Preparation Phase - 30 Second Tents!



The 30 Second Tent is put up in ... 30 minutes! 

 We are borrowing a 4-berth caravan from Mum and Dad for our trip, but as you all know, we are a 6-berth family.

6 does not go into 4. Any Tom Lehrer fan knows that.

We have an emergency  mattress in the back of the Blunderbuss, but no-one fancies sleeping in there for 6 mainly summer temperature months with no opening windows. Our experiences with the camping trailer - and subsequent motel - last year proved that we need a tent that is fast and easy to assemble and disassemble on a roadtrip. The 30 Second Tent seemed too good to be true, but with just a click of the mouse, it was speeding towards us and arrived just in time for the kids to help put it up before heading to the farm for Easter. We were all pleasantly surprised (read "completely gobsmacked") that the main part did indeed take only 30 seconds, and  Easter Bunny was on hand to give it a 5 Carrot Rating.


Easter Bunny eating the 5 Carrot Rating


Stay tuned ...

Preparation Phase - Children's Lists



Ella reading Are We There Yet? to Bonnie




Jackson and Dad working on the Blunderbuss floor platform.

 April already and the Churchmice are starting to get excited about the trip.

Lachlan's main concern has been getting a soccer ball to take with us, since his previous one was last seen in an arc which ended on the school roof! Despite Dave taking in a ladder to look for it, it was never seen again! I've purchased a bright orange ball which should minimise the chances of loss in the parks and playgrounds we are about to visit. He is happy, and is spending his time "servicing" Wilson - which involves cleaning him in the bathroom sink. I am less so, as my time is now taken "servicing" the bathroom sink.

Marcus is very worried about reading material. So am I. He churns through a book a day. He has been enjoying Biggles lately (we have a few old copies courtesy of Uncle Peep) so he and I spent some time tracking down an online supplier of the Biggles series. Hence Biggles, Algy and Ginger are having a renaissance in our family. We are considering using them as our travelling code names, but I can see there will be a fight over who gets to be Biggles! Despite purchasing all the books we could - as well as Inkheart, Inkspell, Inkdeath and others; as well as promising Birthday Books to them all as we travel - Marcus is still worried about reading material. So am I!

Ella is mostly worried about how Bonnie the cat will cope without her tender ministrations. She is spending lots of time reading all of her favourite stories to Bonnie, and is constantly reading "Are We There Yet?" to her to help her understand where we will be!! She has also put her teddies and babies on notice - only the best behaved will be able to come with her. Unfortunately, the 3 "twinnies" blotted their record - and our carpet! - after mealtime on the weekend, so will probably be sent to Gran for the duration.

Jackson has had little time to worry about anything but High School homework, but no doubt he will have his packing list written (and perhaps has already packed!) and he has drawn plans of the caravan to maximise our chances of fitting all our stuff in. He is also keenly interested in all the "engineering" in the bus, and spent all day on Sunday helping Dave build a platform in the back.

Stay tuned ...