Left Alone To Build Our Off-Grid Farm...
This week definitely didn't go the way we'd planned...
Just as Riles and I got stuck into the next stage of the farm (building our entrance gate, starting the driveway and fixing the on-site housing for our workers), Riles got hit really hard with dengue fever. To make matters worse, he also picked up a bacterial infection, and things went downhill pretty quickly.
Before we knew it, he was on a plane to Australia to get the treatment he needed, leaving me behind with the boys, the crew, and a whole lot of building to keep moving.
I'll be honest... I was pretty overwhelmed at first. We've always tackled these big projects together, and suddenly I was making decisions, coordinating everyone, swinging a hammer, and hoping I was getting it right 😅.
Thankfully we have some incredible local help, and somehow, little by little, things started coming together.
We really hope you enjoy this early preview of this week's episode. Thank you, as always, for making these adventures possible. Your support keeps us going through the exciting moments... and the really tough ones too ❤️
Chat in the comments!
Love,
Elay & Riley, Lenny & Darwin
xx
Comments (15)
Well well looks like you’re getting the hang of it. Your land legs are starting to grow back. Now Riley needs to stay well and healthy. You guys will do fine with this new adventure.
Yes you will🤠
It’s really fun to see you guys learn your way through this new adventure. Elayna seems to have made a fast friend. That is really nice for her. And you’re doing the mom thing by going to Darwin’s little concert. Love his new haircut. Probably a lot easier to maintain. Is Lenny next?? Can’t wait to see the next episode. So glad Riley is better. Fun to have his mom there!🩷
Thought that was funny. Global sailors forget to tie on the anchor. I just thought that needed a little more attention. Tee-Hee.... Glad you are feeling better Riley and Great work Elayna and Emma on the projects while Riles was away!
Girl let’s trade some labor 💖💖
ooooops! My fondness for user error with the earlier, senseless post. 2 things: 1. I was initially hesitant with y’all changing your focus. But now, I have come to realize even more how much y’all value adventure and doing what’s right for the family and especially Lenny and Darwin. Sailing had lost some of its adventure. Your learning to become competent sailors was a good part of the adventure of sailing. Y’all are now uber competent sailors. The adventure of sailing now is largely going to new places. Building a new house and farm in Vanuatu is a whole new adventure. This is about building things, infrastructure, skills. This is about personal growth. This is your spirit. This is good for the family. I am excited to watch. 2. I am glad to see Riley recovering well. Sometimes the thing that makes one most appreciate life and one's health is to have those things put at risk. That is scary, but getting through it makes one in many ways better and stronger. A part of that is a new-found appreciation for life and health, especially the little things, the things that one can come to take for granted……….like being given the opportunity once again to sit in an excavator all day and carve out a driveway, much less Elena, Lenny and Darwin……..and that stupid (yet wonderful) cat. Riley, as a retired physician I am confident in saying that your good health going into that trying period of dengue and bacterial infection made your course in recovering much quicker and less trying. Yes, you could have done better and you should strive to do better, but you were and are in the upper percentile for quality health. (I don’t believe that there is enough editing that y’all could have done in your videos to hide that truth.)
That’s what I admire about them. They really do what is best for their kids. They will thrive there!!! The sailing channels on all of the You Tubers is getting a bit stale. They all make the same stops it seems. Sailing Jibsea is fun as they are doing the North Sea. Delos will be fun to watch again when they finish the boat. I’m glad Riley and Elayna are doing something new. They will still spend time on the water so more adventures to come.
2 things:
I know Riley is probably back and well but I am prayer for him right now and you and family always. Thanks for the raw updates and opportunity to watch. Riley get well soon and surrounding you in healing light and energy.
Health is sooooo important, welcome back. It is fun watching sea people slowly adapt to life on land.
the tin thing in the middle is what we call ridge capping. For the ridge... as opposed to valleys. in Victoria anyway. What the fek yous sand gropers and crow eaters do back there is anyones guess, but out of square? maybe why the locals use thatch... and as for goats!?! Yous fkn crazy? They eat... in order of preference... your garden; your washing on the line; your neighbours garden; etc... they are browsers, not grazers. But the best, on the planet, at blackberry eradication. So enjoy spending a million bucks on fences to keep the bastards in...
This is going to be fun. The learning curve is huge. Thankfully, you have Emma. The boys look so good with their hair cut. It changed them totally. I don't mind the long hair but they made the choice, Good for them.
Glad you’ve mended, Riley! WELL DONE Elay, you held down the fort nicely. Things will keep coming together, mostly with forward steps, and occasionally with a step backwards and a bit of reassessing. It’s all part of it and you’re doing great!
❤ GR8 VID ~ LOVED IT ❤
Amazing guys! It is coming together slowly but surely. I hope that there are no more serious health scares for anyone, and @Riley, I hope you're feeling better, mate.