Adelaide – Full Time

Well last posting was I think 19th April last year. So it has been around eleven  months.

What has happened ?

Lots!

We took possession of out little cottage in the city.

So, until further notice we are no longer cruising around Australia ‘at a snails pace’.

I will be leaving this travel blog on the Rustic Guide website and starting a new chapter of our life in Adelaide and in particular looking for the quirky side of the city and surrounds.

The ‘Rustic Way’ title will remain as most things I do are a bit rustic anyway.

I am very rusty (or rustic?) on how to manage and modify the site so it will be a bit spasmodic and erratic (not to be confused with erotic).

There is a chance it will also have a photo gallery.

And I quote when I say, ‘Watch this space.’

Cheers.

Gawler South to Vale Park (Adelaide)

Tuesday,  19th April 2022.

We are off to Levi Park van park in Vale Park / Walkerville.

However, we can’t get in till noon so we pull up at Elizabeth. The only place with enough space to park a 14.3 metre long mini circus.

We spot this. Te SCHNITHOUSE! Turns out there are four. Yep, Schnitzels amongst other things.

I googled it and they look like they have good stuff. One in Rundle Street Adelaide, Hilton, Elizabeth and Golden Grove,

Have a look …

Select Store

Arrival after noon and I forgot what a trick it is to get into parks here. We will be here for minimum 3 weeks so we do the full set up. Takes a while. Always does.

Then we walked to Walkerville Woolworths for some necessaries.

On the way back we inspect picket fences for some statistics designing one.

The day is gone and people are cooking. The chap next door swears by these little aerosol fuel cookers. Available from Big W apparently. About $15 or $20? The cans are 12 for $18 so $1.50 each and they last 1.5 hours. So for number crunchers, if you take 15 minutes to cook the meat, it’s 25 cents a use..

The day has gone as we knew it would.

Tomorrow will be cool and raining but we have to buy ‘things’ for the  move in renovations so we will be ultra busy tomorrow.

Pasta for dinner. A night on the computer planning. There will be a lot of that for the next month … or two … or four.

zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz                zzzzzzzzzzzzzzz                      zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz

 

Gawler South – Day 32 & 33

Sunday (Easter Sunday) 17th and Monday 18th April 2022

Partly cloudy.  Cooler.

I will merge these two days because it’s pretty mundane.

We are out of the walking habit due to my bad foot but we did a practice walk yesterday (?) and now we do a full walk.

Here’s our favourite horse …

and our black faced sheep.

Some of these camper trailers are amazing. Three or four rooms etc.

My hero wife shows how to empty the toilet cassette. She is wonderful.

Our condensed site they usually only save for motor homes, … BUT … like I said …

We have our big van AND keep the Ranger connected AND accommodate the Laser AND have a small living space. No problem.

What helps is the road curves so giving us extra length, hence stay connected …

… and small space for the table and chairs. (but too cold for that now.)

Tomorrow (19th) we go to Vale Park Levi Caravan Park. for three weeks (or maybe a week or so more)

It is within 12 minutes of our house. The 20th the tenants vacate, 21st we get the keys AND THEN the REAL WORK begins.. But for now ….

zzzzzzzzzzzz               zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz               zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz

 

Gawler South – Day 30 & 31

Friday  (Good Friday) 15th and Saturday 16th April  2022

We have to move because we didn’t book for Easter.  We can however, stay within the Park. The neighbour has been away for a couple of weeks but left the van here. This ‘nifty’ solar light automatically comes on at night and looks like a burning flame. Bunnings?

N.B. I don’t think I have ever written/typed the word ‘nifty’ before. So ….

nifty /ˈnɪfti/   adjective  INFORMAL  particularly good, skilful, or effective.
“nifty footwork”  Similar: skilful, capable, agile, useful, effective, practical
(Opposite: clumsy)
attractive or stylish.  “a nifty black shirt”  Similar:  fashionable, stylish, smart.

The spot we had to leave. Opposite en-suite style bathrooms and down the quiet exclusive end of the park. Partitioning shrubs.

 

The park has a book exchange and some basics. Handy though.

