SHE WHO HESITATES IS LOST

Mortality

2012-02-04T14:34:00.004+11:00

Dad and I at my cousin's wedding, August 2011Lately it seems I cry on more days than not. Late last year I found out my father has a terminal form of cancer. He'd been diagnosed with prostate cancer several years ago, but that seemed to have been dealt with. Unfortunately it has spread through his skeletal system, and it's now a matter of we-don't-know-how-long, but probably months that he has

Scary - me??

2012-01-21T18:09:00.005+11:00

I got told the other night by a new acquaintance, who also works in the same industry as me over here in WA, that I was "quite scary, professionally." Really??I know I have a strong personality, but I don't think I am scary professionally, so much as this town lacks qualified and experienced heritage professionals. I am working at a world heritage-listed site, and I am the only person on the

This time last year....

2011-12-29T10:57:00.004+11:00

This time last year, if I'd imagined where I'd be in 12 months, I daresay it would have caused a little flutter of disappointment and the thought 'more of the same'.If someone had told me this time last year that in 12 months I'd be living in Fremantle, have a permanent job at a World Heritage Site, and have bought a house, I probably would have laughed (but inwardly cheered, and gone 'yippee!').

Phwoar!

2011-12-10T16:10:00.004+11:00

Wow, the landscape changed dramatically last week, when my boss announced on Monday that she was resigning, effective Friday. Phwoar!This was good news to me for several reasons, but the one that I am going to focus on from now is about the future. I hope the past will stay put behind me, and not rear its ugly head. Perth is a small town, apparently too small to go around making enemies, but I

Power to the (derby) people

2011-12-04T01:00:00.003+11:00

Team Australia is currently in Toronto, Canada, kicking arse at the Roller Derby World Cup. Every time my husband rings me I excitedly tell him what team those amazing ladies have trounced now - and anyone who knows me, knows that I'm the last person to be giving score updates, for any sport (ok, except derby!). So far they have beaten Germany, Finland, and Scotland, and are seeded 4th. I think

Conference Papers

2011-11-19T00:25:00.003+11:00

This evening I was on the train heading home with a former colleague from the NMA, and we were talking about the conference we'd spent all week at. It was the Museums Australia 2011 conference, and there had been a whole variety of papers given. I was telling my friend about how I found the papers that were all about "This is what I did, this is what worked for me, this is what didn't" rather

Really real estate!

2011-11-05T16:52:00.006+11:00

Above: The photo of the south-facing front from the listing on realestate.com.au Wow, it looks like Clinton and I have entered the property market at last!Our offer on a property has been accepted, and we are now under contract - conditional financial approval has been given, and now it's just the fiddly stuff. I'm trying not to think on it too much, as I know things can still go wrong and it's

The Maiden Aunt

2011-10-25T13:06:00.005+11:00

So, here I am, the third adult in a family household. It's an interesting dynamic, but it seems to be working for all of us. I can be an extra pair of hands when needed to mind the baby so mum can have a shower or run his bath, I contribute financially to a single-income family by paying rent, and I also help out by cooking and doing housework. Every family should have this 'Maiden Aunt'

Blog Makeover

2011-10-22T18:17:00.001+11:00

Would that be a blogover? Anyway, have changed the template to reflect this new, sandy WA phase of my life - it just looked too lush and green and like Tonga before. Hope you like the new look!

Moving

2011-10-22T17:51:00.003+11:00

I realised today that I actually really like roller derby. I enjoy watching it, I enjoy training for it and playing it. Moving to Perth might have been a convenient time to give it up, especially after I didn't really gel with the first group of skaters I trained with. But due to my rather spontaneous decision to buy myself a car in my second week here I can now training with the amazing ladies

Sharehousing

2011-10-08T09:43:00.008+11:00

It's all fun and games, until you find yourself face to face with a plughole full of your housemate's hair, or you are woken up at 5:30 am every morning by their kids. It's then that I begin to think that I am really too old for sharehousing, even in the short term.See, I'm old, I'm set in my ways. I like my kitchens clean and my drains unblocked. I like the option of sleeping in on weekends. I'm

Eeep! - OMG! - Hmmm, nice - OMG!

2011-09-09T00:42:00.002+10:00

Friday 2nd September: "Not even the perfumed blossoms of a Canberra spring could induce me to stay in this place! Ho for Freo!"Saturday 3rd September: "Oh my God, what have I done?!"Sunday 4th September: "Ah, sunny Fremantle, God's own country - Yep, I think I'll like it here."Monday 5th September: "Oh dear GOD what have I DONE???"And thus the roller-coaster continues...

