Tuesday, May 13, 2008
Monday, May 12, 2008
Entrance to the Great Ocean Road
I was so excited to be finally doing the great ocean road, I'd heard so much about it.. and it was spectacular.. but i would like to do it again.. being on a tour (even working on one) taught me I am not a tour person.. and would not make a good tour guide.. I cannot be doing with rounding up all these people all deciding to go to the loo every five minutes or refusing to get off the bus because their tired.. so at least I learnt something about myself.. I had always looked at guiding jobs and wondered.. but no.. I would probably kill someone.
Wednesday, May 07, 2008
Congratulations Anna!!
My friend Anna from back home (Anna Champion nee Lovell) had a baby girl yesterday - shes called Lily.. she decided to come out a bit early so she's in special care as shes teeny weeny.. am thinking of you all.. wish I was there to meet her!
My life has been a bit up is the air the last few days..!
I got picked up in Geelong by the tour which was great, we went all along the great Ocean Road and I got stacks of amazing photos I will bore you all with soon!! I was so excited to see the Twelve Apostles etc!
We stayed the night in Warnabool which was a nice backpackers with a cute tiny kitten and then Dave pointed me to the kitchen as his mobile rang and instructed me to cook dinner for everyone.. no instructions, nothing.. so I found the ingredients for a stir fry and it seemed to turn out good, everyone polished it off which is always a good sign.. I figured that meant I was working for them in the tours after all I so I made a special effort to look after the guests, in particular an older (annoying) English woman who had gpt herself excluded from the rest of the group and the next day Dave sat in the van while I took them on a trek in the Grampians.. (which was beautiful.. and I only got them lost once?!). It was terrible weather but we went on another trek up a mountian which was great.. but really slippy, we had to come down on our arses!
Then we ended up at Naracoorte, which was to be my new home.. it was a workers hostel.. now if you've ever been to workers hostels you will know that they are dirty and party central.. so it was full of lots of drunken English backpackers.. I was straight away put to work preparing pizzas and a bbq which I only got to nibble on as I was told to go and wash up. The lady who i had, had my doubts about was having a screaming match with someone when i arrived and wouldnt even say hello to me, just shouted at me to do this and that and get this and go here and whenever Ia sked where something might be she got all stroppy.. after she'd had a go at me about some potatoes I decided the silent approach wasnt working and said something.. after which she actually aplogised and said she wasnt normally like this.. yeah right she still was really aggressive.. and when I spoke to other people its her normal behaviour and she takes advantage of backpackers.. basically charging them through the roof for everything.. the hostel was full of adorable kittens which was great.. but also full of dogs and cats and their shit everywhere.. I was in a noisy dorm of long termers with drug problems.. after I'd finished scrubbing the floors at 10pm and she said I still had to pay for the tour and then be up at 6am to dig out tree stumps.. she wouldnt give me a key to my room so my room mates got stroppy with me.. my room mates then didnt go to bed till 3am.. with all the fights and stuff and they couldnt afford to leave because they werent earning enough.. accomodation and transport was adding up.. so I made a decission to cut my losses.. she said she'd call the police if I didnt pay for the tour and accomodation so I did and I hitchhiked out of town.. it took me three rides to get the 3.5 hours.. 3 different guys who were really nice and friendly (maybe the truck driver was a tad overfriendly - but harmless anyway).
Then once in Adelaide I found a YHA (didnt want to risk another backpackers - at least I know YHA'S are clean and safe!).. had a nap and now here I am in the library searching the web and deciding what to do with my life..!
I've been checking out flights to Tassie - I think I might head to Hobart and see a friend for a few days and plan my next move. Its a good time to go see him before I get tied up in another job..!
My life has been a bit up is the air the last few days..!
I got picked up in Geelong by the tour which was great, we went all along the great Ocean Road and I got stacks of amazing photos I will bore you all with soon!! I was so excited to see the Twelve Apostles etc!
We stayed the night in Warnabool which was a nice backpackers with a cute tiny kitten and then Dave pointed me to the kitchen as his mobile rang and instructed me to cook dinner for everyone.. no instructions, nothing.. so I found the ingredients for a stir fry and it seemed to turn out good, everyone polished it off which is always a good sign.. I figured that meant I was working for them in the tours after all I so I made a special effort to look after the guests, in particular an older (annoying) English woman who had gpt herself excluded from the rest of the group and the next day Dave sat in the van while I took them on a trek in the Grampians.. (which was beautiful.. and I only got them lost once?!). It was terrible weather but we went on another trek up a mountian which was great.. but really slippy, we had to come down on our arses!
