Mount Isa

Today is day four. And as usual I’m over being in the car. I’m over the driving 

And I just want my home to be I the same place it was yesterday 

I’m homesick for my family and my pets and even though the weather is much nicer and pain levels are lower because of it 

The pain caused by sitting in a car all day means I’m not feeling the benefits just yet 

Add to that. I’ve got fibro fog and the laundry in this caravan park had not instructions on what kinds of coins,and how many I needed for them to work 

So I did all my laundry by hand 

It’s drying now outside but it just added to my pain and anxiety 

But you know something will always pop up to make you smile 

And my beautiful daughter sent me a Video of my precious granddaughter pushing a trolly and helping her to do the grocery shopping 

It made me smile and made me cry 

I’ll be ok in a day or two. I always go through this 

Hubby has escaped my wrath and gone to do a shop to replenish our supplies before we head into the wilderness 

Tomorrow night will be spent at Barkleys homestead. The last of civilisation before we turn off into the the great Aussie wilderness 

So for now I’m. Enjoying a quiet drink. Trying to calm my anxiety and remembering that my family and friends will all be there when I get home 

That this isn’t a punishment but a holiday to be enjoyed 

If I can post at Barkleys I will if not see you in a few weeks! 

Stay safe y’all 

See ya xxx

Barcaldine

We have stopped again for the third night 

We are now in Queensland and the weather today was sunny and pleasant 

Even got up to 22 degrees Celsius 

Here is our van.  A quick set up for an over night stay 

Hubby had taken the car to fill it with fuel so we don’t have to stop too many times tomorrow 

And hopefully we will get another early start 

We were aiming for blackall today. But have gone past there to stop here. 

Not a bad days travel 

It’s till light and dinner will be salad with some chicken

Then relaxing and an early night for us oldies 

We had to avoid a few kangaroos today. It’s like they wait for you to come close then jump out! 

Very annoying. So once again we can’t leave until the sun is up. That way we can at least see the little buggers 

See ya xxx

Second night Bourke

http://www.kidmanscamp.com.au/bourke/

Have made it to where the weather is warmer. But only just! 

If did get to 18 degrees Celsius but it will drop to only five overnight 

So once again. The heater is on! 

Once we cross the Tropic of Capricorn it should get much much nicer 

And I’ll be able to pull out the summer clothes! 

For now dinner has been cooked, eaten and I’ve cleaned up 

Soon I’ll have a shower and put on my warm pjs and settle for the night 

We had a little sleep in this morning 

Hoping to get nine hours on the road tomorrow 

But we shall see 

See ya xxx

And so, it begins!

We have left the state 

Have spent the first night just over the boarder in NSW

we decided to leave after lunch on Thursday rather than get up early to beat the traffic 

The weather is still cold, and apparently we are all getting some crazy winter weather 

Hopefully he head inland enough to miss it. 

The whole of the east coast is going to be freezing 

We aren’t that worried 

We will be spending the next few nights in caravan parks so we will be able to use the heater 

In the van 

Hopefully we will hit the warmer weather soon and I’ll be able to thaw this 

Frozen and sore body

So very soon I’ll get up and get myself ready for the next leg of the journey 

Stay warm everyone in the affected areas 

I’m so glad I was able to find those cat caves for my babies 

See ya xxx  

Something special for my babies

Since I’ll be leaving for six weeks   There won’t b a fire going   And even though they will

Be inside I don’t want my babies getting too cold. 

So I got them a cat cave each! 

Both Bella and Agatha have taken to theirs immediately 

Agatha gets hers near the fire. Even though it won’t be going. She will think it is lol 

Meanwhile this little rascal has decided he didn’t want to stay in his. 

But is meowing for more food 

Guess what sunshine. You have had dinner and your not getting any more! 

He really is a porky pig! 

What do you think? 

Do you like them? 

See ya xxx

Monday musings

No pictures today 

Today I have woken with pain 

It’s a the cold. I like the cold. I prefer it 

But my poor body doesn’t 

Over the last decade I have been told that 

My pain is from being depressed, fat or sedentary 

That it would go away if I 

Got out more, exercised got a job lost weight ....

Well meaning advice I’m sure from those that have no idea 

Well I’ve done that 

My job is a mum and grandma

Both I think I do well 

I exercise 

I’ve lost weight 

I get out and have coffee and shopping with friends 

And you know what 

I’m up again in pain

But hey I look great 

I must feel better right?

There are a select few that know the truth 

My buddy in yarn and pain who has now moved to Queensland but we still chat constantly on messenger 

Who reminds me to stop, rest and wrap myself in my heated throw 

My words with friends mate. Who while beating me reminds me to not overdo to 

Remember to rest 

And praises me on my craft work

My poor suffering hubby who will come home to an angry wife because she is exhausted and in immense pain 

So she takes it all out on him 

And he realises she needs coffee cuddles and sleep 

These people are the ones that know! 

