Peanuts, peanuts and more peanuts

Where are we? In KINGAROY, the peanut capital!

(c) Seen in the Heritage Museum

We drove southwest along country roads for one and a half hours from Gympie to the not-so-small town of Kingaroy. Its name is derived from the language of the local Wakka-Wakka aboriginal people and means ‘small red ant’ for a specific type of red ant which is found in the area. 

But instead of ants, think peanuts! Tons and tons of peanuts. Apparently, 40,000+ tons per annum make their way via this peanut capital! 😊

We will forever remember Kingaroy with fondness, as here we stayed in our first caravan park – Kingaroy Showgrounds Caravan Park – for one night with our new van! Luckily it was a pull-through site. 😅

We had an amazing peaceful night's sleep.

We began housesitting the next day, looking after two doggies ... a geriatric (foxy?), 18 yrs old and a 3-year old dachshund. 😍😍 Two cuties ... 

Kingaroy info

The Heritage-listed Peanut Silos are smack bang in the middle of town. We use them as a beacon to navigate our way around. 😊

Peanut Silos of Kingaroy taken from a town Brochure

History has it that two French drovers, brothers Charles and William Haly, trekked (with sheep) across country from New South Wales, and chose to settle nearby on land that they staked out. They built a homestead (Taabinga Homestead) somewhere between 1842 and 1846 and developed a sheep-farming station. The conditions were too severe for sheep farming and they soon switched to cattle. The brothers eventually sold their cattle station, and the second time it changed hands was in 1848 or thereabouts to the ancestors of Ms Libby Leu who lives there today. It is still a working cattle station, and the homestead is the oldest continually lived-in homestead in Queensland. Today they open their home to guided tours and operate a B&B for those who wish to stay overnight or longer.

In 1878 the valley, nestled between the Booi Range and the Bunya Mountains, became home to the brothers Markwell, among others, who set up a homestead known as ‘Kingaroy paddock’. By 1904 the Kilkivan railway line passed through the valley and a station was erected. This drew more activity and ‘Kingaroy Paddock’ grew into a small town. By 1907 the hamlet that had formed around Taabinga Homestead decided to pick up sticks (literally … since houses were made of timber), and they moved closer to the ‘town’ now known as Kingaroy. Kingaroy was declared a ‘shire’ in 1912.

Example of early wooden homes

Soon folk discovered that the rich fertile soil of the floodplain was good for a variety of crops, especially peanuts and navy beans (aka baked beans). The latter were planted during WW2 when large numbers of US Army personnel stayed in Kingaroy. Seeds from the USA were introduced, and vast amounts were harvested to feed the troops. As for peanuts, according to the QueenslandGovernment Heritage Register (2023), “Peanuts have been grown in Queensland since Chinese cultivators planted them on the Palmer River goldfield in the 1870s. Small acreages were grown by several farmers in the South Burnett from about 1901 and these peanuts were sold to confectioners and shops in Brisbane, Maryborough and Rockhampton. From circa 1920 significant acreages in the South Burnett became devoted to peanut growing.” A visit to the Heritage Museum shows you just how innovative these farmers were.

Images taken in the Heritage Museum

Without access to complex machinery, they designed their own planters, harvesters, sorters, etc. An incredible testament to man’s ingenuity when there is a dire need. Some of these machines are huge wood and metal structures. RESPECT to the farmers of yesteryear!

Examples of early machines designed and built by local peanut farmers.

One of the earliest inventions, which paved the way for future designs.

 

Since then people have tried their hand at an even larger variety of crops leading to wine farming. This success for specific varieties has resulted in cellars dotted about the region. We hope to visit at least one not far from town, in the 10 days that we are here.  

Image by Brigitte Werner from Pixabay 

Kingaroy is considered the capital of the South Burnett Region, comprising settlements within the Nanango, Kingaroy, Murgon, Wondai and various other districts. Clearly, the town is thriving. A newly built hospital is just opposite the house that we are caring for. Much to AJ’s delight, the AW139 Helicopter (his speciality) regularly arrives to pick up a patient for transferral to one of the Brisbane hospitals, and it feels as though it will land on the lawn behind the house. We have heard that the hospital is not fully staffed as yet, with certain cases referred to doctors in the city.

(c) SB

Touristy stuff

Kingaroy boasts some interesting tourist attractions:

There is Kingaroy Holiday Park (this would be called a ‘resort’ in South Africa 😊) just outside the town. Fun for the whole family, with cabins and camping.

