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If you’re looking for a TravelBlog and not a diary don’t read this. Until I earn enough for my ticket to Africa, there’s not much happening in my travels other than work.

June 18th

I stop at 19 Horton to pick-up some pot plants before I head to work. They’ve started on the wall to separate the two halves of the house. It’s a quiet Monday in the café. I start a little early so I can help Julie unpack some stuff and mix my day up with a few odd jobs. It’s a late finish since Julie wants to move the furniture around. The café is starting to look real homey.

I plan to do some hours at the hardware tonight, but by the time I get back to Lano, claim my $2 from the scratch cards and catch-up with Helen it’s too late. I take the bike for a ride around the town, stopping to see Karin to talk about holidays and work. I finish with a ride along the beach at sunset looking for dolphins.

To thank me for my awesomeness Julie gave me a tub of ham and vegetable soup (the soup I made the other day). I add pepper and Parmesan and eat it with a crusty loaf. It’s good. I realize I’ve left my glasses at the café and, being blind without them, I call Julie to arrange to collect them.

I pull over by the side of the road on the way back to watch the stars.



June 19th

Woken up at four by a door banging in its frame. I have to get up and wedge a cloth in it. Don’t really get back to sleep. Kim send me a text saying it’s too busy for handyman work today, but Julie and Amanda are crook (read: sick) so head over to the café at ten. Anne is working the front of shop. It’s as busy as you would expect a wet and windy Tuesday to be.

A quick look online for flights to Africa. A flight to Durban at the start of August with Emirates is $1,000. With a 21 hour layover in Dubai.

I’ve left the parking lights on (Google point me?) and have to get Kim to give me a jump start before I can go home. Where is home? It’s cold, wet and I’m tired. Very tired.



June 20th

Another day off. With nowhere to be I lie in bed with my book until ten; listening to the rain. After breakfast (fried eggs on crust loaf) I take the bike out. Stop in and See Karin (and the pictures of her new puppies). Do two hours at the hardware.

Time the ride back perfectly; just sipping a hot Milo and heating the last bowl of soup when it starts to rain. Sit and read until I get a message from Kim. A bike ride along the beach; windy, but amazing scenery. Drink tea with Kim and talk about being millionaires. Back to the Donga; I’m just shutting the door when it starts to rain again.

I miss having Regan to talk with in the evenings. Even about nothing.



June 21st

Damn it’s cold. Get myself washed and dressed and almost onto the highway before I get a message from Kim telling me I’m starting an hour later than planned. It’s a slow day once I do start at the café. Hardly any work and Kim and Julie are having a bad day. Without justification to pay me Julie sends me home at two. I drop the car off and cycle over to the hardware for two hours. Anna talks about paying me and gives me a lettuce. I stop in to ask Karin about her puppies.

Anna asks if I want/need any more work, a farmer is after a laborer. She doesn’t have the hours or the rates and I doubt I can fit any more work into my week so I turn it down. But there’s work out there if I want it.

It’s going to be colder tonight than it was last night.



June 22nd

It’s COLD!!! Even with the heater on all night and the air-con heater on a timer it’s colder this morning than yesterday. And tomorrow is meant to be colder.

Back working for Kim I’m at the chalets at half nine with the Ute. Move a few bits of furniture and then on yard cleaning duty. Gavin (local grass butcher) runs up a tree with a chainsaw in one hand and lops off dead branches. I spend the rest of the morning picking them up and putting them in the Ute and raking the leaves. Am I raking the leaves or raking the grass?

Lunch at the café so I can move some furniture upstairs. Acquire some dried up muffins. Back to Lano. Negotiate pay with Anna; she wants to pay me $23.50 per hour, I want $20 per hour. We agree on $17 per hour cash and I walk out $170 heavier.

Lock myself out of the Dongha, grab the trailer from Kim, collect some more branches and take them to the dump. It’s cold and dark before I return my spare key to Kim. It’s Friday night and my plan is to cook dinner (muffin stir-fry) and watch a movie. Maybe read a book. I give my sis a quick call and arrange to call again tomorrow.



June 23rd

It’s even colder today. Leave the Donga at nine to collect pies and head to the café for half nine. A steady flow of peoples, but quiet for a Saturday. Everything is swept and mopped by three. Head straight to the hardware store. Anna and Ian want to get on with their weekend and close early so I call it a day after an hour and a half.

Doug is at the Donga when I ge back so I help fix some lights and then lock the doors to get a bite to eat (another muffin stir-fry). Snuggle down with the heating on and call my Sis at six (10 GMT). She tells me there’s nothing in England to rush home for so if spending time with a certain girl makes me happy then I should maybe spend more time doing that.

I help myself to Julie’s (or Regan’s) last pear cider.



June24th

Is it getting warmer or am I getting used to it? Bakery run and at the café by half nine. Julie opens the doors as soon as I get there and there’s a never ending trickle of people. Close the doors at three and I’m away by half past. The hardware’s closed so I park the car, grab the bike and follow the beach looking for a spot to read.

The temperature starts to drop when the sun starts to set. Back to the Gonga for another muffin stir-fry. Six muffins left. Another night in with Milo, a movie and my book.

I call home.

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