An update on the life of Antipodean Andy

Antipodean Andy · 13-08-2008, 04:11 AM

Well, I'm back again. Not sure how long for this time but it will depend on work and life of course. This disappearing for a couple of weeks at a time can be refreshing but you sure miss chatting with good people. Wish I could get paid for each post I do, that'd be way more fun. LOL.

Anyhoo, an update rather than just rambling. My magazine is starting to pick up readership-wise. A couple of weekends ago, my father-in-law and I did the 11 hour trek up to Dubbo, New South Wales for an old truck show weekend. Excellent fun and great cameraderie - we'll be taking a truck next year probably the 1968 Bedford TK we've just bought. This truck lives on the property we're hoping to settle on next week and what will be our new home. It's 4.3 acres - house, sheds, paddocks - in a lovely setting with birds calling all around, wonderful and peaceful and hopefully we'll enjoy living there. We will add to the house eventually but that's a couple of years down the track as, right now, we're pretty stretched. Because of this, we're selling our two little cottages so we only have the one mortgage. So, you'd think we'd be flush with cash in the near future and Andy can begin to buy books again (depsite not having made much of a dent in the to read pile).

Well, we've just bought the majority of a new car for Jodi's youngest sister. Why? Well, she wrote her old car off about a fortnight ago...with Jodi in the passneger's seat. They were t-boned at speed at night in the wet. Very lucky as the car hit just behind the driver's seat so both escaped with just some bruises etc. A bit further forward and, to be honest, Jodi's sister would have been lucky to survive. As it was, we spent most of the night in hospital getting tests done etc. Jodi returned to work late last week and her sister went back this Monday just gone. They were both very lucky and I am incredibly grateful that they are still with us and, importantly, that I still have my wife! We've loaned the money because we did not want to see Jodi's sister driving a piece of crap.

Speaking of additions to the family we now have two dogs. Monty the mad poodle now has an equally crazy sister (he is her brother from another mother) in the form of Milly, a little jet-black toy poodle who we believe to be part-poodle, part-pirahna at the moment. She's very cute and has some attitude to the extent she was chasing Monty last night (at 5.5 kg he outwieghs her by 5:1!). Always fun though trying to sell a house while house-training a puppy!

Work is going well. A bit slow here and there but we're pushing on an making progress. I also have to finish a couple of books in order to read another one so I can write a review for Steve Darlow. Better get my act together there!

Other than that, all go here! Hope everyone is well and I look forward to hearing your latest.

Kitty · 13-08-2008, 07:46 PM

Andy please pass my best wishes on to Jodi and her sister, and let them know if they want anyone killed Ill do it for a six pack of Diet pepsi. Am so glad to hear they are OK.

Another poodle? Pfft, i want a Doodle. Or a Cockerpoo.

Do we get to see some photos of this place you've bought? It sounds absolutely wonderful.

Antipodean Andy · 13-08-2008, 11:10 PM

Quote:

i want a Doodle

Thanks Kitty for your wishes. Once we get sorted, I'll get to work on some photos when the sun is shining.

CTNana · 13-08-2008, 11:35 PM

Hey we thought the sun always shone down there!!!!

Antipodean Andy · 13-08-2008, 11:51 PM

It does, it just gets covered in clouds quite often in Victoria. I thought the saying in Melbourne "If you don't like the weather, wait five minutes" was just a line...but it is quite near the truth. Four seasons in one day! Certainly makes it interesting. Good thing my pants legs are held together by velcro for quick removal...

Ferhilt · 14-08-2008, 12:14 AM

Good luck in the selling/buying/moving process andy. Best wishes to Jodi and her sister as well, I still get sore from time to time going back to my 2 accidents and they weren't terribly rough.