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I dont really quite know where to start. I suppose I should start with saying this is really going to be the end of my travels in Australia. I cant believe that I haven't written my blog since Sept. That is seriously slack of me. I think it is also down to a little evil thing called facebook. But I am back now.
So, since last Sept, what have I been up to? I think this will have to be a very brief and undetailed run down. After a lot of umming and ahhing when I initially got back from visiting London in Sept I decided I would stay in Aus for the foreseeable future. I was then living very happily with Janet in Rose Bay (very nice part of the world, well that was until some bastards broke into her car and stole the radio 3 weeks ago! I suppose it is still a nice area though.) Work was going very well. I ended up loving my job on 4East. After the initial settling in period there, I became very happy there. Then around March I started feeling like I was missing home more and more. It was definitely
was linked to my sister Toshy visiting in Feb (but more of that later). I decided i would come back to the motherland then. I now leave Australia for good in 5 days. i left work last friday (May 30th). After a very hard weekend of partying, I had 2 leaving parties! I now feel ready to leave. So now, back to what i have been up to for the last 9 months...
I have been reverting to childhood and been dressing up a bit. First came Halloween, and the infamous dead-cheerleader outfits. Then was the Princess (for a P-Party). Also been to the races last month. i will try to attach as many photos as i can, there has been a lot taken over the last 9 months. So much in fact, I had to purchase an external hard drive, for those who know me, I am particularly technologically inept, so this was a big thing.
Since in the country, I have been to The Killers, Justin Timberlake, Beyonce, jack Johnson concerts, V-festival. Ross Noble (comedian, and sooo funny, if you can see him!) As well as the more cultural Carmen, the opera. Which Tosh Janet and I
Tree top walk
Valley of the Giants. Mum very scared (she is going to kill me when I get home. hee hee)went to see and enjoyed.
My Mum came over in Dec before Xmas (which I spent in the ward working, then at Caroline's quite drunk, as opposed to on the beach like last year). We met in West Australia, in Perth. I love Perth. I stayed with Caroline's family for a few days before my Mum arrived form Brunei. We then went on a many many Km trip. My granddad came to WA in 1923 for 5 years (ish) and we tried to visit some of the places that he went to. We drove about 3,000km in total (if I remember correctly). Down to Margaret River, then Pemberton, Esperance, Kalgoorlie then back to Perth. It was amazing. We felt like we had covered at least 60% of WA. Then we looked at a map and realised it was just a tiny postage stamp in the corner, shows how Massive this country is. We went on a tree top walk in Valley of the Giants, which was fantastic, for me anyway. Mum is scared of heights, which I was very sympathetic to, and found quite hilarious and took many pictures (sorry Mum). Kalgoorlie is an outback mining town. We went
Melbourne cup day
Chris and I, very sober! on a brothel tour whilst there, and some redneck housekeeper stole my clinique eyeliner from our hotel room. Strange the things you remember! Mum left just before Xmas and I went back to Syd.
The next big thing to happen was Toshy coming to visit. She came at the beginning of Feb for 3 weeks. I had an amazing itinerary planned for us, which was completely thwarted by the weather. It is not always sunny in the Australian summers I need to add. Well, thats a bit of an exaggeration, it wasn't totally thwarted, we just had to re-route our plan a bit. After one nice sunny day of 4 in Syd, we went up the coast to Byron Bay, where we met Tosh's friend luke, who I am now great friends with too. He was back in Australia visiting his family who are from Melbourne. We stayed with him and his mum at Broken Head for a few nights, and then in a couple of Hostels in Byron. Toshy managed quite a bit of surfing whilst here. I only got one lesson with her cos I got the WORST ear infection ever, which I got from a swimming
My, what a big trunk
You can see why the call it valley of the giants. WA '07 pool my friend Sara was house/mansion sitting for (though we had endless fun at that place). I mention it because the pain is still fresh. i have unending sympathy for anyone who gets ear infections. I couldn't eat solid food for 5 days at one point, and it last 3 weeks in total. Anyway, enough about my afflictions. Oh yes, Byron. well, our plan was to then fly to the Whitsundays for the reef, but they had the most torrential storms in 50 years )or something) and then place was totally flooded and a no-go. We ended up going to Melbourne instead. which was a great move. Melb was in the middle of a heat wave, so Tosh got to experience 35c heat (it got even hotter after we left). I got to catch up with my good friend Tash (who i used to work with on Pevensey ward) and also Luke again who was back from Byron. the weather was great for the rest of Tosh's trip and we went back to Syd and had a great time being girly and getting manicures and hanging out at the beach. After she went, i missed her so much, as i
South Head
Back drop of Sydney at sunset said this is when I started thinking about coming home.
I had a good birthday, at the Argyle, in the rocks. Luke came down for that one too. Recently Bluey (kiwi Chris) has been to Syd to visit me before I go. I think the rest of my time inbetween these 2 big trips have been filled up with spending time with some very good friends I have made (mostly partying) and also working. I have to say a big goodbye to 4 east ward. I learnt a hell of a lot there, of which I will bring back to the UK. I need to give a special mention to some of the girls i have made friends with. Karen, Carrie, Erin. They are the hardcore bunch who always came out and made me feel so welcome in Australia. We had a brilliant trip to the Hunter Valley as a ward, i will always remember the Rose' that we discovered there! But really, everyone on 4 East made my time in Australia brilliant and they are a very special team. If I get Cancer, i want them to be my nurses! Not that I'm planning on getting Cancer anytime
Bad earache pool
Janet and I fully clothed and appropriate! soon!
From the friends I have made away from work, they have made my weekends endless fun. Caroline and Warren, who have always been there to go out with me and cook me dinner (and have xmas with). Also, thanks Warren for lending me the Guitar, of which now i am a genius of (believe that and you will believe anything!)
Sara, Gemma, Roelf, Sam, Al, Amo, Mick, Mackey and Presley (the dogs!) You have made my time here great, and have been responsible for me wearing ridiculous clothes and getting my flip flops (I refuse to call them thongs) eaten. I know I haven't mentioned everyone here, but I know who you are.
Chris, my best male friend over here. Who's Beach rd abode is legendary for the parties, as are his Sunday Roasts/BBQs!
Who else have I forgotten? Ha ha. JANET (just kidding on the forgetting front). Who has been the best friend here, without her this trip would not have been half as fun. Words cant describe how good she has been to me, and how much i will miss her. So I wont try to.
I apologise for the sickening love in. I
felt i needed to say it though. (Yes Amber, i can hear you puking)
So I suppose the last thing for me to say is farewell. i feel I have succeeded in my ambition. I dont know if I have totally excised the travel bug, but I certainly have done my living away from home and will now be very happy to settle down a bit more and buy things like pots and pans! I have learnt so much from this experience. I have been away nearly 20 months now, and feel that it is the right time for me to come home. I have a pregnant Gisele to be with, and a Mum and family who i miss so much. Thank you all for reading this Blog, and for Toshy in harassing me to write a final one. you never know, I may remember something amazing to add when I get back.
As I have always said... this isn't goodbye, it is just see you later.
XXX
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Gisele
non-member comment
Awwwwww......
Cant' wait for you to get back. Bun is firmly in oven until you arrive here! Enjoy the last few days xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx