Wednesday, 8th February, BlazeAid Camp, LOCKINGTON, Vic. 15°-31°C.
We have run on a fairly steady 15 workers or so for the past week. Two ladies in their 70’s arrived yesterday to fence. They are camping in a tent, making me feel like the geriatric in my comfy van!
Two men have arrived and two have left, including Joe, the camp handyman. With lung disease, he can no longer go fencing but can fix anything. He checks the trailers, sharpens chainsaws and fixes tools. He attaches new struts to lift someone’s van bed. He welds new stabiliser legs onto a caravan this morning, yet he feels he’s being a burden now that the tool work is done. He and his delightful kelpie, Kelepie will be missed. We are down to just Gus, a big goofie hound who’s loud bark is very reassuring for security.
Les is not going anywhere though. He is another who travels from camp to camp. His wife is in a retirement village. He wanted none of that after a long life of farming and bought himself a caravan instead. He goes ‘home’ about four times a year and explores Australia in between, notwithstanding that he’s beaten cancer twice and is aged 83.
He is, of course, the best fencer in the camp, has a wicked twinkle in his eye and loves everything we cook.
Foodshare’s delivery yesterday was a little sparse this week. Mixed fruit, a gazillion cos lettuces, packet spaghetti and towels! Last night’s spaghetti bolognaise was far too much and I reimagined the leftovers with masses of cheese for a RecipeTin Eats Pasta Bake.*
Tonight we are using more of the donated chicken pieces for a roast dinner and repeating the creamed rice with peaches. It was a surprise winner with this demographic last week. In fact, I think after two weeks here, I could probably put together a rotating fortnightly menu of favourites starting with roast chicken.
How good are roasts?!
* https://www.recipetineats.com/baked-spaghetti/
2025-02-11