Australia 2008

So it looks like the last time I used this was when I returned form a 5 day jaunt 'down south' as the residents of WA call it. That week I decided to get a job, and by the following Monday (the 12th May I believe) I was working full time for Satellite Appliance Sales, more commonly known as SAS. I started as a kinda PA to Brandon as he had sooo much going on with the business, and to make headway with compiling the company's first ISO compliant Safety Management System - a long story short over 8 weeks I researched other company's systems, scoured the net, taught myself as much of OH+S as possible (health and safety in the workplace and out on Mine sites) as I could and compiled this booklet, or Bible as Brandon called it! SAS had their Audit on the 29th July (4 weeks after I left) and Brandon called me strait away to say they had passed and when am I coming back to work with them! They are offering me sponsorship to stay in the country which is absolutely amazing - just have to see what the future holds!!
But over that 8 weeks of working full time, I continued to live at number 18 Shiel Way, loving the aussie way of life. Me and the guys continued to have fun, barbie's, weekend trips to the beach etc, until the weather turned cold that is!!

Mikey arrived on the 29th June. He stayed with us for a week while I finished up at SAS and he got over his Jet lag. We got all packed up, my car was brimming! We left the house on sunday 6th July. Was a very sad time for me having live there with the guys for just over 4 months - alot had gone on in that time I can tell you lol!!!
But I also was so much looking forward to the big journey, and having a go at this seasonal work to see if I could extend my visa for a second year.....

We arrived at Geraldton for the first night after a long drive, and left pretty sharpish in the morning to get to Carnarvon. This was the first place we had planned to try get seasonal work. Which we did - after all day approaching the farmers and plantattions, a Portugese family said we could weed their capsicum field! God it was hot and hard on my back bending over all day - but out days were getting signed off so all was good! Then we worked on a vineyard for 2 days, prewning. All new experiences, and good fun!
Then onto Exmouth for a couple of days off. We did the snorkel drift at Turquoise Bay (where I went with Jay) but poor mikey found out he's not a strong swimmer at all and I literally had the drag the poor bugger back onto the beach, he exhausted himself and crashed in a heap in the car out of sun cos he thought he was gonna pass out!

eeerrrrrr internet gonna run out - I'm now in Darwin and will continue the update soon!

So 2 weeks ago a? I've been up to all sorts!! I've been keeping up to date with my diary, but it would take me forever to detail it so here are the highlights i guess......

Around continuing to enjoy the beach, swimming and snookeling, I spent a few more days sorting out the car - it desparately needed new headlining before going on my first road trip so in true Emma style went down to a wreckers yard started chatting with the mechanic guy there and he let me have boot carpet, spare wheel cover and a few headlining trim pieces for free!! I then went to a materials/trimming centre and bought the pukka ford material, the right glue from the hardware store and off I went. It's now like a new car inside again after my magic touch.....got the air-con re-gassed..ready to rock n roll headin down south. The guys I met at the Hostel are cool - Justin and Sebastian, it had all the promise of lots of fun !!

By Thursday 20th I'd got my tent, lilo, sleeping bag, nice big Esky (cool box to you lot) and other camping bits to make life easy! We left middle of the night friday morning heading towards Margaret River. The roads already caught us out as to how far that was, even getting down to a quarter of a tank and not knowing when the next fuel station would turn up - a little scary!!

Friday morning by 0800 we rocked up at Bussleton (check out my trip map) Longest Jetty in the southern hemisphere we walked all of it's 2km. Nice bit of brekky byt the sea, then along the coast to Dunsborough - amazing beach, the sand is like silk between your toes and nearly white. We took a long walk to where you would watch the whales migrating at the right time of year, but instead we were lucky to see seals basking on the rocks!. Then on further to Cape Naturaliste - we did a bit of rock scrambling off the beaten track to get to am amzing snorkelling area where we also spotted dolphins playing around, sooo cool! Made it down to Maragret river by early evening, pitched up tents and crashed!

Saturday went around the Margaret River area, getting more green down this way, it's a wine making region. Down as far as Augusta where the Indian and Southern Oceans meet - wooo rough seas here! Back in town, we spent the evening watching Speed way racing - the ozzy's sure know how to make beasts out of their old cars, we got covered in red dust - but with help of many can of Woodstock (very nice pre-mixed Boubon and coke which is now my tipple ;-) it was all good fun!

