind picked up on the edge of the storm giving us a shove around as we crossed the bridge over the Brisbane River.
Arrived at Leanne and Rick’s and just got the camper parked on a slab of concrete when the rain started.
Headed inside for a cuppa. Leanne said they seem to miss the good rain here - their dam is nearly dry and they only have tank water, no town water here. Ten years ago though there was more than enough water when the whole area flooded though they were safe here but others weren’t so lucky further down the road next to the river.
The storm passed over, only putting a small bit in the tank. The frogs loved it and are croaking madly and the ducks and ducklings are having a wander about.
Great afternoon catching up. We met them in Tassie in 2015 and spent a few weeks together. Then they joined us in Bathurst as volunteers for the Supercars racing and then we were together in 2016 when they joined us in Adelaide for Supercars racing and two weeks on Kangaroo Island.
Jon rang to check we were ok as the rain is falling heavily in the north and some roads have been cut.
Lovely dinner on the deck.
6th - Lovely breakfast on the deck with Leanne and Rick.
Went for a wander. Spotted three tawny frog mouth owls in the tree but no koalas. They usually have a couple here.
Leanne and Rick took us for a drive to check out Wivenhoe Dam and told us about the big flood 10 years ago. Lots of turtles and fish in the water.
Drove further up the hill to get a photo across the water.
The main road goes over the dam wall heading towards Esk.
Looking back across to the Pump House for the hydro-electricity.
We checked out some of the picnic areas around the dam on the way. First one was Cormorant Bay. Reminds me of Tinaroo Dam.
Next one was Logan Complex - unusual name. As the dam is down to 41% the ‘tide’ is well and truly out!
Friendly locals here.
Continued on to Esk to have a lovely cuppa in the heritage house of Lars Andersen.
Wandered up the street to check out a shop that sold all kinds of bric and brac but unfortunately was closed. Leanne has bought two wagon wheels from here to use in her fire pit area she is making at the moment. Found a plaque in the park across the road - aah now I feel like I am touring again.
Drove up to the lookout at Lakeview Park, on the hill but the trees block the view which only just catches the top edge of Wivenhoe Dam. As it is at 41 percent there isn’t much water to be seen from here.
Back home to their road and we followed it around around the ‘pocket’ checking out the farms etc. Leanne said they had a close call in Dec 2018 when fires came very close to their place.
Crossed the Brisbane River again where lots of people were enjoying the cool water on what is quite a hot day here, 33 degrees.
Had lunch with Leanne and Rick then said farewell. Hopefully they will be up in Cairns in April for a week or so which will be wonderful.
We drove back through Esk and onwards heading for Cairns.
Annalise texted to say she got the post-grad position at the Base Hospital and will start in the Rehab ward where Tracy works which is wonderful news. Then she will go into Surgical North which she went to when she did her training so she is very excited.
Kaylene rang to see where we were. Chatted for a bit till we lost phone reception.
Passed through little towns, rolling green hills and forestry pine plantations. Stopped for a cuppa at Nanango, established in 1848. Looks a nice place with timber history. Will enjoy exploring this area another time.
A storm is building a head of us and the gusty wind picks up as we head off again.
Passed a field of sunflowers as a sprinkle of rain falls.
Not long and the sun is back out again.
20km to the north we were waved down by a lady who had just overtaken us. She was stopped by a chap who had just crashed his truck. He came around a curve and said he had no brakes but he managed to weave his way through trees without overturning coming to a crushing halt on the last tree. Luckily he only had a few scratches. He had 4 horses, a pig, a goat, a sheep, an alpaca and two dogs and a puppy on board. We assessed the situation and other people stopped to lend a hand. One dog had escaped and a couple towing a van stopped to say they nearly hit it but it was still running. The chap, Morgan, gave me the puppy that was huddled under the front seat - amazing he wasn’t crushed as that side of the cab was caved in. He was a cute border collie with piercing blue eyes. He just wanted to be cuddled so I went back to our truck to find a towel as he smelt of pee and dog. I gave him some water. Had to get some photos to show Jon.
