Kings canyon

Kings canyon

Kings Canyon

Kings Canyon

Kings Canyon

Kings Canyon was awesome!
The weather was really nice too (cold is comparison to Darwin). I nearly died when I got off the plane and they told me it was 22 degrees I thought I was going to freeze to death!!

Then the next day we were picked up early (6am) ready for our tour… we were lucky as it was a great group of people and we had so much fun!! I sat at the back with Sara and Jerome. First stop was Kings Canyon

Then we went out to Bojangles and Eva bought me dinner.. I had croc, roo, buffalo, emu, and camel!! YUM!!!!

Alice Springs

The next day we went to Crocodylus.. plenty of photos from that but I decided you probably have enough croc photos on my blog and you can probably imagine them!
It was great though.. both got to feed the big crocs, hold baby ones and they were filming for a national geographic documentary and making the crocs chase after this guy.. who ran away squealing every time it did.. but am sure it will be edited differently and it will be a Steve Irwin type croc wrestling show!!.. anyway.. a tooth fell out the croc one time when they bashed it to protect themselves and eh threw it up for someone to catch.. it hit me on the head.. I figure that’s pretty much a catch!!
Then we flew into Alice.. Michael had warned me to absolutely not wander around in the dark at all.. so we made sure we got some shots of us next to all the police cars in town..!

I thought I was ready for my last day of work before my holidays but when it came to leaving I was amost in tears as I didnt want to leave my babies for 2 whole weeks!! Oh god forbid what I am going to be like when I leave them for 8 weeks!!
But after work I ran hoem to meet Eva.. luckily she was delayed which gave me a bit of time to make up her bed and stuff and cook her some greek feta a spinach pies!
That first night we gossiped till late and then fell asleep unconsious.. needless to say as all visitors are Eva was in shock about how hot it is.. you know like being in a steam room constantly!! so it took her a while to adjust.. !
It was Saturday the next day so I dragged Eva to Parap markets and then we had a wander round town and I bought some new shorts for work.. we are not allowed hotpants so I needed some kneelength ones.. I have been surviving on one pair of shorts which means constant washing which is a real pain!
We planned to go out on the town but were knackered and came home instead. But then we decided we really should book what we were going to be doing. I had booked a kakadu trip Eva had suggested but Eva was worried about the amount of walking so we cancelled it.. so after a bit of stress we booked flights to Alice springs and a tour of Uluru, Kings Canyon and Kata Tjuta.. leaving on the Tuesday! woohoo!!
Eva has been doing belly dancing lessons back home so she gave me some lessons.. lets just say its not my skill in life!!
On the Sunday we went to Rapid Creek Markets, Nightcliff Markets and then headed to Casuarina to do some shopping as Eva wanted some cooler clothes!

I know i know i am really behind!! you wouldnt beleive how many places I have been and how many photos I have taken in the last few weeks!! It will take me an age to catch up!!
But for now I am back at work.. and Michael and i have booked flights for the UK!!! we arrive in the Uk on 18th JULY!!! wooohooo!! we are so excited!!!!

I'm so tired I could cry!!! Thank god Eva is arriving tomorrow and I have 2 weeks off work!! I still love work I am just tired and ready for a holiday..!
So only one more day to get through! I have to go back into work in a minute and go to a staff meeting till 8pm..oh joy! ah not so bad...cant complain.. all money and all that!!
So no idea what Eva and I will be up to this week..but am sure we will be having fun!!
CONGRATULATIONS LAURA.. just got an email from Alex.. they've just had a little boy.. Joseph.. CONGRATULATIONS!! I bought him a little babygrow at the weekend so will be sending it asap! Little Lucy looked gorgeous in the photos too! am so upset havent got to see them all.. one day!

Michael flew in yesterday and visited last night which was great.. was great to see him..he had to leave for a job today in Kakadu but hopefully we will see each other soon. We have been talking on the phone quite a bit lately and he sent me roses at work last week which was a lovely surprise.. who doesnt like to get sent flowers at work?!

Me and Amber out on the town.

So after our night out we had a much needed lay in before heading off to Nightcliff markets, and Casuarina shopping mall. I tried on a dress which I should have bought but decided to think about.. lets hope its still there next weekend!!
Now were knackered and are going to crash in front of a film or two.. cant believe its Monday already tomorrow and I have to be back at work!!

