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3 Kids, 2 Dogs and 1 Old House

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Currently – Campervan Edition

30 May 2018
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Although it’s basically freezing in Cape Town right now, things are heating up for us Alfinos.  We have a mere 32 days left before we have to have everything ready.  THIRTY TWO DAYS.  Do you know how quickly a month goes?  I can tell you it goes even quicker when you are frantically running around like a crazy person trying to wrap up a million loose ends.

That said we have been making significant progress in a lot of areas.  YAY!

So in case you aren’t following along on our Instagram stories (the place we seem to update the most on this journey – you can find me here and Seth here).  I thought I would catch you up with a quick currently post.

Currently – Campervan Edition

ITINERARY:

Aside from having officially booked our first stay at the De Bakke Santos camp and caravan site in Mossel Bay we have also added The Plantation in Port Elizabeth to our list.  Such a stunning venue I can’t wait to visit there and see what the area has to offer.  The last time we were there we didn’t really explore.  Honestly I didn’t think there was much to do (how’s that for Cape Townian ignorance?!) so I’m excited to see what can actually be done there!  We have a few stops in between there, hopefully Oudtshoorn, Groot Brak and Jeffrey’s Bay, but still sorting out places to stay in those great spots.

SCHOOLING:

We met with the girls school this past week and I’m really feeling keen for this part of the journey.  Homeschooling used to freak me out but I think we have so much support from the school and so many ideas to make it fun that  we are going to have the best time.  One of the best bits of parenting right now is chatting about stuff that they are learning about.  I’m stoked to be able to do this every day!

One of the mots exciting parts is how we’re going to tackle English.  A journal was the obvious answer right?  Being able to draw what you see, stick in slips and tickets and little mementos but also writing what you got up to on that day.  I kind of want something like this to happen for our journals.  This is one of my fave bloggers, I love how creative and on the ball she is with this kind of thing.  It’s going to be GREAT!!

this freaking ceiling

INTERIOR DESIGN:

Guys.  This freaking ceiling.  Y’all know the issues we’ve had, my gosh.  Our aim was to put up the patterned wall paper, then paint it black.  Which we did.  Except the wallpaper bubbles and then pulled off in SO many areas.  Then the vinyl type wall paper that was originally on the ceiling started peeling too!  But it was vas on that roof man, I was literally pulling centimetres pieces off at a time.

Then one day I went in on a hot day and it came off a lot easier.  So the trick is HEAT.  Armed with my trusty hairdryer I tackled that panel up there and managed to clear it with relative ease (and a crick in my neck).  But soon we will be able to paint!  I can’t wait.  It’s going to transform the space!  But other than that, we are still on track with the interior we chatted about here.

MOBILITY:

Sugen really worked his magic on fixing our van.  It’s still working like a dream and I’m feeling SO confident about heading out!  Which is totally NOT how I felt on our trip back to Cape Town from picking up the van in Kimberley.

HOUSE RENTAL:

This is a really tricky one.  We literally cannot leave without someone paying to live in our house.  There’s been a few interested parties but nothing has been sorted yet.  It has a knock on effect for a lot of things though because I’m too scared to book more accommodation in case we can’t leave.  But I keep having to tell myself that this is Cape Town, people are crazy disorganised here.  Even though it would literally drive me nuts not knowing where I’m going to live next month, there are so many people that work on this last minute situation.  Which we do, but like, not with really big things like this.  Although I guess when you look at the itinerary that I haven’t planned, maybe I’m just talking crap all round.

INTERIOR RENOVATIONS:

That picture up there was about a month ago.  And we even removed more (all the wood you can see in the middle and on the right).  Stripping it down to the real base line.  We’ve spent many days and nights, measuring, discussing and cutting all the boards that we need to fit to make the campervan functional.

We are lifting up the bed area so that we have extra storage there.  It might look a little weird at the very end of the day (just spatially) but we NEED storage so we’re happy to make that sacrifice.  We have been using a variation of thicknesses to keep the structure sturdy but light.  We’re pretty chuffed with the results so far (it’s not nailed in yet, but we want to finish all the design and paint before we do that).

Whatcha think?  Pretty cool hey!  I’m loving the colour of the wood too, it fits so nicely into the rest of the design.