We settle in to apparently the worst site in the park. Near the entrance and apparently so small, that they only let it to RV’s. Well I managed to get the 20 ft van in (really 26 ft with A frame etc.) and the Ranger AND it stayed connected AND squeezed Anne’s little Ford Laser in AND still had space for two chairs outside the van. Piece of cake.

zzzzzzzzzzzzzzz                       zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz                   zzzzzzzzzzzzzzz

 

Saturday 16th April  2022

We will test the repairing foot out. Haven’t walked for a week. So a short walk to the cemetery where Anne’s Mum and Dad were laid to rest. Beautiful place.

This is the shady spot near a lake.

Several lakes in the park. We look at a lot of headstones. It’s history. We do it all around Australia and it is enlightening as to how harsh it used to be.

This one was a little sad. Someone had been here and draped the head stone in tinsel for Christmas, but here is Easter and they still haven’t been back to clear the Christmas decorations.

Back to the van. We are doing maintenance. We have caught up some of the back filing of three years paperwork and washing today.

I made a mistake. I have stopped to add up how much we are spending to get into the house. It was a good exercise because now we won’t be paying someone to paint four rooms. We will be doing it ourselves. (*!?!?!**!!**!?!?!)

Back when we lived here, renovating was relatively easy. Things were cheaper, I had a couple of good, cheap private building guys, a good, reasonably priced and reliable plumber, I was younger fitter and stronger and I wouldn’t have dreamed of paying someone to do what I could do myself. That was a quarter of a century ago. Now, generally, I just can’t be stuffed.

Tomorrow is Easter Sunday, so what ever we do, it won’t be general shopping other than perhaps supermarket.

zzzzzzzzzzz                zzzzzzzzzzzzz                zzzzzzzzzzz

 

 

 

 

 

 

Gawler South – Day 28 & 29

Wednesday, 13th & Thursday 14 April 2022

Still, the never ending story of container sorting.

This time a taxi truck to bring furniture from mate DPM’s place to the container.

Jaycar, car fridges with spots for two lithium batteries. Fridge $400.

Batteries from $70 to $440 each.  (!!?!??!)

We spot this guy on his motor bike.. He obviously has a sense of fun. Good on him. Or is he trying to make a statement? In which case, what is the statement?

House appliance shopping.

We could get this small statue. Give the place a bit of class. (?)

Why curtains? Why not just Plantation shutters. Good alternative.

Bunnings. Sinks.

Laundry cupboards.

Anti slip plastic/rubber mesh to put under loose rugs, so they are not. Loose that is.

I have this new camera. Well it was five years ago. Used twice. Thing is the replacement is about $1200

It got a fault. Will cost $600 to fix it.  I think the container was dropped when coming back to Australia. That is it had three good solid mezzanines, When it arrived, one had snapped. So I would say it got a serious jolt that broke the sensor.

Anyway, some one can have it for nothing and if prepared to fix it, will get a $1200 camera for $600. I won’t because I have two already.

But no one is going to do that. Won’t take the ‘risk.’ But it’s a calculated risk and not much risk at all.

e.g. Years ago I had a chance to buy a two poster Brasilia coffee machine. It was brand new but had a tide mark half way down the body where it and hence the works were immersed.

I had a good look and saw basically the pump and a control box may have been damaged.  I priced the control box which was $110. The pump I guessed at $300. I went ahead and paid $1000 for the machine. I got the control box for $110 and the pump was fixed for $50. So total $1160. So I got a brand new machine for $1160. They cost $5000!

Listen carefully. I have never followed the following statement enough to be hugely successful BUT I have done ‘things’ like this before because of a saying I heard years ago.

“Successful people do things that UN-successful people aren’t prepared to do.” The best lesson you will ever get.

On to Anne’s, cousin Scott’s, daughter’s birthday.  That;s a mouthful. I haven’t shown a good pic because even though people I know are cool, some sicko might tap into the blog so not a good idea to put photos of cute kids.

A good get together. 9.30pm and it’s home time. LATE for us. Home. For tomorrow we must move … at least 100 metres.

zzzzzzzzzz              zzzzzzzzzzzzzz               zzzzzzzzzzzz

 

You might have seen one or two before.

 

 

Gawler South – Day 26 & 27

Monday, 11th & Tuesday 12th April 2022

This will be easy.

Both days sorting the two containers including a visit to good mate DPM. He has been graciously storing some furniture for a couple of months for us.

We were going to load it up bit by bit and ferry it to the  container. However a quick lift of the table … put it down and booked a taxi truck for Wednesday.

That’s tomorrow.

