Logistics of Living in 4m2

Calling Andromeda home, means having all the freedom in the world to come and go as we please, and that feeling alone, is worth gold.  But – like everything in life – it’s not always roses and moonshine. When you have lost the lighter for the 142^nd time and as a result it takes 38 minutes to make a cup of tea, you can start to feel like you will go from normal to bonkers in just under 2.6 second flat. 

 

Three tips that I aspire to – to make every-day life easy:

• Try and be minimalist.   I say try, because I am guilty of having brought too many clothes.  In all honesty you only need three pairs of trousers/shorts & t-shirts (one dirty, one clean, one wearing).  One sweater or a jacket (I have both).  One pair of shoes (I brought two), and your posh outfit (yes… I sort of, have one of those) incase you need to visit an official office – think immigration in Livingston, or get invited to a dinner etc.  We have one bag floating around in the back of the car, that contains our overflow crap –it has been opened once since August.
• Know where everything lives, AND put things back. Originally, we had 3 lighters floating around in the car – and I currently only know where to find one of them: it lives in the kettle, that lives in the Trangia, that lives in the potjie, that lives in the washing up bowl, that lives in the bottom righthand side of the car.  The other 2? It’s a surprise!  They should be in the cutlery tupperware box & the little pocket of the driver’s seat, but they are never there.  So instead try trouser pockets, dashboard, between the seats, or check the floating kikapus (baskets).  As a result – every super market visit, we end up purchasing another lighter, I think we have 7 now, and its always a little win when you find one again 😊. 
• The things you use everyday need to be easily accessible!  Head torches are around the headrest – phone charging station is between the front seats, tooth brush and toiletries are hanging up on the grill, tea making facilities are in the box behind the passenger seat, Andromedas oils are next to the tea station.  Nothing will turn you into grumpy pants faster, than if you have to unpack the whole car, to find the items you need and use multiple times a day.  

Three things I wouldn’t be without:

• Tupperware boxes.  When your cherry tomatoes package has awkwardly torn, and you have little red bombs getting squashed ALL . OVER . THE FRIDGE? Stick them in a tupperware.  When you make double portions so you can save yourself a cook – tupperware the leftovers.  Call me domestic, but I love them!
• The solar battery charging station.  The system we have is easy and accessible, so charging phones/torches/camera batteries/go pros/laptops is never an issue.
• Lip salve and sunglasses.  Up till now the wind, and sun have been harsh.  When your lips start taking on the texture of raisins, you NEED lip salve.   And if I didn’t have my sunglasses, I would basically have missed most of the trip, as would be squinting to the point of not being able to see anything.

Three things Colin wouldn’t go without:

• The yellow bucket (with unmatching blue lid – compliments of Doug & Gabrielle).  Its our washing machine, helps fetch water, acts as a chair, and offers storage.  Wouldn’t be without it.
• The car fridge.  Cold beer at the end of a hot, windy, sandy day? Absolutely – and when it’s cold, it’s just magic! We can buy cheese, meat, yoghurt, and all the yummy yum yums you can imagine, without feeling we have to eat the whole lot within 36 hours after purchasing.  Fridge = Luxury.
• His aero press coffee machine, with wee grinder.  We left Tanzania with a kilo of coffee beans.  Each morning, he freshly grinds himself enough beans to make a freshly pressed cup of coffee.  Again – it’s the little things that make all the difference.

Cols frustrations:

• The floating kikapus.  They sit on top of everything else in the back, so as a result they get carried into the car, and out of the car, each time transporting about 4 teaspoons of sand– and this happens about 31 times a day. 
• The back seats.  You know how every house has at least one draw, or cupboard full of random crap?  That’s our back seats.  You can find our snack jar, water bottles, maps, books, National Park guides, wet towels to help keep fridge cold, and hats, on the back seat.  It’s not pretty – but if you need something chap chap – the back seat offers this efficiency.
• Topping up Andromedas oils (sweat glands).  I am referring to the gear box and diff oils.  Topping these up means getting under the car and rolling around in sand. Usually, the frustration is brought on by wind blowing sand in eyeballs, dropping a tool, or the plug which then gets covered in: you guessed it – sand! 
• Climbing into and out of the roof tent for a wee.  I agree with him on this one.  What a palaver to carry out one of life’s simple biological tasks. 

Laura Frustrations:

• The fridge.  I know it offers us lots in the way of luxury, and I wouldn’t be without it, but I do have a love hate relationship with the fridge.  Here is why.   I am too short to get into said fridge, by simply standing outside the car, and leaning in to open it.  I could open it, but can’t see what’s in it.  To be able to see inside, I need to place my toes (there is not enough space for complete foot) onto the edge of the footwell of the back seat – bend over at 90 degrees, hover over open fridge with its lid resting on my shoulder, so I have two free hands to ferret around, and get what I am looking for.  This sounds simple enough – but its not.  Why? Fridge is usually packed by Colin who has this amazing skill to fit EVERYTHING into it.  With years of mobile camp packing experience, we can fit the world and its uncle into this 20L ice box.  I, however do not possess these skills.  So, to get to the item I am looking for – which is usually at the bottom, I need to take everything out first – and then unsuccessfully manage to get everything back in.  It’s like playing the most frustrating game of Tetris, where body is awkwardly positioned and I’m trying to remember where everything went.  Before I take on the challenge – I often question, do we really need feta in the Greek salad? Do we really need yoghurt with the muesli? Maybe we just go without?   The worst is when I think I have nailed it – got out the cheese, and everything is back in, until I realize, I left out two packs of milk and the butter.  Bollocks.  Start again.

Luxury problems – having to dig out feta from an overstuffed fridge full of goodies, whilst on a road trip through Southern Africa – we live like Kings – and I have appreciated everyday on the road!