Burning Desire For FIRE

Financially Independent, Retired Early(ish) at 57.

The Ligas’ Crazy Road Trip- Days 5 and 6: Salt, a son and a steak.

November 19, 2024 / / 1 Comment

We woke up to rain the next morning. How lucky – imagine if we were trying to bushwalk in the rain? It would have been miserable. As it was, we packed our bags, Liga and I had some Latvian hazelnut chocolate as a snack – Liga2 had had the forethought to save a slice or two from her pizza last night – and we set off.

When I was in England last year, Deana gave me a pair of her pink socks that she was going to donate to the op shop. Since then, these socks have been to Ireland, Kangaroo Island, Canada, Alaska, the Red Centre, Kakadu and they’ve even jumped out of a plane. Now, they’re on the road again!

Today we were heading to Adelaide. This day was the first day with sustained driving, where we’d be sitting in the car for hours on end. Europeans aren’t often used to this type of travel, so I tried my best to limit long driving days as much as possible in the itinerary. However, given the time and the distances I had to work with, some boring days in the car were inevitable.

We drove until nearly midday, when we hit Dimboola and stopped for lunch. We found a retro café and I had a BLT that somehow disappeared without a trace in a very short time.

Dimboola looks to be a pretty little town.

Our next stop was just 7 minutes away – The Pink Lake.

I’ve already been here, of course, when I was coming back from Kangaroo Island in February. My friend Helen had told me about how you can harvest pink salt here, but all I had back then was a coffee mug. This time, I came prepared.

The Pink Lake looks its pinkest when it’s cloudy. The day was a little cloudy and the Ligas got to see the full effext of the colour. Once the car stopped,we raced down to the lake, where I instantly started scooping up salt. Liga was kind enough to sneak a photo of my sumptuous arse in all its glory…

We stayed here for a little while, then we jumped in the car again and headed off. Liga wanted to listen to the news, so we learned that there were bushfires to the north and south of us. My trusty little Golf kept heading in between them along our way.

We stopped each time we saw some silo art.

The Ligas were very quiet by the time we reached our hotel just before 6 that evening. They were desperate to escape ‘Mum’s Boppin’ Bangers’ and the confines of the car, so they headed off along the foreshore to stretch their legs and get dinner, while I set off to see Evan28 for dinner.

Yes, how lucky was this? Evan28 and Jenna were in Adelaide for Jenna’s sister’s 21st.

We had dinner at a Vietnamese restaurant and then we met the Ligas for drinks. Unfortunately wthe wind was fierce on the foreshore, so we retreated to an inside bar for an hour or so and talked.

After the Ligas left to capture the last of the sunset on the pier – they got some amazing photos – Evan28 and I stayed until the bar decided to close. I love when I have one-on-one with my kids.

I asked Jenna and her Mum about what we could do in Adelaide in the morning before we head up to Port Augusta. There doesn’t seem to be a lot to do in the city, but we did get the helpful warning to keep our car doors locked in Port Augusta!

Screenshot

Our Port Augusta day is also Latvian Independence Day. This is a Big Deal to Latvians. In 1918 they kicked the Russians out and enjoyed the golden age of independence before the Russians came back and took over the place during WWII. In 1991 they kicked them out again after 50 years of being occupied by Russia. Understandably, Latvians are keen to celebrate their independence.

After we got to Adelaide, I said to Liga that she should create a playlist of Latvian songs on Spotify that we could play as we drove to Port Augusta. We spent all day listening to what sounded to me like mostly jolly songs. I couldn’t understand a word, so I just listened to the melodies as I drove along.

Liga was determined to try kangaroo and googled a place that had excellent reviews for their char-grilled kangaroo steaks. It was a pub in Port Adelaide. We had the morning to kill before lunch, so Liga2 decided that she wanted to go to Rundle Mall to do some shopping. Liga wanted to stay at Henley Beach a while longer and enjoy the sand. I drove Liga2 to the mall and then found a shady bench under a tree and read a book for a couple of hours. We met at the British Hotel in Port Adelaide for lunch.

It was lovely. The girls had brought little Latvian flags to celebrate the day.

Happy and free Latvians!

Now that was a good effort! I must have been hungry.

We drove straight to Port Augusta after this and I’m sitting on my bed typing this as we’re getting ready for bed. Tomorrow will be an early start, because I want to spend as much time in Coober Pedy as we can, because I’ve never been there.

It’ll be a slightly larger driving day tomorrow, before the big one to get to Uluru on Wednesday.

Dad Joke of the Day:

The Ligas’ Crazy Road Trip – Day 4: The Grampians.

