Three Objectives

Three OBJECTIVES 29^th June 2008

Check out Marta Hospital.

Townsville Show

Bike repairs

I took the short cut to town across the Ross River, utilizing the Weir . The interpretation panel talkes about the Weir being built back in 1908 at a cost of 10,000 pounds as a way to providing irrigation and back up water for the town

Of course there are warnings that it is not a public access and cycling is prohibited. It has a relatively narrow top , with a surface of rough broken concrete approximately 900 wide .

The water level on the up side is to within half a meter . Dark brown deep water . The occasional water Lilly has drifted down. I assume they have established a tap root down into the mud

On my left, down to 7 meters to weeds lilies and a collection of flotsam the odd coconut and plastic bottles and small branches all bought up against the weir by last night winds. I was about mid point, concentrating on keeping my wheels in the cent re of the 900 path when i spotted a movement in amongst the weeds . It moved backwards and down leaving a disturbance in its wake . Too big for a turtle and definitely not a fish . I slowed and went to stop . It was then i mis judged my stopping . I put my right leg out into open space, Nothing there i had gone too far to the right . I collapsed forward onto the handle bar and was able to recover and to regain my balance .

Looking down the face of the weir to see the Lillie's were still rippling from the disappearance of the Crocodile . I would have fallen down on top of him with my back pac full of video camera along with my sandwiches and fluids .A Luck escape for him or her . I re-read the interpretation panel on the other side when i had recovered .

The Freshie , Freshwater crocodile, is a shy creature found only in freshwater inland rivers, swamps and billabongs in northern Australia. Freshie's are mainly active at night foraging for food such as fish, frogs birds, small reptiles and mammals : however they may be seen soaking up suns warmth on rocks and logs along the banks of the Ross River during the winter months. Freshie's should not be confused with the aggressive and more dangerous relative the estuarine crocodile ( crocodilis Porosus) which has a much boarder snout. The Freshie is not aggressive at all, nor considered dangerous if left alone. The female freshie lays about 20 eggs at the end of the dry season. The young are briefly guarded, before being left to fend for themselves. Both species play a vitale role in the health of our fresh and salt water ecosystems.

Bev may be able to get agency work at the Townsville Matre Hospital . I wanted to see its location gauge its size and distance from home . Townsville does have a bus service but it is generally hourly form our suburb, Douglas . We may have to find a simple way for Bev to get the 6km to work. The Marta is a private hospital with a birthing unit along with an accident and emergency department . All modern buildings and closer to the center of Townsville, in Plimlico.

This weekend is show weekend. This held my interest for four hours from 1000 to 1400hrs . I do enjoy seeing all the top class horses , cattle and watched the judging of the Palominos , quarter horse along with the vast array of different horse breeds. A stud from out west, had bought an array of Drought Masters cattle to the show . I stood and watched as they scrubbed, washed and groomed them in preparation for their time in front of the judge. I talked to the stud master who was Ok for me to Video the beasts up close.

The mid day entertainment in the centre was a display of precision driving by a team utilizing Holden v6 Utes . They gave them hell and put on a very good display of close formation driving, all captured on video. Motocross rider also demonstrated their skills over jumps and around a series of obstetricals.

My new bike had developed a persistent clunk in the gears so i went back to the Cycle Shop to have it looked at . The temp had risen to 27 degrees so I was soon up to sweltering as i churned out the kilometers . Repairs took only a few minutes so I set off for home . Needing a drink and a pee i pulled into the BP station. Emptied and filled up with fluid and sat for a while to have the Ice Slush.

I remember putting the back pac with both my cameras and an array of other equipment on top of the GAS Bottle exchange container . Chilled off with a loverly cool drink and put my drink bottle in the Rubbish . I re checked the problem with my bike and set off for home along the cycle track on the north bank of the Ross River .

After 30 minutes when i had pulled over to read another interpretation panel about the bird life. I realized that i had left the back pac at the garage . It was with frustration and anxiety that i retraced my path only to see the bag had gone . The attendant did not have any CCTV on and did not recall seeing any one take it. Bugger how frustrating. I reported my loss to the cops in case some honest person spotted it and handed it in . If not hope they enjoy the videography of my trip to date, until the battery runs out. failing this they may read this Blog and then they could contact me to get the manuals and power cables .

I do wonder what will happen next

Alvin

Beef Jerky

Townsville 26.06.2008

I live two kilometres from my work at Townsville General Hospital. Just too far for me to walk so I bought a new bike with 24 gears. Seems easy to ride and I can now be at work in under 10 minutes. My legs are not used to the repetitive movement yet and I’m going to have to buy extra padding for the saddle as my Chuff is feeling the strain.

