Everybody needs good neighbours

Our time here in Mapleton has allowed us to get to know some fantastic people especially in the caravan park.  However when your closest neighbour is a psychotic bully who feels she is the ruler of all that is NOT hers, it makes life a little uncomfortable sometimes.  The site on the other side of us has remained vacant for most of our stay, give or take a few times when the park was full.  We have been told occasionally that people are going to move in next door but, in most cases, it hasn't eventuated.  We have been spoilt with our situation because having a vacant site next door gives one a feeling of space and allows the girls to have a bit more freedom and me more visibility to watch them from the van.
On the last day of the school term, we had some new neighbours move in.  I was still in bed recovering from my mega-bug and so when I eventually emerged,  the Jayco 'Flamingo' was already positioned on site and set up.  Their Toyota troupie was parked out front with all sorts of things on top and inside.  They even had a portaboat and small outboard motor which piqued Steve's interest because we had originally looked at buying a portaboat many years before but had never actually seen one in the flesh.  Steve had already introduced himself which is something we have always tried to do to make people feel welcome.  Everybody is different in how friendly they want to be while staying so we say hello and leave people alone to settle in.  After several days of helping with problems or questions our neighbours had, we started to get to know them a little better.  Of course when two cats keep entangling themselves in electrical cords, water hoses and aerial leads etc etc its not hard to be talking more frequently.  Pirie and Karki had been used to a longer run and now found their wanderings getting them into more trouble than usual with a new obstacle in their way.  We were fortunate that our neighbours liked the cats as they had cats of their own before travelling.
Kylie and Fay's story is inspiring and their enthusiasm for life was infectious.  The mother and daughter duo who also behaved like 'good mates' had been on the road for 16 years.  Isn't that amazing!  They had decided to hit the road after a life threatening illness left mum Fay wondering what the future held.  Daughter Kylie left her job and prospects of uni study to travel with Fay and experience Australia.  Kylie now runs an online jewellery business from the van and is very talented.  I have seen gorgeous necklaces, bracelets and earrings all handcrafted with beautiful crystals and stones from all over the world.  Erin has been particularly keen to look at Kylie's jewellery and has even dabbled a little bit at making something with Kylie's help.  Our eldest daughter is like a bowerbird......she just loves shiny things. 
Our neighbours were not what you would expect of a mother/daughter travelling team.  They spent many nights up late watching the Indian Premier League cricket on the internet as they are avid cricket fans.  The two of them would ask the next day if we'd heard them as Fay would get excited and yell "bowled im" late at night.  The two of them were careful not to use 'colourful' language around us and, in particular the girls but said they felt more comfortable when they heard Steve letting off some choice adjectives one day in a moment of frustration.  There was always chatter and laughter next door which was great and the hammer of their water tap in the morning would let me know when they were awake because up until then, I had to keep Becca amused so she didn't go over for an early morning visit before school.  They also loved to sit under their awning and have a drink of an afternoon or evening which we all do.  Not girly stuff but Tooheys Old and a nice bottle of red or white.  I, myself have spent a leisurely afternoon under their awning with a glass of champagne, some camembert cheese and quince paste.  In fact, I was having such a great chat about our travels and where we've been that I nearly forgot to pick Erin up from school.  I had to pick her up in the car as I had left it too late for walking.  There goes my 'mother of the year' award.
Fay would get her grandma fix with Becca and spend time helping her jump off their van step which Becca thought was great fun.  She had been a school teacher and principal in her working days and adored both the girls which was lovely.  Becca started giving them leg hugs every morning when she saw them and Erin soon followed on and also helped Fay do the washing and other little jobs.  It's so much more exciting than doing it for mum.  The two of them liked to walk and visited all sorts of places in the region and even gave us some good tips about places to go.  They are keen birdwatchers and pass on information regarding habitat range and new species to other enthusiasts to build up a database about birds all over Australia. .  After many years of travelling, they have developed ways and means of enjoying the little luxuries of life despite the fact they live in a camper van. I even shared a cappuccino with them under their awning on the morning of their departure and it was just as good if not better than a cafe coffee.  They had individual little coffee perculators, a tall container with a plunger for frothing the milk and even the chocolate sprinkles for the top......all on top of a single gas burner.  It was great.
The pair ended up staying longer than they originally planned and it was a sad day when they finally packed up and moved on to their next destination and adventure.  We exchanged details and I'm sure we will meet up with them again one day as we too, travel around the place.  It was a pleasure having them camp next to us and it just demonstrates that like minded people can share their time and experiences and impart a little bit of themselves onto others and inspire them, as they have done to us.  Thanks Kylie and Fay and happy travels.