Monday, September 15, 2008

The Dream has Started in Earnest

3rd Sept.
We have been in the van for a week or so now and we are starting to get every thing in order, you know every thing has a place etc.!! “put that back where you got it
I have made mention of various people in previous pages and tonight we get to meet the couple from “shiela and willy makit” fame. I have followed their trip around the block with great delight and follow their position in the Camps 4 book. Reading between the lines I recon they have a wicked sense of humour. Shiela e-mailed and said when they arrive in Cairns they would bring Pizza and a bottle from Alice Springs. I said we would supply the beer. The time was set.
I was coming back from the shower block and noticed a green Patrol prowling around and thought I would take a punt. I stuck my head in the window and said “I hope you brought the bloody pizzas” The look on Jule’s face was worth the effort. What a great pair of down to earth people. We sat down to pizzas, bubbly and beer. What a night. Jules tells a bloody great yarn and had me in fits with some of their adventures, like going over a bridge made of logs and getting stuck to a certain cold seat!!!! Lenny sits and sips his beer and adds the appropriate bits that usually lay sh** on Jules,(nicely of course). You had to be here and I guarantee you would have almost wet yourself. We had a great night and we hope to keep in touch with these two and follow them around.They are obviously very much in love (lust in Lenny's place) Please take the time to read their story it is great. http://www.freewebs.com/sheila-willymakit/index.htm
We will continue to keep you informed of our Dream and please take the time to sign our Guest Book.

Finally the Van is Delivered

26th August
A day to remember, We had a big garage sale at our friends place two doors up as we were not allowed to do this in the unit complex. Jo and Darren are great mates and well appreciated. Hells bells, where does all that stuff come from. We had accumulated vast quantities of all sorts of junk and treasures etc. I had a brand new Sunlight genny 2800 watts for sale and one gent said he would take it off my hands for $50. Gees!! That was good of him NOT. we ended up having two guys arguing who was there first to buy it.
We had to be out of our unit by Sunday the 24th so the new tenants could move in, but as luck had it the van would not be here until the 26th.
We moved every thing into a small villa in the park. Luckily the unit had two bedrooms which we filled up with boxes. We finally got a ring from the towing company "Handy Tow" to say the van was at the depot. Bugger no electric brakes fitted to veh yet so explained that the van was to be delivered to site. Yeah! Right, for another $100 we can do that. It cost us $2650 to get the van up from Brisbane but they would not deliver it another 20 klms to the van park. Great service you think?, “Handy Tow” it ain’t! Why is it that every body wants to screw you? I would have sung their praises to all and sundry if they had offered a little bit of service and delivered the van. Ah! Well. Not to worry its here.
New day dawning and the big shift is on whilst Fae is at work, I think she got the better of this!! I loaded up the old Toyota and did several loads to the van. All the big stuff, side board, camphor wood box, etc all went up on the hand cart. You should have seen the look of disbelief on the faces of some of the residents’. One gent could not contain himself and asked if the wife was in the box!!!! It put a smile on my face that one. After all had been put in place Fae and I went out for dinner. According to our next door neighbour we had a constant parade of people going out of their way to walk their dog or just walking by straining to see what the hell was going on.
Had to laugh as it continued when we were at home later. We took a couple of days but Fae finally put the finishing touches on things and pronounced we were home at last. I took a couple of days off work to get the annex up and to set up the van, my boss was not happy and rang me to ask what the hell was going on. I explained that I could have just rang in sick but tried to tell the truth. (next time I will lie) I explained that I was casual and that my wife came above all else, hi then tried to explain that I was “permanent casual!!!” and needed to apply for leave, now that was funny.

The New Tug Arrives

1st August,
Fae gets a call to go down and pick up the new vehicle. Yipee!!! At last. The sales man rang and asked her if was ok to pick up the Honda a little early as the plates etc needed to be done, all well. They had parked the new vehicle in pride of place in the showroom all ready for Fae to drive it out. I think she is very happy with the new machine but just a bit disappointed to have to say goodbye to her beloved Honda Euro. Never mind a new chapter is about to begin!
I must admit it is a very nice vehicle to drive, we weakened and had cruise fitted and all windows tinted so it looks very nice. (pics later) An ARB canopy was colour coded and fitted prior to hand over. It was the first colour coded canopy they had seen at the dealership and they were impressed. I like the twin locks on the tailgate and the smooth interior finish. The motor does seem to have a lot of get up and go even though we are taking it easy for the time being. Fae lets me drive it occasionally and I have to say “it ain’t bad”.