A Lack of Personal Hygiene

A funny smell has started to pervade our camp and it has been getting worse over the last few days. After some investigation we have found the source – US! It is over a week since we had a proper shower, two weeks since any washing was done and I’m afraid the bedsheets and pillowcases have not seen water since Sandra churned them out of the sewing machine in Sydney some weeks ago. In short, our personal hygiene is less than perfect. I think the clincher came this morning when I noticed a swarm of flies hovering over the washing bag and showing a particular interest in my dirty underpants! It was time to do something so here we are at a commercial campsite which has the luxury of showers and a laundry.

I am also able to tackle our car electrical problem (I can’t charge the computer etc as some of the electrics are faulty) by sitting doing this blog in the laundry pretending to be doing the ironing but actually pinching the electricity to charge computer, cameras, lights etc.

When taking the tent down this morning I thought that I had exonerated our personal hygiene as the cause of the smell as I found it to be liberally covered in white and brown bird droppings. Yet another learning experience – don’t park your tent underneath a Kookaburra’s perch, it’s not nice.
We are currently in a small town called Gloucester and tomorrow we hope to finally reach Barrington Tops – a place which has taken on a mythical quality as we have set off there several times but as yet have never arrived. Two days there, than back to the coast to meet up with Steven, Ana and Lex - then finally on our way. We have been in Australia now for two months and progress has slowed down and we are still only 3 hours north of Sydney.

Finally, a photographic coup. The forest we have been living in for almost a week is reputed to be the home of over 50 different mammals – and we hadn’t seen any apart from a glimpse of a kangaroo like object in the headlights a few nights ago. But then – the David Attenburgh moment – when this delightful creature posed for me. But what is it? A prize for the first correct answer.

PS I’ve just read this out to Sandra and she wishes it to be known that HER personal hygiene is in no way responsible for any unpleasant odours and that my underpants are solely to blame. This is based on the fact that she has now completed the washing and, on hanging it out to dry, she has only found one pair of underpants – personally I think she has probably lost all the others in the wash!!

PPS Of the two hairy creatures photogaphed above only one is under threat of a haircut and beard shave - and it hasn't got four legs!