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Published: August 26th 2008
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Hello!
Wow how time flies! Apparently it's 3 months since I last wrote. Where does the time go??? Its a god job I'm not actually 'traveling' as such, because I'd have given up on trying to keep you updated long ago. There's not too much to tell..... ish!
I spent the last couple of months in a tiny town called Jindabyne (yes the same as the movie, which happens to be very good if you come across it) which is located in the Snowy Mountains of New South Wales, about 6hours South of Sydney. Jindabyne is an Australian ski resort (yes they do exist) in that it does have snow and there are some so-called mountains, but its not really comparable to Europe or Canada. Anyway, never having done a ski season before, and by no means being an expert in the field I thought i would give it a shot. Whats the worst that could happen? Right??
I got work in town in a rentals shop, helping fit out and tune ski and snowboard bindings. It was great fun getting kids kitted out who had never even seen snow before, let alone tried on ski boots! A
great atmosphere to work in, everyone was on holiday so it was our job to make sure everyone had a holiday to remember. Amazing how it takes it out of you being continuosly happy and boucy for 10 hours straight! The job came with great benefits to. I got to use thier skis and boards, got a season pass to the slopes (which by the way is one of the most expensive places in the world to ski, talk about monopolising the snow) and even got to use use all thier clothing. So all in all I had it pretty good!
For the first couple of weeks there was more grass than snow and I seriously thought global warming was going to make it's point, but then it happened, and the snow came thick and fast! I grabbed every opportunity to get up to the slopes and practice 'linking my turns', and with a little help from my friends I was slowly getting it. About a month in some friends from the city came down to visit, so I thought I'd have crack at ski-ing for the day to see what I could remember from that school ski trip,
only 6 years previously. Turns out I remembered quite a lot, in fact I don't remember being able to ski that well 6 years ago but what the hell, I'm not complaining. What started out as a wicked day of snow, sunshine and friends had a rather disasterous ending. Was doing the last run of the day when a(holding my tongue) snowboarder lost control and completey wiped me out!!! I heard the crack as my ACL (Anterior Cruciate Ligament) tore in my left knee and proceeded to scream and bury my head in the snow. On the plus side of all this I had my first ever experience of being stretchered off the mountain in a body bag on a sledge. Wahoo!! The experience comes highly recommeneded if you get an offer that doesn't require actual inability to ski in the first place. I then got taken to the medical centre, x-rays taken to check no broken bones.... blah de blah, then again a first in being transported via wheelchair to my awaiting chauffer, aka Nikki. I think I ate and drank a lot that night!
What followed was 3 rather unhappy weeks (1 of those on crutches) where
I stayed in Jindabyne as I could still work behind the tills (boring). But what with not being able to do anything that makes me happy like running, boarding or climbing I took up the first offer of a lift back to Sydney. Here I got my leg scanned to check the extent of the damage and discuss possibilities for an opperation, swap over to my summer wardrobe (I could feel adventure calling) and jumped on a train to Melbourne. From Melbourne I went to Adelaide where I caught the Ghan (one of world's greatest train journey's I believe) up to Alice Springs. The 25 hour train ride through Australia's outback was great for adjusting from the snow of the mountains to the red sand of the desert. Which is where I am now. Settling into my new home in the middle of the desert, cat and dog in tow! Tomorrow I start work at the women's shelter for Aboriginal women suffering from domestic violence.
Wish me luck! xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
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Mum& Dad
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snowy mountains
The good life goes on & on & on &on & on &on !!!XXXXX