November

November - yet another fairly uneventful month.  I moved house, or donga, so to speak.  I now have an ensuite which is very exciting, especially when you need to pee in the middle of the night.  I'm located with the builders who are contracted by our organisation.  They are building the boarding residence (amongst other things) in Jabiru, for the outstation students.  It will be ready around July 2011.

My work mate/friend and her family are leaving next week to live o/s in Nepal and SE Asia for a year.  More of that in December's post.

I did go for one short walk this month with Marlene (my friend that is leaving).  We went and had a look at some rock paintings at Nanguluwur (Narng-oo-loo-war) art site, so that was a good couple of hours out and about.

Yangshuo from Yangshuo Park lookout 2005

Now, because it is such a boring month (but hey, what's new) I thought I would add a couple of photos from trips I had done, or from places I had worked.  Until next time...

Li Jiang River - near Yangshuo, China 2005

Kings Canyon NT 2006

Lizard Island Qld 2008

Japanese Gardens, Cowra NSW 2009

Temple of Kom Ombo, Egypt 2010

Mosque of Muhammad Ali Cairo, Egypt 2010

September/October

Well, it's the end of October (tomorrow is anyway) and time to write some more.  I decided not to write anything for September by itself as not much happened.  We had the Mahbilil (Wind) festival in Jabiru.  It only goes for one day, but it's pretty good.  There are stalls, including a lot of indigenous arts and crafts, cooking competition, and entertainment.  The entertainment came from as far as Bali (dancers), which I guess isn't that far when you are in the northern part of NT.  I helped out in our stall, for a couple of hours, where we sold indigenous art, and then just hung out.  I was hoping I could tell you a website to check out with photos etc, but I can't find anything for 2010 and the 2009 sites show very little.  A bit disappointing, I might have to mention that to someone.  By the way the festival started many years ago as a boating/sailing day out on the Jabiru Lake, created by Rio Tinto (who run the mine here) for their employees and community.

Other than that I just went to Darwin a couple of times to do some shopping and to have the starter motor in my car replaced.  Have to say walking into a shopping centre after so long was a bit strange.  And there were so many people!!

Let's see, October.  Well, I went back home for a few days for a flying visit.  I actually had Qantas credit I had to use by the 24th October, so I managed to fly home for about $50, not mentioning of course what I paid in the first place.  I didn't do much at home, just relaxed and hung out with the family.  It was good to see everyone after 5 months, especially my niece and nephew who had both grown so much.  The flight down was not good.  My plane was scheduled to leave at 1250 Saturday afternoon, but because of weather etc in Sydney (where it was coming from) and water getting into the plane, I ended up leaving at 10.15 that night.  I arrived in Brisbane at 2am and because I wouldn't let anyone pick me up at that ridiculous time, slept on the floor (the seats were taken by backpackers etc who had arrived earlier) at the airport for a couple of hours before Dad picked me up at a respectable time.  There were about 15-20 people sleeping at the airport when I arrived, so I didn't feel uncomfortable or anything.  It's practice for when I start traveling, as I will sleep at airports to save money.  There is even a website dedicated to sleeping at airports, rating them etc.  Check it out

www.sleepinginairports.net

The other evening was a bit interesting.  The Fire Station crew needed to practice rescues, and wanted to use the dongas (where I live) as a 'collapsed' building site. So they came and had a chat making sure it wouldn't bother me.  No problem.  Then decided to ask if I would be the victim, as it isn't good to use crew members all the time, as the 'rescuers' get a bit blase etc.  Ok, I'll do it.  Not doing much else.  Great, well if you are willing to do one, will you also let us rescue you off the roof of the Fire Station, as we also need to do a heights rescue as well.  So that was what I did for the evening.  I had 'spinal' injuries as well as other pains and was moaning and yelling etc.  Especially after one of my 'rescuers' knelt on my fingers under the building, and another pinched my arm in the strap on top of the building when they were strapping my into the safety tray thing, ready to lower me down the ladder.  It was a bit of fun.


