Unpaid Work

  30/11/2011
  It is looking likely that we will be staying here in Clifton for some time, maybe another 5 months. We have volunteered and have been accepted to do the caretakers job here at the Holiday units whilst Phil and Julie go off on their travels. They retain the job, we will be caretakers caretakers, until they return some time after the wet, (around April) We are extremely happy here having made several friends and the job will take up very little of our time, In my case around 14 hours a week, Janes even less. We will still be able to explore Northern Queensland, but our base will be here. A very nice apartment, free of charge with no overheads.  We are still going to Bali in February as a) we want to go b)it helps us extend our visa on our return. When we return we will have another 12 months visa. We are very excited about the prospect, we love the rainforest, so when better to see them but in the wet. We are acclimatised, not too bothered by nasty bugs, cane toads or spiders, crocs are a different issue.
   Obviously we will miss Phil and Julie when they leave and Julies scheming will be hard to replace. Ask Guy Hawkins or Barry Baker.
  Picked up Phil and Julie from their trip to Green Island, something we must do. Then back here for a Riley B BQ until very late!

 1/12/2011
  First of December which here in Oz is officially the first day of summer, and as in England the day started by it absolutely pissing down. Despite the rain we went with Phil, Julie and Glyn to a beauty spot south of Cairns for a picnic lunch. We had our picnic by the river in the Goldsborough  Valley  and contemplated  a swim, but with all the rain we have had, the river was running too fast so we decided against it. Luckily the rain held off for the rest of the day but the forecast is for a lot more in the next few days. It’s like living in a sauna, so much so, Jane and Julie were in he pool at 9pm cooling off.


 2/12/2011
  It’s the strangest experience wandering around the shopping malls listening to Christmas songs such as “I’m dreaming of a white Christmas“, when the outside temp is somewhere around 32C. When we spent Christmas here before at least it had the decency to be a little bit chilly, but then we were down south in Victoria. It just doesn’t seem right seeing Father Christmas and his reindeer in all the stores.
  We got stuck into some of the jobs we will be doing when we take over the caretakers job this morning. Grass mowing once a week, takes a few hours. There is about ½ acre and it’s hot work. Then there is the pool to look after, it’s a constant battle fishing out dead leaves from the trees. It is hot but not too strenuous.
  We are invited to a house party on Sunday, the theme being Mexican. Jane found her outfit at a Salvation Army second hand shop, ( Salvos Op Shop) and it cost all of $6. I might go dressed as a bottle of tequila!

  3/12/2011
  I went for a couple of beers with Phil and another couple of his mates last night to the rugby club, then we all met back here for a BBQ, so it was another slow start to the day.
  Jane I went shopping for our Mexican night, she has got most of here stuff, and I have ended up with a sombrero and a speedy Gonzales stick on moustache. While we were in town we had a mooch around the weekend market, it’s mostly fruit and veg