I put off writing my blog this week because between the last time I put up a new post and now, I didn’t actually think anything had happened. Then I go and plan what I’m writing about and the list just grows and grows, the little things always meaning more than big bush trips and trips to Uluru. Plus, most of it’s so different to anything experienced back home so while I take it for granted and accept it as the norm, there are always amazing things to be shared!
Anthony turned 20 on Friday; one less juvie to hang with, although I appreciate he isn’t any more righteous now that he’s older and technically more mature than us 18 and 19 year olds. We celebrated with dinner and cake on Thursday night and being the Balgo cake maker, my creation for Ant really tested my creative side. We had teacake with yellow icing (the butter gave it colour, totally unintentional) 100s and 1000s and a lovely ‘A’ on the top made from maple syrup. I’m so resourceful, obviously!
Anthony turned 20 on Friday; one less juvie to hang with, although I appreciate he isn’t any more righteous now that he’s older and technically more mature than us 18 and 19 year olds. We celebrated with dinner and cake on Thursday night and being the Balgo cake maker, my creation for Ant really tested my creative side. We had teacake with yellow icing (the butter gave it colour, totally unintentional) 100s and 1000s and a lovely ‘A’ on the top made from maple syrup. I’m so resourceful, obviously!
It was a lovely night and although his present is still somewhere between Balgo and Hong Kong he got spoilt by us all. The boys were planning a camping trip over the weekend, but then this happened…
and considering they were only planning on sleeping in swags, it was probably a good decision! Therefore the weekend was spent showing Sister Lia and Genevieve all the sights and sounds of Balgo and the surrounding area, namely Mulan and Old Balgo while I took the time to paint and make a house look fifty times better!
I did take a break from pushing a roller up and down a wall to compile the Mirli Mirli, the Kutjunka Balgo Parish newsletter that I collate weekly. I get articles sent in from agencies in Balgo, Mulan and Billiluna, add them in, photocopy and then distribute at mass as well as emailing them to a very large number of contacts. It’s a great way to keep up with the Balgo news even if you aren’t anywhere near the community and if you do wish to be added to the mailing list email me at 2xmirli@gmail.com. Anyways I was almost finished when I heard Father John scream as manly as a man can scream. He then ran into the office where I was working, grabbed a decorative spear stick and ran back outside screaming ‘snake, snake!’ Having not yet seen one in Balgo and knowing I seriously cannot go home without spying a legless Balgo reptile I ran out with him despite the fact that it was a Death Adder and thus very poisonous. It was down a hole just next to the house and after poking around for quite a while, Father John was unable to extract it. It was then that we discovered that the same hole actually led into the house, a left over opening from the renovations carried out earlier this year. So that’s when the real party began! Father Mac stood at the hole inside ready if it came out, Michael the volunteer watched the hole outside and Father John boiled the kettle. I wondered why he was using such a tense moment to make himself a cup of tea when I realised he was planning on pouring boiling water down the hole, in an effort to burn the snake. I went inside for that, knowing angry and burnt snakes aren’t the best thing to be around but according to the trio of snake killers, nothing came up. I hope it never does! But seriously, only in Balgo do you kill a snake with boiling water!
Monday morning at school saw the kids say and do a number of funny and crazy things that makes me love working in a school. Frena asked me to practice the Word Wall in the Secondary Language she has become so fluent in (adding a ‘b’ sound after every syllable) because I am far from being able to grasp it. It was quite cute. Then at Mangarri time Justine and Sharelle, hot and bothered after running around in the sticky air put their heads under the tap and just as I walked past shook their hair like dogs, laughing as I shied away from the water droplets coming my way. They laughed as I cringed but it was rather hilarious, I have to admit! Kids are hilarious!!
You are reading the blog of the relief pool coordinator of Luurnpa Catholic School! Jim is leaving for Geelong tomorrow and as he usually does it, the torch has been passed onto me. I’m rather nervous about doing it all and ensuring chemical levels are all right and don’t hurt the kid’s eyes, but it is quite a good job and one I’m glad to have been asked to do. It involves testing the water every night, pouring in 60 litres of salt every week, looking after the filters and cleaning it when necessary. Quite a lot of responsibility, but rather cool :)
This week I’ve also mastered driving the school bus. It’s quite difficult because the brake and accelerator are really touchy and the first time I stomped on the break my passengers nearly went through the window. But as practice makes progress, I’m slowly getting better each time I drive it and despite the fact that the year is almost over I hope I can drive it somewhere substantial in the near future.
Last night I walked home around 9.00pm in the dark, nothing unusual, but as I got towards my gate I did notice something out of the norm. The light around the area didn’t settle right and as I got closer I saw the figure of a camel standing right outside the entrance to the yard. Fabulous! I began heading towards the side gate, about ten metres to the right trying very hard not to disturb the camel and thinking I was going ok when she turned, looked at me and made two steps. I was pretty sure I was about to get charged by a camel in the dark but made it to the gate without breaking eye contact with her. Camel, 0, me, 1!