Amber and Melissa do Darwin

We had an awesome night out last night.. went and had a few drinks and cocktails etc and generally just had a reat time!!

Amber reckons that its the best haircut she has ever had.. maybe I should take up hairdressing?!!

Now were back at my place.. Amber has her laptop here and internet which is awesome!! (YAY!!) unfortunately she’s booked her flights out to NZ already.. I was looking forward to her moving in.. damn!! And she came armed with a new book for me and gifts from lush.. if only thye had a lush shop in Darwin!!
I’ve just dyed Ambers hair purple with permanent dye and she’s just washing her hair to see what its gonna be like.. and then I apparently have to cut it for her.. she’s a brave girl!!!! Or insane… either or!!!
Tonight were gonna go and see some Darwin nightlife!! Yay!!!

Then we headed into town to Crocosaurus Cove for some crocs.. no visit to Darwin is complete without crocs.. have been trying to persuade Amber she needs to eat some croc as well but since shes a vegetarian she’s not buying it! Anyway it was cool.. we got to hold a baby croc, and a blue tongued lizard.. it was cool!!

We have had a consultancy team into my work this week, inspecting every move we make, asking endless questions who are going to “turn our centre around” I had to go into work today on Saturday for a meeting.. there are changes that will be put into place immediately.. and $20 grand will be put into resources in the next 2 weeks and $80 grand into “structural changes”. I think its all good though hopefully good things will come out of it.. unless they give me personally a bad report that is and then I’ll cry.. but so far they keep raving about my room… using it as all the examples of how a room should look in the meetings.. I have spent a hell of a lot of time putting up displays.. so all was good apart from when they asked me where the key was to my fire extinguisher and I hadn’t got a clue.. didn’t know it was locked! But this centre desperately needs this. Their first observation was apparently how stressed our team is.. and the high turnover of staff… so they want to make us happy..
Anyway.. the first night with Amber we watched a DVD and chatted, the next day we wandered round town after work and then gossiped till late.. and now its Saturday.. we went to Parap markets and had a good wander round
Then we headed into town on the bus.. Amber was so funny.. she was scared she was going to throw up with the stench.. saying “OMG Melissa surely you can’t smell it as much as me, why aren’t you passing out” to which my reply is “ Um I’ve got used to it.. every day on the bus” I am always scared of catching something..! so Amber is not mad keen on Darwin..which is a shame as the weather has started to get great.. dry season starting.. ie dry sunshine!! Yay.. admittedly its still a shock for people first arriving.. I saw Ambers comment on facebook “WTF?!! 130% humidity?!!!” but you get used to it and now its cooler than it has been ever since I arrived but the sun is different more the burning sort than the humid one.. its lovely!!

At the Nightcliff markets around the corner from my house they have all sorts of random stuff so I try to get new and unusual stuff all the time.. this time turkey eggs.. which have a surprisingly strong membrane you have to cut with a knife.. but taste normal!!!
So Amber flew in during the night a few nights ago.. I had work from 7:30am till 9pm and then went home to bed till she flew in at 1:30am.. she hammered on my door for 10 minutes beginning to think she had the wrong place before I finally woke from my slumber..!! Then a gossip and hugs all round before falling into bed and up for work at 6:30am.. so a tad tired then!!
But its great having her here.. being able to gossip!!

So these are the coconuts growing on the trees lining the trees here… yeah it isn’t just called Coconut Grove for the fun of it!!

A beautiful Sunset in Fannie Bay.. yeah my local Beach is in Fannie Bay and I live in Dickward Drive.. I’ll leave you to think up some good jokes!!
Unfortunately this sunset was the night Michael and I split up.. I loved watching our sunsets together.. but what will be will be. I haven’t watched a sunset since..

Michael building friends house in Humpty Doo (yeah towns with names like that do actually exist!!)
And dinner in our flat!

So these photos of me and Michael are old ones.. I'm just downloading my camera..
so this one was dinner on the back of the ute on Darwin ute.
and Michael with his power tool outside our flat..
They are still happy memories so I dont want to not put them on here..

By thw way if anyones about to give birth to a boy theres 4 Coopers in my class.. Cooper B, Cooper F, Cooper W, Cooper H.. I'd suggest that its getting a little popular..

