Q: Where do we now live??? A: It is Manta Walk, Yulara!!!
Kristy and I have moved from our “share-share” accommodation to “Manta Walk” accommodation. “Share-share” means that we have to share half of our accommodation with another person (the kitchen and bathroom), but Manta Walk means we have a whole one-bedroom unit to ourselves! And, it is the same rent as “share-share”!! We were up-graded with our accommodation because of my new job at the Resort Spa, and while our new unit is small, we like it because it is all ours. Moving to this new unit wasn’t hard - our new place is literally 10 seconds walk from our old place. The distance for the move was easy, but the rain on the day was a bit of a bummer, why does it always rain on moving day??????? We just did the ‘grab and throw’ move, we had to... the rain!! I have set up our new home as well as I can, given what I had to work with. And I have drawn some new pictures and blue tac-ed them up, draped blankets where I could (towels in some cases) and put desert flowers in empty wine bottles (plenty of those empty bottles, let me tell ya!!!) and spread the “vases” throughout the unit.
I miss Lizzie though, Lizzie is the blue tongue lizard that would sunbake out the front of our previous unit. We still see the family of rabbits, they hop everywhere at sunset! Bunnies!!!! Cute!!!
So, I have now officially started working at the Resort Spa. The first massage I gave, I was given a $25 tip! (Kristy was so proud – it was very cute!!) $25.00 is quite a big tip in this business – it is more than a Spa masseur makes in an hour! Masseurs who work for organisations/businesses (anyone who doesn’t work for themselves basically) get paid pretty low money, and this is incongruous considering that, for example, a one hour massage at the resort Spa that I work at costs a client $125.00!!! Yes, the mark up is huge. Once the Trip-Around-Australia (or as I like to say, the T.A.R), is over, I am thinking of starting up my own Spa, but of course I will be paying the masseurs and beauticians a very decent amount (like DOUBLE the current market rate!). I think well paid workers are more likely to be loyal and committed. Plus, they deserve to be paid for the work that they do!!!!!!
Anyhoo, despite the hourly wage, I am enjoying working at the Spa. Aside from providing Deep Tissue Massage, which I am already experienced and qualified in, I have now also learnt to do:
• 30 minute facials (called the “taster facial” - gives people a chance to experience the products)
• Aroma Stone Therapy (hot rock massage)
• Body Scrubs (great all-over- the- body exfoliation)
• Foot treatments (which include foot exfoliation and foot massage/reflexology) .
I have learnt new skills and I am glad for this (my list of quals and experience is growing evermore diverse and eclectic!) Although in the massage/beauty business, I am finding that my brain is HANGING OUT to be challenged. There is not a lot of brain work required for what I do, well... in comparison to my previous jobs in Melbourne, writing up units of competency for the DHS Diploma of Management. However, this is a short-term job, and while I am doing it, it can teach me to “get into the zone” and to meditate while I am massaging, exfoliating, scrubbing, ect (maybe the Universe is telling me to rest my brain?) . All of my clients say that I have great “energy” (or things along those lines), which is a good thing, because it would be pretty hard to give a client a relaxing experience if I had crap energy!
I have to say though, that while I am not being mentally challenged, I do like making people feel good, and I make sure that every client that steps into my treatment room is given the best experience I can possibly give them. I figure, they are paying so much money that they deserve to feel good. It is sometimes a bit harder with the arrogant clients, the ones that think they are “too cool for school” and treat me like a plebe, but I remind myself that they are paying a lot of money for the service, and it is not their fault if they don’t realise that I am being paid lowly wages, and it is not their fault if they haven’t learnt to be respectful and gracious to everyone, despite job or position. I work on being very kind and gentle to these people as I figure they deserve it (lots of people must really dislike them for their attitude!). But, on the other side of the coin, OMG – I had the most cutest of clients the other day – she was 84 years old! How awesome is that! She is 84 and she flew from the USA to see Uluru! I so admired her, and I made sure I gave her an extra good treatment! I love old people!