Then we ended up at Naracoorte, which was to be my new home.. it was a workers hostel.. now if you've ever been to workers hostels you will know that they are dirty and party central.. so it was full of lots of drunken English backpackers.. I was straight away put to work preparing pizzas and a bbq which I only got to nibble on as I was told to go and wash up. The lady who i had, had my doubts about was having a screaming match with someone when i arrived and wouldnt even say hello to me, just shouted at me to do this and that and get this and go here and whenever Ia sked where something might be she got all stroppy.. after she'd had a go at me about some potatoes I decided the silent approach wasnt working and said something.. after which she actually aplogised and said she wasnt normally like this.. yeah right she still was really aggressive.. and when I spoke to other people its her normal behaviour and she takes advantage of backpackers.. basically charging them through the roof for everything.. the hostel was full of adorable kittens which was great.. but also full of dogs and cats and their shit everywhere.. I was in a noisy dorm of long termers with drug problems.. after I'd finished scrubbing the floors at 10pm and she said I still had to pay for the tour and then be up at 6am to dig out tree stumps.. she wouldnt give me a key to my room so my room mates got stroppy with me.. my room mates then didnt go to bed till 3am.. with all the fights and stuff and they couldnt afford to leave because they werent earning enough.. accomodation and transport was adding up.. so I made a decission to cut my losses.. she said she'd call the police if I didnt pay for the tour and accomodation so I did and I hitchhiked out of town.. it took me three rides to get the 3.5 hours.. 3 different guys who were really nice and friendly (maybe the truck driver was a tad overfriendly - but harmless anyway).
Then once in Adelaide I found a YHA (didnt want to risk another backpackers - at least I know YHA'S are clean and safe!).. had a nap and now here I am in the library searching the web and deciding what to do with my life..!
I've been checking out flights to Tassie - I think I might head to Hobart and see a friend for a few days and plan my next move. Its a good time to go see him before I get tied up in another job..!
Sunday, May 04, 2008
Dinner out with the Muratoris
In Torquay we also went to the famous surf shops but I didnt find anything.. everything was a size 8 or 10 in the factory outlets.. so yes there were bargains for think people! But it was nice to see the stores since they are so famous!
Once again I am at a stage of my clothes falling apart.. I know what I need to do.. tip out everything from my backpack into the nearest skip..and if I wasnt such a hopeless shopper thats exactly what i would do!! What happens is every few months I buy a new item of clothing and feel very pleased with myself.. but what I need to do is buy all new stuff. i drove poor Sheila mad.. i admit I am a nightmare to shop with.. I hate it!!! But my trousers are paper thin and held together barely.. as Michael so eloquently put it they are rags (gotta love 15 year olds for their directness!!). But I have new shoes finally!! I am happy.. I did look pretty funny going out to bars in my blinky blinky crocks!! (Jamie had alot ruder names for them which cannot be repeated!!)
The we headed back to Sheilas and had the most scrumptious lasagne ever, since she married an italian she learned to cook in italy so her italian food is amazing!! she also makes her own wine which was very nice.. but since I am on a detox one glass was enough.. when I say detox I dont mean water and fruit only i mean no alcohol and an attempt to eat some more fruit and veg!!
Then today we headed out to a local market, then out to Portarlington which was a pretty seaside town. we had lunch at a lovely cafe, where I introduced Sheila to the world of chai lattes!
Then we went out to an openign of an art exhibition of a friend of hers. it was really good, she is a talented artist. Its been nice to be in the world of artists again. Sheila is an artist and immerses herself in the art world so it was kind of like being back at home around my dad.. I like it.. I am not an artist but I like the art world.. kind of weird to not be talking about the price of milk or beef, or even wool or grain prices.. so many different worlds out there!
After that we went out to Stephen and Lindas and met her mother cathy and we all went out for a lovely meal at the italian club..
I have been emailiong and phoning about my new job which has been weird.. I've had several emails from her over the last couple of weeks about the work i migth be doing.. it started off with workign in the backpackers, then cooking for the tours, then apple picking.. and today when i spoke to her I will be working in the vineyards.. so who knows what i will be doing?! as long as I get paid I dont really care.. but her husband is pcikign me up in Geelong tomorrow on one of their tours. so i will be doing the great ocean road tomorrow and the grampians the day after and then arriving in naracoort the day after. Now its quite funny as I thought I would be working in adelaide.. thats what the job advert said.. but it turns out its in naracoort. some few hundred kms away.. just as well I'm laid back and dont mind where I am! I am dubious as to how the job will turn out as she was a little off with me today.. she had said to meet her husband in the morning at the red rooster and since there are 2 red roosters in geelong I rang to check which one to which was a little rude and basically said how would she know? so how the job will turn out who knows? all I can do is go there are see what happens! Thats what lifes about aye?! if I dont like it I'll leave.. simple as that!
I have had a lovely time in geelong and been so well looked after, they are all such lovely people and have told me I am welcome back anytime (and they genuinely mean it!) which is lovely to hear!
Saturday, May 03, 2008
Bells Beach Australia!!
Sheila then took me to bells beach which I was ridiculously excited to see mainly because of the movie "Point Break" which i was obsessed with when I was about 17.. this is the beach where patrick swayze dies as the end on the 50 year storm..
this is the beach in oz for surfing.. I'm thinkign of coming back to see one of the big comps around easter time!
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