Living in a van I spend far more time outside, breathe far more fresh air and do daily 'step exercise' as I go in and out of the van oodles of times every day. I wander around more with a camera and really see my surroundings. I may not go to a gym for exercise but I certainly feel well. With a 52ltr fridge and no freezer I believe I eat better than I did when I had a huge pantry, a big fridge and another separate freezer. How could one person have had so much food storage? I manage well with staples of rice, pasta, tinned fish, sauces and spices and and veggies. Wherever I am I grow food. Sometimes not much but always enough. Even at the 'shack' near Armidale I have a little herb garden and have even harvested a couple of fair sized cucumbers there! Living the mindful life, as you must in such a small space, is good for the body and for mental wellbeing too. Peaceful, mindful, whittling seems to be good for my soul too - now that I have stopped cutting myself! I've taken the iMac down and now the space has more plants, also good for health and wellbeing, a mirror, so I can actually remember to comb my hair before I go out and a tidier 'bits and bobs' space. Change is good especially when it gives you a sense of space and beauty. If it doesn't look good.....change it 😊 Van spaces become ever changing art galleries and that has to be good. The spoons hanging in the window make a lovely sound in the breeze and deter flies too. I'm not the only one who likes my van. Jordan Osmond of 'Happen Films' did a little doco on me and my van at the last vandweller gathering in November. His filming and editing, not to mention his lovely friendly, unassuming self made this a very watchable video. Here it is. It seems that a whole heap of people, all over the world, like my little Mouse House and don't mind my 'non rehearsed', natural self either. As a result of a couple of the many comments on this film I have moved the fire extinguisher to a more accessible place and also drilled more holes in the cabinet where the fridge lives. Jordan's documentaries are fantastic and well worth watching. I'd watched many of them before I even met him or knew of him as a film maker. I met him as a fellow van dweller when a dozen of us went walking with our cameras at the last gathering. I spent 4 days and nights out at my little block recently and really enjoyed the silence and the cooler air. I sealed the gaps in La Shack and fixed up (a bit) a broken window.12 new trees got planted and I'm happy to say that there is plenty of water in the tank to water them. The drive out a few days before with Ali, her ute and some 'saved from the tip' timber was lovely. It gave me a chance to take a few photos as we drove. Click on any one to enlarge See the smoked trout sign? It got well and truly smoked as the fires went right through this area. Green has returned thanks to the lovely rains we've had recently. It was so beautiful when I awoke early one morning that I just had to wander around and film a bit to share with you. Here's a little film I made. Fortuitously, back in Dorrigo, when I went to see if I could get a replacement window for the shack from the demolition team dismantling the Service station, I was offered a whole wall of mahogany siding boards fo free. No window. 'Oooh yes', said I. 'You have to take them away by this afternoon', the big fella said. Ahhhh!!...it was already 2pm. I called Pie (he who helped me with the corrugated iron a few months prior). 'Meet me there', he said. I went straight there and he was already loading it onto his ute. Brilliant! Next day at 7am we left with a ute full of great timber for ‘La Shack'. There is enough to clad all the internal walls. I am very happy with that! Before I go today I would like to welcome the many new subscribers to this this little blog/story. Welcome one and all. I hope you enjoy the journey and maybe there are a few useful or amusing bits and pieces for you in here. Clare 🤗
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