November 18, 2024 / / 0 Comments

Here is Liga going for an early morning swim at Warrnambool.

Yes, this is the same Liga who has been complaining about being cold every day since she got here! She didn’t stay in for long, though she admitted that the water temperature wasn’t too bad.

As soon as we set foot outside, I knew that today was going to be hot. Liga had better be careful what she wishes for!

But she did it. She swam in an Australian sea. She was very upset to learn that she can’t swim in the sea when she gets to Cairns, because of the crocodiles.

Before we left, I had my usual tight-arse breakfast of Vita-Weets and Vegemite. Naturally, they had to try Vegemite.

I think it’s safe to say that this will be the first and last time they eat it. We went to a café so they could have breaky. There were some fire engines there as well, with heaps of firies.

“It sounds like you’re almost saying ‘fairies’,” said Liga2.

“Nah, these aren’t fairies! They’re FIRE – IES!” I said.

I can’t help myself. I liked this mural on a shop at Halls Gap.

By the time we got to Halls Gap, a little town surrounded by the hills of The Grampians, it was around midday and it was 30C. The power was out and all of the fire warning signs had their arrows pointed to extreme danger of fire. The wind was whooshing along the tops of the trees. If someone was stupid enough to drop a lit cigarette on the ground, it wouldn’t be good.

People from Melbourne absolutely love The Grampians. They’re only a 4 or 5 hour drive from the city and the bushland is pristine. If there’s a long weekend, you can get two full days of camping in the bush before you have to go home. Evry time i said I was bringing the Ligas here, people’s eyes would light up.

We went to the Information centre for a map of the walks around town. Liga decided that she would do the longest and most difficult walk ( of course), so after making sure she had water, sunscreen and some nut bars to eat, we drove off to a car park and left her there, agreeing to come back at 5:30 to pick her up.

Liga2 and I aren’t insane. We decided to see McKenzie Falls, The Broken Falls and the Balconies. Why push ourselves?

You wouldn’t believe it.

We were walking towards the McKenzie Falls lookout when Liga2 heard a noise. There were 2 fat Blue Tounge lizards. These ones were a bit more shy than the ones from yesterday, so they were easing themselves away as other tourists approached.

McKenzie Falls. We decided not to go down, as the stairs looked very steep and Liga2 was worried about how the heat might affect her.

So we pushed on and saw Broken Falls, which weren’t worth a photo (sorry!).

Our next stop was The Balconies walk. It’s around 15 minutes to get there.

I took a photo at the initial lookout, just to prove that I was actually here.

I’ve had this hat for around 20 years. It doesn’t have a chin strap, so I was hanging onto it to make sure it didn’t blow away. I love this hat.

Even before you get to The Balconies, the views are amazing.

The trails are really well-maintained here, though having said that, while Liga2 and I were walking merrily along, chatting about all sorts of things, Liga was clinging to cliff faces and inching her way along in places.

She was also having a lovely, if at times slightly daunting, time.

This is the view along the way.

And here we are! I was a bit sad that the tourism authority, in all its wisdom, has fenced off the rocky outcrops that hang out and over the cliffs. I remember sitting on them and gazing out at the view when I brought the kids here, probably 20 years ago. Part of the fun was knowing that you’d die if you lost your footing.

Happy tourist!

We decided after this that we’d “done” the Australian bush, so we headed back into town to find our room and unpack the car.

On the drive down the mountain, Liga2 spotted some echidna in a ditch by the side of the road. Incredible.

Just before it was time to go and get Liga, I asked Liga2 if she’d like to go to a spot where we had a good chance of seeing wild kangaroos.

It was at the local recreation park. And it absolutely delivered. There were around 5 kangaroos with little joeys in their pouches, while another joey was there beside its mother, munching on grass.

We swung back here after we picked up Liga, so she could see them too.

Most of the kangaroos were carrying joeys, but this one was like having your 50-year-old son living in the basement.

So now we have wild kangaroos to add to the list the Ligas have seen.

Let’s see – they saw a whale in Sydney. We won’t count all of the rosellas, lorikeets, cockatoos and other birds they’ve seen.

Koalas. Blue-tongue lizards X 2. Echidnas X 2. A snake at Mt Martha.

Honestly, it seems like the Australian wildlife are practically flinging themselves out of the Bush at them! I’ve never seen anything like it.

And to end, here is a short video, where you can hear the sound of the cicadas. Not 10 seconds after I stopped recording, a kookaburra started to laugh.

Honestly, it can’t get much more Australian than that!

