Catching Cairns

7:30pm, Wednesday September 7th. Sitting in the kitchen at the place I'm staying at in Freshwater, just north of Cairns. I have a green thai prawn curry simmering on the stove, with some fluffy quinoa to have on the side. Oh, and there's also a big glass of wine to my right with some Florance and the Machine soundtracking my night in. My roommate Bernie has gone to tennis so I'm home alone for a few more hours. Guess I haven't written for a month or so, so I have some catching up to do... Long story short, I have a job at Ireland's Mitsubishi/Jeep/Chrysler/Dodge as a service advisor working 7:30 - 5:30 Mon-Fri. It's a pretty good gig, although the management leaves a lot to be desired. I'm surrounded by a lot of winging (bitching) all day. All in all it's alright though - they're trying to have me stay longer but I've got to do some regional work to get the second year so we'll see how things pan out. (uh oh, this curry is too hot.. did I think I was some tough girl adding extra chili flakes?) I'm renting a room off a young teacher named Bernie - it's a really nice place with a little garden and a turquoise wall in my room! I bought a car a couple weeks ago - it's a 1994 Mitsubishi Magna wagon. It's name was Clarke when I got it off a couple french back packers so I suppose the name'll stick. I really love having a car, and after a few very shaky days of driving over here I'm now almost 100% confident on the other side of the road in the other side of the car! Still have lapses where I think I'm on the "right" side, but no major accidents as of yet. I've been making some friends slowly which is cool - staying busy on the weekends. Last weekend was the races, or "Amateurs" - "Cairns biggest social event of the year!" Hahaha! You get super dressed up, wear fascinators (little hat/flower/feather deals on your head. For the record, I didn't wear one. I had a diamonte headdress and feather eyelashes. Anyone who knows me wouldn't be surprised hearing this, but I will say that I shocked everyone in Trinity Beach...) So the races were pretty fun, although not as grand as I had expected. This coming weekend is a reggae festival which I'm looking forward to. My legs are finally healed up after a monster jetski ride to Fitzroy Island a few weekends ago. It was fun as hell, but the intense reality shattering ride chaffed my thighs like crazy which took over a week to heal properly. Yes, I will go on a jetski again, however the next time long shorts will be worn! Fitzroy Island was great - went with Karl, Tanya, Matty, Tyson and met a few other people there. We camped on the beach, went snorkeling, fishing, with a very enjoyable BOAT ride back! I can't even begin to explain the intensity of crashing and flying over waves on a jetski, hanging onto Tyson for dear life! Poor guy had very sore arms by the end of it.
As I sit here and reflect on the last 6 months, and what the next 6 months will bring, it brings excitement, curiosity, and angst. Hard to believe I've been in Oz for 6 months, and even hard er to believe that if I don't hurry up and get my 2nd year visa I'll be forced to evacuate in 6 months! I am potentially considering a sponsership by Ireland's Automotive Group, but that locks me in here for 2 years and I'm not sure I want to do 2 years... so many options, so little time! For now, I will finish my wine, dim the lights, have a little dance party by myself, and revel in my contentment.
For the record: Jazzy, I miss you like crazy. I am kind of warming up to the idea of moving back to Canada to be with you, but what is there for me? Wages half as much as I'm getting here, but I guess money isn't everything. Gotta get to England for my cousin Ellie's wedding next June. What will life have brought me by then? No one knows. How fantastic.
Here is a link to my Cairns album... http://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.10150282815449757.354411.511839756&l=84c149b620&type=1