March 2015

Hi everyone,
 Yes I am still on this earth, just in incredibly slack about sending a b log.  So here we again. I have had some dramas with the donga, and i understand if ou want t skp this Blog! Flew into Sydney in early January,  and went up to friends at Central Coast. Spent a couple of days with them toget motorhome sorted, then i moved inland to mudgee for a few weeks. Visited the patchwork shop and Kelly, welcomed me there. I spent some time sewing with her and being useful when i could.   Shekindly took me out around the local vineyards for a spot of winetasting, which was lovely, another day a couple from the park, also took me for a drive to a lovely town whose streetscape was used in the killing fields. Then i planned to meet up with mike and hazel ant together go up to nambucca heads for a shared travel auction break. The park was lovely, just cover a sandhill to the beach. In the meantime, Mike had acquired a huge American motor Home!  36 ft, we had a lovely break and continued back to central coast for me to pack for my patchwork cruise. The plan was for them to drive me down to Sydney to the ship. Half an hour before leaving, I went out to the van to get a waterproof coat, ship was going to nz.  Disaster struck. I opened the door, to a Flood!  2 inch e's of water in parts so we gathered all hazel rags and old towels, 2 hours later, everything under the bed was sodden , wine cartons soaked. God I thought it was never going to dry up. Patchwork fabric moldy,  clothes black with mildew, a real mess. Poor hazel and mike, were left with the problem. You b know when you have Real friends!  I boarded the ship with a heavy heart. Sister jean joined me , she flew over from wa.  While I was on board, Mike took the motorhome up to Newcastle to maintenance people. I was left Worrying!  Not really that enjoyable cruise.
 Did a fabulous class with Helen golden,  painting fabric and then quilting it. Great fun.  Next class was repetition piecing, so I took some time out once I had the gist of it. We also did a little mystery class which was quite fun. Jean and I enjoyed the trip,  we did some tours with the group in ports, visiting patchwork shops,, saw some lovely quilts, bought a little fabric, as you Do!
Got back to Sydney,  and faced the motor home again, starting to get a bit over b This!  Went to pick it up and it wasn't Ready! Went back again the next day,  bingo. Finally. I spent quite a lot of waiting time studying other vehicle options, almost committed, but restrained myself. Not right timing, what with next cruise planned. While I was packing up , again, I discovered that now the slide out was tilted sideways, a result of them curing the Leak!  Monday found me back to Newcastle Again! Really! After 4 hours waiting, they informed me it was as good as it Got! Then I found my reversing camera was Stuffed!  Luckily a place recommended by Newcastle could do it next morning. And after organizing ride back to caravan park,  where I had a cabin booked, due to emptying everything from under the bed, again. So I picked it up 785.00 poorer, and went back with a new reversing camera,screen and wiring. Next morning I am finally off South!  Get about 25 km down the road and realize the picture on the screen is weird. It's Reversed!  So I pull over and ring them.  Oh it's a screw we forgot to turn. It's a problem we have found with this Model!  So I drive back 25 km,  pull in and 10 minutes later, all fixed. We're Sorry!  So I have lost an hour plus and driven 75 km Extra!  And all I got was Sorry!
 Spent next 2 hours driving alternating between howling and getting really Angry! ? Finally pulled myself together and stopped for the night at a beach just north of well ongoing.  Thought a bottle of wine might Fix me!  Not! Next day drove to Bateman bay, where I ran into a couple I had met on my first visit to mudgee, last Year!  We reminisced. They also having maintenance problems with their motorhome,  an a van ovation.another bottle of wine and I am starting to feel better.  Friday found me pulling into merimbula on south coast. Have to wait for my new credit card. Did I mention I lost It?  So here I am. Next door couple have just pointed out the new rubber around the slide out,  put on to help stop the leaks, is pulling Away!  I think I'll open another bottle of Wine!  Or put my head in the oven.! So sorry folks for boring you to death with my problems,but I don't have anyone else to vent To!  Hopefully the next blog will be sooner and more cheerful.
I wish you all good health and fortune. Lovevicki