Analiese’s first Birthday

Below is a copy of the letter that Jane wrote to the newspaper here in Western Australia (Yes there is only one paper - it makes for balanced news reporting that way). After our lovely day celebrating, which I was going to tell you about, with friends in King's Park, we had a nasty surprise waiting for us on the second trip back to my car.

It is described rather a lot more rationally that I was when I was describing what happened to a couple of my friends.

Before the letter though, a couple photos of our day out. It was a very hot day, and boy were we glad of the marque. When I say is was very hot, I mean it was melting underpants hot. Most people wished they were a baby as they were rubbed with ice, and stripped off to nothing. It was a no warning hot day, as during the week it had been 25 degrees almost every day, and then bang a toe curling 35 degrees.

Letter to the West Australian on Sunday Evening

"To the person who stole my one year old baby daughter's birthday presents from our car, earlier today from Kings Park Synergy Playground we hope you are pleased with yourself. You must feel 'Proudly Australian'."

Earlier today we celebrated our youngest daughter Annaliese's first birthday with a picnic barbeque at glorious Kings Park. We invited a few friends and enjoyed a lovely, but hot afternoon. After we had said our Thank Yous and Good Byes, David my husband carried Annaliese's birthday presents back to the car. They were unopened and wrapped in typical baby birthday paper. He then returned to help the rest of us.

We were horrified to return to our car to find our baby's birthday presents had been stolen. We are cautious about leaving items in this car as it has been broken into twice already in as many months. An opportunist must have seen David place the gifts in the car, as they were not on view and the car was locked. The driver's side door handle was broken and came away in David's hand.

My eldest daughter, Daisy, age 4, was very excited at the prospect of returning home to aid her baby sister unwrap birthday presents. She sobbed all the way home when we explained what had happened and keeps asking 'why did the nasty person take Annaliese's presents?' How do you explain it to a 4 year old?

We are new to Perth, in fact new to Australia and this is not how we expected to remember our baby's first birthday.

If you have Birthday or Christmas gifts don't think they are safe in your car for even a minute (or 5 in our case). And, if you are an opportunist, who happened to fall upon some children's gifts from a small grey Hyundai, have a conscience and return them.

From: Mrs Jane Heath, married to David a Paramedic for St John's and Mum to Daisy age 4 and Annaliese the birthday girl age 1.

Contact: Email as above or mobile 0450 048153

Watching Dr. Who at Christmas

I've managed to come up with way to watch Dr. Who Christmas Special.

If anyone else wants to do it, and they are living outside of the UK, then you can link to the BBC iPlayer and download the episode. I have set myself up.

You can also do the same thing!

http://www.consult-here.com/vpn.html

Have a go. It's great

We took a little holiday while Mum was here in Perth. We went to a place down in the south of Western Australia. I guess you could call it South West Australia, or West South Australia - actually I think that is a different place all together.

Like the true Brits that we are, it didn't matter that it was a late spring day, and the sea was freeziing, and the sky was a colour more often seen on the sides of warships (have you heard of Battleship Gray?), we ventured to the beach for some construction sessons.

Annaliese, and Daisy, and Jane, and Mum, oh, and me, all enjoyed outselves, as you can see. Annaliese thought it was fabulous that she could crawl around as far as she liked without any barriers, or us coming to get her back. (We were the only people we could see on the 10-15kms of beach). She did get a shock when she crawled into where the waves were gently lapping at the sand.

You'll note that we had a beach cottage, which was only 15 seconds from the beach - in fact I was standing on the walkway to the beach when I took the photo.


More tales from down under to come.

Someone actually told me that as I was living upside down, the moon would appear the other way up to me. So when you are keenly gazing at the full moon on a clear night, with romantic thoughts in your head, arm in arm with someone you love, just remember that I also can see the same moon, only it is upside down (That will be a definate mood killer).

The grim reapers apprentice returns

I've been busy of late. I'm going to update you all with what I've been up to, but needless to say - in Sir Alan Sugar's uncopyable style "David, you're Hired", if he was the grim reaper.

What a run of bad luck Ive had at work. I'm busy composing my thoughts, and will let you all know soon about what I've actually been doing.

Early October – Discovering Angkor Wat

In the middle of the 1800s there were a couple of intrepid jungle explorers who, in the course of hacking their way the jungles of South East Asia, came upon a lost city in what is now Cambodia. As it turned out, after cutting the jungle back a lot that it was the old capital city, Angkor Wat.

This last week has been more like a settling in week. After the frenetic move, and unpacking of almost 200 boxes, bundles, and bags that made the slow journey 15000 miles, Jane and I have tried to just slow down a little. Although it is hard to slow down from hardly moving, we are trying. Daisy is quite happy to stay at home at the moment, and play with her toys, and games. Also a favourite of hers now is watching Foxtel (Sky TV) kid's channels. We still are without Lounge room furniture yet, but the floor is as good a place to sit as any, when watching TV I guess.

I've been going to work. It is a bit of a shock, as I've been given nights to do again, but this time I am at a busy ambulance depot right near the restaurant/cafe/bar/club area of Perth. As you can imagine, it is a far cry from the sleepy hollow out near the desert, or the old people taxi bus, or the long distance transfer brigade, which is what I have been doing recently. I'm not complaining though, as it is nice to be busy with lots of different things.

Anyway, to aid in the slowing down of the pace of life from slow to almost stopped, I've been contemplating the world while lying in my hammock in the back garden in the sun. Temperatures here are being forecast as cracking 30 in the early part of next week. Maybe Jane will be able to put her jumpers away soon. I know that those in the UK don't want to hear about it, but the sun is out, the water in the sea is warming up, the beach is looking more appealing every day, and the 2 weeks we've had of slightly dodgy weather is finished. It's a far cry from driving rain, grey skies, and howling winds that are the norm for October.

I digress again. As I was lying on the hammock listening to the grass grow (it actually was that quite), I realised it needed mowing. I remember seeing a mower in one of the three sheds in the garden, and so I got it out, and after a couple failed attempts at getting it running smoothly, I put it back into the shed, and went and got a decent one that wasn't petrol driven from the local Garden centre. After mowing, and racking the front and back garden, climbed back onto the hammock to look at my handiwork, while sipping a long cold drink.

This is when I decided that the ivy that was climbing on the trellises and eves of the patio roof really needed putting into its place and trimming back a little. Welding a pair of pruning scissors (secateurs) I ventured into the jungle where lots have feared to tread for a long time. With a snip here and a snip there slowly the ivy started to resemble something that was more of a decoration.

Like the intrepid French jungle explorers in the 1860s I discovered some rare treats after cutting down the ivy. There were some hanging baskets that were complete overgrown. I think that I'll call the garden the Heaths Jungle Retreat now. After trimming/major revamping of the ivy, and hanging baskets, I found places for a couple more baskets, so I treated Daisy to a couple hanging baskets from the local garden centre, with strawberries growing in them. After planting, and watering them, she is very excited that we are not only growing cucumbers, tomatoes, and peppers, but now we are growing strawberries as well. We check them each about 4 times a day to see if there has been any strawberries grown yet. We hope they will be ready from about the middle of November through to about April, or May.

Anyway, unlike the Frenchies, I haven't discovered a lost city, but I've certainly made a lot more of our patio accessible, and also made one girl very happy, and excited.

 

Last of September – Sorry about the delay

As you are no doubt aware, I've been a little remiss with the updating of you all with the weekly/daily updates. It is not because things are happening that need reporting, or you might find funny, it is because I am just a little slack and finding the time to sit down everyday and pen 250 words or so, if really not as easy as it used to be. Anyway let me keep you abreast of the goings on of the Heaths in Perth.

The transportation issue hasn't been a problem since I have been using the train and bus to work, leaving Jane the car. There were a couple routine maintenance issues with the car that needed addressing, but nothing that wouldn't wait another couple weeks until we move (a fan belt that squealed). This suddenly and very loudly became a pressing maintenance issue while I was on the motorway one evening.

Anyway – to make a long story very short – I was given the run around by the garage that I happened to stop by (not that I couldn't fix the problem myself, I just couldn't get it to my home to fix), the fan belt was repaired. I'm not going to relay the whole story blow by blow (I almost resorted to physical blows) but a quick run down of some of the problems encountered – the garaged ordered the wrong belts twice (1 hour delay), while dismantling the car to fit the eventual new belts a bracket was snapped by the mechanic – and then the garage insisted I organise the replacement part (4 hour delay while going about 50 km. to get the new bit), and then when I got back the garage mechanic told me that he wasn't going to be able to fit the part till the next day. Eventually it was sorted out, and the car is running great. I learned my lesson, and did all the other routine maintenance tasks I'd been delaying (change the brakes, change the oil, clean the spark plugs, etc. etc. etc.)