Oh, a slightly funny thing happened at the Spa the other day. I had just shown a lovely German couple into the change rooms (they were booked in for a double massage) and after a little while, the man comes out and calls to me, and says that he is not sure how to put on the disposable underwear (his girlfriend/wife is giggling behind him and he is beetroot red with embarrassment). Well... I wasn’t going to show him or help him, (aside from, ahhhhh...no! I couldn’t even if I wanted to because even I am not sure with the boy’s disposable underwear – it is some weird, paper g-string for the boys). I just handed him a new lot of the women’s disposable underwear, which is a very simple pair of black, high-waisted, crepe, strange leg-shaped panties (veeeeerrrry attractive! Must get a number of pairs to wear every day... oh yeah... right), and told him that these were “uni-sex”. While they are not appealing in a catwalk type of way (any type of way really), it is very easy to work out how to wear the women’s disposable underwear. Footnote: we mostly use the men’s g-string underwear as hair scrunchie’s for women who have come for a treatment but haven’t tied their hair back (they never know this, we tie their hair back when they are on the table!). And yes... of course they are clean ones! It is DISPOSABLE underwear people! Once we use it, we throw it away!!!!!
Oh, and the uniform that I wear – it is dark blue scrubs. Picture an operating theatre – I wear something similar to that (without the hat and foot covers). I love the Spa uniform so much that I am considering adopting it as my usual attire. Yes, it is very flattering... not.
I have now also started with my Certificate IV in Fitness (this is helping my brain to not atrophy completely). Have my first exam tomorrow, not sure if I am prepared, but will give it a go. Undergoing my fitness qualification means that I am virtually forced to go to the gym (one of the reasons I enrolled), so while I don’t go as much as I would like (working two jobs, and studying, cuts down on my time at the gym a little), I am still motivated to work out at least 3 times a week. I should have lost stacks of weight, yet, no, I have not. I blame Kristy. She keeps buying chocolate and leaving it in the fridge. What can I do but eat it??
With my two jobs, and Kristy working 5 nights out of 7 (note: she starts at 5.30pm and finishes anywhere between 1.00am and 3.00am), we can go days without really seeing each other (aside from a few hours from when she crawls into bed, and then I crawl out of bed when my alarm goes off for me to get up for work). Kristy leaves for work before I get home, and then I leave for work before she gets up in the morning! But we do manage to get a few days to spend together, not many, but some. Anyway, we are only stopping here at Yulara for a while, to re-energise, experience carpet (was surprised at how much I missed carpet!!), sleep in a bed without wheels, and to save some money before travelling the next leg of the journey.
I have to change my Victorian drivers licence! If residing in the NT for over 3 months, it is law to change your licence (and car rego) over to NT. I suppose it is about time I got myself another licence, considering how Kristy snapped my current licence in half (how embarrassing, and yet fun(!) it has been to hand over my licence in 2 pieces whenever I am asked for ID!). K broke it because she was trying to fix it (God I love irony!) To explain - my licence had a bend in it and so she decided to straighten it, and instead she broke it into 2 pieces.
I have now made a few additional new friends - my circle is extending! There is Darren (assistant manager of Sails in the Desert) and Mike (the star talker for the Sounds of Silence dinners). The Sounds of Silence is an activity where guests pay an extraordinary amount of money to eat a buffet, at night, in the desert, and while they eat, be told about the star constellations above their heads. Kristy and I are definitely going to do this (because we are here, and because we love a buffet, and because it would be fun, and because we might get a discount, and because we now know a star talker, and because there isn’t a lot of choice about what to do here, and because... well... why not!?) I just have to talk to Kristy about our schedules to see if we can synchronize our watches enough to make the dinner booking. Of course, I have also made friends with my co-workers at the Spa (Julie, Karen and Kerrie) who are just lovely and working with lovely people makes the day go by so pleasantly.
Kristy has been HANGING OUT for a bath (we have only been showering for over 4 months now), and today (on my day off from the spa) I made an appointment for Kristy and I to go and have a VERY flasho bath at the spa. We sat in the huge (big enough for 6 people easily), black (once you’ve had black....), roman-type, square bath, filled with luxurious, skin-softening products, looking up at the sky and gum trees, and soaking up the serenity. Ahhhh, this is the life. This bath normally costs $80 for couples, but because I work there, we got a bit of a discount. It was so bloody lovely to have a decent soak, and we are planning to do it more often!
