Nomads are Nesting

Look who we found in a caravan magazine!

I realised today that we haven’t blogged since Tasmania and there has been a lot happening since then. Whenever I think about blogging I read a new entry by Robert and find myself speechless! But anyway …….

Following nearly three years of nomadic life we have decided to establish a base camp again. After traveling around most of Australia and often being asked by people what is our favorite part of the country, I usually replied the far north coast of NSW including the hinterland. However as much as I could see myself enjoying living in the area it is too far from Sydney and our families there, with apologies to Christine, Denis and family on the Gold Coast. Our time spent in Sydney in recent years and in other capital cities made us realise that we preferred life in a country town to the city life, I think I always have. We decided we did not want to be too far from Sydney and after looking at the Central and South Coasts, Blue Mountains and Southern Highlands we found that Goulburn offered the best choice of housing options in our price range and we new the town and district well and have good friends there.

So before going to Tasmania we put the Dulwich Hill on the market and were surprised to have two interested buyers after the first weekend’s open house. We negotiated a deal with one of these and the sale will settle on Friday May 15th. As a result, in Tasmania, we were regularly on the internet on the real estate sites and wished we were there to see some of the places on offer. When we returned to Goulburn we looked at a few houses, we were thinking about an older “character” house in the central part of town, but ended up making an offer on the house we have purchased which is built in 1975 and is 2klm from the main street. As you might imagine there were some differences in Sue and my requirements in a new home and you know who won. But we are both very happy with the style of the house and the neighborhood. The house has a nice outlook over the Cookbundoon Ranges, has a good northerly exposure to the living areas and while the kitchen and bathrooms are original they are very usable until we give them a makeover or just get used to them? It has a driveway on both sides with a garage on one side and a big caravan friendly carport on the other. The house has three bedrooms and a study so plenty of room for visitors. I really enjoy to be able to see hills and trees from home and to be only minutes away from the landscape of the Australian countryside. We take ownership on May 21st so will move in shortly after that.

However we won’t be there for long as we are planning to spend July & August at Mission Beach to avoid the winter.

As we had made the decision to call Goulburn home Sue decide to have a look at the positions vacant in the local paper for any casual jobs and applied for a couple. She then spotted one that was calling for the type of experience I had so “encouraged” me to apply. Once we had finalized the details of our purchase we decided to do some more travelling in the five weeks to settlement and headed towards the Murray River via Young and Wagga. Unfortunately at Wagga I had a call from the job I had applied for to come for an interview so back to Goulburn, buy a pair of trousers and front up. The good news is I have not heard anything since so can now breath a sigh of relief. We spent a few days in a Goulburn Caravan Park which is pretty basic so decided to head down to Batemans Bay where it is warmer and more caravan friendly.

Of course the other complication during our time in Goulburn was that Olly decided to rupture the cruciate ligament in his hind leg so we took him to a vet and he ended up having surgery on it last Tuesday. We need to keep him reasonably immobile in a confined space for two weeks, which a caravan is ideal for. He seems to be happy enough laying around dreaming about the cat that got away.

Of course the other great news, that I am sure you all know about, is the engagement of Kelly and Mart, we are so happy and excited for them.

Well we will be in Sydney next weekend and hope to see some of you then and look forward to being around for more of the family days that we have missed over the last three years. We will only be two hours drive away so available for any events and occasions. However, I am sure the van won’t go rusty as we plan to do regular shorter trips as the urge takes us.

Love to All, Sue Chris & Olly.



Court in Session in Young.


One for Luke.


Morris Dancers at Lambing Flat Festival in Young


Olly rsting after his op.