Day 46 - Tom Price

Hey, before I start I have to ask if any of you even noticed the name of the blog for the last couple of days? I thought I was clever as, because I changed the name of where we were to a synonym of where we actually were (for those of you who don’t know what synonym is…..Google it) but no one said anything about it. And Shayne, Day 44 had nothing to do with you, it was a coincidence ok!

Now the next bit of my blog might come across as being a little politically incorrect, so I apologise in advance, well I don’t really but just trying not to upset the sensitive types…. Oh and I’d like to hear my brothers view on this as he is a social worker. Last night on one of the trashy current affair shows they had a segment (is that what you call them?) on the Basics Card Scheme. Ok so this is a scheme where people on long term unemployment benefits or some types of pensions get a card that has their money on it, but they can only spend it on “Basics” like rent, food, fuel (As if they’d own a car) Gasp…and all the things we need to live. You can’t use it to buy grog, fags, drugs or blow it at the TAB! I reckon it is a great idea. It might actually make some no hopers realise that if they want some of the good things in life (Grog, smokes & gambling….Ha, just kidding!)…they might actually have to get a job and earn a living rather than expect me & other taxpayers to pay for their indulgences. Oh and as usual the current affairs program found two really great people to interview to push their case for opposing this scheme, I’m not sure but I think they said “This’s bullshit, If they think they can tell us how ta spend our money they’ll be sorry…… We’ll be rioting” and the lady said “If I want ta spend my money on a casket of wine I should be able to… but I wouldn’t cause I don’t drink wine, I drink rum!” & “yous’ve got no idea whats it like to try to survive on tha dole”

I rest my case…..Bring on the basics card!

I got a bad case of man hands! The last 6 weeks has been tough on my hands. I have had constant dirt & dust grinding away at the skin. Every time I push my wheelchair the minute particles of dust are wearing away at my skin. I’d like some advice from readers as to what I can try to get them back in shape. I snuck some of Ness’s hand cream the other day….But I’m not allowed to use it because it is $30 a tube & I usually go overboard & use quarter of a tube at a time! So not true(I let you use the cream)…but I have to admit I have the same problem. All the dirt and constant washing of them is horrible they feel like sandpaper.  Not liking my chances of getting a mani in Tom Price.

Reader’s replies

Egg liked my Jim Jams…. Ha, that is the first & last time anyone will ever see me like that.

Nikki shared that her daughter Charlotte wants to know why the family she goes to school with that are called Khoury do not have black skin!

Archie B emailed Annie, Ness and I are going to struggle to keep our house a “Pet free zone” thanks Archie. Panda is almost human…so not considered a pet but a family member.

Heather loved the pic of me in my Jammies too. Cool, I’ve sent it to the printers to get put on a 2m x 1m canvas that you & Brad can hang above your bed. She also warned me not to bag Mellissa Etheridge….. Who? Never heard of her! She is fantastic…

Mel got in touch, I can see why you have not messaged Mel, I’m sure you & Amanda will be very happy together. You make a lovely couple!!! Mel, I am only married to him, doesn’t mean I have to like what he says…he is a shocker.

Peter A, the only thing better than 4WDing in the Pilbara would be if you and Mary were with us so we could pull out the Prado(or whatever you are driving) with the Disco.

My son Brad sent the quote of the year “Dad FYI I have not lost my phone, I have misplaced it” only those of you who have met Brad will understand this.

And Brad A, mate if you are going to leave a comment….Make it worthwhile. I get all excited waiting to hear how the Yatala Commando Squadron is going & you send me a silly one line comment!

Annie’s Blog

Ok now I know I am Queen, Princess, Dalai, Annie coz today we went to this new place, Dad said it was Tom’s Place….. who is Tom? And we parked the car and the box on wheels and all of the people came and wanted to see me! The lady & man next door, the lady & man across the road, there were heaps of people that just wanted to see me. I’m going to make a special wave that will be just mine and I will do it to all the people that want to see me.

Archie sent me a message, Thanks Archie….Can’t wait to see you again I bet we have all changed so much since I left.

Tomorrow I’m going explore this box on wheels park it looks like fun and the best bit is my Dad will take me & Mum Boosh Bashin! (Don’t know what that means but Dad is really excited about it.