This is the heavy extending table.  I was going to lift this onto the roof racks?

Hall stand.

Four chairs.

… and a partial mystery box.  26kg to lose some weight we had picked up bit by bit. We sent it from Darwin over six months ago. There’s a jockey wheel and … ?? We shall find out.

Don’t know if this spare sat dish is still ok. It was bought before digital.

… and what’s the fire engine doing n the van park?

Rocketman on TV tonight. Elton John’s story. Seen it before but it’s still brilliant.

Soup and toast as a light meal. ……………..

zzzzzzzzzzz              zzzzzzzzzzzzz                zzzzzzzzzzzzz

 

 

Gawler South – Day 25

Sunday, 10th April 2022

Have to take it easy with the foot today. Should put it up.

So no walk etc.

However, we go to the container for light duties. Just sorting clothes in suit cases.

Home, washing things we found amongst the clothes and want to use now.

Quiet. Early meal. Chicken Kiev with veg. Or should I say ‘Kyiv’ now.

Sixty minutes, etc.  …

zzzzzzzzzzzzzz                   zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz             zzzzzzzzzzzzzz

 

 

Gawler South – Day 23 & 24

Friday, 8th and Saturday 9th April 2022

Farm Auction. Sold … and lunch after at the Tanunda Club. A great place. Good food. Nice afternoon.

How’s this for an illuminated mural?

And this photo of a photo which just doesn’t do it any where near justice.

On to adjacent Wohlers furniture to kill some time. We wait patiently for our two new Nordic leather recliners.

How’s this for regal? Queen Anne.

Quite a chair.

On to the doctor. What do you think? I have had ‘toe pox’ three times before and this is starting to look like it. Starts one toe and spreads. Or is it just a blister? Have to go back again on Monday.

Home. Kick back.

zzzzzzzzz       zzzzzzzzzzzzzz             zzzzzzzzzzzzzz

 

Saturday 9th April 2022

On doctors orders, I make it a foot easy day today, which is killing my necessity to  sort the containers. Bugger.

Washing, planning,  Chicken Kiev, Bridget Jones sequel …

zzzzzzzzz            zzzzzzzzzzzzz            zzzzzzzzzzzzzz

 

Gawler South – Day 22

Thursday, 7th April 2022

Off to the bloody containers again.

We find things. Look at this.

About two years ago we were off caravaning with G & J and K & L in the Flinders. My one and only belt tore at the hole used and I had no belt as it was too short. So I split the belt in the middle back and used cable ties to extend it. Work of art. Seemed a shame to throw it out, being a work of art and all, but what use is it? You can’t hang onto everything.

Anne spots a big grey moth walking under the car.. Damn shame the lens on the camera is now scratched in the middle and it can’t be seen.

This is a cardboard box in storage. Kiss my arse?? I googled the company name but no mention of ARSE,

Unleaded (but NOT diesel) is down. We filled. $159.9 per litre.

First container. The Blue Bastard. The crap one from East Timor. Stuff on the left is staying. The stuff on the right is going to the house.

Container two. Black Beauty. Sorting. On right goes to the house. Left stays in the container..

Under the blue in the middle is the Vespa.

The kitchen cabinet I restored.

The Blue Bastard with Black Beauty in the background.

Off to the upholsterer who also glues furniture. Table with two broken legs.

A small piano stool (is it?) to be covered and two cracked shelves from my adjustable book cupboard to be glued.

Home. My toe hurts. Now I am thinking I may have the start of the dreaded ‘toe pox’ of mine. Had it three times before. Twice in East Timor and once in Tenant Creek. We shall see what develops.  However, now experienced, I know I need both anti-biotics for the infection but also anti-fungal for the cause.

I can only do the anti-fungal. I need someone with a Medico Cert for the other.

We shall see. Good movies on inc Monty Pythons Meaning of Life. There is a god.

zzzzzzzzz             zzzzzzzzzzzzz                zzzzzzzzzzzz

 

 

Gawler South – Day 21

Wednesday, 6th April 2022

Just containers again today.

One pretty well done (known as the blue bastard) and almost half way through the second one. (known as Black Beauty)

Home.

Showers, food (chicken schnitzels again,) a few calls. Crocodile Dundee …

zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz              zzzzzzzzzzzzzzz                zzzzzzzzzzzzzzz

A funny?