If anyone is ever planning to come and see Uluru, then seriously guys, NOW is the time to do it. I can get you major discount on rooms at any of the hotels here. And I mean MAJOR discounts (100’s and 100’s and 100’s of dollars off the usual price). Kristy and I are planning to be here until at least the end of January 2011. Of course anyone who comes is welcome to stay with us if you want to pay nothing for accommodation, but if you want privacy or more room, I can get heavily discounted rates on the hotels here. Tomorrow I am finding out exactly the discounts I can get, so stay tuned to this bat channel and I will advise. If you are even vaguely planning, considering, contemplating, hoping for, imaging or reflecting on a trip to the centre of Australia, then email/text/call me and we can start working out the details of when and where. Come on... I know there is a number of you out there that are wanting to come to Uluru... don’t be shy... don’t be hesitate... just do it! (you know who I am talking about!!!). Is one life (that we remember anyway) so at least make sure that you see, in this lifetime, the iconic Australian rock!
BTW – how funny is The Big Bang Theory? We have just finished watching the first and second seasons on DVD! Hysterical!
Sunday, September 26, 2010
Sunday, September 12, 2010
Yulara... Week Two... What Did We Do???
Kristy is still working away like a crazy gal - washing zillions of buses - as she waits for her Police Check to be finalised so she can gain her H endorsement, which will enable her to drive buses (though she will probably keep washing the buses, as well as do some bus driving, because the money is very good as a bus washer!) Opps, I made a big, big, big, HUGE faux pas in the world of AAT Kings (who Kristy works for)... they get very annoyed if we call them “buses” – they are “coaches”! Apparently anything that has wheels AND a toilet is called a “coach”.
Yulara (our new home) is broken into 3 primary factions:
1. Tourists: Other than interacting on a working/professional level, the workers/residents of Yulara don’t have much to do with the tourists (note: the tourists appear to be broken into 3 sub categories – the campers, the backpackers and the ones that stay in the hotels).
2. Short-term residents: This is Kristy and I. Short-termers are anyone that resides and works here for no longer than 6 months (note: short-term residents can often unintentionally extend into the following 3rd faction).
3. Long-term residents: The long-termers are those that have been here at Yulara for more than 12 months. I have spoken to long-termers that have been here for 5 years, and even one guy who has been here for 10 years!!!!! I didn’t even know that the Ayers Rock resort had been opened for that long! You can always tell a long-termer – they have pretty fancy gardens (short-termers don’t bother with a garden).
Both the short-termers and long-termers (actually all the residents!) are so friendly. Everyone seems to know everyone, and the residents wave to each other, smile, call out, beep horns, whistle, invite you for drinks, etc. If anyone is likely to be rude, it will be a tourist. Of course, most of the tourists, are great, just some of them are obviously a bit stressed, and well... it shows sometimes. But us residents (or ressies as we are called) cannot afford to be rude to each other – we have to live and work with each other, and a lot of the time it is in very close quarters! For eg, Kristy and I live in “share-share” accommodation, which means we share a kitchen and bathroom with someone else (they haven’t moved in yet, so K and I have had the whole place to ourselves, and I must say, I have really spread out my stuff! Will have to pull it all back in again when the new guy arrives.
The majority of “ressies” have 2 or 3 jobs. Kristy is seen as strange as she only has one job! The guy I worked with last night, he has 5 part-time jobs! I don’t think he sleeps much.
I started my casual catering job on Friday. Was meant to start next week, but they rang me on Friday at 11.30am and asked if I could come in at 2.30pm (they were desperate). I said yes, because, hey, why not? So I had my first shift catering for 7 groups of tourists (this equates to over 100 guests) who had champagne and canapés as they watched Ayers Rock at sunset (this is called the “sunny” shift). The first night I had a really bad time – just felt like so much to remember and it was so busy and people and things everywhere and how would I ever know what to do? But then I worked again last night (Saturday) and it was fine! And I did remember everything, and I had fun! And now I know how to properly pour a glass of champagne (I did not know there was a proper way until 2 days ago!)
The BEST tourists are the Japanese and the Americans! While these are very different tourist groups, total opposites actually, they are both groups so friendly and appreciative. The Japanese groups always give the catering crew a round of applause when they are leaving. The Americans always say thank you.