Change

2011-07-29T12:42:00.003+10:00

This time next week I'll be in London - woohoo! I'm really looking forward to this trip - I just have to remember not to overplan. Ok, so I've booked and paid for ALL our accommodation, as well as our train tickets to and from Oxford and Salisbury. And I have a list of stuff I want to see, along with -ahem- suggested days for each activity. But in my defense - there's so much I want to see, no

The Derby Dabbler

2011-07-01T16:06:00.002+10:00

I've spent all day reading Bonnie D. Stroir's blog and it has a common theme with other derby blogs I've come across, and that is a complete and unadulterated love for derby. And I just don't feel that. I mean yeah, it's great fun, and I really enjoy it - but it hasn't changed my life the way it seems to have changed the lives of others.Maybe I'm just a derby dabbler, or maybe I'll never put all

Pics from last bout

2011-06-12T11:06:00.004+10:00

The BrindabeltersWe focused heavily on swarming the opposition, so working really strongly as a pack to shut down the other teamOne of my proudest moments - getting the opposition jammer out of bounds all by myself!Some Surly Griffin elevator doors closing, with me in the middle - ouch!Super happy FeMaelstrom!(A big thank you to HeMaelstrom for taking the photos! xx)

A big week

2011-06-02T12:27:00.001+10:00

This has been a pretty huge week for me.On Saturday night my derby team, the Brindabelters, won our bout. It was the first win ever for the Belters, and it was an amazing feeling to be part of that victory. I was really pleased with the way I played. I think we have a very strong blocking team, as well as three pretty outstanding jammers, and ultimately it was our team work that helped to get us

Much better now!

2011-05-14T11:25:00.002+10:00

Ok, now I'm over the initial disappointment I am feeling much more positive about everything! This is the perfect excuse to get out of Canberra, which is an exciting prospect in itself. I actually quite like life-changing shifts (as long as nobody dies), though I do struggle to avoid knee-jerk reactions to changes in already established patterns - like C changing jobs, or me having to move desks

Well, this is fucked

2011-05-11T10:11:00.002+10:00

It looks like after five years of on-again off-again romance, my relationaship with the National Museum of Australia is coming to a final and conclusive end.Due to the wonderful Efficiency Dividend many of the contract staff are not being renewed. This includes me, and, as I learned yesterday, I was also spectacularly unsuccessful in the recent recruitment round, where a lot of us fought over the

Another derby milestone

2011-05-02T20:03:00.004+10:00

Okay, so it's been a while. A lot of shit has gone down since my last post. I'm losing my job in mid-July and frantically trying to find something to replace it with that will make use of my Masters in Museum Studies (rather than packing shelves at Woollies), but the cultural heritage sector in Canberra is looking pretty bleak at the moment, with all other museums and galleries in the same

Blooded

2011-02-27T14:09:00.006+11:00

It's over - I have made my derby debut! And not only did I not puke on the track as I feared, but I actually performed quite well. In the spirit of Carnival of Carnage, where you give everything a go, I jammed twice, and got lead jammer BOTH times - not to mention nailing a 15-point power jam the first time!The Chiko Rollers played really well as a team. We were beaten by the Hot Jammer Donuts in

Carnival of Carnage!

2011-02-13T10:19:00.003+11:00

Holy crap it's roller derby debut time! On 26 February, after 50 weeks of skating, Fresh Meat 2010 will be making their debuts at the Carnival of Carnage!This is a low-key, family and friends only event, not open to the general public. It's designed to give us a less intimidating introduction to public bouting.Because there's so many of us, they've divided us into not the usual two teams (the Hot

Pelicans are cool

2011-02-10T16:03:00.002+11:00

I saw this fella grooming himself on a pylon on Rottnest Island the other day, during an early morning walk. He let me get very close to take these shots, and didn't in the slightest object. I could have reached out and touched him, I was so close. But I didn't because, being so close, I realised what big birds pelicans actually are!

Update

2011-01-25T22:35:00.002+11:00

OK, turns out I was just overthinking things. I'm back at training, and it's great! Yay!

Happy new year...

2011-01-09T17:27:00.004+11:00

So, New Year's resolution for 2011 - to prioritise printing and physically albumising photographs over just making a Facebook album and letting my digital images just sit on my hard drive. Nerdy, huh? But very me. I go back to work tomorrow. Not dreading it, so that's a good thing. What I am dreading though is returning to roller derby. Having had these 3 weeks off has been really nice. I've kind

Derby Journey

2010-12-12T11:23:00.003+11:00

Last night I watched Canberra's representative team the Vice City Rollers take on and thrash the Sydney City Assassins. It was an epic bout for many reasons; a record-setter for derby attendance in Canberra, with over 3000 tickets sold - and the bout being held at the AIS Arena (Australian Institute of Sport)! But it was epic most of all because this is the first time Canberra have won against

Counting my blessings

2010-12-09T20:39:00.004+11:00

It's that time of the year; thoughts turn to family and friends and we count our blessings, all while our material society reaches its consumer zenith in the form of CHRISTMAS SHOPPING.This time last year my workmates pulled together and made a Xmas hamper so that C and I would have some treats over the holidays. We weren't destitute by any means, but things were tight (especially by Canberra

I feel bad now!