The first lady had called 000 but they got lost. In the end I turned on the Hema and gave them GPS co-ordinates. The guys were having problems getting the ramp down on the back of the truck. One chap stopped who had a angle grinder so that problem was fixed. Another couple pulled up who owned horses so they rang the local vet as two of the horses were laying down in the truck. The horse couple were great in settling the horses and getting them out. All the guys were in helping too. Luckily only one of the horses ended up with a sore hoof so it wasn’t a sad ending for the animals. They were all sold and being transported to their new owners. Poor Morgan was in a state worried about the animals. The vet arranged another truck to put the animals in and take back to his place. At last the police and ambulance arrived - parking right on the edge of the road when there was plenty of space in the pull over area where we were parked. Steve had gone up the road to where the truck had left the road on the curve to slow down the traffic as they approached. The vet and the truck full of animals left, with the puppy. Hopefully someone will find the running dog and return it. Everyone left so Steve came back - one of the policeman did thank him for slowing down the traffic. Now would it be so hard for the police to carry a sign saying ‘accident ahead - slow down’ that they could put up at accidents to let oncoming traffic know so another accident doesn’t occur - REALLY!
We headed off at 6pm and continued on. Beautiful rainbow colours in front of us.
Into Goomeri, nice mural.
Stopped to check on the boards etc. A truck driver came over to ask how the truck driver and animals were as he had passed as they were unloading them.
Continued on to Ban Ban Springs. Erica rang just as we were pulling in but the reception wasn’t good so only chatted for a few minutes, they are back in Bundy. We found a spot back from the road.
I heated up some left over spaghetti for dinner that I had frozen last week - very handy. Rang Mum and Dad who had Greg and Tracy over for dinner. Tracy was excited to hear Annalise would be going into her ward at the hospital.
We heard some thunder and it was very still. Then a nice breeze started then a sprinkle of rain. The rain got heavier but not torrential so the vinyl windows only let through a drop or two of water. The frogs are loving the rain and their croaking is a lovely sound to go to sleep with.
7th - Woke to the chorus of frogs, still. No birds for a change. Overcast and gloomy.
Drove around to the Ban Ban Springs sign.
I remember a photo of Terry here years ago so got Steve to pose for a photo.
Found the photo - nothing like it is here now. Terry was with Erica’s brother, Robbie.
Lovely bottle tree here too.
Continued on to Gayndah which was home to Steve’s cousins, the Woodcocks and the Big Orange. Only Dael and her husband Neil still live here.
Across the Burnett River.
Up the jump up of the Binjour Range - Steve reckons he needs a bigger motor to make the hills easier.
Skirted around Mundubbera which is home for the Gecks and the Millers and the Big Mandarine.
Next is Eidsvold where Stephen was born as Terry was a ranger with the Forestry Department here. Not sure which house it was will have to look at some old photos.
Across the upper reaches of the Burnett River where the free camp has a few campers.
Lots of prickly pear trees by the road - I thought they were a bad weed.
Mulgildie has the Big Bunyip. The Mural on the pub needs redoing.
Lovely driving through the green fields and no traffic though the road isn’t the best.
At Three Moon Creek the workman are building a bigger bridge so we went over the old one.
Lovely mural on the silo before we reached Monto.
Monto is the gateway to Cania Gorge National Park. Stopped for a cuppa. Rang Erica for a better chat.
Took some photos as we walked up to the IGA to get something for dinner tonight. Interesting to read about the female doctor who came here in 1926 - what a shock for the town.
Checked out the info centre - will have to come back and find out the legend of how 3 Moon Creek got its name. They have a great RV stop over here for $5 per night. Good map on the wall showing our trip home.
Great cow mural on the side of the building. Murals and silo murals have taken off everywhere now. Much nicer to look at then rusty old buildings and tanks etc.