We have also moved, and all of our worldly goods have been re-acquainted with us now. The house is as lovely as it was when we looked at it originally, with a big garden, and lots of space for the girls to all play. We didn't bring much actual furniture, and our house is looking like an IKEA show house a little more every day. (In fact last night I got another chest of drawers, a baby cot, another cupboard, some picture frames, a TV cabinet, a cuddly toy, and a glass decanter - actually not a cuddle toy and crystal decanter, maybe I've been watching to many re-runs of the Generation Game.

In the course of writing these few paragraphs, I've been unpacking the rest of our belongings, and been getting back to what I have been missing in the last 8 or 9 months (cooking for others, and firing the BBQ up, and slowing becoming a true Aussie – "Put another shrimp on the Barbie). Mostly it's been a houseful of dustbin lids (kids) about Daisy's age all dressing up as princesses, and bouncing on her trampoline. It's becoming more like home every day. Including putting all (did we really have that many) toys away every night.

We were given a small television to help pass the time until ours all arrived. Now our stuff has arrived, I tried to give the small TV back to its rightful owner, but she was just happy to be rid of it. So now the kids play room has a TV, Playstation, and DVD of its own. A 10 year old was very taken with the Playstation when he and his parents came around, and we didn't hear a peep from him for the couple hours they were here, and was really happy to borrow the game to take home to play at home.

We've been sorting out the life essentials (Sky TV, Telephone, Broadband) so are fully multi-media'ed up now, and I'll be passing along our phone number when we are finally connected, so you all will be able to ring (although it would be cheaper if you called us over the internet free, by the way). We are still waiting for those of you who we gave web cams and mics to connect with us. Do we need to send you the receipt, as the cameras must obviously not be working! Just pop your computer to www.skype.com and download and install the program, and in 5 minutes you'll be communicating free with the world. (You know who you are...)

We went to the Perth Royal Agricultural Show the other day. Schools here are on holiday again, and the Royal Show was timed to coincide with this. There were lots of animals (pigs, horses, cattle, sheep, llamas, camels, rabbits, dogs, cats, chickens, and goats to name a few of the animals we saw). Daisy and Annaliese loved them all, and we watched some high diving into a little pool, and had a pony ride, and went on a few rides. Daisy loved the mini roller-coaster.

Anyway – all quiet in the Heath household. I'm off to work tomorrow morning, and will be driving (I have no uniform left at work, so have to take all my shirts/jackets/spare uniform with me). Obviously I wouldn't ride the loser cruiser, and the rattler with the uniform, as most of the people look like they will be in need of paramedic in the near future.

Keep in touch. We love to hear from you.

 

September Came with an Oh Wow

I know that I said that I was going to be updating you with less regularity than when the rest of the family was not here, but I realized that I haven't been doing any writing. That's because I thought that I had used up my megabits remaining for my monthly internet contract were running short, and I was saving them for talking to people on Skype – Oh by the way, those of you who we have bought cameras and mics for, they aren't only decorations, we were hoping that you would use them to talk to us. You know who you are, but just in case you don't I could name you all! It takes about 3 minutes to set up and sign up, and then you are talking to the world for free! www.skype.com

Enough nagging...What we have been up to I hear you cry! You may be aware that 2^nd of September of an anniversary of when I got the ball and chain and had it welded around my ankle eight years ago! J Well in the tradition of most couples, I promptly forgot that it was an important day, and volunteered for some Overtime work that day. (Thoughtful, I know). Well, after an ear bashing, and some grovelling with the rostering department, I managed to get out of the shift.

After the narrow escape with my life, I thought that we would at least manage to have a romantic dinner for two, at some swanky restaurant. After a couple inquiries, I managed to secure a booking at the top restaurant in Perth. There were only two little drawbacks to our romantic meal for two (both were two legged little bundles of fun). Baby Sitters are decidedly scarce at the moment, and we couldn't find any that would look after our two for an evening meal, so we made the romantic dinner for two into a romantic lunch for two, with two onlookers.

When I say top restaurant, it is only top by its location. It is located at the top of one of the 4 or 5 sky scrapers in Perth, and it is a revolving restaurant, with Breath Taking 360 degree Panoramic Views of the City of Perth, and the surrounding areas. It was fabulous, and a bonus that we went at lunch, as in the evening we wouldn't have had as nice views. All that you could do, was say "Oh Wow!"

After the meal we rolled along the river front for a while taking in the scenery, and relaxing. What a very pleasant afternoon, and we eventually got home about 4 after posing with some more statues, and chasing seagulls (just like Brighton and Hove Seafront). Not many photos of Perth this time. The memory card of the camera went on the blink after a lot of photos from the roof top restaurant – so the photos that I had planned to share with everyone haven't made it, and I'll include a couple taken from the mobile phone of Madame of our very shy daughters – obviously respecting some more of the local art work. (It makes it more than visual art; it helps it become functional art) – said in a true Sunday Times Art and Culture Supplement style).

A Question for Bus Drivers Everywhere!!

I know that it is not every day that I am updating everyone like before Mrs. Marmite and the Little Spreaders came out to join me. It is understandable as Jane and I are full time playing with the two nippers, and making dinner (most of the time Super Noodles, or Chicken and Mashed Potatoes, or Fresh Pasta and Pesto Sauce - my daughter has very cultured taste), and dancing like a Barbie Princess.

In the past two weeks, we have slowly slipped into a very pleasant routine. I have had to work, but not too hard – as you can imagine. We've had to come to an arrangement about transport, as we only have the purple passion wagon to share between us all. It seems a waste to just drive the car to Melville, where I am working (30-40 minutes away) to leave the car parked up all day, and then drive it home. Because of this I've joined the ranks of the great unwashed, and having to use the "Loser Cruiser" and the "Rattler" and then another "Loser Cruiser" to work. (Translation – bus, train, then bus).

We all met up in town the other afternoon, and went to a park (for a change), but this one was something a little different. It has a replica statue of the Peter Pan statue in Kensington Gardens (not the Brighton one) which was donated to Perth a long time ago. Daisy loves the place, and keeps asking to go back to the Peter Pan Park (that's what she calls it).

It wasn't like that when we first arrived, and were confronted with a small family of Black Swans – like White Swans, but obviously black and a lot more bad tempered. It might be that the two adult swans were just trying to look after their three Cygnets, but they chased Daisy away. "I just wanted to say hello Daddy" was why she went up to them.

We located the Peter Pan statue, and Daisy just danced around it, and climbed up it, and crawled around it, and sat on it. No one was bothered – because there were only a couple other people in the whole park. Eventually an older group of three people walked up to the statue, and after asking us to take their photo alongside the statue, they started chatting with us.

It turns out that they were from Brisbane (capital of Queensland, about 5 hour flight away) but originally from Perth, and had come to see the Peter Pan Statue when they were kids. One of them was a "Music Therapist" – whatever that is – and pulled out some sort of Pan Pipes (Peter Pan/Pan Pipes – I can see the link) and tooted out a tune. Daisy thought that was fabulous, and danced away to the music for ages. We (Jane and I) chatted with them for ages, and wangled an invite to stay with one of the couples if we are ever their way.

Other news is that we have found somewhere to live, but not moving until the middle of September. It's a lovely place that Jane found. I was right – there is no way that I could have been trusted to find a family home.

One thing, finally, while I have been riding the "loser cruiser" to work every day, I have just one small question that I would like answering. Bus Drivers, why does it seem that every bus stop takes you by surprise, and you have to stop suddenly? I drive for a living, and I can come bring the ambulance to a gentle and comfortable stop when necessary, but to the drivers of the buses in Perth, that seems to be an impossible task.

Jane – Part One of a few

If any one had told me last year (when I was four months pregnant), that in a years time I would have moved to Australia, I would have thought that they were completely mad, and, that I would have gone insane. And not only that, but I would spend 7 months in the UK on my own with two small children, then I would have thought not only am I insane but I've had a lobotomy as well!

But no, here I am or should I say here we are, as a family – living 'down under'.

Top tips for any one getting in the export packers when you up sticks and relocate your entire life – make sure you put aside any thing you don't want packed and shipped! The packers were so quick, that a few extras are now making their way from old Blighty! They include Daisy's library books ("oh, you better renew online" quote from the library when I rang to explain), and a couple of cast iron pans belonging with our range cooker in the UK (nice and light!! Not!)

We hired a skip and were quite ruthless sorting through our years of accumulative junk, how liberating! I would recommend everyone hire a skip every five years and have a good old clearout. Tidy house equals tidy head in my book (and not as I hear some of you say, empty house means empty head!)

Watching the guys packing up all our worldly belongings, it looked pretty easy. And very quick! Day 1 everything pretty much except for large items of furniture was packed into boxes, Day 2 all the furniture had to be export wrapped. Basically all items of furniture had to be wrapped either in bubble wrap or in huge brown paper bags. Time was of the essence as our 20ft container was sat outside on the road, and as they say, time is money.

To speed things up, David and I decided to lend a hand, after all how hard could it be? I was an expert at Christmas wrapping! Any one remembers the Generation Game? Well, that would be a great task to complete! After wrestling frantically for five minutes with an enormous brown paper bag, I decided to join forces with David and together we managed to wrap…. The high chair!!!

