Blue Trip Nov 11th-14th

I cannot believe it has already been a month since my last blue trip. The time flies too quickly. Blue trip is where one physio, speech therapist and occupational therapist drive out to Fitzroy Crossing and spend the week visiting the surrounding aboriginal communities. I found it quite tough and frustrating last time as I’m sure you have read so I was determined for this trip to be more successful.  And it was. Of course the frustrations haven’t changed and the patients haven’t really changed (unfortunately) but I was better mentally equipped. I feel like there is a lot that needs to be improved and changed but it’s very difficult to execute these ideas. I feel I would be somewhat more useful and in a way more motivated to start these projects if I was to stay in this job for quite some time. But it’s only a few months and I will be finding my feet just as it is time to leave. This is not an easy thing to accept for me and it is another contributing frustration but we can only do what we can do.

I not only see adults at the community clinics but we see children usually at school. It is encouraging to see that many of the teachers are enthusiastic about doing what they can to help the kids and this is so important because we are only there once a month. Often it is hard to get the parents actively involved because the children can have so many different people looking after them- one day it may be the mother, then the grandma, then the aunty (or someone they call aunty but whom actually isn’t related…). 

Thanksgiving

The weekend comes up nice and quickly and it’s another Broome weekend. It’s a friend’s birthday and she puts on a Thanksgiving –themed dress up party. It is quite magnificent. There was a giant turkey, a giant pork, pumpkin pie, sweet potato marshmellow pie, stews and salads and cakes and slices and a piñata! We took the opportunity to do all the nice things in Broome that you just can’t do in Derby- stayed in a resort with a giant pool, went out for Japanese, out for brekky, out for lunch, out for brekky, out for oysters, shopping, coffee and Matso’s famous ginger beer. 

Oh Derby

How’s this: Monday (4th Nov) is a crazy day. Jess and Todd are away so I’m the only physio around and it’s a little hectic. I’m running in and out of the office, on to the ward, back again etc… At one stage I realize “oh no, my phone is no longer on my desk, it’s been stolen”. I don’t know how but someone has come in and snagged it and I am really upset because it has everything on it. I cancel it and file a police report. The cameras don’t show the physio department unfortunately so we don’t know who has taken it and I am afraid it is gone for good. Two days later a brown paper bag is handed to the hospital reception by a man who walks in, hands it over and walks out without saying a word. Inside the bag is my phone. Incredible!

Tuesday was Melbourne Cup day. I did not expect anyone to celebrate but it is after all the race that stops the nation and it just so happened to occur at lunchtime in WA so we went out to the pub for lunch and to watch the race. We wore our fascinators, which went ever so nicely with the work uniform and placed bets. Unfortunately it wasn’t a public holiday but I was happy with the extended lunch break and the Western Australian’s cannot believe Victoria has a public holiday for a horse race…

Perfect Broome (written on Nov 17th)

I’m sitting out under our Boab in the front yard at our table where we have house dinners. Colleen made a boab nut arrangement for the table’s centerpiece and she bought some solar lanterns and fairy lights. The lanterns are hung between the trees and the fairy lights are wrapped half way around our gigantic old boab. Our boab is so wide the lights are barely noticeable in the daytime, but when it gets dark they come to life and the whole thing looks enchanting. We bring out the candles and invite our next door house and someone cooks something delicious. We’ve had pasta night, baked potatoes, Thai night and my special pumpkin risotto. 

Today is national climate day and so I turned off our air conditioner this morning and have not turned it back on though I am sweating something shocking. It’s usually hotter outside of course but there was a mini shower before and it has slightly cooled (I’m still sweating though).

A few weekends ago I had an absolutely delightful weekend where two very important people travelled far and wide just to visit me! I took the day off work on Friday and got a ride to Broome and there at Broome airport the paparazzi were eagerly awaiting the arrivals… not really but mum and dad were there and I was overcome with emotion when I saw them even though it really hasn’t been that long. It was just so nice of them to come up and visit. We checked in to our hotel Bali High, which had heavenly aromas and a divine relaxing atmosphere. We wasted no time cooling off in the pool. We watched sunset on the beach and cooked salmon on the BBQ for dinner. Saturday morning began with a swim in the beach. The water was perfect- not at all cold but not yet too warm. Mum and I meandered the market stalls, whilst dad went to sit under a tree or so he said… for a little while later we came across a tattoo stall and who was sitting under the artist’s brush? None other than dad of course. I wonder how the elephant tattoo is holding up… Back to the hotel as mum and I had booked in luxurious massages and facials. I kept dozing off and trying desperately to regain conciousness because I didn’t want to miss any of the pleasure. Our ladies brought us post- massage tea and nibbles and we sat for a bit whilst everything seemed to occur in slow motion. In the afternoon we meandered to the wharf for oysters and cool drink and then head down to Gantheum point which is a point out on the rocks. The rocks display a stunning red contrast against the turquoise ocean – it’s no wonder birds fly across the world to reach it. We follow some keen Americans hunting for the dinosaur footprints and find some on the rocks just as the tide is coming in.  Dinner Saturday night is booked at Broome’s top restaurant which is a lovely tropical oasis tucked away out of town. It is quite lovely and desert is even better. Homeward bound and bed bound. Another early morning follows with yoga on the beach and a swim. Home – cooked pancakes for breakfast and then heading in to town. Broome on a Sunday is fast asleep but the pearl shops are open so we drop by each in succession- walking from 40 degrees into air-conditioning as quickly as possible. We stop for lunch then head back to the glorious pool and a snooze. It is time for me to go back to Derby :(. I felt like the weekend had been a glorious dream. I did not want to say goodbye again but it had been a perfect weekend and I was more than satisfied. 

