Getting away from it all? It's really quite the opposite, when you go
camping or camper-ing even in a caravan park.
After going to Mulwala I made some improvements to my packing
strategy. They were successful so I'll share them. I packed our
clothes in those cheap plastic zipper bags. It prevents traditional
luggage getting filthy in the annexe, space is at too high a premium
in the camper to store a weeks worth of clothes.
Within them, I packed the kids outfits in ziplock style bags and
spares, pjs, jackets etc in calico shopping bags. I packed my gear
into catergories into calico bags. This made finding what I needed a
whole lot easier in the crowded space. Steve had his mismash cause he
scoffs at my "Tupperware" lifestyle! Plus he cares less which goes
with what.
All dirty laundry went into one of the plastic bags that carried
bedding up.
For our hygeine needs I got some nylon baskets from ikea and used an
inexpensive S hook in the shower. I hate trying to get into a toiletry
bag all dripping wet, put stuff in it damp etc. These worked a treat.
I stored them in a plastic basket in a camper cupboard with our
medicines and stuff we didn't need to take to the shower block.
We fell into disarray when it came to our towels and bathers. We swam
the first four days, and while I can keep a towel relatively clean to
dry and reuse, it's a near impossibility for a child. You need
somewhere to dry them and somewhere to store them when they aren't
clean or dirty. Next time only cape/hood style for kids. And it's
probably worth bringing more than I did, and storing some in the car
perhaps.
I also need to give more thought to the food prep/storage. On a last
minute whim steve bought a fridge and microwave. The microwave got
used to make bad instant coffee and to cook a chook in a bag (was
excellent, can recommend). I think for us, a toaster would be a good
call as an addition. Me and Owen are early risers and if I can prepare
breakfast for us in the annexe that's nicer for everyone. I am also
scared of the camper cooking stuff, so I only had toast once. I think
repetition is the key, variety only for dinner. Prepackaged snacks a
must, we all seem to dig tiny teddies and dippity bix on hols! No left
overs on hols, chuck it as the space is more important (beer and diet
coke take precedence lol).
A lot of our creature comforts are the result of steve doing/having
boy stuff like cables and light fixtures and outlets etc.
Then there are the extras, stuff that turns existing in rather
downgraded digs into a holiday. The outright toys - beach toys,
electronics, books, bikes, etc. We took probably twice as much as we
used. I was judicious for myself, and in the end, the extras didn't
cause too much grief so no harm.
The last catergory is the most troublesome. I can see it is where you
can sink a lot of $ trying to make a "simple" holiday more pleasant.
Like we ended up buying a shade/fly tent as we were not positioned
well and obviously prefered to be outside the camper as much as
possible. It was only $50 but there are a lot of ways to only spend
$50 that mean you could have stayed in a cabin or hotel somewhere else!
I was a bit taken aback by the elaborate set ups people seemed to have
for small kids. But I shortly saw the wisdom in it, should it let the
parents do what they rightly deserve on their holiday to do - relax!
Luckily for us, the grass was a very effective baby jail, and he
stayed in the annexe or on the rug. Next year, a baby playpen outside
the annexe may be necessary!
I did take some big baby gear tho, the obligatory ikea highchair, it's
extremely portable and was very useful. And my darling esmerelda
(mountain buggy urban) with her various covers. I cannot sing her baby
sitting praises high enough. She was a trooper on the sand and it was
quite a natural high to feed or walk him to sleep and leave him
comfortably sleep for ages on the beach, protected from sun and
insects. Given that I vowed to have a decent walking stroller pushing
3y9m Audrey 12kms along the Esplanade from Portarlington to St
Leonards 3 years ago, it was quite the triumph to have it work out so
well.
We are kind of at the crossroads where we decide if we ditch borrowing
the camper again and opt for cabins only in the future. Unfortunately
indented head has none and I enjoy my sil's company. Another option
would be buying a bigger camper and kitting out well. But it's a lot
of money and a lot of work compared to other options. I think I prefer
a bit more of an easier time guranteed, cause the balance of effort vs
return dived when the heavens rained down. Then again, it is a
learning curve, and Owen will be older next time.
It kind of tied into thoughts that have been floating in my mind about the differences I have felt in bonding with Owen and Audrey and crystalised something for me. Like others report, I don't feel guilty or upset per se, in many ways I deel detached from my observations. The largest emotional feeling I can put to it is "crap". Like it would have just been easier to have the same rush of mother love for both of them and not have to dwell at all. 
The point it, that in the last few weeks Owen has been unfurling his little toddler personality, and I am so enamoured with it, and it's happening pretty much precisely at the time that Audrey began to unfurl hers, and our relationship started to get complicated where before it was simple.