The first night I worked the “sunny” shift, the Rock looked glorious as the sun set. Last night, it was total clouds and spitting rain. The Rock just looked rock-like. Oh, but the first night – excitement! Someone had hidden up the top of the Rock during the day and as the sun was setting, he parachuted off the Rock ! So there I am, pouring drinks and being socialiable and friendly to the tourists (“Of course I am happy to take your photo” and “Oh it’s your honeymoon, how lovely” and “would you rather red wine, or white wine?” and “no you cannot take the rest of the champagne on the bus with you!”) when suddenly, everyone is going ohhhh, and ahhh, and we are watching parachute man flying over and off the Rock. Apparently he will get a mega fine if the rangers catch him. I kinda hope he runs (or flys) free.
I have met new people now that I have started working (not just meeting Kristy’s work mates, which I have been doing until now). There is Erin who I worked with on the first night, who earlier this year was airlifted out of Yulara because a blood vessel in her brain exploded and she nearly died, and after being put in an induced coma, she had her head shaved and the blood vessel removed and the fluid on the brain was drained. She showed me pics of her head with the massive scars (she has hair now, so you can’t see the scars). It is strange, because Garry (Kristy’s boss) also had brain surgery (to remove a tumour) and he has a massive scar on his head (he has a shaved head, so it is easy to see his scars!) The next woman I met (Tara, I worked with her the next night) told me how she had been airlifted out of Yulara (sound familiar!?) with a woman named Erin (who she has actually never met, yet has shared a medical helicopter with – isn’t that strange!)! Tara was airlifted out because she had severe concussion, because when she was cleaning under a sink, the sink was loose and it fell onto her head and she was knocked out. Ummm, as I write this, I am sensing a theme... head injuries. I think I should invest in a helmet while I am here at Yulara, or at least take out some sort of medical insurance!
Kristy and I went out last Wednesday night and we partied (remember that Wednesday is the new Saturday). I drank a teensy, tiny, weeny bit too much and ended up with a teensy, tiny, weeny hangover the next day (translated, this mean I didn’t stop consuming wine when I should have, and I ended up with severe nausea and a massive headache the next day).
Many people drink hard here, and I should not try to keep up with them. I know I need to be stronger and sterner when I tell people, “NO... Do NOT buy me another drink!” Is hard, because we are trying to fit in here, and drinking is the way to do that, (and I don’t want to look soft either), but equally, I don’t want to feel sick the next day either. I will find the balance, I WILL!
Although a lot of people like a decent drink in Yulara, there are hardly any problems or fights. That is because if anyone messes up, or carries on, or causes trouble, they will be “48-ed“ by the resort. If you are “48-ed” it means that you must leave the resort within 48 hours. As no-one wants to leave (they have jobs, homes, partners, friends, etc) most people are pretty darn careful about their behaviour.
I went to the gym again today. I have now officially joined, I have had a program written up for me, and I go religiously every 2nd day. Today Kristy came with me, and we set up the table-tennis table and played table-tennis after we had finished the workout. It was fun. I lost, but that’s because I let Kristy win. We all know how she gets if she loses (omg, she is not going to like that I wrote that!).
I have officially enrolled in the Certificate IV in Fitness now, and I start the work on the course tomorrow. I am looking forward to getting stuck into it, and am hoping it will inspire me even more to be fit. I am already getting muscles, and like to look at my own guns in the mirror (yes, I have become THAT sort of gym person).
Thank you Anita, for putting together some DVD’s for us and sending them over. We haven’t got them yet, but we know they are on their way. Thank you thank you thank you!!!!!
If anyone else feels the urge to send us something (we accept all DVDs, books, cards, money, lotto tickets, jewellery, gold bullion, etc) the address is:
Linda & Kristy
C/- Yulara Post Office
Yulara, NT, 0872
Talking about DVD’s, they are selling them at the Yulara IGA for $2.00 each. Kristy couldn’t believe her eyes! But the DVD’s were all “who-the-hell-is-this-actor” movies. Still... we purchased 2 of them... well, they were only $2.00!! I think I was lucky to get out of the supermarket without Kristy buying the whole box (she likes a bargain).
The AFL grand final is coming up!!! Kristy has swapped one of her days so she can sit and watch it (and perhaps drink copious amounts of beer). I predict a Bulldogs/Pies grand Finale. Kristy tells me I am dreaming, but let’s just see!