Everything fitted into our container, which by now should be bobbing around on a big container ship somewhere. And that as they say is that.

We spent the following week catching up with family, before heading off for our big adventure!

Is it a Big Adventure or Mid Life Crisis? Big Adventure of Course! It started on Tuesday 6^th August.

There we all were, Birmingham airport, checking in, 2 adults, 1 child and 1 infant – nothing unusual there. Then came our luggage…. 1 baby buggy, 2 car seats, 3 large suitcases, 1 small suitcase, 1 hold all and 1 more suitcase. "£600 for the last suitcase" excess baggage charge!

Do you think we are stupid – I hope not! The bag didn't get checked in, and here my friends comes our next top tip. Why do you think there is always a luggage store in the airport? It's so that people like us can go and purchase a cabin size wheelie bag. Pack the most useful items into it, and send the practically empty suitcase home! Grandma has recently acquired an extra suitcase and 3 blue towels! And we were the smug owners of a new cabin bag, packed with the last of our possessions!

Having made this Trans global expedition with 2 small children once already this year, I like to think we were quite prepared. And anyone thinking of making this type of journey with small children here are my suggestions:

Group seating – If you can, check in online. David did a great job making sure we were sat together and that we had a bassinet, or sky cot. (This is a cot that slots onto the bulkhead, great for small babies, and tired parents!)

Timing – look at the flight times. We picked the shorter sector to depart mid afternoon and the long 12 hour sector overnight. Why is this important? We want our kids to sleep! We made the mistake when Daisy was 18 months old. The outbound flight was fine; we booked the flight overnight, result she slept. We were too excited about our holiday at the time to think of the return sector and it departed at mid day. Even though we had bought Daisy a seat, she spent half the flight wriggling on my lap! Not recommended! Luckily we timed it just right. My girls were the perfect sleeping angels for most of the time!

Entertainment – Make sure you have plenty to keep your little darlings entertained! Most aircraft have some sort of in-flight entertainment system on board, and our flight was no exception. Daisy quite happily watched The Wizard of Oz and The Aristocats on repeat! I also packed lots of little treats or presents. These ranged from sticker books, to story books etc. We also had our supply of washable felt pens with lids that were attached and couldn't fall on the floor and get lost and magic pens that work only on the special paper provided.

Clothing – For the kids I always put in 2 pairs of pajamas'. I always pack a change of undies (in case of an unscheduled stop) and a clean T-shirt. Just in case your kid is sick… on you!

Essentials – Calpol sachets (a must in case of colds and blocked ears), nappies and wipes (always pack more than you need in case of delays), rubbish bags (have you ever stopped to look at just how dirty the plane looks when you get off it?)

I could go on, but now I am boring you!

Eighteen hours later we landed. The Heaths have arrived!

Week 1 - Here we go again – Although only the Reader’s Digest Version

I'm going to keep it all brief from now on. I've been reminded that some people don't want to read about 500 words a day of things haven't changed. I'll only manage a couple entries a week if I am lucky at the moment.

It was great to see all in the UK and after some hard work, a lot of drink, and a couple very impressing leaving BBQ's, we as a family packed our remaining belongings into a little hire car and trundled off to Devon to have a week of fond farewells with our families. (When I say little, I mean little by anyone's standards.) "How Small" I hear you ask? Well, I've think that I've seen bigger toy cars.

We got to Devon in our Noddy car, and promptly swapped it for something more David sized. We spent some quality time with Joyce and Roy, and was surprised that Daisy really wasn't to bothered about leaving Telscombe...almost like the people we left behind are more upset than we were.

Saturday brought us to Coalville, to be reunited with our remaining luggage (It had travelled to Coalville separately). We redistributed all our belongings that hadn't found their way onto the ship (a lot of things were sent even though we weren't expecting them to be – Do you think our library books will be overdue when they arrive in Perth in 6 weeks?). We were very conscious of the total weight of the suitcases and were very keen to avoid any excess baggage charges.

Tuesday morning took us to the airport, and with a little sorrow and anxiety, we bid farewell to the UK. Even though we took a lot of care over the total weight of the suitcases, we were overweight by about 19kgs, and the man wanted to charge us £600. I thought he wanted us to buy another ticket for him to come to Perth with us, and I politely refused to let him join our party. After the purchase of another piece of hand luggage (£25) and some hasty repacking of the offending suitcase Mum (who had come to see us off, thankfully) acquired a couple towels and a suitcase, and we took all our stuff with us. A lot better than £600
I think!

We were met at the airport by Jamie (his wife, Julie, sent us a bag of groceries – milk, juice, bread, cereal – everything needed for the next morning), and he chauffeured us to the apartment. The first couple days went by with a whirl, and the nights (jet lag and 5 baby teeth cutting through at the same time) were another story. At one point on night everyone was snoring in our bed, so Jane and I sneaked into Daisy's room, and climbed into her bed. An hour of uninterrupted sleep was bliss, but then Annaliese woke, and so we brought her into Daisy's room. It wasn't more than 30 minutes before a little voice woke us "I'm all alone", and then Daisy took me for a trampoline. Musical beds did go on for about a week, but is settled down now.

Besides that it's been parks, picnics, and playgrounds. Today we spent the afternoon as a lot of other families did. We had a lunch time BBQ Picnic in a playground, and then walked around the park admiring the views, rolling down hills, climbing in play areas, and playing Duck, Duck, Goose (Daisy and Me) for about 4 hours, and got home about 6 with two very tired Princesses.

That's about the long and short of it. I'll let you know about work next week.

Saturday – For the final time for a while

It sometimes felt like this day would never get here. I'm checked in to the plane, and the flat is polished, and washed, the beds have been made. The only thing missing from this place to call it home will be Mrs. Marmite, and the Little Spreaders. I'm off to the airport later this evening, and I don't know if I can wait. I'm more excited than excitement itself – to steal a phrase from Baldrick, but his was about cunning!

On the list of things today – get some snacks for the flight, get a haircut, pack the suitcase (although I like to only pack once, I'm sure I'll put things in and out of the case an awful lot before I finish packing. Then there will be waiting until my ride arrives to take me to the airport.

Hopefully I'll catch up with most people over the next 3 weeks – remember to mark the date 26^th July in your diary to come and give Mrs. Marmite and the Little Spreaders a good send off with an Aussie BBQ at the house in Telscombe Cliffs.

I'll be able to still get all my emails in the UK so don't be shy. I've had a few ideas about what I should rename the site when I'm back up and running.

Friday – I’m no movie critic but...

Hype for a film I find, is not to be trusted. I'm going to listen to word of mouth from how on. I'll tell you why. I went along to the cinema today to see the new Will Smith film "Hancock", which in my opinion, is very poor. I didn't get into the cinema in the best of moods, as I had been given the run around at the front desk when trying to buy a ticket.

When someone is in a ticket booth, you would expect them to sell tickets wouldn't you. How hard is it? I should have realised that something was going to not be in order, when everyone who was going to the ticket desk seemed to have to wait a while before getting their tickets.

I've discovered what the problem was. The manager was at the ticket desk (I guess they must have been short staffed), and he didn't really look like he knew how to work the machine that you press buttons on, and then a number appears in a little screen. When the customer pays you what it says in the little screen, you then press more buttons, and then a drawer opens, and a ticket is printed. It's commonly known as a cash register.

Anyway, in between answering questions from three different members of staff, and making one phone call (no excuse me, or I'll be a minute – how rude) I eventually got the ticket. I wish I hadn't bothered now.

I'm sounding like a grumpy old man now. Customer Service isn't a point that is very high on the list of priorities here. I would like to think that it was only limited to a couple places, but it isn't. At least you don't get a false "Have a nice day", like in most places in America. In fact you are lucky if the ½ witted teenaged is able to put that many works together into a sentence. I'd just settle for a thank you.

Thursday – Yummy Indonesian food

Work is finished for me. I did have a rather busy night, and not really much chance to sleep. When I say not much chance, I think only did two jobs from 2 until 8 in the morning, but that's unusual for Mandurah. After getting away a little late, I headed home.

While driving up to the city, I thought that I had better drop off the keys to the beach house, so made a little diversion (it was only supposed to be about 5 minutes out the way). That was in Victoria Park (which if you remember was where I was working for the past two months).

My tummy started to talk to me, and I remembered an Indonesia Cafe close by. My goodness, I'd forgotten how good and authentic the chicken satay was. After I munched through those (only 6 sticks) I had a real taste for Indonesia food, so I ordered a bowl of Soto Ayam. (Soto Ayam – Indonesia for chicken soup – is hard to describe, but here goes; a clear very tasty chicken soup and then on the side there is a whole selection of shredded chicken, vegetables, rice and rice vermicelli, a boiled egg and crispy onions that you add to the soup. It is actually a breakfast dish in most places in Indonesia).

