'Our Postcards From the Goldfields 2025' has had rather an inauspicious start. We had Lily, our Colorado, serviced in preparation by a Mitsubishi mob the week before we left. They claimed to have experience with Holden vehicles as well; in hindsight we find that very hard to believe. As part of the handback, they ascertained we needed to have a bracket welded as a matter of priority. They also cast doubts on one component of our turbo charger, wanting us to part with nine hundred dollars for a replacement. We declined.
Anyway, we let our fingers do the walking (through Google) and came across Merredin Carr Care who offered to fix the bracket on Monday just gone. This solution seemed to be straight forward and as we were already going to be staying in Merredin, most convenient.
Merredin Caravan Park was very well appointed, but extremely noisy. Two nights there was close to trying a saint's patience, with both road and railway pounding all day and night. So, with some relief, we packed up miraculously early on Monday morning and delivered ourselves, the caravan, and the car (with the crate on the roof) on time at eight o'clock.
And that's when our carefully laid plans went pear-shaped. Merredin Carr Care were very impressive and knew what they were doing. Once up on their hoist, they could find no issue with the turbo, but major problems with the troublesome bracket and the catalytic converter (I thought it was a Catholic converter...)
This repair was quoted at costing us more than we ever have just lying around, travelling or otherwise. Our income does not offer us the luxury of savings and the combination of new tyres and the unsatisfactory car service had also emptied our rates account. We were skint.
Taking a deep breath, we racked our brains for somebody who could help us financially, very quickly. I particularly dislike asking for monetary assistance, however the limitations of our income mean that sometimes, I have to swallow my pride and do just that.
So, I contacted the one person I believed I could always rely on, who would listen without judgement and be able to aid us in what was, a pretty awful predicament. I was unable to leave a phone voicemail and had to resort to Facebook messenger to explain the dilemma..
The response back was entirely out of left field. I was lectured for travelling without money for this sort of scenario (as if this was ever possible on our income) and interrogated about how we were going to pay for food and fuel, which was entirely irrelevant. I realised that trying to explain our totally different financial circumstances was a fool's errand.
I could feel my self esteem shattering during this conversation. I exited the phone-call as quickly as possible, apologising for any disturbance I might have caused. Then I fell apart, with just Michael trying to pick up the pieces of me scattered all over the front passenger seat of our car.
The worst part of this whole affair was that belief, love and trust, all of which are intrinsically entwined, once broken, can never be the same again. I am so sad that this has come to pass.
Fortunately, we managed to secure the funds for the repair from Michael's brother on a temporary loan.We are incredibly grateful to him. This means our desperately longed-for break in our dinky little caravan and Michael's wish to celebrate his 70th birthday in the remote beauty of the northern Goldfields can actually continue. In a glorious blip called Sandstone that doesn't even have a pub. A chance to stop, unwind, rest, recuperate, and fossick (just for the joy).
Which is impossible to explain to those who can't understand...
Me and the love of my life, with whom I have unconditional belief and trust.
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