No Fixed Abode

It's official - we have no fixed abode. We have moved out of the place we were renting in Hallidays Point and the new house will not be ready for at least a week or so. I never, ever, ever want to rent and be at the mercy of landlords ever again. The previous time we rented because we were building the Fadden house in 1994, when we had five children at home, the landlords put us out with 6 weeks to go on the build, because they wanted the place back for themselves. We moved in with my parents.

This time, different landlords put us out with 8 weeks to go on the build, because they sold the house. We moved into their other place, next door. It was essentially a house-sitting arrangement, because we only had the use of one bedroom, the place was full of their personal items including toiletries in the bathroom, old food in the fridge, a lot of their clothing and memorabilia and there was virtually no free cupboard space. But we agreed to pay the same rent we had been paying because of our circumstances. When Mae got sick and I had to give up my job, we couldn't afford to keep paying rent for a place we were not using, so I gave notice. However, only 12 days' notice. Our landlords' response? We owe them another whole week's rent because we did not give 14 days' notice and they understand our predicament with our daughter but even so, pay us or we won't sign the bond refund form. I was never more glad to move out of anywhere. Even so, we left it perfectly clean and undamaged. Because that is the right thing to do.

Thank goodness we have dear and generous friends in Canberra and Hallidays Point who have offered us a bed for as long as we need.

Meanwhile, the house is nearing completion. This (below) is the pergola over the north-facing outdoor living area.

 Above is the driveway being created from road base being poured over a skin of non-permeable sheeting that will hopefully stop it from becoming boggy ever again.

The day after those photos were taken we were on the road again, heading south. Stayed overnight and enjoyed some TLC by Peter, Elaine and Julia at Copacabana, then off again in the morning. Stopped at a rest area to eat our lunch (thanks, Julia) and investigated this huge wombat hole. We now know (thanks, Mae) you should never venture down a wombat hole in daytime when they are somewhere inside as their defence mechanism is to get under you and break your bones against the roof of the tunnel. Should I get into it for a photo, David says? Nah, I replied. You did that once before and I already took a photo like that.

This is a rare sight. Water in Lake George.

Canberra had snow the morning we arrived. Here are the Brindabellas still in the middle of snow clouds. The next morning that hill had a dusting of white.

Mae and Nick's house is a bunny haven. They have two indoor bunnies, Evie and Pippin. Bunnies are Mae's personal good luck charm. Call it divine intervention if you like, but it turns out a wild bunny has taken up residence in their garden. It is evidently an escapee from somewhere, but it lives there completely by choice. It is very accustomed to cats.  In fact, it plays with Mia. She is somewhat nervous about its attentions, but they hang around together. It (she, Mae thinks) needs a name. Any suggestions?

It does Mae good to be around her animals. Her recovery is really going well so far. In just over three weeks, she has gone from being helpless in intensive care (below)

 to sitting in a cafe and having a cupcake.

Yesterday, we managed the Bus Depot Markets and even followed up with a Brodburger (well, Mae had half a small one). She has to pace herself and does get tired easily. The pain is never far away. But overall, she is amazing.

On Thursday, more surgery, this time to install a central line in her chest, a port for the chemotherapy. This will be in place for at least six months. This period of relative wellness feels a little like the eye of the cyclone to me.  More rough weather ahead as the chemotherapy does its work. But hopefully, at the end of it all, the storm passes and we have blue sky.