More murals on the water tanks just before we crossed Three Moon Creek again as we continued towards home.
More prickly pear trees.
Lovely valley views as we rolled over yet another hill.
Through Biloela. The sky is clearer with white fluffy clouds.
Dark clouds are building as we head to Dululu then into misty rain as we reached the town. The rain got heavier as we pulled up for lunch in the free camp area. After lunch it stopped so we chatted with another couple from WA as they are wanting to build a camper too so we showed them ours and gave them some information.
Continued on towards Bouldercombe near Rockhampton. Into heavy rain for a while.
The rain stopped just before Mt Morgan - a historical gold mining town.
Great views as we crawled down the twisty range.
Into Bouldercombe to see Jeff and Lyn. Had a lovely chat over a cuppa then they presented Steve with a framed shirt signed by Craig Lowndes. Jeff had won it in a raffle and Lyn said she knew who to give it too - Steve. What a wonderful gift. They were impressed with the camper and we hope to catch up somewhere again and go detecting.
I checked the road conditions are the north was getting heavy rain so the rivers have been flooding the roads.
Continued on through Rockhampton which was sunny and dry.
Further north we headed into dark clouds. Back into rain for a while.
I like the new signs on the overtaking lanes - ‘let overtaking vehicles pass’. We hate how some people who were going slow decide it is fine to speed up in the left hand lane making it hard to overtake them.
Overcast but no rain as we pulled in the rest area just south of the St Lawrence turnoff at 5.30pm. Set up for the night.
Chatted with some other campers for a bit until the mozzies chased us back inside the camper. Very humid - should have put in our new 12 volt fans!
Played a few games of Skipbo as light rain fell in scuds.
8th - Drizzly rain through the night but not enough to worry us with the leaking windows.
Overcast as we left a 7am. More rain as we neared Clairview. The creeks are all flowing well.
Stopped for fuel at Sarina as the rain started again.
Lakes appearing in paddocks and the drains, creeks and rivers are quite swollen - getting a good clean out. The ducks and Magpie Geese are happy too.
Brighter sky north of Proserpine though there are showers falling on the mountains to the west.
Stopped for an early lunch at the Big Mango rest stop before Bowen as it isn’t raining here.
The rain started again as we headed off. Only a scud though then we continued through light showers with the sun breaking through the clouds occasionally.
Cape York Lilies are popping up along the side of the road everywhere. Mum has them in her garden at home.
Rain showers again at Saltwater Creek south of Inkerman. It has more fresh water in it now than saltwater!
Steve recalls flood water stopping him and the family when they were heading home to Cairns from a holiday in Woodgate. They were there one and a half days waiting to cross. They were in the EH station wagon, the 3 boys sleeping in the back and Erica and Terry sleeping upright in the front seat. People were walking up the railway line to the shop at Inkerman for food and drinks. The farmer was making a fortune, charging $20 each tow with his tractor. Erica and Terry woke to find all the other cars had gone but not too far as they were stopped at the next creek.
Heavy clouds ahead over Home Hill. Back into rain again.
Across the big bridge over the Burdekin River which is brown and very full.
Brandon Speedway is a lake.The rain continued - fields flooded north side of Brandon.
Very heavy rain 40km south of Townsville all the way to Alligator Creek where we stopped for fuel as Steve remembered they had a good high roof but he had to move the truck as it was busy and we got soaked going to pay any case!
Dry through Townsville and brighter in Ingham.
Dry and calm in Cardwell and Hinchinbrook Island.
Dark and wet to the north.
The rain started again north side of Tully for a bit.
No rain to Innisfail and beyond which was good. Low cloud hanging off the Pyramid - my mark that we are nearly home.
Home just after 7pm. Greg had cooked dinner and there was enough for us which was great though my tummy is feeling a bit odd and my neck is stiff as!
