Slowing down in our own way

So often people ask are you enjoying your holiday and there are two parts to the answer. When we decided to sell our home we never aimed to go on holidays for ever, we aimed to slow down our life, change our jobs, finding either paid work or accommodation in exchange for volunteer work to pay our way as we went discovering new places. And that is what we are achieving. Bill is completing our volunteering hours (and more) by doing a variety of work, hence bringing in our rent, electricity etc. for the week. Last week his job was clearing the 'backyard' of the caravan park which has had 'junk' dropped in it over many, many years when no one quite knew where to put it. This has given him a chance to drive a big Kenworth, (which he's done before) but never towing a side tipper or with the Road Train signage. He chuckled when I asked him about the size of the tipper, "Kath" he said, and when he starts with my name I know he can't quite believe the question I asked him "this tipper is about 3 times as long as our tipper at home and the motor is .... this is way more powerful than driving the Transtar. And when else will I ever just get handed the keys of a truck like this to drive when you don't know the bloke, but he just trusts you'll get the job done." And his smile told me that he was experiencing something new up here just like I am. 

Bill was also put in charge of burning of 4 large heaps of rubbish - yep, he's done that at home and yep, he's had to ring the CFA and register it, which he did here but he's never had to ring the airport before to notify them he's about to start burning off under a flight path. Thankfully, when the police helicopter hovered over head they could see the four men, Bill, Terry, Graham and Wally all standing guard with loaded fire pump facilities at the ready. And thankfully, the wind was a predicted and nothing burned that wasn't planned. 

I am also completing volunteer work, over the last week to ten days I've been tasked with writing a newsletter for the RTHF. Yep, I've done that sort of thing before but of course they asked me to use a program I've never used before. Adobe InDesign for those who may have come across it - it felt a lot like making a photo book but of course the commands were all just a little different. And so was saving it! Kyle rang to have a chat and share the progress he is making at home and he said "Are you OK, Mum?" Taking deep, deep gulps I answered 

"Sure, um actually, I think I've just lost 2 days of computer work - it's not here - I know it should be but it's not!"'
"Mum, it will be, it absolutely will be!"

Twenty minutes later, after chatting and being walked around the build and see Kyle and hearing his voice I hung up with 'my bucket filled'. And as I left the office I thought I'll just try 'a right click on the mouse' and of course, there was my file, with my two days of work saved. Phew!!

So, what about the second part of the answer to the question - "How's your holiday going?" It's going well, thank you! Our mornings start much slower than at home (unless you are popping out to pick up a tipper), Bill's watching TV and I'm still in my pj's at 8.00am - we'll probably start volunteering around 9 - 9.30am, depends what suits us. Actually, today, I'm learning how to work at the front desk so my volunteer hours officially start at 12.45pm but I'll pop down early to finalize the last few changes on the newsletter. 

One of the things I am enjoying the most about Alice Springs is that you are in a town, with about the population of Traralgon and less than the population of Wangaratta, but you have so much on your doorstep. 

In the last week or so I have 'hung out' with Vonda & Lee-Anne and Wally, Graham and Bill at 'Darryl Braithewaite under the Stars' concert. It started at 12.30pm with wonderful local bands and finished at 9.30pm with Darryl rocking the stage. And no, there was not much alcohol on board at this stage or throughout the day - just a lot of laughs and fun. 

Vonda and I have been to art galleries, the Sushi Train Restaurant and had some shopping days. Oh yes, I've also worked for 'Reality Bites' again. This time I got paid to polish glasses while looking at the East MacDonnell Ranges from a spot you have to pay to visit. I waited the Bridal Table after watching the newly weds enter through the smoking ceremony their aunt had prepared for them. The gifts for guests were bottles of bush medicine and my black shoes are now totally brown from the red sand. The brides white train was not so white by the time I left. 

 We watched the footy final and celebrated Bill's birthday with old and new friends - we met Vonda and Graham in 2015 and Wally and Lee-Anne this year. 

The weather is warming up now and the frill-necked lizards and goannas are starting to be easier to spot. As were the camels yesterday when we went for a drive down a few roads we hadn't been down before, just for the fun of it. We are wearing t-shirts, 3/4 pants from first thing in the morning until bedtime and Bill was even seen in shorts for a few hours. So, as we still have new things to see, and new experiences to enjoy and the weather is warm (all the winter gear is packed away and a fan has been purchased for the van) we have decided to stay here until around about the 20th of October.