Happy New Year

Just another wee note to say have a great New Year and I hope 2008 brings you all a ton of goodness. We spent the bells at a random persons flat in Milson's Point with the most incredible view of Sydney Harbour and it's world famous fire works. Hope you had as good a time as us (although it was 25C so you might be hard pushed to match that!)

Kris Kross will make ya Jump, Jump!

Howdy folks. I write from the comfort of my living room having survived a second jump from a plane. This time Isla came and despite all the odds she flung herself with wanton abandon out of the back of what can only be described as a bus with wings aptly named the "Sky Van".

The jump was totally different from the last in that there was 13 of us diving out of this flying monstrosity at the same time. Despite a few last minute doubts Isla braced herself and went out the door with minimal fuss. I was the last to go and went straight after her. Unlike my previous jump though I had almost no chat with the instructor and about the only words he said were "Go go go!". No pussy footing around with this chap. There was no "1, 2, 3, Jump!" like my previous tandem just a massive muscular brute called Steve running behind me until we half fell, half tripped out the door.

The effect was incredible though as we did about 3 flips backwards until we got into the flat spin and the sensation was unlike anything I experienced in the last jump. The other major difference is that I could see the ground this time... the whole way down and that put a bit more adrenalin into the mix. Once we were stable we did some cool spins and left-and-right tacks, then I could see Isla just below us. She seemed to be doing fine.

All to soon the shoot opened and then I saw Isla's open as well. As ours was supporting too rather rotund blokes we soared past them and I whistled over to them and we shared some waves.

The landing was less bumpy this time and seconds later Isla landed beside me. Total glee! Do I have a third one in me? Well if I do I think that I'll do the whole course and do a solo jump.

Awesome

Merry Christmas Everyone!

I'm going to be heading up to Queensland on the morning of the 24th Dec after doing 2 back to back shifts so I'm not going to have a chance to say Merry Xmas again. So with that...

Merry Christmas everyone. Will be thinking of you all as we shove a few extra shrimp on the barbie.

"I love the dark. I love the dark... but I hate nature!" Chunk from The Goonies

Just like Chunk running through the night time under growth trying to get help for the rest of The Goonies who are hiding in the Fratelli's basement, I just can't get away from the damn creatures here.

Isla phoned me from Queensland and said she'd almost trodden on a Taipan the other day when out walking in the Bush with her Dad. I was a bit jealous but soon changed my mind on the way to work last night.

As I've said before there are no street light in Australia (practically) and as I left the station and headed to the hospital I wandered down a long dark street that I always walk down. However, the change of seasons seems to have brought out all the nasty little beasties that have been hiding under rocks for the last few months.

In the darkness I plowed my way through about 6 big spider webs and had to flick a 3 inch golden orb spider off my sleeve, almost trod on about 4 foot long centipedes, danced around the pavement with a incredibly rapid entourage of huge cockroaches that came swarming out of gutter at me and finally almost walked into another fruit bat (that amusingly was hanging from the canopy of the Paradise Fruit Market which unfortunately for the bat was closed).

I walked into the A&E department liked I'd just spend a few too many hours on the set of an Indiana Jones movie but was quite relieved to be bite free although I wasn't enjoying the new silk trim on my hoodie.

In the cold light of day most of the creepy crawlies had decided to vampyrically hide themselves from the sun so I had a clear walk back to the train. However, my brush with the various forms of nature was not over yet because when I got into the flat I found Malcolm sitting on the couch. He's a Indian Myna (that's not an Asian dude with a pick-axe it's a bird a bit like a colourful thrush) that always appears on our window ledge about 11am for no reason that either of us can figure out. I'd alway suspected that he'd been in the flat before when we were out and the window was open a bit to far and sure enough here was the proof.

Not happy with using our sofa for a nice place to rest he decided to take off and fly round the room a few times with a crazy display of speed before streaking out the window. I guess I'd startled him a bit but that didn't stop him crapping not once, not twice but three times during that mad indoor flight - once on the couch, once on the window and a final thoughfully placed shite on the fitness ball.

The bugger.

Ode To Hornsby Hospital

This is just a wee poem that I knocked together this morning for the folks at Hornsby Hospital. Enjoy.

There is a little hospital
A bit up the North Shore
A few stops after Pymble
Will take you to its door

As you walk across Palmerston
You see it shining bright
The Hornsby Emergency Department
With its patient-attracting red light

It’s occurred to me on night shift
That I might have crossed the line
When I suggest to my colleagues
“Let’s go turn off that sign!”

The new department is a wonder
However, it makes me laugh
Ten times the number of patients
And still the same number of staff

The staff I mention all work hard
They really do us proud
Nose up against the grindstone
Despite that sign drawing in a crowd

Morning, noon and night
Their commitment never tires
Even though Charles is down at Westfield
Handing out emergency flyers!

So we struggle on and on
While trying not to end up madder
Reduce the leg, get the BiPAP on
It’s me that needs a tube in my bladder

I haven’t yet mentioned ARTs
The Aggression Response Team
Jump on patients, inject the drugs
They really are quite a scene

And moving onto PEC
What exactly do they do?
Drinking coffee and gossiping
But that’s between me and you

Frequent fliers are also fun
But one really gets me annoyed
With all her overdosing antics
Let’s hear it for Joanne….

…But moving on swiftly
Some thoughts put a smile on my face
Night time nibbles, the nurses chat
And the occasional wheel chair race

So all in all I have to say
It’s a good year that I’ve had
To turn around and head back home
Actually makes me quite sad

Australia has been without a doubt
A great place to spend some time
But I’ve eaten far too many pies
And drunk way, WAY too much wine

And what about the weather
And to the sun I’ve never seen
When you all talk about the drought
I’ve not idea what you mean

Everyday is over cast
The hail makes quite a sound
The lightning streaks across the sky
And the thunder shakes the ground

So next time water is a problem
And the heat becomes a pain
Get me a first class ticket
And sure as hell I’ll bring the rain

Finally I extend an invite
You’ll all be welcome at mine
Thanks to everyone at Hornsby
The wee hospital up the North Shore Line.

Into the Void

Well, I did it.

I jumped out a plane at 12000ft and lived to tell the tale. That tale is on the 365 and I suggest reading it although it doesn't even come close to explaining what the feeling was like. The guys I went with have done close to 500 jumps and now I know why.

Singularly the best thing I've ever done in my life.

You must try it.

Climactic Catch-up

Sorry for not posting anything for a while but things here are reaching a climax - or should I say anti-climax - and with that we've had no time to sit, chill and blog.

I have to say that I'm not looking forward to leaving Oz as it really will signify a return to the real world and that's never a good thing. Although I've been working here it's never really felt like work and on my days off the 365 has forced me to stay a tourist and not slump into routine and localism.

In fact I'm now finding a great deal of apathy about being here which is a bad thing as I no longer have the Thailand trip to look forward to and should be using my last days here to their fullest. The 6 months after I get home will involve nothing but interviews, exams, locuming and, worst of all, living with my parents (which I've not done since I was 17) until my flat is no longer rented. All of those things should be inspiring me to new heights of Australian adventure while I still have the chance but alas it's not.

On the topic of new heights, I am doing my skydive today at noon and I'm sure that'll be a kick up my proverbial. Hopefully my next post will be all "gnarly" and "dude" and "totally rad man!"

Perhaps an unfortunate omen for the jump is that I was almost struck by lightning yesterday. Missed by a few metres. Click HERE to see it.