See the height of how much storage we get? Can’t miss out on that!

DOGS:

We have been contacted by a couple who are keen to look after our dogs!  YAY!  We will all meet this Sunday to see that everyone gets on and then hopefully it will be all good things ahead.  Such a relief guys, I can’t even tell you.  It will obvs be even more of a relief if it actually works out!

PACKING:

Now that we have had our massive going away/ birthday party we can get going on the packing.  All the packing.  SO much packing!!  Everyone keeps asking if we are renting furnished and what’s happening to our stuff.  Well, we’re storing whatever our tenants don’t need with StoreSmart.  We visited the site and I’m feeling so happy that it will be so well looked after while we are away.  Worrying about the things we’re leaving behind is not something I need to add to my list of things to stress about!!

OVERALL OPTIMISM:

Look, we’re stressed as all heck.  We have very little craps to give about anything right now.  I can’t even with social media or like, anything right now.  It just is how it is and I think that is OK.  Right now our priorities are getting a tenant, finishing Optimus, sorting out the last odds and ends (like passports) and trying to see all our beloved friends and family before we go.

BUT despite all the stress and what not, there are a few things that keep me going.

  1. The image of waking up on cold crisp mornings to a new view or experience almost every day.
  2. Getting to see the parts of our country that we would NEVER have seen otherwise.
  3. Spending time with Seth every day, and obvs the kids too.

Currently – Campervan Edition was last modified: May 30th, 2018 by 321Blog
AlfinosAlfreenoscampervanOptimus the campervanvan life
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7 comments

Carla M VD Westhuizen 30 May 2018 at 12:55 PM

So excited for you guys!! About PE… just up the road from Plantation (STUNNNNNNING!!) is an awesome restaurant called The Grass Roof Cafe.. we love going there! Then head towards Seaview (to visit Megan) and go to Barnacles! It is a lovely homey restaurant that overlooks the ocean. The best beach around there is Maitland. It goes on for miles! You could spend a night at Van Stadens River Mouth caravan site too. Swimming in the river mouth is awesome (although it will be kak cold) xx

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321Blog 31 May 2018 at 10:01 AM

This is awesome!!! Thank you, thank you, thank you!! We will make sure to pop into those restaurants!! I love personal recommendations of places to see. Thank you!

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Nikki Lincoln 30 May 2018 at 1:14 PM

It’s going to be amazing! The schooling part would excite me most. Just getting to be present for that much of their development where you would normally be sitting behind a desk and working while their minds expand with knowledge. So cool! The house thing will sort itself out I’m sure. You guys have a great house and I’m honestly surprised it hasn’t been snapped up yet. I have said this before, but I am SO invested in this journey of yours. You are inspiring me more than you know.

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321Blog 31 May 2018 at 10:02 AM

Nix you have such a way to describe what’s going on in my head! What you said about their schooling is exactly what I was feeling but unable to articulate! On the house note it might be because we’re asking a bit for it, but I’m sure it’s going to work itself out.

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Lalannie Knoll 30 May 2018 at 6:08 PM

All the best with your last stretch. You and Seth are so brave and it will be totally worth it. I’m so excited for your adventure.
I left SA in March this year after resigning in February to teach in China. After months of ‘getting ready’, the last 30 days went by so quickly. I didn’t get to do half the things I intended but I still left 1 March. And nearly 3 months down, I can honestly say ‘what an adventure!’

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321Blog 31 May 2018 at 10:13 AM

That sounds SO exciting, but I hear you, we want to do so much but the reality is just that it’s not going to happen. But that’s OK. Adventure awaits!

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Currently - Campervan Edition - 15 DAYS - 3 Kids, 2 Dogs and 1 Old House 15 June 2018 at 11:42 AM

[…] down the road to being ready.  Which is pretty good news in my book.  In the last two weeks since my last update we have been kicking butt and taking names.  Or more literally, building storage and packing […]

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After living a very normal suburban life we packed up everything to live in a VW van for a year as a family of 5. Now that we have traveled our beautiful country we are back to normal but trying to remember what it was like to live with less, spend time in nature and build on our family bonds. Join us on the journey.

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