Not a travel blog update. More of a staying in one place blog.

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Hey everyone. Just a quick update today with a few photos. I'm still in Busselton and still pruning all week. Not a whole lot to report. The big news is i did in fact buy a car. It's a 95 ford falcon with a massive rear end to store all the crap i may accumulate. It set me back 2000, but i believe i can resell it in a city for twice the amount. It also runs on both Petroleum(or gasoline to Canadians) and natural gas(lpg). The lpg gas is almost half the price and it lasts longer as well. That should be good for the long road trips.

The Pruning job is going very well at the moment. If i can bring myself to work a full 5 day week I can earn more than 1000$. I am reluctant to move on as i doubt I'll be finding anymore 200$ a day jobs in Australia. I enjoy working outside as well as the weather is normally phenomenal. I'm back to looking like an arab with my tan again. Unfortunately the pruning season is just "wrapping up" (pun intended). By the end of next week I will need to find a new job again. There's plenty of work around here but I'll have to go to something that pays an hourly rate. Minimum wage will still be in the 18-20$/hour range but I'm not too keen on taking the huge paycut. I may move on, but i haven't quite decided yet.

I'm still enjoying the hostel life. I've decided that i should teach myself japanese as i have 15 teachers at the moment. It seems to be a pretty logical and easy language to learn. I've already picked up a surprising amount. The other benefit of being around so many Japanese people is all the free food. There is seldom a night where i don't get an amazing Japanese meal made for me. In repayment, last weekend the other english speakers and myself made a huge roast meal with all the veggies and desserts. The roast was massive and cost 65 dollars. My apologies to any relatives who've cooked roast dinners for holidays, but this was the best I've ever had if i can say that myself. That's about all I'm up to at the moment. Still going on road trips throughout the area. There is way too much to see and do around here. This weekend I'm planning a spelunking trip as there is supposed to be some really nice caves in the area.

Im out for now. I'll keep in touch. Later,
Brian

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Photos

everything is backwards
It's taking me awhile to get used to this. Everytime I signal i turn the windsheild wipers on instead.

Nice sunset

The Roast Meal
The roast meal the english speakers cooked up for the japanese in repayment for all the japanese meals.

mmmm tasty
Sorry to all my relatives who've cooked christmas diners but this was the best roast meal i've had.

Comments

[Aunt K]

Brussel sprouts?!?
Yeah, like you would ever those at home. It sounds like you are having a great time. Japanese would be a good language to master, go for it!! Peter and I are holidaying on the Oregon coast now so the beach pictures were quite "ho Hum" (oh I'm so cruel) The food pictures and the picture of the gang on the was very good. Nice car.

[Granny]

As one of your "relatives who've cooked Christmas dinners", I must say that your roast meal does look very tasty! I haven't had Brussels Sprouts for ages. Your mother and I are cooking Thanksgiving Dinner for our whole damily - perhaps we should ask you for some tips!

[Yo' Dadde']

Hey my son: That looked like about as good a feed as anyone's seen in these parts for a loooonnnng time. Like Karen said: Go for it w.r.t. the Japanese language. It will come in extremely, very, most, handy when you land in Nippon. It could mean a headache or two in the early going, but I had a guy from Quebec [who grew up knowing no English at all and who learned English in a camp in the NWT with all other Anglos] tell me that the headache period is short-lived. The car looks like a regular old work horse. Hopefully it is in good shape and won't require a lot of repairs. Take care Bri. Be blessed! D.