Sunday we continued travels through Pemberton and down to Walpole. It's much cooler down on this south coast which none of us anticipated - much to our disgust we had to put jumpers on, we even had a bit of rain walking through Karri Forest to the Beedelup Falls. Arrive at Walpole which consisted of a shop a pub and a fuel station, and that was it! A bit weird we thought, the only thing to do is admire scenery and have drink!

Monday packed up and hit the road again,stopped at the Tree Top Walkway, then at Kent River where me and Seb picked a Marron fish while he was still alive and kicking in the tank. Drove on to Albany, campsite at Middleton beach. Quite an experience holding a live Marron type thing - then dropping him into a pan of boiling water - but mmmm he tasted good! We crashed out on the beach, and in the camp jacuzzi.\

Tuesday headed north through the Stirling Ranges. Seconf very scary moment when the car appeared to overheat, engine cut out and between 4 mobile phones not one had reception...eeeek!! but we let it cool down - ditched the excess water that seb had put in it (wally brain!)and off we went. We are now seeing roads ahead of us that are dead straight and can't see the other end, red dust to either side, and getting hotter again. We stayed overnight at Woodanilling. The campsite lady greeted us with 'pitch wherever you like we got 12 acres here, and we'll see you down the pub later cos it's a 500m walk and bugger all else to do'!! so we thought, okay then!! And really there was nothing!! a pub, a shop which looked like it was back in the 50's and an out of order petrol pump. We didn't see one person out in the street, it was so eerie!! The landlord stayed open all the while we were drinking cos we were the only ones there, and he said the population of the town was 109. Hew was a cool bloke though!

Wednesday 26th we're cruising home, through wot we lablled as 20 second and 30 second towns - cos if u blinked u missed it! We got home safely, very chuffed we survived out first road trip!

Since then I've moved into a house with the guys (only short term mind) at half the price i was paying at the hostel. Detached bungalow, driveway, big garden out back - we've had a few noisy nights celebrating our settling in! ;-)

Me and Justin went up to Two Rock (bout 45 mins north of Warwick) on Sunday - he had a go at his Kite Board but the wind wasn't quite strong enuf,.. i went snorkelling..
Monday we had rain all day!! apparently it hasn't rained here for about 6 months - on the radio they were talking like it had never rained and that dogs and other pets were scared of it! Call us whinging pommes? bunch of weirdos!! Last night I did my first 2 hours driving for Dominos Pizza....i get to use my own car, flooat about the area with not bad pay, and still get to doss on the beach of a daytime!! Will just put a bit of cash back in the bank ready for the next road trip!!

Well, thats about it for the moment.....having a bit of a mary transferring photos, but am sorting the issue so bear with me!! I really feel like i'm at home now, don't rekon I'll be home to soon at this rate! but still miss you all though xxxx

So it's been a whole week, good job i've kept a pencil diary to remember everything!

So Thursday 6th March last week I was still jet lagged so had a lazy day and the weather went really overcast and down to like 20 ish so felt really cold, yuk!! Chilled out with the girls here at the hostel, went shopping, still had to go to beach of course!

Friday 7th I still didn't really know if i was coming or going, went into Perth again to see about renting a car but it's sooo expensive so satrting to think sod it, gonna buy me a car!! Went to Cottlesloe, really nice beach area same distance outa Perth as Scarb where I am, checked out the hostel but I didn't like it - getting a bit worried i'm not cut out for this backpacking slummin' it type travelling - i want a nice hotel!!! But showed me that where iam was a good choice so maybe i'll stay another week.....

Saturday 8th Day out in Freemantel, really nice town with small but nice beach, quite oldy worldy actually......god it took me just over an hour - bus to Perth, then train to 'Freo' as the locals call it! Again, went to see another hostel - didn't even go in this one as it looked like a propa dive from the outside lol! Defo staying at Scarb for another week!! Went to car market - found a cool Subaru 4x4 car, but should never buy the first car you see so back home - had a pretty cool night in with people I could loosley call friends now - we watched Blue Crush Movie whilst I polished off a VERY nice bottle of Ozzy red!! mmmmmmmmmm!!

Sunday 9th first real day quiched out on the beach, went for a propa swim in the sea....or should I say a beating in the sea, god the waves are massive and while having lots of fun body surfing them in, drowned a few times and swallowed a few gallons lol!! Then watched the National Beach volley ball championships with Tom a fella from Melbourne who seemed very intent on making me understand the rules as I had no idea what was going on!

