Cate's Diary

Hi, Marsia. R is living in a house that belongs to a woman who is a friend of a friend & is doing major renovations to the house & he is renting a room from her. She said she wouldn't charge him rent as it's a worksite but he insisted & now he insists on paying her double that as she is not working & he is.
Fixing up the van is fun. The cabinet doors stay closed with a little bit of help (octopus strap). I gave away my camping gear years ago, but it's fun to check out op shops & try to be low on waste & use recycled. There isn't as much choice here for little toilets & I want to minimise the costs to the planet of freighting in imported goods & spending money that is unnecessary.
I'm looking forward to sharing some pics after I have personalised her.
 
You sound like you're having a lot of fun with Betsy's makeover. I'm looking forward to those pictures!
 
Cate said:
There isn't as much choice here for little toilets
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I have found that Gumtree usually has a fair amount of second hand camping stuff, much of it hardly used due to people buying new and then deciding they don't like camping.
 
Wow, R has such a great heart!! Betsy is going to be a wonderful, relaxing nest when you are done with fixing her up! I like the idea of a gently used toilet, too, Tru!
 
Trusylver said:
I have found that Gumtree usually has a fair amount of second-hand camping stuff, much of it hardly used due to people buying new and then deciding they don't like camping.
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True, Tru. I think the toilet is a matter of finding something that will fit in the tray up the back of the van & that I can use comfortably during the night. We had a look today, but it's tricky.
Marsia said:
Wow, R has such a great heart!! Betsy is going to be a wonderful, relaxing nest when you are done with fixing her up! I like the idea of a gently used toilet, too, Tru!
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He does. Betsy is feeling more & more like a part of the family. My brain is working overtime with the toilet options & I may just have to have one built that fits in the trunk up the back, but that's good for my brain, just trying to work it out. G goes along with whatever so long as he sees me trying to make do & not wanting to spend lots of money. He's not tight so much as a bit allergic to shopping. "But, do we need it?" is one of his favourite questions.
We bought mats for her & a few other necessary bits & bobs today. I had a haircut. Yay! I went to a skin clinic & had all my sunspots burned off & none are nasty. Double yay!
We had a lovely, healthy lunch at some friends place, did a little food shopping on the way home & were gone 8 hours. A very tiring, but good day.
 
J is similar about buying some things, then surprises me sometimes with wanting an occasional big ticket thing. It's great G likes the van and how you are outfitting it! I love puzzles like how to store a van toilet in a tight space - good brain teaser! Glad you had such a full day of shopping and socializing and that your skin is happy, too!
 
Congratulations on the good news about the sun spots! Asking "but do we need it" sounds like a solid habit regardless of someone's financial situation.
 
Marsia said:
J is similar about buying some things, then surprises me sometimes with wanting an occasional big ticket thing. It's great G likes the van and how you are outfitting it! I love puzzles like how to store a van toilet in a tight space - good brain teaser! Glad you had such a full day of shopping and socializing and that your skin is happy, too!
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G often surprises me in the same way. If it's something he really wants to do he doesn't think if we can afford it or not. I got the portable loo over from R's cabin & have had a good look at it. I think I can make it work as it comes apart easily so I could store it in the trunk up the back until night-time & get used to it. We may wait until we're home again to clean & empty it, depending on how many nights we're away & will use toilets when we can. It's very well made. I'll look up some videos to see how it all works & see if I can avoid nasty chemicals. Vinegar should work ok with neutralising the pee smell & it seems to be quite well sealed. It will be using something we have already & that's always good.
My skin is very itchy this morning, but it will be amazing to have these sunspots & patches gone. Why I didn't do this earlier I have no idea. I went to the clinic as a private patient & paid, but I am only $70 out of pocket after the government rebate. I'll go once a year from now on. G said he might get his checked too which will be good.
LaMaria said:
Congratulations on the good news about the sunspots! Asking "but do we need it" sounds like a solid habit regardless of someone's financial situation.
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I must admit I was very happy & also slightly surprised that none of the spots was worrying. I grew up in a time where no-one used sunscreen & I spent almost the whole summer as a teen on or in a river.
Only buying stuff we need would be a good habit for everyone, LaMa that's for sure.

