Tuesday 2nd July 2019

August 5th 2019

Since last we are putting the finishing touches on preparations to move the caravan this coming weekend.  So we have:

Moved the Water Tanks:

- This entailed prepping the site and foundations of one tank only, we don't need both tanks working at present;

- Moving the tanks from their prominent and temporary position right in the middle of the block; that was fun :)

- Getting one tank filled with carted water;

- Setting up one pump and associated plumbing to get this water to the van site.

- We also moved the smaller tank we bought much earlier to a position which will accept direct water run-off from the (to be constructed) roof of the container which itself still needs to be moved);

Big bugger !  BTW we did find the outlet :)

Motoko works Mr Mitarai, together with girl sound effects.

All nicely in place for the time being.

Set up a Portable Loo:

- Ordered and had positioned a port-a-loo to save the undignified trip to the local dumping station to empty the caravan's toilet small cassette on a regular basis;

- we chose the Cheap-a-Loo over the plastic contemporary type for a grand saving of $1 per day;

- the installers said we'd made the correct choice as the plastic ones are exactly the same inside as the metal ones, but are also cooler in temp than the plastic;

- it looks exceedingly unattractive, so we wrapped it in black shade cloth :)

- Motoko spent nearly a day cleaning and decorating it; it's now cleaner then from the factory, and we bought a new seat ($7 at Bunnings) to make usage a tad more bearable;

- will be interesting what comments are made by the guys when they come for the first pump-out visit :),  I can imagine... "Sydney wankers"

Attractive isn't it :(

Ground Levelling for the Van: 

- spent a bit of time levelling the ground to accept the van and the new annex we bought to expand the living space;

- trenched a temporary drain around the van position to hopefully take water away from the van area when the next storm occur;

- prepped the area for the container's relocation, which will await the van's adjusted positioning.

Had to move a stump to get things right.  I was so deep I'm sure I started to hear Chinese voices.

Electricity:

- Suppose to be connected this Friday, however neighbour Frank passed us an extension cord from his shed's power which we could use temporarily if connection is delayed.

Furniture:

- with council clean-up underway in Noosa we scored two coffee tables and a dining table on the way to Marnie this week. Then passing a garage sale Sunday, allow us to get two nice folding chairs to add to the mix for $5 each;

- a tin of Colorbond "Monument" this millennium's "Mission Brown" and a brush over has made them all look pretty usable next to the tanks of the same colour.

First Visitors:

- former CiSRA colleagues, Megan and Maureen dropped in to see how we are getting on;

- we prepared a nice picnic on the block and such and a few drinks to celebrate while reminiscing on some of the characters we worked with over 20 odd year;

- we are expecting Saorie next week and Dave and Karen at month's end;

- nice to catch up with familiar faces.

- incidentally we also attended the 1st Noosa River Time Trial (ski paddling) which was held Sunday morning.  We were surprised to find it set up by Andy Ross, a mate and Northern Beaches paddler who has escaped to the Northern, Northern Beaches, or perhaps the Far Northern Beaches as we have.

A Trip to Emergency:

- Last Tuesday I was bitten by something on the finger whist pulling weeds out of the bush;

- I didn't see what it was, stung a bit and was red for about 10 mins, but then I started to sweat a lot, palms went very itchy, feet literally caught on fire (had to take my shoes off) and had chest pain like bad indigestion;

- this progressed and I had to sit down for a while.

- sensible heads thought a trip to emergency may be an idea, and I gave it to that suggestion due to the unusual reaction and the fact I didn't see what to was;

- once at emergency the fact I was bitten and had chest pain meant I got the green door wave thru and was plugged into everything straight away;

- short story was, even though we didn't know what it was, and those symptoms passed over the next few hours the ER doctor recommended I go through the snake bite protocol to be sure.  That mean a night in the ICU. being woken up every hour and blood tests every 4;

- we learnt Noosa has a very nice hospital, very close to Doonan and very nice staff.  Probably not my last trip there no doubt...

Some return for the Health Insurance I pay.

A Day at the Races:

Conor, mate Robert Fraser's son, was racing at the Australian MX Titles at Coolum on the weekend so a visit to see him in action was on the cards.

As it turned out he had machine issues and failed to finish either Saturday's or Sunday's races, a shame as he was doing well until technical issues set in.

This was Motoko's first visit to a MX track and seeing bikes in action on the large jumps that are now very common.

Another Day at the Races, but Different:

We attended the first Noosa River Time Trial held on Sunday morning and arranged (to our surprise) from a Sydney paddling mate, Andy Ross, who has moved to the Far Northern Beaches like us.  Loverly morning, just 5 starters but you have to start an event somehow.  7:30 on the water at The Boatshed on Gympie Terrace.  Coffee after of course just 10 steps away, as is the parking.

The big dude, 'Solo', got his nick name after being one of the original "Solo Man' guys from the TV ads last century.

Next week: we move on site (hopefully)