Camping Adventures - the Beginning

As a kid our family never went away for holidays – unless it was to visit an uncle or aunt who also lived on a far flung property – in order to help them with some task or chore like fencing or shearing. Dad had been in the army and maintained he had done enough camping for a lifetime. We had been on school camp to Lamington National Park on the Gold Coast hinterlands and been on day bushwalks as well as some exploration of family members back blocks of their properties. However, my sisters and I got a real taste for it whilst completing the Duke of Edinburgh Awards. Mary-Jane – bless her cotton socks - organized all our horse expeditions where were would set off along dirt tracks, tether our horses and camp under the stars, Adrian on the other hand had been a cub, then a scout. His family had numerous weekends and holidays away camping or caravanning in remote national parks. He carried this love on through his teenage years and into adulthood but completing a number of solo throughwalks and bushwalking. Our camping experiences and styles are just a little different. Adrian still has his kit that he used for his hiking treks – cut down toothbrush, tiny containers and lightweight everything. As mine had been done mainly on horseback, I had no real concept of having to pack lightly or compactly.

I learnt quickly about packing the necessities whilst backpacking throughout Europe. This was reinforced without motorcycling holidays in the UK and Europe – some camping, some in youth hostels. However, it’s a whole new ball game when you are taking small children – one still in nappies – camping. AND there is so much STUFF you can now buy at camping stores. I feel like a recovering alcoholic passing a pub - if I go past one – it screams to me, sucking me in, tempting me with a gadget or item I don’t yet have.

We have now gone camping as a family three times this year and intend to choose a camping spot each month and head off into the wilderness. We have decided to do this for a few reasons.

• Adrian is really stressed at work and feels calmer away from technology and the internet.
• We want to encourage family time as fun and active.
• Last year really sucked for us being a family – we went our separate ways and had little common ground. The future is different.
• There are a lot of lessons to be learnt – especially on being resourceful – when you are camping. If I could gift my kids with one attribute, then I would wish them resourcefulness – with that you can obtain everything else.
• I want our family to be able to work together as a smooth unit and not end up some dysfunctional, detatched group of people who share a name.
• I feel alive and free looking up at the stars, surrounded by bush, in front of a crackling fire.
• One of my goals is to do the walk to Machu Pichu – a difficult 4 day trek in South America. It seems so big , so unobtainable at the moment, but I know with each walk we do, I am building stamina and endurance.
• Along our journey – before Machu Pichu – we will be walking the Cradle Mountains and the Milford Track.

So – there you go… watch and share our progress…

Letting go and going with the flow

its been a big week for all of us and a big process for me to say its ok not to stick to a diary and other stuff....…. The short of it is that Morgan - a normally vivacious healthy 4 year old developed breathing probs and we have been in hospital all week. I am so thankful I was able to have a bed beside him and be there the whole time – and blessed with Jodi, a wonderful friend who took my Lilly into her arms and home and loved her while I was not there and a fantastic husband who bent over backwards to help in all ways possible.

Synchronicity… I am not a stranger to this , nor of the abundance and blessing surrounding us everyday – available to each of us if we care to accept them…. I was reminded once again that its there if you ask for it. I am not sure if you have experienced going to an unknown doctors surgery hoping that they will see you as soon as a doctor is available… Because we are ‘healthy folk” we don’t have a doctor … never needed one. I was very reluctant to seek medical treatment, but its different when its your baby….Driving to the surgery located ina busy shopping centre, I just asked that I find a parking spot close to the door and that we would be seen in an speedy time. My Spot was waiting for me outside the surgery door and as soon as I pulled out ID and was filling in the application form, a nurse took Morgan into the treatment room, lay him down and put him on oxygen. After seeing the doc and some treatment, we were offered an Ambulance to the hospital – but I declined – they are for sick or injured people I reasoned and took my car. I also hesitated to which hospital I was going to go to. I had heard bad reports about the closest one – this is going to sound awful - but it was located in a very low socio- economic area and well…. I was concerned about the care that might be there….

Synchronicity ….I chose that close one….. thank goodness… reasons explained later - My heart sank as I looked at the jam packed hospital car park. I had forgotten that it was nearly impossible to find a park even close – so again I just let go and asked for a close park and that we would be seen soon by the medical staff. And there my spot was – a legal park right outside the emergency department doors. Synchronicity hits and we were the only ones in the waiting room ( that NEVER happens… well it did – to us) and we were seen immediately, a wheelchair whisking Morgan off to a room. I sobbed when told he would be admitted visioning his little body lying in a big hospital bed, all alone , frightened and me not allowed to visit as it was out of hours… Synchronicity – this hospital encourages parent involvement and had sofa beds set up beside the childrens bed so that you can stay with them the entire time….. I found out that there are not many of these types of facilities - and certianly not at one of the hosptials I nealry set off towards.... blessed..... so blessed.....

I fretted for about a day about all the things I aught to be doing…of missed meetings.. of emails I couldn’t get to and reading I aught to be doing…….then I watched cartoons with my son, giggling at Sponge Bob at 3 in the morning. We ate M & Ms in bed together watching kids movies till late ( he usually has a strict TV allowance and early bed time) and joy of joy – there was an electronic game box donated by a charity for kids to use – what a magical gift. – a Nintendo with age appropriate games, a huge selection of DVDs and computer games rolled into one machine. I played more electronic games ( mostly Mario Brothers) in those days than I have ever done in my entire life…and had a lot of fun with my 4 yr old.. made him safe and secure with the scary things that were happening.. and allowed myself to not be the ‘reliable one’ – I got over the fact I had no-ones mobile number to let them know I was not able to turn up at a meeting, I got over fretting about my emails and inbox. Nothing is more important that your family and their health and wellbeing.. nothing…

So – I didn’t do morning pages - one of my committments to my writing career for nearly a week…and I am getting over it and myself…..and just looking forward to next week....