The humble Peanut Shack on Kingaroy Street/D’Aguilar Highway/Route 96, has offered tasting and sale of many different flavours of peanuts since the 60s. It is a famous stop for everyone driving through, and so contributed substantially to the rise in tourism to Kingaroy. 

Which flavour did we fancy? The BBQ Pork Ribs! 😀

There is a big peanut sculpture in town, although it is not THE Big Peanut (one of Australia’s Big Things), which is further north in Tolga. 😊 It is constructed from scrap metal.

One can take a drive (or a walk if you’re fit enough, up to Mt Wooroolin, to view Kingaroy from the lookout point at the top. 

Mt Wooroolin, seen from the garden where we are housesitting

We drove! 😅

Kingaroy from Mt Wooroolin

Kingaroy’s Observatory welcomes visitors. On a cloudless night the sky is lit up with stars as there is little interference from city lights; the Milky Way is clearly visible.

Image by Bapsae from Pixabay 

Kingaroy Heritage Museum walks one back through time to the early days of peanut farming, cattle stations and brave, innovative farm folk who needed to design their own machinery due to a lack of local availability. Lovingly overseen by volunteers, this museum is a must-see. A gentle reminder to appreciate the history associated with today's agricultural and mechanical development.

Kingaroy Regional Art Gallery is another must-visit for all, not only for the art lover. It is run by the not-for-profit Kingaroy Arts Team, seeking to develop regional public art.

Queensland’s ’Rail Trails’ are old abandoned railway corridors that have been converted into cycling or walking tracks. One of these stretches along 89 km from Kingaroy to Kilkivan. You can walk as long or as short as you like while taking in the fascinating country scenery and historical viewing spots associated with the old rail tracks.

The Bunya Mountains are about 60 km from Kingaroy. There you can find an array of walking trails among the pristine forest and tall Bunya pines. There is a gorgeous café for refreshment and a variety of accommodation options for those who want to keep exploring or soak up the peaceful surroundings. We hope to get to visit this area on another trip.

Wrapping up:

We are immensely grateful for the opportunities on offer to discover this beautiful land and its people. In another week we move back to Gympie and ready ourselves for a week-long housesitting near the town; this will be quite a different stint, taking care of three cats and two horses. 😅

Soon I hope to post a ‘catch-up’ blog on the challenges we have faced and how we view things going forward. We have met some amazing folk, and we have had so many meaningful encounters in just 4 months of being in Australia. So much to be grateful for. However, housesitting has its challenges; settling into a foreign country has not been a walk in the park; getting our heads around van life is a work in progress;😣😅 and following a new (often punishing) work routine (AJ’s) has not been easy. We often find ourselves emotionally and physically stretched. We have had mishaps, misunderstandings, and have made mistakes. But we remain hopeful and positive.🙏 

Thanks for stopping by. We wish you all a Happy New Year! May you experience countless blessings coming your way in 2023.

Cheers. 🌼 

Could it be God?

July 1. Stage 2 – an interim change.

Today is our first day of a two-month stay in this apartment hotel as we wait to depart from Doha after 21 years. Can someone tell me how it got to be July already? 😆 I think my brain got stuck in January … then suddenly it was March, and the wedding was upon us. And yes, we checked into Aus in April, but it’s all a blur since then. Where did May and June go? 😁 I have a theory…my brain tuned out so that it could cope only with what each day delivered. Right now, bone-tired, we have entered reset and recover mode. More like total reboot!

It is said that when you have a major life change in your latter years, your stress levels are through the roof. We all know about the Scale of Stress … there is the Perceived Stress Scale, developed in 1983, measured by answering questions regarding your feelings and thoughts in the past month. THAT would be a BLOWOUT for us. 🤯

 

Then there is the Holmes And Rahe Stress Scale, created in 1967, the one I think we are all mostly acquainted with, where 43 life events are given a rating. If you get a score of 300 or more you stand a chance of major health breakdown within the following 2 years, according to the American Institute of Stress. (To this we say, ‘But God …!’ 👆) No. 8 on the scale of stress is being fired – 47 points. (Ummm, 😬 does firing yourself count? 😅) Oh okay, no. No.10 then, retirement, with a scale of 45 points! (But what if you can’t really retire?) 😅 Then we have No’s 15 and 16 – a major business readjustment (like us, trying to start a new business in an economy racked with inflation), and a major change in financial state (zero income if Andries doesn’t get online training) with 39 and 38 points, respectively. Just recently No. 23 applied to us, adding 29 points to our scale with our son getting married. 