2010-11-18T23:11:00.003+11:00

Today I went back to Flemington to interview the racecaller, Greg Miles. He was so lovely to interview, really relaxed and easy going, made the experience of interviewing him a real pleasure. Plus the VRC reps were uber-helpful. Made me feel kind of bad for everything I said in the previous post!So you know, I just wanted to put it out there that my problem is with the racing industry as a whole,

The Melbourne Cup

2010-11-12T21:58:00.004+11:00

"...on this most Australian of days." The Governor General presents the tophy to winning owners at the 2010 Melbourne CupI went to the Melbourne Cup last week. It was for work. I had to apply for us all to get media accreditation from the Victoria Racing Club, so it was kind of a big deal (or a pain in the arse, depending on who I'm talking to!).As she was presenting the trophy to the winner, our

Brooding on breeding

2010-10-25T15:20:00.005+11:00

This is so un-PC, but honestly, if one more person tells me they are pregnant before year's end, I'm afraid that instead of offering them my congratulations, the words "Oh for fuck's sake!" will involuntarily escape my lips.This year - 2010 - has gone from seeing the very first one of my close childhood friends getting pregnant and having her baby, to a sudden flurry of reproductive enthusiasm

Aggression

2010-10-10T18:22:00.003+11:00

Today I got my first taste of someone directing some heat-of-the-moment aggression at me during scrimmage practice. And not on the track, but on the sidelines.I don't think it's unusual, and pretty much everyone has a story about someone snapping at them for no reason (and I'm sure I'll probably do it to someone else in turn). It's actually not so much that it happened that bothered me, more my

Scrimage Sundays

2010-08-22T17:35:00.003+10:00

So now that I've passed my Yellow Star assessment, there's this little world of fun that I and the other Yellows have been admitted to. It's called Scrimage Sundays, and it's basically taking all the skills and drills we've been working on for the past 5 months, and using them in the game they call Roller Derby!Today was the first time we got to give it a go, and it was soooooo much fun! I'd

The Legend of Larapinta

2010-08-18T13:40:00.004+10:00

I want to tell you about one particular part of our Larapinta adventure. Because an adventure is certainly what it became! We started our walk at Standley Chasm, an easily accessible tourist spot 60-odd kilometres west of Alice. I won’t bore you with a blow-by-blow description of each day of our walk, but will pick up the story when we reached Hugh Gorge junction. That was at around midday, by

Just the tip of the iceberg

2010-08-16T11:56:00.000+10:00

I am itching for a new challenge. I’d like a job that will give me a bit more satisfaction than my current position (I hear you say, “Wouldn’t we all?”). I want to do something that uses my skills to help, in terms of preserving and documenting significant collections. There are a number of factors that make my current position feel less than satisfying. It seems that since coming back from

OMG I'm getting OLD!

2010-08-03T15:50:00.002+10:00

You know that thing you might do if you've had a blog for several years, where you go right back and re-read the early posts? And look at the pictures? And suddenly think to yourself, 'Oh my god I really AM ageing!'Yeah.I just did that now.

Centralia

2010-07-27T13:33:00.011+10:00

Things I miss about hiking

2010-07-23T15:21:00.002+10:00

We just spent 16 days on the Larapinta trail. It's hard work being back in an office after that, let me tell you! Here's some of the things I'm missing:*Being able to condense my whole life into a pack and take it with me wherever I go (I think I was a snail in my past life) *Having every meal pre-prepared and packaged, AND being able to eat whatever I like without worrying about calories

Revelation

2010-06-20T16:58:00.001+10:00

So, now that my paper is all written and ready, it turns out I'm not scared at the thought of presenting it anymore! Guess I'm only scared of the idea of public speaking when unprepared. Well how 'bout that!

The Fear Factor

2010-06-09T15:04:00.003+10:00

I have been thinking a bit about fear lately, and I don't mean in that new-agey "fear is the only thing holding you back from living the life you dream" kind of way, but in more of a real, concrete, my-guts-just-turned-to-water sort of way. Well, ok, maybe not like that either; I was once in a shop during a violent armed robbery, and so it's not the "Oh my god I think I am going to die" kind of

Skinned'er Ella

2010-05-19T14:57:00.002+10:00

Oh yeah - and I got my White Star!I'm thinking of Skinned'er Ella as my derby name. What do you reckon??

