Hello!
I have been a little slack with writing posts lately, although think I may have made up for it with my extremely witty literary pun!
I haven’t really been in Finke that much at all… after my very short and extraordinarily last minute trip to Melbourne (catalyzed by a series of unfortunate incidents in Finke followed by a free plane trip in a three seater airplane which was more like a roller coaster ride!), I have been staying in Alice, Kulgra Roadhouse, training in Erldunda, softball carnival at Yulara (Ayers Rock) and now back to Finke!
Was weird being back in Melbourne and then back here in such a short period of time, I think that the contrast blew me away a little. I’m now not quite sure where I should be, or what I should be doing for that matter (at least some things don’t change!). At least it was lovely to catch up with a small handful of the very beautiful people, who I think I’d forgottern how lucky I am and how much they make my world turn around…
Coming back I did realise that someone really has to make a film about the Aussie Outbacck Roadhouse… the rough dimonds, the red necks, the working tourists who have forgottern that they once had a destination, the drovers, the road train dirvers… Yep there is definitely a movie in it.
I have definitely seen some strange things in the last fortnight. A man (who somewhat resembled Father Christmas, expect with out the red suit and PG rated personality) asked me if I would like to see his trunk… I of course declined , which went unnoticed and he lifted his top to show a stretched tattoo of an elephant trunk poking out over the top of his stubby shorts. Before even had a chance to recover he rolled up what there was of his shorts to reveal another tattoo. This one was of an arrow pointing up and the messily scrawled words “HEAVEN’S THIS WAY.” This time I had to giggle.
The night proceeded as I have found is usual in a roadhouse, with a strange assortment of creatures getting drunk and having “meaningful conversations” about some weird stuff. Mainly harmless, and I think I have been lucky that the red necks have usually been outweighed by the old timers who have an appreciation for the indigenous people and some weird fatherly protectiveness over young women, which I must say I appreciated!
We then had a fire works show to celebrate Easter, although no one could agree on what actually happened on Easter Saturday in a biblical sense, but it was decided that it should be celebrated with homemade fire works. They were really spectacular. Imagine the sky filled with stars, no lights anywhere and then and explosion of light and colour. It wasn’t until a few of the cans fell over and started shooting along the ground towards the petrol pumps, that it dawned on anyone that a petrol station probably isn’t the safest place for a firework show. Oh well, I live to tell the tale!
I have taken a photo of the sign on the door where we did our Suicide Intervention Training (Erldunda Roadhouse). This was a first for me, and a good reason to close the door!
I think that the pink highlighter really emphasizes the point!
I have also learnt that being vegetarian at a road house in the Northern Territory is as good as fasting… unless of course tomato sauce and bread is appealing!
The softball carnival was fun and I had to keep pinching myself when I looked up to see the beautiful big rock looming on the horizon. There is plenty to be frustrated/scared/lonely about out here, but there is certainly plenty to be amazing/happy/surrounded by wonderful people too. I guess I’ve always loved the extremes!
Back in Finke now… about to reembark on our projects, and get back into softball training (we lost one of our games)… Got to run because I think that the office has been invaded by hyperactive kids, but thinking of everyone.
Shan xox
P.S Can’t get photos uploading thingy to work on my new web browser… but I shall endevour to fix it!