Image: Hendrik Steytler Photography

Along with that came the stress of his transfer-of-sponsorship application (before his visa expired in June) so that he could remain in Qatar when we leave, along with the complicated process to get their marriage registered within South Africa, The Philippines and in Qatar. 

No. 28 on the Holmes and Rahe Stress Scale, a major change in living conditions, checks in at 25 points and No. 32, a change in residence, with 20 points – for us it's first the downsize to this hotel apartment, then the move to Australia. Numbers 34, 35, 36… 38, 39, and 40 apply too… shall I carry on? Okay, okay, you get the picture. 😅 Our stress levels are through the roof. Lol. And there is the cause for the blur of passing months. 😅  

It feels as though we’ve been getting rid of stuff, packing up and living with chaos since November last year when we went to South Africa to clear out our storage crate. We watched car loads of our belongings being carted off.

"Why did you hang onto it?", I hear you ask.

Well, we were never sure that we would be granted the visa until it came through … and the stuff we held onto would’ve enabled us to set up again in SA. Wise or dumb move? You be the judge.

December and January, we found ourselves stuck in South Africa since we were locked out of Qatar for 2 months due to Omicron and the subsequent ban on travellers entering Qatar from South Africa. THAT was stressful!! And did we bleat about and bemoan our lot! But, as always, with hindsight, we now realise that it was a huge blessing as it gave us more of a chance to organise Gus and Cha’s wedding. And oh my, it was such a lovely wedding. We were immensely blessed on the day as everything came together with the amazing help of talented people like Kathy, Sydney, Ada, Belinda & her team, and others who worked so hard. A shout out to InfinityTimesInfinity Productions for the amazing job with the video material. If you’re in South Africa and planning a wedding, contact them for your video.

 

Andries’ resignation at the end of May was a huge step. We both knew that it was inevitable – the day would come. But no matter how much you prep yourself for the actual event, when it arrives, you’re a ball of nerves. His training schedule never eased off through all the changes and planning, probably his saving grace, giving him something to focus on. At home, I would often find him pacing aimlessly while having tons to do. As for me, the days were long; I was lost in what felt like a vacuous space that used to be ‘home’. With much of the house contents gone it sounded hollow. The silence was deafening. Yet, just six months ago I was as happy as Larry to spend my days alone. (Lol, who’s Larry? That’s a saying worth looking into for its origins.) In the evenings, instead of packing and sorting, we chose to watch old movies to escape reality. 😅 Then I chose to tackle the world of website design with 3 weeks of (procrastinating) fun! Eventually, that was done too, and the mountain of paperwork, faithfully stored in file 13 for 21 years, was waiting for me (three-quarters of which went into the rubbish). Time was fast running out. I found myself asking, several times, why we did this to ourselves?!  😅

Along with all the packing, sorting, throwing out and waiting, we have been immensely blessed. First, our son and new daughter-in-law needed to set up a home after their marriage – at just the time when we needed to get rid of everything in our home. Could it be God? We carted car loads to their new apartment, from cutlery to furniture, linen to paintings. Within 2 days they had a furnished home. 😀 (Maybe not what they would have bought, but for now, it’ll do.) God is good!

Next, our house contract which ran until 30 Nov each year posed a problem. We are booked to leave Qatar on 1 Sept. Dilemma! We would have to pay for the 3 months that we won’t be living in the house. One day, Andries’s colleague, Wilfred, came to work informing him of a massive increase in his apartment rent with only 2 months’ notice. A take it or leave it situation. 

"Please can we take over your house?", he asks. 

"If the landlord okays it, it’s a deal", Andries replied. We then had to wait 5 weeks for an answer, as Wilfred had an annual vacation booked beginning the following week. But eventually, the contract was approved by our landlord in June, the deposit paid, and the house would be theirs on 30 June. The biggest blessing around this story is that Wilfred and his family wanted to purchase all that was left in our house after the newlyweds had removed what they wanted (and this included washing machine, fridge, stove, bedroom suite, dining room suite, and more). They were moving from a furnished unit to ours which comes completely unfurnished. We did not need to sell a thing! In a city where there is a huge population turnover, it proves exceedingly difficult to sell second-hand furniture and household contents. We were spared the struggle. Could it be God?