Beef Jerky is very expensive. I bought a small amount at $62.00 per Kg. Found a nice book on the Outback in my flatmates library and settled down on the balcony to have a read for a couple of hours. The temp is hovering around 27 degrees and there is a need to keep up fluids. Water is the best, I went into the fridge and spotted the jerky and returned to the novel. As I was absentmindedly chewing on the meat came onto the tough piece. It was well seasoned with pepper and a sweet outer coating of molasses type gunk. I was enjoying it. But the grain was course and strong to break. I twisted and turn trying to pry a lump off. It was then I heard a loud click or pop. It took me a few seconds to realise I had broken one of my next to front teeth. I had root channel work done on it about 25 years ago and it finally succumb to the tension I was exerting. There is a dentist at the hospital complex. His assessment and recommendation is a Post and Crown with an all up cost of $1500.00. Bloody expensive Jerky . I have found an old pair of Nail Clippers near the skip which i have used to cut small manageable lumps of jerky, avoiding the expensive option of rip, tear and pop.

A Cycle trail along both banks of the Ross River is fabulous. The trail is concreted and wide enough to pass with ease. I rode downstream towards the ocean. Four Bridges cross the river, some old some new. From the bridges with my Polaroid glasses I could see a myriad of fish life. Long slender fish slowly drifting in the tide called Razor fish along with some stingrays and herrings. Egrets, Herons, Hawks, and the ever present sulphur cockatoo kept up there chatters from the eucalypt trees. I found my self at the Townsville Museum at opening time. The main feature of the TM is the display around the finding and salvage of articles from the sunken PANDORA which went done off the barrier reef 200 years ago. This was the ship sent out by the British navy to find and return the Mutineers from the Bounty. The captain rounded up a few of the Mutineers and sailors in Tahiti and stuffed them in a Lockup Box on the rear of the ship. PANDORA BOX. I have seen the Marie Rose Henry the 8s ship at South Hampton UK, The Vasa war ship at Stockholm and this presentation is gust as good. Because of the rough seas the relics salvaged were stowed down low in the boat. A vast array of treasures and mementoes of the South Seas were salvaged

This last weekend Townsville was being visited by the Australian Off Shore Racing circuit. 1.5 Million dollar boats, that can reach speeds of 170 kph . I read the interpretation panels which said they utilise 800 lt of fuel each race. There are up to 4 races per day and eight or nine of the big boats in a race. The race circuit is off the strand just along the foreshore near the Town centre. The streets reverberate from the din kicked up from the engines. The noise is accentuated because it is echoed back from the Bluffs under Castle Hill.

My very good news is that my partner is coming over to be with me at the end of next month. We will both do agency nursing for a couple of months then head up to Asia for a look around.

Next weekend is the Townsville Show and Rodeo. I’m keen to get some good buck jump footage for my videography.

I wonder what will happen next

Alvin

Townsville Queensland

Log 3

Townsville 19 June 2008

A birds eye view of Townsville Queensland from 5000 meters shows thin trails north and south with a further trail heading west along the cook river inland to charters Towers 140 km and beyond to Mt Isa . The Bruce Highway, Route 1, being the main highway north to south along the pacific coast North is Cairns a further 350 km and south is McKay 400km

The Coral sea is dotted with a myriad of Islands. The Whitsunday Group is further south about 200 km . Magnetic island is Just off the coast a few km . Cape Cleveland provides a southerly protection jutting out into the Coral sea 15 kms

The Ross rivers meanders on the southern aspect of the city . Several weirs hold the waters making it an ideal environment for the abundant bird life and a vast array of flora a fauna

Townsville Pop 130,000 is the hub for Nth Queensland, An Airforce Military base is to the north of the city and sharing the runway with the Townsville international airport .

Castle Hill, 286 meters, stands proud over the old town and Port , From here I could see the main roads running out like spiders webs for the city center. An other city of Thuringowa is now linked to Townsville and sprawls away to the South West

The Port and Harbour as been developed recently to accommodate pleasure craft and a ferry terminal which service Magnetic Island. Rock and cement have channelled the river mouth into Clevland bay ensuring big coastal traders can safely tie up at the to the commercila / industrial port.

The Old general Hospital which has passed its 'Use buy Date' has been replaced with a Brand new Building on the outskirts of the City near the James Cook University. The Mental health services are attached to this Complex. It is hear that i have a placement as an agency Nurse for the next few months

I flew up from Brisbane on Sunday and made my way to my new accommodation in Riverside gardens. A new area along the north bank of the Ross river. I'm fortunate to have my accommodation sorted by the agency . I'm in a shared arrangement with a Radiographer who also works at the Hospital .

Although the Hospital is about three Km away from my flat and there is a hourly bus service to the gate of the accommodation I can see that i will have to arrange transport to be able to get about . The main shopping centers are about 5 km away and although I have walked the area to orientate it is too far to go shopping on foot .

There is a marked contrast in the security measures taken on the Aussie Sunbus Service to the London Transport service,

The Driver has his money in a tray beside his ticketing machine . Notes in $20.00 and $ 50.00 are on full display to the public. I engaged the driver in my observation and mention that the money would be stolen in London . He then told me of an incident recently where a bloke did grab the money . He had not been successful in his robbery attempt as he had utilized a 'Pass Voucher issued by the Social Welfare Dept with his name on the voucher t to ride on the bus free . The Police were able to pick him up before he has spent the money.