Halls Gap had no electricity for most of the day, so the few businesses that either had a generator or had minimal prep work to do were absolutely swamped for dinner. We walked around town and eventually ordered pizzas – which had a ONE-HOUR WAIT.

The girls elected to sit and wait to pick up the pizzas, while I left them to it and went back to our room, where I poured a wine and read my book. They need some time to themselves to speak Latvian, without constantly having to translate everything they want to say into English. I don’t know how they do this – it must be exhausting.

Tomorrow, we head out of Victoria and into South Australia. The Crazy Road Trip continues!

Dad Joke of the Day:

The Ligas’ Crazy Road Trip – Day 2: The Mornington Peninsula.

November 16, 2024 / / 2 Comments

This day turned out to be a soft start to the Crazy Toad Trip because both Ligas slept in. Jet lag is not an easy thing to shake when you’re coming from the Northern to the Southern Hemisphere. 

Before they got up, I’d showered, dressed, packed the car with my things and had a first breakfast of a couple of delicious slices of a dark rye bread that they brought me from Latvia. Yum! There was also some chocolate and a divine hand-woven wooden wrap that I’ll cherish forever.

Finally, they emerged and Liga announced, “I’ll make pancakes for breakfast!” It turns out that her pancakes were more like crêpes. She made a stack of them and we all devoured them. Second breakfast!

You can see Liga in the kitchen, behind the stuffed kangaroo she bought for her daughter, while Liga2 was setting the table. 

After breakfast we loaded the car, said our goodbyes (poor Scout) and we set off. The plan was to do something before lunch at a winery, then do a couple more things before heading over to my sister Kate’s place to stay the night at her AirBnB at Mt Martha.

There’s method to my madness. The next day, I’ll be taking the girls along the Great Ocean Road. Staying at my sister’s place will save us getting up an hour earlier to get to the ferry at 9 AM. I decided that it was better to take the ferry to Queenscliff, rather than drive through the city at peak hour.

After a walk through the gardens at the Diggers Club property in Dromana, we drove to Trofeo Winery, just outside of Dromana.

This winery makes its wines in terracotta amphorae, like in Roman times, so I was curious to see what their wines were like.

Delicious, as it turns out!


The venue itself was beautiful, as you can see. All exposed brick walls, with huge windows and fairy lights strung up. The meal was beautiful, the wine was great and Liga was kind enough to pick up the bill for the three of us. It made me so glad that I cheaped out on taking them to the Point Leo winery, where the set menu for 3 courses was $100/head.

Trofeo winery was $69/head, so I felt good.


Afterwards, we went to the wine cellar and I bought a couple of bottles of wine to bring to Kate and Francis as a thank-you for hosting us. I liked the wine cork stools.
So what’s there to do in Dromana?

First off, we went to Arthur’s Seat. It’s the tallest spot on the Peninsula and has a chairlift going to the top. I’ve never been there, so off we went.

Honestly… don’t bother. The view is great, but most shots are spoiled by chairlift wires. There are children’s activities and some hikes, but we didn’t have time for them. On the way down, we stopped at a lookout on the side of the road and got much better photos. 


The next stop was the Dromana pier. Liga loved it because it reminded her of one of her favourite movies – “Requiem for a Dream.’ We walked along it. The sun was out and the wind was blowing and these girls were FREEZING. I couldn’t understand it. Surely they’re used to the cold in Latvia? It’s up near the Arctic Circle! Anyway, freezing they were.

Not like the tough Aussie they were with.


Liga wanted to have the sea water touch her toes, so she waded in the warm waters of Port Phillip Bay.

“It’s warm!” she said.

She found a jellyfish. 

Dromana Beach has a fine selection of bathing boxes. These are just wooden huts with no water or electricity attached, where people can come and use them when they’re at the beach. But ONLY if you own one.

The current price whenever one hits the market – which is extremely rare – is around $300,000 upward.

Then we went to my sister’s place. She and her husband have turned the first floor of their house into an Airbnb apartment and they’ve done a spectacular job. Two things my sister knows how to do well are interior design and customer service. This place is going gangbusters and it deserves to. (It’s called ‘The Manor’ in Mt Martha if you want to have a peek.)

We had a lovely evening. We sat on the lawn and polished off the wine we brought, then we went for a walk on the boardwalk over the creek. 

THIS IS WHERE I SAW A LIVE SNAKE IN THE WILD FOR THE FIRST TIME IN MY LIFE! I was walking along, chatting to Kate while the Ligas were behind, when I glanced off to the side and saw a pile of coiled scales in the sun.