A general rant against Canberra, and healthcare in particular

2010-05-19T12:28:00.005+10:00

I just paid $145 to see a doctor. Because she talked too much, and the appointment ran over the alotted 15 minutes, I had to pay for a "long consultation". It's bad enough that a regular consult costs $75, but $145 (of which I'll get $60 back from Medicare) is just extortionate.This wasn't even my regular doctor - to see her you need to book 2 weeks in advance, and lets face it, generally you

I got Derby on my mind!

2010-05-18T10:01:00.002+10:00

So - roller derby. I think it's one of those things that once it grabs you, it won't let go! If you're wondering what the hell I'm talking about, here's a 2 minute video on YouTube that gives the basics of how flat track roller derby is played, courtesy of the Hammer City Roller Girls (from Ontario in Canada). And if you want to see something a bit closer to home (and a bit more 'live-action'!),

Group-phobia

2010-05-08T16:22:00.002+10:00

I don't like group situations. I'm not talking 4-5 people, I'm talking the group dynamics that form in numbers of around 15 plus, and which seem to get more apparent as the numbers get higher. It freaks me out. In classic Cancerian behaviour, it's my tactic to shy away from large groups - and if the situation gives me no choice, then I go into my little shell - pull myself away before people

Television

2010-04-28T10:22:00.003+10:00

My husband, who can be quite cynical, reckons that people watch television so they can have something to talk about the next day.Since returning from Tonga I haven't really gotten back into watching TV (apparently DVDs of TV shows don't count!), and mostly that's fine. But yesterday I walked into a conversation about Masterchef, and it suddenly struck me that I did feel like there was something

Musing on a year of marriage

2010-04-11T18:04:00.005+10:00

We were both skinnier when we first got together. Me because I was recovering from a big grief that had left me unable to eat, and C because he lived a bachelor life, which meant baked bean jaffles for dinner and a bean bag as his only furniture. I was preparing for a massive hike (which you can read about here if you're interested), and knew he liked walking, had roamed the streets and bushland

Work Crisis

2010-04-08T19:07:00.002+10:00

I moved to Canberra on January 22nd, 2006. Three weeks later my then-boyfriend dumped me, and I started living the life I wanted to live. I met another bloke, one who was “just for fun”, but then it turned out we had so much fun together that there was no reason to end it, and now we’re married. In 2008 I got to travel to Tonga, and have the experience of living and working overseas, where I was

On a Roll

2010-04-05T14:11:00.004+10:00

3 weeks ago I started my roller derby training. Prior to getting these quad skates I had not rollerskated since I was about 7 years old. Even then I never owned my own, I'd have to hire them from the roller rink when I'd go with my little schoolfriends. My point is that I'm NOT an experienced skater - I've still never even been rollerblading!Learning to skate has been a lot of fun. In between

An update on my life in 3 sentences

2010-04-04T18:41:00.002+10:00

Food allergies are fucked. Not being able to eat one or more foods is a pain in the arse.But roller derby training is going well, and is highly enjoyable.

The Accidental Wedding Photographer

2010-03-27T19:30:00.005+11:00

I recently shot my friend Jo's wedding. Doing wedding photography when you're not a pro photographer is nerve-wracking, but I think preparation is the key to getting it right on the day. I have to say, I was half thinking of quitting my job and becoming a wedding photographer! Though I'd be very picky about who I'd photograph - only original weddings for me, none of this cookie-cutter stuff! Jo

The Ag. Show

2010-03-04T15:20:00.006+11:00

The Ag. College uniform - belted moleskins and a chambray shirt - classic!It's a proud Australian tradition, the annual local Show. They used to be about comparing rams and competing at woodchopping, now they seem to be all about spending money on rides and showbags.I do like a Show; the annual Sydney Royal Easter Show was an integral part of my upbringing, and

Hair is a renewable resource!

2010-02-21T15:37:00.009+11:00

BEFORE.... (taken this morning) That's what I tell people after it emerges that I once shaved my head. Well, it's true! Ok, unless you're a male suffering from pattern baldness... but in my case, and in the case of all the women I know, hair is a renewable resource, so if one day you do something whacky and shave it all off, who cares - it'll grow back. Women

Before and After

2010-01-10T09:21:00.006+11:00

I'm sorting through all the photos I've taken in the past 22 months, including the Tonga ones, with a view to printing and albumising them all. Digital photography makes it all too easy to neglect these old-fashioned processes, yet I do value hard copies of images, and would like to retain the good habits I was in when I was still using film. Anyway, during the sorting of the photos I took,

More musings

2010-01-09T14:26:00.003+11:00

You know, everyone talks about how hard it is to come back to this society after something like the AYAD program, particularly in a place like the South Pacific where there is not much consumer choice, and be faced with 15 varieties of margarine and and every kind of vegetable you could want. That stuff really didn't phase me too much upon my return, possibly because I came back to Oz four times

