I'mm baaaaack! Sort off.

After calling an emergency committee meeting and making an executive decision after a few people asked for regular updates that I would do a Claytons Update you know, the update you get when you don't get a real update, so sit back and find out what I have been up to, or not up to over the last two months.

HAPPY NEW YEAR Welcome to 2020, a new decade and my Claytons Update #1. It covers November and December 2019. Struth! That was a decade ago now.

I won't start with the weather this time but will do that later. Instead I will start off by saying, the pain I was experiencing for many months finally started to settle a little after a couple of months of Physio, enough to take myself off full time pain killers and just the odd one or two here and there, so it gave me a chance to try driving a longer distance than the 7km from the farm into Young NSW and back. I am also wearing a magnetic knee brace and magnets around the neck to try and help with the shoulders. They do help, especially the knee one. Only problem is, I have so many magnets on me I have to avoid metal objects or I get sucked to them and stuck.

Another thing that took place during the last two months was, I had a major service done on the Collie, full service and change timing belt and water pump. As they dismantled the front section of the engine, they also found 8, yes, 8, wasp nests, like 2 diameter size ones. Result, one recked radiator with a big hole, so a new radiator was also needed. Many $$$$$ later all sorted.

Time to start testing driving longer distances, so I started by a 45-minute drive to Cootamundra NSW, slightly south of Young to see how I went and get a couple of things while there. I still had to stop about half way and again on the way back but the pain wasnt as bad and cleared after about 5 minutes so was able to continue on. A week later I did it again and actually made it there without a stop, had lunch and headed back without stopping again so that was great.

The 14th of December arrived and I decided, with permission from Physio and GP that I have now stopped seeing but continue with stretches etc and house-sitting duties completed, to start heading south to Ned Kelly Country, North East VIC, about an hour south of Albury/Wodonga. I love that area. So after my goodbyes I made an exit but Instead of the 4-hour drive from Young and as I promised the Physio and GP, I split the trip into two, staying two nights at Holbrook NSW, about 1-hour North of Albury in the caravan park, a couple of rest stops were needed along the way though. I have stayed there before and enjoyed it, so again I stayed. By staying the two nights I was able to rest up and continue the journey south later.

Remember that service I had none well, I think a problem as arisen. Before the work was done the temp gauge never went away from quarter when not towing and just under halfway while towing even up hills etc. Now, it's a little over quarter way not towing and gets way over halfway heading to the red when towing up hills and revs are around 2500rpm. I will have to ring Holden in Young who did the work and see what they say and suggest I do because I won't be back in Young until Mid-March at this stage. Someone I was talking to here in Kelly Country reckons I should fit some sort of radiator fan kit to assist with the cooling. Sounds OK but why does it do it now and not before? Why is it so.

Moving right along, I left Holbrook and because I didn't get a chance to weigh the aluminium tent and Collie before leaving Townsville in September 2019, I decided to call into the BP Logic Centre at Barnawartha, about 15km south of Wodonga because they have a self-paying and self-serve, public weighbridge, set up out the back of the servo. Its owned by 'goweigh' not the servo. A credit card is required and very easy to operate. A $30 charge per weigh. You also get a printout and can also email it or text it to yourself. The email was handy as I was able to forward that to my new Insurance company. If I can do it, so can you. I weighed the aluminium tent and Collie together then went and parked out of the way, unhooked, then went back with the Collie to weigh it then back to the aluminium tent and weighed the tow ball weight before hooking up again, all that was left, was to do were the sums to find out the weights. I didn't realise it at the time but if you unhook and position the van and car on the weighbridge properly, you can weigh both at same time, saving $30.00. OH well! How did I go I hear you say, well, good is the way it went! The Collie is well under everywhere and the Aluminium tent is under the ATM, not a lot, but under, combined is also well under, so I am a happy camper in that department. I have seen a few of these weigh bridges out in the playground now.

Also, and as well even this massive service centre has a mini solar farm set up with four electric car filling stations run by the solar. Out the back of the servo centre, I reckon there is room for up to 100 trucks and caravan spots as well. Everything is so easy to get in, around and out of with your van on the back. Something that isnt always possible. Some servos are so tight I give them a miss. There is a Café and that Jack bloke who is always hungry is inside to keep the hungries away too. A very impressive service centre for sure and I tell you that for free.

That all done and dusted I headed to my destination arriving around 10.30am. I sorted things out in the office and had a chat catching up on the goings on since my last visit then reversed onto a different site this time, a shady site, levelled the aluminium tent and unhooked. That was enough for the day.

The next morning, I started setting up for my stay until, well, who knows how long? I don't, as I try not to plan too far ahead. That does or does not happen. I had to stop a few times to rest up but got things finished so all good. I am still in body repair mode so have to be careful.

Overall the trip down from Young went well with stops as required to rest up and stretch so no complaints really.

Christmas arrived from nowhere and I had an invite to spend Christmas with my younger daughter, my son-in-law and the two grandsons at the Fokkers. (Daughters, In-laws) Down south of Melbourne. I left early to allow time for rest stops arriving around 11.00am. A lovely meal and afternoon was spent with family and I spose you could say, extended family. Thankyou to the hosts, the Fokkers :) (Paul and Cheryl) I had also arranged prior to stay the night elsewhere as not to over do it. I left early Boxing day in quite a bit of pain to do a final breaky visit and hand out a few gifts and have some my time with the boys as I don't get to see them much. That was enjoyed muchly. I then left there and made a slow trip back to Kelly Country, arriving late afternoon, again, after a few stops. A very enjoyable Christmas had. A got through a very painful and uncomfortable night to be honest but the next day was probably the best day I have had health wise for some time. I hope that continues.

When I got back to the aluminium tent a GN friend had arrived and set up a couple of spots away so when he saw I had arrived back he wondered over and we chatted for a while over a cold drink. It was good to see Roger again as the last time I saw him he also visited me here after I had the bad fall early in the year. Thanks, heaps, for calling in to say hi Roger. Its always good to see GN friends and other friends.  

Now for the weather report. Well thats how they do it on the TV news. News first, followed by Sport then finish off with weather. Due to no sport, unless the short walks and stretches comes under that category I will go to the weather report. Still no map behind me or the clicker thingy in my hand sorry. OH! I am only in shorts, T shirt and thongs, no suit sorry. I believe in a casual weather reporter. 

Over all, varied lower temps overnight every night for the two months until reaching Kelly Country then low to high-teens overnight and some low 20s even. Day temps were all on the hot side with high 20s nudging into the 30s and again, reaching Kelly Country, the temps suddenly were reaching mid to high 30s with mostly 40s every day with a few reaching 45c. Yep, thats hot. Thats what happens in North East VIC though.

OH! Those squiggly lines were close together a lot too. They settled and got further apart in Kelly Country.

There has been heaps of smoke from the various fires surrounding us in the Southern Slopes NSW and North East VIC but no complaints from me as I feel for all those involved fighting the fires and those that have lost loved ones, property and stock. I was involved in the Ash Wednesday and Black Saturday fires in VIC many moons back so know what they are going through. A bit of smoke to put up with is nothing. If it got thicker it might be though. A visit to the big green shed for a good quality mask would be needed.

The aircon in the aluminium tent has been getting a good work out as has the swimming pool since arriving in Kelly Country. Ah yes, that pool, its like a long-lost friend and I tell you that for free. Only problem is, it can get busy with kids so I give it a miss then. I even had to have the aircon on at night for two nights for the first time.

Well thats about it for this Claytons Update so until the next one, actually #2, I bid you fare well and keep safe out there everyone.  

I have managed to get some pics added below, nothing special though sorry.