No, I am not dancing for joy! I am tapping my toes in frustration. I had every intention of being on the road this weekend but the universe has conspired against me.
My main problem has been the huge hailstorm a few weeks ago. I have a moonscape of hailstone dints across the bonnet, smashed indicators and a chipped windscreen. This has all be assessed by RACQ insurance and is scheduled for repair in a few months. (With so many houses and vehicles damaged, it took four weeks just to get an appointment for damage to be checked. Repair time can be months so I booked for the June school holidays, when I can be home again.)
According to the assessors, there was no damage to the roof. Guess what! For the long weekend, I took Angel down to the Gold Coast for my daughter and family to camp. It rained! It rained all day and all night! Rain came in around the air conditioner and soaked the bench seat, the foam double mattress, towels and everything else that could be drenched. Then the water ran under the roof lining, just to make the view upwards as interesting as the view downwards.
This meant another trip to the insurance people, who sent me to a caravan repair business. They found a lot of damage to the roof and to the silicon seals around everything, as well as the linings that will have to be ordered. They are waiting to have their quote accepted but have promised to bump me up the queue to prevent any more damage and to allow me to hit the road.
Still, I am an optimist by nature. Just after Christmas I found a handyman / tradie who thought my plans to put extra drawer space in the living area was not only possible but he was able to quote on it immediately and do the work as soon as he could order his materials. I could not believe my good fortune. I didn't even get another quote as I accepted the miracle at face value. Would you believe that suppliers have not yet been able to deliver the fittings! However, now the work that was going to be completed is scheduled for next week. Being an optimist, I believe that will happen.
Am I sounding negative and frustrated? Don't think that for a moment. I have solar panels adapted to plug directly into the van without having to clamp them onto the batteries. My son Andrew's mate Tim did this for me - and at mate's rates. What more can you ask? I have crates of goods and chattels all ready to be loaded into the wonderful drawers which will be ready next week. I have even packed the existing cupboards with a variety of items. Angel and I are ready to fly as soon as we can spread our wings.
There is nothing like a deadline to focus attention on important things. During the past couple of weeks I have caught up with friends, supposedly to say goodbye, but in reality to show off my motorhome and induce a little bit of envy in my housebound friends. I have signed off on club meetings. Although I am keeping my club executive roles with Toastmasters because most of the work can be done online, I have put in apologies for non attendance. Now I have to decide whether to swallow my pride and turn up for meetings or stay at home and sulk. I am still in two minds about that. At the rate I am going, I may even be here for the Red Hatters lunch in a fortnight and (no, please, no) the SeeChange meeting at the end of the month. Because I was going to be gone, I have done a pre-poll vote for the State Election tomorrow and will definitely still be here when the results are announced, for what that is worth!
Isn't life wonderful!
