Just arrived today at the Dunk Island View Van Park at Wongaling Beach (between Mission Beach and South Mission Beach NQ) looking out of my window at Dunk Island while typing this.
Weather is pretty hard to take, gentle breeze, about 20% cloud, a warm 28degC with a forecast 20degC overnight minimum.
The place looks almost empty with only four other vans here at the moment - all the 'nomads' have left for home (south?).
I rarely go to beaches, but as everyone has gone home, I can enjoy the scenery without the crowds.
Cheers - John
-- Edited by rockylizard on Tuesday 16th of October 2012 10:02:47 AM
We are sitting on the river at Deniliquin, having decided to stay an extra day or so. The river, and the river gums are so relaxing!
Lots of corellas coming over, pink galahs and many birds I can't identify.
Today we explored Hay......omg flat as!
Tomorrow, maybe Echuca.
Glass of happy hour and all's right with the world !
Now, where are you?
Rosie
Ahh! the Edwards River at Deni.... nice! Nice town too. Hope you went to the big Shearing Shed in Hay? You could wander over to Finley and see my old high-school if you are really bored. We're at home in Canberra staving off moving-house stress with a little glass of happy hour or two... will be busy with this for a few more weeks so might as well enjoy it I say.
We are in Victoria - come down from Millmerran in QLD over the last six or seven days - changeable weather - warm in the north and all the way down, then changed around Goulburn where we had snow!!!!!! then warmed up again when we got over the border into Victoria. Very pleasant mid 20's day today - nice evening.
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jules "Love is good for the human being!!" (Ben, aged 10)
Still in Deniliquin but leaving tomorrow hopefully with the lights all sorted out. From here we are planning to head to Maldon, which is (I hear) an old gold town, but also has some family history we want to follow up. I will be sorry to leave this lovely riverside spot, full to bursting with bird life ans wonderful sunsets. Rosie
Sandsmere - it will be bloody cold in Macedon - and glad you enjoyed Greens, even with the rubbish - was there after a long weekend, and the rubbish was phenomonal - 2 huge skips overflowing, garbage all around them - rang council, the sent two guys out to build a temporary "bin" - chicken wire, star pickets - and carried all the overflow to it - cost effective?? I don't think so! But at least it stopped it blowing around etc.
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jules "Love is good for the human being!!" (Ben, aged 10)
Hi Jules, actually don't come of age till next June, but they say I am eligible on 14th Dec. My late mums birthday by the way. Centrelink sent me a letter saying I get the age pension at 64 1/2 and I have to fill in the forms and sent them back ASAP.
Edited to say what I'm doing now to keep on topic. I am now working on a new Arrowords Puzzle Book. Giving myself a change from Codebreakers.
-- Edited by Happywanderer on Thursday 18th of October 2012 11:28:18 PM
Where am I and whats happening right now? Well, I'm still at home in Biggenden recuperating with 14 stitches in my back from moles removed, so taking it easy. Also watching TV and reading on here. As soon as stitches removed and my forms have gone into Centrelink to put me on the age pension. Yippeeee, I'm officially old. I will be packed and on the road heading south to catch up with all me mates. Oh and to see the family too.
Hi Jules, actually don't come of age till next June, but they say I am eligible on 14th Dec. My late mums birthday by the way. Centrelink sent me a letter saying I get the age pension at 64 1/2 and I have to fill in the forms and sent them back ASAP.
Edited to say what I'm doing now to keep on topic. I am now working on a new Arrowords Puzzle Book. Giving myself a change from Codebreakers.
-- Edited by Happywanderer on Thursday 18th of October 2012 11:28:18 PM
I got my pension at 64 1/2 as well - last April -what happened to women getting pension at 60??!! Bloody equality of the sexes -that's what I blame!
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jules "Love is good for the human being!!" (Ben, aged 10)
I am waiting for the panel beater to ring and say my car is ready to be collected. Four days without one has been painful. I even had to make bread yesterday and the butter has almost run out. Should be only a couple of hours to go.
