Firth Fun

I have a reputation for dragging my family out in all kinds of weather - particularly since we moved to Victoria.  Given the conditions are so variable here, I've decided we can't stay home waiting for a perfect day - because we might never go out at all!

As much as our camping trip was cold and wet, we did make the most of our time at Firth Park.  There was mist on Saturday morning and quite a few mushrooms to admire.  Vaughan was very happy yabbying - on a self-imposed catch and release program.

I've since heard (via an online camping forum) that yabbies hibernate during the winter months, at least in Victoria.  I'm not entirely convinced so will be doing some research at home - and (when I remember) in the field!

We practiced camp oven cooking (and eating!) plus spent some time planning a longer adventure for later this year.

Cold and wet ANZAC weekend ...

Nick recently moved back to shift-work and had a block of days rostered off. We used his free time to prepare the caravan, ready for camping over the ANZAC weekend (back to Firth Park).

Our original plan had been to collect Vaughan after his afternoon school ANZAC service and head off from there.

We were packed on time but plans were foiled by a family of earwigs living in the tail-light socket, stopping the lights from working. The pests were evicted, a loose wire fixed, lighting restored and we were off!

Although I had prepped our beds wonderfully for the cold, the skies were clear when we left home so no-one had thought much about the possibility of wet weather. We left our box of waterproof gear at home - and didn't even think to take an umbrella (for trekking back and forth to/from the loo)!

I'd only packed the camping mats at the last minute and we had one gazebo still tied to the drawbar, from our previous camping trip.  I had a couple of older towels and that was it.  Nick brought some firewood with us, which we very much appreciated as the wood on site was quite soggy.  (At times we needed to put the gazebo over the fire, to protect our cooking)!

We've camped in the rain previously and have endured much colder camping but the two weather conditions together were trickier to manage.  Bandit was distinctly unimpressed by the outdoor living - and no-one was reluctant to pack-up after breakfast on Sunday!  That's a first!

Winter warmth ...

I've made a few references to my infamous fabric stash. Of course, I didn't set out to acquire so much material. It just happened.

For example, two Christmases ago we visited a liquidation warehouse. Among other great treasure, they had white polar fleece. It was the right/white stuff to make Santa beards for Vaughan's class.  I wasn't sure how much fabric to buy so asked for two metres, erring on the generous side.

The guy measuring was even more generous and once home I found I had 3.25 metres! It was a definite $6.00 bargain - and yes, that is a lot of Santa beards! We probably made around 40 as various gifts and still had a lot of fabric left. (I did say to Nick at the time that I wasn't sure what I was going to do with it all - and he suggested I stick it in a white foam box in the storage container)!

I decided to use (most of) the Santa beard remainder as a under-blanket for Erin's bottom caravan bunk.  I'd previously added insulation in the under-bed storage compartment but decided to use some camping mats under the mattress also. 

Several years back, when we were still in our original tent and using the air beds on legs, I made polar fleece covers for the single air mattresses.  They cut the chill from the plastic and I've kept them, even though the beds were recently sold.  Last year the covers did duty as heavy curtains at home, so I'll have to work on a better plan for our kitchen window this year!

I fitted the cover over Vaughan's self-inflating 4WD mat that he is using on the top bunk in preference to an innerspring mattress.  (The lower profile mat leaves more head-room).  It fit well and should provide some extra warmth.

Our bed was fitted with an older woollen under-blanket.  Although it was purchased as a queen size it actually fits the double-bed mattress better - so will stay there throughout winter.  Why all the preparation?  I'm hoping for some cold-weather camping and want to be as warm as possible during the nights!

Picnic pride!

Nick and I went out to our favourite tip shop today, just to poke around. While we were there I spotted this 12-volt warmer/cooler.

We didn't care if it worked. We weren't going to use it for it's original purpose but rather convert it into a (well insulated) thermos carrier.

There were tall thermoses in a box at the tip shop and we tried one of them in the cooler. It fit, so we paid $5.00 and brought our bounty home!

It soon became clear that our 1.9-litre Stanley thermoses are taller than the few for sale at the tip shop.  Drat! 

Some modifications were obviously necessary.  On inspection, the best option was to remove a piece of bottom lining - and cut recesses into the insulating foam.  I thought the lining was plastic but it was actually rather thick aluminium and removing it was a bit more involved than first anticipated.  Nick persevered though and the thermoses now fit easily (with or without lids).

