Pink nail varnish

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This entry is more diary than TravelBlog. If this bothers you in any way don't read it.

May 28th

First day off since…? Whatever, a day off means I do minimal work without monetary incentive. I do get food and drink and a good time. Kim sends me a text saying he’ll be around to collect me ‘after nine’, which translates as ‘about ten’. Collect Regan (who’ll no doubt tell you I woke her up, even though she texted me before I was even awake. Stop in the café to see Julie and then into Perth.

Coffee bean shopping. I see Regan’s home and scooter (mostly the scooter). Clothes shopping, 5 minutes to buy jeans and shoes. I get a pair of beach shoes, reduced from $69 to $5. Meet Kim’s son Dale. Dale is sure to mention that his girlfriend told him all about my origami and card tricks. Cake shopping, Bunnings, Wollworths (dark chocolate) and LiquorLand (red wine, 6 bottles for $24).

Back to the café to drop stuff off and Julie gives me some chicken (dinner) and bread (breakfast). Some washing powder from Kim and then Doug (my landlord) and Ree (his Thai wife) invite me and Kim over for dinner (authentic Thai). I take over one of my bottles of red and they feed me too much. It’s a good night. Strange how the meal feels more like home food than anything else I’ve eaten recently, especially the lychee dessert.



May 29th

With Regan out of town and Julie collecting the bread I get a bit of a lie in. I need it after those four(?) glasses of red last night. The whisperings of my inner backpacker are getting louder and telling me to look at flights. I hope it’s just the wine.

I’m at the café by half nine and work 09h30-16h30. Amanda comes in for a short while, but is ill and Julie sends her home. With Julie in the kitchen and me behind the counter we have our busiest second day yet.

I clock-out at half four, but it’s half six before I’m back at the donga after running a few errands for Julie. Cook myself dinner and call my Ma to think her for the birthday card. I assume it’s a birthday card; I’ll have to wait until Friday to open it.



May 30th

Up early to place a bread order and back to the Donga to get ready for the day. work 09h00 – 17h00 in the café. Without too many customers we get a lot of odd jobs done (fixing computers, electrics, furniture, etc). Still a little under the weather so a quiet night in with my book.



May 31st

Up at seven to order bread at half past. Shower and change. Pick up bread and get to the café just after nine to open by myself. Amanda helps in the kitchen until one ish and Diana is around in the morning. It’s a quiet day. Kim helps out in the afternoon. Work though until half five.

I walk over to see Regan and welcome her back to Lano. Apparently I’m evil, but no-one notices it behind my innocence. She gives me my birthday present a day early, it starts off as fun and games and quickly gets very (very) weird.



June 1st – Happy Birthday Me!!!

Wake up early and open the birthday card from my Ma, Sis and family before anything else. Complete with take-away Chinese menu.

Work 09h00 – 16h00 Julie greets me at the door with Happy Birthdays.  Kim compliments my pink nail varnish. Helen and Winnie come in for a birthday lunch; there’s cake and hats and a card and presents (lucky scratch cards from Helen and thongs from Julie).

After work I hop on my bike to see if I can find anything exciting to do in Lano on a Friday night of a long weekend. The Lodge, the Angling Club and the Tavern. Nothing. A shower and I pick Regan up to go to the Angling club for Happy Hour, pool (I win) and some wedges.

Back to the Donga for another glass of wine and food. Regan passes out before finishing her glass. It’s eight o’clock.



June 2nd

Bread order from Julie at 20 past seven. I run Regan home and start my day. We’re at work by nine, with only half of the bread order. It’s crazy busy. We sell out of pretty much everything. Regan leaves at half four to go for a run and I arrange to pick her up on my way back so she doesn’t have to run along the road. It’s half five before I finish and Regan is almost home.

A few more errands for Kim and Julie and back to the Donga to veg. It’s been a long day, with no breaks, and tomorrow promises to be longer.



June 3rd

Work 08h30 – 16h45

The bread order hardly fits into the yellow car, but I get it all in. Collect Regan and start at the café. It’s another long day and we sell out of almost everything. Again. Tired, I crash out with Regan and a film (T2). Luckily I’ll get Tuesday off.

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