So, what’s going on?

Glad you asked. It’s been an interesting week, to say the very least. Right at this minute I’m listening to ridiculously happy 80s pop music to condition my brain to be hap-hap-happy. The tension in our house is palpable. Actually it not even palpable, it’s probably truer to say it has taken on a body of its own and is currently running around bashing everyone with a rolling pin. Sometimes I punch it back… other times I just let it beat me.

So yeah, if you haven’t been playing along at home for the last month. Let me bring you up to speed. We got a notice to vacate our home about 4 weeks ago, we’ve spent every waking minute of the last 4 weeks house hunting, we’ve applied for maybe 15 or more homes. I don’t know, I’ve lost count. We’ve been unsuccessful on most of them, others have just had a change of plans and the house isn’t available until the new year, the rest are just friggin rude and don’t bother to return phone calls.

Rick got excited about a job opportunity which was based in Brisbane, but he was happy to commute each day. He went through a long and tedious application process, multiple interviews and finally after weeks was told that he had the job, and a letter of offer (pay, conditions etc) would follow shortly. Elation… many, many, many tears of relief. We now had that leverage to be able to say we had a job, and a well paying job at that. Now we should be able to get a house without looking like dole bludgers. Which I should point out, we have both worked for 50 years between us and never been unemployed for a day.

We really felt like we were getting somewhere last week when we put in 5 applications on Friday. I had a good feeling and I was pretty sure we would have a house by Tuesday. And we did. Elation…many, many, many tears of relief from both me and Rick. I had no idea where I was going to put anything in that house, except the Christmas tree. In fact, I almost had that tree in the back of my car ready to set up before we even organised the truck to move our stuff.

So we got the call Tuesday, “yes you’ve been successful, your application has been approved, we just need two weeks rent in advance”. No problem. I went and withdrew the rent from the bank, drove to Maroochydore and was literally sitting across the road from the real estate agent ready to sign the lease when they rang my mobile and said “I’m sorry, there’s been an error. You should never have been offered this property… we apologise for any inconvenience”.

What?

The business that had offered Rick a job failed to provide a letter to prove that he had in fact been offered a job, because … I don’t even know why. Rick spoke to them, they assured him he did have a job but still didn’t have the details of his alleged position available and as such, they couldn’t provide written verification that he actually has a job.

So, as it stands there’s no house, there’s no job, there’s no Christmas and there’s no fucking Christmas tree.

We are supposed to go to court on Wednesday to be ordered out of our house, at 2pm. I’ve put my faith in the Australian judicial system before and it has failed me every time. I don’t have a lot left, but regardless of all I do still have my pride and I won’t have it taken by anyone.

We will pack up all our stuff & move it into storage, and we will go – before Wednesday and on our own terms, not by some court ordered eviction. You got your Christmas wish Remax to make a family with 9 kids homeless for Christmas. I know you read this, because you’re addicted to drama and you have to know what I’m saying about you. So “Merry Christmas, may the universe provide you everything you deserve, and may every action you take be rewarded as the earth sees fit”.

So, now what? (Sorry Bern, I know that’s your blog). Well first, Asho is playing cricket on a first grade ground under lights tonight and I’m going to go and watch the amazing young man that I raised stick it up whoever he might happen to be playing against. And that, my friends, is what it’s all about. It’s about family. It’s about the fact that no matter what the universe serves you, or no matter how many times someone kicks you in the guts when you’re on the ground, I will ALWAYS have someone to pick me up. Cause I have family. Elation … many, many, many tears of relief and pride.

Now Hamish & Andy came up with the concept of the Caravan of Courage… but did you trade mark it? Probably not… and if you did, then sue me. I’ll give you the address of my storage and you can take whatever I have left. And really, how much “courage” did it really take? You had everything paid for by sponsors and you do get a tidy wage each week. I’d go so far as to say, your Caravan of Courage was a fraud. But great listening so keep it up LOL

So we’re off on an all-star caravan/camping adventure. We have nothing, we have no real idea where we are going, or where the camping gear is going to come from. If you have a caravan you want to lend us with an annex then we can pay a very meager weekly fee. We got theme park passes for all the kids with the prize they won for the video competition, so it looks like somewhere near the Gold Coast for a few weeks.

We have homes for the chickens, and I think we can arrange a pet sitter for dog & cat. If anyone has a shed on a block with power we can run a cord from, and doesn’t mind us pitching some tents, let me know.

There are families in Indonesia who have never known the stability of a roof over their heads, running water or electricity. This is a country that is closer to travel to from my home than it is for me to reach some places within Australia. Children are being born every day in alleyways and in public toilets. If you think I’m about to start feeling sorry for myself, then you’re sorely mistaken. This Christmas 1.8 million Indonesian children will spend the day alone, without a home, without a family. If I have to go camping in order to one day try to save some of them, then that’s a small price to pay.