Cancelled by COVID 19!

Bugger!

Christina had an Embroidery Conference planned at Barmera, near Renmark, a couple of hundred kilometres from Tanunda next Friday through Sunday. We thought we'd go early and spend four days at Renmark, then move to Barmera, a total eight-day break.

As we hadn't towed the caravan anywhere since moving here nearly four years ago, we pulled it out of storage, gave it a good clean, replaced the sacrificial anode, loaded it with our clothes, food and a whole lot of other stuff (think shoes, laptops etc) and headed off.

Renmark caravan park is a huge, well-equipped place. Very nice. We drove up Sunday and spent Sunday and Monday evenings there and looked forward to visiting the Rose Gardens and a couple of distilleries today and a few other places tomorrow.

Unfortunately, this morning we received a report that the SA Government was implementing a complete lockdown of SA from 6 pm and it would last seven days. We also received notification that the conference Christina was to attend had been cancelled.

We decided to head home since it's more favourable to be locked down at home than in a caravan. So, we packed up in the rain and drove home to Tanunda.

Some break!

Anyway, we are both well, have had our two vaccinations against COVID-19 and will sit out the next seven days hanging around the house. We are allowed out to shop for food and do a daily walk not exceeding 90 minutes, so it's not all bad.

We feel very sorry for those people trying to run small businesses, especially hotels, restaurants, coffee shops, hairdressers etc because they have to close. Many of them will not survive financially and while we do try to support them with our custom, the money we spend wouldn't make a lot of difference. 

When we go shopping, we have to wear a mask. Chris bought herself a camouflage mask and an Air Force Centenary mask for me from our local RSL. You can see mine above.

Stay well. Avoid COVID-19.

Robin

Easter Sunday at Port Parham

Port Parham, a small seaside resort is on the eastern side of the Yorke Peninsula in South Australia. For decades it's been the weekend escape for people from the Barossa Valley and other nearby towns.

We were fortunate enough to be invited to stay overnight by friends who have a beach shack.

Port Parham has a tide that recedes several hundred metres from the beach, good fishing and especially, good crabbing opportunities.

Fishermen designed a vehicle called a jinker to tow their boats across the sand to the water and back. Crabs could be gotten with rakes that simply scoop them out of the water and of course there are rules regarding the minimum size permitted and how many can be taken daily. Females with eggs are protected and must be thrown back into the water.

I'm not sure how one determines what a female crab looks like, but those who are real fishermen obviously know.

We didn't go crabbing during our overnight stay, but did enjoy a dinner of crabs and prawns and a lovely bottle of McGuigans cabernat-shiraz.

Here you can see our table of crabs and prawns.

We did a tour of the local towns and sights including looking at the Army firing range that adjoins the fishing zone and generally chilled out chatting, had a few beers, cups of coffee and filled in the 24 hours we were there very well.

After living in Central Australia for so long, it's nice to live where we can drive for an hour and be in a totally different place.

I've never been a real beach fan, but it is lovely to visit it occasionally and soak one's feet in warm salt water and walk on the sand. It's not only good for the feet, but good for the inner person.

Robin

Hopeful, Happy New Year

After the challenges of 2020, we all hope for a better year in 2021, however, C19 is still around and promises to keep challenging us in this new year.

Today is Friday and I woke up at 8:13 am after going to bed completely sober at 12:45 am.

As the only drinker in our two-person family, I had consumed a bottle of Carlton Zero which, unlike Heineken's equivalent has NO alcohol, and two glasses of Barefoot Shiraz. The former was a bit gassy and came in a piddling 330 ml bottle. I usually only buy 375 ml or larger but made an exception this time to try the new brew.

The only complaints I have about Carlton Zero is it's small, gassy and doesn't come in cans which are easier to fit into the fridge.

Yeah, I know, there are much more important things to think about like C19, poverty, homelessness, the push to "Reset" us by the UN, the Chinese trade challenge etc.

Whatever, 2021 will bring with it what it brings and there's not much we can do about that.

Your mission, if you choose to accept it is to make the most of your life for the next 12 months. Try to stay healthy, happy and content.

Happy New Year!

Robin