No photo, I’m sorry. We were all so excited and the poor thing couldn’t cope with the emotion, so it slid away under the boardwalk. The photo above shows the other wildlife in the bush – my sister’s dog Huxley. This was just before he decided to go and jump in the creek so he could smell of creek water for the rest of the night.

I was so pleased and surprised that I saw that snake. So was Kate. She knows how unobservant I am.

“I can’t believe YOU saw it!” she said.

“This is Holiday Frogdancer,” I said. “She’s different from Everyday Frogdancer!”


Francis had a great idea that he’d prepared for the girls. He bought 6 Aussie snacks, and he had us all eat them. The girls rated them out of 10. There were Timtams, Wagon Wheels, Chokito bars, Clinkers, and Cheezels (my nemesis…).

When I was 7 I ate 3/4 of a box of Cheezels and then threw up. I have never been able to look a Cheezel in the eye again. Here they all are, traumatising me.

It was so much fun! Here is Liga playing the Clinkers game, were everyone guesses which colour the clinker is, then you bite into it to reveal the answer.

The consensus from the girls was that Clinkers and the Cheezels were the best. 

Tomorrow was when the road trip swung into high gear. We have a lot of ground to cover to get to Uluru by Wednesday!

Dad Joke of the Day:

The Ligas’ Crazy Road Trip, Day 1. Healesville Sanctuary.

November 14, 2024 / / 3 Comments

Well, the Liga’s are here!

Quick code for telling them apart when I’m writing. Liga is my Liga from Antarctica. The other Liga will be ‘Liga2’ because she’s called Liga too.

I picked them up from the airport, and we went home to a lovely dinner cooked by Georgia: pizza straight from our pizza oven. Too easy! (At least for me.)

The agenda for the first day of the trip was to take them to Healesville Sanctuary to see all of the Australian animals, birds and reptiles. Liga was feeling almost personally attacked by the weather. She was freezing cold in Sydney and it was showering today in Healesville.

“Who ever heard of it being cold in Australia?” she protested. But apart from the weather, I don’t think we could have had a better day at Healesville. The animals and birds really turned it on, and I think that it was probably a good thing that the skies were grey. We practically had the whole place to ourselves.

We saw everything they wanted to see. It was funny to see the animals through others’ eyes. We were in the kangaroo enclosure and Liga said, “It’s incredible to think of how a kangaroo is put together. Front legs like a bunny, ass like a deer…” I’d never thought of kangaroos like that. To me, they’re just everyday, normal animals.

We were walking towards the platypus building and Liga said, “We have similar animal in Latvia called Beaver.” I thought to myself, ‘She has no idea how small a platypus is!’ I kept quiet and yes – she was surprised. She also thought the Tasmanian Devils would be “small, like rat.” Wrong again!

Spoonbills. I wonder how they got their name???

The animals really came to the party. Here is a male koala calling the girls.

Liga has a thing for koalas and we saw plenty, including a mother cuddling her joey. The only thing that would have made it perfect for them is if they were allowed to hold, or even pat the koalas, but the Sanctuary doesn’t allow that as it stresses the koalas out.

The Tasmanian Devils were something I was looking forward to seeing. I saw them here when I was a child and I’ve never forgotten it. When I came here on my Little Adventure a couple of years ago, they were sug in their burrows and refused to show themselves. This time though – we were there at feeding time!

Cranky little buggers. They were fed a mix of wallaby, possum and fish. All the bones, fur and scales were left on, as Tassie Devils are scavengers.

The Ligas were very excited to see them. Liga2 said, “The Tasmanian Devils aren’t in any zoos in Europe as far as I know. We don’t get to see them.” She bought a Tassie Devil soft toy for her kids as a souvenir.

We went to the open-air bird show and it was lovely to see the look of delight they shared with each other as an eagle flew over their heads. So many little things were just perfect – except for the showers and my internal freak out when my phone died and I had enormous trouble finding a charger. Fortunate Frogdancer finally found a girl in the café who had one, so the day was saved. (I needed Google Maps to get back to the Maroondah Highway… Phew!)

If I was unlucky enough to be reincarnated as a bird, I bet this would be me…

The next morning we loaded up the car and set off for a day on the Mornington Peninsula – the first leg of our Crazy Road Trip.

Dad Joke of the Day:

Wednesday W’s #119.

November 6, 2024 / / 5 Comments

What’s top of my mind: The Ligas will be here in a week!

Yes, I have one short week to get my shit together for the Crazy Road Trip, which astonishes me. This trip was in the future for so long – how could it suddenly be almost in the present?

I’m finishing off a quilt for Liga’s daughter, then I have to pack, buy provisions and work out how to bring as many library books as I can for the third leg of my holiday. I’ll talk about this more below, but anyone who has travelled in the outback and Queensland and outer NSW – I’ll be interested in any tips you may have.

