As we decided that our carvanning life is over, we will stay at cabins when we travel from now on, it was time to put Maggie caravan up for sale.
We had bought her for seven thousand two and a half years ago but soon realised that we probably paid too much. However we were able to do most of the work that was needed and it didnt cost that much in dollars to improve her to the level that we wanted.
Warren checked what other vans were for sale and priced Maggie to suit. On the walk at the weekend, the kids were amazed that Dad was doing business on the phone. He rang some-one back about a time for them to view the van.
Had three lots of people to look and the last ones (of course) offered just a little less that we had it listed and they didnt want us to get the road worthy done which saved us about five hundred dollars.
They had the cash with them, we had the transfer papers and we waved goodbye to Maggie and the memories that we had with her.
Thursday, 21 July 2016
Tuesday, 19 July 2016
What a "fun" weekend.
The family had decided to do the Kokoda challenge, all 48 kms of it. There is a longer one of 96 kms but hey, they didnt want to start big! By family, it was husband, son, daughter and grandson walking, with me as the support person.
Jordan had done it last year with his school, four students and an adult, a teacher and they had done it in just over fifteen hours. It is quite mountainous and some at night.
As we were travelling, training was done in many different places and it was often hot when they walked.
Warren bought walking poles (sticks I called them) in Townsville and they did a five peak walk there, being away for about five hours.
Jason went to the briefing and got the good oil on requirements, Sheridan organised the money side of it and as Warren said, he was just walking.
I booked into a motel so I had somewhere to be while I waited on them. There were several check points along the way and only at one of these was a meal break, that was where I was to meet them, feed them and offer support.
Sheridan arranged for T shirts, red CF shirts and it was surprising the number of people who commented, on them and CF.
The weather was not kind and it started to rain just before they left and kept raining. I drove down to the Gold Coast along wet windy roads and thanked my lucky stars that I was not out with them.
The 96er's started at seven in the morning and the 48er's had to hold up for a few minutes, they were to leave at 1 pm, as the first of the 96er's were coming in. OMG they had run 48 kms in six hours, these were the runners. The terrain was pretty crappy and they were running!!!.
Family team walked for twelve kms in the dark and wet before calling it quits,def not the weather to be out.
I dont know how many 96er's teams competed but there were one hundred and sixty eight school teams and around one hundred and twenty 48er's. Many retired in the first five kms.
Jordan had done it last year with his school, four students and an adult, a teacher and they had done it in just over fifteen hours. It is quite mountainous and some at night.
As we were travelling, training was done in many different places and it was often hot when they walked.
Warren bought walking poles (sticks I called them) in Townsville and they did a five peak walk there, being away for about five hours.
Jason went to the briefing and got the good oil on requirements, Sheridan organised the money side of it and as Warren said, he was just walking.
I booked into a motel so I had somewhere to be while I waited on them. There were several check points along the way and only at one of these was a meal break, that was where I was to meet them, feed them and offer support.
Sheridan arranged for T shirts, red CF shirts and it was surprising the number of people who commented, on them and CF.
The weather was not kind and it started to rain just before they left and kept raining. I drove down to the Gold Coast along wet windy roads and thanked my lucky stars that I was not out with them.
The 96er's started at seven in the morning and the 48er's had to hold up for a few minutes, they were to leave at 1 pm, as the first of the 96er's were coming in. OMG they had run 48 kms in six hours, these were the runners. The terrain was pretty crappy and they were running!!!.
Family team walked for twelve kms in the dark and wet before calling it quits,def not the weather to be out.
I dont know how many 96er's teams competed but there were one hundred and sixty eight school teams and around one hundred and twenty 48er's. Many retired in the first five kms.
Monday, 18 July 2016
Is it a Scam?
Our phone rang yesterday afternoon and we dont pick it up unless we know the number and it was a Melbourne number with an 03 code. Only one person we know in Melbourne now and it wasnt him so we let the call go through to the answering machine. As expected no message left.
So many phone calls now with either people wanting money or to sell something, even though we are on the "Do not call " register, so we have a practice to leave it for the answering machine.
About five minutes later, Warren's mobile rang with the same number, again it was left. Another five minutes and his mobile went again and this time they left a message. It was Andrew from the NAB bank could we call. Hummm, this sounds a bit odd, a bank ringing on a Sunday afternoon. Is it a new scam?
Then Warren reminded me that I had just done some on-line banking with NAB. I rang the number thinking that no way am I giving bank details over the phone. It was answered as NAB bank, Andrew speaking. Made me feel a little easier and then he asked me if I had transferred an amount to such and such account, I said yes, I had. He had all the details and I didnt need to give him any just confirm that I had transferred the money.
