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My last week in Australia. I do a few hours work here and there, but mostly I read and enjoy the sun for a change. If you’re looking for a TravelBlog don’t read this, you’ll be disappointed. Come back next week.

July 23rd

Rough night’s sleep. The rain at four o’clock is loud enough to wake me. Great to listen to, but not so great for dragging my lazy arse out of bed five hours later. Move some gas bottles and run some errands. I collect a washing basket full of paperwork and a laptop from the hardware. Alternate between data entry and wandering around town doing odd chores.

I think I have a cold. Sleep eludes me and I spend hours staring at the ceiling.



July 24th

It takes time to get motivated to get out of bed. Neither the cold nor the restless hours before dropping off help. Another day spent doing odd jobs, getting ready for SA and doing data entry for the hardware. Coffee with Helen at lunch. Meet Pam’s new puppy (Penny, golden lab). Diane calls to invite to dinner tomorrow. And Kim drops off some pies. Not a bad day.

Looking up the exchange rate for Africa and I don’t know what to use as a base rate. It should be GBP (13.2), but I got use to USD (8.5) in Asia and I’ve gotten used to AUS (8.75) over the last nine months. None are particularly easy to convert to.



July 25th

Another day lazy days broken up with a few hours data entry. The things I do to survive. A ride across town for dinner (awesome spag bog) with Diane and family. I’ve missed spending time with English peoples. A few glasses of wine and a couple of beers and Diane offers me a lift back. I could probably do with the exercise of ridding, but it’s cold!

Too much food!!

It’s low twenties during the day and five degrees at night. I can’t remember what that means in England, but here it means hats and coats. The only reason I don’t wear more layers is because I don’t have any more.



July 26th

A walk to fetch my bike and a cuppa. I fill the rest of my day around the reading and enjoying the sun. Some data entry to justify my existence and a few odd jobs. A ride up to see Kim; drop off the cafe t-shirts and pay the last of my rent. There’s talk of a party before I leave.



July 27th

Drop off the last paperwork to the hardware and collect $200 cash; I’m feeling generous. Sit in the sun to read. First time I’ve worn sunscreen since forever. Ride to the Lodge to steal two tea bags. Trish offers me a lift to Perth on Tuesday. Diane calls; she’s having a bad day. She buys me a coffee (read: hot chocolate) and I take the mick out of northerners and their silly accents. It’s a good day.



July 28th – Fuzzy Nation

It’s the small hours before I fall asleep so it’s ten before I awake. I have nothing to do today so do I need to get up? It’s a warm day, even with the wind. I alternate between riding around town and reading. I read a whole book. Not a bad day.

From next week my life goes back to running on batteries. At least until I can find an adapter. I start charging everything.

I feel the need to be social so I walk to the Tavern, but there’s not a soul there. Walking back I pass a group that looks like it might be heading out, but they’re drunk already. I’ll find out tomorrow that there’s a beauty pageant (Miss Lancelin) happening at the inn if I’d have kept walking.



July 29th

I’m working at the cafe from nine, but fist I have to collect the bread so up before eight. :( Quiet for a Sunday, but I keep busy. Julie is in a happy mood and things run smoothly; not a bad last day. :) Kim invites me to have a drink his balcony after work. It’s Kim, Kim’s mum, Julie, Helen, Richard and me. A few beers, a few goodbyes and a bite to eat. It’s sad to think that I’m doing some things for the last time ever.



July 30th – last day.

Time to pack my bags. Whilst I have been sorting through some of my stuff I haven’t packed a single thing yet. I out some washing on and pack what I can until everything has dried. I run a few errands; help Karin with one last job, say a few more goodbyes and agree a time with Trev for tomorrow.

A pair of jeans Kim gave me when I got here used to be too big around the waist. Now they’re almost the right size. Too much comfortable living.

I want to send a parcel home; I’m going to race it. It weighs 1.075 kg and will cost $25.95. If it was 75g lighter it’d cost $21.40. That’s an expensive 75g.

Dinner with Diana and Mark and family. Could be my last home cooked meal for a while. We play Scrabble and it’s a good evening. I’m glad to be moving on, but there are some things I am going to miss.

Just looking at the weather for Cape Town and Durban. If I think it’s cold and wet in WA I might find SA hard going. :(



Goodbye forever it's time for me to go.

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