 

Then, gulp! Where will we live for the next 2 months? We had been looking around and asking for quotes, but anything for a reasonable amount was either dodgy or hemmed in with construction (think massive infrastructure construction when you use the word concerning Qatar) and consequently unapproachable by car and/or on foot. 😫 

We were forced to look at more upmarket apartment hotels, with a kitchenette in the room, since we did not want to live on hotel food for 2 months. We need to keep our immune levels up! We settled on FraserSuites and approached the sales desk. Yes, they said, we’ll show you three options. I think they saw in our pleading eyes that we needed enough space at a “good” price, please. We were offered a large studio room at a smaller room’s rate (the same price as our house rent 🥴). It has a little kitchen (washing machine and full-size fridge included) and an en suite bathroom. A ‘special rate’ because we would be staying during the height of summer when few tourists visit Qatar. 😅 Floor to ceiling windows, bright and sunny, on the 12^th floor with a view over the bay, we are extremely blessed. This, our baptism into living in a smaller space! 😀

(image: Fraser Suites website)

While packing up our home and preparing to move, we were also negotiating the purchase of our van, deciding on the finer details and inclusions. Our stress levels were through the roof over this period as we were arranging everything over the internet. Not being able to be there in person was a challenge; we hoped we got everything right and made wise choices. After all, we are total novices. But we are confident in our choice of manufacturer, and they were extremely helpful (and patient 😅).

When we mentioned that we would arrive on 2 September and would need the van as soon as possible afterwards, we were promised delivery by end of September. Now there’s a blessing, because we would prefer to not be dependent on our kids. Many folks wait up to a year for their vans. But then I remembered that we had enquired last October already, at which point they began to design the van. So, the timing there proved to be a blessing too. (We may be the first customers to take delivery of the model we requested – time will tell.) We can’t wait for the big reveal, soon; keep an eye on our blog. 😊

Once we had decided on what we wanted to ship to Brisbane, we packed it into boxes and put it all together in a group. 

We instantly broke into a sweat. What were we thinking?! We began to cull mercilessly ... fifty percent of the clothing went to charity; more books donated to a local library; more documents tossed and shredded. UNISA assignments that I had shed blood, sweat and tears over, thrown out. 😪 We emptied frames and albums and kept only the photos. We replaced several favourite items in the cupboards they had come from for the house’s next occupants to take over. 

 

The shipping quotes we received that met our budget were for 1 cubic metre, except for one that offered us 2 cubic metres at an even cheaper price than the others. We had several doubts about going for the cheapest offer, but we knew we needed the space. We accepted their offer, and they sprang into action. Amazing! Their communication was detailed. They answered every question within 15 mins; replied to every email promptly; their team was there to pack 1 hour before they said they would be; and in 1 hour they had packed, cleaned up and carted away our belongings. It still filled 12 boxes.😫 It felt as if a whirlwind had hit the house, but they were efficient and thorough.

WHAT a blessing! And I couldn’t even remember contacting them. Could it be God? We hope that their amazing service continues right up to delivery in Brisbane. A shout out to Arrow Line Logistics Qatar. Well done!

 

Now, as we drive around Doha, we take in all the sights and reminisce. We remember what it looked like when we arrived in 2001. We've seen the city develop rapidly, in front of our eyes. We recall key events in key places. We know, without doubt, that this has become home. But we always knew that it could not last …  this was a temporary arrangement. Qatar has been good to us and for us. We have been immensely blessed by working and living here. We have learned much and have been thoroughly moulded and pruned through perseverance and diverse experiences. It will be a sorrowful, yet needful parting. To those who are considering an expat life, we would say "Do it!"

“Incredible change happens in your life when you decide to take control of what you do have power over instead of craving control over what you don’t.” (Steve Maraboli)

Seasons come and go. We pray for the grace to walk into our new season with boldness and faith. When one of us has an offish day, the other is perky. Make no mistake, we have our moments of doubt, fear, and anxiety. But a quote that came from a dear friend resonated with us, “The opposite of faith is not doubt; it’s our desire for certainty,” by John Ortberg. So, we go easy on ourselves and don’t self-flagellate when we doubt. Our Father understands our uncertainties. The one thing we are sure of is, we are unDESERtED. 