I used to put in a code to finalize a transfer which I was given, same code. Now when transferring money, a code is sent to a mobile and that is the code to put in.
When I was doing it, Warren's mobile did ring and I was trying to enter my old code, I did it twice and on the third ring, I was annoyed with Warren's phone and took it to him outside. He looked at it and said that there was a message with a security code from NAB. I put that into my transfer and viola! the money went through. Because three security codes went to the number, it triggered the bank to contact us. I use Warren's number as he is more likely to have his phone with him. My old code had six digits and it only required five as it turned out, when I put my code in, it rejected.
I did see looking back into NAB's contacts than there had been a change back in May and this was it but I had forgotten it as I hadnt used the transfer funds thingy in that time. Relieved to know that it wasnt a scam.
So many phone calls now with either people wanting money or to sell something, even though we are on the "Do not call " register, so we have a practice to leave it for the answering machine.
About five minutes later, Warren's mobile rang with the same number, again it was left. Another five minutes and his mobile went again and this time they left a message. It was Andrew from the NAB bank could we call. Hummm, this sounds a bit odd, a bank ringing on a Sunday afternoon. Is it a new scam?
Then Warren reminded me that I had just done some on-line banking with NAB. I rang the number thinking that no way am I giving bank details over the phone. It was answered as NAB bank, Andrew speaking. Made me feel a little easier and then he asked me if I had transferred an amount to such and such account, I said yes, I had. He had all the details and I didnt need to give him any just confirm that I had transferred the money.
I used to put in a code to finalize a transfer which I was given, same code. Now when transferring money, a code is sent to a mobile and that is the code to put in.
When I was doing it, Warren's mobile did ring and I was trying to enter my old code, I did it twice and on the third ring, I was annoyed with Warren's phone and took it to him outside. He looked at it and said that there was a message with a security code from NAB. I put that into my transfer and viola! the money went through. Because three security codes went to the number, it triggered the bank to contact us. I use Warren's number as he is more likely to have his phone with him. My old code had six digits and it only required five as it turned out, when I put my code in, it rejected.
I did see looking back into NAB's contacts than there had been a change back in May and this was it but I had forgotten it as I hadnt used the transfer funds thingy in that time. Relieved to know that it wasnt a scam.
Sunday, 17 July 2016
Changing States
Oh wow, before we can sell the ute we need to change the registration from Northern Territory to Queensland. First thing it needs to have a road worthy certificate which an authorized person can carry out.
Warren booked it into the Jeep place, they also do Mazda, and it had to be there ar 10am as the guy would be there then, apparently he comes in special to do it but only does it there and through them.
No problems, I had some things to do at the shopping centre so I offered to pick him up after he had delivered it and we would go to the shopping centre, do my stuff, have a coffee and return giving us an hour to an hour and a half. Hah, great plans of men and mice, it was only going to take 20 minutes. At least it was ready to go when we came back.
The ute passed with flying colours and didnt need anything done to it, but $90 thank you. Warren then had to take or went to the motor registry. "Oh, things aren't as relaxed here as in NT, we need to know how much it weighs!" because it is a ute or "load carrying vehicle. Thankfully it could be done just around the corner, another $25 thank you.
Yay, now to just get the new QLD number plates. Offer up the receipt to prove that we paid for it and Bam! stamp duty! Stamp duty and six months rego wave good bye to $855.
We have now listed it on a couple of sales web sites and we hope it will sell quickly. Had interest in the first 24 hours but the next night the guy rang back to say that he really wanted it but couldn't raise the money to buy it. It was good of him to let us know and now we wait for another interested buyer.
Warren booked it into the Jeep place, they also do Mazda, and it had to be there ar 10am as the guy would be there then, apparently he comes in special to do it but only does it there and through them.
No problems, I had some things to do at the shopping centre so I offered to pick him up after he had delivered it and we would go to the shopping centre, do my stuff, have a coffee and return giving us an hour to an hour and a half. Hah, great plans of men and mice, it was only going to take 20 minutes. At least it was ready to go when we came back.
The ute passed with flying colours and didnt need anything done to it, but $90 thank you. Warren then had to take or went to the motor registry. "Oh, things aren't as relaxed here as in NT, we need to know how much it weighs!" because it is a ute or "load carrying vehicle. Thankfully it could be done just around the corner, another $25 thank you.