AnnieInAVan Xoxo

James Footnote: I just went to the loo, this park has a really good wheelchair accessible bathroom that is separate to the main bathroom. As I was unlocking the door with the key I was given from the office this guy came over to me & said “How did you unlock the door?” to which I replied, “I have a key” he then said “My key doesn’t unlock it” and I said “Do you need to use this bathroom?” he said “Yes my wife has a sore wrist!”…. I opened the door and went inside….. Do I need to say more?

Day 45 - Freshbloke

Ha, my wife thinks she is soooo funny, remember a few blogs ago I called her “Miss Flannelette 2012” well guess what she bought me? My very own pair of striped Flannelette pyjamas! Check out the pictures, especially my Hugh Hefner pose on the bed, lucky my tackle didn’t fall out as these things have no fly! How do you other blokes wear these jammies? Oh dear…is all I can say!!

Annie is fully mobile now, she does a sort of Seal crawl where she crawls on her belly, pushes with her legs & lifts with her arms all at the same time. That means that now unless she is confined to the Van we have to keep an eye on her constantly because for those of you who have ever had kids know, they will always got to the place they are not meant to go! Today Ness & I were sitting outside under the awning & Annie took off underneath the caravan, she thought it was hilarious. I was calling for her to come out but she just looked at me and smiled!..... what are we in for with this one?

We are moving again tomorrow, off to Tom Price, but we will be based there for 3 whole weeks. I’m not sure if I’m going to enjoy it or not, I mean we won’t have to travel to different places, but after a week I might get bored of the same place? I guess we will just have to wait & see. But the good thing is that there are lots of things we can do on days off, Karajini National Park is driving distance, and there are several day trips we can do in the 4WD from TP. Woo Hoo, real 4WDing in the Pilbara! Can’t wait!!!

Reader’s Messages

Juan is having a birthday today, and celebrating in style. He is in Las Vegas with Rob & they are staying at the Bellagio. Ness had to explain to me what the Bellagio was! Bet you can’t get Chips & Gravy there! Happy Birthday Juan!  Love to you and all the family.  Enjoy Celine….

Nikki finally worked out how to leave a message on the blog, wow Nikki it’s been 4 years! But we got all of your other messages too so no prob, it gets to us either way. We laughed about your trip in the car with Charlotte, we think you are due for a trip to Melbourne…. But you & Charlotte have to drive, Rob & Sebastian can fly!

Hey Meredith, how did you go with the stairs? Hope they worked out ok. Oh and did you get your worms sorted? I won’t tell anyone about your little problem.

Rob, have you looked at the AFL Ladder this week?

My sister Georgia is on holidays, but she doesn’t need to go anywhere as she lives in the beautiful Menindee Lakes. She has her future daughter in law currently visiting & is quickly learning to cook Thai food!

Dan won his footy yesterday, that is 2 games in a row they have won. Awesome Dangaz, keep it up mate, I’ll be home by finals time.

Brad W, I know your phone is missing…. Give us a call mate, or send a number I can call you back on.

Sue F, have not heard from you for a while, Angie? You too, Mel from Bris? Sarah F? Granny?  and all of you who have not messaged for a while….. We miss you as much as you miss us!

Annie’s Blog

Hello people’s. I’m a bit stressed today. My Dad was not here again this morning? He must be really scared of my Mum because since she told him to keep it quiet in the mornings I have not even heard him leave. But that’s not the reason I’m stressed…. I’m getting too big for some of my clothes. How does this happen? I mean I really really like some of my stuff, what will I do if I can’t fit into it? I know Mum & Dad will get me new stuff but what about things I grow attached with! I think I’m like my Dad with this, he has some T shirts with holes in them & Jeans that are faded & worn & stained and he won’t let Mum throw them out.

I found a new place to play, today I crawled under the box on wheels, wow it was so fun under there. Mum & Dad were calling me to come out but it was fun being under there so I stayed!

I found out about Aboniginies today, I was wondering why some of the people here had dirty faces and hands, but it is because their skin is brown! Dad told me that the Aboniginies were here long before, white skinned people came here and they actually are the real owners of Stralia. So that makes me think why do all of the peoples who own mining companies have white skin? I mean if the Aboniginies were the first people here shouldn’t they own all the ground and the stuff that is on it and in it? Maybe I’ll think about it for a while and talk about it in another blog.