The ladies at Knitting group, who only see me occasionally as I’m busy with my “job” so miss

Weeks and then miss a few more due to crashes 

But never admonish for missing weeks but are so very happy to see me when I come 

And always make me laugh

Who never offered unsolicited advice but rejoiced at my weight goals 

Who never judged but accepted 

When your down you realise who your real friends are 

But when you crawl back up, you know who truly loves you and is there for you 

This is what I have learnt 

They say pain is here to teach you 

I know what it has taught me 

It’s not about the outside, it’s not about you house or your car 

It’s about you 

You heart

And your soul 

Don’t waste your time on those that don’t love your soul 

Be with those that listen without judgement 

And love you no matter how ugly your looking and acting

Because they see the real beautiful you 

See ya xx

A happy find

I have lost 20 kilos cutting carbs out of my diet 

I’ve slowly added a little. But I really don’t want to eat lots as I kinda get addicted and 

Then I can’t stop 

So I’ve been on the look out for alternatives 

These noodles are made from yams 

So very little carbs, 

My daughter in laws sister is married to a Korean and knew exactly where to go to get them 

Tonight I tried them for the very first time 

I am happy to say they are very nice 

I couldn’t read the directions on the packet but once again Rebecca came through by finding a link to a blog 

The lovely blogger said she rinsed them thoroughly 

Then boiled them 

Then fried them in a dry pan to get rid of the excess liquid 

I tried a few straight from the pan and omg. They were good 

They didn’t have any taste really, so perfect for taking on the flavours of what ever your cooking 

And frying off the excess liquid made them feel like noodles 

So I added my meatballs in tomatoes an Italian spices and 

They were goooooood 

A Meal that I love without the carbs 

Doesn’t get any better than that 

So give them a go 

What have you got to lose!

Thanks so much Rebecca your a gem xxx

See ya xx

Wordless Wednesday

The prepping continues

The van has been set up near the house and I’ve gone through and organised the food that’s in it 

All out of date products are gone 

I had to throw out a few pieces of clothing that I kept in there as they are now way to big for me 

That felt good! 

And the start of the stockpiling. 

Water for drinking and cooking more non perishables in the Aldi bag 

UTH long life milk

All ready to be put away under the bed. 

Once that’s done I’ll organise extra drinks like sugar free coke and maybe a bottle of something with kick to it to mix lol 

Then we will order the meat from the butchers and get it cryovaced 

That way it doesn’t have to get frozen and lasts weeks in the fridge 

Last thing will be fresh food. The day before and then that will be replenished at the last place possible before going off road 

I’ve already started packing   I’ve got my bag in my room and as I remember something it goes in 

I need to pack for freezing cold and very warm weather. 

So that’s it. 

Everything else is pretty much done 

Just make sure I have plenty of animal feed for my pets and mathew will be looking after them while we are away 

Only ten more days to go! 

See ya xxx

Remember when

Talking to a friend via messenger. She commented on how quick I type 

I’m on an iPad and since i was a typist I use all my fingers and I’m much quicker than someone on a phone using two fingers 

When I was back at school. My headmaster, being very progressive, decided we should all learn to type.

He told us we would all need to know how to type in the future. 

So that’s where I learnt to type. 

He was very clever. And although I hated typing class. It has come in very useful over my life. 

I’m pretty sure we learnt on something like these black ones. They were ancient even back then! 

You had to really hit those keys hard and once you got any speed up. The little arms would cross and get stuck

Here’s one that’s a little more modern lol 

My first job was in a bank. Where the typing skills came into good use. I even had to use one of those recorders where the boss dictates 

Into it and I had to listen and type what he said! 

And I have no idea why. But everytime I had to change the ribbon, I happen to be wearing white that day! 

Omg. Red and black ink all over me

We laughed when we remembered those days.  This younger generation will never know the pain of changing that blessed ribbon, 

Or having to set margins or even the pain of typing legal documents that could not have not even one correction on it. 

And no magic spell check for us to put the word in. 

NO WAY

did you learn to type at school? 

What are your memories like? 

See ya. xxx

A present for me

The weather has turned very cold on this first day of winter. 

So my thoughts turned to sitting under a blanket and reading. 

I have kindle on my iPad. But I wanted to download many more books 

I decided as memory was getting low a separate kindle would be a great idea 

Plus they are so much smaller than the iPad and I can take it away with me to read on my trip 

So off I went and purchase this 

These new ones are supposed to last two weeks on one charge! 

A bonus as for a long time I won’t have access to power. 

Another issue for my iPad. I can charge while driving. But I won’t be in the car everyday 

This way everything can stay charged longer   I use the iPad and phone to take pics, so I can use my new kindle to read 

It’s on the charge now and soon I’ll hopefully get it all going and I can relax and start to read 

Anyone else got a kindle or something similar?  How do you like it?

See ya xxx