It's not all beers and sunshine!

Tauranga Bay seems like a lifetime ago - Heidi and family.

By Heidi Chandler. Our intrepid caravaner updates us on life on the road.

So, we’re half way through a year of travelling around beautiful NZ.   Just us, the kids and the dog, in a 22 ft caravan with the country at our feet.   The first four months were spent in the upper half of the North Island, frolicking on beaches, sipping on latte’s, and revelling in the warm weather, sunshine, and the happy kids this combo had created.

As it turned out though, we were dreaming if we thought we could avoid winter altogether, as we did indeed get some rain.  Basically two weeks of it non-stop!  As it deluged outside, the cabin fever was taking grip.  Our morning walks had ceased, the effort to keep the mud at bay was gargantuan, we had a constant wet dog at our feet, and the kids were in need of serious entertaining.    The mud problem was soon diminished by an expertly placed towel at the door, this also helped contain the wet dog problem. 

Now to find something ‘new and exciting’ to do with the kids in a caravan!  Home made play-doh was a hit for a few hours, and with some inventive thinking, we managed to have several hilarious time-slots filled with hide‘n’seek!  When all else failed, a family dance-off always hit the spot.  After what felt like an eternity, the rain stopped, washing was dry, and we were able to resume our morning walks for coffee.  Sighs of relief all round!

Indoor gymnastics anyone?

As August rolled round we were feeling quite smug in the fact that we had survived the deluge, and as it would appear, beat the winter colds and bugs that usually attack in full force, radiating out from kindys and schools!  Then one fateful night early August it happened, it was a niggly little cough that over the next few weeks would bring us all to our knees, and leave us sleep deprived, and irritable.  

Without the TV as a faithful ‘go-to’ for sick kids, we had to quickly think up other laid back and amusing time fillers.  A good old car-trip proved to be a winner, tired/grumpy kids were soon asleep, tired and grumpy adults, revitalised with a coffee and some soothing music for the ride.  Chuck in some movies, and board games, combined with plenty of batches of homemade soup, we did indeed live to tell the tale.

After spending four weeks in Wellington catching up with family and friends for some much needed lovin’, we have made our way down to Christchurch.   With blossoms and lambs in abundance, the weather seems to have settled.  The kids are back outside, morning strolls are back in our daily routine and things couldn’t be better. 

Fingers crossed it’ll be blue skies and beers from here on in.  But I realise with or without a cough, wet or dry, we are so stoked to be doing what we are doing, and making memories regardless! 

If you enjoyed this blog from Heidi check out her blog for us earlier in the year - 'The time of our lives'.