Hi Marlis,
A little bit later than usual, but I had
to sort some stuff out and wasn’t in a good place to sit and write for a while,
but it’s about time I update you on our adventures for the past 2 months. I
hope you’re doing well in the beautiful state of the ACT now that the bush fires
have calmed down a bit. I know they weren’t THAT close to your house, but still…Okay,
hold on, here we go!
NT
trip
We finally got to tick this off our
list, visiting all the states and their capitals! Of course, there’s still so
much more to be seen and do, but still a nice achievement, especially as some Australians
tell us they never really leave their home state. Wow. On the second day of 45
degree temperatures we already decided that we’ll not be living here if we can
help it. And to think this was the dry hot season, the wet warm season must be
a whole different (unpleasant) experience! I’ll not make this into a day-by-day
description, just touching on the highlights in no particular order.
· Darwin
It’s a good enough city to stay for a
few days but really not much to look at, despite the very talented, cool and tall
(some as high as 15 meters) wall paintings and tropical trees. I took a few early
morning walks and went around the city in less than 90 minutes. Without litter
picking, haha, I did not bring my gripper. That being said, it’s nice enough
for a few days, there’s good restaurants and the people are friendly. It also has
the beach nearby, people live outside at night and with 35 degrees at 9.30pm, I
can see why. We stayed for 1 night at the start and 2 nights at the end and then
we had a hotel room on the 21st floor with eagles sailing the air currents
right in front of our window and the whole city laid out beneath us in the
burning sun, pretty good to eat ice cream to in a balmy 22 degree airconned
room. 😊 We did all the
tours, took a few city walks, visited a food festival (Yumi’s idea of course), finally
bought some authentic indigenous art in the last hour before going to the
airport and had a good time at the Royal Flying Doctors museum. I think we’ve
seen everything there is to see, we’ll be back in 10 years. Maybe.
· Boat tours
We made two boat tours. The first one
became a private event, as we were at the end of the season and another couple
had cancelled, fine by us. The guide took his time and we learned a lot about
the native plants, wildlife and even saw a few crocodiles (not the biggest, but
still). There was also a very funny bird (Jesus bird) that had the biggest feet-to-body
ratio in the world. Its feet are so big and its body so light it can literally walk
on water (for a period of time). The next boat tour was a much bigger group and
we saw so many crocs that after a while you start looking for other things, like
snakes, buffalos, feral pigs, all kinds of birds and the landscape is so green
you wouldn’t believe it’s Australia. And so very warm. 32 degrees at 8 in the
morning, pfff.
· Kakadu
Lots of trees and rocks and termite
mounds, that’s Kakadu. The rock art at the historic sites was nothing short of
spectacular and at one place we got to do a bit of rock climbing to have a spectacular
view of the surrounding grass lands. Nothing to taxing, mind you, a busload of 70-year-old
Americans also made the trip up and down😊. It’s easy to
imagine how the indigenous people would consider these places sacred and holy.
Some of the caves and shelters were underneath massive rock overhangs,
completely covered in rock art and you don’t need a big imagination to see how
they would have lived there. It was also interesting to learn that what they
considered ‘bad places’ because people died after being there for a while, were
actually just lead deposits in the water and ground. But let’s not let the
science get in the way of a good spirit story! We slept in a bush bungalow while
we stayed in the park. Not a fan. 45 degrees during the day, 30 at night, see
through walls and the smells of the BBQ next door on everything and we paid a
fortune for it. The restaurant was surprisingly good though.
· Lichtfield National Park
We got to do a fair bit of driving in
just that week (about 1,500km) and a lot of it was in Lichtfield NP. Yumi’s
always really good at finding random little places that have few people and
lots of natural beauty, I just do the driving. We saw a lot of lakes, waterfalls,
wildlife, more termite mounds and some very cool road trains. The longest I saw
was 4 trailers, full of fuel, another tick on the things to spot in the wild!
· Batchelor
We spent one night in Batchelor,
population 300, but they did have a blue miniature (4 meter high) European
castle that some random guy had built when he retired in the 90’s. These weird
things always make me laugh. The main attraction though was the butterfly farm.
