Well, it is 9 days to Christmas, but it certainly doesnt feel like it. I’m living in the tropics, its 34oC during the day and it drops down to a balmy 26 at night, so it is hard to think of reindeer, snow and santa! The Australians do their best to make believe
How can you take a 20ft snowman seriously in 30oC??
And here is a cleaner at Townsville Hospital getting into the festive spirit!
There are at least 4 sets of lights on this cleaning machine!
As I mentioned in previous blog, Francesca is doing the beach bum thing in Mission Beach. Actually, she is working long hours, getting eaten by mosquitos and saving hard to travel to Sydney in the New Year. I miss her terribly, as I do Tash and Cal, so I popped up to visit her and stopped on South Mission beach on the way for a quick photo.
That is Dunk Island in the distance, it was devastated by Cyclone Yasi earlier this year
When I arrived, I found a little bear had sneaked a ride in my suitcase, and brought his friend with him!
Berry and RoBE have become good friends - Berry advises RoBE to dress more like him for the weather, but RoBE has heard the wet season is upon them!
He was obviously missing Francesca, so much that he refused to return with me when I left! Poor RoBE!
Mission Beach is close to Tully, which is the wettest place in Australia, and a brilliant place to grow bananas!
And I thought it was wonderful to see the rows of bananas growing, so naturally in their little blue plastic bags!
True to the meteorological knowledge, we drove through the rain up Tully Gorge and met by a glorious landscape
I like living in Townsville, it is really pretty,
and close to so many other lovely areas, many of which access our hospital when they are ill or injured, often being flown in by helicopter.
In fact, this is the view I have from the maternity ward during my breaks (yes midwives in the UK, we do get breaks here in Australia – how progressive!!)
On of the main reasons for coming to Townsville was the fact the hospital has a birth centre (more about this in a future blog), but the fact it is right on the coast, and sailing is an important part of the towns culture. I’m very grateful to Val and Mick Gillam who have given me such a warm welcome, and embraced me as part of the crew of their boat. I turn up every single Wednesday to race, and am learning loads as each week goes by.
Its such a treat to head from work, get to the yacht club and sail in shorts and t shirt on the Coral Sea, often with glorious sunsets. Racing takes alot of your time and energy when you are crewing, but the views are often so spectacular, I dive down below and grab my camera….here is a selection of my photos, I’m sure you will agree, its a lovely way to spend a Wednesday evening!
Magnetic Island
Val is not only my sailing buddy, but a good social friend too
in fact, she is a great friend!
Her husband Mick is a fab skipper, very calm, collected and welcomes anyone on the boat
How chilled out! Note the finger tips on the helm!
Life has been pretty busy for me, I know it looks all fun and games, but it has been pretty stressful making so many changes in my life. One of the most important things on my list was to find permanent accomodation, and real estate agents are another breed in themselves! I committed the cardinal sin of viewing a flat which was out of my price range too, and everything else I saw paled into insignificance.
What a lovely view from this flat!
I really wanted this place – which I thought was great value at $570, until I realised it was per week not per month – so about £1500 a month before bills…….so I quickly discounted this and went for the sensible option instead.
Yes, I have palm trees in my garden!
Not quite the same views, but lots of space for visitors (please come!) It is 15 mins walk to the yacht club and the city, and the beach, on a lovely quiet street and it felt like home the minute I walked through the door!
So, my temporary home of 7 and a bit weeks is all packed up now, I’m sitting writing this surrounded by boxes and I head there on Monday. Its unfurnished, but in the last week I have managed to buy a corner lounge suite, a queen size bed, a washing machine, fridge freezer – what else do you need in life?? Oh, Val is giving me a corner TV unit and TV, and Ive bought a set top box to go with it – thanks Val!
Its Friday night, sex and the city is on TV, I have a glass of grenache shiraz at my side and all is well with the world.
I have just worked 9 days in a row and looking forward to some time off. It is the first weekend in 5 weeks that Im not working, so I’m heading to Cairns in the morning, to join a group who are celebrating the birthday of a student midwife I work with. She is called Kim, and is looking for sympathy for the fact she has reached the grand old age of 25 – Ive a feeling she wont be getting much of that from me. I will be trying to act as if I’m 25 as we all head onto the “party bus” and move from pub to pub in Cairns in fancy dress……yes, my packing has come in handy and I’m so glad I shipped over my Christmas Angel costume!! More to come in future blogs……….
