I received an email today from a chap named Alan Edney. It was an interesting read and worth passing on. You just never know when his advice will come in handy!
Hi Mrs Barnsley
I have read your excellent guide but if I may suggest the following proven tips on caravan survival.
Your guide mentioned with a flat tyre being unable to get a jack under a vans axle. With a tandem depending which tyre is flat you place the spare either behind or in front leaning a solid jack support board against it then simply drive the van onto the spare wheel. This lifts it high enough to set up the jack & when raised one simply pulls the spare clear to replace the flat.
Note if the jack cannot lift high enough to clear the spare park on an area of ground soft enough to dig enough away so the spare pulls clear. It is essential in this case to have the jack positioned about 60 cm in on the axle to prevent collapse.
Tuesday, November 30, 2010
Wednesday, November 24, 2010
Rose's Family Road Trip
Three months in the outback, travelling around in a 4WD, pulling our camper trailer behind and throwing off all the constraints of everyday life, work and routine. Sounds lovely, doesn’t it? Put four kids in the mix, add one car-sick mother and wife, a decidedly un-outback like husband and a healthy spoonful of inexperience and what we actually have is, possibly, a recipe for disaster!
Of course, I’m hoping our outback adventure will be wonderful and amazing. But when my husband Mark first suggested it, my brain and body went into complete shock and instant rejection. Mark and I have four beautiful children: Beth (9 years old), Sarah (7), Sam (4) and Amy (2). Now, I love my kids and I love my husband, but really, do I want to spend every living, breathing moment with them all for three long months...that is the question?!
Finally, the day of reckoning arrived. We had packed the car and camper trailer within an inch of its lives. If the smallest toy moved from its place, the whole system of packing (i.e., shoving random things into spaces) would have come tumbling down. The kids were allowed only two soft toys each to sleep with, a mean feat considering Sarah in particular sleeps on a mound of toys.
I was feeling extremely nervous and excited. We kissed and cuddled our dogs, our assorted family and friends that gathered to wave goodbye. The kids were literally surrounded by every possible car entertainment device created. If the DS, DVD player, books, coloring-in, games, music, toys and over-enthusiastic food supply was not enough to keep them amused, I swore they would be strapped to the roof rack.
Did I mention that we were travelling with two other families? We, Family 1, have four kids. Family 2 have two kids. Family 3 have five. Yep, eleven kids all up. It’s a travelling kindergarten. Do you feel even sorrier for me right now?? So we met at Family 2’s place to begin the convoy of cars. Away we went. Bon Voyage!
These excerpts are taken from Rose's Road Trip from the Essential Baby website. To read the full article (part 1 & 2 so far) click here
Of course, I’m hoping our outback adventure will be wonderful and amazing. But when my husband Mark first suggested it, my brain and body went into complete shock and instant rejection. Mark and I have four beautiful children: Beth (9 years old), Sarah (7), Sam (4) and Amy (2). Now, I love my kids and I love my husband, but really, do I want to spend every living, breathing moment with them all for three long months...that is the question?!
Finally, the day of reckoning arrived. We had packed the car and camper trailer within an inch of its lives. If the smallest toy moved from its place, the whole system of packing (i.e., shoving random things into spaces) would have come tumbling down. The kids were allowed only two soft toys each to sleep with, a mean feat considering Sarah in particular sleeps on a mound of toys.
I was feeling extremely nervous and excited. We kissed and cuddled our dogs, our assorted family and friends that gathered to wave goodbye. The kids were literally surrounded by every possible car entertainment device created. If the DS, DVD player, books, coloring-in, games, music, toys and over-enthusiastic food supply was not enough to keep them amused, I swore they would be strapped to the roof rack.
Did I mention that we were travelling with two other families? We, Family 1, have four kids. Family 2 have two kids. Family 3 have five. Yep, eleven kids all up. It’s a travelling kindergarten. Do you feel even sorrier for me right now?? So we met at Family 2’s place to begin the convoy of cars. Away we went. Bon Voyage!
These excerpts are taken from Rose's Road Trip from the Essential Baby website. To read the full article (part 1 & 2 so far) click here
Sunday, November 21, 2010
Schooling is a Process Not a Place
When considering an extended holiday with the family, one of the major concerns parents have is the kids’ education. In fact it’s this issue alone that can dissuade parents altogether. Your child’s education is extremely important but there are many options when it comes to learning on the road and missing school is no reason not to go!
Of course if your son or daughter is in year 11 or 12 then this is probably not the right time to take off, but for kids under 15 it is not only possible to keep up with what’s happening back in class but in most cases they are guaranteed to actually surpass their peers in knowledge and skills due to their travelling experience.