So lovely to see Mum and Dad again. Greg has done a great job looking after them. He set up three video cameras - one inside and two outside for security and to be able to go out and still be able to check on Mum and Dad. Works well. Good to hear Mum as been using the air conditioner a lot so the prickly heat that annoys Dad has been kept at bay.
Lightning flashed and thunder rumbled for the evening but no rain.
Moved back into the van as it is too boggy to park the camper up the back at the moment and the street is too angled to sleep in the camper. The van was a bit musty but the mould hadn’t grown over everything which was great. Maybe because it was closed up.
The rain started about 10pm and it got heavier and heavier.
9th - The rain has gone - the sun is out and it is heating up quickly.
Woke feeling quite sick in the stomach. Steve has an icky tummy too - having cereal for breakfast didn’t help. Greg is still ‘on duty’ so I left him to do breakfast for Mum and Dad and I stayed in bed.
The ground had dried up enough for Steve to back the truck up and with Greg’s help they took the camper off and put up the big tarp. I stayed in bed!
Greg headed home as he was supposed to have next week off but now has to go into work.
I felt better by lunch time. Jane called in and checked Dad’s eyes - such a lovely Optometrist.
We had lunch then we started unpacking the camper. I cleaned the van of fluff and a bit of mould. Nice to start with everything fresh.
Greg came back to continue with his ‘job’ of grinding the patio rails and painting them black. Just the thing to do in the summer heat and humidity!
A big black cloud popped over the trees so Steve dropped the camper roof and I closed up the van just as the heavens opened. Heavy rain with claps of thunder.
Erica rang - she had a win on the pokies. She had taken a family lotto and thought she had only won $2 but when she got it checked it was $84. Much better but a long way off the few million it could have been - oh well.
I am feeling better which is good. The rain has stopped and it is very sticky.
Dinner then the frozen mango that I kept as we had so many mangoes in Woodgate in the end. Mum is very happy as they had eaten the ones I had left her.
10th - Still feeling icky in the morning after cereal - so I will stop having milk I think. Covid makes us all feel paranoid as now a lady working in the quarantine hotel had tested positive and Greater Brisbane was put in a 3 day lock down. I rang the Health Nurse but she said we don’t need to be tested as we weren’t in the area the lady had been and icky tummy isn’t a symptom. Because of the more deligient hand washing and social distancing everyone has done last year the flu and usual colds have lessened so when you do feel a bit off everyone says ‘Covid’!
Did some more washing. At least the sun is hot and drying before a storm comes.
Mum and Dad Curlew have made a nest in the cleared area of our yard. They take turns sitting on the eggs and still squawk during the night!
Greg finished off his grinding and managed to get the last of the painting done about 10 minutes before the heavens opened - oil paint so hopefully it will be ok.
Jon and Annalise called in to say hi - we kept our distance as we still feel a bit off.
Had dinner with Greg then played a few games of Skipbo.
11th - Got the last load of washing done in the hot sunshine.
I went to the shops for some fruit and vegies and stopped at the chemist and asked about our icky tummies. The pharmacist recommended peppermint oil capsules. I took one then read to be taken before food - I know why now as I am burping up peppermint! But my tummy is feeling better.
After lunch a heavy shower of rain fell then left us feeling very sticky with humidity.
Continued having a clean up and Steve is now researching whether to put in a bigger engine or get ours upgraded as it just didn’t have enough oomph for the hills.
12th - The sun is out and hot and humid - lovely!!
Feeling a lot better - maybe it was the peppermint or the bug has just worked its way out of our system. I think it was drinking the water from the plastic tank under the truck, which had been flushed out or we had just been doing so much that we hit a wall and caught a little something along the way.
The top sheets on the single beds were pulling out so I decided to put elastic across and sew the end to that making an envelope. The sheets on the van’s bed were especially made that the top sheet zips onto the bottom sheet so it didn’t pull out. I am very proud of my sewing effort as I am certainly not a seamstress!
