The light illuminates the time, 2am. Colin waits out the front of the caravan park. Zac, Heidi and Rachel have just arrived. A delayed flight and a long wait for baggage (thanks Tiger Airways) have meant a 2am rather than the anticipated 11.30pm arrival time. The caravan is dimly lit, the heater on and milk warming on the stove for hot chocolate. The table supports a massive 1 kilogram easter egg. The welcoming embraces are as warm as the caravan, genuine pleasure at all being together. We sip hot chocolate and Rachel tells us some of her Central Australia stories and a couple of bad jokes. We smash the massive chocolate egg and savour the taste as Zac tells us of heavy traffic on the way down, speeding drivers and of having to swerve to avoid an errant driver. Colin and I are thankful and grateful that we are all together and safe......
It is late morning - some of us having been surfing, some cycling and some sleeping. We have all eaten a cooked breakfast and are lounging like lizards in the warm sun. Zac lies half in sun and half in shade, snoozing. Rachel approaches, snuggling up to him the way a cat or dog moves in and demands affection, moving his arm to embrace her. He is accommodating. Next Johanna sits at his head stroking his hair. He is patient. Oh to be a big brother so loved!
Early evening approaches. We have all been to the shower block (very ordinary!) and are clean and sand free. Soon the caravan will fill with the good smells of fine food cooking. Colin will be creating some wonderful dish to surprise and delight us all. (smoked salmon and snap pea pasta tonight) The kids are sitting around the table playing a game of cards. Later we will all play a game together, probably 500. It all feels familiar. We have settled into our Yurting rituals, our other home........