I'm not sure what we're doing today. It is very wet out there but has stopped raining. I did something to my neck & left shoulder yesterday & they hurt during the night. I just couldn't get comfortable & had a bad night's sleep. There was also a storm & Arch freaked out. We're all a bit tired. I also was exposed to a lot of perfume during the day & my lungs are complaining a bit. I don't feel bad though- just a bit knackered.
 
Hope you took it easy today and feel better going to sleep tonight.

Great stuff on all the fun camper purchases! Sounds fun.
 
Emilyrose said:
Hope you took it easy today and feel better going to sleep tonight.

Great stuff on all the fun camper purchases! Sounds fun.
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I haven't, Em, unfortunately. We went to the tip & then I got it into my head to see how the toilet fitted in the camper & I headbutted a light fitting & broke it. There were 3 matching original light fittings. Hopefully, I can get one that doesn't stick out so much & matches the others. It made me feel like such a clumsy klutz. Without the pop-top being up it is very hard to move around in & I shouldn't have tried as I'm just too tired.
Maybe one of the other lights can be moved to this spot & the one above the stove replaced with an LED one but there's no saying I wouldn't do it again if the light fitting came down still.
I think I'll read a book & tune out.
 
I headbutted lights all the time when I did home visits - if you're a klutz I'm a catastrophe! I hope your head is ok though.

I've been getting regular skin checkups for 10 years or so: as a (former) redhead who grew up in a time when SPF 8 was the absolute highest you could find anywhere the damage is real and given that my mom has had to have a malignant spot removed a couple of years ago I'm not taking any chances. I feel terribly awkward getting every inch of my body checked out by someone with a magnifying glass but it's better than ignoring a known problem.
 
LaMaria said:
I headbutted lights all the time when I did home visits - if you're a klutz I'm a catastrophe! I hope your head is ok though.
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It's ok physically, LaMa, but this threw me out. I loved how it looked so retro with the 3 matching lights :(
I still haven't worked out the toilet bit. I was putting in R's portable loo when I did this & I want to go take it out again as I think it's just too big :(
I overthink everything when I'm tired.
 
It sure can, LaMa. I hope I sleep better tonight.
I pulled the light fitting apart & had a light bulb moment. I worked out that with 2 little metal squares with a screw hole in each I would be able to attach it back up. I took Arch for a walk to clear my head & to make me feel better & our neighbour was pottering around outside & I asked him if he wouldn’t mind cutting me some metal some time & he said he could do it straight away. I went back home to measure it up, but instead we drove the van down & the job is now done. I left the 2 of them to do the job & I got out of the way and took Arch for another walk. No more head butting van lights. Next time I put the pop top up when I’m pottering about :blush5:
We’re going to put the annexe up tomorrow so that we don’t look like total novices first time camping.
I’m going to get used to peeing in a bucket. I have a suitable one.
We’ll stay in caravan parks at first, preferably not too far from the toilet blocks. One night only first trip.
 
Emilyrose said:
When are you going on your first trip?
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I'm not sure Em, but we have one planned for the end of April. G is playing golf in a tournament & it's right next to a caravan park, right next to a beach. We're going to get the awning out today to see how that works & I'll put the bedding inside & line all the cupboards this week with non-slip stuff. I'm still in check list mode.
 
I lost my focus again on losing weight. I find it harder & harder every year. I feel really motivated for a week or two & then just lose it again. I don't break out or anything. I haven't eaten crisps or chocolate or junk food but I just can't seem to maintain my focus. It is frustrating.
I'll get on the scales tomorrow morning first thing as I haven't weighed for about 10 days. I was weighing every day for about 2 weeks to try to get myself back in the habit but then got heartily sick of it. My weight goes up & down like a yoyo.
G & I go for our first covid shot tonight.
I must make an appointment to see a new doctor soon. I had one to get a pneumonia vaccine but then it was cancelled as I apparently don't fit the new criteria for (not old enough!) I hate starting all over with doctors. I might make a list before I go of what I want to say about myself & what I need from them. I often lose track when I have a reaction to fragrance in the waiting room or in the doctor's room.
 
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