Here we are, to the last chapter of Gigi’s Log Book..

In all honesty the past 2 months have been more about cleaning, dumping and cooking, than working on Gigi. Still, there were few jobs left to do and also some “improvement” were applied to further enhance the comfort level (read laziness, more of this later)..

Dan, was also able to spend a weekend with me, helping around and (why not) relaxing and drinking a bit.. We had a very good time and some extremely funny moments, but I don’t want to spoil it for my daughter, as she will find out, the first time we go in holiday together.. 😂

There was one storage bin left to do, and as planned, the washing machine plus few other bits had to go in there. I wanted another couple of shelf for both washing powder and other little things that you may normally find in a laundry.

On the bottom shelf, I also wanted to have handy all the grease and oils needed for my work. So it seems that everything I need it that space, I was able to get.. That did take care of the right side of the bin.

The washing machine was always going to be in the centre to allow access to both side, so on the left I manage to make another space for a 9kg fire extinguisher, a chainsaw, and the welding gas bottle..

At the last minute I had a change of plan and decided to have two options for the water going to the washing machine.. One from the tanks and another one from an external source (not to be confused with the water main).

The idea behind this is to have more options when washing time is due. Let’s say for example that you have access to non-drinkable water from a bore or a creek. That would be still good for the washing, so adding an extra inlet, with a non-return valve was quite simple..

As mentioned before there was also quite a bit of cooking this month, mainly just to test everything in the kitchen. I can’t praise enough the advantage of having a convection microwave oven in the kitchen.

I like the face of family and friends, when they see and taste how crisp the pizza base is, expecting it to be completely soft as it normally does come out of a standard microwave. But the best part perhaps is when I cook the stuffed garlic and herb chicken.

I should have taken a picture the last time I cooked them.. They are perfectly cooked inside and the crumb is perfectly crisp on the outside because of the combine microwave and grilled cooking option..

I also made an old favourite of mine, like my father used to make it, called the “peperonata”, (you can find the easy recipe HERE) then click on Main Course. It is normally a winter recipe but if you have a block nose, or you need a boost of energy, just try it, you won’t be disappointed..

The next picture is a “kind” of crescenta, or flat garlic bread, made with almond meal, butter, cheese cream and plenty of garlic and basil (as usual salt and pepper to please.. Left it in the microwave for a bit too long, and it got really, really crunchy.. Still good mind you..

As I had the food dehydrator for sale (too big to take it with me), I took the occasion to make some dried bananas (they were .50c per kilo), so I got myself half a kilo of dried ones from 3.5kg of fresh banana. I’m sure I will miss my dehydrator as it gave me plenty of jerk beef back in the days when I used to drive all the times, but I’m sure that Linda (the new owner) will get a lot of enjoyment out of it as well..

In memory of my grandma, and because I had some old tomato in the fridge, I finally made a quick snack made of stuffed tomato, with mayonnaise, tuna and capers, served cold with salt and pepper to please.. Like I said, plenty of cooking this month..

I previously had the map of Australia mounted on the wall in the corridor but because of the heat and the installation mistake of sticking the entire perimeter of the map, I had to remove it (well it broke), so a new one was installed properly this time (by allowing the warm air to escape from behind the map)..

Lastly you can see the washing machine in its final location. I was initially a bit concerned about the water consumption, until I actually bothered to read the very small print on the label where it clearly states that 70 litre per wash are for the full cycle on heavy cotton. Considering that I normally use the normal mixed cycle, as it turned out it only use about 30-35  litres of water.

I can definitely live with that and not bothered into buy those RV washing machine sold by the usual suspects (Dometic and Camec). I’m sure that they are fine, but to keep it in line with my way of thinking (generic brand = parts available everywhere if need it), I prefer to have a common brand, just in case..

The washing machine, as you know, or at least for the ones that have followed Gigi’s Log Book, was the last piece of the puzzle. That’s right! The conversion is now completely finished. Off course there are always the few odd jobs, like improving on the electrical system, or adding few more bits inside, but I classify those as modifications, so they get their own article, but as far as Gigi’s Log Book, this is it..

Started on the 12th of September 2017, it has been a great ride, with lots of ups and down, with a couple of holidays in the middle with my mates Baldrick & Bongo, and plenty of hard working days under the sun.. As of today, the 9th of March 2021 Gigi is completed!

I had a fair idea of how hard it was going to be, but what I never kept in consideration, not even for a second, was how temperamental my health was going to be.. But you know what? I don’t care. I had a ball, and I would do it all over again!

But the best part is about to come, because from the next month, the dream is real!!!

As I mentioned elsewhere, there is a holiday planned for sometime in this coming August somewhere up North. Gigi is already full, but anybody is welcome to tag along and have a deserved rest, hopefully Covid free as well.. More details are coming soon..

So, there you go, and for last but not least and in any particular order I would like to say Thank You to:

Paul and Fiona, Brian, Mick (MTR), Anthony, Charlie, Dan, Mick, Kim, Alex, Sean, Ryan, Steve (TWA), Clinton, Angela, Stephen, Andrew, Melissa, Matt and all the other people (and believe me there were plenty more, but the memory is what it is), that helped me to get to the finishing line..

From the bottom of my heart, Thank You Guys..