Lots of hugs

AnnieInAVan…XXXXXXX 

Day 44 - Oldwoman

I had to get up at 350am this morning! I had to work at 630am but had to complete an induction before I was allowed on site. So if I fall asleep while writing the blog just give me a nudge. I finished my work at 1030am and was back with Ness & Annie by 1130. So not bad for a day’s work and I have the rest of the afternoon to watch the V8’s….

Change of plan, the other week I mentioned to Ness that one of the van tyres was wearing a bit thin. It is the tyre on the left hand side of the van at the rear. This tyre normally wears a little quicker than the rest as it skids a little more when you do U turns with the van. Ness kept dropping hints about when I would change it. Like “When are you going to change that tyre?” You were the one saying we really need to change…so when you say that I am only thinking of our safety.

So pull out the jack, & as Ness was sitting around doing nothing (as if) I said “Can you get under there darling & jack it up for me?” which she did! Gee I love my wife!!!

I then changed the tyre & checked it all out & as Ness was still sitting around doing nothing I said “Honey can you get under there & let the jack down?” which she did! It is called brownie points!!

So I put the old wheel on the drawbar where the spare goes, put the cover on it, checked the tyre pressure, put air in the tyre and Ness packed the toolbox & the compressor away while I did the wheel brace & the jack.

Now the moral of this story is “If you have a good team you can do anything you want to do!”

We have struggled with internet access up here, what happens is that many people that work up here don’t have a landline or access to internet during working hours. So they all access the net via their phones or use their phones as modems for their computer (Like we do). But there is only so much 3G bandwidth to go around so during the busy periods it is a nightmare to get on the internet & send or receive emails. So we try to get the blog done and out either before 530ish (The shift workers knock off at 6), or after 11….as they are usually on the phone or net between these times. And they go to bed at 10 or 11ish so it frees up after that!

The neighbors left this morning, remember I told you they were in tents? Well this morning when I left for work at 445 I went to start the car, the Land Rover’s lights automatically come on if it is dark and I think I woke them all up! Now I DID NOT do this intentionally!

There are white cockatoo’s up here that are pink! Norm & Marg, Bill & Sue you will have seen them. The red Pilbara dust makes them red cockatoos, it’s quite funny to see. They still make a lot of noise.

Reader’s replies

Big Big Happy Birthday to Shayne. We hope you have a great birthday Shayne and we will hopefully catch up on our way up to Qld later in the year.

Michael G sent an email telling me he knows what it is like to get whacked on the inside of your head with a phone book because it happens to him regularly!.... Good to hear from you MG.

My cousin Marc also emailed us, Hiya Marc. Did you watch Billy Connolly on Sunday Night last week? Very funny.

Brad A sent a message on the blog, I appreciate this as he is currently busy training a select group of Yatala locals in guerrilla warfare for his upcoming hostile takeover of the Gold Coast city council! But he is obviously overdoing it as he said he actually enjoyed Tina Arena! Thanks mate keep up the good work.

Liz P shared her breakfast of toast & vegemite with marmalade on it! Oh Liz, I’m so sorry for you, obviously the fact that you have not eaten meat for so long has corrupted your sensory perceptions! I mean if there were ever two things that should not be mixed it is Vegemite & Marmalade!

Annie’s Blog

Today was funny because when I woke up my Dad was not here, for the last week or even more, I can’t remember coz I’m only little….My Dad has been here every morning. But today he was at work. Mum told me he would be home soon, but it was still a bit different than normal.

Me & Mum got some work done though, We did the washing & swept & mopped the floor in the van. It’s hard to work when Dad is around because he gets in the way, or when he is not in the way he just wants to play. Sometimes he is a bigger kid than me.

Anyway today I had a buster, I was climbing up the cupboards in the box on wheels and I slipped & fell on my head. My new teeth must have cut my lip because Mum saw this red stuff come out of my mouth…. She said it was Blud. I wonder where Blud comes from, it’s not very tasty!

In this town the shops stay closed on Sunday, how am I supposed to become an expert shopper when the shops stay closed?

Oh & Don’t tell Mum & Dad but Jack is going to help me get my very own animal, I might get a sheep, or a pig, or maybe even a polar bear?

Sleep tight all.

AnnieInAVan….XXXX

Day 43 - Newman

Ha! Got some funny replies to last night’s blog, keep em coming people’s!

