Not updated the blog for a while - I've been waiting for my fingers to thaw out, it's freezing! Though I was speaking to a barman from Lanark last week who reminded me that even though its a paltry 15 degrees here in Melbourne, it was about 14 in Edinburgh that very same day.
We finished up at the Red Cross (with one day's notice - the life of a temp!) and I got a job at a fire station. Cue an entire weekend of anticipation and choosing the right outfit but when I arrived in Thornbury (just past the arse end of nowhere) I discovered I was working for facilities department and surrounded by retired firemen. The old men were all very pleasant but not exactly the week I'd been hoping for. They did tell each other off for 'swearing in front of the lady'. Very old school. Sandra who I reported to was by my account, mental. She asked me which part of Ireland I was from, when I replied I was from Scotland she said 'what's the difference?' Later the same day she asked how I spelled my name and then told me all the different ways it could be spelled. Some of which of course I had NEVER heard before. I confused her further by telling her mine was the Irish spelling...'but you're not Irish?' she asked suspiciously. Later that week she asked me what the weather was like in Ireland. I gave up. That job lasted a week and my sole responsibility was to produce hundreds of lanyards for contractors. Those of you who have ever had the pleasure of working on a live show with me will know, and probably still own, one of my lanyards, so at least I had experience for the role.
The next couple of weeks was spent proof-reading and formatting documents at a college out in the suburbs. I was the only person walking towards the train station in the CBD. They don't even have separate in and out ticket barriers, you just have to bombard your way through and hope no one beats you to it from the other side. I was working with Oonagh, a girl from Kerry who I'd previously worked with at Red Cross. Two weeks in and we were given a week off for good behaviour which was well timed as my birthday fell on the Wednesday.
I woke on my birthday early to a phonecall from Lesley and Gerdy, who must have turned the tap on because from there on I. could. not. stop. crying. It's really difficult to be away and I was overwhelmed by the texts and cards etc I received. Charlotte made me brekkie and had put balloons up around the place and then kicked me out the flat so she could bake me a cheesecake. I went to Paula's where we watched Love Actually and from the opening scene in the airport the tears started again. I managed to pull myself together back at the apartment that night when the girls came round and gave me a bottle of amaretto - my favourite. We went to the Vege Bar in the pissing rain (so strange for it to be wintry on my birthday too) and then to Bimbos bar.
The treats didn't stop there. I was surprised with a ticket to see Cirque du Soleil on the Thursday which was amazing. Each act just got better and better, I highly recommend you go and see it when it comes around. My favourite was the trampolines, though I loved all of it.
And that weekend the girls went to Phillip Island on a road trip. About an hour south of the city, I drove the six seater and thankfully Grace made it home from a night out in time for our 9am departure. We shoved her in the very back seat. We visited a koala conservation centre and the Nobbies, these strange rock formations that jut out of the water. Grace said it reminded her of Ireland. It was bloody freezing but good to get some proper fresh air! We then went to our hostel which was like Dirty Dancing - two adjoined cabins with an en-suite each. Absolute luxury! And in time for dusk we headed to the Penguin Parade to see baby penguins come out of the water and waddle home. Complete tourist trap, you can see them down at St Kilda beach for free, but the gift shop was good.
We then had a few drinks in our hostel before heading out for dinner and on to the only 'nightclub' on the island. Cue drunken dancing and not much talent. I swear the DJ waited until I left before honouring my Beyonce request. The bouncer wouldn't let me back in! But the bunk bed in that hostel was the comfiest (and longest) bed I've slept in this year.
We drove back via a chocolate factory and Kath and Kim's house. Then we parked outside our apartment in what we later discovered to be a tow-away zone because when Charlotte and I went to return it the following morning, it wasn't where we'd left it. At least I can say I've visited Melbourne's pound.
Went back to Holmesglen for a week without Oonagh and then back to Red Cross with Charlotte to process all the cheques they'd misplaced before the end of Australia's tax year.
It was Charlotte's 30th birthday just this weekend past so had lots of fun things arranged. We went to a cheerleading class on Saturday afternoon which was a complete surprise for her and even did a formation climbing on each others backs. Thank God we weren't hungover for that one. Then we had a party back at our apartment with lots of fizz, lentil soup and top hats then out to a bar in St Kilda for a dance. Sunday was spent nursing our hangovers (Jolene won worst hangover award) and we sent Charlotte up Eureka Tower. The plan was then to go to karaoke but having sent her up the highest building in the Southern Hemisphere then blindfolding her through Crown, the poor girl wasn't feeling too hot by the time we got to the bar. So we settled on a DVD back at the apartment. She's not getting any younger.
I've also been to the Good Food and Wine Show (too much wine, not nearly enough food), the rugby (not a clue what was going on there), Melbourne Gaol (lots of fun) and we even saw Hughesy from Rove today walking his dog in St Kilda. Celeb spot.
Charlotte has been getting some catering jobs in between all of this and this week I have some well-deserved time off. Back to the library to job hunt (ie update my blog) which is getting rather tedious. Jolene is leaving in a couple of weeks to work on Dunk Island which sounds lush. I think Grace and Kathryn will follow. It's time to plan our next move and do some travelling before NZ in September.
Photos are on Facebook for most of the above. I miss Marks and Spencers more and more, but other than that, have got over my homesickness since my birthday, at least for the meantime.
Over and out
Kathryn xx