The rest of the day I didn't do much, as my tummy was full, and I was feeling weary from the previous night's excursions. More TV under the blanket, and a few gallons of my favourite drink, before going to the local hotel to watch some of the Test Cricket of South Africa v. England, and then some live band. They weren't too good, but better than some I've seen in there.

Wednesday – Weather is on my mind

Rain, wind, cold and wet. They are four words I wouldn't have used to describe Australia, before I came here. Of course there is the winter, but I never thought about it. And even when I arrived into 40 degree plus weather, it never crossed my mind that things would take a turn for the worse.

I find myself now longing for the summer to come around again. It will be great when the things start to warm up. I did notice that I'll need my pullovers with me when I go back to England later in the week. I was watching some of the tennis last week, and it did look pretty miserable.

After the work last night (it never seemed to end) I slept the whole day. Probably best, because I don't know if I could have stayed in the house in Golden Bay for much longer, with the wind rattling the shutters, and no heating.

The work was just another night of bits and pieces, but again nothing particularly noteworthy. I didn't get much sleep, but I don't mind, as I'll be able to nod off back at home during the day.

It seemed like it hasn't stopped raining for about 2 days. Actually it rains really heavily, and then the sun comes out for a while, and then heavy rain again. I can't recall the overcast/drizzly days that are a lovely feature of a Brighton Winter.

 

Tuesday – I didn’t tell them what I wanted to

Work, work, work. That is what was on my mind all day. I had to make the drive down to Mandurah for the final time this week, as after the two nights were finished, I'll be working somewhere else.

It was an alright night, with nothing to taxing. We did get used as a pawn in a power-struggle between two of the hospitals. One wanted someone to be transferred to the other one, who didn't want to accept the person, so someone at the first hospital got their knickers in a twist, and started to panic, and make up symptoms – it seems – to get the person accepted at the other hospital.

The control manager called me on the phone, and told me what the situation was, and also informed me that there were some very senior health department people involved in the situation, and for me just to do what I do second best (What I do best at the moment is speak my mind), but not to say anything to the first hospital.

How well does the boss know me already? Anyway, we did the job, and that's that. Nothing else to say.

Monday – A signed up member of the Apathy Club!

Strong, very militant unions, which run an almost closed shop, have an extremely powerful base, and which can hold managements of companies almost to ransom, with their demands, and extremely strong negotiating positions are a thing of the past in the UK. We can argue the merits and pitfalls of such a system until we are blue in the face. The UK is still trying to make sense of the abolition of this system. Here in Australia there are a lot of businesses that are in the grip of these strong single unions. As to be expected the paramedics here also have a very strong negotiating union.

Somewhat appropriately, in a part of a country which the ambulance service is struggling to define a role, either as an emergency service, or a transport service that will answer a few emergency calls, the union is under a general, rather toothless sounding ambiguous group called the "Hospitality, and Miscellaneous Workers Union". So the Hospitality Workers are those people who work in hotels, casinos, and bars, and the Miscellaneous Workers are people who don't fit in anywhere else.

Anyway, since I've arrived the union has been negotiating on our behalf for our tri-annual agreement on our working conditions, and wages. We get a three year agreement with our terms and conditions, and wage rises. It turns out that on June 30 this year the last agreement expired. There have been meetings on and off since I've been here, and surprisingly there hasn't been an agreement yet between us paramedics, and the St. John's Ambulance Board.

Today there was another of those meetings that all the ambulance service members were invited to attend, and hear the latest pay offer, and what is requested in return for this money. There were some tempting giveaways at the union offices including free hotdogs, and t-shirt's in order to entice us to come along. Sadly, as I was down in the country depot – Mandurah, and couldn't attend.

I will listen with interest the outcome of meeting, and I'm sure that it won't be long – as there were newspaper reporters there. I wonder what the general public will make of the fact that we've been recommended to turn the 15% pay rise over 3 years that has been put on the table. I'll let you know the general reaction.

Sunday – I had to admit defeat

I know that people look online and then when I say how cold it is, I'm told that online it says that it isn't as cold as I have said. I'm not sure of why there is a discrepancy, and so I did some investigation as to the difference. It turns out that the site that most places get their info about the current weather from is the weather reporting centre at the domestic airport, and the temperature doesn't reflect the 3 or 4 degree difference around the area.

When I was driving to work this morning I head on the radio that the temperature was 2 degrees out at the airport, which I found quite strange, as I had ice on my windows, and my car thermometer said -1. I am getting quite soft, because I have forgotten what -1 feels like. Also a couple of the banks had the temperature on their big billboards (why is it always banks?) and they were agreeing with me.

Eventually I warmed up once I got to work, and as it was a sunny day, the temperature got up to about 18 or 19 degrees, but that wasn't going to last I knew. Boy was I not looking forward to a cold night in Golden Bay Beach House, with only a wood burning stove for company.

The day wasn't the hardest work I've done for a while, but as is the way most of the time, we ended up finishing quite late though. It was already dark and very cold again, by the time I arrived at the beach house. Number 1 priority was to get the heat from the fire. (Survival Training Kicking in – Protection, Location, Water, Food – and as I had some wine, and a bag of crisps and a couple pickled onions in the fridge that was water and food taken care of, and no one was looking for me so it didn't about location).

After being so impressed with the fire the last couple times I stayed, I thought it would be a snap to get this one up and running, but oh no. Last week, in trying to coax the wet wood to burn, I had used most of the kindling, and there wasn't much around, plus the wood wasn't dry yet, and refusing to light. After 20 or 30 minutes of singeing my fingers, and getting very frustrated, I admitted defeat, as I knew where there was a place with more than a couple pickles, and has heating.

You guessed it; I trundled back up the road to my house. It was going to mean another early start tomorrow in the freezing, but at least I'm warm over night. When you look at the temperature online in Perth – don't believe the current temperatures on Google. The minimums and maximums are usually a couple degrees off a well, but it does give you an idea. I've put a weather forecaster on the BlogSpot if you want to look.

Saturday – How many days left?

Anticipation can sometimes be better than the actual happening. I don't think that this time it is going to be the way. The anticipation is that it is now 1 week before I climb those metal steps, get comfortable in the seat, suspend belief for about a whole day, and then with a bump and a squeal, I'll be arriving in sunny London Gatwick airport. It doesn't feel like 2 months since I started planning my trip in earnest, but it's rolled around quite quickly.

I have a list of things to do before I can leave here. Most of the items are completely done, and other things I'm not going to be able to do, until next Saturday. I need some distraction for the next week, and I'm not sure what I'll do. There are a couple things (such as work), but that's not going to take all week.

Off the top of my head here's the complete list: cleaning the house (1 hour), change the bed to some clean sheets (5 minutes), pack my suitcase (20 minutes – years of practice while I was with Thomas Cook Airways and Leisure International Airways), get some supplies in the store cupboard for when everyone arrives (I could stretch that out to a couple hours – even though it is only nappies, washing powder, breakfast for the first morning we arrive). As you can see, I'm not going to be busy this week.

I sat out the front of the apartment in the afternoon, in the sunshine, and chatted with Kim again for a couple hours. A few people from the other apartments in the block stopped by and had a chat, every now and then. After that I was early to bed, as work loomed tomorrow and I was planning on leaving at about 6.

Friday – Christmas in July

As it is winter time, I am feeling a little festive. Although I say winter, I'm meaning more a late autumn day, with rain showers, interspersed by a few nice sunny spells, which are actually very warm, and pleasant. The rainy, cold intervals are getting a lot more frequent, and it is actually getting to where I think its cold – and I could roll around in snow naked and think that it was only mildly chilli.

I did eventually get a heater/radiator for the bedroom, and the lounge has a setting on the air-conditioner that blows out warm air. I'm sure I've mentioned it before. Anyway now I'm as roasted warm as I can be anytime, and with the heater, I don't have to have the air-conditioner on (which is a cost consideration).

After Thursday evenings excesses at Earl and Jan's house, I didn't really feel up to much. I'd arranged with some other of my work colleagues to go to a evening function in the city, at a place called "The Lucky Shag" – which, by the way, is named after a sea bird – for an event called Christmas in July.

Everywhere is advertising their own version of this novel idea, and feeling a little festive, I thought excellent – some cheap chrimbo decorations up, some dodgy music on the stereo, and a few festive drinks will make me quite merry.

Sadly the only thing that was Christmassy was the name. There were no decorations, no one with Christmas baubles hanging off their earrings, no Slade on the sound system, and not a drop of mulled wine anywhere. We did still get rained on while we sat outside though.

So that was Christmas in July. I'll add it to the list of things that I shouldn't get excited about.

Tomorrow I'm off to the beach to watch some boogie boarding competition, and it is going to be big waves, and windy, but not too much rain. It should be good.

I'll see if I can get some photos

 

Sunday – Thursday – I haven’t done this for a while

I know that it's been a long time since I've done a week entry in one go. I've been a little remiss in putting my thoughts down on paper (so to speak) because of two reasons. 1. I haven't had any new or original thoughts, and 2. I'm using a computer, obviously.

