More about Cairns

Here is the desk where I am stationed at Paradise Palms. My title is Personal Assistant and I work for the Real Estate Sales Manager.

This is where I have my free meal each day and it is a beautiful view of rainforest, beach , sea and the greens.

Here are the Greens on a beautiful sunny day. Yes the weather has turned kinder and we have sunny days of 25-26 oC and crisp nights of between 9-12 oC, much too cool for the locals but ok for me. I actually bought a jumper and wore it to work. My excuse is that the air conditioning is chilly.

I dinged my van parking by running into a well camouflaged pole (that's my story and I am sticking to it!) Photos will be uploaded in the next post.

I really love it here. It is so beautiful! Every day when I do the 20 minute drive to and from work, I think of how fortunate I am to see these beautiful vistas every day and to experience the gorgeous climate here.

That said, I have been quite homesick of late. I miss family, my friends, familiarity, the Holdie, socialising with friends (which I don't do much of here), my clothes and things at home and my favourite shops. Give me a call, 'cause I really miss you guys. Thanks to those who have called me. Most times, the timing is perfect - right when I feel down and needing a good chat or laugh. Nobody said it was going to be easy and I was prepared for the hard times. Still, it's not fun when you are in them.

Well all for now,

Love you all lots and lots!

-Andrea

Cairns...I have a job!

Hello! hope this finds you all well. I have a job as a personal assistant to a real estate magnate (yes, I still like saying that). THis is the view from my desk at real estate reception. It is tough! I have done 4 days and I love it, although there is a lot to learn. I work with Danni, the other PA. But she is shy of photos and won't let me take one for my blog site. She reminds me a lot of cousin, Christine in her mannerisms and gestures and we get along brilliantly, which is really important to me.

Inside the clubhouse, looking out. For more photos and a look at the golf course where I work click below:

http://www.paradisepalms.com.au/clubhouse.htm

The weather has been atrocious. I had 3 days of sun when I first arrived and yesterday was the first vitamin D intake I have had since then. The locals complain bitterly about the cold. Some days it only gets to 23oC...no seriously and then everyone breaks out the jumpers. Where I work is air-conditioned and the other day it was 19oC and not much warmer outside...I was cold!

Have been op-shopping to get work clothes, shoes and yes,....jumpers! Photos to come.

Not much more to tell this blog. Will get to an internet cafe next weekend with some more photos.

Cairns

I arrived in Cairns 8 June and have had a great time catching up with friends since. Caught up with my friend Audrey, who has just completed her dive instructors course and had farewell drinks as she was off to exotic Maldives to work!

I went up to Wonga Beach and caught up with cousin Ian and we had a great night. He told hilarious stories about the trouble he and Dad got up to together, it was a special night.

I caught up with old family friend, Cookie and her freinds and family so that was great. I have also caught up with an old friend Kelly who I went to school and uni with, no photos yet, maybe next blog!

The BIG news is that I go a JOB!!!!!!! I am going to be a Personal Assistant to a Real Estate magnate. He has a name but I like saying Real Estate Magnate. I don't know what it means but it has a nice ring to it. Next job is to get a house. Will let you know how things are going in my next blog. It is all just a trial run right now, so Adelaideians, we will have to see what happens.

Next blog will have more details on living in Cairns, so far- wet, wet, wet!

Townsville

On the way to Townsville I got a speeding fine ... first one on the trip! Can't complain..the nice Mr policeman dropped the speed because I was so polite and apologetic so I only lost 1 point and got a small fine.


Had a very special time with Di and her family. Di and I have known each other since I was 14. She is a scream and we had a lot of fun and laughs. Some may remember Di from my 40th at Bohos.



The usual view of ibis from Di's place in Townsville.

Foreground: Kyra and Montana, Diann and Darren's kids, with some friends at dinner.

Di and Darren.

The weather started great on Monday at 29oC, then went downhill rapidly. It poured with rain for days and then yesterday was min. 17, max 19 and 24mm. Adelaide in comparison was 16oC. Last night I slept under 2 sheets and it was 9oC...I didn't get much sleep! It has been 85% humidity some days which impressed me. High for winter I thought.

Off to Cairns right now, so next blog will be from my final destination!

Airlie Beach

Got to Airlie and knew I had arrived up North when I was walking down main street in singlet and shorts at 6.30pm on a warm, balmy evening . Love it!

Did my first henna stall which went down a treat and I made a big profit so I was happy.

I had a fantastic time meeting people and I had a beautiful view of the bay and its boats.

Met some great people in Airlie but after 4 days I needed to move on to Townville.

Rainbow Beach

Rainbow Beach...conjures up images of colour and sunshine right? Try this photo: dark, grey and dreary! Well the sun did come out a couple of times. Unfortunately, I had to wait 4 days for good diving weather. Eventually got to dive Wolf Rock with 40 grey nurse sharks...incredible experience and I recommend it highly as a dive site. It is quite significant in the Grey nurse mating cycle...kinda a nightclub part of the year and a birthing centre for the other part.

Rainbow cliffs.

Spotted santa hangin out at the beach, either that or it was nebucanezzar.

Mandatory surf shots.

Sand blow lookout.

Watched the Rugby union at Rainbow beach pub. Another heart-in-mouth game where I drowned my bottom lip in my beer for the first half when we were down 0-14 to Wales of all teams. Then chewed it through out the second half as we clawed our way back. Wales scored again to be one point ahead in the last 3 minutes and then I thought it was over. One minute into injury time we scored and converted. I was more relieved than overjoyed, not a game to enjoy!

I left Rainbow Beach Wednesday 30 May, straight after my dive and drove and drove. I decided to drive until I felt tired, which ended up being Rocky at 8pm.

Up again early and off to Airlie Beach. I arrived in the afternoon, Thursday 31 May. I stayed at Magnum Backpackers on a site out the back. Earplugs were a must as the noise goes on until 4am on a good night or 6am on a bad night. I will post Airlie as soon as I get my camera cable back from Airlie Global Gossip. Then I get to upload my photos. And you'll find out then how I had dinner with Nicole Kidman and Keith Urban (note: shameless name-dropping zone).

Noosa and surrounds

Ok so I have quite a bit of catching up to do and not much time to do it in. Spent 3 hours of my life wasted at Global Glossip recently trying to do this but they are a waste of space as an internet cafe. So now I am giving it another go somewhere else but I will see how I go on the limited time I have here. Noosa or rather, Cooroy was beautiful. And I got to spend it with a beautiful family (refer photo 1). So what have I done?

• Andy and I watched the origin rugby (or rather I alone in second half, while one very tired mum went to bed). It was highly exciting heart-in-mouth stuff. Am in NRL country now..note to mexicans..that is not National Rifle League.
• had my second lesson at surfing and I was a fair dinkum gidget! (If I do say so myself). I stood up almost every wave and there were tonnes in 2 hours. I was stuffed at the end.
• Had coffee with Andy in Maleny...very pretty! Maleny was nice too.
• Had quality auntie time with Zeke while Stu surfed...atleast that's how Stu sold it to me. Zeke is a regular cowboy in the beach scene and usually eats sand, sprays sunscreen and eats my lip balm. We could play like that for hours.

Stu and Zeke belt out a few acker dacker tunes. More father-son bonding time.

Mist in the mountains.

Potty time with my $1 bargain from the Yandina markets...money well spent.

Hey Zekey boy!

Andy and Zeke at Noosa Main beach.

Yandina Markets.