Poverty is Relative

2009-11-15T12:24:00.004+11:00

How come so soon after having returned from a developing country, where people seem to live on so little, I am back to whingeing about being poor?I was having a little moment this morning of browsing possible holidays for a couple of weeks over January. I don't want much, just a road trip around Tassie or maybe campervanning around NZ on the cheap - but we just can't afford it. So I'm feeling

Wheels

2009-11-11T12:13:00.003+11:00

I'm trying to find a decent second-hand car. It's harder than I thought it would be, and I didn't expect it to be easy! I could spend the rest of this post giving the reasons why, and telling you how, it's been a pain, but I can't be assed, it's just too depressing.My dad drove down from Singleton - a 6-hour drive -to help me look around, so I took the day off work and off we went. Part of me

Little Blog Lost

2009-10-31T12:42:00.002+11:00

This blog never started as a travel blog, though it seemed to hit its stride while I was in Tonga. Now that I'm back, the last three months of silence seem to speak for themselves. But unlike some of my fellow bloggers, I had no plans to retire She Who Hesitates is Lost upon my return. It's just been finding stuff that's interesting enough to blog about that's been the problem!Last night I had a

Tonga: A Post-Script

2009-07-24T23:00:00.003+10:00

I just wanted to do a final (? Maybe not!) post on Tonga, now that I've been back for a while - 2 1/2 months, in fact!It's funy some of the things that have changed. I find myself feeling restless to explore more of Australia, but the urge to go overseas is pretty non-existant.I miss the warmth and friendliness of a non-western culture - now, if I smile at someone on the street and they smile

Same shape, different fit...

2009-06-04T21:24:00.005+10:00

Returning to a past life is not something I am used to doing. All my previous adventures - travelling around Oz, going to Europe, even both times I've finished uni - I always move on to the next adventure, whether that be a new city, a new job, another journey. It's always been a new phase, represented by a new situation and circumstances.So coming back to the life I left behind is a whole new

Wine o'clock

2009-05-30T17:54:00.002+10:00

So, here I am, back home in Oz. It's 5:30pm on a Saturday evening, and rather cold outside. I have zero plans for the night, except maybe watching a DVD with my husband. He's currently visiting his mother and sister, so I've settled down with a lovely local sauvignon blanc and a spot of goat's cheese: some goat's camembert, and some chevre.OH MY FREAKIN' GOD, could this scene BE any different to

Home again, home again...

2009-05-14T17:51:00.003+10:00

Being back in Oz for good feels strange by it's very normalcy. It feels like things should be different, but they are so much the same that it's easy to believe that none of the last 10 months even happened.I am finding it a bit difficult to talk to people about my experience - when they ask "How was Tonga?" I feel obliged to just say "Yeah, good..." and then let them talk about their own stuff.

Last post from Tonga...

2009-05-05T14:34:00.004+10:00

To conclude my blogging in Tonga, I'd like to leave you with my list of all the things I'll miss about this place. I daresay a few more will crop up once I get home.Things I will Miss about Tonga:* Riding everywhere on my bike (yes, I know I will have the best intentions of doing this once I get home, but give me an early start on a mid-winter morning in Canberra, and I doubt it very much!)* The

My Big Fat Tongan Wedding!

2009-05-02T07:50:00.006+10:00

Last night was my official farewell from work, and though they'd told me they were planning "something special", I had NO IDEA it was going to be a Tongan wedding ceremony for me and Clinton!The effort the staff went to was tremendous - we had a beautifully decorated arch under a tree, and all the chairs were decorated with greenery and ribbons. Clinton and I were dressed in traditional ta'ovala

Things I WON'T miss about Tonga!

2009-04-23T11:45:00.003+10:00

In starting my list of Things I Won't Miss and Things I Will Miss I discovered that there's far more of the latter than the former! But for today, I'm trying to think positive about going home...two weeks today until I leave! So here's the list of Things I Won't Miss About Tonga - stay tuned for all the good stuff that I will miss coming soon!Things I won’t miss:*The toilet paper ration in the

Isa got MARRIED!

2009-04-20T08:40:00.004+10:00

When I first started at the TVB last July I had a few days cross-over with the previous AYAD, and was able to attend her farewell feast put on by work. During his speech, the Director remarked that the AYAD had come to the TVB single, and it was a shame she was leaving it that way as well. Well, not so me! I never thought when I started this AYAD experience that one of the big changes I would

Seriously fed up with ASSHOLES!

2009-03-30T10:19:00.005+11:00

Ok, so the last few weeks in Tonga have been fantastic - knowing that I'm leaving soon has made me want to savour every bit of this place that I can... except ONE particular aspect, that has given me the raging SHITS.Upon my return from Australia, my flatmate had pretty much moved her Tongan boyfriend into our house, without even asking me if this was ok. Whatever, I'm leaving in a matter of

TongAMAZING!

