Melbourne, Melbourne – why are you so cold??!! I only have two hoodies!!!!!

Today is Friday, 6th August. We arrived back in Melbourne on Tuesday. I was so excited about coming back ‘home’, but now I am not so sure where ‘home’ is – have I been travelling for too long???

Last time I wrote in the blog, I was unsure how I felt about Alice Springs, however since I wrote that blog, a number of things have happened that have made me feel slightly differently. One of the primary issues that I have had about Alice Springs is the racism that I encountered with the other tourists.

I didn’t expect so many white tourist Australians to be so awful about the local Alice Springs Aboriginal people – it has really upset me. And staying in caravan parks, and hearing people who are camping next to me saying negative things about the local aboriginals has bothered me hugely. I mean, I don’t understand – these people that are canning the blacks – they are just passing through, while the aboriginals – they live here! The aboriginal people are doing nothing to them, yet they won’t eat in the same place as an aboriginal??!! The aboriginal people – where we live, Australia, it is their land, and we (the whites) invaded them! And now so many white people judge the aboriginals, and put them down, and want them to live by ‘white-man’ rules. I don’t understand. And I don’t like it. However, as I said, some things have happened that make me feel differently about Alice Springs.

I have met Morris, who is this amazing man who is doing fab things working with the local community, working within the church and with choirs. Morris also works to raise a lot of money to combat poverty. Morris has inspired me. Morris restored my faith in the men in Alice Springs.

I have met Amanda, who Fiona (friend from Melb) put me in touch with. Amanda has lived in Alice Springs for a while, she manages a backpackers resort in Alice, she used to be a tour guide. Amanda took Kristy and I to the pub and got me drunk and chatted to me all night. Amanda told me that it is mostly the white tourists that are racist, and that the local whites are not racist. Amanda has been our ‘Alice Springs Angel’. She has stored our van in Alice (while we are in Melbourne), she arranged for us to get to the airport to catch our plane to Melb and she is helping Kristy find work. Amanda restored my faith in the resident women of Alice Springs.

I have met Helen up in Alice, who is my friend from DHS in Vic. Helen, Kristy and I went to Bojangles, a great pub, in Alice (thank you so much Helen, we seriously would have had trouble affording that other restaurant). Helen is a tourist (like us), but she thinks the same as I do regarding the aboriginal people. We had a great night, few drinks, good meal and lots of photos (Helen has the BEST camera). Helen restored my faith in Alice Springs tourists.

So these three people have helped me feel better about Alice Springs, and about people in general! Luv ewes!

K and I arrived back in Melbourne on Tuesday. I was so looking forward to coming back to a familiar place. I knew it would be cold, but I am used to Melbourne winters. My mum came and picked us up from the airport – this is a huge thing for my mumma to do, she is not good with driving. Our plane got in at 3pm, and by the time we picked up our baggage it was 3.30pm. My mum had been at the airport since 2.15pm – she wanted to make sure that she wasn’t late!! Ahhhh, mumma.

My mum has spoilt us a lot. She has given K and I her bedroom, and she decorated it in total pink – because it is Kristy’s favourite colour (not mine fav colour, because I am not 12 years old, but I know mumma wanted Kristy to feel happy about the room). She had also put many cans of diet coke in the fridge for us and set us up to watch the big screen TV, as she knows we haven’t really seen TV for a long time. I have cooked dinner for my mum since I have got here, as she likes the soup I make, and the salads. Kristy has clipped Lucy (mumma’s little dog) and has helped mumma move things around.

We are staying with Kristy’s parents on Monday and Tuesday night. Kristy’s mum, Anita, has organised HEAPS of movies and TV shows for us, and put them on disc for us so we can take them away and watch them on the computer – YAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAY!!!!! We will be seeing Kristy’s family at the wedding tomorrow night – Dave and Sarah get married!!

I love weddings. I know... it is strange, but I do! No one expects me to love weddings, but I think I just love the love that is present at weddings, that whole ‘make a commitment in front of family and friends’ situation. Maybe I am a romantic at heart (shhhh, don’t tell anyone). Dave and Sarah are two awesome people, who have made me feel welcome from the day I met them, so I am rapt to be at their wedding! It is going to be lovely to see everyone too, it has been ages. I know Kristy is looking forward to seeing her family at the wedding. Kristy has got the best outfit, she looks stunning!

I was cutting up carrots today. I don’t like carrots, I was only cutting them up for Kristy, cos she really really likes them (can’t understand that... but each to their own). Then, I wasn’t concentrating (prob K was yak yak blah blah about something), and I cut my thumb. Deeply. I bled for about an hour, despite severe and intense bandaging (my mother is a nurse and she knows how to bandage). While the bleeding has stopped, I don’t think my thumb will ever be the same. Hope I don’t go to the wedding with a big, fat, white bandaged thumb – not the look I was going for!

On Sunday we have arranged to catch up with some friends, and it will be lovely to see them. I miss my friends so much. I love travelling, but I do miss my friends.

My friend Jake had surgery today. I spoke to her tonight, she is doing fine, though she is in a bit of pain. Jake, you have been in my life since I was 13 years old – I luv u. Always there darling. Will text you tomorrow and every day after. Remember to keep your eyebrows separated.

Day 58 of the Fittness Challenge. I did 58 pushups today. I did 40 pushups without stopping. I hope everyone is impressed.