New phone was a problem to set up the recorded message inbox 101 has cost me already $12 before I have made a phone call. All good now but will have the service discontinued  will need to go online to explore more options. Now that the smart phone is no longer in use I have decided to buy a Garmin GPS, not that I use GPS much but it is handy in towns and the Camps 7 can be downloaded on to it.

Garmin nüvi 2597LMT       http://thewirecutter.com/reviews/best-car-gps/

Not so easy to get rid of the voicemail had to talk to a customer representative on the talk line, easy for him but needs to be done manually. The service is set up automatically and it costs to access when all I need is a missed call to alert me. Just another way for Telstra to separate us from our money and make it hard to reverse so we go along with it.

I have just met an inpiration, Fred, he is a solo traveller and he will be 90 in a couple of months. He has a home base in rural NSW and travels most of the year in his Hi Ace pop top van. He called in to Greens for an overnight stop over enroute to visit some cousins and then off to Canberra where he has a son and daughter. He lives in Gosford in the same house for over 55 years spending less and less time there. He moves along much the same as I did when starting off on my trip around Aus. rarely staying more than a night in one place.

He had had the most interesting travelling life, driving up to Cairns in the late 40's and round the Tablelands then down through the Lynd to Hughenden in an old Studebaker. I didn't make that trip earlier this year when the roads would have been excellent compared with the conditions then. He has had his Hi Ace for 17 years and a caravan for 30 years previously. Driven the Strezleki Track, Tanami Track, and visited Birdsville, done the Mt Isa to Alice 25 years ago. A legend and my own aspirations have been extended after talking to Fred. No wish to go off road but another 12 years on the road would be nice.

Another quiet day with little to do so I defrosted the fridge and cleaned it out. We have had some arrivals today, Plendo (David), Barina (Judy), SnowT (Jeurgen) and Spida (Vida). We had a combined happy hour in front of Plendo's van and very well attended it was too.

Monday and I was fortunate to be taken to Shepparton, David decided to go and asked me to go along  together with Denis and Yvonne. I was able to collect the new antenna as well as visit SPC and follow up shopping at Aldi in Maroopna, all up a successful expedition. After getting the food purchases put away I opened the antenna and asked Jeurgen to help me get it set up.

The suction caps are not very effective and pulled away letting the antenna  fall to the ground, not impressed with them. Not impressed with the magnetic holders either 'cos they are not a snug fit allowing the antenna slide sideways, I have bent them into a better shape but expect to find some rubber to tuck into the gaps. Now have both systems in place plus several occy straps wrapped round the pole.

The main thing is that the antenna works very well, getting maximum bars on the internet an improvement to the other one. The biggest improvement came from the mobile phone when I inserted the patch lead and connected the antenna it went fro 1 bar to 5. It was bought to make the internet and phone accessible from more remote areas so I will see later how that works.

Took the antenna down, no use risking it in the wind that comes suddenly at Greens, the small magnetic antenna works well here whilst parked up in the tree line. Judy left us today having to return home for work duties. Kevin and Kim arrived today, the last time I saw them was in Cairns when Kev checked out my carby and detected the float problem, happy hour at Billeee and Julie's place again well attended.

Set off in good time for Frankston. have been invited to Chris and Paula's place for Xmas with Billeee and Jules. We have left our homes at Greens travelling down in Jules towed car, had an easy trip down but the traffic built up once near Melbourne. Great to catch up again, I lived with Chris and Paula whilst getting the coaster registered in March and April last year.

Christmas Day and we have had an excellent time, good social chit chat and lots of food, Derek and Shannae, Paula's brother and partner rocked up during the morning. Paula outdid herself with the food preparation and serving. We left Greens Xmas in good hands and all went off very well, looking at Sally's Facebook the pics indicated a good time was had by all.