issue from pots hung over the flames. Colours are vibrant against the stark brown of the baked earth; it looks to be a cheerful place from a distance. It’s only when you get closer and see the fear on the faces of the adults that you realize that this is not a holiday park, this is something quite different. The younger children race between the tents, calling and laughing and seem to lift the mood of the place.
We make our way over to the place where the bright red of the Fire Truck stands sentry and after a few words with Sandra and hugs for the children head off to sleep for a couple of hours. There is much to be done, done quickly and sleep is a luxury that is caught in small snatches. It is finally time to take our boots off and rest for a while.
Two hours race by in sleep; I am not even sure that I closed my eyes. Even the noise of the children playing around the tents has not penetrated my dreamless sleep. Exhaustion must have taken over. Sandra has come into the tent to wake me and the smell of coffee drifts from the steaming mug in her hand.
“I managed to get some fresh milk this morning; one of the families has a few cows that they have brought in and they are hand milking them. We are sharing the milk between all of us. We don’t get much, but what we get will help with the children.” She smiles as she says this.
“Oh coffee, thank you so much, just the pick me up I need.” I reply, taking the hot mug from her hand and sipping as if my life depends on it. “Did a bus run over me while I was asleep?’ I ask as I struggle from the ground, my body aching as I stand.
“Not that I saw, but I feel like that too, I think it’s from sleeping on the ground. Our bodies are not used to it yet.” Sandra laughs.
“At 36 I shouldn’ t feel like I am 96!” I laugh with Sandra. It feels so good to have something to laugh about. Sandra nods her head and leaves the tent still giggling as she takes Krystal her coffee.
I stretch my aching back and hang onto the coffee mug, sipping it slowly and savouring the smell and taste. Coffee and tea are just two of the things that are going to be difficult to give up when they run out. I do love my coffee and a day is not right unless I’ve had at least one when I wake up. I sigh as I think about the deprivation of my favourite beverage. I resolve then and there to round up every last grain of coffee and every last tea leaf to go with us. Milo and hot chocolate will be for the children too. We need to make sure that there are some treats for all of us.
I push my aching feet into my boots, dust down my jeans and throw the tattered shirt towards the pile of washing accumulating in a corner of the tent. It is more than warm enough for the singlet top I am wearing, so I put my Akubra hat on my head and walk out of the tent to face the day.
Clothes, coffee, tea, hot chocolate and milo, this mantra runs through my head as I walk across the grass towards the fire. Rhys is there, his dark head resting against the downy softness of Caren’s head and a gentle faraway look in his deep brown eyes. He hears me coming and looks up smiling as I approach. “Good Morning Jenn, did you sleep well mate?” he asks as I walk up and sit on a log on the ground beside him.
“What little I’ve had was good; I was out like a light as soon as I lay down.” I said as I made myself comfortable on the log and touch Caren gently. “Good morning little smiley.” I say as her tiny face lights up when she spots me.
“I have had a couple of thoughts for your supplies lists Rhys.” I mention.
“Go ahead Jenn. Bet I’ve thought of them though.” Rhys says as he pulls out some paper and places Caren in my lap.
“Okay, this is what I’ve come up with so far.” I start. “We are going to need clothes for everyone, not just summer clothes, but winter one’s too. Who knows what we will find when we get to the coast. We will also need plenty of blankets too. Warmth will be a problem with
We make our way over to the place where the bright red of the Fire Truck stands sentry and after a few words with Sandra and hugs for the children head off to sleep for a couple of hours. There is much to be done, done quickly and sleep is a luxury that is caught in small snatches. It is finally time to take our boots off and rest for a while.
Two hours race by in sleep; I am not even sure that I closed my eyes. Even the noise of the children playing around the tents has not penetrated my dreamless sleep. Exhaustion must have taken over. Sandra has come into the tent to wake me and the smell of coffee drifts from the steaming mug in her hand.
“I managed to get some fresh milk this morning; one of the families has a few cows that they have brought in and they are hand milking them. We are sharing the milk between all of us. We don’t get much, but what we get will help with the children.” She smiles as she says this.
“Oh coffee, thank you so much, just the pick me up I need.” I reply, taking the hot mug from her hand and sipping as if my life depends on it. “Did a bus run over me while I was asleep?’ I ask as I struggle from the ground, my body aching as I stand.
“Not that I saw, but I feel like that too, I think it’s from sleeping on the ground. Our bodies are not used to it yet.” Sandra laughs.
“At 36 I shouldn’ t feel like I am 96!” I laugh with Sandra. It feels so good to have something to laugh about. Sandra nods her head and leaves the tent still giggling as she takes Krystal her coffee.
I stretch my aching back and hang onto the coffee mug, sipping it slowly and savouring the smell and taste. Coffee and tea are just two of the things that are going to be difficult to give up when they run out. I do love my coffee and a day is not right unless I’ve had at least one when I wake up. I sigh as I think about the deprivation of my favourite beverage. I resolve then and there to round up every last grain of coffee and every last tea leaf to go with us. Milo and hot chocolate will be for the children too. We need to make sure that there are some treats for all of us.
I push my aching feet into my boots, dust down my jeans and throw the tattered shirt towards the pile of washing accumulating in a corner of the tent. It is more than warm enough for the singlet top I am wearing, so I put my Akubra hat on my head and walk out of the tent to face the day.
Clothes, coffee, tea, hot chocolate and milo, this mantra runs through my head as I walk across the grass towards the fire. Rhys is there, his dark head resting against the downy softness of Caren’s head and a gentle faraway look in his deep brown eyes. He hears me coming and looks up smiling as I approach. “Good Morning Jenn, did you sleep well mate?” he asks as I walk up and sit on a log on the ground beside him.
“What little I’ve had was good; I was out like a light as soon as I lay down.” I said as I made myself comfortable on the log and touch Caren gently. “Good morning little smiley.” I say as her tiny face lights up when she spots me.
“I have had a couple of thoughts for your supplies lists Rhys.” I mention.
“Go ahead Jenn. Bet I’ve thought of them though.” Rhys says as he pulls out some paper and places Caren in my lap.
“Okay, this is what I’ve come up with so far.” I start. “We are going to need clothes for everyone, not just summer clothes, but winter one’s too. Who knows what we will find when we get to the coast. We will also need plenty of blankets too. Warmth will be a problem with
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