kiwibird: A short blog

A short blog, for me anyway, before we leave for a three week trip to New Zealand. Looking forward to seeing all the family again, after a two year gap.

We have all been been our usual busy selves. The grandchildren are all back to school, and busy with their studies. Emma and Steve have looked at many houses for sale, and have missed out on a couple of houses due to offers coming in that were higher than theirs. But they have now agreed to purchase a house, before it went on the market, so had no competition. There is a very strong market for houses in Aldinga Beach. More about this when we return from New Zealand.

Donna and Patrick had his aunt and uncle, Liz and Graeme, to stay for nearly three weeks. They came all the way from Scotland, from one extreme temperature to another. It was really lovely to spend time with them. Donna and Patrick really enjoyed their visit and were sad to see them leave.

My lips have finally healed, thank goodness. I had to resort to putting Sudocream on the edge of the lips and on the skin surrounding them, in order to heal the broken red skin. But I have learned my lesson and I will be wearing a hat plus face and lip screens during the day.

This climate can be very harsh, and I especially wished I was back in Joydens Wood, on one early morning walk with the dog. The wind was strong and dry, a north easterly, so keeping a hat on was extremely difficult. The sticky flies kept hanging around my face, and every time we stopped before crossing the road, Piper got covered in ants. And my lips were very sore. Oh for a cold walk in Joydens Wood, even in the mud.

But mostly the climate is not so difficult and I love the early morning walks at Port Willunga.

We celebrated Donna and Emma's birthday at our house, with a good Aussie barbeque. Isabel made a delicious carrot cake.

The birthday girls, Donna and Emma. And no they are not twins, just born on the same day, but not the same year.

Blowing out the candles.

Shades of the Cote D'Azur. A luxury boat looking lonely out in the bay.

We went to the Camping and Caravan show, in order to look at anything small enough for us to tow. Almost impossible in this country. Big, big vehicles of all sorts. All made for large four wheeled drive vehicles.

We loved the little baby kangaroos, so snug in their purpose made pouches. Sadly their mothers were probably killed by motor vehicles.

The huge chassis' on most caravans here add to overall weight.

A line up of the big vehicles.

We were interested in the trailer tents, both hard and soft topped, but even then a four wheeled drive vehicle is needed to tow most of them.

In the end we thought this small light weight A framed caravan the best option for us, if we could afford one in the near future. The roof folds down in minutes, and then it is a matter of towing a trailer. The little caravan comes with a water tank, hot water system, plus air conditioning and heating. And there was a stove and sink inside. Plus two beds. No toilet, that will have to be a portaloo in a little toilet tent, complete with a local snake or two. No floors.