The journey provides an awesome opportunity for children (and parents) to learn about the world by experience and what better way is there? The country is loaded with museums, art galleries, wildlife parks, cultural centres, libraries, nature tours, historical precincts, theatres, heritage areas, festivals, concerts, research centres, culture, culture and more culture. It’s the School of Australia, make the most of it!
The experience itself will do wonders for your child’s social skills, organisational skills and general
knowledge not to mention their knowledge of geography, biology, history, Australian flora and fauna, environmental issues, sociology, Aboriginal culture…
For more detailed information about taking your kids out of school and travelling around Australia get your copy of Discover Australia Kids 'n' All here
Of course if your son or daughter is in year 11 or 12 then this is probably not the right time to take off, but for kids under 15 it is not only possible to keep up with what’s happening back in class but in most cases they are guaranteed to actually surpass their peers in knowledge and skills due to their travelling experience.
The journey provides an awesome opportunity for children (and parents) to learn about the world by experience and what better way is there? The country is loaded with museums, art galleries, wildlife parks, cultural centres, libraries, nature tours, historical precincts, theatres, heritage areas, festivals, concerts, research centres, culture, culture and more culture. It’s the School of Australia, make the most of it!
The experience itself will do wonders for your child’s social skills, organisational skills and general
knowledge not to mention their knowledge of geography, biology, history, Australian flora and fauna, environmental issues, sociology, Aboriginal culture…
For more detailed information about taking your kids out of school and travelling around Australia get your copy of Discover Australia Kids 'n' All here
Tuesday, November 2, 2010
Camping Around Australia - New Release
A brand new guide to Camping Around Australia has just been published by Explore Australia. This book is the most comprehensive nation-wide camping guide available, with listings for over 2500 campsites covering every state and territory. Detailing facilities and activities for each campsite, along with driving directions, full colour photos and an Australia-Wide Road Atlas, this book is a modern and easy to follow guide that is the perfect travelling companion for any camper, and retails at $39.95.Monday, November 1, 2010
Saving a Mouldy or Musty Tent or Awning
If you put your tent away damp or dirty, chances are it will smell musty and likely be mouldy (very unpleasant to sleep in).
1) Pitch your tent in the full sun to let the ultraviolet light work its magic and do half the cleaning for you.
2) Place a kilo of un-iodised cooking salt in a large bucket of water and stir until it completely dissolves.
3) Take a soft kitchen broom, stuff the head down a pair of tights and tie the excess tights around the handle to secure it.
4) Use the broom to sweep the salt mixture over every surface of the tent and leave it to dry. When dry you will find that a salt crust has formed. As the salt crystals grow while it's drying they expand in the fibres, pulling the mould spore with them and bringing them to the surface.
5) Brush the salt away with a clean dry broom and the mould will be gone too.
To prevent further mould and to keep insects at bay, place a quarter teaspoon of oil of cloves and a teaspoon of lavender oil into a litre spray bottle of water and mist it over the clean dry surface.
Rub a lead pencil across any metal zippers to keep them moving smoothly. If you zippera re nylon wipe them with a little glycerine for the same effect.
Make sure you flip the tent over and dry the groundsheet area. Groundsheets are often rubberised and the application of a good sprinkle of talcum powder swept backwards and forwards can prevent perishing.
Thankyou Shannon Lush, Queen of Clean, for this article.
1) Pitch your tent in the full sun to let the ultraviolet light work its magic and do half the cleaning for you.
2) Place a kilo of un-iodised cooking salt in a large bucket of water and stir until it completely dissolves.
3) Take a soft kitchen broom, stuff the head down a pair of tights and tie the excess tights around the handle to secure it.
4) Use the broom to sweep the salt mixture over every surface of the tent and leave it to dry. When dry you will find that a salt crust has formed. As the salt crystals grow while it's drying they expand in the fibres, pulling the mould spore with them and bringing them to the surface.
5) Brush the salt away with a clean dry broom and the mould will be gone too.
To prevent further mould and to keep insects at bay, place a quarter teaspoon of oil of cloves and a teaspoon of lavender oil into a litre spray bottle of water and mist it over the clean dry surface.
Rub a lead pencil across any metal zippers to keep them moving smoothly. If you zippera re nylon wipe them with a little glycerine for the same effect.
Make sure you flip the tent over and dry the groundsheet area. Groundsheets are often rubberised and the application of a good sprinkle of talcum powder swept backwards and forwards can prevent perishing.
Thankyou Shannon Lush, Queen of Clean, for this article.
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