Routines

 

Routines

I must admit I’ve struggled to write the last few days as I just wasn’t feeling as excited and enthusiastic as I thought others would want me to be. Bill has had a sore leg since we’ve arrived. Di, our resident nurse, diagnosed sciatica nerve pain thanks to sitting in an old truck for too long. With some stretches and lots of Fisiorub being applied he is slowly coming good, but going for a walk, just to walk or just to explore has been out of the question. Often, he’s driven me to the supermarket but then I’ve dashed around while he sat and waited somewhere nearby to give me a hand carry the groceries to the jeep.

My right knee decided to play up after my long morning walk so after a few days I confessed to Bill and started applying Fisiorub to my own knee.  Again, walking for fun was not high on my to do list. However, when I suggested we do something together Tuesday Bill suggested a bike ride. I was hesitant but off we set – it was just what we both needed. My knee felt better for it and Bill’s leg didn’t feel any worse. We made it 8km. Bill has already picked the next destination – the council yard where he bought the white truck in 2016 – oh dear!

Since then, I’d say my mood has brightened. I think part of that has to do with my knee feeling better and finding some routine to my day. My day starts early, usually in time to watch the sunrise. Other campers have said, “But Kath, you’re on holidays, sleep in!” Those campers all have inbuilt toilets!

Some of our routines are different from home – whoever cooks, the other washes. (Yes, Claire G, I should have done this years ago) When the washing is ready to be hung, we do it together. We sleep on which ever side of the bed we want – if you want to watch TV you’re on the outside, if you are reading or typing, you are against the wall (no claustrophobia in this van). The shopping is a two-person event – just because we can. A daily call to Kyle to hear how his work is going and find out what he’s been up to is a highlight of our afternoon.

I’ve also remembered how important it is just to sit still - often I remember to do this when I come home from volunteering and Bill is nana napping on the bed and I don’t want to wake him. With working a few shifts at the café, volunteering, getting ready for Bill’s sister, Val to visit, not to mention the daily chats at ‘drinks’ time, it’s good to have been reminded to sit quietly. (And when I stop sitting quietly, I really should start that Responsible Service of Alcohol course I’ve enrolled for.) But when I have sat still, I’ve noticed more birds, some I see every year, other’s I’m not so sure about. I have heard the mopoke on three different occasions, I certainly don’t remember that from other visits up here. I promised myself that before I wrote this blog, I’d look up the birds in my aunt’s bird book that I have here with me but I fear if I wait until I do that I’ll never publish another blog. Aunty Urs, you’ll probably recognise all of these but I will look them up, date them and write where I was when I saw them soon-ish.

So, here are some more sunsets, sunrises and some birds that gave me joy when I slowed down to take their photo.