This week began rather slowly with the Queen celebrating another birthday last Monday. I celebrated her birthday for her with a huge workout and then doing some preparation for the week ahead. I also got some dreadful news that our property had flooded with all the excessive rain. (Lucky our house escaped!) So all in all the Queens birthday celebrations were a little flat.
Tuesday through to Thursday were pretty regular regarding school. However on Wednesday we had an extra exciting day (that is I had lots of fun!). In class the students are doing a module called My Place. For the last couple of weeks they have been researching an animal that comes from their country and on Wednesday we introduced the concept of 'threats' to that animal. Well being ever the environmentalist, I was in my prime. We introduced the idea of plastic bags being bad for sea creatures but especially turtles. For those not in the know, one of the turtles' favourite foods are jellyfish and a plastic bags look like jellyfish in the water. Needless to say they are accidently consumed. Don't worry I didn't just relate my thesis but also told the children all about ghost nets. Then after lunch the rangers from Darwin (Ranger Ally and Ranger Tracey) came into the school and gave a lesson to the Munbirris on being Croc Aware! There were four messages that we were supposed to learn, between being handed crocodile skins and skulls. 1. Crocs are deadly. 2. Crocs are everywhere. 3. Follow all warnings and 4...... shit! I have completely forgotten lesson number 4. So if you never see me again you will know the reason. I didn't concentrate hard enough to be Croc Ware and have probably been eaten by one.
This seems the most appropriate time to bring up my Croc Watch Count. The Count remains at 0. Therefore after 9 weeks of acute observation there are no crocs near Warruwi. (I'll ignore the fact that Annie and Relma saw a 4m one swimming offshore Bottle Rock last weekend).
On Friday, awesome Friday, I had the best experience. Firstly school was cancelled again owing to another funeral. I'll explain about that later, but most importantly Aaron came to Warruwi. He is my first and probably only Guest Blogger. Aaron take it away:
Well what I can I say, thursday afternoon I was at work meeting with a client in sydney and within 18 hours I had packed flight to darwin, a quick stop at the hostel of 3.5 hrs of rest before I was off again on the flight to my destination Warruwi. I must admit it was a strenuous trip but once I hit the ground and saw Lesley it was all worth it. Once I finally got out of Warruwi international airport and through all the busy crowds (five in total) we made our way to the school where Lesley and I went on a little guided tour to see some of the sites and meet some of the locals.
I was genuinely impressed with the community, it is really beautiful up here and i could already understand why Lesley has raved about the place. Once we were a little more settled in I was informed that there was a funeral in the afternoon which we were asked to attend. It was definitely an eye openning experience and all within a few hours of being on the island.
Saturday was a little less intense and started with a walk around the community dropping into the CBD which consists of the art gallery, medical centre, the general store and a round about which apparently no one knows how to use. In the afternoon we went on a bike ride out to bottle rock where we say the western side of the island where we enjoyed the rock pools, we ran into a couple of the local balandas (as I learnt is the word white fella) Trish and Daz who were out to do a bit of fishing which ultimatley was successful for Baz when he caught a giant Queen fish which was about a metre long! In the evening we had a little get together at Trish and Daz's place where I met all the teachers and we sat around the fire.
Today we started early going on the weekly ride out to bottlerock where we left the group and went on out own ride along the great ocean road where we saw dolphins and sea turtles. Our ride was great despite the fact that Lesley happen to get us a little lost and we had to backtrack a little, but I did enjoy it as I got to see a lot of the island. After the ride we were spent and have the relaxed a bit. I have really enjoyed my time here so far and unfortunately it is going by far too quick but school is back tomorrow and I get my first chance to experience a day at Warruwi school and I can't wait.
Well thats all from me at the moment, and I will hand you back to Lesley.
So the plans for the next couple of days are:
Monday: Last day at school with a morning tea in honour of Jen and I. I also have the book Bollygum to give to the Munbirris and a lolly bag for each of them
Tuesday: Morning Athletics Carnival and at 11.45am leave Warruwi. Arrive Darwin about 1pm. Then do whatever
Wednesday: Darwin
Thursday: Pick up hire campervan and then go on a journey through Australia's Top End. Not sure where we are going yet.... The many mysteries of life, but I'm sure Aaron and I will have a good time at any rate.
I will write a blog next Sunday from who knows where with who knows what content.
Till then!
xx
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