Today was our R&R day, I have to work tomorrow & today was a day for just “Chillin” as my son Brad would say. So this morning after a sleep in till 7am, Annie dictates how long we sleep these days. We got up & had breakfast in the van. Ness had her favourite….Porridge, with blueberries, coconut and yoghurt!! Mmmm which she shared with Annie, and I had my second favourite….Cornflakes. I was going to have my favourite… Promite & butter on toast, but was not in the mood for it! You know sometimes you just have to be in the mood!

Do you have a favourite breakfast? Earlier this year I was speaking to Brad A about this, he loves his vegemite on toast & he was wondering when he would get sick of it? He said he has been eating it for years & still enjoys it as much every day. I’m the same with Promite on toast… As long as I’m in the mood.

So once we were up, showered & brekkied, Annie got on the grass to play, Ness caught up on some work emails, I checked the tyre pressures on the car. Pretty much a perfect morning really. Oh and did I mention that it was 23 degrees here today? It does get to 1 overnight…but warms up pretty quickly once the sun comes out…which it always does!!

Then we decided to walk/roll up to town, thought maybe there might be a market or a fete or something on? No such luck, ended up at Woolies with Mine 4WD’s in the car park and half the people in the shopping centre wearing hi visibility clothing. Nothing like a Saturday morning in a mining town, but even worse was that they had sold out of Saturday papers! I mean really, what sort of place do you have to be in where you can’t get a Saturday paper?

Made it back to the van, unpacked the groceries we were carrying & then made the snap decision to go for a drive. When we were walking to the shops we saw a sign saying “Animal Park” so we were interested in what it was. We ended up at this park with swings & play equipment in it, but also it had kangaroos, sheep, goats, an emu & a heap of chooks! Apparently you can go in there & play on the swings & play with the animals. The Lions Club support & look after the place, great idea hey?

When does sorry not cut it? Last night Ness & I were getting into bed. Ness did a little fluff & then apologised straight away…. But then it hit me, it was like someone had smacked the inside of my head with a phone book!.....It was bad. Now I know she apologised but sometimes it is just not enough!..... Methinks I may be sharing too much information here? Can some of you please give me examples of when sorry has not cut it for you? Sometimes I just wish my husband did not write this blog or at least he would let me use the delete button.

Reader’s responses

Liz shared her own experience with the neighbours from hell, the rest of them turned up tonight Liz, we are just waiting for “The warden threw a party in the county Jail, The prison band was there & they began to wail…..” Bet you are all singing this in your head now!

Jack & Grace asked where we were going next, we are in Newman till Tuesday then we go to Tom Price. We will definitely visit you in your new house.

Meredith said something about worms? Meredith, don’t be embarrassed….Just go to the chemist & ask them for something. It will fix you up in a few days. Merry, he is so slow….I thought your response was hilarious, his sense of humor is not quite like ours.

Sandy asked if we made the right comments when the goose next door showed us his tent, I did Sandy I said “Wow!.....” followed by (in my head) this guy is a dickhead!

Tereasa we didn’t hide from the neighbors, quite the opposite, we cooked a yummy smelling BBQ with all the trimmings while they ate their 2 minute noodles & dry biscuits!..... and before you all say anything, I know…. God will punish me!!!

And Jack…. Tereasa’s son, Mate I’ve only known you for a few months, but if you give Annie any stupid ideas about getting animals…. I’ll be over there to kick you’re a#@e.

Annie’s Blog

I like this Newman place, it makes me sleep all night, maybe it is the air? Last night I slept for 12 hours and I only woke once because a big truck went past. And then when we got up Mum gave me this gooey gunky stuff with bits of fruit in it, it was yummy. My Dad said that I probably like it because he is Scottish & that makes me a bit Scottish. But Mum says I like it because Pop likes it & she likes it. Then I got to go outside and play on the ground, did you know that you can find treasures on the ground? And I think that every treasure you find you have to taste! Because today when I found a treasure I put it straight in my mouth. Not many tasted yummy though.

Tomorrow my Dad has to go to work, but he told me he will be home by lunchtime, that’s ok Dad I know you have to work because me and Mum have expensive tastes, I can’t wait to buy new clothes when I get home! Oh my gosh…you will so need them, they are all coated in red Pilbara dust.  When will you stop commando crawling, then I will only have red knees and not red all over.

And Jack is getting a Piggy! I so much want an animal of my own, I miss Panda who is our dog, Maybe when I get home I think I’ll get something of my own. If not I’ll come play with Jack’s Piggy!

