Going Away in May

Won't be at the Sydney Fair after all

Sadly, we aren't doing a big trip this year (again!) but we are going to a Church camp that starts around 3rd May near Coffs Harbour - 550kms north of Sydney. We'll take 2 days to get there since we're towing the caravan.

The camp goes till the 12th and is called the Grey Nomads camp because May is the time when all the 'grey nomads' and other tourists take off each year to travel north to the warmer parts. It's the end of the southern autumn and the beginning of the dry season in the tropics. Remember - for us 'down under' north is warm, south is cool or cold. In the tropics, there are two seasons: the southern summer is the 'wet season' in the tropics, the southern winter is the 'dry season' in the tropics.

And yes, it does get cold in our Australian winter, in the southern part. In fact, we have a thriving tourist industry in the alpine regions about 8 hours south of us, in New South Wales and Victorian snowfields. There are lots of ski fields and cross-country skiing is popular too.

And for those who love the wilderness there is tropical wilderness in the north of Australia or cool temperate wilderness in Tasmania. And of course we have desert - lots of desert vbg.

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Getting back to the tropics though, May is the start of the tourist season. The roads north are passable again, and all the tourists are poised ready to set off to make the most of the dry season and the cooler weather - which to southerners is like our summer, often being in the 30's. So people from overseas (and there are many) who come over to travel during our summer because it's cheaper than heating their houses at home in Europe often stay for our cooler months too because then they can see the north of the country as well.

We met several families from Europe who are home-schooling their children as they take a year off to really see the country. And we also met a lot of Aussies who are doing the same - some of them have taken more than a year.

And then there are the grey nomads.

Crossing the Nullarbor Plain January 2010

And what is a 'grey nomad' you ask? That is the name given to all the retired (or not retired people but heading towards it) who are touring in their caravans or mobile homes, whether for a short time or full time.

We met a couple from Melbourne, Victoria, who had sold their house and had been travelling full time for five years - and hadn't left the eastern states yet! We met them in Queensland and they were about to cross into Northern Territory so I guess they had really seen a lot of Victoria, New South Wales and Queensland.

Nathan is coming with us too, even though he is only 22 (23 by then) so scarcely a 'grey' nomad! But his big sister Kylie did find one grey hair on his head at Christmas time so I suppose that will have to do lol! He doesn't want to miss out on a holiday!

After the camp finishes we will continue to head north around1,000kms - destination not finally determined at the moment.

"It's getting a bit crowded up here!"

Currumbin Wildlife Sanctuary, Queensland Holiday 2008

We need to leave in time to return by 26th May because I am preaching then at a church that asks me to preach several times a year. I was asked to preach there on 7th April but since that is our 44th wedding anniversary Peter and I decided to decline that one! We will take a week or so for the trip home, only arriving on the Friday 25th.

So now I need to start planning the most important part: which minis will I take with me? Some needlework of course, and a project. More on this when I make up my mind. But since we'll all be in the van and I can't set up properly for minis until we stop wherever we stop at the other end, I probably won't take something that requires creative paperclay. So that rules out any Petite Properties kits and probably the TeaRose Too kit as well because that needs plastering.

And guess what - I've ordered the Petite Chateau from Suzanne and Andrew! I wrote to Suzanne about something else and mentioned I wanted to buy it. She said not to leave it too long as it is due to be discontinued. I had some of my birthday and Christmas money left so I've ordered it - sooooo excited! It's a real departure from the styles I've done so far and its elegance really appeals to me. I also love the St Orleans style one but this won out.

Maybe that might be the project I take with me........

Or Redwood.........

Or Cedar Creek............

And of course I still have Karen Benson's Enchanted Toy Shoppe. I have the kit, the paint, one set of shelves (made up) and a whole lot of toys already made up and a few kits to add to the collection......

Or Debbie Young's Avalon............

Or her Trinity Circle............

Oh, I do love these wonderful 'dilemmas' :D! Of course, if I have done the preliminary work with the clay I could still take a Petite Properties kit with me to decorate inside and finish. Now that's a great idea! That's a really great idea!.........