Victors.

Ooops.

Welcome to my February Update but first, a U turn is required back to the start of said month, then sit back with a cold drink or cuppa and read away, if ya game :)

The month started warm, yes warm, not hot but warm, mid to high 30c. At least that's better than mid to high 40's. The weather continued through the month with not much change and no rain to speak about. The month also started with a visitor arriving. Gwynnie called in to say hi, we had never actually met face to face but speak a lot by email and occasional phone call. I spose in the old days we would be called pen pals. We both cant say we have never met face to face now. Gwynnie set up just over the driveway from me and during her stay we managed to solve all the worlds problems and even had a lovely meal at the local pub. It was great to finally meet her and I'm sure we will both keep in touch as we travel around the playground. Thanks, Gwynnie for going to the trouble of calling in to say hi.

Early in the month I went for one of my drives over to Eldorado, about 30 mins east of Wangaratta and about 30 mins west of Beechworth. I had heard about a large Bucket Gold Dredge (Co cks Dredge) from years gone by so went to have a peak. This was the largest Bucket Gold Dredge built in Victoria in 1936 and in the southern hemisphere at the time and measured 100mts long and weighed in at 2142 tonnes. BIG. It was decommissioned in August 1954. It was electric powered and each bucket held 3.6 cubic metres, also BIG. It provided many jobs to locals in its 18 years of operation. Its good to see something with that history still there for generations to see.

From there I headed to Beechworth but decided to go over the mountain and not the easy way around and on the black stuff. I needed to put the Collie in 4x4 on a couple of occasions and even came a cross a tree across the track. Luckily another 4x4 came the other way and had a chain saw. That fired up and the tree was removed enough to keep going. I arrived in Beechworth and had a quick look around and lunch at the famous Beechworth Bakery then back to the Aluminium Tent via the black stuff road this time after a nice few hours spent but had had enough by then.

Ooops! The 16^th arrived and was a warmish night so around 10.00pm decided to take a warm milk and Manuka Honey and sit outside and drink it before bed as I have found it helps me get to sleep these days. I was going out the door and noticed bugs everywhere so gave a quick spray then in my wisdom turned the light out and as I started down the step misplaced my foot and down, I went like a ton of bricks. I hit the metal arm of my chair in the right side of my chest and right shin on the step. Winded, I laid there not even able to call out for help. After about 10 mins I was able to move although only just and with a lot of pain so managed to get in the van when I notice blood on my right shin, bugga damage down there as well.

I managed to get through the night but in a lot of pain, until around 1.00pm the next day when it all got too much and called an Ambulance. Off I went to Wangaratta Hospital and stayed there for 4 days on oxygen, with two broken ribs and a small puncture in the right lung. Also, and as well even and no pain was a big gash on the right shin.

What can I say about my stay? Well without going into detail here it was s..t. I was actually kicked out on the fourth day without a listed Xray, blood test and Physio visit not done. I also will not go into detail here. My family and close friends know about it though. So, here I am back at the Aluminium Tent still in pain and stranded for a little longer. I finally have that specialist appointment on the 6/3 and hope my silly set back doesn't hold that up. Time will tell. I have put arrangements in place to get to Canberra for the appointment so hope all goes well.

The rest of the month was spent recovering and unable to pack up and leave as planned but that will take place hopefully soon. I will add here that the manager of the park I am staying at has gone well beyond her duties and helped me heaps, she has checked up on me every day and was the person who picked me up from hospital and took me back the Aluminium Tent. She also took me to a couple of appointments to get the leg attended too by a local nurse. Thankyou Kylee. More on the park and management in the next update after I have left.

The end of the month arrived and another visitor arrived to stay a couple of nights. My good friend John, known to many as Rocky. John is a fellow Grey Nomad and was in Sale, East VIC heading to see his brother in Ararat, West VIC and decided to take a detour and visit me. Mmmm, not a little detour mate but one I really appreciate. It is always good to catch up with John as we tend to solve the countries problems with our long chats. A very big thankyou Rocky.

So, that was my February, not the best month I have had I spose but could be a lot worse and not all months can be good I spose. With all that said it brings this update to an end, so until next time, take care everyone. I will try extra hard now knowing what it is like to fall out a caravan door and not step out.

Some pics below as usual

DOUG