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Caravan Escapades

1/19/2017

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Moving onto our land - well sort of!

Here's our "site office" trundling down the highway heading for our land.
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Only one or two pieces worked their way loose and fortunately did not cause any highway-problems. As we collected one or two pieces of "debri" we didn't admit it was from our caravan.
We followed behind, and Glenn from MGM Towing in Bega was impressed with our caravan-travel preparation. We were not, we shouldn't have had any loose bits - thank goodness, it ended well.
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With a very fair price and a cheery wave, Glenn left us with the van to arrange. He unloaded it as close as possible to our desired location, but we still had to manoeuvre it four metres.

Pushing it wasn't an option - so brain-box here (moi), said, 'Let's try to use lengths of timber as a lever on the tow bar, as you lift it I can push it.'
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It not only worked, but worked brilliantly!
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We didn't use the jack and this is on the concrete block (not on our land) - just showing you the tow bar! Nice bit of rust eh?

​We quickly arranged a water tank, filled it with water ("You only want 3,000 litres") and are set to start cleaning the van in preparation for short stays between our house-sits.
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We've since been up to more antics - growing our infrastructure on the land at an alarming rate.

There's been plenty of giggles, spiders, sheds, purchases and all beneath a big blanket of hot humid weather in NSW. But we're having fun - stop by again to check out our next set of
escapades.
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The Caravan Project

12/22/2016

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We have a caravan and annex to use as a "site office" on our land while we build. "Free to anyone who moves it", and then you find out free is expensive in time and effort!
We arrived on day one to start preparations. First we moved the make-shift car port so we could park next to the van. The job took fifteen minutes under the abuse of a happy-holidayer 'it's a good job I don't have to go out.' We had parked four metres away from her car - you could have driven a bus out. We figured she was not having a good time!
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First we had to clear the annex
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Then get on the roof - some timbers had rotted.
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The roof of the annex (from my view) was full of water and weighed a tonne!

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We transported several loads to our land and used the dumpy level to find a level-ish bit of land for the caravan with fall to septic.
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Professionals! The roof sheets (polysterene insulation) fell (pushed) off the top in a perfect pattern (and luckily didn't break a window)
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We made a mess!
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Left in good order for the evening. All this was done, by the way, in ridiculous humidity that sapped every last skerrick of energy.
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Our trailer earned its keep.
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We now had to move the bathroom. We wanted to keep this as one unit.
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So we did what any (in)sane people would do....
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...and loaded it up as one unit! I wanted to sit a mannequin on the toilet to give the other highway-drivers a laugh!
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Now we have a bathroom on our land! 
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And it has the best view!
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I don't know about you, but I'm exhausted....  next blog is the Pacific Highway journey with the wobbly caravan on a truck.
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Glutton for Punishment

12/20/2016

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First there was the barn... now the caravan

If you've been following you will see how we recently turned this.....
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Into this....
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Now watch as we attempt to turn this....
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Into our new - temporary - "site office", here....
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Then we'll turn this......
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Back into this....
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Then, eventually, we'll build something like this...
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Are you following this? Not sure I am either, but stay tuned to see what other antics we get up too.... Oh! and big count down until I get the horses back! Squeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee!
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Shout Out to Nowra Tilt Tray Company

12/16/2016

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And an amusing video - where Noel.... 

I couldn't finish the Barn episode without a shout out to Nowra Tilt Tray Company.

Dave (read last post) - came along and loaded the dismantled barn in just a few hours. He whizzed the load south to Brogo and swiftly, deftly, and gently off loaded it.

We couldn't have asked for a more professional, hardworking driver.

The pricing was fair and we were impressed.

Note: His name wasn't Dave, but our memory has been blotted out as it does after a traumatic time, we now call him Dave because, well, see last post (scroll down!) 
And the last post goes on the barn adventure goes to me.... 
No I didn't forget the video, click here to have a squiz at our roofing antics!
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The Barmy Barney Time Nearly Complete

12/9/2016

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What's the next adventure?

Well, slow down, let's get the barn done first!

Can you believe THIS....
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.... turned into THIS......
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I know! Ridiculous isn't it?

Still, now it sits on our land, with an electric fence around it to keep the cows off. It all looks so easy looking at the pictures, but grab a cuppa and have a squiz through the gallery below.
Take a slurp of tea as here's more (perhaps wine is more appropriate!)
We all went a bit dotty by the end of the project. Noel kept calling new people he met 'Dave'.