So might not make it online for a few days since Amber will be arriving tomorrow and it sounds like she's going to be keeping me busy!! There I was looking forward to moping around with a tub or icecream and she's talking gyms and things!! Sound slike she has lots of plans so she will be keeping me out of trouble and she is going to look for a job for a few weeks to earn some cash..
Everyones (and I mean Everyone) favourite question to ask me is what the hell I am doing... to which all I can say is "I really dont know!!' Not very helpful but the most honest answer I can give!!

I actually went out!!

I have had to force myself to leave the house evenings and weekends lately. I have been miserable without Michael.
But this weekend I did good! I physically forced myself out and about!
On Friday night we had a work do which was a good laugh, we went down the wharf for dinner and I had a camel burger! I dont usually get much of a chance to talk to people at work as I am always too busy so it was nice to get to know people better!
Then the next day I was meant to be babysitting Archie so i set my alarm for 7:30am ready for her to pick me up at 8:15am.. she texted at 7:45am to say she needed more of a lay in but still wanted me but a bit later.. 4 hours later still no word so I went out with Anna to the mall.. still no word all bloody weekend!! How rude!! the least she could have done was apologise and cancel and say she ddnt need me after all!
Sunday I went and saw Twilight at the cinema again with Anna.. and bought the book "New Moon" the sequal and amost finished it.. reckon i'll get it finished tonight!!!
Now its Monday again and I'm back at work.. Wednesday Amber is flying in to come and stay with me.. she has separated from her husband this past weekend so we can mope around together..!

Compliments are always nice!!

I had a shitty day at work yesterday with demanding parents complaining about everything.. Today though parents were complimenting me left right and centre saying how wonderful my room is and how different it is and how happy they are? Dont know what I've done different since yesterday but its always nice to hear!!
Probably shouldnt mention to them that I'm leaving in a couple of months..!
Last night Anna and I went out for our tea at the Vic.. was manic in town last night since it was St Patrick's day which is huge over here.. at 4:30pm when I finished work there were people throwing up in the streets! unfortuntely that meant the bus was dodgy on the way home too.. stacks of aboriginal people getting scary, a horrible guy spat in Anna's face, others getting ansty because I wouldnt give them money.. and on the bus they laid into these Asian guys for being in their country.. Thats apart from the unconsious people just laying there.. and this poor aboriginal drunk woman being taken advantage of by them. Its so hard to know what to do.. they get aggressive when you look at them and they get aggressive when you look at the ground and avoid eye contact..
So I've kind of started popping into the library after work to check my emails since its free.. may as well while I have the time.. and it keeps me occupied and out of trouble!

So.. at least the weeks at work go by quickly. One minute its Monday, the next it is Friday..I get asked around every 10 minutes when I will be leaving and begging me not to and to let them sponsor me to stay. I can understand their stress they need to know whether to replace me.. I have finally said end of May I will leave..not sure what date.. but I will definately not be at work for June. I figure that gives me a chance to save up.
Its not that I dont like Darwin as such I actaully love it being so exotic and different from anywhere else I've been and i love having a pink gecko that runs around my house! If I had a reason to stay I would.. but I do like seasons and I hate cockroaches.. I hate sweeping up after meals at the childcare centre and having to bash to cockroaches.
How clean and tidy my house is depends on how happy I am.. when I was with Michael I was really untidy and since he is a biut of a neat freak this used to drive him crazy.. but I was happy.. now the house is immaculate.. oh well you cant win!!
I also hate the fear of not being safe to go anywhere at night. I never considered myself as racist before and am ashamed of myself but the aboriginal people here are just scary. They start hassling you for $2 or a cigarette and get aggressive and chase you for them. I've heard of them killing people for a cigarette. They are just so aggressive and scary. Then theres the smell. The bus is a scary thing.. when people with dead eyes attempt to crawl/stagger on the bus, scabs, cuts and bruises oozing, bandages on various parts of their body, clothes torn and ragged, and a stench that makes you retch.. I hope to see the other side of their culture on Eva and I's trip into kakadu.
Anna is leaving on the 14th April for Bali so I shall miss her once shes gone, then I wont have anyone to hang out with. She came over for dinner last night, and tonight we are going down the vic for our free meal. usually shes working double shifts though at the childcare centre and at an old folks home so its hard to find the time to meet up. But it was cool last night.. we went to sit on the beach and watch the lightening..
I plan to book the Kakadu tour for Eva and I tomorrow.. am looking forward to that.! not long till shes here (she flies in 3rd April)