2009-03-23T08:36:00.003+11:00

(BTW< I didn't make up that title myself, some official in Tonga decided to spend a bazillion dollars hiring Satchi & Satchi to come up with a snappy title for the nation, and that's what they got!)You know, some of the most incredible things I've experienced in Tonga have been the most unexpected things. Sure, you expect that the locals will be lovely, and the beaches pristine, and the awesome

Recent Eruptions

2009-03-18T08:42:00.006+11:00

Because Tonga is located on the edge of a tectonic plate it does get frequent earthquakes, though they are usually tremore and nothing to worry about. However, Tonga is also located on what is known as the Pacific Ring of Fire (cool name, I know!), which is basically a massive area of submarine volcanic activity.A couple of days ago, a new eruption occured from the Hunga caldera, which has not

3 weeks to go...

2009-03-12T09:02:00.004+11:00

It's 3 weeks to go until I will no longer apart from Clinton. I won't be finishing up in Tonga until May, but after the wedding we'll be returning to Tonga together for 3 1/2 weeks, and won't need to be parted again.The psychological advantage that knowing this gives to this last small gap of time is so marked - it's like now I can just sit back and relax, and just enjoy what I have here. It

Cultural Differences

2009-03-07T10:10:00.003+11:00

You know how in Australia, if someone tells you that you look like you've lost weight it's a compliment?Here in Tonga it's a sign of concern - because surely no-one would WILLINGLY lose weight, so obviously you must have been sick or something!I find this small difference a very refreshing change!

Consume and dispose

2009-02-25T09:31:00.002+11:00

One thing I have really noticed since being back is how consumption-oriented Australians are. We are trained from a very early age to buy buy buy, and simultaneously to dispose of anything that is broken, or out of fashion by more than 2 seconds. Where have all the electrical repair shops gone? They've been wiped out as people move from a "get it fixed" mentality to a "let's just buy a new one"

Home Sick

2009-02-24T10:57:00.002+11:00

On 12 February I flew into Australia to surprise Clinton for his birthday on what was meant to be a quick, 10-day visit. Well, you know what they say - if you want to make the Gods laugh, tell them your plans! Four days after I arrived I came down with the symptoms of dengue - aching bones, constant low-grade fever, eyeballs painful in my head, diarhea and a headache. Oh joy!So here I am, still

Making Peace

2009-02-10T08:24:00.005+11:00

I know I haven't blogged in a while (well for me, anyway!), and it's been an interesting couple of weeks. Not just because my mother is here for a visit and we have managed to go 8 days so far without killing each other (which of course is a miracle in itself, especially when we had to share a bed for 5 nights!), but because somehow, somewhere along the way, I seem to have made my peace with

Outside a Foreign Culture

2009-01-29T10:09:00.004+11:00

The longer I stay in Tonga the more I feel my own foreign-ness.The first three months, I did what every other person on holidays does - I "fell in love with the place!" Does that sound familiar? A superficial understanding of the culture, the novelty and excitement of The New, it all contributed to the love I felt for Tonga.As the months since then have passed, and my understanding of the

Still Wondering...

2009-01-22T07:39:00.007+11:00

On Mu'a, the ancient capital city of Tonga in the 14th century: "Some...sites are in a pitiful state of dilapidation. The site is utilised as an extension of the backyard to store rubbish, build a pit latrine etc. ... [It is necessary to] devise a program of public education, in order to stop the use of the langi (ancient royal burial tombs) and other sites as welcomed extensions of the backyards

Sometimes I Wonder Why I'm Here...

2009-01-16T12:31:00.002+11:00

I am currently flicking through Appendix no.2 of a report written 22 years ago, by a consultant archaeologist on the "Improvements of Tourist Attractions, Notably Historic and Archaeological Sites Within The Kingdom of Tonga". This report is an excellent appraisal of the work needed to, well, as the title suggests, to improve (while also preserving) some of the unique heritage of Tonga.The author

My Little Gecko

2009-01-14T10:04:00.005+11:00

There's a little gecko who lives in my room. When I'm in bed reading, he comes and hangs out on the wall next to my bed, snapping up any bugs that are attracted by the light.Lately, he's been joined by a second gecko. I don't know if it's a female, or a young one, but it's smaller and more timid than My Little Gecko. I haven't been able to get any pics of her yet, she's too fast. But sometimes

Coming Back to Earth

2009-01-09T08:54:00.003+11:00

So, I'm back in the Tong. And I really DON'T want to be here right now.Having seen my home, and now returned here, I feel so deeply all that I have given up to be here. And the lack of work CONTINUES. I have set myself the goal of getting it sorted by the end of the month. If, in fact, there is no work for me, or if I am expected to wait an inordinately long time in the expectation of work, I am

