Another precious week has gone by… well almost

Good morning all,
Just a quick (for me that is) blog today as there is not all that much to report really. I finished my house sit at Victor Harbour and learned another lesson while I was at it. First I must say that my furry charge, Dana the cat, was an absolute joy to look after and I’ve no regrets on that. It would have been nice to have a fireplace that was safe though and even more enjoyable to have had an honest and respectful house owner, as it turned out.
Not only did it transpire that she knew about the ribbon holding the fireproof glass in being in desperate need of repair (and this with NO fire alarms in the house), preferring to pretend she had no knowledge of it until I texted her about the problem after she got back to her home and I had left, but she did NOT turn up on the allotted day of arrival either … again with no word to me.
Now I am here in South Australia to see the place and an added bonus has been the ability to reconnect with my eldest grandson, hopefully healing any hurts that may have occurred in the past while I am at it. I decided to house sit for a couple of people to give me a home base from where I could explore a couple of the places I fell in love with here, get my fur baby hit and hopefully help out both my fellow animal lovers and their animals by ensuring they would not have to go to a kennel/cattery. Oh yes and to bake my paleo bread, which I was missing on these cold mornings lol.
I put up with no heating, snuggling under covers with Dana both in the lounge and in the bedroom. I had done this trip before! I consoled myself with the knowledge that I could get back to strengthening my core at the local gym; my body pain had come back with a vengeance and that had to be supported if I was to finish my journey. I could make my bread too and I found Dana to be a loving and easy going companion. All in all, not too bad a stay.
All went well until the day of her arrival and my departure came around. I busied myself washing the sheets I had used and the towels while I packed my own stuff back into my bus. I was shocked when Dana, not being able to see me, began to cry in such a despairing voice that I immediately stopped what I was doing to comfort her. As I sat stroking her I reassured her that her human mum would be back that day and I would not leave her until then.
After awhile Dana calmed down enough to have some biscuits and head back outside, though she did shadow me as I went back and forth to the bus with my gear and out the back to put the washing on the line. I figured that I would most likely see the owner by lunch though in my gut I had this weird feeling that she was not going to come back yet… I chided myself for being a panic merchant and settled down to wait, Dana in close attendance.
Lunch came and went with no sign of her. I had promised my grandson and his family I would meet them in Mount Barker, about an hour or so away, that day so you can imagine my struggle to remain patient as my grandson After lunch I decided to test her and find out an approximate time for her arrival. No answer to my first text and I figured maybe she was on the plane. Three hours later I texted her again with the same results. By now I was beginning to worry about her safety though my gut told me she was alright. Its funny how you suddenly think of what you hadn’t got in case of emergency. For instance I had no other contacts other than the vet’s number; what on earth would I do about Dana if there was an emergency?
I sat there checking my phone for messages constantly. I was really worried by the time she did send a text. It was dark and cold, around 8pm if memory serves me correctly. She said she was sorry but she had been busy focussing on her daughter before getting on the flight so hadn’t bothered to answer then. She also said she had only just gotten into the Adelaide airport and as it was late and she was tired, she planned to stay over and come back the next morning. She was now expecting to arrive around 8:30am and suggested if I needed to go that night, Dana would be ok on her own. Well I knew very well that wasn’t the case and besides I suffer from night blindness, not to mention negotiating winding, mountainous roads in the fog was not a particularly alluring prospect for me.
I messaged back I would stay overnight rather than leave at such a late hour. She thanked me and that was all I heard from her that night. I sat with Dana on my lap till late in the night and then retired to my own bed in the bus, leaving lights on for the darling Dana so she wouldn’t feel that no one was coming. Honestly that woman! I fumed as I retired to the bus, deciding it would be easier and safer for Dana if she were locked in while I left. I was afraid she might run under the bus and that wasn’t worth contemplating let alone risking.
After a restless night, I got up early and made a coffee before taking off. I also sent her a text warning her about that fireplace.
At that time I thought she might have been unaware, trying as always to give others the benefit of the doubt. Oh she was aware alright, as he response proved. She said she was sorry but she thought I should have gotten it fixed! Oh right LOL … why not pay for all her repairs while I was at it.
She asked if I was still going to be there when she got back, still 90 minutes away as she got up late lol.. No was my response. She actually thanked me for doing what I did and this time I didn’t respond. Her lack of consideration had driving this woman over the edge and had I responded, she would not have enjoyed what I had to say. I now understood completely why Dana was such a nervous wreck when I got there and why she became attached to me so deeply. With a heart filled with sadness for Dana, I squared my shoulders and continued on.
I did catch up with my grandson and his family here at last and I got his stepdad to replace the passenger mirror for me so that my trip into Adelaide for my next sit, 8 days away, would be a safer one.
After that I returned to the Murray Bridge Showgrounds, making plans with my grandson to take him to the Monarto Zoo. What a wonderful place. We went on a really nasty day of course lol. It was grey, cold and wet; what better way to pass such a day? LOL Well personally I would have rather waited but I had let Josh make the choice and so I stuck to it. Naturally he wanted to go asap, weather wasn’t going to change that!
I had thought quietly that it was going to be a bust and at $35 for him and $25 concession for me, it wasn’t a cheap exercise. I wished he had been patient as I sat quietly beside him, letting him drive because I knew how much he enjoyed being the chauffeur.
As it turned out, its an open zoo and we were able to sit on the free bus as it drove us from one part to another. It was an amazing day and I could happily return as I doubt we saw even half of it properly. We got off to be part of the keepers’ talks at each special spot and rejoined the next bus to come along. We enjoyed the talks on the Tassie Devil, the Giraffes and others but we missed the one on the glorious cheetahs they had there. Here it is not just a place for people to see the animals but a conservation and breeding program. The land was donated by local farmers, totally more than 1000 acres, one third of that as a free range zoo, the rest for breeding and, best of all, to ensure that the native creatures of this country would always have a home.
I was blown away by this information and am sharing more so that all who come here will go along and support their efforts. Only 20% of their costs are met by the government, which I find personally reprehensible, so they rely heavily on the support of the public and the wonderful volunteers who keep it running. Every bus driver and all the staff bar the keepers are volunteers, there for the love of these amazing, endangered beings rather than the money. So come on folks how about it? I am not going to tell you much because I want you to experience it for yourself. Its worth the money and then some. I took lots and lots of pictures but the ones in my memory are the best and to share it with a grandson who appreciates such beings was something that mere words or photos can.
After that day the little bit of money I had for sightseeing was no more; my idea of taking a ride on one of the paddle steamers put on the back burner but I have no regrets. That can be done next time I come this way and I have promised my grandson I will do that with him so no reneging 🙂 The rest of my time in Murray Bridge has been taken up with exploring free attractions and I take back my first impressions. I found beauty down on the wharf, long with tracks that can be walked if I so felt the need, into yet more natural beauty, hidden from the busy town above.
I walked everywhere rather than drive, conserving diesel and trying to iron out the pain in my pelvic area. I also took advantage of the local gym to continue strengthening my core and I rearranged the motorhome’s contents. Its amazing how quickly clutter can build up and in such a small space that’s not a good look. Well it keeps me honest lol … so its got a good side to it. Nowhere to hide clutter in here.
So that’s where I am now; today I head off to my next house sit where I will have two gorgeous little maltese dogs to keep me out of mischief lol… many blessings till we ‘chat’ again