Didn’t care much for the butterflies anymore when I found out they had PIGS! And
30 piglets! I think I visited about 6 times in 8 hours, they are so cute, be it
a bit smelly (think: 40 pigs, poop and lots of sun…). They also had goats,
geese, chickens, rabbits, a few snakes and a young croc. Not all in the same pen
of course, but I am sure it’s the most fun you can have in that place.
· Katherine Gorge
Yumi and Gilbert in one canoe, true test
of the marriage vows and my 40th birthday, haha. No, it was actually
pretty good once we agreed that I would do the paddling and Yumi would just
look around. We had to get up early, but with the 90-minute time difference it
felt like normal time for us anyway and then we were brought to the gorge system
and the canoe pick up spot by boat. We were first in the water so had almost no
traffic from people also figuring out how to do this. Some were clearly
experienced and sped off into the distance, giving us large parts of the gorge
to ourselves. We’d packed food and water (a lot) and really enjoyed the experience
of just paddling from spot to spot, get out, look around, get back in and
continue. We even made a stop to swim a bit, which is a bit exciting as you
know there are many, many crocodiles (fresh water and not dangerous) in there
with you 😊.
A week was enough for the Darwin region,
but we realise that we’ve really only seen a small part of the NT and we’ll
still have to go to the Alice and Uluru, but somehow the appeal of looking at a
really big rock in a very empty landscape doesn’t make us run to the travel
agency just yet.
SES
I’ve been very busy with the people in
Orange. We’ve had a few community events with lots of kids and we brought a miniature
truck with lights and sirens and the kids could not get enough of it. The team
and I were a bit over it after 6 hours on day 2, but it’s great to just engage
with the community and give something back for all the support we get. I continue
to make small changes to how the Unit operates as well. For the first time in 9
years they now have a budget and what do you know? We have more money than we
thought because no one simply took the time to figure out what our running cost
were. Well, not on my watch! I also got keys to the Unit, which is pretty cool
because now I can come and go as I please instead of doing the books while I
could be training and everyone wants to use the same computers. I’ve had such
trouble getting the financial year closed off, but it’s all sorted now. Next
year we’ll be done mid-July instead of just last week! A few other members also
want to make some changes so we’re slowly getting things together, making
investments and structuring things a bit more.
As far as jobs go, it’s been pretty
quiet. We had a few windy days and when the rain came down for real last week
there were some floodings but nothing too exciting. In a whole different
category was a call-out about a month ago which was my first ‘event involving a
motor vehicle and casualty’. On an early Monday morning, a pedestrian had for
some reason crossed the highway, was hit by a car and then swept under a truck.
He did not survive and we were called in to provide support in shielding of the
area from press and curious people. Fortunately, most of the body was under the
truck and we didn’t get to see too much. I was very proud of the team and
myself for handling things very professional (we even impressed the police). We
put up plastic sheeting, supported the crime scene people and stood around for
about 3 hours in the middle of the completely closed off M1 (busiest road in Melbourne).
It was a very educational experience to see how it all works and it felt good that
you can at least provide some final dignity to what used to be a person.
Afterwards we got really good support from SES and our own Unit, but all in all
I think it didn’t make too much impact. Yes, we did see the body and some of
the parts, but it’s easier than you might think to just block it out and not
look at it. I always wondered how people could make jokes and discuss things
like what’s for dinner tonight at such scenes, now I know. All things
considered, it’s just a job at the end of the day and you didn’t know that
person, so no need to get all dramatic.
New
neighbour
The weirdest thing happened last week. I
picked Yumi up from work after having been travelling around town for most of
the day and we had to wait for the train at North Melbourne Station. At some point
I look to my left and there’s a lady who has the same bag as I do and happened
to be Amanda Boyd, my team mate from when I was working for the Victorian
Government. We literally shared a desk (she had 75%) and got along really well.
Turns out she’s also moved back to Altona and lives less than 100 meters down
the road since 2 weeks. It’s a small world indeed.