My cunning plan was to buy a scooter which will has entertained me yesterday and today. I have been able to take five different bikes for a trial and charged of in different direction trailing them This has helped the orientation process. One Salesman encouraged me onto a Kawasaki 1100 cc machine . I had no intention of buying a stallion for a simple commuter but I did have my ears flapping as it slipped up to 160 km / Hr in a blink of an eye . It took longer to slow it down to 100 km/h than the bike took to reach the Ton.

Most of the Scooters for sale are generally 'Chinese Replica' have found they don't have the ease comfort and power of the Gillera that I owned to zoom around on, in London. I have now splashed out on a brand new 24 speed push bike , much better for my health and surely better that the Kawasaki stallion.

Bush Turkey, Wallabies, Galahs, Cockatoos and Parakeets past the balcony of the flat as they go about their business, I will organize a Bird feeder in the trees to be able to observe the array of bird life more closely. I has been cold today buy Queensland standards only reaching 27 degrees at 1400hrs . I sit on the baloney in a teeshirt and shorts as i write this log , 17 degrees at present 1800hrs

Tomorrow will be my orientation to my new placement

I wonder what will happen next

Alvin

Brisbane Update

My first couple weeks in Aussie have gone really fast
Attending to Nurse Registration, Engaging an Agency to find work
Getting compliant with Agency requirements
Sitting Modules on Line i.e , Medication , Law, Health and Safety,
Manual handling, Blood products, vena-punture. All finished now and thanks to Bev and Rachel for your help in understanding the formula for Intravenous Drugs and canulation

Not all work related though
Getting orientated to Brisbane , Sunshine Coast and Gold Coast
Have caught up with some old friends.
Don Robinson and his family. Went with Don to deliver Meal On Wheels around Sufferers Paradise. It was a great opportunity to get into the Million Dollar Homes on the Isle of Capri to provide the frail elderly with basic sustenance.
Warren and Liz Stewart. Both well and happy, They are into the caravan lifestyle on their weekends and holidays They planning a trip out to the Races, Birdsville, 1700 Km one way.

Met Michelle's friends from the Finnish community.
Invited to a Scandinavian evening and experienced the Northern European culture.
Each country from Scandinavia has its own society in Brisbane, to help new immigrant adjust to the Aussie way of life. Jyrki , Michelle's friend, sings in his Finnish societies Choir ( Six Pac ). The name indicated to me the groups integration to aussie culture.
Traditional food, Salami, Cheese , and unknown concoctions where available . Various artists performed songs and dances to entertain . It was only 12 months ago the I had travelled through Denmark Norway and Sweden so I was able to relate to the entertainment which reminded me of the spectacular MID SUMMER festival I was luck enough to experience in Sweden.

Attended the Camping and Caravan Show at the Showgrounds . This is Queensland's annual opportunity to see the latest and greatest for the great outdoors . I was impressed with the Camping Trailers used in the Outback, compact and versatile . The Live country music was high grade . I was sitting next to a women who was amazed that i had never heard of the country and western singer performing She told me she was "world famous", in Queensland.

Went to the Caboolture Show & Rodeo, another annual event. I renewed my interest in the animals and horses. Its great to get up close to docile Brahman Bulls that are 6 feet tall in the shoulder. I wandered the stalls which held little interest for me until i came to a display of reptile and snakes. Blue tongue, frill neck , and others i will no doubt get to know their names were in display . The Stall holders were making money by draping pythons around children's necks for a photo opportunity. I watched on, and videoed, in amazement as they wrapped an Diamond Python around a pre crawling babies neck . The child was mortified, realising the situation was life threatening. Mum and Grand mother barracked her name from the sidelines trying to get wee Georgina to change her anxiety and apprehension to "Joy and Ecstasy" for the photo Op. ( Child Abuse )

Cruise up the Brisbane River on Citi Link Ferry . Got on the ferry at my old haunt at Hawthorne . The Ferries have been upgraded to sleek, fast, powerful boat. Off Peak, I was able to travel upriver twenty miles or so return for $4.20. Great value to be able to see the CBD from the water and gauge the developments that have occurred over the last 15 years

Attending to some R & M for my sister at her house, Yard tidy, Car repairs, She has massive palms that shed their fronds at any time of the year and especially after wind and rain . They hang from the Palms in unsightly ribbons . It requires a long ladder a small handsaw and nerves of steel to remove the reluctant few from high up in the palms . Ants have sought their winter resting place in the warm damp folds of the rotting frond bases . Once the cutting and tugging commence the ants move to " whats going on here mode " and clamber up you holding on arm negating you ability to brush them off . I'm pleased they weren't the 'fire ants' which are real nasty biting ants which are reported around SE Queensland .

I now have two agencies offering work opportunities
either Nth Queensland Outback Moranbah CMH or Townsville IPU.

Decision time today.

I wonder what will happen next.

Alvin

Queensland Birds

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