Water water everywhere

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Over 100mm has fallen in one day! The dams are filling up. The sound of frogs a continuous and changing chorus. Birds of all sizes and colours rejoicing in the abundant food stores that have grown quickly out of the parched earth. A miraculous change that make the constant wet ground a pleasure to walk on and the numerous puddles bring out the child in us all.

Every place that can hang something is festooned with damp towels, cloths and mats. The mud is slowly working its way through the ground sheet and the flood of water through the camp site has been diverted with earthen groundworks.

Our decision to spend a few months close to familiar shops and assistance was reinforced by an enlightening visit from our son in law who was able to discuss ropes, pegs and other nuances of camping that helped to still the noise of the tent flapping in the wind and prevent water from collecting in the roof – a constant threat to the unwary.

A quiet evening of games followed by chicken pies made from left over Christmas dinner completed a perfect evening in our magic wonderland.

Clive brushed his teeth in the bathroom basin and all went to hell in a handbasket!!

65l of water pumped out of the kitchen tap pipe which had come loose, into the caravan and through the electrical box cupboard. Fed by the water pump that could not be disconnected, the constant flow was impressive. I managed to divert a small portion with strategically placed plastic lids while Clive scrabbled to turn off every possible switch; finally tripping the main breaker and removing all the fuses to stop the pump! When we finally stopped the noise the water was long since emptied out of the tank and we wonder about long term damage to the pump and van floor, not to mention the possible complications of an airlock when we do refill.

The kitchen tap housing was beautifully enclosed in a casing and cupboard that, although very aesthetically pleasing, prevented any practical accessing of the fittings that brought water to the tap.

65l is a lot of water…