Today is my birthday, and I’m 50. It makes it seem a bit too real when you type it! I woke up and cried when the boys all said Happy Birthday. I really, really don’t want to be 50.

After our extended stay at Red Bluff, followed by our sand pit camp right here, it’s now been six days since we had a shower. My hair feels like it has too much hair spray in it and John needs a shave rather badly.

Fergus cooked up pancakes for us all, and John did the coffee. This wonderful little Italian invention is the very best thing we’ve brought on the trip.

I wouldn’t go anywhere unless the coffee maker comes. I hunt high and low for good, fresh coffee beans too. A little obsessive? For sure.

The boys have given me this deluxe camping chair for my birthday.

It is a quantum leap from the old one – three more of which the boys are still using. So I’m like the Camp Princess now.

John has given me a gorgeous hand carved seat/bench made from tree branches made by a man in Darwin. We saw some of these seats in Central Australia and I just love them.