Bells Gorge October 27th

Rise and shine at 5.30 am everyone we’re going on a road trip to Bell’s Gorge. It’s a three hour drive down the Gibb but no one is keen to camp overnight because it’s too hot so we set out early for a day trip. The drive is stunning. The landscape changes from red dirt with bare trees to red dirt with black trees to red dirt with green trees. There is one section where there are two hills either side of the road looking like giant gates into Mordor.  At a half way look out point the scene is hazy. We take our happy snaps, have a pee and drive on. I feel safe being in the 4WD as we approach creek crossings because our other half of the road trippers are in a 2WD. At the first crossing our car is right at home but before allowing our two-wheeler to cross we wade through the creek to check the depth- “should be ok” we conclude and decide to give it a go. Coleen has a tow rope in her Hilux if need be. The two-wheeler gets through and we all hoorah and celebrate then jump back in and tackle the next few without hesitation. 

But the creeks are the least of our worries at the entrance to the road to Bell’s Gorge are signs stating “Road Closed”. Hmm well we didn’t drive all this way to get to a road so around the barricade we go.

There is about a 2km walk over rocks and twigs to get to the gorge and it’s sweaty work but when you get there… ahhh. The water falls from numerous rocky areas and hits a giant pool. We clamber down to the pool and dive in to the serenity. We shower under the falls and bathe on the hot rocks. We swim further on and find more and more waterfalls. By 11.30 we’re ravenous and get stuck in to a picnic on the rocks. Then it’s dozing time, more swimming and then sadly time to head home.

And what’s a Sunday night without fish and chips on the jetty…

October 19th - October 26th

Where am I up to on this wild adventure they call life?

Oh yes last we spoke I was expressing confusion and frustration. So much has occurred (though you wouldn’t believe it in Derby) since then.

Spent a weekend in Broome with the med students at the Broome med students house which is outrageously awesome with their outdoor entertainment area, abundance of bedrooms, super efficient air con and of course cool cool pool. We boogied and swam at midnight and jumped off the rocks at Gantheume point. We drank ginger beer and mango beer and smuggled in Gin to Oktoberfest at Matso’s Brewery. We called a taxi late at night to take us to do a Macca’s run. We ate eggs for hangover cures and swam during the day too. It was pretty swell all up though I didn’t see heaps of Broome that weekend and when I returned two weeks later I still had no idea where the centre of town was…

Monday brought pasta night at our neighbours house next door. They cooked the biggest pots of pasta I have ever seen and we sat at the dinner table like a little family (unfortunately I had to BYO GF pasta) but it was so homey just the same.  

Tuesday was $15 steaks at the Spinny. Wednesday morning I jogged out on the marsh and found myself at an eerie cemetery before deciding to head back. On the way back I stumbled across the slum area of town and was confronted by 4 dogs whom came out of their houses barking ferociously. I stopped dead in my tracks because a runner is definitely the ultimate target. I edged my way back to the marsh as slowly quickly as I could. I was sure I was going to be attacked by these dogs and being 6am, there was no one around. I almost shat myself. The dogs did not attack but I will never find myself in that terrain again ever.

Wednesday night I needed relaxation so I went to a body balance class, which was so nice I almost fell asleep at the end but then had to ride my bike home in the dark and it was very scary.  

Thursday at work we visited the primary school and assessed some kids who were referred for developmental delay. It was fun but definitely hot and the poor kids were made to do ball games and running outside in the 40 degrees- but hey we had to do it too! Thursday arvo was swim club, which is totally taking off – I am very proud as I am a founding member of this.

Friday morning was yoga and then before you know it POETS is on and we’re around the hospital pool knocking off early having a beer. This preludes to a somewhat wild night at the Spinny but not before attending the Norval Gallery Art Auction. This is lots of fun. We get champagne and nibbles on arrival and walk around the gallery marking our paper with the paintings we want to bid for. Then the bidding starts and it’s casual but still quite intense. My painting comes up and the bidding is fun but I lose that one- which is unfortunate because the painter is someone who frequents the physio department. He has parkinsons disease and therefore usually suffers from a tremor but amazingly this tremor disappears when he is painting. Never mind I purchase a lovely painting of Windjanas, which is emblematic of this region of the Kimberly. The painter is a young woman and her other paintings are further proof of her talent. The painting is a gift for mum and dad.

The next day we are nursing hangovers yet again and get coffee in quick. I visit the prison Boab.  This was what came up when I googled Derby before leaving Melbourne. It is quite an impressive tree but the story is sad. Aboriginal people were held in this tree before taken to prison.

That arfternoon was a barbie by the hospital staff pool. We booked it out for a “private function” and lazed around cooling off, listening to music, munching and chatting.