Yulara (our new home) is broken into 3 primary factions:
1. Tourists: Other than interacting on a working/professional level, the workers/residents of Yulara don’t have much to do with the tourists (note: the tourists appear to be broken into 3 sub categories – the campers, the backpackers and the ones that stay in the hotels).
2. Short-term residents: This is Kristy and I. Short-termers are anyone that resides and works here for no longer than 6 months (note: short-term residents can often unintentionally extend into the following 3rd faction).
3. Long-term residents: The long-termers are those that have been here at Yulara for more than 12 months. I have spoken to long-termers that have been here for 5 years, and even one guy who has been here for 10 years!!!!! I didn’t even know that the Ayers Rock resort had been opened for that long! You can always tell a long-termer – they have pretty fancy gardens (short-termers don’t bother with a garden).
Both the short-termers and long-termers (actually all the residents!) are so friendly. Everyone seems to know everyone, and the residents wave to each other, smile, call out, beep horns, whistle, invite you for drinks, etc. If anyone is likely to be rude, it will be a tourist. Of course, most of the tourists, are great, just some of them are obviously a bit stressed, and well... it shows sometimes. But us residents (or ressies as we are called) cannot afford to be rude to each other – we have to live and work with each other, and a lot of the time it is in very close quarters! For eg, Kristy and I live in “share-share” accommodation, which means we share a kitchen and bathroom with someone else (they haven’t moved in yet, so K and I have had the whole place to ourselves, and I must say, I have really spread out my stuff! Will have to pull it all back in again when the new guy arrives.
The majority of “ressies” have 2 or 3 jobs. Kristy is seen as strange as she only has one job! The guy I worked with last night, he has 5 part-time jobs! I don’t think he sleeps much.
I started my casual catering job on Friday. Was meant to start next week, but they rang me on Friday at 11.30am and asked if I could come in at 2.30pm (they were desperate). I said yes, because, hey, why not? So I had my first shift catering for 7 groups of tourists (this equates to over 100 guests) who had champagne and canapés as they watched Ayers Rock at sunset (this is called the “sunny” shift). The first night I had a really bad time – just felt like so much to remember and it was so busy and people and things everywhere and how would I ever know what to do? But then I worked again last night (Saturday) and it was fine! And I did remember everything, and I had fun! And now I know how to properly pour a glass of champagne (I did not know there was a proper way until 2 days ago!)
The BEST tourists are the Japanese and the Americans! While these are very different tourist groups, total opposites actually, they are both groups so friendly and appreciative. The Japanese groups always give the catering crew a round of applause when they are leaving. The Americans always say thank you.
The first night I worked the “sunny” shift, the Rock looked glorious as the sun set. Last night, it was total clouds and spitting rain. The Rock just looked rock-like. Oh, but the first night – excitement! Someone had hidden up the top of the Rock during the day and as the sun was setting, he parachuted off the Rock ! So there I am, pouring drinks and being socialiable and friendly to the tourists (“Of course I am happy to take your photo” and “Oh it’s your honeymoon, how lovely” and “would you rather red wine, or white wine?” and “no you cannot take the rest of the champagne on the bus with you!”) when suddenly, everyone is going ohhhh, and ahhh, and we are watching parachute man flying over and off the Rock. Apparently he will get a mega fine if the rangers catch him. I kinda hope he runs (or flys) free.
I have met new people now that I have started working (not just meeting Kristy’s work mates, which I have been doing until now). There is Erin who I worked with on the first night, who earlier this year was airlifted out of Yulara because a blood vessel in her brain exploded and she nearly died, and after being put in an induced coma, she had her head shaved and the blood vessel removed and the fluid on the brain was drained. She showed me pics of her head with the massive scars (she has hair now, so you can’t see the scars). It is strange, because Garry (Kristy’s boss) also had brain surgery (to remove a tumour) and he has a massive scar on his head (he has a shaved head, so it is easy to see his scars!) The next woman I met (Tara, I worked with her the next night) told me how she had been airlifted out of Yulara (sound familiar!?) with a woman named Erin (who she has actually never met, yet has shared a medical helicopter with – isn’t that strange!)! Tara was airlifted out because she had severe concussion, because when she was cleaning under a sink, the sink was loose and it fell onto her head and she was knocked out. Ummm, as I write this, I am sensing a theme... head injuries. I think I should invest in a helmet while I am here at Yulara, or at least take out some sort of medical insurance!
