Nuriootpa SA

Last night, we arrived here in Nuriootpa in the Barossa Valley-not far to relocate, but very different from Meningie. The vines are looking beautiful and are probably ready to be picked. The sky is blue and we might get our first really warm weather in a week.

Our site is great. A drive through on plenty of grass (the dog loves that) bordering the local show grounds (last night at dusk, the galahs were like fleas on a dog over there eating seeds or something). My only problem is I had to pack a snack to get to the toilets in the middle of the night. I'm torn between wanting to stay a night or two extra or going ASAP because of the toilet trek. It's a good lesson to park as close as we can to the amenities and walk to enjoy the view!

We've been out shopping this morning in Nuriootpa and Tanunda and at the suggestion of Pam we met in Meningie, we visited all the op shops (charity or thrift shops to some of you) we could find. We came away with a few good books, home grown tomatoes, home made tomato and plum sauces and marmalade. We could have had heaps of fresh produce and condiments, but I stopped myself getting too carried away as there are many more op shops to be visited. I just ate some of the tomatoes on toast for my lunch, something I've loved since I was a kid(even before I knew it was called "bruscetta" and was trendy and expensive!)

Day 2 in Nurioopta, we visited a "whispering wall" at a dam on the way to Birdwood. Russ and Devi walked to the other end (about 180 metres) then I just spoke to them in a normal voice. It really confused Devi apparently when I called her, but she couldn't see me to know where my voice was coming from. It was amazing. Then we spent a few hours at the National Auto Museum in Birdwood. It's pretty big and we only got a pretty quick look in the 3 hours. I really enjoyed seeing all the cars dad owned as I grew up-Morris Minor, Austin Major, Worsley, Austin 1800 and then all the cars my boyfriends had-EH, HR, Torana, Falcons and Valiants. There was also an impressive collection of vintage and classic bikes which we enjoyed.

The dog (who we think is a bit anti social) has made herself a friend. Vinny a 3 year old who is staying near us has really loved throwing her ball and playing on the oval with her for the last couple of days. It's fun to watch them. He wouldn't go to the pool with his mother until they'd had a play today.

Tonight, we are having a mix of duck and veal, turkey bratwurst and beef with mustard and fresh herbs sausages we bought from a local butcher. As usual, I'm looking forward to my dinner!

Some of you might know I was having e-mail problems, if so the e-mail address janandrussroundoz@hotmail.com is now working fine.

Meningie

It's our 3rd day in Meningie SA, and the weather has turned a bit yucky. Yesterday was warm and muggy, about midnight last night the wind blew up and we had to race outside to roll the awning up before it blew off. Today is cool and windy and it's just started to rain.

We went for a great drive yesterday out to the barrages and through the Coorong, we crossed between Lakes Alexandrina and Albert by ferry and passed Australia's only inland lighthouse (in fact the only one in the Southern hemisphere) before heading home. We had dinner with friends who live here whilst Trevor manages Coorong Dairies-the Lake Alexandrina Station milks 3000 cows and that is taking about 18 hours a day at the moment!

Last night before dinner Russell took the dog to the vet for a check up of her leg and came home with a rabbit he bought at the local butcher, so it's rabbit for us tonight which is one of our favourites!! I love SA when it comes to food-they kill and eat almost anything that has 4 legs and rabbit is so much easier and cheaper to buy than at home.

Day 4 in Meningie, and our rabbit was wonderful. We cooked a Stifado, which is a Greek style recipe containing tomato, red wine sauce, whole onions and a few different herbs and spices.Yum
Tonight it's nice to say we are having a BBQ with our neighbours Ross and Pam who were from Shepparton until they sold out to go on the road permanently. We are taking our meat and a coleslaw next door to eat with them. When they had a look at our van, they took us to theirs to show us they are basically exactly the same-except for a wash basin and a partition between the bed and rest of van. Pam designed their van after seeing one similar but about 15 years old. She tells us it is a very uncommon floor plan, but wouldn't change a thing after living in it for 9 months!

Meningie has been great. Anyone passing through should stop and buy a pie or pastie at the bakery, or visit the butcher shop where they only sell meat they slaughter themselves and so sell at a really reasonable price. They were only too happy to cryovac us a few small packs of meat and some fillets of local Coorong mullet to take with us too which will be really handy. Don't be put off by the shop-it seems like it is their office, tea room, and the wife had her sewing machine and computer to keep her busy in the quiet times. The Coorong mullet is highly recommended by anyone local you speak to.