 

Meanwhile, it’s quite a novelty living in such a small space. (The caravan will be even smaller! 😂) The sofa is comfy. The bed is a bit low (our knees protest heavily first thing in the morning) but it’s comfy too. The kitchen has 2 of everything so dishes don’t pile up, and we have a room with a view. A cleaner will come in once a week, and we are provided with clean towels every 4 days. Other than that, we are autonomous. What more could one want?

 

If you read this far, I’m amazed. Thank you. 🤗 Soon these blog posts should become more interesting as we begin to document our travels around Queensland.

Until next time, thanks for stopping by. 🌼

(Featured image: Hourglass by Nile, Pixabay.)

The next step

 And so it begins ...

Image: G Altmann, Pixabay

unDESERTED indeed!

29 March. The day we first enter Australia on the visa* that we waited five and half years for.

Pulse rates high, we dropped off the hired vehicle at Oliver Tambo International Airport, Johannesburg, and made our way to the departures hall. We were still in go-go-go mode having recently celebrated our son’s marriage. 

This is the reason for flying from South Africa and not from the Middle East. 

The visit home also gave us the chance to bid farewell to dear family and friends for what would most probably be the final time.

I'd checked the required paperwork time and again, but I was still sweating bullets, wondering if there would be a last-minute COVID-19 requirement that I had missed. A few weeks before the Australian government had suspended pre-travel Covid tests for those who were vaccinated. I knew I had everything else. But my knuckles were white as we approached the check-in counter. It took 2 mins. We were welcomed and passed through to the inner domain of the terminal. As we approached the hand luggage scanners I heard "Excuse me!", and my heart skipped a beat. "Can I see that please!", and she reached for my dad's walking stick that I had stored all these years. I was ready to burst into tears if she said I could not take it on board. I contemplated suddenly developing a limp. But it turned out to be just an inspection. 😅 Safely into duty free, it was time to relax with a coffee.

After a delay on the runway, we eventually took off. Relief! 

Halfway across the Indian Ocean I had to admonish myself to stop biting at my fingers ... they were beginning to pain. Nervous! No, not for flying, but for the Australian Border Force customs check. Say now something wasn't in order? Praying had been the order of the day for the last week, and I quickly said another prayer. 

I couldn't sleep. Instead, I sat through another season of 'Unforgotten' – totally not helping my nerves. Andries (AJ) tried his best to sleep, also without much success. Always disenchanted with air travel, he makes the best of an uncomfortable situation – those seats are always too small for such a strapping bloke! 

 

We arrived with a bumpy, side-crawl landing in Sydney to cold wet weather. The immigration/customs queue was long and winding. More time to sweat bullets. And to pray! By the time it was our turn to step up to the counter, I was shaking visibly. AJ was uncharacteristically silent. Hungry, exhausted, headachey ... we looked anxiously at the agent as she took our passports. However, the smile (inside the mask) that greeted us was warm, and a friendly voice said: "Please remove your masks" as she inspected our passports, "and you can leave them off until I'm done, so that you can have a breather." I went blank. Kindness can catch you off-guard at times. After a minute, I think, she said those all-important, amazing words: "Welcome to Australia!". 

What power lies in that piece of paper that we had invested so much time and money in!

 

Off we went, passports in hand. Breathing easy for the first time on that trip, ready to shout for joy. Instead, we behaved as we dragged our tired bodies towards the baggage collection belt. Although we realised the take-off delay resulted in missing our connection flight to Brisbane, we didn't have a care in the world. We were in! What a feeling of elation. We couldn't have wished for an easier entrance. Queensland's borders had recently opened for interstate travel after Covid lockdowns; it seemed as if everyone was there, ready to hop on a plane. We were placed on the next flight to Brisbane. Upon arrival we made our way to the exit and there she was – our beloved daughter, Nadya. It had been far too long. 

A busy mother of three, she chose to make the 2-hour trip from Gympie. First, she got to drive her brand-new vehicle which they had just taken delivery of that day, and second, she could have an uninterrupted catch-up with us. We were about to be the first passengers to travel in her car. Her dad was especially chuffed!😊

Although it was about 9pm, we had to first take care of the mandatory post-flight Covid test, due within 24 hours of entry to Australia. The process required online registration and payment at a medical facility at the airport. My fried brain filled in the forms on the small phone screen, tummy screaming with hunger. Another queue, another wait. Finally, we were free to leave. Under isolation until the test results were out, we were not allowed to leave the vehicle until we reached home. And I already needed the loo. 😑 Fortunately the results were on our phones before we were even halfway home.

