Slowly but surely we
are beginning to set up camp at the farm.
Though we have a little way to go to get things properly comfortable and
functioning in a manner which will suit us longer term. (Well a couple of weeks is longer term.) But we have solar fairy lights strung up now, so that counts as civilized, yes?
Grant is in the process of trying to get our generator to start, some thing about a carbonator? I’m not great with engines but I can tell you if the generator runs and I can get air conditioning and use my washing machine by the end of the week I will be one happy woman! The laundromat is costing a fortune and we don’t have enough water yet to handwash at the farm.
I’m not going to wax
lyrical about this whole extended camping business. For me the fun part of camping is in enjoying
the experience but also knowing it is only temporary. Knowing you have your home to go back too,
with the things we take for granted in this modern world. You know…. like a power at the flick of a
switch and enough water without having to fill up water canisters and haul it
up the hill. Though we are expecting rain by the end of the week so that should
go a good way to filling our two 1000L totes.
Food is simple
here. Crackers, fruit, BBQ, hot chook
from the supermarket and salad. We hope
to get the camp kitchen better set up over the next couple of days where I will
have a little gas burner so I can throw together a simple stir fry and whip up quick
pasta dishes. Though I need to scour the
op-shops for a few more pots…It seems I have somehow managed to bring a stack
of beautiful embroidered vintage linens with me and left the bulk of my pots
and pans back in SA…..Nothing like camping in style eh?
Whilst this whole
extended camping thing may not be exactly up my alley, the kids are in their
element which is fun to watch. They are very
happy sleeping in their tents and swags and I bought them each a round plastic tub
to store all their clothes in so they can actually find them and it all stays clean. (kind of) Slowly I am bringing in simple
routines which give them a sense of familiarity, which will become more
important once school goes back in a few days.
Though it all feels
somewhat surreal and a its certainly a little challenging at times. It's so deeply peaceful
here.
I'm reminded of when I was a teenager and I did a lot of bushwalking and camping.
I would load up my rucksack with food, water, a tent and clothing and go
off for up to a week at a time. While
other girls looked at clothing and what not, I dreamed of camping shops and the
bush. I remember the sense of calm that
would wash over me when I was out there. With my tent, my little metho Trangia stove,
boots and pasta packs. The simplicity,
the stripping back of the noise and pressure that faced my teenage self. It was the one time I would feel like “me”. I remember sitting by little babbling creeks
writing utterly horrendous poetry, which has long since been burned. But the memory remains. Sitting here now I have that same familiar feeling
of sense of self.
I hope the life we
build here maintains an element of going back to nature always. Running water, electricity and the internet
will be modern conveniences which I am admittedly looking forward too, because
it is no longer just myself and a rucksack to worry about. But I hope to always balance it so we don’t lose
that essence of being here, of being cocooned by the bush. That by the very design of the life that we hope
to create that we are always pulled back to the power of the nature which surrounds us. Pulled back to what is of most importance to us and away from the noise and hustle and bustle that creeps into our lives.
Much love,
Emma
xx
Much love,
Emma
xx