Home in time for Christmas

2008-12-26T10:36:00.003+11:00

I am home for Christmas. It's awesome!At first it was really very surreal - seeing my little house, after 169 days of absence and so much water passing under the metaphorical bridge, was BIZARRE. But it very quickly became divine to be home. The dog, the chickens, the rabbit. The young natives that have all grown a few centimetres since I've been away, and my rose bushes and fruit trees which I'm

Tonga the Trusting

2008-12-16T14:22:00.003+11:00

Yesterday I went to one of the good shops (ie it occasionally sells soy milk, and if you're lucky brown rice), which is near my new house, thinking I'd quickly grab a few things before they closed for the day.I only had fifty pa'anga on me, but I got so excited by the brown rice and Vita Weats that my groceries ended up costing more. Instead of telling me to buy only what I could afford or piss

Some more stuff I like about Tonga:Going off The Wall

2008-12-10T10:12:00.004+11:00

I do need to occasionally remind myself about the things I enjoy about being in Tonga. One of the biggies is snorkelling. And the fact that you don't have to travel far to get good snorkelling. In all honesty, though I've seen an excellent assortment of fish in Vava'u and even on Fafa Island resort, the best coral variety has definitely been right here in Nuku'alofa, off The Wall in Sopu.The pics

The Soy-Milk Epiphany

2008-11-28T10:36:00.003+11:00

Last night I had a most vivid dream.In the dream, Clinton (my partner) asked me to come home, and on a whim I said “sure!”. But as soon as I arrived back in Sydney, I realised how badly I wanted to go back to Tonga. It felt like I’d lost something irretrievable.I spent the rest of the dream in tears, alternately explaining to Clinton how much I just wanted to get back, and trying to contact my

The Great "First Three Months" Lie

2008-11-18T09:45:00.003+11:00

You know how they told us the first three months would be the hardest? Well, I beg to differ [utters hollow laugh].First, I spend two awesome weeks in Tonga with Clinton, then leave behind my family, friends, and fiancee after a whirlwind 4 days in Australia (who's dumb-arse idea was it to go home for just 4 days??). I returned to Tonga feeling slightly sad, and seeing Clinton's imprint on

Another Bump on the AYAD Road

2008-11-13T09:16:00.000+11:00

Well, so much for the “home sweet home” of prior posts – yesterday we got kicked out of our place in Longolongo, and by the end of the day we were in temporary accommodation in a whole new house.Dramas? You bet! It’s kind of a long story, suffice to say that our landlord has a chip on his shoulder about the fact that my flatmate is dating Tongan guy. They are now officially engaged, so it’s all

Love as an AYAD

2008-11-11T09:55:00.004+11:00

So the day finally arrived – the day my partner Clinton flew in to Tonga to visit me for two blissful weeks. After 109 days apart (which is a really long time!) we finally got to see each other for real and not just on Skype. Tonga is a very Christian country, and public displays of affection between couples is considered inappropriate. Before going out to the airport I spent some time musing

The Tonga Top 10

2008-10-23T08:50:00.010+11:00

As we have passed the milestones of both the 3 month mark and the 100-days mark, I thought I’d do a bit of a compilation of my ten favourite experiences in Tonga thus far. I don’t know about having them in an exact order, let’s just say that it’s my Top 10 and leave it at that!10. Swimming off the Wall in Nuku’alofaThis was my first swim in Tongan waters, and involved walking about 800m across a

Health - a Post-Script

2008-10-15T09:12:00.004+11:00

Well, it turns out that the abomination on my fingertip was not merely eczema, it was INFECTED eczema. This is actually good news, because it means that with anti-biotics it will get better.This inspires me to give you a run-down of all the health issues I have enjoyed since arriving here fourteen and a half weeks ago!1. Bronchial chest infection2. Urinary Tract Infection3. Eye infection4.

Health (or the lack thereof)

2008-10-14T08:39:00.003+11:00

WARNING: The following post contains gross images of actual physical maladies! Do not read if you are sickened by the sight of pulpy eczema fingers!One thing about living in a developing country is the issue of health. And I’m not talking about the exotic diseases you might catch, or the traveller’s diarrhoea, which let’s face it, is just a matter of time. No, I’m talking about the regular little

Whale Swim

2008-10-02T12:48:00.003+10:00

On the first day of October I had the privilege to swim with Humpback whales, in their natural habitat. It was AMAZING, truly one of the most memorable occasions of my life, and I hope that it will stay with me forever.Very soon after we left Neiafu and reached the open water we came across an adolescent male, who was singing. I was fortunate enough to get into the water, and hear his song from

