30/12/23

“The days go by slowly, while the years past us by fast”.

Feature Photo: Discussing our 2024 backyard make over. Bunbury, November 2023.

Welcome back to the wiljen’s Adventures blog. Jenny and I hope you all managed to get through another year and Christmas season relatively intact. Most people I know have had their own struggles to deal with during 2023, it definitely hasn’t been an easy one for us.

Always a joy to see the grandkids. Christmas breakfast at John (Jenny’s brother) and Debra’s place is a treat. Jenny is still getting right into her crocheting.

Jenny and I continue to work and live what most people would call “the normal life”. It has been an interesting process recreating our life down here in Bunbury, starting over pretty much from scratch. Granted we did have a hefty deposit for the house we purchase back in March 2023 but once again we find ourselves with mortgage debt after an 8 year hiatus of no debt. While owing the bank money sucks we both agree it is better than paying exorbitant rent & dealing with intrusive rental inspections.

After renting for the first 12 months in Bunbury it is definitely heaps better coming home to your own place.

Jenny is still doing one day a week of work in Mandurah often she will spend a night at her Mum’s. She also continues to work 3 days a week up at Collie Shire.

Jenny’s sister Sue came over From the UK for a month, Jenny’s sister, brother and Mum came down to Bunbury for a “surprise Jenny on her birthday visit”.

Selling my Dad’s Ford Fairlane was a sad moment, funnily enough the old boy that bought it was from Mandurah and the same age as my Dad. Happy driving Lloyd.

Our reasoning is even if you don’t make much in capital gains when you sell, there’s a solid chance you can get the money back that you have put into the house. At least you’ve lived rent free while residing there. Obviously the overall equation of where your capital is best parked is more complicated than this simplistic view but our primary objective is to retain what funds we have and do it as stress free as possible.

We have maximised our mortgage repayments, paying just over double what the bank requires for the monthly repayment (currently our variable interest rate is at 6.14%, It started at 5.09% back in March). I have also maxed out my salary sacrifice superannuation contributions so there isn’t much cash left over between fortnightly pays for savings. 

Ultimately the Bunbury house will get rolled into our future retirement plan. In the meantime we may as well make some modest home improvements to assist with the enjoyment of the place and possibly add some longer term value when we eventually sell.

Backyard earthworks preparation by Alby.
It wasn’t part of the plan to redo the whole backyard of the house but I guess we are suckers for punishment. Recently we had a lock up garage built, next week we reinstall the reticulation and organise roll on turf. The replacement front fencing is on order and will be erected sometime in February, quotes are coming through for the concrete path and driveway. The sooner the backyard makeover is completed the better. Most likely the bulk of it will be nearly completed by the end of February. Maybe we are just addicted to doing house projects ?

The shed job was booked in and payed for about 5 months earlier. Nothing happens quickly since the lockdowns of 2020.
This whole deviation from our travel plans started way back in late 2020 when we lost rental income due to WA State Labor Government implemented covid policies and we had tenants who either payed drastically reduced rent or no rent at all.

If you recall there was a moratorium on evictions in place. It was a very stressful time to be an investment property owner and have your options to manage your property taken away from you was not cool.

This lead to us looking for work. In early 2022 I was successful in my interview and accepted for a position at Albemarle. It has now been 20 months since we made the huge move down to Bunbury. In recent times I’ve found myself questioning why we did it. The original reason was finances and to top up the funds some more before we reach our 60’s. 

A less tangible reason is to see if we still had it in us. Could we really go back to full time work ? Was everything we did previously just a fluke ? Would we have any doubts or regrets retiring early in the near future ? Was working full time really so much of a problem ? Lastly was I trying to prove something to other people & why ? 

I’ve come to the conclusion after over a year and a half back in the “matrix” that working full time when you are older is not a very good life balance for me, my time is too precious but I’m here now so for the immediate future Jenny and I will stick to the plan.

Dwellingup to Wellington Dam on the Fat Bike with my two German mates, Carsten and Peter. 4.5 days approximately 180kms through the jarrah forest.
Last October I spent 4 & 1/2 days cycling the Munda Biddi with Carsten and Peter I cycled with them from Dwellingup to Wellington Dam, about 180kms (9/10/23-13/10/23). The blokes are from Germany, Jenny and I have been cycling mates with Carsten since July 2018 when we crossed paths in North America and spent a bit of time cycling together there. Carsten arrived in mid August for a 3 month cycle tour and ultimately rode approximately 4500kms from Paraburdoo to Albany and than most of the way back to Bunbury. Peter a friend of Carsten’s flew over for 6 weeks with the objective to cycle the Munda Biddi Trail. Great guys and it was very enjoyable to get out on the bicycle to do a little bit of touring with them.

Jenny Carsten and Peter at the Dwellingup Hotel. Carsten started his Munda Biddi ride at Mundaring 2 days earlier. Peter was sick so stayed with us and we drove to Dwellingup.

Carsten’s worse crash on the whole 3 month tour, about 20kms north of Yarri Hut, some sore ribs, bruises and scrapes. Otherwise ok.

It is still a fantastic track !

In my happy place…..

Lunch break north of Lake Brockman, Munda Biddi day 3 for Peter and I, day 5 for Carsten.

Jenny drove about 40km to pick me and my bike up, the German dudes continued on towards Albany.
I will continue to do infrequent blog posts for 2024, with the aim of posting at least 4 time during the year. The plan for team wiljen during 2024 is to maintain the status quo, get the house and gardens sorted, have a couple of short trips away. Keep making the time to see our grandkids and family. During 2023 Jenny and I have lost a bit of focus on each other with all the extra demands from work and family commitments. We plan on changing that in 2024 and start locking in more time for each other. 

Rodgie  the dog has been amazing, very loyal and not to mischievous. She will be 5 years old halfway through 2024. Due to her high energy and love of walks Rodgie helps to get us off our butts a couple of times a day. We do not have any regrets having her in our lives. Good well trained dogs are great !

Rodgie dog at Silver Sands Beach, Mandurah.

It’s bush fire season, this one was about 4kms south of us in Eaton. This is the park we take Rodgie to on most afternoons to chase her ball.

Not much fun for a dog without a backyard.

Hayden and Kirsty came over from Katanning for a visit, we took them to Pelican Point for some crabbing. Kirsty caught 3 , lots around but most undersize.
That’s about it for now folks, I’m just checking in to let you all know the struggle continues. Do I think I’ll be here in Bunbury this time next year writing about another year of too much work and not enough travel, who knows ? The older I get the more urgent it seems to live your life how you want to. Being stuck to a work schedule isn’t very accommodating towards the wanderlust urges. In the meantime Jenny and I will just continue to do a month at a time. Once we are ready we will initiate our exit plan.

Let’s make 2024 a great year, we wish you all happiness and prosperity, thanks for stopping by.

Will, Jenny and the Rodgie dog.