Steve got the boards out that we got from Styromax to start on the cupboards and realised they are 10mm not 9mm and the edging he was using won’t fit it. He rang Sam and she checked it out. They had ordered 9mm but the company that supplies them have just changed to 10mm and didn’t let them know. She got onto a company in Cairns that had some hoping they might have some spare. Sam refunded the cost of the board which was very kind of her. Unfortunately the company didn’t have any spare but we found another company in Townsville that is expecting a delivery of 9mm so fingers crossed that he will get it in and not the 10mm.
Shower of rain but no storm as such.
Cooler evening, had to turn down the fans.
13th - Dreary overcast musty morning. Mum and Dad Sunbird are checking out the old nest in the carport. Feeling much better which is a relief though Steve’s tummy is still a bit off.
Good day for watching TV.
14th - Sun out again. The weeds and grass are growing before our eyes with all the rain.
Heavy rain fell after dinner and continued through the night.
15th - Kaylene and Rick called in for a visit after lunch. Jakob got a nursing position at the hospital which is a relief.
16th - Had a good morning sorting out old files etc and cleaned out Steve’s clothes. Time to have a good toss out.
Drizzly rain started about 4pm. Another heavy shower after dinner.
17th – Nice morning though overcast. Karen called in for a cuppa which was lovely.
Showers of rain around lunch time.
A low NE of Cooktown has changed into a Cat 1 Cyclone they have called Kimi but it will head straight to the coast and cross tomorrow as at Cat 2 about Cape Tribulation. More rain for us.
Drizzle rain for the rest of the day. Good day for doing some family history.
17mm in rain gauge at 5pm. Jon rang to see if we needed any help preparing for the cyclone!
Latest report shows it has swung south and will cross just below Port Douglas now about 4pm tomorrow.
Greg brought his usual Sunday night dinner over, Spaghetti and chicken wings. Played a few games of Skipbo – the boys won again, Mum and I haven’t had a win for a while.
The cyclone has turned more southerly and forecast is now for it to cross south of Cairns at 7pm tomorrow.
Rochelle texted to advise we wait for her call in the morning about going to work in case the cyclone upsets things.
The rain continued making it very noisy in the van.
18th – 17mm in the rain gauge – sounds like we had a lot more up under the trees in the van! Cyclone Kimi is still slowing heading south as a Cat 1 and now forecast to cross at Cardwell tomorrow. Meanwhile the Gold Coast got hit with a storm yesterday arvo that brought down trees and wrecked houses and cars and loss of power and we just sit here with no wind and watch the BOM site!! Safer living in the cyclone belt at least there is plenty of warning.
We decided to move the camper back onto the truck and onto the street just in case the winds pick up and drop a tree on it as the ground is wet and soggy on the hill so it mightn’t take much to send a tree down.
Rochelle texted that the uniforms will be delivered this morning so I headed down to work after getting Mum and Dad their breakfast. Steve is here to look after them while I am at work.
Great to see the ladies again but sad to hear that Jenny has been having terrible trouble with her neck so she is still recovering and won’t be in this week. We sorted out the uniforms but unfortunately part of our order is missing or on back order which doesn’t help when you have so many students coming in for uniforms in the next couple of weeks. Rochelle will chase up the company to see what the problem is.
Home for lunch – grabbed some pies on the way as it is a wet dreary day. Absolutely no wind and the ‘cyclone’ is supposed to be 90km to the east of us!!
The rain stopped so Steve got a bucket and broom to give the camper a wash as the red dirt had splashed up on it – still new, we need to keep it nice until we hit the road again!
Continued on with my family tree uploading.
Rang Rebecca for a chat and then Wendy – so nice to catch up with them.
No more rain tonight as the cyclone has taken it south with it.
19th - Bit cloudy but the sun is trying to shine through so got a couple of loads of washing done. Back to work for uniforms sales.
Lovely sunny day – so much for the cyclone! Steve put the camper back up the top again.