So to help his poor old memory Colin and I called everyone and everything 'Dave.'

We had a 'Dave' for every occassion:

"Oh Daayve, where've you put my hammer?"
"That's DAve's fault!"
"Wish Dave was here to help!"
"Dave would know what to do."
Even the wildlife was called Dave.....
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Dave the spider!
Okay, we're almost done on the barn - just one amusing video on the next installment. I was supposed to be the STAR showing my roof top skills, but somehow Noel stole the show.....  coming soon.
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Going Barney

12/7/2016

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Dismantling our next house - perhaps!

So, the work continued (see previous post below). The barn was slowly becoming, well, um, 'bits' of barn.
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Together with Noel, and Noel's brother Colin we spent a hearty, heavy, hard two weeks together. Noel's daughter, Mel popped in for one day of fun too. 

But it was Teeko who was the main entertainment.
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We weren't the only ones tired at the end of the day!
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We even convinced Noel's brother Colin this was a good idea!
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Mel brought us all lunch - no, we didn't use the oven on the right!
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Getting there - the hard bit was the melamine board. The previous owners had huge sheets given to them - getting it off slowed us right down.
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We really should have removed this window prior to removing the floor!
The plan? To put this on our land, we thought about living in it while we built our house, but then it would probably just become our house..... finally, I had several stables marked out within the barn, with hay storage on the mezzanine floor... shhhh, don't tell Noel!
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Our land, south NSW, where the shed will end up
 Look out for our next update - you'll be amazed at what the standing shed turned into by the time we finished.

And if you click here, you can watch a video of Teeko enjoying life - it'll make you smile! (If it's not the first video, just scroll down my timeline to view).


Other 'writing' adventures here
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Selling Our Boat

12/3/2016

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Time to buy another boat? Or

Time for something different...

We've sold our 1920s Dutch Barge in France. It took just four months.

We've not had time to miss Rouge Corsair or the lifestyle as our next foray in this life-long adventure has just begun.
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Within our first week back in NSW Australia, we'd purchased a car, trailer and barn. Yes, you heard that right, an American Barn.
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The back-story of this barn is quite tragic. A land owner promising a couple they'd have no trouble getting building permission - a temporary home built - no permission granted - a demolition order.
This led to three people working two weeks to dismantle the barn.  
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Despite collecting bruises a professional rugby player would be proud of, I loved this job. My body ached so much each night that at times I skipped dinner.
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But I felt alive, my flabby arms became tight, my skin glowed with outdoor life. My new career move of recluse-farm-girl became one step nearer.
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The mayhem continued after this project.... if you follow this story you'll be introduced to Dayve, the bucket toilet, and our dithering minds.

​Any why did we buy this barn.....  you'll find out soon.

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Beautiful Australia

10/30/2016

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I've missed this place!

After two-and-a-half years we are back in Australia.
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The spretty harbours, colourful wildlife, and easy-going g'days are balm for our travel weary souls.
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We've been back just two weeks and achieved an incredible amount - more on that soon. For now, just enjoy the place we call home...
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Boat Insurance

9/9/2016

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A Comprehensive Guide to Boat Insurance

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We just can't get away from boats - and we don't particularly want to for lots of different reasons, more on that in the coming months.

Being lovers of all things nautical, we find, or are introduced to new websites. Recently I've been chatting to the author of the website All Things Boat.

​Included are articles on:
A comprehensive article on boat insurance - that every boat-person should read.
Funny Boat Names
Nautical Lamps for the home​
and the beginning of some
good resources
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I am happy to re-blog and share good websites and information - so if you have any good information and want help to get the word out there, drop me a line.
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Endings and New Beginnings

8/28/2016

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Heading to Australia via The Netherlands and UK

We've sold our Dutch Barge Rouge Corsair. Emotions are running high as we are sad to see her go but excited to make way for new adventures.
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There are so many ideas - I can't begin to start...  let's just say...
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-Horses (have I mentioned them?)
-Tent
-Study
-New business
-Vegetables
-Trail Riding (just don't mention that one to Noel!)
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There's a lot do to before we return to Australia

​- 
Deliver the boat to Belgium
- Visit brilliant buddies in Petten (Northern Holland) and hopefully some others on the way....
- Spend time with family in UK (and do some study)
- Arrange a tent to stay in when back in Australia
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More on all this soon - we have lots planned - have I mentioned my horses ........?
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