Then there's the people..

Well I haven’t been here long but if first impressions hold any merit, this part of the Northern Territory may be a pretty nice place to live. 

The heat is great, and the landscape.. but what I have really noticed is the people: they have been really nice, welcoming.  It has taken me by surprise actually.. and I like it!

There was the boy at the Sandwich shop.. I was a nickel short and it was ‘no worries’.  OK.. I had pulled out a $50.. but still! It wasn’t just him.. it has been almost everyone I have come in contact with!   

The people at the education office were really sweet.  They seemed genuinely happy to meet me and after a bit of a chat, directed me to the “Katherine Group Schools” office. There they were even nicer!

“What do you like to do in your ‘off’ time?” 

They seemed really interested.  I think I have agreed to swim as part of a triathlon team.. I’m ‘hooked up’ with a group that will head out in March to do some canoeing.. and one of the women is checking into a photography group..

I really wasn’t looking for anything to do.  But I couldn’t say no..  

Who knew?!  They are just so soo nice. 

Then there was the lady at Vas’s work place: he is away for the week and I was collecting the key to his place to go for a swim while I was in town. 

“You’re out in Mataranka?  That’s my husband’s ‘country’.  You can read about them at the Homestead”. 

The Homestead is where I have been going morning and night for a swim in the pools. I have taken pictures of the cockatoos and the spiders.. and I talk to the tourists in the pools.   

Vas’s ‘buddy’ mentioned a book by Jeannie Gunn called “We of the Never Never”.  A must read: it’s the history of this area.

But I won’t start looking for it yet: I am still getting settled.

Today I bought dishes and plastic containers and have been washing them out and loading them up.  I got meat for the freezer, as ‘town’ is 100 k away.  I got a printer/scanner so I can complete more paperwork and send it off: soon.  Need to keep the ladies in the office happy.

I have tried tie dying my curtains with food coloring.. hmm.  They need a bit more work! There is NO fabric dye in the whole town!?

Oh.. and I found the Industrial park.. they have a Mitre Ten… which is a good thing! I picked up some gardening gloves and some tools to dig up a bit of the garden.  They also had clamps and sand paper so I can get started on some of the wood I have collected.

 

Whoa.. maybe I am being a little over enthusiastic?  Am tired thinking about it all.. but it is great to have so many wondrous adventures ahead!

And if I get too tired, I can just head back to the pools.. to relax. 

Heaven!