Yay, now to just get the new QLD number plates. Offer up the receipt to prove that we paid for it and Bam! stamp duty! Stamp duty and six months rego wave good bye to $855.
We have now listed it on a couple of sales web sites and we hope it will sell quickly. Had interest in the first 24 hours but the next night the guy rang back to say that he really wanted it but couldn't raise the money to buy it. It was good of him to let us know and now we wait for another interested buyer.
Tuesday, 12 July 2016
Projects
During the last couple of weeks of our holiday, we discussed things that we wanted to do around our house.
One thing mentioned was tiling our back patio but once we have been back and looked at it, it is a big area and as we would have tiled it ourselves, it has been put on the back burner. Warren says he can just feel his knees aching by thinking about it.
First project will be the kids bedroom. we bought a tri bed a couple of years ago but the room is really too small for it and it has only been used once for two people sleeping in it.
It has become a dumping ground for excess stuff as well so the first thing is to get rid of that.
One thing mentioned was tiling our back patio but once we have been back and looked at it, it is a big area and as we would have tiled it ourselves, it has been put on the back burner. Warren says he can just feel his knees aching by thinking about it.
First project will be the kids bedroom. we bought a tri bed a couple of years ago but the room is really too small for it and it has only been used once for two people sleeping in it.
It has become a dumping ground for excess stuff as well so the first thing is to get rid of that.
This is the tri bed.
Bed is up for sale and there are a couple of trips to the op shop.
The idea is to turn it into a TV room for the grandkids so I am making floor cushions for the kids to sit on and could be used to sleep on too if needed.
I hope to have it finalised in a month, so will see how we go.
Monday, 11 July 2016
Library visit
Ahhhhh, I went back to the library today. I do read a lot, probably three to four books a week depending on sixe and what it going on in my life. It is very rare that I dont read each night and I have been known to finish a book before I turn out the light to sleep.
I got used to reading e-books on my tablet and would buy two or three at a time but not sure if it was my choice or what the suggested topics were but many of them seemed to be much the same, just a different who dunnit but format very similar.
We had to go out this morning and so I grabbed my library card and looked at all the books on offer, it was great until my card wasn't recognized and i had to present myself at the counter. All good though, as it hadnt been used in so long, they just needed to check my details.
Looking forward to going to bed tonight with an actual book.
I got used to reading e-books on my tablet and would buy two or three at a time but not sure if it was my choice or what the suggested topics were but many of them seemed to be much the same, just a different who dunnit but format very similar.
We had to go out this morning and so I grabbed my library card and looked at all the books on offer, it was great until my card wasn't recognized and i had to present myself at the counter. All good though, as it hadnt been used in so long, they just needed to check my details.
Looking forward to going to bed tonight with an actual book.
Sunday, 10 July 2016
The cost break down of our trip.
Finally got the caravan emptied, trouble is finding places for the excess to go, still have a find a home for a few bits and pieces.
I worked out what we spent!!!
We were away for 175 days and I kept a tally of what we spent and it averaged out at $748.56 per week or $18714, not much if said quickly.
We stayed in caravan parks the whole trip except for a farm stay at Roma, cost was from $20 a night, not many of those and the dearest one was $58 a night at Warrnambowl Victoria.
We travelled 25,678 kms using the two cars, I guess we did about 400 kms as well in the hire car while we had it.
Average fuel costs per litre was approx $1.34, haven't worked that out exact but fuel prices were pretty good considering some of the places that we visited. Cheapest was in the Adelaide hills and was 97.9 per litre and the dearest was in country Victoria at $1.57. Fuel was around $1.22/25 and our milage average 12lts per 100ks. The jeep had a read out to say what the milage (or litreage)was but not so the ute, had to do old school.
I worked out what we spent!!!
We were away for 175 days and I kept a tally of what we spent and it averaged out at $748.56 per week or $18714, not much if said quickly.
We stayed in caravan parks the whole trip except for a farm stay at Roma, cost was from $20 a night, not many of those and the dearest one was $58 a night at Warrnambowl Victoria.
We travelled 25,678 kms using the two cars, I guess we did about 400 kms as well in the hire car while we had it.
Average fuel costs per litre was approx $1.34, haven't worked that out exact but fuel prices were pretty good considering some of the places that we visited. Cheapest was in the Adelaide hills and was 97.9 per litre and the dearest was in country Victoria at $1.57. Fuel was around $1.22/25 and our milage average 12lts per 100ks. The jeep had a read out to say what the milage (or litreage)was but not so the ute, had to do old school.
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