I’ve decided to do a BIG road trip.

Where I’m going: to the ‘back o’ Bourke!’

Younger and overseas readers may not know the expression ‘back o’ Bourke.’ Bourke is a town in far western New South Wales which used to stand on the edge of nothingness. If you went to the back of Bourke – there’s nothing there.

I’ve decided that I’ll stay there for 2 nights on my individual crazy road trip. Apparently times have changed and there’s a lot to do and see there now.

Where I’ve been: the VW dealership.

Two weeks ago, my trusty little Golf’s air conditioning packed up. It was blowing hot air on the driver and cold air everywhere else. NOT ideal for a road trip to Uluru in November!

That’s now fixed. I had her serviced and vacuumed as well. She’s ready for the drive of her life!

What I’m reading:

The Housemaid I enjoyed this one.

I really loved ‘Slow Horses’ on AppleTV, so I’ve ordered the series of books by Mick Herron and I’m working my way through them. I’m still waiting for the first one to get to the library, but I have books 2 and 3 here, so I polished off Dead Lions a couple of days ago. I’m excited that there are 8 in the series – they’re very well-written.

What I’m watching:

River Cottage Australia and Last Week Tonight on Binge.

Ru Paul’s Drag Race Down Under and True Detective on Stan.

The Block on channel 9. Auction day on Sunday, just before I leave. Woo hoo!

What I’m listening to: The Zombies list on Spotify.

I found another good list to bop along to!

What I’m eating: Anything that’s in the house.

Once I’m gone, Georgia will have full access, so I’m eating and drinking the good stuff before I go. Is that wrong?

What I’m planning: Here’s the itinerary for the next 3 weeks…

November 12 – 20: Melbourne; Healesville Sanctuary: Mornington Peninsula; Great Ocean Road; The Grampians; Adelaide; Port Augusta; Coober Pedy and Uluru.

This is with Liga and Liga. It’s an action-packed itinerary and I don’t think they have any idea about just how much ground we’ll be travelling.

Once I drop them off at Uluru, I stay a night with them, then I’ll be heading off. Here’s what I’m thinking at the moment. Anyone who has done this trip before – I’d love your thoughts!

November 21: Uluru to the Devil’s Marbles Hotel. (850 km and 9 hours drive.)

I’ll probably be too tired to go and see the Devil’s Marbles when I get there, but I’ll definitely start the morning off with a viewing!

November 22: Devils Marbles Hotel to Barkley Homestead. (500 km and 5 hours drive.)

(After 2 really long driving days, – Coober Pedy to Uluru is an 8 hour drive – I thought I should have a couple of shorter days.)

November 23: Barkley Homestead to Mt Isa. (450 km and 4.5 hours drive.)

November 24: Mt Isa to Winton. (470 km and 5 hours drive.)

In the morning I thought I could do a mine tour at Mt Isa. After all, when am I ever likely to be in a mine again?

November 25: Winton to Charleville (700 km and 7.5 hours drive.)

November 26: Charleville to Bourke (453 km and 5 hours drive.)

November 27: Bourke.

There’s a paddle Steamer on the Darling River, Fred Hollows’ grave, a historical homestead and lots of bushwalks. Two nights here sounds great.

November 28: Maybe Griffith???? (524 km and 5.5 hours drive.)

It’s halfway between Bourke and Lake Crackenback Resort, which is where I need to end up. I don’t know that there’s much to see at Griffith though. Still, I could probably catch up on blog posts or start one of those books I’ll be taking.

November 29: Griffith??? to Lake Crackenback. (454 km and 6 hours drive.)

I have a week booked here from my timeshare. I have an inkling that I’ll be pretty tired from all of the racing around, so I plan to read lots of books and do pretty mundane things while I’m here. I’m going to take the chairlift to the top of Mt Kosciuszko, which is Australia’s tallest mountain.

Plenty of naps will also be happening as well.

So what do you think? Is my solo drive doable? Is there anything that is a “must-see” along the way?

Who deserves a thumbs-up: Scout.

She’s gradually getting used to being an only dog. I’m still not sure how she’ll take the long absence, but it’s something she has to get used to. Next year I’ve booked 16 weeks away…

What has made me smile: the girl who bought Jeffrey’s Cardisure tablets.

I had 9 packets of Jeff’s heart tablets left after he died. I bought them from an online animal pharmacy company because they are miles cheaper than buying them from the vet. I knocked even more from the price I paid and put them on Marketplace, thinking that someone would come across them and know that they have an absolute BARGAIN on their hands.