Thank You God

Whatever happens and whatever has happaned I am forever greatful for the last 3 and a half months with Michael. They were magical and blissful and I loved every moment I spent with him.
So what have I been up to? where should I start?
Last time I updated i was waiting for him to fly in and really unhappy at work.
Before he flew in I lost the plot at work and started crying and couldnt stop and actually handed my notice in.. and they begged me to stay and reconsider and said they were having problems downstairs too and wanted to reaarange all the staff, so I moved downstairs and now I have a gorgeous little class of 18month-2 year year olds. Just 10 of them and my assistant Kate. They are great!!
So Michael flew in which was obviously great, we looked at a flat that night and accepted it and spent the weekend being very couply getting all the stuff for our flat and moving in and making it homely! It was scary (so quick!!) but great!
But I kept looking into his eyes and seeing the sadness in his eyes that he had left his children and felt like the worst father in the world. This came to a head on Tuesday night we split up and then we got trashed which didnt help the situation to say the least. I should know myself by now that when I'm upset I shouldnt drink.. So there was no chance of going to work the next morning part from vomiting constantly, still being drunk, I couldnt stop crying.. Michael had to go to work for a couple of hours the next day so he took me with him, then we came back and talked some more and realised he was going back to his children, and ultimately his wife. I texted her to let her now and she flew in the next day.. so there we are. We spent a last night crying and clinging to each other realsing we loved each other like nothing else either of us have experienced before, and now he's gone. They started travelling back to Perth today. I miss him so much and love him, but what will be will be. He has to sort himself out. He wasnt ready (even though he was the one pushing for the flat etc) So here I am with a flat I cant really afford, in a town I only got a job in to be with him. At first my first response was to hand my notice in and get myself back to england with my tail beiween my legs cryng my eyes out. Obviously I spent days staring at the four walls balling my eyes out. BUT friends have made me reconsider. I am a stubborn so and so.. I came to this country to see it all and I would regret it for the rest of my life if I dodnt see it all..
So in order to do that I may as well stay ithe job I enjoy a bit longer to save up soem trvael funds.. how long for I dont know.. for the moment I have 2 weeks booked off work in April when Eva comes and visits from Holland and I am looking foreard to that. I know I will spend alot of money then as I want to do some travelling with her and see and do things I havent done before.. then i will go back to my job.. work hard for a bit and then who knows.. Amber is trying to persuade me to go to Port Douglas and I have to say its tempting!

WW2 Storage tunnels

Then Anna came over and we went for a 2.5 hour swim till we were knackered and very prune like while trying to avoid man in pool trying to initiate dirty conversation while trying to touch us up.. so we snuck off down the vic where I have just found out backpackers get a free dinner..
last night camel lasagne, chips and salad.. and yes I mean free.. and yes I shall be there everynight from now on!!
Now its Sunday.. Anna got called into work and has ended up doing a double shift so I went into Casuarina and bought some much needed new undies.. I always seem to be needing to do my washing.. I also bought a greek phrase book so I can understand Michael!
Its unfortunate its Monday tomorrow so back to work.. i had a look in the paper and had a little look at other jobs.. I am trying to stick it out till I have 2 weeks booked off starting on 3rd April when Eva flies into Darwin.. but am just taking it a day at a time.. if i start thinking its forver it gets too depressing..! Obviously I will find another job as dont want to be miserable!
Thankfully Michael flies back up here on Thursday thank god..! Of course I am training at work till 8:30pm..!

After a crappy week at work and struggling to make it through each day without handing in my notice.. and doing days like 7am till 8pm I was a tad tired and grumpy.. being in a dorm where people dont seen to need to sleep and missing Michael like crazy I was going insane.
So it hit Saturday and I decided to do something with my day off. Apparently a lie in wasnt going to happen after all my room noisily got up at 7am so I headed into town and swapped my book for another one at the book swap shop, went to the library and parliament house, and looked at the WW2 memorials and bombing sites and the WW2 storage tunnels..