Ministry in Australia

at the Arloms. From there we took the whole family skiing. George and Mark quite enjoyed it, but Mes, James and Margie got too cold. On our way back we discovered that the water in the radiator had frozen and we had problems with the cooling system. Eventually, though, it thawed and we were able to drive back.

The summer holidays of 1976 and 1977 were spent at North Haven Caravan Park near Laurieton. I took my whole quota of four weeks holidays at onece, as I hadn't been able to relax enough after only two weeks. By then we were experienced campers. Instead of putting all our luggage on the roof rack of the station wagon, we had a tow bar fixed and borrowed a trailer. There was usually something flapping in the wind on the trailer, but I don't think we ever lost anything. Before the tent was up I was usually tense and bad tempered, and those who helped putting it up copped it (usually our boys).

"Dad is in his holiday starting mood," they would comment graciously, but once it was all up, the stove and chairs and trunk with provisions in their usual place, I sat on my reclining chair and announced: "Now my holidays have started."

From then on there was peace. We developed a roster system for duties which everyone found very good. One person was on duty all day. He/she had to buy milk, bread etc, lay table for breakfast, lunch and dinner, cook (usually dinner only) and wash up and sweep the tent. On that day the person on duty would be the slave of all, but for the other five days it was absolutely heaven, sheer luxury, like in a five star hotel. There was only one condition. No one was allowed to criticise the cook. They could cook what they liked, and prepare dinner as late or as early as they liked. It was surprising how our meals improved with more experience. But when Mum cooked, everyone agreed that it was still the best.

The family knew my weakness for apple pies. One day we bought one for each of us. When Alison bit into hers, it turned out to be a meatpie (with cream). She went back to the shop and had it replaced with a proper one, the meat pie with cream, however, was fed to Timmy, Gerda's dog she had given us on loan, main course and sweets all in one, were the comments. One night we were all disturbed by Timmy. He was always tied to the centre pole, but that night someone had tied him to the stool. He must have heard or seen a possum near the tent, for he was rushing out, dragging the stool behind him with a tremendous clatter and banging.

After we returned from our evening walk one day. Alison exclaimed: "Oh, it's raining. I can feel it on my face!"

We looked at each other, but none of us had felt any rain. Then a possum came down from the tree, and we all began to laugh heartily. Alison was not amused.

One day we went fishing. The boys had got a fishing rod each for Christmas, and I felt it my duty to show them how to cast a line.

"That's how you do it," I said, and with the swinging of the body I

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