Last thing for today's blog, but also the most important.  Today is Noah's (my nephew) birthday.  He is one today, and will be having a big party tomorrow with the family and friends.  So 'HAPPY BIRTHDAY NOAH', wish I could be there, and a big kiss and hug to you.  Also, a big kiss and hug to Bayli (my niece), miss you both.

Sorry there are no photos this time.  I forgot my camera for Mahbilil, and my visit home, and whenever I do anything.  I need to maybe attach it to me permanently, somehow.  Bye for now.

August

View from Ubirr

View from Ubirr

Yes, I know, I'm running a bit late for 'August', but better late than never.  The only bit of exciting news really for August was my parents arriving on my doorstep at work, on my birthday (5th Aug).  That was a surprise.  I actually thought they were on the Sunshine Coast for a holiday, not traveling thousands of kilometres to Kakadu.  Anyway, they stayed for a week and a half, and made me get off my backside and go see something.  You never seem to get around to it when you actually live there.  Mum and Dad went on a number of tours etc while I was at work, but we did all go to Ubirr  (Oo as in boot beer) which had a great view and a number of Aboriginal rock art galleries. 

Aboriginal rock paintings

August is the dry season, so when the wet season comes, imagine the plain covered in water.  I hope to come back up and see the difference.  I still have plenty more to see and do though before then.  Temperatures in August by the way, were hot, hot and hot.  The lowest minimum was 17 degrees celsius, highest minimum 26 (that's in the middle of the night in winter).  Lowest maximum 29.1 and highest maximum was 36.8 degrees celsius.  That is Jabiru in winter.  Just thought I would mention that for all those people rugged up, sitting around fires, and putting up with the miserable rain.  Don't worry though, I have the wet season and summer temperatures and humidity to suffer
through.

Me on top of Ubirr Rock lookout

Anyway, Mum and Dad left and took the slow road home with their caravan.  They only arrived home on Saturday (11th Sept) after being 'tourists' and seeing many of the sights in northern NT and western Qld.  I on the other hand continued to work and haven't been on any walks, tours etc since.  Slack I know.  The other thing I did do though is move residence.  I was boarding with someone, but due to unforeseen circumstances, had to move out two weeks ago.  Yes, this did happen in August so we are still in the right month.  I didn't really have anywhere to go as you are not able to rent here like normal towns.  This town was built for the mine, and therefore most of the places are owned by the mine (some I think are council and other businesses) and the houses/units etc are generally only provided with jobs.  Some jobs do not provide housing, so you need to be already living here (eg your partner may have been provided with a house with his/her job), or you need to know someone so you can board.  It is a pain in the butt.  Anyway, I am currently living in a room with a bed.  This room is part of a long demountable building with 3 other 'bed' rooms.  It's called a donga in some states.  If you have ever seen shearers quarters, then you have an idea of what it looks like.  I use the kitchen and bathroom at work, as I'm right next door.  This building was originally for the builders who are doing work for our organisation.  They have now moved across town to similar quarters, to work on a new project for us.  More on that and the organisation another time, I think it's time to go.  So until next month (and this time I hope I won't take so long to update the blog) boh, boh (pronounced more like a short, quick bor, bor - that is goodbye in the local aboriginal gundjeihmi (goon-jake-me) language).

Jabiru

Well, here I am in Jabiru.  I quick rundown on how I came to be here (although if you already know me, you know it's not unusual for me to suddenly 'appear' somewhere new).  There wasn't any work down home, so I applied for remote resort work, which I knew I wouldn't have any problem getting.  I was offered a job in Kakadu at a resort (cleaning) where I stayed for a couple of months.  It didn't work out, but I won't go into that one.  I didn't want to leave the area just yet and I was told there was plenty of work in Jabiru as long as you had accommodation.  Through a contact I was able to board with someone and within 2 weeks had a casual job in administration.  I have recently been offered permanent work and so will be staying longer than originally planned.  I will also have my own unit soon.

Ok, that is all for now as I am soooo over this.  It has taken me a couple of hours just to set the site up and do my 'about me'.  But at least it is up and running.  A couple of little things.  The site is called DebLivesHere2 because the first one was when I was teaching in China.  Also I have added links for other sites, so check them out.