This happened this morning. A young girl turned up to buy them, overcome with how much money she was going to save. Her vet makes her pay for a blood test every 6 months for a 15.5-year-old dog, PUS paying $90 for a phone call afterwards to discuss the results.

Yikes!

I had a magnet on my fridge with the details of my vet on it. I gave it to her, telling her that switching from her vet to mine would be worth the drive.

Dad Joke of the Day:

Little Advenures #22: October 2024 Clarice Beckett.

November 2, 2024 / / 0 Comments

When I woke on October 31st, I realised I’d run out of month for October’s Little Adventure, so I had to move quickly. After breakfast, I set off for Ballarat, where there was a Clarice Beckett exhibition.

Seeing as it’s around 2 weeks before I set off on the Ligas’ Crazy Road Trip, I thought it was worthwhile taking a 2 hour (each way) drive the day before I get my trusty Golf serviced. I loaded up my podcasts and my water, and off I went.

Clarice Beckett was a woman who was pretty much thwarted by the societal expectations of her day. She spent her adult life caring for her elderly parents and died at the age of 48, after painting the sea in a storm at Beaumaris and catching pneumonia.

She was only able to paint in the early mornings or evenings on most days, as the rest of her time was spent running the household as the spinster daughter.

She had a portable easel that she’d wheel around after her, and she’d set it up and paint what was directly in front of her. She’d squint, to make the objects and landscapes appear blurred, as she was most interested in exploring the tonal aspects of what she was painting.

She had a few exhibitions when she was alive, but then interest in her work faded away for decades.

This one reminded me of a Monet painting that I saw when I was in Paris back in 2015. I bought a print and it hangs in my sewing room.

Russell Crowe is a huge collector of her work. But does she fill up MY cup?

The answer is, not really. Most of her paintings are just too smeary and misty, but I like the ones I’ve shown you.

Dad joke of the day:

Wednesday W’s #118.

October 30, 2024 / / 6 Comments

What’s top of my mind:

I’ve drawn a blank.

Where I’m going: To China in May.

Blogless Sandy and I are going for a 12 day trip. May was looking pretty bare, but now I’m going somewhere. It was a spur-of-the-moment decision. I saw a great deal and we were both free to take it.

Retirement has its perks. I think I have around 13 trips booked between now and the start of next October. I hope you like travel posts!

Where I’ve been: The local footy oval.

This morning, after dropping Georgia’s car off to get new tyres, I took Scout for a walk. To her annoyance, we didn’t go to the beach, but she was ecstatic when I started to throw the ball for her as we walked around the oval.

No one else was there and it was lovely. Scout was so tired that we had to take a couple of little rests on the way home. She’s getting older…

What I’m reading:

No One Saw a Thing – Andrea Mara: This was a terrific read. Two little girls get on a train and the door closes before their Mum can get on. Only one child gets off…

Hide and Seek – Andrea Mara Another cracking read. I demolished this in a day.

Intermezzo – Sally Rooney This one was very different. Told in a much slower, far more contemplative pace, this is the story of two very different brothers and their lives after their father’s death. It was very good.

What I’m watching: Thou Shalt Not Steal – on Stan.

I saw this promoted, but wasn’t drawn to it until I heard an interview by the director when I was driving. I decided to give it a go and I’m glad I did. The episodes are only around 20 minutes long, and the beautifully shot scenery is all where I was back in September, and where I’ll be in a couple of weeks. (Coober Pedy.)

It’s a slapstick kind of story, but after a few eps you really get into it. I particularly liked the lead, Robyn, played by Sherry-Lee Watson. She doesn’t say much, but her eyes are wonderfully expressive. It also has Noah Tayor and Miranda Otto. Definitely worth a watch.

What I’m listening to: ABC Radio.

Who knew that it was so interesting?

For the last couple of road trips, I’ve accidentally left my iPad at home so I couldn’t listen to my podcasts. The best interview I heard was one with Stephen Fry, which I had to cut short when I got to Mum’s place.

There’s been a huge variety of people getting interviewed. It’s been fun.

But now I’m back to the pods. ‘Bronwen’ has a new episode out.

What I’m eating: Cauliflower Cheese.

It’s Georgia’s favourite dinner.

What I’m planning: Ligas’ Crazy Road Trip.

This starts in a couple of weeks. I’ve almost decided to extend the trip when I drop them off at Uluru and fill in the 9 days between the end of this trip and the start of my Snowy Mountains trip by turning left instead of right and wending my way up and across the middle of the country.

We’ll see.

Who deserves a ‘thumbs-up’: ME.

