Day 89 – Same old!

Ok, some of you are sending us messages & it sounds like I’m painting a pretty bad picture of this place. It’s not that bad, sure it’s a little bleak, isolated & cooler than what we have experienced for the last couple of months….But hey, I’m here with Ness & Annie, we caught up with Brad & have had one hell of an adventure…. So I got nothing to complain about!

Although we have a warm desert wind blowing here today, so strong it blew Ness’s camp chair away from the van.

They have cable TV in all of the rooms here, there are sports channels, movie channels, discovery channels, the works and they also have the commercial networks…..So if you are not at work during your 12-13 hour day you can watch a bit of telly!....Me & Annie watched a movie the other day…The Untouchables, about Al Capone…..Lots of shooting, car chases, blood & violence! I hope she liked it! (ok I’m just kidding….in case any of you think I’m serious!)

Have a special mention in tonight’s blog for Arama, she had her first driving lesson today….Arama has been so busy living her life that she left it a bit later to learn to drive, but finally at the age of 23 she has decided to bite the bullet & drive a car!....Keep up the lessons Arama, then we will see you more, there are no trains to Dixons Creek! Awesome stuff chick!

I wrote a newsletter today for work, most of it is just information or my thoughts…. A bit like this blog really. I like writing things down, it helps me to think….. Sometimes Ness asks me a question & all that comes out of my mouth is gobbledygook! But if she sends me an email asking for information then I can usually give her an answer?..... for you psychology types out there what does this mean? Am I a thinker? Or just not able to communicate verbally?

Smokers suck!....get offended if you like! But I reckon smoking should be illegal!.....Ok maybe that is taking it a bit far, and I respect your right to smoke but Please please please get rid of your cigarette butts sensibly. Annie is fully mobile now & almost walking….. so she gets around on her hands & knees…..and is constantly finding cigarette butts and putting them straight in her mouth! So c’mon you smokers…..give up or do the right thing!

Annie’s birthday is nearly here….today she is 11 months old, wow how time flies. When I was with Brad recently I thought to myself he was this size not that long ago! Makes me realise that we only have our kids for a short time……Sigh!!!!

Reader’s replies

Arama has already had a mention, but it’s worth saying again…..Yayyyyyy Arama, keep them wheels turning.

My sister Heather had an interesting dilemma this week, my niece Sydni is choosing her subjects for next year….. Syd is 16 years old. She had the choice between an economics course & a beauty course guess which one she chose????..... Duhhh! Heather was it really that hard? I could have told you which course a 16 year old girl would have chosen!

Brad my son has decided to put his tax return to good use, he has enrolled in a course for working with people that have substance abuse issues…..Mate all I can say after visiting the Alice is there is plenty of work ahead for you!

Annie’s Blog

Oh boy can I make my parents laugh, I have worked out that I have all these Super powers that instantly make them laugh! I look away and then I look back at them & they laugh, they call my name and I ignore them for a while and then when I turn around they laugh! I make a funny face and they laugh! I do a big fluff and they laugh!.... I’m going to get a suit made up with a cape when I get home and I’ll put a big S on it to show everyone that I have Super Laugh Power…… Or has that suit thing already been done?

Dad said the No word to me a hundred million times today…..I went out to the outside world (outside the box on wheels) and I found all these soft paper things lying on the ground….But every time I went to eat one Dad yelled NO!..... C’mon Dad these things are everywhere, surely I can eat a few?..... Dad said they were called Butts?.... but that confused me because the other day my Dad told mum she had a cute Butt? What the????

Later Dudes!!!!....Dunno what that means but my brother Brad says it heaps

AnnieInAVan…XXXX

Comments

[Brad]

I am so happy that Brad is taking a course in substance abuse, because you and I will need his advice to wean ourselves off the of the jungle juice in later years.
P.s. 89 days is a long time to be on the road, Saltbush is calling your name ;-)

[Georgia]

Another thing we have in common that leads me to believe it must be hereditary: the fact that you claim you write much more intelligently than you talk. I have known this about myself for a few years now. I think that I could compile a decent enough application to qualify me for the job of Prime Minister or CEO of big corporations, but would fail in the face-to-face interview. I also have a similar idiosyncracy with telecommunications - I've been told I sound 'really young' on the phone (this is backed up by the number of people who ask "Is your mum home?"). haha. Teaches them for making inferences and assumptions.
Wow I'm impressed with Bradley!!! Although I always knew he had a big heart.

[Celeste]

I was half way reading your blog & decided to answer the question re: communication style - I sent you a fabulous answer based on a questioniare I have my students/participants & trainees answer, so that I can ascertain the type of learner they are and somehow my response has disappeared off your blog!! One of my 'dislikes" is re-repeating myself, so I sorry you have are now not "privy" to my fabulous response!!

I have felt a bit flat the last few days reading your blog, as you all start to wind down and head back home! :( Please continue to send us updates of the Wood family on occasion, so that the few of us that don't live in Vic, can still feel part of your extended family.

Annie is one clever little girl (I saw the video that Ness uploaded on facebook of James & Annie), she has grown so tall, when I saw her she wasnt standing up ( and that was at the start of your adventure), I can only imagine how the grandparents will feel when they see her!!

Excuse my ignorance, I thought everything in Coober Pedy was underground?? That's what I was always told?? ( I must be gullible!!)

C x