Kristy and I went out last Wednesday night and we partied (remember that Wednesday is the new Saturday). I drank a teensy, tiny, weeny bit too much and ended up with a teensy, tiny, weeny hangover the next day (translated, this mean I didn’t stop consuming wine when I should have, and I ended up with severe nausea and a massive headache the next day).
Many people drink hard here, and I should not try to keep up with them. I know I need to be stronger and sterner when I tell people, “NO... Do NOT buy me another drink!” Is hard, because we are trying to fit in here, and drinking is the way to do that, (and I don’t want to look soft either), but equally, I don’t want to feel sick the next day either. I will find the balance, I WILL!
Although a lot of people like a decent drink in Yulara, there are hardly any problems or fights. That is because if anyone messes up, or carries on, or causes trouble, they will be “48-ed“ by the resort. If you are “48-ed” it means that you must leave the resort within 48 hours. As no-one wants to leave (they have jobs, homes, partners, friends, etc) most people are pretty darn careful about their behaviour.
I went to the gym again today. I have now officially joined, I have had a program written up for me, and I go religiously every 2nd day. Today Kristy came with me, and we set up the table-tennis table and played table-tennis after we had finished the workout. It was fun. I lost, but that’s because I let Kristy win. We all know how she gets if she loses (omg, she is not going to like that I wrote that!).
I have officially enrolled in the Certificate IV in Fitness now, and I start the work on the course tomorrow. I am looking forward to getting stuck into it, and am hoping it will inspire me even more to be fit. I am already getting muscles, and like to look at my own guns in the mirror (yes, I have become THAT sort of gym person).
Thank you Anita, for putting together some DVD’s for us and sending them over. We haven’t got them yet, but we know they are on their way. Thank you thank you thank you!!!!!
If anyone else feels the urge to send us something (we accept all DVDs, books, cards, money, lotto tickets, jewellery, gold bullion, etc) the address is:
Linda & Kristy
C/- Yulara Post Office
Yulara, NT, 0872
Talking about DVD’s, they are selling them at the Yulara IGA for $2.00 each. Kristy couldn’t believe her eyes! But the DVD’s were all “who-the-hell-is-this-actor” movies. Still... we purchased 2 of them... well, they were only $2.00!! I think I was lucky to get out of the supermarket without Kristy buying the whole box (she likes a bargain).
The AFL grand final is coming up!!! Kristy has swapped one of her days so she can sit and watch it (and perhaps drink copious amounts of beer). I predict a Bulldogs/Pies grand Finale. Kristy tells me I am dreaming, but let’s just see!
Saturday, September 4, 2010
Week One ... living at Yulara
We are settling into life as a resident of Yulara. Funny place Yulara.
It is strange the things that become sort after and important, depending where you are living. For example, milk crates are like gold here. Even I was excited when I found one! If you are asking why milk crates are so important, here is the answer... Milk crates can be used as book shelves, clothes holders, pot plant holders, seats, coffee tables, etc. Living in an area where the nearest furniture store is over four hours away, means that a milk crates are almost a currency. Of course we are not supposed to use them, which of course makes them all the more valuable!
Alcohol is another interesting thing here at Yulara. Despite alcohol being outrageously overpriced here, even with a resident discount card, (for eg, a 2 litre cask of wine costing over $24.00), people seem to be continually drinking. To combat the cost of alcohol, there appears to be ‘Alcohol Runs’ into Alice Springs, which are semi-regular drives to Alice (remember it is over 4 hours away, and that is one way!) which are for the sole purpose of stocking up on a number of peoples’ beer, wine and spirits - people put in their orders, pay their money, and then collect it a day or so later!
Weekends in Yulara are not on the usual Saturday and Sunday. It appears that Wednesday is the new Saturday, with a disco occurring every Wednesday night at the residents club (yes... a disco – please note that I have not attended this disco yet, although I am looking forward to remembering the 80’s). Most of the residents up here are busy working for the tourists on Saturday and Sunday, so I suppose that is why Wednesday has become the big night to go out!