20th – Woke to drizzly rain. Caught up with Rebecca and Clive for a cuppa before I headed into work at 12 for more uniform sales. Drizzly rain continued all day. Stopped by Jenny’s to see how she is. Greg came over for dinner and a few games of Skipbo - I am on a losing streak at the moment!! Rain continued into the night.
21st – 60mm in rain gauge from yesterday and last night. There is a lake around the camper! Still grey and drizzly as we start the day.
Rain stopped. Steve saw Francis and he will fix the leaking windows. Off to work at 12 for more uniform sales.
After dinner the rain started again.
22nd - Started the washing as the sun was out then a big black cloud headed our way from the east. I went to work – left Steve to deal with the washing!!
Only light showers so Steve managed to get the washing dry as there was a lovely strong breeze which blew through the carport where he had the washing hanging.
23rd – Lovely sunny morning so I did some more washing and got it all dry. Cleaned the van as the mould had started on the doors and in the shower – lovely!!
Steve got to work putting the two new actuators on the camper top – he had made brackets for it during the week. Hopefully this will help the roof problem. He saw Francis too and will take the vinyl off so Francis can resew the windows so water doesn’t pool under the flyscreen. Will get him to make a long awning to run down one side too which will help when we are in inclement weather so we can leave the vinyl windows open as well.
24th – Sunny and breezy. Steve finished off putting on the two new actuators.
I baked – a lot!! We pulled the pop-top vinyl off so Francis can fix that.
Dark clouds coming from the south but no rain.
Greg cooked dinner again. I won at Skipbo – yeah!
25th – Lovely sunny morning. Back to work for me – more uniform sales and setting up the Tuckshop ready for Wednesday morning when the students start back at school.
Steve noticed Mummy Curlew had left the nest and was further down the yard with two small black and white chicks. Got some good photos too – I have trained him well.
26th – Public holiday for Australia Day. Bunnings is open of course so Steve got the drawer sliders and panel to start on the clothes and kitchen drawers.
Kaylene and Rick dropped in for a cuppa and chat in the afternoon.
27th – First day back at school for students so all hands on deck for us except I woke up with gastro. Went to the doctors to make sure what it is so I can go back to work when I feel better. Hopefully only a 24 hour thing.
Overcast day. Steve got to work on the drawers while I rested. Thankfully the girls had a good day at work.
28th – Feeling ok enough to help out in the Uniform Shop for the morning.
Rainy afternoon and evening.
29th – Starting to feel better but just did the Uniform Shop again for the morning. Unfortunately Emily went down with a stomach bug – must be the Summer Flu! Hope hers only last 24 hours!
Steve continuing with the cupboard drawers. The cutlery one is only narrow which is causing a few problems with using the screwdriver etc.
Andrea’s birthday – sent her a message. Will catch up to her another day.
Emptied rain gauge – 75mm (3 inches) not bad for a day and a half though I am over it now with the mould etc.
30th – Overcast morning. Texted Emily – she is feeling better which is a relief.
Virginia had posted a video of the Burdekin Dam overflowing the spillway – amazing.
Steve has completed the drawer runners for the narrow drawers by the stove. Very fiddly work but he persevered and got them in. Now to make the drawers.
31st – Rang the Doctors Surgery to check if my results had come back for my tummy upset and the girl was most apologetic as someone should have rung me on Friday. I went down to see the Doctor and found out I have campylobacter jejuni/coli which is a foodborne zoonosis or from contaminated water. He gave me a script for antibiotics so hopefully I will be on the mend soon. Physically I am ok, just a bit weak but the cramps aren’t nice but aren’t too frequent which is good too. Glad Steve doesn’t seem to have developed anything – wondering if it is connected to bug we had when we first came home. Can’t think how else I would have picked it up. At least I know it is not contagious unless I have terrible ‘toilet’ hygiene!!
Steve continued with the drawers for our clothes.
Greg came over with dinner and we played a few games of Skipbo as usual.