You are reading the blog of the relief pool coordinator of Luurnpa Catholic School! Jim is leaving for Geelong tomorrow and as he usually does it, the torch has been passed onto me. I’m rather nervous about doing it all and ensuring chemical levels are all right and don’t hurt the kid’s eyes, but it is quite a good job and one I’m glad to have been asked to do. It involves testing the water every night, pouring in 60 litres of salt every week, looking after the filters and cleaning it when necessary. Quite a lot of responsibility, but rather cool :)
This week I’ve also mastered driving the school bus. It’s quite difficult because the brake and accelerator are really touchy and the first time I stomped on the break my passengers nearly went through the window. But as practice makes progress, I’m slowly getting better each time I drive it and despite the fact that the year is almost over I hope I can drive it somewhere substantial in the near future.
Last night I walked home around 9.00pm in the dark, nothing unusual, but as I got towards my gate I did notice something out of the norm. The light around the area didn’t settle right and as I got closer I saw the figure of a camel standing right outside the entrance to the yard. Fabulous! I began heading towards the side gate, about ten metres to the right trying very hard not to disturb the camel and thinking I was going ok when she turned, looked at me and made two steps. I was pretty sure I was about to get charged by a camel in the dark but made it to the gate without breaking eye contact with her. Camel, 0, me, 1!
Inside, I had another Mexican standoff, this time a cockroach on the wall in my bedroom. Luckily Henry saved me, flicking it, spraying it and picking it up by its antennae to get it out of my room. Apparently cockroaches can live without their antennae, and male roommates are the best to have around when insects threaten to take over ones private living space.
Four weeks today and Balgo will be a speck on the ground as I fly above in the mail plane! It’s crazy how quick the time has gone and I’m going to be so sad when everything comes to a wind up. The only problem is that I’m coming home a bit earlier than my family expected and apparently, my Dad is less than happy about this. He happens to have his Fire-fighter wind up on that night and with free food and drinks, picking up his daughter from the airport seems to be less exciting. That’s ok Papa, I have an 18th to attend to, see you Sunday morning? It’s great to have a date and time to be hitting up Perth after six months and I’m looking forward to catching up with as many people as possible on my return!
Four weeks today and Balgo will be a speck on the ground as I fly above in the mail plane! It’s crazy how quick the time has gone and I’m going to be so sad when everything comes to a wind up. The only problem is that I’m coming home a bit earlier than my family expected and apparently, my Dad is less than happy about this. He happens to have his Fire-fighter wind up on that night and with free food and drinks, picking up his daughter from the airport seems to be less exciting. That’s ok Papa, I have an 18th to attend to, see you Sunday morning? It’s great to have a date and time to be hitting up Perth after six months and I’m looking forward to catching up with as many people as possible on my return!
Isn’t it awful when you think nothing has happened in your life and yet something has happened to talk about? Grammy rang the other day and she asked about everyone and I said yeah they are fine. She asked how life was and how Cassandra & Alastair were doing and all I said was “yeah not been doing much, yeah the kids are fine. Had a chat gave the phone to Dad and I heard him telling her about AJ’s Outdoor Ed camp, how he had been away for 4 days and had an amazing time, how Cassandra has had most of the week off school due to gastro, and about having to trade in the Tank as it was too sick to fix and I felt awful ‘cos I had forgotten all of that. So much HAD happened in a week and WAS worthwhile talking about. Opps. Sorry Grammy.
ReplyDeleteHappy Birthday to Anthony. I hope he had a great day and he enjoyed your cake. I know you have mastered the art of baking, but please think of my ever expanding waistline and the fact it does not need to be expanded anymore.
What a shame the camping weekend did not go to plan, but it is not easy struggling with tents in the rain and being wet and uncomfortable for a couple of days.
What a hilarious story about the snake. What a sight it must have been watching both Fathers prodding and poking around down the snake hole. They are more courageous that myself. I think I would have made some concrete and poured that down the hole, not boiling water. I would not want to be reckoned with by an angry snake.
Good luck testing the pool and keeping it clean. If you get stuck with the readings, give me a call I may remember how to help you. It has been a while. I am curious to know what your Chlorine and PH readings need to be though. How are the goggles going? Are they still ok? As I had them sent directly to Balgo I did not see them and do not know what the quality was like.
What an awesome camel standoff you had…and won. This is yet another extraordinary tale you can tell your kids, grandkids nieces and or nephews. You have had some amazing stories from Balgo and you are very lucky.
Cockroaches…Yuk. Thank goodness for Henry and his moustache coming to the rescue.
It is ok Steph, even if Dadikins does not come and pick you up, I will.
10,663 views on your blog. Awesome!
ILY