We were also able to get 1kg of cooked yabbies to take with us tonight to the neighbours. They cost us $12 and look yummy, but I'll let you know.

Day 1 South Australia

We finally got the house cleaned,the last of our stuff packed and away by 1.30pm. We got as far as Port Fairy (27ks from home)and stopped for lunch at Jules wine bar which our friends own. It was yummy and we looked pretty much like yuppies with our dog anchored to a chair as we sipped lattes ;-)

Tonight and the next couple, we are staying in Mount Gambier just over the South Australian border. It's a fair sized town and a good first stop to work out what we've forgotten and need (eg a collapsable kennel and better aerial connections for the TV). Devi's leg is not looking too good either, so a trip to the local vet might be in order.

The park we found is REALLY cheap with clean ensuites and friendly management-a good start to a holiday. So was a nice bottle of NZ sparkling wine and spaghetti bolognaise.

I'm pretty pleased with my internet connection-speed is OK and great running the computer on the battery in this tiny area. It's all good.

Last day in Warrnambool

It's our last day here today. Tomorrow we are heading to Mt Gambier in South Australia for our first couple of nights. The past few days have been a bit difficult-the stress of packing and at the same time the excitement of the trip is getting to us.

Friday we woke up (Russell at last better from food poisoning) to find the dog on the front step with her leg almost ripped off-thunder in the night put her through a fence we suspect. She suffered a big blood loss, but many stitches, a few hundred dollars and she's pretty good again. She'll need to visit the vet in about Ceduna we think to have her stitches out. The bandages come off today.

Friday afternoon, we put the boat on the back of the ute only to discover when they repaired the bad welding job they'd put the bars back differently and the holes no longer aligned to bolt the boat down. 2 hours at the marine centre late Friday has seen that fixed, but once again it's not a pretty job.

Yesterday, I thought I would take some photos of the whole thing-ute and canopy, bot and caravan, all ready to go. I loaded my expensive photo editing program on here only to deiscover it thinks I am trying to steal a copy. I had it loaded on the old computer but can't seem to load it on to this one.

Yesterday afternoon, I broke the oven door whilst trying to clean the oven. I'll have to call a plumber and the tenants to work that one out after we leave.

Last night we went out to dinner with neighbours and friends and had a lovely night. No food poisoning either. Today is final packing day. A few more big things to go downstairs and a few tiny things to be loaded in the van. We are staying the night with our neighbours (actually in our own spare bed which they have borrowed!) then should head off around 12ish tomorrow Monday.

Food Poisoning

Russ and I and a couple of friends went out to dinner on Saturday night. We woke on Sunday with horrible stomach pains and things just went down hill and to the en-suite from there. Russ had ordered a main of risotto which he didn't finish as he didn't like it-I tried a couple of spoonfuls and decided I also didn't think much of it. He has suffered far more than me for eating far more of it than me and is only improving today. It's put our planning and packing back a bit, so at this stage, we may not leave until Tuesday. Not a huge problem in the scheme of things.

The ute now has it's canvas canopy over the frame at the rear, the boat will need to go back up on top Thursday, and after a trip to the vet and the doctor on Friday, the van will come home and be loaded up. This all looks like it's about to happen.

Boats, Packing and Dinners

Packing is going pretty well. It's a bit easy though to sit here and put it off thinking it can be done "later" There are not many "laters" left!

We sold our old boat yesterday. Our original plan was to sell the boat only, keeping the motor. After advertising it 3 times, we had to rethink that. Funnily enough, a man turned up with a motor, thinking about buying our boat to make selling his motor easier. The sale didn't go through, but we bought his motor, and the first person to arrive to view our boat and motor bought it!!!!! Yay!!!!!

I've worked at TAFE 4 days this week, and will do the same next week. I'm only working 6 hours a day, so plenty of time to get home qand do a bit around here.

Tonight we are off to stay in Geelong, having dinner with my son and sister etc etc. It will be our last chance to catch up for some time. Tomorrow we're off out with our neighbours and other friends, Sunday, dinner at Ryan and Kirstyn's. Wednesday it's dinner at the Lylles, as Peter needs to talk about the gardening he will do for us while we are away.

preparations

Yesterday-Feb 3rd was a pretty successful day. We finally got the carry racks for the boat right. Our car has spent 4 days in total at the boat dealer's and I'm now sure he didn't have a clue as to what he was doing.

I also got my laptop and internet plan yesterday, so I am writing on it for the first time. A little bit fiddly after the other keyboard, but I know I'll get used to it.

Our tenants arrived yesterday to sign the lease agreements and sign the bond, so that feels good too.