Have you ever noticed that "The Alphabet Song" and "Twinkle Twinkle Little Star" are both sung to the same tune? I'll leave you to think on that thought.
A week or so ago I thought that while I was here without Jane and the kids, I'd try to see some of Western Australia. It is a vast place. The city of Perth is a very tiny part, with 90% of the population of the state. I think I've said before, but Western Australia has about 2,000,000 people. Outside of Perth the distances are vast, but there are towns and villages dotted around.
These people have a right to ambulance treatment, just the same as the people in the city. Most of the small to medium-sized communities have their own ambulances, manned by St. John Ambulance Volunteers (the same as the St. John volunteers in the U.K. who do a fabulous job – I have to say that now, I work for them – at sporting events, and concerts). In the slightly larger communities there are ambulances that are manned by one paramedic and one volunteer (we lovingly know them as Wombles – insert jokes about picking up rubbish here – behind their backs, or Volley's to their faces ).
The paramedics are cherry-picked out of Perth, or they request to work out in the country. Anyway part of my grand plan of seeing Western Australia I volunteered to go and fill in short notice/short term in the country if anything came up. My request had only been in for about 2 days when the Country Ambulance Co-ordinator rang me and asked if I wanted to help out in a place called Geraldton.
Of course I did, as there is nothing keeping me in Perth at the moment. I've been asked to drive up on Wednesday, work on Thursday Day, Friday Day, Saturday Night, and Sunday Night, and then return back to Perth in time for my normal shift on Tuesday. "No problem" I thought, and I get an early day off in the bargain.
My day on Tuesday was taken up with packing (how much stuff do you need for 4 days of work besides uniform). That evening I went to my friend Earl and Jan's house. They are another South African couple, and there, along with about 6 or 7 others, we had a couple drinks, and some authentic South African food – no not Bourewort Sausage this time.
I tried to take some photos but they didn't come out – so let me describe it as best as possible. There was some type of corn bread that was made in a cast iron pot, which was cooked by sticking some glowing charcoal embers in it for about 40-45 minutes. And the meat was a type of stew (called a poikie – although I'm not sure about the spelling) that was again all made in a large cast iron pot with legs on it, this time over some more glowing coals. This is made by slowly laying various foods into the pot as it was sitting above the coals. There was some beef and onions in the bottom, then carrots, potatoes, green beans, and chick peas, with some stock and herbs, and a can of beer in it (actually not the can itself, but the beer inside it). This is left for 2-3 hours, not stirring it or anything, and then when it is time to serve, it is super yummy.
Anyway – Wednesday I am heading out to the bush. I'm looking forward to it. Oh – and by the way – why are you singing???
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