Nadya stopped at the first 24-hr service station to pick up a wrap and some hot coffee. No gourmet meal ever tasted as good. While dad and daughter chatted for the 2-hour drive home, I passed out on the back seat. What a dad! Keeping his daughter awake. 😄 We were in Gympie before we knew it. 

 

For the next few days we went to parks, played with kids, shopped, ate birthday cake, picnicked, walked, and simply relished the feeling of being in our new surroundings.

We could babysit for mum and dad. Fun! 😅 And we got to shop at the wonderful Bunnings. 

   

We even found time to get some ‘caravan feels’ 😃 ... 

Somehow, I managed to concentrate enough to investigate online to see what our next step was – Tax registration. Reading the fine print always puts the fear of death into me, but there it was, 15 mins and we were registered. Quite effortlessly online, via my iPad. Taxpayers from now on, the first time in 21 years. 😬 This was needed to open a bank account.
Our Visa allowed us multiple entry/exit to and from Australia, so we had planned to only stay for 10 days. Andries had to return to his job in Qatar to work his resignation period. But 2 days before we left, my darling hubby decided to go for a walk. A long walk. On his own. Turned out it was via the Ford dealer. And, yes, he came home with a quotation. 😅 It just so happened that the 2021 Ute model he had had his eye on (to tow the much-planned, as yet non-existent van) was on its way by ship and would arrive in Gympie within the month. There was just one snag – to purchase the vehicle we needed a Queensland Roads number. What on earth is that, we asked. The car dealer explained and told us where to go for one. We downloaded the forms, part of which our children (as our sponsors) had to complete. The following morning, the last day in Australia for this visit, we made our way to Queensland Roads Authority with all three grandchildren (7, 5 and 2 yrs!) in tow. A brave move, in itself! 

After a longish wait (the children being amazingly well-behaved in a packed waiting room), our number was called. Within 5 mins, no lie, we were issued with the required Road Numbers. As we turned to leave, we hear, "Wouldn't you like your driver's licences too?" Speechless, we had to pick our jaws up off the floor. 

All we could manage was a nod. Coming from South Africa this was unimaginable. 

"Sit on that stool and face the camera," she smiled. I think she saw the shock on our faces, mixed with absolute gratitude. Here it was, the coveted Aussie driver's licence, being OFFERED to us. No doubt, she’d probably had a few South Africans pass her desk before, eyes pleading under similar circumstances. 😆

In all of 5 minutes our photos were taken, and forms issued to say that we had applied. "They'll be mailed within 10 days", she assured us. They took 7! Nadya let us know when they arrived in the mail. We remain speechless. Unless you're a South African, you won't know what I am going on about. (We had just had a 5-month wait for renewed licences in South Africa. By sheer good fortune ours were two among the seven ready for collection, 4 days before we left South Africa. And over-60s could only collect on a Wednesday in our jurisdiction.) 

PS - South Africans need a current South African driver's licence to get the Aus licence. Otherwise you are required to take a test.

 

We went away from the Roads Authority office quietly thanking God for His kindness and provision, for leading our steps and facilitating more than we could think of or imagine. At the Ford dealer we paid the deposit on the vehicle, signed the forms and hurried home. Four hours later we were back in Brisbane, our son-in-law dropping us off at the departures terminal. 

We've been given a glimpse of the Ute.

The week had been a whirlwind. We felt incredibly grateful to God and humbled. The wait had been worth it.

 

The trip home to Doha seemed to go rapidly although it was 14 hours. 

Landing in Doha at sunrise (c)

Did I say home? Where was home? Home suddenly seemed a deceptive word for us. As a season began to end and a new one waits in the wings, we realised we didn’t really have a home. Our current rental would be empty in 3 months, as we get rid of all our belongings. Our daughter’s home is our ‘legal’ home, from now on. But where was home?

 

We pondered and slept on it. That feeling of ‘homelessness’ can make you feel ill. Of being between 9 and 10. Of not belonging. My head was struggling to comprehend it all.

 

Two days later we contacted the caravan dealer of our choice in Brisbane. "We need a home. Can we place an order."

A giggle on the other end, "Right, let's chat!"

 

That's a story for another day. 😄

Until next time. Cheers, and thanks for stopping by.  

* For those looking for info on Australian immigration, here is the 2022 link to the visa options available to you.