My mind has been on coming home, and I've been putting the final touches on my travel plans and making the house here more Tin Lid friendly. I've been into IKEA again to get a wardrobe. (For saying I detest the place, I seem to be going there a lot recently).

Sunday, Monday, and Tuesday were full of work, and not much else, then Wednesday was a recovery day when I did nothing but fall asleep on the sofa a couple times, and not much more than that.

Thursday was when I headed to IKEA, and then wrestled with a wardrobe trying to put it together. I understand why it was supposed to be a two person job now, but with some ingenious use of my head (holding something up) and the broom handle, I managed to get the thing together. I guess it would have been easier with two people, but unless I split myself in two, I wasn't going to have a helper.

Later that evening I went to a little get together with a couple of the guys that were on my training course, when I started here, for a South African Bush Meal called a poikkee which is a stew type meal – cooked in a pot over a open fire, and then served with rice, and some cornbread, which is also cooked in a pot over hot coals. It was yummy.

So that was my week in a nut shell.

Oh, and the biggest news was that another two pieces of paper have arrived to do with the permanent visa, and now I have everything I need, except for another medical, and a chest x-ray, and a family to apply with also. That will be easily rectified soon.

Saturday – Another Night at the Beach House

I was getting into my car on Saturday, when a man came up to me and asked for a lift. I said "You're looking great, and the world is your oyster." I think he went away happy! I hope so anyway.

I started the second last block of shifts, before my Gran Tour back to the UK, so the routine was pretty normal, with an early start, to get ahead of the traffic, and headed down to Mandurah, ready for my 8 AM start today. It was only about 1 hour drive as it was the weekend, and there weren't too many cars on the road.

On arriving at the depot, both the night crewed ambulances were there, but unusually, they looked like they hadn't had a wink of sleep through the night. It can be quite deceiving working at a supposed "quiet" station, as on Friday night, everyone was out in the town, and feeling quite frisky. A couple of the calls that they had attended made the news.

My day was filled with mostly mundane, usual types of calls, but I was very tired when I headed to the beach house in Golden Bay after work. I remembered my experience last week with trying to keep warm, and so I stopped off at a roadhouse (petrol station on a country highway that doubles up as a restaurant/general store – a little like a Little Chef and Petrol Station all rolled in to one – with food that looks about as tasty).

I looked around the store, and then located what I was searching for. Outside (not under cover) were some big bags of firewood. It had been trying to re-enact the Genesis account of the Great Flood story for most of the day, so I rummaged through the bags in an attempt to find a bag of firewood that wasn't sodden. I was almost successful.

With my damp firewood in one hand, and my small bag of belongings under the other arm, I was very relieved to finally get into the dry of the house. I set to, and with a couple of piles of twigs and newspaper balls, I got a fire roaring in the pot belly wood burner, and then opened the bag of firewood I had brought with me. It didn't take long to realise that the bag of wood was really going to take a lot of convincing to get burning.

It was mostly damp wood, and with the limited trail craft I've got, I knew I was fighting a lost cause trying to keep the fire going. But after a lot of poking around, and piles of twigs and more newspapers to coax the fire into life numerous times, eventually it was warming the place up – just in time for me to go to bed.

I didn't need anyone to give me a lift today, as I was feeling pretty good about things – for the first time in a while. I am really just wishing the next fortnight away in a hurry.

Friday – Very relaxed today

I don't know what the young lady was looking for today, but still I guess that it was just another hoop to jump through. I had a house inspection today. I'd cleaned the place and made it look spick and span. It doesn't take long to clean the three rooms I have been living in, but did it anyway.

The young lady came in, and after a quick chat, she glanced in each room, and then in 5 minutes, the inspection was all over. I don't think that it was a pass or fail inspection, and they just wanted to make sure I wasn't living like a pig, or using the house as some sort of house of ill repute or the like.

Anyway, after the inspection, I just got ready for work, and then watched T.V. It was going to be an early start so I had an early night. It was very relaxing.

Thursday – I’m think there should be rules

One of the funniest T.V. programmes that I've seen for many a long day is a short BBC comedy, talking head type programme that interviews some middle aged comedians/funny men about things that irks them. It's called "Grumpy Old Men". Last night I caught an edition of it while channel surfing and decided about my bruises I'd received from my excursion into IKEA yesterday.

What is a man going to do? I'd decided that I'm going to have to change the bedding back at IKEA again, after vowing yesterday that I wasn't going to step foot in the place with sharpening up my elbows, and getting some body armour to protect myself. To steel myself for the excursion I thought that I might fortify myself at the Coffee Club with a cup of coffee and slice of cake.

While day dreaming over my cake, and coffee, I noticed an ATM in front of me, and watched it, as I didn't have much else to do. By now you must have come to realise that I can make long tirade about some of the most mundane things in life. The use of an ATM is going to get that treatment. Let me tell you why.

After watching the ATM for about 20-30 minutes, sipping my coffee, I never saw anyone use it. Here in Australia, you have to use your own dedicated bank machines, to avoid getting any charges. After finishing my coffee, I went to get a little bit cash. As soon as I walked up to the machine, three other people decided that they would get some money/do all their banking/top up their mobile.

After a few minutes I got to the front of the queue, and withdrew my money. Behind me were two or three people waiting to get their money. I went over to a bench, sat down, and put the cash away. I looked up to see the machine, because I didn't have as much as I needed, and was going to get some more out. All of a sudden, I came up with a plan. I'd watch the ATM for a while to test an idea I had come up with.

I watched the machine for about another 30 minutes, and no one used the machine, but as soon as I went up to it, there was a queue again of about two or three people behind me. That must be one of the unwritten ATM rules, that there can never be only one person using the machine, and as soon as someone walks up to it, other people need to join them.

Oh – and if someone is using the ATM when I'm waiting, they must pay a couple bills, deposit some money, check the balances on 4 accounts, and then after all this, and getting their money, people must then count the money, and then individually fold each note, and place them into a wallet one at a time, before walking away from the machine.

Oh – and by the way, I didn't venture into IKEA. I was decided it wasn't necessary in the end, and after my little personal "Grumpy Old Men" episode, I thought that I might as well go home and lie down.

Wednesday – Discovered without even realizing it

Isn't it funny, don't you think? Everyone has a few little things that get under their skin, and I am the same. There are a couple things that really get me revved up. While I am actually writing this, I thought that I would list a couple things that seem to worm under my skin instantly, but I can't seem to think of any right away.

The lack of motivation was in evidence again when I woke up. I'm going to call it the "Coming up to a holiday, and a lot of days off malaise". I'm not sure it will catch on – maybe it's called being lazy. Anyway there are a couple things that I did need to do sometime today, so I thought "Now is as good a time as any to get out of my fleapit!"

After a couple of gallons of coffee to get my engine started, I looked at the list of things to do. There was nothing to it, but start – in the time honoured fashion – at the beginning. Washing washed and drying – dishes in the dishwasher – floors swept and mopped – bedding changed. That took about 1 hour, and it was actually quite necessary. There is someone from the estate agents coming around tomorrow for a 2 month house inspection.

When Analiese, Daisy and Jane get here, Jane and I decided that we would try and make Daisy's room as homely as possible. That will involve buying some of her favourite bedding. I thought that I would head out and get what was required. This involved another of my less than favourite tasks. I'm not a normal person, I've decided, and going to the mall isn't my idea of fun.

Anyway – I did reluctantly go, and once I got there, I was sidetracked into a coffee shop, and I sat there for about 30 minutes – watching the world go by, before heading into a couple department stores to get the bedding. It wasn't completely successful, but I got some of what I wanted. "I know – I'll go to everyone's favourite – IKEA." Again – after steeling myself in the IKEA Cafe for a while, I went looking for the bedding department.

As I walked in, I was reminded why I dislike shopping really – the IKEA sale was on – and it looked like every Brit in Perth had come to look as what was on offer. Anyway – in the bedding department – some of the items were discounted and looked like everything had been well and truly picked over. I found what I was looking for – so I thought – and headed to the check out.

Getting home I've realised that I'd bought the wrong size quilt covers. That leads me to something I didn't realise gets on my nerves, but now know it is super frustrating. That is when after doing some browsing, items aren't put back into the right place. Why do people not put things back where the picked the items up from. I'm going to have to brave the store once more tomorrow to swap the items.

So in my list of things that gets under my skin immediately, the words "IKEA Sale" and not putting things back where they belong are up there on now!

Tuesday – Nothing to Report but another Perfect Day

I know that the heading Nothing to Report has been getting increasingly more common. Is that because I am doing less, and meeting less people, or is it that I'm not seeing the funny side of the little encounters anymore? I don't know.