It is very social here in Yulara. Kristy and I have been welcomed and embraced by the community here. They all want to help and they all want to chat. Everyone is very open and friendly. We have been out visiting quite a lot. Everyone is chat chat chat, so you can imagine how Kristy totally fits into this place! She is soooo not shy, just converses with everyone immediately and is talking with everyone about everything. I find I am not talking about myself as much as everyone else. Perhaps people think I am being dark and mysterious, but the truth is that I find it hard to get a word in edgeways! I think I am just going to have to take the plunge and just start yakking on!
Ohhh, and I had an adventure! I was at Garry’s and Sue’s. They live about 10 minutes walk from where Kristy and I live. Kristy had gone to work and I had dropped into Garry’s for a little bit, which turned into a long bit, where I was given food and wine. It was late when I left. They gave me a loaf of homemade bread for the road (as you do!). I was actually quite grateful for that loaf of warm, just-out-of-the-bread-maker bread because the desert at night is very f%#@ing cold and I was only in a singlet and shorts. I hugged that damn loaf of bread to me all the walk home. However, I got a teeny, tiny, little bit lost going home! I am not good with directions at the best of times, let alone in the desert, in a strange new place, at night, in the dark! I thought, “At least I won’t be hungry,” and then I realised that the loaf of bread (which was keeping me warm and assuring me of a meal) was also a beacon for any dingos in the area! I rang my mother, who spoke to me as I worked out how to get back home. I was not attacked by any wild dogs, and the loaf of bread was there for Kristy when she got home from work (and I am not kidding, she cut a slice that equated to a quarter of the loaf, covered that with jam and ate in within 3 seconds!)
Because I saw how much Kristy liked that home-made bread I decided to go all earth-mother on myself last night and I made my own bread (and I didn’t even use a bread maker!). It was good bread!
Kristy is liking most aspects of her job. She is still getting used to working nights. Although she has adjusted to sleeping-in in the mornings quite well! She just had 2 nights off work (her weekend is Wed and Thurs) and we kinda partied one of her nights off and then the other night, we stayed home and watched DVDs (mostly because Kristy was hung over and recovering from the first night off she had!).
I am doing the cooking at the moment. Last night I made Pad Thai, and it was an extremely chilli Pad Thai! Kristy is loving the chilli in the cooking at the moment, which is lucky because this one was a burn-your-face-off Pad Thai. We are now waiting for the burning ring of fire at the other end. To add to it, I made a curry tonight. Yep, we will sure be feeling that warm glow soon as those meals depart from our bodies.
It looks like I have two jobs up here – one a casual position and one a part-time position. The part-time position is working at the Resort Spa – yes, it is Linda Wilson, beautician (as Mel pointed out to me – it rhymes). I will initially be doing massage there, and the manager, Julie, is going to teach me how to do facials – HOW EXCITING!!! I have paid out many dollars over the years to get facials, and now I will be able to do them myself! Oh YAY!! I am also going to learn how to do body wraps, and maybe some other things. I am very, very much looking forward to this job (cross fingers it is as good as it sounds). Looks like I will have 3 days a week working at the Spa.
The other job that I will be doing is catering. I will be doing the catering for the sunset tours at the Rock, when tourist pay a lot of money to see the sunset and get drunk on champagne that I serve to them. I am quite looking forward to doing this job, even though the money is crappolla. It will be social, and I can chat to people I will never see again, and I can smoozz up to the Americans who may give me big tips!!!
I have struggles with iTunes tonight – it is driving me a bit demented. Not the iTunes itself, but the syncing it onto to my iPhone. Why won’t it play the game???!!! Grrrrrrr. I am, however, determined to have music on the damn thing. So I will post this blog and keep working on the iPhone/music situation.
It is strange the things that become sort after and important, depending where you are living. For example, milk crates are like gold here. Even I was excited when I found one! If you are asking why milk crates are so important, here is the answer... Milk crates can be used as book shelves, clothes holders, pot plant holders, seats, coffee tables, etc. Living in an area where the nearest furniture store is over four hours away, means that a milk crates are almost a currency. Of course we are not supposed to use them, which of course makes them all the more valuable!
Alcohol is another interesting thing here at Yulara. Despite alcohol being outrageously overpriced here, even with a resident discount card, (for eg, a 2 litre cask of wine costing over $24.00), people seem to be continually drinking. To combat the cost of alcohol, there appears to be ‘Alcohol Runs’ into Alice Springs, which are semi-regular drives to Alice (remember it is over 4 hours away, and that is one way!) which are for the sole purpose of stocking up on a number of peoples’ beer, wine and spirits - people put in their orders, pay their money, and then collect it a day or so later!
