Time certainly flies, one week already in Australia! Time for a few reflections……
The people are so friendly and welcoming, they are probably used to newcomers arriving from different parts of the world, but even so, not only is the weather fabulously warm, but warmer still are the people!
Its so strange being in a place where you don’t know a single person, not even one. We could so easily sit in our apartment, watch the TV and be too scared to make friends anywhere, but thats not our way.
We are so glad we contacted the yacht club, and have been amazed at the welcome they have extended to us. We attended the members night on Friday, it was lively there with a halloween theme and most people came and chatted with us. We met a lovely couple called Mick and Val who asked if we were free on Sunday and would we like to join them on their boat – well, we had planned to attend a talk about cyclones, so there really was no competition. They were in a race around Magnetic Island, and just missed 3rd gaining a comfortable 4th place, I really hope it wasn’t because of my lack of speed during tacking. Sailing the RBE is very different, we do everything slowly and carefully, here we do it at a fast pace and carefully and fractions of centimetres make a difference!
Well, we couldn’t have been too bad as they invited us back onto their boat again – thanks Mick and Val! We joined them again last night for a twilight sail – so, after work, I headed straight to the marina to join them and had a fabulous evening. Mick let me take the helm at one point which was wonderful, and, with the sails full and a gorgeous deep red bowl of sun disappearing along the horizon, I was in my element!
We are joining them again on Saturday, a trip we are really looking forward to – this time, a race to Herald Island (I will try to put it on the google map here). The good thing about this race, is the fact it culminates in a barbeque on the beach, and an overnight sleep there, then a sail back to Townsville!! There are over 100 people involved in this, and something I’m very excited about – watch out for the next blog for more details and no doubt, loads of photos!
Just in case you think I’m on holiday here, back to more mundane things – like work! Yes, I’m not so rich I can just live here, I do have to earn the pennies, sorry, cents!
Things here are very expensive, and, just like being on holiday, you see a price and instantly convert it in your head to £’s – for that is our currency and the money I have earned. However, the £ is so weak that it doesnt really compare, and I need to start to earn $’s! My pay here, as a basic clinical midwife, once you convert back to £’s, is 33% more than I earned as a manager, so life should feel better soon. Money can be a worry though, particularly when I think that I have to buy everything when we move into our own apartment at Christmas – we will move into a shell and have no beds to sleep in, nor chairs to sit on or pans to cook with!
I also need a car, and busy searching for one now – but I know so little about cars – the salesmen can see me coming…..!
I started work on Monday, and commenced with 2 days orientation. I have attended these days of course in the UK, and knew what to expect, however, the Aussie was was much more relaxed, and on Tuesday, the whole thing stopped as the lecture theatre filled up just before 2pm with loads of staff, the presentation was switched off and the Melbourne Cup turned on! Yes, at a hospital study day, we were all watching a horse race. It really is the “Race that Stops the Nation”!
I joined the team at the maternity unit yesterday and was well looked after by the midwife educator who took me through all the policies, procedures, fire tour etc etc My head by the end was spinning and I was so grateful for the fact I could go sailing later!
Everyone was so friendly at the hospital, and I think I’m going to be happy here!
I’m so glad that Francesca has decided to come and join me on my journey to Australia. We havent lived together for over 5 years, as she has been to Uni then worked in London, and its been lovely discovering my daughter again. As she isnt yet working, she has been looking after me, preparing meals, and I get up for work to find she has made my packed lunch, all arranged and sitting in the fridge ready for me! I’m sure it wont be long before she is at work, in fact, she has an interview at a lovely restaurant later this morning, so I may have lost my domestic goddess!
Getting over jetlag hasnt been easy, and once evening time comes, my body has to fight falling to sleep. I’m usually in bed by 9-10pm, which means I’m awake at 5, which is a lovely time here. The air is lovely, the birds are tweeting the wallabies are bouncing around the bush and the bush turkeys are shuffling around. So I generally start my day sitting out the back of our apartment which looks out towards the river, with a cup of earl grey and a smile on my face! That is, apart from yesterday, when I discovered a gecko had made its home under my bed. I tried to let it out, but, apart from running over my feet and making me squeal (just a tiny bit!), it seemed set on staying. I had to do the glass trick to get it out, then popped it on the patio, closed the door, and it stared back at me. I know they are harmless, but I didnt think I could sleep too well thinking it might crawl over me. I met a Brit nurse during the induction who said her husband woke in bed during their 1st week as he felt something, to find a frog in bed with them….as I said, the folks in Australia are so welcoming………..
