Day Trip here and there...

Monday 21st Januaray 2019

Today we decided to head off on a day trip to explore The Grampians and the surrounding area.

First stop was McKenzies Falls. 

Whilst swimming is prohibited, we found a shady spots on the rocks to dangle our feet. Despite being quite a few people there, it was still so peaceful.

So despite not liking heights much, the steep walk down to the falls was quite pleasant. The walk back up however, not so much! 260 stairs and an uphill incline saw this little black duck needing to take way more rest breaks than I would like to admitt. 

We finally made it back up to the top and then jumped in the car and took a leisurely drive back towards base camp.

We have this thing we do when out and about with no time restrictions, where if we see a sign that interests us, we head towards it.

We stopped on the side of the road for Mark to check out an old shed.

Found ourselves at Bunjils Shelter.

And even came across a Giant Koala, where we stopped for ice cream.

Once back at the Motel we again had a dip in the pool. 

Then we took a trip into town where the boys checked out the local skate park; something that has become somewhat of a holdiay tradition.

On the way back to base, we grabbed Maccas for dinner as no one could be bothered heating up the baked beans and making toast...lazy or what!

That night Ace tried his hand at fishing with the hand reel (we were going to take the proper rods, which we had put in the shed. Unfortunately some bright spark (that would be me) put the reels in the tackle box, and then packed that in the campervan), while Jazz entertained the ducks to try and keep them away from Ace's line LOL. He didn't catch anything but it was fun all the same and ultra relaxing sitting by the waters edge.

 

Once we were all ready to settle in for the night, we popped on a movie and all just chillaxed.  Absolutely perfect way to end a perfect day!  I could get used to this kind of life!

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Holiyay Time...

Sunday 20th January 2019

It's Holiyay time...whoo hoo!

Today we had a cruisy morning and then hit the road just before midday.

Stawell here we come!

We stopped off at Green Hill Lake (just before Ararat), to stretch our legs and to have some lunch. 

This is a great free (donation appreciated) camping spot, that has designated fire pits/wood bbqs, toilets and showers. Whilst it says you can swim in the lake, the boys didn't think it looked all that inviting. Would be a great spot for a weekender in Autumn/Spring. It was busy but not over crowded and it had phone reception.

After lunch, we were back on the road again and by 3pm we had reached our destination.

We checked in, found our room (No. 17), unloaded the car and got settled into our home for the next 3 nights! 

Settling in for us involves...

• Putting all cold food in the fridge.
• Moving the beds to where we like them, then stripping off the motel bedding and remaking the bed with our own.
• Plugging in the powerboards so we could charge all the modcons.
• Popping toiletries in the bathroom.
• Setting up the recliners on the back patio.
• Connecting all devices to the motel wifi.

Once settled, while Mark and I enjoyed a cup of coffee and a smoke, the boys met the local residents aka ducks on the lake.

We spent the afternoon playing in the indoor salt water pool to cool off before heading back into Stawell to have a look around. Oh and buy good coffee that we forgot to pack!

Once it had cooled down we hit the tennis and basketball court. It was so much fun shooting hoops and chasing after the balls. 

However, our fun abruptly came to an end when Ace managed to hit himself in the face with a tennis ball...like WTF?  As much as the poor bugger was hurt, you also kinda had to laugh as it confirmed our family saying of "it's all fun and games UNTIL...Ace gets hurt".  He can't help that he's clumsy, as I mentioned in a previous post, he is his mothers child after all! Thank goodness for ice packs and Kim's awesome Bumps and Bruises cream.

After a dinner of microwave mac 'n' cheese we all settled in watch some mindless TV before drifting off to sleep.

What an amazing start to our HOLIYAYS!

Oh and not to forget a special little man's 3rd Birthday!

Hip! Hip! Hooray! Happy Birthday Kohden James, wishing you a day full of wiggly fun and friendly dino roars. Love you lots, Aunty Tarsh xo

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17th, 18th, 19th January 2019

Thursday 17th January 2019

Woke up feeling semi normal (aka migraine subsided finally and TTOTM almost finished), so I worked for half the day and pottered about for the rest!  

Mark and I also talked about going away...yay or nay? here or there?

Friday 18th January 2019

Today we visited these little cuties so we could celebrate their birthdays. Keana was 6 on the 16th and Kohden will be 3 on the 20th. And, today was their Daddys birthday, but unfortunately he was at work so we didn't get to see him (we did get to see his family though, so that was really nice).  

My heart melts watching the four of them all playing so beautifully together.  For the most part today it was with the playdough, which even the adults found to be quite therapeutic LOL.

It was also a bonus getting to spend some time with my little sister.  Her wise words of wisdom really helped get me out of my 'mood' this week and chatting with her today was also such a blessing.  Bottom line "release expectation" and just take it all "one appointment at a time".  Applys to everything really and not just the PM process!

AGAIN, that night Mark and I talked about going away versus day trips!

Saturday 19th January 2019

MOST of today was spent OVERTHINKING about going away OR not to go away, which meant going around in CIRCLES! 

We all really want to get away, no doubts about that.  But, as my gut doesn't feel right about going off the grid completely this year, (not sure why but my gut is rarely wrong - so that means we listen to it) it means that we need to find a camp spot on the grid, next to a river or watersource, with very little people around (tricky given Australia Day is this weekend).

Oh and NOT Lake Tyers as demanded by Mr. 15 who is in a MOOD yet again!  Gggrrrr, I am not dealing well with these teenage hormone mood swings...attitude plus!  Mind you, after I stopped being a grumpy old adult, and took time to sit and truly listen to him, his only beef with Lake Tyers was that he couldn't swim in the Lake!  With prompting, he did acknowledge that most of that trip was spent in water of some kind, be it a day trip to the beach or the river (aka Bright water park OR Balley Hoolley...oh how we ALL love that place).  