Monday 10th The car hunt begins!! Vegged out round the pool here in like 37 degrees yum! had lots of advise from the ozzy dude (bonus!) bout cars, sat reading the Quakka (free-adds to you lot) made a few calls.....Then had an offer to be taken round the garages to hopefully find the right one, bonus again!! Have so far met fellow travellers here who all want to help, wicked!

Tuesday 11th My Birthday! Started my birthday opening all my card from family, gassing with mum dad nan and gramps all together on Skype! wasn't that cool nan and gramps - hugs n kisses!! and you Carl - still taking the mic, but ever thoughtful! Sebastian picked me up at 10am, we ent round loads of garages - I test drove loads of ozzy cars - all with either 3.8 or 4 litre engines - what a laff on me birthday a?!! Went to Trigg beach in the arvo, did som Sorkelling - so many brightly coloured fishes just from walking in off the beach....fantastic! then, my god, we saw something about 2 foot long, a bit like a dog fish or something, but scared the living crap outa me lol!! Seb said it looke like my eyes were gonna pop thru my goggles!! which he found highly amusing, and so did I once i realise he seen it too lol !!! Seb is a budding photographer so took loadsa pics of the sunset while I ran round like a loon in and out the surf! Down to Freemantel for a Pizza Hut dinner - wot a fab day out, cool!!

Wednesday 12th I bought my Car Woooo Hooooo!! check it.... Ford Falcon 1997, it's a wagon (estate car to us) metalic blue and the best bit: 4 litre injection, straight 6 automatic hog - put it in sport mode it flies hahahaha!! i love it!! Booked it into a garage for an engine service and the once over to make sure all is good, but spent the rest of the day cruising round!!

Thursday 13th Got up at 6am, met seb at dominos pizza place, we went to watch the sunrise over a big lake - very pretty, then dumped my car at the garage, went to Caversham Wildlife Park, plent of exotic animals all around, but the best is feeding and cudling the Kangaroos, aawwww they're sooo cute, and I think quite like dogs in a way! took loadsa pics..... went back to garage to see wot the score is with mycar........engine service done and it's a good clean engine, all i need is a fan belt, 2 tyres, and a brake light switch - that's a relief i haven't bought a dog, yipee!! Mr mechanic man said i got a good deal there (course i did - i managed to knock 'em down 650 bucks - who said blondes are stoopid?!!!

So there we are, first 5 days abit bumpy but well and truley over.....into the second week and having lots of fun now!! been invited on a week lonf 'Trip' down south, so i rekon that'll be the next adventure.....rekon i'll just chill out here at Scarb till then - it's the best beach in the Perth area, and my tan is coming on nicely ;-)

'till next time................

My god, a bit of a shock to be put in wot can only be described as a porta cabin for the first night, when i manged to get up tuesday morning i asked to be in an all girl dorm, so they happily put me in the room I should have been in first of all!! It's not too bad in here, much nicer room, 4 other gilrs who all seems nice, and have been travelling a while so some good advice! Tuesday arvo, still feeling pretty pants with jet lag, just about dragged myself down to the supermarket to get food to put in the fridge, then chilled out on the beach - and wot a beach it is!! 1 minute walk from my hostel and just beach as far as i can see looking left and right!!

Wednesday 5th, I felt much better this morning - had a nice brekky and got a lift into Perth city - sorted out my mobile phone and wandered round Perth - really nice city, and jees is it hot here!! the busses in the city are free which is well cool! I got on a bus to Kings Park and Botanical Gardens....the views over Perth city, Swan river and down to Freemantel were awesome...check out the pics!!

I then got on th FREE bus again (that's so cool huh?!) back to the bus station then back to Scarborough beach (that's where i'm staying!) Had chips on the beach (yes very british!) watching the sun go down, then back to my bunk bed to tell you lot all about it!!

See the itinerary of this trip, and details about each destination.

Mum - fanx for making my day again, as u always do! sorting out my food purchasing mishap, cooking it all, and organizing me! Dad - u know wot u sorted, and i love my hat too lol! And fanx to nan always helpin too!xxx........

Shout out to all my family, fanx sooo much for all coming down today!! nan+gramps sturgess, nan+gramps marlow, claire+chris, Ian, Jackie, Lauren, Yvonne, Vicki, Elizabeth, Elaine, Steve, Dans, Ollie, Wendy, Hannah, Andy+Jax.....was sad to say goodbye at the end of the night! And to Andrew Michelle and my boys Daniel and Alex, Bert and Stu!- speak to you all soon via the wonderfull 'www' !!

next blog i'll let you know what my hostel is like, and how amazing Perth beach is (hopefully)!!!

ttfn!
xxx