As we weren't going to use the unit as a heater/cooler, Nick took out many of the unnecessary parts.  He also cut a piece of board to fit the bottom of the case.  It will cover the bare insulation and rough aluminium edges.  We might add some extra foam pieces (mounted to the longer sides) for additional insulation - and to ensure both thermoses are well protected.

I bought my Stanley thermoses during a BigW sale about 10 years ago.  They were at least half price, so I bought two of the Classic 1.9 litre style (which keep drinks hot 24 hours or cold 32 hours).  I was so chuffed with the massive discount that I went back a few days later to buy two of the smaller food flasks.  

When Nick first suggested an insulated cover for one of the taller thermoses, I was doubtful.  However it quite markedly further increased the heat retention properties of the thermos - and we used the same blue cover till quite recently.  Since it's demise, I've looked for something that might house both thermoses.  They do sit in a larger wine cooler bag but if we only take one thermos, the bag often topples over in transit.   (The smaller food flasks sit in a soft-sided cooler bag that has recently been revamped)!

I bought a tall esky the other day (on sale at the Reject Shop for $7.00) but it wasn't tall enough - and in any case only one thermos would fit, so I returned the unit the same afternoon. 

Against that background, we are very chuffed with our $5.00 tip shop find!

Steppin' up!

We were out and about this week, investigating a new tip shop and doing other missions. 

We've passed A & R Secondhand Dealers at different times since moving to Victoria. Although it looked interesting, we'd never called in. 

We made our first-ever visit on Wednesday.  Wow!  There was so much stuff!  I'm looking at the website now and have realised we didn't even look inside the shed - probably because we were distracted by the beautiful stained glass windows.  It's OK.  I'm sure we'll go back for another look. 

Of course, we don't really need stained glass windows but we are super chuffed with our $10.00 caravan steps!  They're definitely a step up (hah!) from the milk crate(s) that we'd been using!

On-target Organisation!

We're having a bit of a clean-up at home. Nick was going to throw out a bunch of broken arrows but I salvaged them to use in the garden.

As it happens, they have other uses as well.  This is my new (caravan) bedside pocket, supported by two small ring hooks - and an arrow! 


How's that for organisation?!  The glitzy fabric was an op-shop find and I used a scrap of it to decorate a matching pouch for my glasses. (The pouch is fashioned from other small leftover pieces, including it's purple polar fleece lining).

Aside from my glasses, the hanging pocket will hold my phone and maybe a small packet of tissues.  I don't need it to store a huge amount of stuff, just a few things that I want easy access to. 

Up till now, I've put my phone and glasses on either the small bench or tucked in a corner of the door-less hanging area.  Once I'm in bed they are definitely out of reach unless I scramble over Nick to get to them!

Beef and Vegetable Curry (in the thermal cooker)

I developed a lurgi over the weekend and am not yet recovered (though Erin's high-octane vitamin tablets are having some positive benefit). I tend to feel healthier in the morning, so set about cheffing some curry in the thermal cooker for dinner.

This recipe was a guide but you'll see that I added (and subtracted) as I went along! 

I didn't have onions, so omitted them.  I included vegetables in the meal, rather than having to cook them separately later tonight. 

There wasn't any rice in the pantry, otherwise I would have cooked that in the top pot - and left out the potatoes!  Yep, there was a fair bit of improvisation but this is pretty much the ingredients used (or I'd  usually include if available)!

1kg of beef, cubed
1-2 chopped onions (if you have them)!
2 teaspoons garlic
1 tin drained lentils
1 tin diced tomatoes
1/4-1/3 cup of curry powder
1 cup of chopped sweet potato (approx.)
3-4 small potatoes diced/chopped
2 cups of cut beans (approx.)
2 tablespoons jam
2 tablespoons tomato paste
1 tablespoon stock powder

Brown the meat in a little oil.  Add the garlic.  (Usually I'd brown the onions and garlic first).  Tip in the drained lentils and diced tomatoes. 

There is no liquid loss in thermal cooking, so I generally add lentils to thicken the gravy.  I am mindful of how much liquid I use overall.  Today, I only added a small amount of water when rising the tomato tin.  Often I also include dried lentils or vegetables to reduce the liquid content while cooking. 

I added the curry powder and then the chopped potatoes (sweet and standard).  There was probably about two cups of frozen beans.  I also added some of my homemade plum jam, a small amount of tomato paste and a little stock powder.  The main ingredients were simmering as I added the extras. 

The larger pot was around two-thirds full, which left enough room for the top pot of boiling water to sit inside.  I tucked both pots into the outer insulated pot at around 1:30pm - and will be pleased not to have to do much else tonight!