It was a big week, starting on March 1st. I left home at 4:15 am to meet Simon and kick off our long drive to Adelaide. We made a pit stop at Macca’s – I was desperate for coffee, and who eats breakfast at 3:30 am anyway? But hey, Macca’s is a sometimes treat, right?
We had an uneventful drive, but I was excited to see the Coonalpyn Silos and the stunning artwork. We arrived in time to set up for Source Kids at the Convention Centre, where we met Teddy the Labradoodle – don’t worry, Lucky (my labradoodle), I wasn’t cheating on you!
After a quick food shop, including some local gin from Kangaroo Island, we headed to our Airbnb in Lightsview. Too tired to venture out for dinner, we settled for a quick spaghetti bolognese and salad before crashing in front of Netflix on our laptops.
Erika joined us the next morning after flying in from Tasmania, where she’d been enjoying a week of golf with friends. We had a steady start at the expo, chatting with potential customers, especially families and lots of kids – they loved the stickers and lollipops!
Sunday morning brought a return to my daily routine with a walk in the divine weather, soaking in the beauty of the green areas. The Sunday session at the expo started slow, but as predicted, it picked up after 11 am when church finished, and the crowds flooded in.
By the end of Sunday, we were exhausted but satisfied with our efforts. We packed up quickly and enjoyed a BBQ dinner cooked by Simon – YUM indeed!
Monday was a whirlwind of activity as we prepared for the next expo at the Adelaide Showgrounds. After a long day’s work, we treated ourselves to dinner on Rundle Street, where we met my dear friend Terry Stephens. Good food, and great laughs – it was the perfect way to relax and enjoy some downtime amidst our hectic schedule.
Tuesday dawned with renewed energy as we dove into our big to-do lists in our makeshift kitchen office the day setting up the next expo, ATSA at the Adelaide Showgrounds.
By Wednesday, exhaustion started to set in, but our interactions with OTs and health practitioners rejuvenated us. I even had the privilege of attending an enlightening speech by Belinda Carpenter on Restrictive Practises.
The speech was incredibly informative, and I diligently took numerous notes. What I gathered from it is that GPS trackers are not inherently restrictive measures. Our checklist, based on NDIS practices, ensures that all essential criteria are met and emphasizes reasons for use that promote greater freedom. If you’re interested, I’m happy to provide a copy of this checklist upon request!
Thursday morning started with me attending Anita Ahern from Living on the Spectrum’s talk on Understanding and Supporting Autistic Sensory Needs. Anita provided invaluable insights and allowed us to try some of the most popular aids.
My big takeaway from this amazing talk was that they are NOT TOYS, they are supporting aids. These devices help with mental health and can save people’s lives. It was an insightful and powerful session.
After numerous engaging conversations, it was time to pack up the expo and head to our Airbnb home. We swiftly tidied the house and loaded the car in preparation for our early departure the next morning.
Before the sun rose, we hit the road back home, with Simon and Erika sharing the driving duties while I enjoyed podcasts in the backseat. Finally arriving home around 7 pm, I was greeted by my two dogs, and the comfort of my bed was a welcome relief after the adventures of the past week.
Our next big road trip looms in May, when the three of us will drive to Sydney for back-to-back expos. Will we see you there?