03/11/09

Well I've now been in Australia/Bunbury for a month, and I am still job-less! I am not quite desperate enough to go back to waitressing, though I did apply for a temporary sales position at a phone shop and was rejected almost immediately! I think I was exasperatedly amused more than anything, but it's aiding my decision as to what Plan B is going to be....

But it is still early days! As Dad commented, I get frustrated/annoyed if things take 5mins longer than I think they should take! However, I am feeling decreasingly frustrated with the lack of work - I guess as I settle in more - and I have been spending an increased amount of time at the dolphin centre. I've had 2 days off in the last 10, 2 of which were really rather long days. The Open Day was a great success with over 3000 visitors. I was in my element chatting about the features and residents of the Discovery Room (see photo, but I'm quite well hidden), though I was pretty exhausted by the end of it. Talking lots really takes it out of you!

And we also had an incredible stroke of luck. A dolphin called Tangles (so-called because she was caught up in a fishing net and eventually the top part of her dorsal fin came off) had a baby, and there was a local newspaper-run competition to name the calf. We haven't had any dolphins in the Interaction Zone (a 500m2 area in front of the centre where they come to visit and have a snack) for weeks and weeks, yet 20mins before the winning name was announced along came Tangles with her calf right into the IZ and said hello to Ray (see photo). It really was quite phenomenal. The calf was eventually named Shadow.

I'm now trained on the Swim Tours so I get to accompany the paying passengers on the trips out to these hangouts. On my first day in the water I had 2 dolpins approach me and swim past me literally within arm's reach! It's so tempting to touch them, but it's a big no-no. Exhilerating though. Looking forward to more of that!

Aside from the dolphins there's not much going on! I went to a gig which was pretty good; it's the first time I've seen live music in a long while. Should do it more often! Along with Tilly (in the picture with her eyes closed!) I've signed up for a triathlon at the end of November, and we have a new cat called Molly. She's not taken too well to Zoro, who is mildly put out at someone else in his territory, so she's been keeping me awake as she visits during the night for strokes and cuddles, and mewing for goodness knows what. Unfortunately with an average of 4.5hrs sleep per night for the last 3 nights, I'm getting to the point where I'm just going to have to shut my door and put my earplugs in! Out on a double Swim Tour tomorrow, so perhaps it's time for a nap..... :)