Speak to you soon ladies & gents

AnnieInAVan…XXXX

Day 42 - Newman Again

I was warned before writing tonight’s blog that I can’t do the Neeeeewwwmaaaan thing again! Ok but we are back in Newman. This is not a bad little mining town, it gets a lot of support from the mining companies in the area and has good schools & sporting facilities. I sent my mate Darren a text today telling him that he should come up here & work. But his wife & kids might talk him out of it!

Hey a few of you have commented on the length of last nights blog! What the!! You guys complain when I don’t do a blog (state of origin) & then you complain when I write too much! Some people are hard to please.

Tina Arena is a has been, never was, untalented, screecher who now relies on old peoples sympathies to sell tickets to her concerts, just because she was a cute little girl that sat on Johnny young’s knee you buy a ticket to see her! Actually she didn’t sell many tickets, most of them were radio station giveaways & promo freebies….I mean who would be stupid enough to actually pay for tickets to see her scream! Your poor husbands must really love you to go to that crap with you!

Hey we got the neighbors from hell tonight & for the next couple of days! So far on this trip we have met nothing but nice people, Travellers, Nomads, Workers, and just normal people. We got back to Newman (Neeew……) sorry got carried away! And set up the van in the same spot we had last week (close to the showers). Anyway Ness & I were sitting under the annexe catching up on a few emails & calls. This car pulled into the site next to us and this couple got out and straight away started talking to us. But not just talking, they were telling us where they had just been, what they were going to do & how they were going to do it. They then started unpacking & realised they did not have a hammer to put their tent pegs in (yes did I mention they were staying in a tent!) so they asked if they could borrow ours! Luckily my Bear Grills skills always makes me pack a hammer, but it was in the Bear Grills toolkit which was under the bed & Annie was asleep in the van so we couldn’t get it! So we had to say sorry we can’t get it until she wakes. Which I don’t think they really understood! The guy (Malcolm) then wanted to show us how his tent worked! So he said “You have to see this” and he waited till Ness & I were watching him and he threw his tent out and it popped open (it is one of those tents with wire in the seams that automatically springs open) his wife (Sandra) was by now telling us where we should stay on our trip up the coast! And did I mention they are both on the larger side? Ok forget political correctness, they are fat as! I know there is nothing wrong with that I am just painting a picture for you ok! And they then said that they had this site booked for the weekend and 3 more couples were arriving tomorrow and they were going to party! Great can’t wait! Oh my goodness…did I really marry this man!!

Reader’s Comments

Couldn’t work out why Meredith is often the first person to respond to the blog. Then it hit me that she is in NZ! So she is 4 hours ahead of us (But 20 years behind!) M asked if last night’s menu came off the truck drivers bullbar! EEEEEWWWWW! Yuck, and I had a bit of everything last night too! Good luck with the steps M but if it fails, build a ramp, I find them much easier.

Tereasa will be busy when we get back if there is no snow! As Jack has promised Annie some cold crushed ice! Oh and she has also offered to come get us if the Land Rover breaks down! As if T!

Shayne commented also on the length of the blog last night! (via email) You don’t comment often Shayne but when you do you make it a Doozy! All I can say is “Get a bigger bowl of porridge!”

Emily & Heather were both at Tina Macarena last night, poor things, I bet you both have headaches today from the awful noises coming from the stage. And next time you win tickets to a show make sure you know who it is you are seeing! I mean surely you both would not have gone if you really knew it was Tina Arena.

Annie’s Blog

We had to leave all of the people today, I will miss all of the 100 million new friends I made. And I will also miss making them do silly things when they are around me. We drove to a place we have been to before, Dad made a funny face & said “Neeeeewwwmaaaan” in this weird voice. Why do grown ups go back to the same place over and over? Once I have been somewhere once I don’t need to go back.

Jack my friend has been to the snow, I’ve been to the Mine Site, can some of my other friends tell me where they have been? I know Grace & Jack (other Jack) are moving to Sydney soon, maybe I’ll get Mum & Dad to take me to visit them.

At this caravan park there is grass, Dad says that you don’t see much grass in the Pilbara so I’m making the most of it….I’m going to get as much of it in my clothes as I can and take it with us. Not to mention eat it as well!!

Ok Dad told me to keep it short tonight because some blog readers complain when we write too much.

Goodnight and lots of love

AnnieInAVan…..XXXX