I would like to know what happened to women getting the pension at 60???
It now depends on what year you were born and also how long you have been an Australian resident and what type of resident - i.e.
To qualify as an Australian resident, you must be living in Australia as:
an Australian citizen
the holder of a permanent resident visa, or
a New Zealand citizen who was in Australia on 26 February 2001 or for 12 months in the two years immediately before that date, or who was assessed before 26 February 2004 as 'protected'.
To be paid Age Pension, you also need to meet the 10-year qualifying Australian residence requirements, unless you:
are claiming under an international social-security agreement
are a refugee or former refugee
were getting Partner Allowance, Widow Allowance or Widow B Pension immediately before turning Age Pension age, or
are a woman whose partner died while you were both Australian residents and you had two years residency immediately before claiming Age Pension.
Note: The 10-year Australian resident requirement is that you have been an Australian resident for a continuous period of at least 10 years, or for a number of periods that total more than 10 years, with one of the periods being at least five years.
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Esmeralda
It aint over until the fat lady sings, and I dont feel like singing just yet!
Had a look around Maldon yesterday, and today will wander along to Melbourne. I have been playing the old Wallis and Matilda album and have "Clancy of the Overflow" singing in my brain, along with "Bush Christening". I have Jack Thompson's version of the spoken poems of AB Paterson, but the one that really get's me hooked is the sung ballads. I can sing for Australia, but only quietly!
Thats great Gerty. Having met both you and Doug I know you would have enjoyed the visit.
What am I doing. Packing the van ready to head south. Have removed everything and started again. Worked out if I took my fold up table and folding chair out from storage under the bed I can fit heaps in there. Have stacked everything I don't use often but know I will need including warm clothes for Victoria. Power leads, gumboots and numerous other bits and pieces. The folding table and chair can lie on the floor on passenger side as can also my solar panels, fold up shower ensuite. Which leaves room for the clothes I need all the time to now fit better in my wardrobe. Which is where I also put my tv when not in use. Now to get back out there and sort out the food side.
Would you believe, I'm actually home, in the van, in the park. I've been on the road more than home lately, popping in for catching up with business stuff, restocking. There are not too many places I go where I can't do washing, have showers and stock up the supplies. We often cook in the roadside camp, so it's handy to keep the butane gas bottle supply up, and the food we need. We also eat at roadhouses if the meals are good, not just greasy spoon take-away. We have to pull off the road at sundown, so we don't always get to roadhouses or motels, or towns. It's not always suitable to have a fire and cook in the camp oven, but we are versatile. A couple of weeks ago I travelled with 4 x 6m truck bodies and cab/chassis, and 7 other pilots, 2 per vehicle, from Perth to Whyalla. I was the only shiela in the crew and a couple of blokes made me feel out of place. It still goes on, but not often. It has nothing to do with my work, just my gender.
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20ft Roma caravan - Mercedes Benz Sprinter - SA-based at the moment. Transport has no borders.
Management makes the decisions, but is not affected by the decisions it makes.
Melbourne rain has stopped, but it is Melbourne. So am expecting it back. Need together organised and pack up ready to head north again and the better weather.
Been "free camping" in the driveway for a week while visiting the grand babies, but the youngest has pointed out that she is not a baby but a "pre-teen".
So, today it's off to Greens Lake, and then we will wander along home after that.... Well, we will if we get up and organised. It's such a lazy way to live, isn't it?
Melbourne rain has stopped, but still grey here in Frankston, where we, too, are free camping in a driveway - but we have the luxury of a specially built caravan pad on the front lawn! Just chilling till we head off to Tassy!! Had a lovely day yesterday, considering the weather, Mornington Peninsula with Esmeralda (thanks again love).
I thought you were heading off today Jules. Is it next week?
I have spent the last couple of hours in a state of nervousness/stress/call it what ever you want, but it involves lots of trips to the toilet. Should be on the road in a couple of hours. Its been 6 months since I went on any trips and I am really having trouble with a nervous tummy.