General News
10 January, 2025
A Mum's World: Caravans of campers, cars full of bags, baskets and holidayers
Yolande Grosser talks about packing for trips away.
As I try to walk off my Christmas weight by marching around town in leisure wear at all hours, I've noticed that at least one third of the townsfolk seem to have a caravan or camper in their yard.
It's either being packed chock full of gear getting good to go, or stuff is busy being unloaded into the laundry and the kitchen sink after a huge trip somewhere away from home.
Well done fellow Australians! We have over 10,000 beaches apparently, so there's a fair chance sand will be getting swept out the only door of a large percentage of those caravans and carved out of the crevices of the majority of campers.
Those yards with no caravans or campers to be seen often boast a ute with the boot full of bikes or a car backed up with a bunch of beach towels in the backseat built to the exact height required to obstruct the rearview mirror.
Our own opportunity for a bit of a stroll on the sand at sunset will be upon us soon. I've thrown a couple of pairs of shorts into my suitcase in readiness, and my togs obviously, hence the 40 kilometres of walking in the past week.
My baby girl has quite another packing challenge on her hands.
After working like a warrior waitressing all summer so far, she will squeeze in a few days at the beach before heading away for a spa weekend with her fellow 'elly lukas' Beauty Therapist classmates.
Sounds tough, and it will be.
So, one casual bag is ready for the beach and a more professional piece is packed for the Mornington Peninsula.
Classes start in earnest at the end of this month and there will be a bigger case for the three weeks of college to attend before her student residence opens in mid-February.
She hasn't even thought of packing for that ultimate move yet, she'll need a couple of suitcases and probably a crate for the big smoke.
New bed sheets and towels are ready to go but I've no idea how she'll decide what clothes to take, and we haven't bought her desk chair yet.
No kitchen sink in there though and hopefully never any laundry being unpacked for me!