I finished my second night shift on Monday night/early Tuesday morning, and instead of going to Golden Bay, I drove back to my apartment. I did stop on the way, but that was to buy some essentials to snack on. (The Lite N Easy deliveries have had to be stopped for a while, as I'm on my way back to the UK soon, and also the delivery date is while I'm away in Mandurah). Because there aren't any pre-packed snacks left at home, I've just gone into the supermarket, and bought whatever I fancied.

Although I had gotten a small amount of sleep during the night shift, I still didn't feel like doing much, so I just munched my way through the snacks, while watching a couple films, and the highlights of the EURO 2008 football that I had recorded. To me it was the perfect day.

I did have a lot of other things planned, but never got around to them. I'll definitely have to try and find some motivation soon. I wonder if they sell it in a shop anywhere around here!

Monday – A novel way to get a job

For those of you who don't know how as an ambulance we receive what we are supposed to do next, I'll give you a little, quick run-through. I'll take you through step by step; then you'll be amazed that an ambulance shows up at the front door of the address ever.

While sitting at home one day, you drop a coffee cup – you've actually aren't at your house, you've popped around to my house for coffee (knowing that I was in deed of a drinking friend) – and the mug hits the floor, and breaks. While helping me clean up, you slip up and end up on the floor, with some apparent reason to need to attend hospital. This is when you make an emergency call.

If you are in the USA you could try and call 911. In Britain you might try 999, or if you are somewhere that you don't know the number to ring, and you've got a mobile phone you could try 112. And here in Australia, you can ring 000. All of those numbers will get the same response. After an initial consultation with the operator, you'll be transferred to the ambulance call centre.

You'll be asked a few important questions like what is the address that you need the ambulance, and what is wrong. This is where the magic is done. Some jiggery pokery and electronic gismos show the person sending out the ambulance where the most appropriate vehicle is, and sends it to pick you up.

If at the time, the ambulance is on an ambulance station, then – in Sussex and here in Western Australia – the dispatcher sends a signal on the radio which rudely disturbs the peace, and off we go to see what help we can give. (Don't ask me how I was able to be having coffee with you and the waiting at the ambulance station for the next call – it's only an example.)

Anyway – here at Mandurah ambulance station there is a problem with the radio and the radio repair man is off sick and can't fix the problem until next week, so we get the call to the job on a telephone. That's the way that it's supposed to work anyway.

Last night while relaxing late in the night, the other ambulance crew got a job, and trundled off. They came back a little while later, and got tucked up back in their beds. I stayed snoozing in the chair. About 5 in the morning there was a very loud banging on the door. Thinking that someone was in trouble and didn't remember any of the numbers used to contact help any normal way.

It wasn't someone looking for help, it was the police. As it turns out, the phone was never put back properly, and when ambulance control was trying to ring, the phone was giving a busy signal. Someone in ambulance control called police control, and they sent one of their police cars around to rouse us. It's the first time I've ever been called to a job by word of mouth. Boy did I feel about 2 inches tall.

Sunday – Sally Remembered

Sunday is known as the day of rest. That is pretty much how today went. I was going to be on nights again in the evening, and as it was the end of the weekend, I was anticipating a reasonably busy night, as I thought I had better get as much sleep as possible.

It was so pleasant to sleep in my own bed again, with the knowledge that I didn't have to get up early, and didn't need to do anything until about 4 in the afternoon, when I was going to take my life in my own hands again, and head down south for my 2 night shifts.

Anyway, after waking at 6 (again, I guess that there won't be a lie in), I thought I might as well get up early, and head to the early church service, instead of waiting until the usual 10:30 service. If you remember this is how I ended up being introduced to Sally the Landlady.

Anyway, after church, the pastor – who recognised me – asked about how I was going at the house of Sally. I didn't fill him in on the whole crazy situation, but said that I'd gotten my own place because Jane, Daisy, and Annaliese are coming out to join me soon.

After that, it was home until I needed to go to work. Nothing really to report.

Saturday – Reflecting on the Past

It was a weekend in December, 1998 (a while ago, I know but bear with me). Ice was on the pavement, and there was a hint of snow in the air. In fact Christmas time was only around the corner. Jane and I were nicely ensconced in our little house in Hove, huddling together to keep warm. Our central heating had packed up, and we didn't have any heaters to warm us up. It was a weekend, and we couldn't get our British Gas engineer out until Monday, so we resigned ourselves to freezing in the house. Eventually we resorted to chopping up our dining room furniture, and burning it in the fireplace to keep warm. We felt a little like some squatters dressed in big coats, and burning furniture to keep warm.

Winter is here with a vengeance. When I say winter I'm probably not accurately creating a picture for all of you. When it isn't raining there isn't a cloud in the sky. With so little cloud cover (I could explain the reasons there aren't many clouds in southern West Australia – it's all to do with humidity, and elevation of the land, and prevailing winds – but I don't think I'll bore you any more than normal) when it isn't raining, and the sun isn't shining – some people know that as night time, the temperature plummets to 4 or 5 degrees.

During the day, with the sun shining it is positively warm – rivalling the temperature in Brighton recently, but the nights are not pleasant if you don't have anything warm to wear, or any heating in the house. In the apartment in Scarborough there is a very clever function on the air conditioner that blows hot air when it is necessary. I can stay as warm as I like there.

As you imagine, the beach house in Golden Bay isn't full of many mod-cons (well, actually there are no mod-cons). There is a TV, and that's about it, but is that a mod-con now a days? One of the conveniences that is missing was any sort of gas or electric heater. It's been alright up until now, but Friday night it was very cold.

I trundled back to Golden Bay last night after work, and, after stopping at "The Lucky Catch" for Fish and Chips, I bowled up at the beach house clutching my supper and bags. After eating my Snapper, I sat there shivering, looking at a cast iron pot bell stove in the lounge area. I thought, I'll bite the bullet as I hadn't seen any wood anywhere, but then I remembered I hadn't looked in the garage under the house. After fighting through the jungle, and eventually getting the lock to work (it hadn't been opened in a long time).

Amazingly, in the garage was a large pile of timber, so I loaded up a couple of armfuls of the wood, and stumbled back into the house. Luckily it was quite dry and lit really easily, as there wasn't any sort of firelighter. I checked out the wood I was throwing in the top of the fire, and it was old chairs, and tables. That took me back to the winter in Hove. I hope that they were actually supposed to be burned, and not being stored for any other reason.

Friday – No one likes being woken up early

After the last few days of doing overtime on nights (albeit very quiet nights), I had to do my own set of four shifts today. It involves two day shifts, and then two night shifts, all in Mandurah. Because of the 1 hour drive each way – when there isn't any traffic – I'm going to stay in the H of H in Golden Bay for the night.

Anyway work wasn't particularly taxing, although most of the calls were "Priority One" – or in need of immediate ambulance treatment, or immediately life threatening (and also any road accident/crash – called an MVA here (very E.R.) even if no one is injured). If the call isn't a Priority One then we don't attend the incident with lights and sirens. It is a lot more sensible if you take into account the lack of local driving skills, although a lot of what the ambulance service's dispatch centre thinks is immediately life threatening, from the information given to them, is a lot different than reality.

As with a lot of other things in the ambulance service here, St. Johns don't subscribe to internationally held ideas about the way that emergency calls are taken, and they use their own system for answering calls, and not any recognised system. I was thinking of offering to help out in the control room on overtime, a little like I was doing in Sussex, but I know I'll get very frustrated with the ad hoc type systems they use.

Anyway – I think I mentioned the other day about the lack of skill in the hospital. Today there was another example of it. We were called to the local court house. There was someone there who had, in the early hours of the morning, had a little tussle with the police and was arrested. Because of the injuries he sustained in the arrest he was taken for a check over at the hospital, and given the all clear about 4 in the morning.

We saw him at the court house, as he had become unconscious after complaining about a severe headache, and had started bleeding from out of one ear. Anyway, we took him around to the hospital again, and then trundled off to get another old nana for their routine hospital appointment. A couple hours later, we arrived at the hospital to see that the guy was still at the hospital. I inquired about why he was still at the hospital (knowing that his symptoms gave me a high suspicion that he had a serious injury). You can imagine how sheepish the hospital must feel now they found that the guy had a skull fracture.

I did have to bite my tongue or I would have said something about how they must be impressed with the previous evenings night shifts thoroughness, and not wanting to wake up the x-ray operator at 3 in the morning (I'm not sure that was the actual reason that they didn't x-ray – let's hope not). No one thinks twice about waking me up at 3 in the morning – although sometimes I wish they would.

Thursday – No Longer the New Boy

Sampson was very proud of his hair, which gave him his unusually immense strength. I'm hoping that I'm not another Sampson type character, as after 5 months (the last time I got my hair cut was just before I went skiing in February), I finally bit the bullet, and got my flowing locks cut.

Jane did reckon that I was more like a Mr. Comb-over rather than any bronzed Mediterranean Adonis. I had to agree that maybe a trim would be in order, so, after driving home from my night shift (another night spent in the easy-chair "watching football" – what will I do when the tournament is finished) I stopped in the local Scarborough barber shop to bid farewell to my scary hair.

