4 Sleeps Past Christmas

Well, Christmas has come and gone for another year. We hope that you all had a good one and didn't increase the national debt too much. It was Stephen and my intention to forgo exchanging Christmas presents with each other this year and focus on having a lovely meal together with all our favourite Christmas foods (and drink!). I must confess that this was my suggestion but while out shopping for our Christmas fare on Christmas Eve, I felt very much like Ebenezer Scrooge. Perhaps it was the crowds of shoppers at Park Beach Plaza or the carols reminding me of the few minutes of happiness ripping open presents on Christmas morning brings, but whatever it was, I suddenly had the urge to go buy Stephen something that would be fun and relaxing. Nothing PRACTICAL!!! I found him the perfect presents....a hammock, a kite and a couple of movies. Next, I had to break the news to him that I'd changed my mind about the "no present" policy and send him out on Christmas Eve afternoon to find me something. He was not really surprised as he's always known I'm a bit fickle but wished I'd had this policy change a few days ago. He did a great job finding me something with the same fun/relaxation theme and I'm now the proud owner of an inflatable hot pink oval water lounger with a drink holder.

Christmas Day in the caravan park was spent BBQ'ing, eating and chatting with caravan neighbours Chris, Gill and family and the English family camped in front of us who were cooked their plum pudding all morning on their gas stove. Although the morning was grey and even rained a bit, the afternoon was lovely so we both got to try out our Christmas presents. We were able to hang Stephen's hammock between two trees near us just next to the tennis court. We nearly had to give out numbers as our neighbours wanted a try. The water lounge was christened in the creek and I let the current carry me along the "S" bends nearly all the way to the ocean. That's what I call going with the flow.

On Boxing Day we had to pack up the caravan and move to the Corindi Beach Caravan Park where we will be until 3 Jan. Luckily we started packing early so we were heading out as the hoards were starting to arrive. It was my turn to drive and tow the caravan (2nd time). The only part that I had been concerned about was having to pull out to make a right hand turn onto the Pacific Hwy in all the holiday traffic. The traffic all week had been very busy so I had expected Boxing Day to be the same. Thankfully, there wasn't much traffic so my slow right hand turn was easy to do. Reversing the caravan into the spot proved to be more difficult than I expected as it looked like such a straight forward site but I couldn't get the caravan far enough over to the right for the awning to go out. Finally, I got us onto the site from the rear thanks to the people beind us moving their car to allow us to drive through. I definitely need more practise at this. Corindi Beach Caravan Park is very different again to the other 2 we have been in. We're on a low headland overlooking the ocean and 2 beaches. Corindi Beach which is the one to the right, allows dogs off leash so this is where Stephen and Angel have been getting their daily exercise. Dogs are allowed on leash only on the beach to the left as it borders on the Yuraygir National Park. Corindi Beach has one general store with only the barest essentials, a post office come gift store and a motor mechanics. Our site is on the outer rim of a large grassy circle opposite the amenities block. Behind us is another ring of unpowered sites full of tents and camper trailers and a middle circle has thankfully been left empty so people can access their sites. There are some parts of the caravan park that look like a tent city but it's not too bad near us. Oh, by the way Boxing Day was my 50th birthday and it was spent just how I wanted - with no fuss, being in a new place, doing new things.

The nearest supermarket is about 10 kms away down in Woolgoolga. I took a trip to Woolgoolga the other day to buy a new front door step stool. We're higher up off the ground here than our last two spots. It's definitely a case of "watch that first step" as you get out of the caravan. Our little step stool which was only a cheapy, could only take one day of us both stepping on it before the top cracked. So I managed to have a good look around Woolgoolga before leaving but without a new step stool - they had been cleaned out by all the holiday makers. I ended up having to drive all the way back to Coffs Harbour to find one. But the one I found is great! It has a non-slip top and folds flat when it's not needed - perfect.

Anyway, that's lots to read for now. Have a look at the pictures opposite. We wish you all have a safe and happy New Year.