In classical literature, Act 5 or the Catastrophe, is where all the building tension and effects occur. Mummy and Daddy were reflexing on the drive today, that these things usually happen at the start of the family holidays. For example.

2018: Day 1: it’s been a long day. A nail in a tyre on the way to the airport slowed us down, then the kids left their bottles in the car, requiring my longest fastest run in over a year, Kelsie spilt maple syrup all over her self, Ethan’s water bottle became a fountain on the plane, it started raining cats and dogs just as we got off the plane, the baggage carousel broke down, our shuttle driver was a conspiracy nut, and then our room wasn’t ready.

2018(2): Kelsie Unwell, spew on the Monash, Jetstar check-in debacle, inflight entertainment and water (fountain) bottle, milkshake on the floor.

2019: Work Issues, Westgate freeway breakdowns and roadworks. Backseat drivers. Are we there yet, I want to go faster.

2019(2): Toys, Toys, Toys, are we there yet? are we there yet? are we there yet? 41 degrees.

2020: 235days of COVID Isolation Holiday, need we say more.

2021: Circuit Breaker, Swabs, ED. Toast in the couch.

2022: Annoyed passengers, beginning of the Ethan’isms.

2022(2): “I’m Bored”, forgotten lip gloss, Floods, road damage, no accommodation, On the Road to Gundagai. Kelsie – What’s this rubbish!

2023: Roadworks, travel sickness, flooding, hotdog related meltdowns, forgotten water bottles, scarcity of personal space. Intermittent fasting.

And while not as epic as holidays past, this year’s holiday will not go quietly.

Last week Mum and Dad learned that our usual digs in Echuca had been sold to new proprietors, who had gone hard on reopening the wine and tapas bar. Great for business it seems, but suddenly the family friendly private pool area is the water feature in the alfresco public drinking area. Needless to say, new accommodation was quickly sourced.

Blue Bay cheese sold out of the only vintage cheddar cheese with chili that Mummy was pining. for.

No Small goods at the Dingley Market.

Kelsie wanted face painting before a 3-hour drive, thankfully Daddy talked her down. Note: Had to promise face painting at a future dated market.

Random apple maps diversion around Heathcote, so no bakery visit this trip.

Grey Nomads.

Ethan’ism, “Baldless Tree”, Mummy: “I spy something beginning with C” Ethan: “California”.

Ethan locked himself in the toilet.

Bugs in the pool.

Ethan neatly folding his wet bathers and placing them in the middle of his dry clothes.

Ethan not happy with dinner options.

Gypsy bar closed!

While not directly impacting us, the traffic management for the Echuca Tri club sprint bike leg, was sleeping on the job and about a dozen riders missed their turn off before organisers started directing traffic.

Mums first taste of a ‘Milk Dud’ looked… there’s no nice way to write this. Like a pile of wombat shit.

It wasn’t all doom and gloom though. Highlights for the day included fantastic new accommodation, including off-street parking (a first), spacious rooms, private courtyard, sheltered but sunny pool. Tips from friendly locals for things to do. Passing friendly Dingley’ites on the road from Rutherglen. Ethan and Kelsie randomly playing a game of spot-it before going down the street.

See you tomorrow readers.