Chatting – in a way that only a barber can do – Justin (my new best friend – so he thinks) told me about how he'd just moved to Scarborough, and was really happy with work. He didn't sound local (who does), and so I asked him where he had just moved from. He was ever so pleased I had asked and then proceeded to extol the virtues of Manchester, and how he'd only arrived 3 to 4 weeks earlier, and was living with his girlfriend, and how he was enjoying it.

I did say that I had only arrived this year also, and mentioned about the pub nearby me, and he said he would look out for me, if he's in there the same time as me, as he doesn't know many people. Fortunately he finished butting y hair in about 10 minutes, as he was running out of things to say – isn't it always the same at a haircut, after about 10 to 15 minutes, you can't wait to get out of there. I hope that when he doesn't have scissors in his hand, he has some other conversation.

Hopefully my super strength, and charm hasn't been sapped with the loss of my auburn locks, and also hopefully I'll not run into Justin in the Indian Ocean Hotel. I'm sure I heard his entire repertoire of jokes, and funnies. At least I've finally met someone who arrived in Perth since I've arrived. That's good.

Wednesday – Am I really like the Indian-Pacific

As I said, my overtime hiatus only lasted about 1 week, before I was back into it. As I had said that I would do Wednesday night, I thought I might as well get my money's worth, and do Tuesday night as well, as it was offered to me. And I enjoy working nights – who wouldn't enjoy being paid for sleeping.

I had been offered a volunteer's spot on Tuesday night, because (and can you blame them) no one wanted to give up their evening/night for nothing. I was teamed up with another paramedic, but she was a very enthusiastic paramedic, who was a pleasure to work with, as she conferred/talked to me about what she was thinking. I guess that is what being a team is all about.

We had got back to base about midnight, after a couple of jobs, and decided it was time to inspect the eyelids, for leaks. Our rest area (each ambulance crew has a designated rest area) was a lot like my room at college with only a small divider to separate the two rest areas, each with an easy chair, and a cot. We both were tired, and climbed into our cots, and it wasn't before I, snuggled up under my duvet, was in the land of nod.

We got about 2 hours sleep before we had to get up, and rush off to the next job. Lisa mentioned that she hadn't really been able to sleep when I asked her if she'd got any rest for the last two hours. Those of you who have worked nights with me would know what her complaint is I'm sure. She said that after about 10 seconds I sounded like the Indian-Pacific on its 36 hour journey from Perth to Sydney (it's a train).

After the job, we hurried back to base and I said that I was going to watch the Euro 2008 football – being shown live on TV. In reality I was trying to be thoughtful (unusually) and was going to sleep in the easy chair in the mess area, so that Lisa could get some much needed sleep.

I did get some sleep, but not a lot, and so after finishing work, I went back to Golden Bay, and it wasn't long before the Indian Pacific was working its way across the continent again, this time not being interrupted by sick people, and I only moved when it was time to head back into work, and earn more money. At least I could sleep without keeping anyone awake!

Tuesday – I wasn’t going to do any more overtime!

I explained last week about the long game that I was playing. It involved working at Mandurah depot, which is listed as a country depot. Part of the appeal of working at a country depot is that because it is supposed to be out of the city (although in reality Mandurah is just another Perth suburb – another example of Aussie logic which I don't think I'll ever learn), and as such, there are a lot of penalties (a penalty is the Aussie way of saying allowances, and it is a positive thing, not a negative thing – you can see how I'm easily confused) attached to working here. Anyway the penalties amount to about $800 a week, so I had said that I wasn't going to do all the overtime that I had been doing.

Tuesday was involved with more visa admin. Yes it is a never ending process. The latest stage I got to is that I need to prove to the government that my qualification as a UK paramedic has got an equivalency here in Australia. (If it doesn't what have I been doing for the last 6 months – actually the official Australian title I'm applying for is a very grandiose sounding Intensive Care Paramedic) It involves getting a piece of paper from some government department in Melbourne (yes, like every other step in the visa process it costs a packet).

I had sent off copies of my certificates and other documents that were requested about 2 months ago. That wasn't sufficient, (and there was some problem with a couple of the documents that I had sent in already) and so I had to get more copies of my passport (I had that here) and my birth certificate (still in the UK), and they also wanted the actual scores of my exams during my paramedic course. I'd managed to get them through Sussex Ambulance Service (as such), which were sent to me, via Jane in England.

Anyway, the rest of the documents finally got sent off (I don't think that I'm able to supply any more documents, as I don't have many more in my possession), and also sent off to the UK for a document that says I haven't got any convictions from the police. (It is a little different from a CRB check, and also costs more money).

Anyway, with all these expenses I had decided that my little overtime hiatus had better end, so off I went to Mandurah again for two night shifts on overtime. Tuesday was really an easy night, and my partner was another paramedic, as there wasn't any wombles to work with. It was quite an easy night, and I got about 5 hours sleep. I'll take that over working any time.

Also Congratulations to Duncan and Rachel on the birth of their little girl Lily.

Monday – What is a group of Ambos called?

Funny isn't it what a group of things are called? Have you ever wondered why? Let me give you a couple that I think are really off the wall. Why is it called a murder of crows, when most other birds are known as a flock – such as a flock of seagulls? Shouldn't it be called an annoyance of seagulls? How about an army of ants – is it because they are much organised, and resemble a hard working group of soldiers? Another couple – a pride of lions, a pod of dolphins, and a gaggle of geese – all very odd, I think.

I did another night Sunday night in Mandurah. It was a busy night, and we didn't get much down time. What takes most of the time is the transfers from the local hospital, who handball (another Aussie euphemism for passing the buck, or passing responsibility of something to someone else – comes from Aussie Rules Football which calls a pass from one player to another a handball) any seriously ill patient to the bigger hospitals up in the city – about 50 miles away. It would be something to think about if you were going to live down here.

Anyway one of the people we were asked to take up the road was particularly unwell, and was going to be put unconscious with medication, and their breathing was going to be done on a ventilator. Anyway the medications were sorted out, and then the patient was then knocked out, and the doctor tried to put the tube for the patient to breath into the their lungs. This is not a really tricky procedure (called intubation), but in hospitals only doctor can do the procedure.

Anyway, after the medications are given, there really can't be much delay before a patient should be attached to the ventilator, but the doctor trying to do the procedure was really struggling to complete it. After a couple attempts, I offered to have a go (as a paramedic I've been trained in the procedure, and carry it out outside of hospital, on my own – sometimes hanging upside down in a ditch with water running down my neck – not the sterile hospital setting with 3 or 4 nurses to assist – that this doctor was trying to do it in). I don't like to brag, or blow my own trumpet, but I managed the procedure on the first attempt.

Anyway once we got to the hospital up in the city and unloaded the patient in the intensive therapy unit, and went back to the ambulance, where there were 4 or 5 other ambulance crews standing around chatting. Remember that normally in Mandurah I am working with volunteers who actually want to work, and do the job for nothing (well almost, they get paid a retainer for coming in to work of $25, which is what I'm paid for an hour's work).

The other guys all were moaning and grumbling about St. Johns, and the work, and the hours, and blah blah blah. I'm not really interested, as I enjoy my job, and am really happy doing it every day. That is why I'm enjoying working with the volunteers, because they want to be there also. That brings me to what do you call a group of ambulance paramedics. After tonight, I think that maybe a grumble of paramedics, or a moan of paramedics.

Sunday – Learning to be the Local Weatherman

My goodness – how much rain fell last night? I don't know how much rain, but I think I would be better off with a boat, not a car! The rain had been threatening most of the afternoon on Saturday, and although the skies were clear, Kim (the man who lives next door to me in Scarborough) did give me a quick lesson in old timers' weather forecasting yesterday evening.

Kim is a very interesting fellow. He works (I'm not sure what he does – he did tell me, but I couldn't understand what he said, and now am too embarrassed to ask again), and goes to work about 4 in the morning. He is about 50 (it looks like) and is as Australian as Kangaroos and Koalas. He looks after the communal driveway and communal areas of the apartments. Every week he takes all the wheelie bins out to the road (I put my own out if I get there before him), and puts them back at everyone's house, after the bin man has emptied them. He also sweeps the drive at least once or twice a week.

Anyway, he pointed out the sea and Rottnest Island (we can see the see from the apartments), and indicated to where the large bank of cloud was – out on the horizon – and said something. I caught something about 1 or 2 in the morning, and lots of rain.

Sure enough, he got it right – the rain came in torrents at about 1:30, and there was no let up. When I went to the beach house in Golden Bay after work in the morning, I couldn't get down the first road I tried, as it was covering in water about 1-2 feet deep (or should I talk about centimetres), and the other road (there is only two roads into Golden Bay) was also under water, but not as deep. I gingerly drove through, and picked my way to the house.

It wasn't underwater, and the roof wasn't leaking (amazingly). I snuggled up under my duvet (not only was it raining, but also cold, and I still didn't feel brave enough to light the fire), and slept like a baby, until it was time to go to work in the evening.

