3 - 2023 - March - Special family time - South Australia

 

Entry 3 – 2023 – March - with special family time - South Australia.

We ended up spending about 7 weeks at our home base from mid-February to April 1. It was a very busy period with a seemingly never-ending plethora of necessities and scenario’s requiring attention. We were thankful to be retired, wondering how we managed to accommodate employment during our working life time line.

During this period, we had a primary focus on two big ticket items. Both of the big-ticket items requiring an exhausting amount of consideration. Item one was the decision to place an order for a new caravan. Delivery due in around a years’ time. This was to be our biggest financial decision during our 40 plus years together. The decision to purchase a caravan required some due diligence with an economic assessment, helping to get our heads around this financial statistic.

Below is a picture of a similar caravan we had placed an order for. It will have a similar external shape to our present caravan. Our planned internal design will have a similar bed with everything else quite different. Over the last few years, the caravan industry had experienced many technology advances, which we had decided to take advantage of during this period in our lives. There will be a very different suspension setup, the internal electrical system will be up to date with current technology and the biggest advancement with a self-sufficient power supply, no gas operated appliances and no need to connect to mains electricity.

 Our second big ticket item during this period was a family gathering for Steve’s mum’s 90^th birthday. Planning had started for this event around 12 months prior.

It was held at one of Adelaide’s beach side caravan parks over a March, three day long week-end, where most attendee’s obtained accommodation.

Of special significance all of Mum’s extended family were in attendance on the birthday celebration day. This comprised all of their 5 children and their respective family members, 10 grandchildren and 6 great grandchildren. Even Mum’s brother was in attendance with his 2 children and their families.

It was a monumental occasion. A superb gathering with a flow of happy conversation amongst our extended family.

 It was an exceptionally special time for us. Our Canberra based son and his family were in town for 11 days and our Canada based daughter and husband were also in town for a similar period.

This was the first time our family had been together since 2017. The two below pictures show us in 2017 and 2023.

We were kept busy during this period, fitting in as much family time as our bodies could handle. There was the hide and seek playing in our home with the grandchildren. Again and again, they insisted hiding on our bed under the bed spread, giggling and moving about with Grandpa while Grandma searched all around the house yelling out where can they be.

During the long week-end activities the grandchildren would be at our caravan door early each morning. Poor Mary was struggling to cope with the early morning attention.

It was gratifying to have all of our family together. We pushed ourselves to our bodily limits, lapping up our special family time. We even spent time at one of our surf beaches with our Canada based members providing an Aussie surfing experience. Steve showed the way with some determination, getting up on his surf board. His first outing with his surf board for nearly 17 years. Though around an hour later he could feel many of his body parts starting to seize up.

 Our family members no sooner had headed off on their respective trips to their homes when Steve’s dad had a tumble at his own home. He sustained six broken ribs. We were quickly back to the reality of life hic-ups, after an absolute awesome couple of weeks of family time. Dad spent 5 nights in hospital before being transferred to a rehabilitation hospital to complete his recovery.

Whilst juggling with dad’s hospitalisation we managed to fit in an 800-kilometre trip to Naracoorte for a funeral (Phil Munro.) Eventually the turbulent environment around home settled down. With Dad’s words of wisdom: “You need to get out there and enjoy life while you can,” we were waved off from his hospital bed side.

We had already been packed and primed ready for departure prior Dad’s fall. With Dad’s wise words we were feeling positive to continue with our Australian adventures, ready for a departure the following morning.

We woke the next morning with Mary saying, “I’ve got a sore throat.” Adding to the sore throat her face was swollen. Possibly not just swollen, it was huge. Her voice sounded like her vocal cords were being strangled, with a deep tone, definitely a very strange sound.

A doctor’s visit revealed her tonsils were enlarged. Prognosis, it’s a bit strange, might be tonsilitis. Doctor then said;     “We can leave it for a few days and reassess or we can treat it.” With a very firm voice Mary said;    “Treat it!”

Loaded with anti-biotics, Mary spent the best part of a week lying on the lounge.

Steve continued attending to his parents needs and not forgetting his Mary and her needs.

Once Mary attained a satisfactory recovery we finally headed out for a northern Australian destination. It was around 3 weeks later than our initial planned departure.