The drive the next morning to Darwin was bumpy. So many potholes as a result of the ‘Wet’ and cyclones. It would normally have been a three hour drive but it took us longer.
We were pleased to get to Kyran and Vanessa’s house; it had been a 4,000 km trip from home. The first leg of our trip completed.
We are in Darwin to housesit for Kyran and Vanessa whose house here has been rented out for a couple of years. The tenants have now vacated and Kyran, Vanessa and the boys will move here in June. Until then John and I will stay. There are two reasons why we are here. First because it wouldn’t be good for the house to sit empty that long (the pool needs regular cleaning!), and secondly John wanted to do a last trip in the caravan away from Kalbarri in winter. Our friends find this funny because most people come to Kalbarri for the winter because the weather is mild. But not mild enough for John who wants hot! The temperature here is 34 degrees every day and he is happy with that.
The house is lovely and it’s nice that, after all their years of working in a remote community, they will reap the rewards. They have only just begun to furnish the home, something they will enjoy after making do for so long. It feels like a resort actually with the electric gates, the lush green bushes and palm trees that shut out the world. The water in the pool is warm, perfect for a daily swim.
It has taken us a couple of days to get used to all the fancy mod cons here – the electric gates, fancy coffee machine, robotic vacuum that also mops the floor and everything else that young people fill their home with. To me it feels like the year 2050.
Unfortunately things can go wrong. Like on day one when we drove to the local supermarket to buy food. We did not know there was a power cut so when we arrived back at the house, the electric gates wouldn’t open. It meant we couldn’t get in! We called Kyran who told us the only way in was a lever on the other side of the 7ft fence. With John’s age and vertigo, there was no way he was climbing over. Kyran rang a friend but I thought that was too much of an inconvenience so, with John’s help pushing me up, I managed to get over the gate. I just hope there was no footage on the home security camera because it wasn’t very lady-like and I’ve got some lovely bruises now. The main thing was we got in. Of course, with none of the twelve ceiling fans nor the six air conditioners working, we sweltered until the power was restored a few hours later.
We have also not been able to work out how to operate the fancy induction stove but, luckily, there is a terrific outdoor kitchen with a barbecue and smoker in the entertainment area we can use – or, more likely, our caravan cooker!
Today we ventured out to the Casuarina Shopping Centre, the biggest in the Northern Territory I believe. It was a four minute drive. Nothing is far away at all. I will definitely go back there when John is golfing! Not only are there lots of shops, but the cinema is there too.
Next weekend, our grandson, Tommy, is playing football at half time in the AFL game in Darwin – St Kilda v Gold Coast Suns so the family will be coming ftom Gove for the weekend. Can’t wait to see them all. It’s been too long.
I think we are going to enjoy our two or three months here!
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