When I did wake up, it was still raining. "Oh no" was my thoughts, as I picked my way around the flooded roads. The water was covering the road still, but as the rain wasn't teeming down anymore, my trusty little car only was underwater up to the door sills.

I'm going to ask Kim tomorrow about the weather for the rest of the week, so I don't keep getting my washing rained on!

Saturday – Night Shifts Again

I don't know if it funny to everyone, but I think it is. I had thought that after doing something for so long (I've been doing night shift of some description or other since I left school – except for the couple years I was in Corfu working or at the DIY shop) it would great to be like a normal person and only work during the day – maybe I can't be a normal person, but at least I can continue to act like one. That is why over the last 8 weeks I've been enjoying working on the day ambulance (shifts were from 7 until 5 or 10 until 8 4 days on, and then I'd have 4 days off).

Well, this week I've moved back off the day ambulance, onto a shift that operates 24 hours a day again (8 till 6 during the day, and 6 till 8 in the morning). I did enjoy my time working only days, but have realized that I am able to have more time off it seems doing the 2 days, 2 nights, and then 4 days off. It is only what it seems like, as I am actually working more hours, but because it is only 2 days in a row, and then having 24 hours off, and then two nights in a row, before 4 days off. It is only perception, but it keeps me happy – as I'm quite a simple person.

Anyway – I did have another funny/frustrating episode yesterday, after I wrote about the place I was staying. I was on a day shift, and after arriving at work, I realized I didn't have my Scarborough house keys, that should be connected to my car keys. I am not having any luck with keys this week. When I lose something and think I know where it is, I can't rest until I've tried to find them. Anyway, as I was going to be going back to Scarborough late Friday night, and had no way to get the spare keys from the estate agent until Saturday morning, I thought I'd better retrace my steps, and see if I can find them. The list of locations I had been since I last remembered having them for sure was a local corner shop in Golden Bay, a bottle shop (I had a small glass of wine last night in the "House of Horror" to calm my nerves) and then finally at the house itself. I thought probably the house would be the best bet, and so in between jobs, we popped up to Golden Bay and to the beach house.

I don't remember if I mentioned that there was no drive way, only an overgrown lawn (using that word loosely – you might more accurately call it a meadow, or even a heath (he he he), but whatever you call it, it is very much overgrown). When we arrived, I drove the ambulance up to the front door, and went inside and turned the place upside down; I couldn't find my house keys. I looked around the lawn, but didn't hold out much hope to find them. Surely enough – no keys to be found (but then again I didn't think so as the house keys are on a green key ring, and what with the grass being green, and me not being able to distinguish green to well, a whole raft of things seemed to be conspired against me).

Anyway, I'd given up all hope, and got in the ambulance. We started to back up, but then change our mind, and decided to turn around on the front grass. As we started up the drive a gleam of shiny silver caught our eye. Low and behold the keys. We didn't find them initially, because we'd parked the ambulance on top of them and the wheels had pushed the grass down enough to see the key. I felt so relieved.

Anyway, I went home and got into my house alright, slept well. Saturday was easy, and work was good as well. I'm glad I'm doing 2 days, 2 nights and 4 days off again.

Friday – At last things are sorted out

Last night I arrived at the beach house – eventually after the second episode of trying. I had driven around Golden Bay after work, looking for "The Best Fish and Chips Anywhere" (According to Carol, who lent me the keys to the place) that is right around the corner. I couldn't find the place (maybe I did, as there was a fish and chip shop, but it was closed).

After some map juggling (I will figure out how to read it soon, and not mention it again – either that or get a new GPS to replace the one that the rat bags took) I eventually found the right property – remember my difficulties yesterday morning. It was dark, so I couldn't take any photos of the place. I'll pop some photos of the place later when I get here during the day.

Let me describe my first impressions of the place. No wonder I missed it the first time I drove down the road yesterday morning. There wasn't a driveway, just an overgrown (about 3 feet high weeds) what only can be described as a paddock. It was so overgrown, that even when I knew where the entrance should be, I almost missed it.

After negotiating the jungle, I was confronted by a two storey building with some cement steps up to a door on the second floor. The ground floor has a garage and then the rest of the building could easily be on stilts. I climbed the stairs up to the front door with some in trepidation. Again the key problem seemed to almost rear its ugly head again. The key ring has 6 keys on it, and it was the 6^th key that I tried that opened the front door. (Why is it always the last key you try – but why would you try any other keys if the first one works?)

I let myself into the property and was confronted (after finding my torch, then the fuse box – I did know the fuses where turned off) by a very basic house, that felt a little run down, and a little neglected. The house is an old railway station (as I said the other day – it is from a place called Konnongorring – I'm not making it up).

I spent the first hour bleaching and trying to clean the shower and toilet – not that anyone has been scummy in it, just that the window wasn't screened, and been left open. Imagine the dirt, and dead insects in it. Anyway – it's cleaner now than it has been for a long time.

Who knows what actually will happen during the day – I'll let you know on Saturday!

 

Thursday – The Saga of the Keys Goes On

I'm more than likely wanted by the police here now. Not that they will know my name, or where I live, but there will be a report of a vagrant trying to get into a beach house in Golden Bay in the early hours. How I ended up looking like I was breaking into a house is not such a long story, but I'm sure that I'll be able to pad it out a little, to make it even less interesting than normal.

It was very early when I set out to start work down south, and because of the time, the traffic was moving on the motorway through the city centre really quickly. I'd left enough time to put up with 30 to 40 minutes of traffic jams, but as these didn't materialize, I found myself in the Mandurah about 1 hour before I was supposed to start work.

Instead of twiddling my thumbs, and reading the paper – as all good ambulance people should do when there is nothing to do – I though, I'll go over to Golden Bay to the beach house and drop off my stuff that I'll be using for the night.

After some juggling with the UBD
(remember – what a map is called here for some reason), I found the road just back from the beach and in the dawn light, tried to find the property. As I didn't have the original keys to the house anymore, and just the spare set, the number wasn't written on them. I cast my mind back into the fog of a few days ago, and remembered the number 12.

Let me describe the beach house. It was an old railway station from somewhere out in the country, that had been picked up, and moved in its entirety to Golden Bar. Surely there wasn't that many old station houses in this road, so I didn't pay close attention to the house numbers, and found a house that I thought was the one. As I drove into the driveway (old wooden single story building with a couple long verandas on both sides) I saw on the letterbox that this was number 12.

Great – I'll just pop my head inside, open the shutters, and air the place out ready for me tonight. I fished out the keys and as I walked up to the front door, noted also that a New Zealand flag – Carol and Rob who own the place are from New Zealand – was in the window. (I don't know if you are up on the flags of the world, but the Australian and New Zealand flags are almost identical – and as it turns out, I don't know the difference).

I wrestled with the keys for about 10 minutes, looked around the back of the house, before giving up and resigning myself to driving back up to the city after work. I called Carol a little later, when it was a sensible hour, and as it turns out – it was 24 not 12. Hopefully I'll be able to get into that property a little more successfully.

I wouldn't make a particularly successful cat burglary, I've decided, as I can't even get into the right house, let alone get into it, even with the keys.

Wednesday – Mundane is fun

There was nothing much of any significance that happen today. More routine and mundane tasks like sweeping, mopping, washing, and polishing (that was just my car – eventually I get around to the flat, but who knows when, probably the Saturday afternoon before flying home). I thought that maybe if I threw away all the junk that I had lying around in the car, miraculously the GPS et al would somehow turn up.

Guess what – none of it turned up. In fact, I found more things that had gone missing. I kept a small pot of change in the car to pay for little things like parking metres, and drive through coffee. My little fund got the change out of my pocket after finishing work, and for some reason, I always seemed to have a lot of change in my pockets. Anyway, the drinks/parking fund also had taken flight. I've come to terms with it, but if I do catch whoever it was who robbed me, I'll have his guts for garters.

Mandarah is where I am supposed to be going tomorrow, and so I thought I'll get an early night, as I've got a long drive (not by Australian standard I hasten to add) ahead of me to get to work. I had all intentions of doing that, until about 5 in the evening my phone rang and would you believe it, an invite out for a bite to eat. That was lucky, as I'd not got any of my Lite and Easy hot meals left.

After a large bowl of pasta, and a couple small glasses of wine, I retired back to the flat, and looking at the list of things to do, I resigned myself to the fact that I wasn't going to get much rest before the new block of shifts.

I had tried to get a load of washing dried inside after the torrential rain yesterday. I had hung everything up inside. There wasn't a surface/door frame/rail that didn't have a couple pairs of smalls, or socks, or a t-shirt hanging off it. By the time I got in from the cafe and get everything else packed, none of the items were dry. That will be nice, if the estate agent girls come round for an inspection while I'm in Mandurah on Thursday or Friday.

I did eventually get to sleep, safe in the knowledge that 5:30 in the morning was going to come around ever so quickly. I was right.