Weekends in Yulara are not on the usual Saturday and Sunday. It appears that Wednesday is the new Saturday, with a disco occurring every Wednesday night at the residents club (yes... a disco – please note that I have not attended this disco yet, although I am looking forward to remembering the 80’s). Most of the residents up here are busy working for the tourists on Saturday and Sunday, so I suppose that is why Wednesday has become the big night to go out!
It is very social here in Yulara. Kristy and I have been welcomed and embraced by the community here. They all want to help and they all want to chat. Everyone is very open and friendly. We have been out visiting quite a lot. Everyone is chat chat chat, so you can imagine how Kristy totally fits into this place! She is soooo not shy, just converses with everyone immediately and is talking with everyone about everything. I find I am not talking about myself as much as everyone else. Perhaps people think I am being dark and mysterious, but the truth is that I find it hard to get a word in edgeways! I think I am just going to have to take the plunge and just start yakking on!
Ohhh, and I had an adventure! I was at Garry’s and Sue’s. They live about 10 minutes walk from where Kristy and I live. Kristy had gone to work and I had dropped into Garry’s for a little bit, which turned into a long bit, where I was given food and wine. It was late when I left. They gave me a loaf of homemade bread for the road (as you do!). I was actually quite grateful for that loaf of warm, just-out-of-the-bread-maker bread because the desert at night is very f%#@ing cold and I was only in a singlet and shorts. I hugged that damn loaf of bread to me all the walk home. However, I got a teeny, tiny, little bit lost going home! I am not good with directions at the best of times, let alone in the desert, in a strange new place, at night, in the dark! I thought, “At least I won’t be hungry,” and then I realised that the loaf of bread (which was keeping me warm and assuring me of a meal) was also a beacon for any dingos in the area! I rang my mother, who spoke to me as I worked out how to get back home. I was not attacked by any wild dogs, and the loaf of bread was there for Kristy when she got home from work (and I am not kidding, she cut a slice that equated to a quarter of the loaf, covered that with jam and ate in within 3 seconds!)
Because I saw how much Kristy liked that home-made bread I decided to go all earth-mother on myself last night and I made my own bread (and I didn’t even use a bread maker!). It was good bread!
Kristy is liking most aspects of her job. She is still getting used to working nights. Although she has adjusted to sleeping-in in the mornings quite well! She just had 2 nights off work (her weekend is Wed and Thurs) and we kinda partied one of her nights off and then the other night, we stayed home and watched DVDs (mostly because Kristy was hung over and recovering from the first night off she had!).
I am doing the cooking at the moment. Last night I made Pad Thai, and it was an extremely chilli Pad Thai! Kristy is loving the chilli in the cooking at the moment, which is lucky because this one was a burn-your-face-off Pad Thai. We are now waiting for the burning ring of fire at the other end. To add to it, I made a curry tonight. Yep, we will sure be feeling that warm glow soon as those meals depart from our bodies.
It looks like I have two jobs up here – one a casual position and one a part-time position. The part-time position is working at the Resort Spa – yes, it is Linda Wilson, beautician (as Mel pointed out to me – it rhymes). I will initially be doing massage there, and the manager, Julie, is going to teach me how to do facials – HOW EXCITING!!! I have paid out many dollars over the years to get facials, and now I will be able to do them myself! Oh YAY!! I am also going to learn how to do body wraps, and maybe some other things. I am very, very much looking forward to this job (cross fingers it is as good as it sounds). Looks like I will have 3 days a week working at the Spa.
The other job that I will be doing is catering. I will be doing the catering for the sunset tours at the Rock, when tourist pay a lot of money to see the sunset and get drunk on champagne that I serve to them. I am quite looking forward to doing this job, even though the money is crappolla. It will be social, and I can chat to people I will never see again, and I can smoozz up to the Americans who may give me big tips!!!
I have struggles with iTunes tonight – it is driving me a bit demented. Not the iTunes itself, but the syncing it onto to my iPhone. Why won’t it play the game???!!! Grrrrrrr. I am, however, determined to have music on the damn thing. So I will post this blog and keep working on the iPhone/music situation.
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