OnTheRoad

Well, it's been a very long time since I had an update here. An email snuck out last month some time, but I'd just slapped up a few more photos, so this time I'll flesh things out with some more detail.

First up, I'd like to indulge in the typical small talk of the Commonwealth and cover the weather. I'm really glad (in all ways but one) that I'm in Perth for the winter and not back in New Zealand. From the way people wrap up here, you'd think it was cold, but here we are in the middle of July and this week we're forecast to have more days over 20 than below it. Don't worry, if I'm still here in December, you'll be able to laugh at me as the tables turn...

I don't know how those of you that have full time permanent jobs do it; I mean, I kept a job at the EEC for three years, but this time around I'm feeling pretty drained after three months! I really do like my work, but somehow it morphs from fun into... work... if I have to do it for 40 hours a week. It could also be the terrible instant coffee provided that's slowly driving me insane. I do notice that it's a common thread between the EEC and PMH, my current employers. I've been meaning to get a plunger and make some half decent coffee.

Anyhow, the job goes as well as can reasonably be expected of a job. And the ultimate purpose is almost achieved: later this month the coup de grace will be dealt to the student loan and I shall be free of debt for the first time since entering university all those years ago. Free of any assets as well, aside from intangibles such as an education. Which I suppose shouldn't be discounted.

The other interesting occurrences in my recent life have involved my bike. More specifically, accidents involving my bike. Three of them, since I've been here, each worse than the one which preceded it. Fist, while riding back from the markets laden with food, I managed to jam on the front break while attemting to grab another bag with my other hand and go flying over the handlebars for a somewhat painful fall. No significant damage done. A couple of weeks later, while cycling home late at night, I clipped a corner and again went hurtling over the handlebars for a much more painful impact. Finally, only a couple of days later while still very sore from the last one, the finaly occurred.

Now, Perth doesn't have much in the way of hills. It has a sort of rolling terrain, with a bump here and there, but not what any person not from here would call a hill. However, Tuart Hill does qualify as a small hill. Let me assure you that it's possible to reach a very significant speed heading down it anyway, and that the impact when some truck turns right in front of you is very painful indeed, at least, once the initial adrenaline rush wears off. I managed to fracture a rib and had ten stitches for an inch and a half long cut over my left eyebrow. All good fun.

While Perth drivers are, in fact, awful (those of you in Welly or Christchurch; you've got nothing to complain about), I can't blame this guy entirely. It was evening and I wasn't wearing any lights. Still, it's not like I'm invisible. And, like so many drivers here, he didn't seem to know what an indicator was; certainly, it was never used to indicate that a homicidal turn as about to be made.

This coming Wednesday I get a bit of a break from the working life; one advantage of contract work in an understaffed place such as Perth is that arranging a gap between contracts is not so hard. I'm heading over to meet up with my Jess, Tim and Gabs on Coochuemudlo, for a relaxing week and a half. I might manage another update from my hamock there, if I can take time away from my busy schedule of book reading, beer drinking and kayak paddling.

I went for a walk with some friends on the weekend, and took a GPS tracker and camera along for the trip. If you check out Perth, click on Extras and then Show Details. You'll be able to see many of the photos I've taken in Perth on the map - click on them to see bigger copies. Also try selecting last Sunday (the 6th of July) from the "Load GPS for" section, you can see the path we took there.