Georgia’s car developed a problem with the power steering and she had to take it to Holden to fix it. While it was there, they quoted her 1K to replace all of the tyres. I got her to cancel that part of the job and I took her to a tyre place in Cheltenham.

Only two tyres needed replacing, so she walked away with a bill for $350 (including wheel alignment) instead of 1K.

What has made me smile: The Real Estate people who came to give the house an estimate.

Two days ago, two people from Jellis Craig popped in to have a look at the place. Now, we all know that this is The Best House in Melbourne, but who knows what other people who know the market think of it?

They LOVED it. I got an estimated price that I was happy with and they were so complimentary about what I’ve done with the place. They especially liked Scout.

I’ve done all of the renovations to make this place suit ME down to the ground, but it’s nice when people who see houses all the time are appreciative of the vision.

It makes me smile every time I think of it.

Dad joke of the day:

The unstructured retirement.

October 23, 2024 / / 12 Comments

Yesterday I took Scout down to the beach. We’ve been avoiding it since she had a lump removed from her back a week ago, but it’s healing nicely and her little jacket hides it away from the sand.

We arrived around 10:30, just when the classes at my old work would crowd through the halls for recess. My view was far nicer, and so were the smells. Hormonal year 8 boy smell is no joke.

My unstructured retirement plan is working nicely.

By ‘unstructured’ I mean that I’ve deliberately avoided putting regular things in my schedule when I’m at home. I don’t belong to any clubs or classes, I don’t have a regular café meet-up on a Monday… that sort of thing. I deliberately keep my days as free as possible, so that I have the freedom to wake up each morning and choose how I’m going to spend my time.

Maybe this freedom wouldn’t work for everyone, but teachers’ lives are STRUCTURED, with every minute accounted for as soon as we set foot through the gates each day. When I was there, the periods were 48 minutes long. Every minute was accounted for, with the bells punctuating each day. It’s very regimented.

Now? After decades of this, I’m loving how the days slip like pearls through my fingers.

It’s worth all of those years where I worked hard and watched every penny, scrimping to keep the mortgage on a downward trajectory. The years where I taught and did Thermonix and raised my four children were BUSY, but now I feel I’ve earned the right to be lazy.

Some days, it’s enough that I start and finish a book. I’ll indulge my natural laziness. Other days, I’ll be out in the garden all afternoon, working to try and ensure that we grow the maximum amount of food we can.

Pretty much every day, I do what I FEEL like doing. It’s not a bad way to live a life.

As an aside, I really tried to stop aiming for the maximum amount of crops this year, as I’ll be travelling so much next year when everything is ready to be harvested. I only bought 3 tomato plants, instead of trying to cram a thousand of them into the garden beds. Then I was given 8 tiny tomato seedlings from someone at Walking Group. It seems to be my destiny to grow tomatoes by the tonne.

When I say I’m naturally lazy, I’m not really joking. My default position is sitting on a couch, with a book in my hand. The years of working, where the important parts of my life were crammed around work, now seem like a dream. I’m able to rate my productivity in actions that advance my happiness, rather than in the number of grammar tests and essays marked.

At the end of each day, I spend a minute or so checking in on how I feel about the day just gone. I’ve learned that I like to feel productive, though of course ‘productive’ is a term that can mean many things.

Did I write a blog post?

Did I go out and socialise?

Did I create something?

Did I chase a vacuum cleaner around?

Did I book another holiday? (Haha!) I have to pay for Iceland today. Such a hard life…

Did I do something out in the garden/do the shopping/go to Bunnings?

A day when I feel that I’ve advanced in making my surroundings more how I want them to be, are the days when I smile and feel a warm glow of satisfaction. Something done in the house, the garden or the sewing room – whatever that ‘something’ may be – counts toward moving forward to the life I want to live.

I enjoy the unstructured life I’m creating when I’m at home. It’s especially sweet when I mix it up with the travel I’m planning. There’s such a contrast! I’m not doing slow travel – maybe I’ll save that for when I’m older. My travel is all go! go! go! I want to see ALL the places EVERY day!

Who knows? Maybe, as retirement goes on, I might gradually start to fill my weeks with activities. I already have the walking group each Thursday, which is the only commitment I feel ready for. I see Mum and Dad once or twice a week and talk to them most nights for a few minutes. Living with Scout and Georgia gives my days a loose rhythm. Everything and everyone else happens when it happens. That’s all I need right now.

People sometimes worry that they won’t be able to fill their days once they retire, so they keep working out of fear of being bored, even when they have enough money to pull the pin. This is such a shame, because boredom doesn’t happen once you’re free.

