24.01.10

Ok, so the day after I last wrote, I got to the DDC and what do you know, there's no supervisor so one of the vollies nominated me. I had to smile, so I got the usual mini meeting sorted and everyone doing their jobs, then grabbed the Supervisor manual and gave myself a run down of what I was supposed to be doing! All went well, and I've been doing it for the last 3 Saturdays, but the usual supervisor is possibly back next week so my stint looks to be short and sweet! All good though, I'll still be a regular vollie on the Sat morning, give up the Sun afternoon shift and give myself time to enjoy the weekends a bit more! Haven't really seen much of the surrounding area so need to change that :) Having said that, I've just got back from Dunsborough, a beautiful spot just down the coast. We checked out the lighthouse, visited a winery (Margaret River is a top quality wine region) and then hit the beach! Great way to spend an afternoon :)

Aside from that, I'm still working (quite a lot recently, over 50hrs this week!), I've actually been made Senior Contracts Administrator - I'm officially the longest serving admin member, with my (all of) 2months service! There were only 2 staff before - the one I replaced originally, and the second quit just before Christmas. We are now a team of 4, and ironically one of the newcomers used to run a successful business, but she's come in as a Contracts Administrator and I'm senior to her, which she doesn't like at all.... I guess I've had longer to prove myself, but then again, she has been struggling with the admin tasks. Work-wise, we're still getting back on track and I'm working on getting us running smoothly by preferably mid Feb, but definitely by the time I leave! (Feb/March).

So yes, I've given my notice. Post Transfield....well, I'm still working on my plans, but nothing concrete yet. However I am moving out of my current house to somewhere more central and closer to the beach! Will be happening in a couple of weeks, really looking forward to it!

08/01/10

OK, so I haven't been very good at updating this blog, mainly as I've felt it's not been all that necessary. It was essentially created to keep the non-Facebook-affiliated family members updated, but in actual fact over the last month or so we've all been in quite a lot of contact through the joys of Skype, and I've not been too bad at emailing! We now have weekly international Skyping sessions with family members all over the UK, Geneva and here. I got to 'see' family on Christmas and Boxing Day which was great! So along with FB most people are up to date on my comings and goings :) But maybe there are a few others who may be missing out....

So, in the last month we've of course had Christmas, so there have been a few parties and festivities. I spent Christmas Day at the Dolphin Centre with other family-less volunteers, and we had a merry time (Ken brought in some rather tasty punch) on the beach swimming with the dolphins and enjoying a fry up on the bbq. Also managed to squeeze in some pancakes with fruit and ice-cream - yum!

How my family looked to me, and vice versa, during our Boxing Day Skype chat!

I have also volunteered to get involved with a research project, so early one Saturday morning, I got up at 4.15am to cycle up to the centre to jump on the boat for a 5am launch. We combed a section of the coast for about 7 hours, and one of the most impressive sights was with the first pod we saw, with one dolphin (believed to be Comet) playing football with an octopus. Thrilling to see! Not sure when I'm next out, just volunteered to help out with fin-matching (identifying which dolphins have been seen to analyse movements and behaviours), which is time-consuming, but very beneficial.

One thing I love about this place, which is a big reason for coming, is the opportunity to just get up and go and do something outdoorsy, in the warm sunshine and beautiful ocean. Last weekend my friend Trav called me up and asked if I fancied heading out on the kayak, to which I obviously replied yes! So off we went to Peppermint Beach about 20mins away. It was a gorgeous day and the sea was reasonably calm, but during a dip I soon felt the sting of jellyfish, and noticed I was amongst a swarm of them. So that was the end of my swim! In the end we just paddled out, then lay back to bask in the sunshine as the current took us back to shore, where we'd paddle back out again :)

I'm still working at the same place, it's been an extremely hectic time with an unorganised and disruptive move, but we're getting back on our feet, slowly but surely. It's better in that I feel we're getting somewhere, but it's been a heck of a struggle and I've put a lot of time into getting things sorted. Fortunately I have a great boss who has noticed and appreciates my effort, and in return has given me a good amount of responsibility. He's throwing money at me to stay, which is of course flattering, but if it's not what I want to do long term then there's not much point trying to stay. I'm probably going to finish end of Feb/Mar, but will see. Still, I'm making some good contacts! I'm still not entirely sure I'll be staying in Oz too much longer, but, I'm still giving it a bit of time. Might as well enjoy the sunshine while I can, even though I'm gutted to be missing such decent snow at home! I imagine most people are over it by now though ;)

OK, it's 2252, WELL past my bedtime! I wake around 4.30-5am every morning due to the cockatoos that congregate in the aerials above the houses here, so I have been pretty exhaused over the last few days. Back at the dolphin centre tomorrow, I've been asked to become a supervisor, but I guess it all depends on if I'm going to stay or not....

Happy New Year to you all :)