Yumi’s
job developments
Things have finally calmed down for Yumi
after a crazy 12 months with all her projects. Work is calm now, but now the
organisation is in a bit of a state with the new CEO coming in and making some
very necessary changes. Yumi has been working really hard fr the past 2 years to
get a concept off the ground, trying to be a team player and keeping everyone on
board, but from where I am standing it’s really just every woman and man for themselves
at the moment. We’ve had a few of spirited conversations (not too proud of my
behaviour in some…) but as always, we find a way forward and I care more about her
and the great things she does than about being right, even if I sometimes
forget that. This weekend she came to the realisation that she really needs to
forge her own path and stop waiting for everyone else to get with the program.
I am quite conflicted about it. I want her to start her own business as I am
sure she’ll be so very good at it, but she keeps giving them chance after
chance to mess her about. From my business advisory and change experience I
know exactly where the organisation will be in 3-6-9-12 months from now, it’s
super easy to predict because the process is always the same and organisations
do not change that fast. But Yumi being Yumi she needs to do it in her own way,
so we’ll see how that goes and I am sure she’ll make it work somehow and still
enjoy it. But even if she finally decides that this is no longer how she wants
to make a difference, that will be equally good. So, either way, she’ll come
out ahead, just in a very different situation 😊.
Parents house
My parents have moved into their new
house, but it was not without its difficulties. Part of that is them getting
used to being renters when they’d been home owners for the past 30 years, but a
large part is also that the rental organisation seems a bit confused and
disorganised. Just as one example, they thought it would be okay to not have a
kitchen for 5 weeks. Seems like a fairly basic and essential requirement if you
ask me, haha. A few friends of mine and theirs helped them move and I think
that despite the adjustments and difficulties they are enjoying themselves.
They style of the house is very similar to the house Yumi and I live din when
we live din that neighbourhood and we had a very good time. I think they’ll
need a few more months to really settle down and process some of the events of
the past few years but at least they’ve no longer got that really big house to
worry about and care for. Their new furniture, permanent kitchen (they got a
temporary solution now) and rest of their belongings will find its way into the
house and then we hope they’ll really start to feel at home again and can leave
all the drama behind them. My dad’s health has not been great with his leg
acting up, his shingles slowly receding and a floating hernia that gives him a
lot of grief. Sometimes it feels like they just can’t catch a break, but they stay
mostly positive through it all, true legends that they are!
Litter
picking
I am still out and about with my trusty
litter gripper. I have upgraded to a $40 aluminium sturdier one and it’s not
too bad, a bit heavier than my $3 ones, but it also allow me to lift heavier
things and it doesn’t break as easily. I am up to bag 362 by now (just did the
count Saturday) and have about 4 weeks until the end of the year so I am pretty
sure I will be able to get my 12-month 400 bags/1,000kg of litter target. I’ve
got a few areas around town in my sights that will take a whole day to clean up
and I think I’ll bag it all up and then use an app on my phone to get the
council to come and pick it up. Yumi’s not too crazy about one of those areas
as it’s close to the highway, but the strip of grass is about 8 meters wide,
there’s a bike track and another 2 meters between me and the road. I’ll wear my
high-viz vest, should be fine. I’ve learned more about litter still over the
past few weeks and put in two proposals for a more coordinated approach in an initiative
from our council, we’ll see how it goes. There is also an opportunity to lead a
local chapter of street clean-up volunteers once a month, but that sounds too
structured. Then I’d have to show up on a fixed weekend day, lead the group and
somehow that seems more trouble than spending 30 hours a month picking up after
people, haha. Two weekends back I took a left where I normally take a right and
wandered into an area that was clearly a dumping ground. I think there was
about 30 cubic meters of trash and building materials strewn across a 100-meter
creek bed. Who does that?! I informed the council, who are generally very good
following up on the reports (that SnapSendSolve phone app is so my favourite!!)
but I can understand if they keep this one on the back burner for a while ☹.