The freedom and ownership of your time is the key.

I don’t feel bored. Ever.

It’s because I have the freedom to stop and start any activity I choose. So if I’m doing something… say – reading a book – and I start to get a bit tired of doing this, I have the freedom to stop it, get up off the couch and do something else. I’m not bound by anyone else’s timetable. So I might grab the lead and take Scout for a walk. I might pop out to the garden and do a bit of weeding. I might call a friend for a chat.

And when I get a bit tired of doing that, I have the freedom to go and do something else right away. I have complete ownership of my time. Any activity I choose to do is because I want to do it. It’s such a different way to look at your time, instead of being in a job.

Total freedom is the greatest gift that you can give yourself. It’s precious and wonderful.

It’s worth working towards.

Dad Joke of the Day:

Wednesday W’s #117.

October 16, 2024 / / 2 Comments

What’s top of my mind: Vet bills are expensive.

Last Friday I dropped little Scout off at the vet to get her teeth cleaned.

When I have dogs going under anaesthetic, I like to get as much done while they’re under as possible, so I also asked for her toenails to be cut and a warty thing on her back to be removed.

It turned out that she needed 4 teeth removed, poor baby. The bill was $1,040.

Ouch.

The idea is that this is a pre-emptive strike against her having bigger problems down the track. Also, now that she’s an only dog, I can give her a bone without causing a fight. Clean teeth and sweet breath for the win!

Where I’m going: Back to Mum and Dad’s later this week.

I had a quiet chat with my parents a few days ago and we’ve agreed that the time has come when I’ll start to oversee their financial affairs more closely. It was a conversation I was on tenterhooks to start, but to my relief it went very well.

The last thing Mum wants is to start to learn about all things financial in her mid-80’s and Dad can see the logic in having someone else helping with the day-to-day running of their finances.

My sister and I are in constant communication about everything relating to their health and well-being, so I’m hopeful that this next stage of their lives will run smoothly.

Where I’ve been: Bunnings.

It seems that every time I host a get-together, I feel the need to go somewhere the day before and drop a couple of hundred dollars on plants to make the place look nice. Last weekend was no exception.

It was fun, though, and now I have pretty plants and flowers to look at.

What I’m reading: Liz Nugent.

‘Our Little Cruelties’ and ‘Lying in Wait’ are the two books I’ve read since falling in love with ‘Strange Sally Diamond’ a few weeks ago.

I tell you what though – after reading these novels, I’m starting to get a bit concerned about the upbringing Liz Nugent had! Haha!

I really enjoyed them and want to read more of her work, but don’t read them if you need a happy, uplifting story full of puppies and kittens.

What I’m watching: A luxury travel show on Binge.

I’m hoping to get ideas for new places to travel to in my two years of crazy travel. Not the hotels, which look insanely expensive, but the countries. The funny thing is that the show is sponsored by Silversea, which is the cruise company Megan and I went to Alaska with.

What I’m listening to: Joan Armatrading on Spotify.

I clicked on a suggested playlist of Joan Armatrading, which alternates her songs with other people’s. I’m enjoying it. I saw her in concert when I was at Uni and I love her voice.

It’s amazing how many lyrics I can still remember.

What I’m eating: Leftovers from the party.

The best part about hosting a large gathering, apart from having the excuse to buy lots of plants, is the leftovers.

I didn’t have to cook for two days.

What I’m planning: A Little Adventure.

I suddenly realised that I don’t have a Little Adventure planned for October. November is DEFINITELY taken care of, what with the Ligas’ Crazy Road Trip, but I have a couple of weeks to get out there and go/see something new.

I have a couple of ideas.

Who deserves a ‘thumbs-up’: Dad.

Dad’s entering a scary stage in life, where he is realising that he has to relinquish control of things and start letting his daughters take over the reins. He’s handling it – not perfectly! – but much better than I thought he might.

I hope I haven’t jinxed us by writing this down!

What has made me smile: The number at the end of this ‘Wednesday W’s’ post.

I got the idea from Urspo’s blog. He’s been doing them for years and I thought I’d have a crack as well. Considering that I don’t do them when I travel, and there are 52 weeks in a year, I guess I can say that I’VE been doing them for years, too.

I like that these days, they’re a little slice of what it’s like to have a very unstructured retirement. I’m writing this at 10:14 AM, sitting on the couch in my pjs, having had my morning coffee but still to have breakfast. I’ve done my 3 morning puzzles and fed Scout, so I haven’t been totally lazy…

Dad Joke of the Day:

« Older posts

© 2024 Burning Desire For FIRE

Theme by Anders Noren — Up ↑