Waiting

We are still at Georgina's waiting for the van's to be ready. I swing between excited anticipation at having what promises to be a humble but efficient set up, and what feels a bit like shock at the anticipated expense of it all! I have a new canvas being fitted to the pop top caravan. The van cost me $600 and the canvas will cost me around $3,000. The van is basically an empty room with two beds which is just what I need as all my kitchen stuff is in the Mazda giving me the option of taking it out on it's own when I want. Once I get mattresses, the total cost of the caravan will be around $4,500 - $5,000. It will function as extra storage, sleeping and a sitting room in inclement weather. It's easy to tow and to set up and rather sweet. I'm thinking of grabbing a couple of bean bags and looking into some storage box options that can double up as seating and tables (maybe packing crates or old suitcases).

The Mazda is being fitted out with a new compression fridge (wee) and solar panels. The wiring is all being replace as well as new gas bottle and regulator to comply with safety standards. This will be my only vehicle so I'm very glad that it's dual fuel. It seats five which is handy too. My old, dear Bedford was a bit of a guzzler and only took one passenger.

I'm also going to have a bunk option in the Mazda which is simply ply boards and foam rubber mattress. Marek rang me this morning with a cost estimate for the labour - $3,000. Of course, I am quite a way over what I had budgeted and when I feel the blood draining from my head I remind myself that I am dealing in thousands not tens or hundreds of thousands and that seems to help......a little. It's all relative, I guess.

Aurora has her new wetsuit on. Georgina offered to put the hose on her to test it out but she declined the offer. She is keen to get her surf board but I don't see many surfing options between here and Darwin, really!

Zoe has woken this morning with a very sore throat so she is resting in bed whilst Aurora paces the house and yard being bored and letting us all know it.

Georgina is concentrating on getting her project wrapped up.

Django had his kids for the night last night which was a delight for us all.

Annie is looking into two way radios so that we don't have to rely on the mobile phones every time we want to check in or chat with each other whilst we're driving.

Well, we are certainly progressing along the figurative track, itching to get on the literal one again in the next day or so, hopefully!