Zoom, zoom, zoom!

Did March zoom past or what? That sure went quicker than quick. Just as quick as a GP F1.

Oh well, back to the start of March seeing this is the March Update. Hold on tight. It was not a big month so won't take long really.

The Month started still in Bacchus Marsh area and enjoying the pleasant surrounds. I caught up with a few people and Mark, Sue and I went to lunch a few times as well.

You might remember last update I spoke about some odd jobs needed doing? Well, before leaving Bacchus marsh they all got completed to both the Collie and Aluminium Tent. A 23 LED light bar fitted to front of Collie. An LED strip light fitted down low to rear of Collie. Fans and switch re-fitted to rear of fridge vent. Fridge wires upgraded to heavier cable to allow better use of 12v side of fridge while travelling around etc. Also, and as well even replaced the 30amp Solar Regulator/Charger to a 40amp for better use of the Solar Panels on the roof. That is working better than I had hoped so really happy with that.

Oh! I went out one day and when I returned the local authorities (land owners) had installed a parking meter next to the aluminium tent. Not only that but as well even it was expired and I had been booked for over staying my time. Bugga. Maybe it was a hint to leave :) Funny! I noticed it was 20c for 8 hours so put 20c in and nothing happened, still expired. Next day I thought, I will sort this machine so I put 50c in but still expired. RIGGED! Good one Mark and Sue :)

Mark, Sue and I headed out for lunch a few times as mentioned above to a great place down just north of Geelong VIC called the Gateway Hotel. This is an all you can eat place and was only $14 seniors for lunch, Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday and $16 Thursday and Friday. Great value and really good quality food. Well worth it and at that price could be a weekly outing for local seniors. No dinner those nights and I tell you that for free. Its all Sues fault!

I managed to fit in more visits to my daughter and two grandsons south of Melbourne and as usual enjoyed those visits. On one of the visits I even fitted a trip in overseas. Yep, after the family visit I caught up with good friends Brian and Cheryl at Sorrento as I was going overseas before heading back to The Marsh. I decided instead of battling through the heavy afternoon Melbourne traffic I would go stress free and go on the Queenscliff/Sorrento Ferry across to Queenscliff then via Geelong to The Marsh. That's always a nice 40min ferry trip. Great to catch up again Brian and Cheryl, thank you. We will catch up again before the year is out for sure.

During my stay in The Marsh I found a Foodworks supermarket, what a great place, that has everything you would ever want, including pre-cooked meals and nice and fresh. This place would give the big two a run for their money and found I was doing all my shopping there. They also have a café so you can sit down and have a coffee/tea or even a meal. You can find it opposite the golden arches.

I will add here a VERY BIG THANKYOU to Mark and Sue for allowing me to stay on their property after their return and all the help with the aluminium tent and tug. The knowledge added to my human hard drive has been great. I just hope my memory drive doesn't let me down.

The 20/3 arrived and it was time to head a little further north to Young NSW Via two nights at Jugiong, about 60km west of Yass NSW. Young is Just slightly NE of Wagga Wagga. I was asked to look after my little mate Ruby and her little sister Annie, who is actually bigger, also and as well even I can't forget Chloe the cat and the smallest member of the family, Bob the bird, while mum and dad headed to the south NSW coast for their daughters wedding, a very exciting time not to be missed and difficult with little fur munchkins in tow so uncle Doug to the rescue. I had looked after Ruby, Chloe and Bob before when I found out Ruby was a bed hog but a loveable one though. I had to say that in case she reads this.

I might add here that there are heaps and I mean heaps of road works along the Hume Highway both in VIC and NSW, 40kmh stuff and slow, so if you are heading that way for at least 12 months I would allow for the extra time.

I had a lovely two nights at Jugiong including a lovely lunch across the road at the pub, the 'Sir George' the day after my arrival. This pub was established in 1845 and was very busy in its day but closed many years later. It re-opened after Renos in 2015 to what it is now. Not your every day pub but nice just the same. I left Jugiong on the 22/3 and arrived at Young mid-afternoon ready to baby sit. Or is that dog sit, cat sit and bird sit? Garry and Roxanne left not long after that. They arrived home after the wedding etc all excited and I stayed on a couple of extra weeks to catch up with them.       

The weather for the month was nice days high 20c to low 30c with coolish nights 10c to 18c and lots of strong winds at all three locations I was at. I just can't seem to escape those strong winds. Still, much better than floods and fires. Anytime. Speaking of floods, very little to no rain has been had in the areas I have been.

The last day of March arrived and Garry and I fitted two new outside fittings to the east facing outside wall. The house is made of lovely rough faced sandstone looking Besser brick. Garry was the trady and I was the labourer, or maybe the supervisor, or maybe the 2IC, or maybe the lookereronera. Nup, I reckon the supervisor cos I said to Garry on the first fitting to put 4 screws in to make sure it would be solid but only 3 went in. "It'll be right mate". Ya just can't tell these young blokes anything, they all know betterer :) The second fitting was fitted and this time 4 screws done, much better so he went back, undid 5 screws in total to drill another pilot hole for, yes, you guessed, the 4^th screw in the first fitting. "Feels stronger" says Garry :) Mmmm.

Everything was checked and double checked. All good. Job well done. Oh! The Supervisor had to do the tidy up as well. Something sounds wrong there? :)

Job well done, so Garry, Roxanne and myself headed by Taxi to the Young Services Club for dinner that night. Now this is one nice busy club with a good menu and prices and a good night was had by all there, including us. We got a taxi again and headed back to the house and aluminium tent.

The last day of March also saw the end to Daylight Savings overnight for this season so back to the real world of light and dark. That brings to mind. Garry wouldn't believe me that it will be lighter earlier in the morning now. Mmmm, it has just been getting light around 7.00am lately but the first morning after the clocks being wound back one hour, saw daylight at 6.00am. Must be that younger bloke not listening thing again maybe :)  

So here I am in Young NSW as we speak and the Month of March has ended and so has this update. Where will I be when next we speak? Who knows? Somewhere exciting I'm sure and I will have to read my own April update to find out where I ended up.  So, until next we chat keep safe everyone.

DOUG  

Some pics below as usual.