Back in Oz

Back in Oz!

Vas has been back at work for a couple of weeks now: putting on socks, lacing up his boots in the early hours

.. this is my last week of holiday: flip flops and bathers are still the go for me!  

But I’m ready to get back to work.. the only thing I don’t like about my job is that I can’t do something else as well.  I have spent these past two weeks getting ready: or trying at least. 

I had to adjust to being back in Australia.  The trip back was timed perfectly to make sure we were absolutely exhausted when we got home.  We were up all night, travelling, and arrived in Darwin at six in the morning.  Then we decided to drive home… probably not too smart.  We were awake, but there was that haze that descends upon you when you try to stay up more than 24 hours.  But we made it ok. 

The 40 degree heat in Mataranka made it impossible to do much..

But the rains have come. 

Beki and I headed back to Darwin, for shopping, a walk on the beach.. a first aid course, last Thursday and Friday.  We just hit the city when  Friday’s Territorial Newspaper headlined “Monsoonal rains bring threat of Cyclone”. 

It rained most of our visit there: Nice!

I have ordered a new coffee table.. visited the KGS office.. got rejected by immigration (because I went to Malaysia two years ago.. now I have to wait another two years!) .. hair doo.. pedicure.. dentist.. doctor.. sheesh! 

The rains block the roads.. it is finally cool enough to go camping, but Kakadu.. most of the parks for that matter.. are closed.  I feel like the local Kangaroos: locking themselves in the school yard to enjoy the green grass, then suddenly realizing they can’t get out just anywhere- bounding along the fence – line in a desperate attempt to get out. 

Kangaroos don’t keep me from school though.. I have been over there a few times.  But.. there are dead frogs everywhere.. They managed to get into the school, couldn’t get out, and have died due to lack of water. 

There are tons of the lovely little green frogs are hatching.  They are about the size of my thumb.. and I know they aren’t cane toads for two reason.. one – they stick to everything, and two.. they are sooooo noisy!  The first couple of nights.. all night.. they would celebrating the wet by singing, and I use that term loosely, all night.  It’s like a fog horn blasting through the bedroom window..

but I am used to it already. 

The grass is growing like crazy.. the earth here just soaks up all the water and turns it green.  The birds are loving it.. all chattering and happy to eat the flying ants off my window screens.  Never quietly.

It can be an noisy place, this outback Oz.. but that is a good thing.  It is life.  I actually missed all the commotion while I was away. 

The snakes are out too.. but they are quiet.  Beki ‘s partner killed one right in their house while she was away.. a stripped Bandy Bandy or something like that.. but she has more.  I am glad my house is sealed up pretty tight. 

I’m really ready to get back to work.. but am thinking I better call the Wildlife Rangers first and have company on my next visit to the school. 

Yesterday I was met by a venomous Brown Snake: INSIDE my classroom!

I thought that was sealed up tight as well.

Maybe I’ll wear my boots.