In Praise of Vava'u

2008-09-26T08:53:00.002+10:00

So here I am in a true tropical island paradise – the island of Vava’u, capital of the Vava’u group of islands, about 300km north of Tongatapu. So far I am hard pressed to think of ANY way in which Tongatapu is better than Vava’u. I have half a mind to ask to be transferred here, for at least 3 months of my project...to get a better idea of the heritage and culture of Vava’u...or something! Here,

2008-09-10T08:45:00.003+10:00

On Saturday I moved house for the third time since arriving in Tonga two months ago. This time, I think it truly is a case of 'third time lucky', and possibly a bit of 'good things come to those who wait', along with any other cliches which ultimately mean - I think my domestic troubles are OVER!It hasn't been easy. We were expected by our In-Country Manager to have formed into ‘house groups’ the

Images of Paradise

2008-09-08T11:17:00.004+10:00

The Tongan Spider Incident

2008-09-01T06:38:00.006+10:00

The spider known as "Bruce", first seen on my front verandah a fortnight agoAnyone who knows me knows how I feel about spiders. It's no secret - they make me shudder. Not so much the ones that hang in their webs, or even poisonous spiders. Redbacks don't phase me, and neither do the large, spindly Golden Orb Weavers. No, my pet arachnid hate is HUNTSMANS. Not only are they large, but they roam

Work

2008-08-29T08:56:00.004+10:00

Hard at work at the Tonga Visitors Bureau (With apologies to anyone who may have already read a version of this post on the AYAD Intake 22 Facebook Group!)My work situation seems to be pretty good - our office even has Air Conditioning, which gets turned on in the Very Hot Days (yes I know it' still only August, which is technically still winter in Tonga!).My posse, the girls at the TVB - L to R

Engaged

2008-08-18T06:29:00.003+10:00

On Wednesday 13 August, Clinton and I decided to get engaged.There were no bended knees, no public gestures, just him in Canberra and me in Tonga, on the phone. Like our whole relationship, it was honest and free of contrivance. It was the best possible way I could have imagined it! Besides, how many people can say they've become engaged over the phone while in Tonga? And how many people's

Signs

2008-08-11T06:59:00.007+10:00

Tonga is a country of no street numbers, or even street names. You literally direct people using landmarks such as churches, trees, and/or the colour of buildings (ie, "take the first right before the Mormon college, past the green house on your right, and turn left at the pig..."). This leads to a very different way of perceiving spatial arrangements. For Tongans, they always know where they are

Tonga Bound!

2008-05-28T16:00:00.002+10:00

I know the tag-line of this Blog is something about "Navigating and photographing my way around the world", and I am quite aware that there hasn't been much global action going on, but never fear, all that is about to change!On Monday 7 July I fly to Tonga as an Australian Youth Ambassador for Development (AYAD), to take up a position as the Heritage Project Coordinator of the Tongan Visitors

Random. Very Random...

2008-03-10T21:41:00.002+11:00

I am on the border between drunk and hungover. Yes, it might be a Monday night, but it's Canberra Day here in the ACT, and a Public Holiday at that, so bugger off those of you about to tell me off for boozing!We had a house-warming party for our chickens (and their house, created by the most awesome Clinton) this arvy, and I now find myself on the wrong end of a bottle of champagne, with the

2007-11-06T19:42:00.000+11:00

OK, so, the UberPeg&Drew crew had an engagement shindig on the weekend, and I promised to post some pics on the 'ole Blog. Now I know that I am the eldest cousin, and Drew is a full 3 1/2 years younger than my ancient self, but during the occasion it seemed that normally taboo subjects such as when was I going to get married?, and when was I going to have babies? became the topic of the day. Ho

Springtime in Narooma

2007-09-23T21:31:00.002+10:00

It was time for a break - so Isa and Clinton loaded up Moby the Subaru and headed off to Pub Hill Farm in Narooma, the Greatest Holiday Venue Ever for dogs, it turns out. Not wanting Friday to miss out, we chose a dog-friendly B&B, and boy, was it dog-friendly! Friday was able to roam the massive garden at her leisure and in the company of the 4 resident Border Collies. Also present were a

Warm Winter Weekend

2007-07-09T16:19:00.001+10:00

Last week Clinton and I packed up, leaving the rabbit to hold the Estate in our absence, and headed off to Fingal Bay for a couple of days R&R, as well as hoping to get a little bit warm. How warm can it GET in mid-winter, I hear you ask - well, a good deal warmer than it is in Canberra, anyway!Fingal Bay is on the southern side of Port Stephens, and past the tourist mecca of Nelson Bay, so

Turning 29...

2007-07-04T11:59:00.001+10:00

The 3rd of July marked my 29th birthday... it's kind of an age where you wake up feeling like perhaps you should have accomplished a bit more, or at least be in the process of realising all your life's goals...Well, I guess this could turn into some musing about lives half lived, fear of change, all that dark-side stuff that quite frankly I'm not prepared to go into right now because it could all