Look, I get it.  It is hard to beat the Wellington and Howqa river camp spots we have been spoilt with the past few years, BUT unless we venture outside of what we know, we won't discover new places!  Athough, as Mr. 15 pointed out..."last year we looked for a new place and they were 'crap' so we ended up in Licola". True! But, doesn't meant you don't keep exploring!

Anyway his attitude, well more my reaction to it, had me on the brink of saying "fuck it, we're staying home...no camping, no day trips, just home!".  But being the stubborn cow I am,  I thought "why the fuck should the rest of us miss out" as quite frankly, he's a kid and will just go wherever the rest of us do...like it or not, and realistically I knew he would like it once we got there.  It's an axiety thing so I totally get it, he likes to be in control and KNOW!  Yes, he is his mothers child...probs why we tend to butt heads a little.

The other thing we had to navigate was TIME!  Normally we like to do at least a week out bush...two preferred.  This year though, we had already had a week of holidays with our beautiful friends, and then I worked a week and had the hospital appointment, and so time was restricted.  Our thoughts were initially, Sunday to Monday which meant home in time for an appointment on Tuesday and to be able to settle back into normal routine before school.  Again however, Mr. 15 decided he didn't want to miss his weekend with Dad!  Never been an issue before but apparently now it is...to be completely honest, I think its more about hanging with Glenn's next door neighbours!  BUT he is their father and as much as he can give me the shits, I still work at ensuring they have a good relationship with him, we have a good relationship with him!   So anyhow that left Sunday to Friday to work with...well really to Thursday.

Then there was the thought of having to sort through the camper and see what was packed, what was needed to be packed blah blah blah!  Normally this would of been well and truly done by now, but well it wasn't...still isn't.

Don't know why but I'm just not feeling it this year...well I am, as I LOVE camping, so much so I could easily pack up and take off for good, but it all just feels like too much hard work right now!  To be honest, I think just 'overthunk' it all and found myself in a state of 'Paralysis by Analysis'!

Eventually, Mark and I just said ENOUGH and we pushed it aside to just take some time out to BREATHE!  

And it worked!!!

We are booked in to the Magdala Motor Lodge in Stawell for 3 nights (plus decided on a day trip for Thursday and/or Friday).  We leave tomorrow (Sunday) and come home on Wednesday.  We chose Stawell as its close to Halls Gap and Marks never been (despite getting to Ararat that day we did a family drive) AND because it was relatively affordable!

So its NOT off the grid, its NOT by a swimable river - although they do have a lake and a canoe that you can use AND a swimming pool, and tennis/basketball court and free WIFI, oh and it obviously is NOT camping! 

To be honest we can't really afford it, but fuck it! I need this time away to reconnect with my family, to reconnect with me, to not be home, to not feel as though I have to just please everyone else (something I still definitely need to work through this year)!

Anyway, we spent the rest of tonight getting shit together to take away...food (after a quick family shopping trip to Coles), board games, clothes, swimmers, scooters, recliner chairs, life jackets, blow up raft, boogie boards, tennis rackets, basketball, laptop, hdmi and usb of movies...the kitchen sink!  Hmmmmm, may as well have sorted the camper (which should really be ready to go as last trip I repacked it afterwards - oh well) LOL!

Well thats it for now, I'm off to tidy the house so its nice to come home to...then I'd better try and get some sleep.  

Hoping to be on the road by 12ish, ideally earlier would be great but meh holiday mode and all...so we will get there when we get there...I said we would check in between 2pm and 3pm.

Praying that this place I booked is as good as it looks on bookings.com.

Stay tuned folks!

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Wednesday 16th January 2019

So despite giving in last night and taking a pain med, I woke up today with my migraine still lingering.  Desperate to change my attitude, I decided to suck it up and work anyway. 

This is me sucking it up and giving EGO the finger!

Bad idea! I had to run out of the room twice to spew my guts up...so professional NOT! Needless to say I cancelled the rest of my day and spent it in bed with an eye mask on trying to ease some tension. 

The rest has helped (as did a text from my sister) and I am feeling a little better. I think it was a combination of the heat and low iron levels...it will pass soon, I'm on day 3 so only a couple to go, although normally its slowed down by down and as yet its still flowing like the Red Sea! 

I managed a small conversation with Ace today about his attitude (and his reasons for having it), and it has since turned around, so thats a positive, its nice to have my boy back.  Mind you, his 'attitude' is nothing compared to the kid at the hospital yestersay who screamed down the waiting room because he didn't get a lolliepop.  Really its probably not even much compared to other teenagers, its just that I'm not used to it.  

Gotta say that I am also feeling ultra blessed by all the messages of support I have received from my insta/facey post. I'm never sure whether or not to post the "keeping it real" stuff, but if I only shared the happy moments it wouldn't be an accurate reflection of my life and well, I'm not one to hide my emotions so its warts and all or nothing! 

Talking about support...yesterday I put my eye mask on and crawled into bed without dinner. As I hadn't eaten much during the day, and was quite honestly too exhausted to even think about getting up to eat, my sweet man sat on the side of the bed and fed me. There truly is no doubt at all that his words of "I love you", are anything but genuine...he shows it every day in his actions! It also confirms the fact that we will be able to get through the prophylactic mastectomy recovery. 

Anyway thats all I'm going to write today, write again tomorrow xo 

Oh I almost forgot...today is my niece's 6th Birthday. Happy Birthday Keana Mae! We are all looking forward to spending the day together on Friday.

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