Alexandria’s Adventure in Bunking Off

Bunking Off
Great Ocean Road c. 1930 via State Library of Victoria

I should first mention for those that don’t know, “bunk” (as in bunking off) is also a verb meaning to leave, most notable in The Shawshank Redemption when Andy Dufresne is noted to have “done a bunk, sir”. It is appropriate in circumstances where some naughtiness may be involved such as truancy or evading the law. While you might think of it as an unplanned mental health day, there’s an element of willful disobedience about it so it can’t logically be part of preventative care.

So.

We decided (more or less on the spur of the moment) that bunking off and taking a drive along the Great Ocean Road to revisit the 12 Apostles was a good idea. We visited on our honeymoon, and as a BIG number anniversary is coming up, it seemed a good time to revisit. Not to mention doing our bit for the bushfire recovery. It’s changed a lot (as you would expect) and of course, a nice trip to the seaside always makes you think about what life might be like living so far from your ordinary life.

Hopefully somewhere a bit better than the self-contained cottage we used…

It was nice to get away for a few days, but bunking off turns out to be something you are better to plan in advance, at least a little bit. For example, you might find that you need your mobile phone charger, beach towels, dog towels, band-aids, insect repellent, a bottle opener and shampoo. Spare toilet paper. Among other things.

My friend Katy loves to go camping. She has a box in the cupboard packed with everything she needs, so she is ready to go away at a moment’s notice. And when she gets home, she washes the contents and repacks it with a note on the top telling her what else needs to go in before she leaves the house next time. In retrospect, it’s really clever.

And something I really am going to do. Here are my first thoughts

What to Take When You Bunk Off for a Few Days

Utilities

Food

Dogs

torch
candles
matches or lighter
bottle opener
a sharp knife
tongs
fish slice
a coffee plunger
rubbish bags
kitchen towel
scissors
tea
coffee
hot chocolate
sugar
milk
water
bread
cooking oil
wine/beer/cider
towels
water bowl
food bowls
leads
pooper scooper
poo bags
brush
bedding
map of dog beaches
map of off-leash areas

Personal

First Aid

Other

your reading glasses
shampoo
conditioner
soap
bubble bath
toothbrushes and paste
dental floss
razor and shaving cream
body lotion
deodorant
comb/brush
tissues
headache tablets
band-aids
antiseptic
personal medications
beach towels
bath towels
face washer
sunscreen
after sun lotion
insect repellent
spare batteries
notepad and pen
phone charger
safety pins
hand wipes
toilet paper

Is there anything you think I’ve missed?


Comments

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *