At least they will, until we get an awning for ATGANI. Our position in the you’ve-never-seen demand-like-this awning queue is exactly the same as the nation’s position in the vaccine queue: “right at the front” – and we know how well that’s gone! I’m going to have to strangle the next person who says “unprecedented times”.

It turns out that there’s a world-wide shortage of caravan equipment which includes those awning thingies that you hang off the side and extend (when you’ve stopped) to ward off the sun and the rain. Who could have predicted such an event? But, good news for those who still follow the Maroons in State of Origami – there’s a business in Queensland that can supply exactly what we need in just 4-6 weeks. I’m told that the order has been placed!

And because we live in the land of the Blues (refer State of Origami), we’ve been told to stay home even longer, to impede the progress of Covid Delta. No escape from Greater Sydney now until July 17 at the earliest. Only essential work (I reckon it’s all essential) is proceeding on ATGANI, so it’s a race to see who’s available first. At the first opportunity, we’re off to Erina on the Central Coast to see if it’s all just a mirage.

In other news, the raindrops will not be fallin’ on the heads of the Landcruiser inhabitants. We were so excited by the ephemeral prospect of collecting ATGANI that we installed the roof rack on our truck – now it can never again fit in our underground carpark and is consigned to the street-parking conditions of Cremorne Point…but it has an awning! I know; despite the world-wide shortage etc etc

Sadly, the truck’s number plate starts DQG. So close to DOG which would have allowed us to call it “BIG DOG” (a shame). In keeping with our theme, it has plenty of add-ons, but we think it’s now ready to roll. We’re particularly entranced by the in-car fridge (thanks to Richard) and it’s slide. The rack above it will house our golf clubs ‘cos you never know where there might be a course. We even have a UHF aerial to look the goods – it’s actually connected to a radio for the doubters among you.

I reckon we’re ready to roll. What could possibly go wrong?