Goat
people adventures
I’ve been quite busy helping out the
Noble Endeavours people preparing for their growth plans in the Philippines. It’s
all a bit confusing at this stage. I feel they are figuring it out as they go,
which is fine for them of course. They’ve been going it alone for so long that
they can’t move any faster than they can. As always I can see the potential and
want to help but it often feels that they’ll listen and then still do their own
thing in their own way. That generally doesn’t work very well for very long
with me, but so far, I’ve learned a lot about fundraising, goats, social
entrepreneurship and got a lot of validation of my ideas. They’re currently
running a fundraiser trying to raise $20,000. I’ve activated my network of
friends, family and work friends and I am very pleasantly surprised (and
grateful) with their generosity. That $20,000 will buy 200 goats and these
ladies will produce the milk that makes the gelato. The sales from that ice
cream will send 200 kids to school and raise whole families and communities out
of poverty. Last Thursday they made a pitch to a group of investors and got
$75,000 for their efforts to invest in machinery, a commissary and more tools.
Pretty cool. I am not sure where things will go for me with this. I created a
communication, social media and marketing plan for them to think about. I feel
they are struggling to think bigger than themselves as every conversation is
how they would struggle to do it all themselves. Mind you, if this takes off
(and why wouldn’t it, it’s a unique product in a market with no competition),
you’ll be looking at 50-80 farms and not 8 and 1,000 goats instead of 200. That’s
a $10 million operation. They know they need to grow and change, but that’s
hard to do, even if things are great. I’ll get to practice my patience skills a
bit I guess😊.
Volunteer
things
I’ve been doing some extra food runs for
the Salvation Army as their regular pick up person was unavailable. It’s a good
experience every time. People are very friendly and really appreciative as well.
I’ll have to change my approach though. One of the pickups is really close to our
house, but then it takes me 90 minutes to get into the city. Perhaps I’ll do a
10’o clock pick up instead. Last week I had a car full of fruit, vegetables,
yoghurt and some seriously big water melons. Food rescue at its best. On that
mention, I also visited with FareShare two weeks back. This is a social
enterprise that is almost completely volunteer operated. They ‘rescue’ food that
is 2-3 days before expiry from the big supermarkets and industry, then get some
more donations from the public and only have to buy about 1-3 % of what they use
in their 10,000 meals a day. These meals go to…The Salvation Army and other outreach
programs who feed the homeless and poor. I love it when things come full
circle. The FareShare team have recently opened a Brisbane kitchen and for both
their kitchens they have 900 volunteers, with 1,500 waiting to get involved, wow.
That always makes me feel like I have nothing to add, but I am sure there’s
something for me to help with for a little while later. Yumi and I have also
taken up the role of data recorder for the BeachPatrol Altona volunteering we
do. Did you See Harry and Meghan on the beach a few weeks back? That was with
the Beach patrol founders 😊, they’ll get some good promotion value out of that
moment for sure.
Small
things
· New career options: still thinking about what I will
do next and not making a lot of progress. There’s maybe a new short project to
create a document for Yumi’s employer that will bring in some nice money and do
something worthwhile. Not that we really need it, but it will pay for the next
holiday!
·
Hairdresser: I
really need to find a different hairdresser. I hear people travel 30km to just
get a haircut and maybe this was the one thing good about Brunswick, my hairdresser.
I have a very unexciting haircut (you’ve seen it 😊), but ever since we moved, it just doesn’t feel
right. Me and my first world problems, haha.
·
Stolen plants:
will you believe that someone actually stole plants from our front yard. Well,
joke’s on them as we’re renting, but really, who does that?!
· 1 year in Altona: next week we’ll be living here for a
full year and I still love it so much better than silly Brunswick. We were
there last week to have dinner with a friend from the ACT who now lives in the
Netherlands again, but that’s really all it has going for it, a few good
restaurants and my hairdresser😊. We’ll stay in Altona a bit longer we reckon, until
the next big adventure comes along, but for now, loving the beach, the SES are
a good bunch, the many nature reserves, Melbourne is just close enough and
people still greet each other in the streets.
I think that’s me done with the
highlights. Reading it back and knowing that I didn’t even mention some stuff,
it’s been a pretty busy two months. Let’s see what the next two bring. I’ll write
again early January, if we don’t get eaten by great white sharks when we go
cage-diving in 4 weeks. (don’t worry, it’s 99.9%safe!).
Have a nice day
Gilbert
