Day 20 -Perth
Thursday, June 14, 2012 at 06:32AM We are back in civilization, well not that we have ever been out of it, but we have gone from our own little world inside the Land Rover & Trakmaster, to a world where we have neighbors, traffic & other people to deal with.
So the story goes like this. I had work in Perth & we looked at the availability of a caravan park near the city but that was not going to work so we decided just to leave the van at Bunbury & stay in a hotel for a few days. But wait there is more……
Ness used to work in hospitality, hotels & the like…. So she has a lot of friends that still work in hospitality. Ness rang one(Marc) & asked if they had a room for the time that we needed one. Marc then rang his contact in Perth & they said they could do 3 of the 4 nights we needed, but we would have to stay somewhere else on the 1st night (Last night)
Now some of you may not know this but Perth is going crazy when it comes to accommodation, because of the mining boom most hotels run at 100% full & you usually have to book weeks or months ahead. So we rang several places to try & find accommodation just for 1 night.
Eventually found a Quest apartment, they said they only had 1 nights accomodation for the night we needed….Perfect.
But as is usually the case things change…… on the way up to Perth yesterday we had a phone call from the first hotel saying they could now accommodate us for the 4 nights, Ok…you still following me? But we then rang the 2nd hotel where we were booked for only 1 night & asked if we could cancel. As is there right they advised us that because it was less than 24hrs they would have to charge us a cancellation fee of the full room rate! But they also said that they could now have us for the full 4 nights too!
So we then made a snap decision to leave things as they were & stay one night at Quest & the other 3 nights at the other place.
Ok that brings us to today, we stayed at Quest last night in a very new & modern roomy comfortable apartment & checked out this morning, Ness packed the car and we headed to the new place.
When we arrived we were impressed that it was right in the city, but a bit concerned at the pre arranged car parking ($25 a night!) it was under the hotel and the Land Rover only just made it. But the small spaces out the back were impossible to get into, especially for me as I need to get my door open wide to get my chair in & out. We then went up to the room & were a little disappointed that the room was not exactly what we expected….. now I have to say here that this was in no way Marc’s fault, as he has never been to this property. But lets just say that we had more room to move at the quest apartment, and the car parking was much easier for me to get in & out.
Ok so time for another decision…..stay or move back to Quest? We decided that because I had to work tonight, it would be easier if we were at Quest so Ness would not have to come and move the car for me. So a quick call to Quest to see if the room was still available(it was) and we packed the car again and headed back to Quest.
I must mention that the staff at the hotel were fantastic, when we explained our reasons for not staying they were most understanding & did not charge us at all. Marc if you want me to write a feedback letter I am more than happy to, they were great.
So we are now back at Quest & will be here till Sunday. Our day has consisted of driving to a hotel & packing & unpacking the car 4 times!!!!! So much for our planned visit to Kings Park & a walk through the city!
Stupid Questions
They say there is no such thing as a stupid question…. But I beg to differ! I don’t remember if I talked about this on our last trip blog, but as there are new readers ill bring it up again.
You all know that I visit workplaces and tell my story, I tell people how my accident happened and try to give them an idea of what it’s like to get hurt at work (or anywhere really)
But it also gives people the opportunity to ask me questions, a lot of people have never had the opportunity to ask someone in my situation a question.
Over the years I have had everything asked, how do I do this, can you feel that, how does this work, etc etc. but the one question that I get occasionally (only once or twice a year) still confuses me and a guy asked me again today.
He said “Mate if your legs don’t work, why don’t you get them cut off?”
Now I’ve tried to justify the reason someone would ask me that but to this day I just cant. For a start my legs still look “Normal” when I sit on the couch or in the car or even in my wheelchair I am a “Whole” person. And the other thing is if they ever come up with a cure for Spinal Cord Injury I’d be pretty annoyed if I’d had my legs cut off!
I don’t know what people think when they ask me this, maybe it is just that they don’t work so get rid of them mentality.
The other thing that I get often is the “God” issue…. I have people tell me that “If I believe in God I will walk again” I like this because it shows me that some people still have strong beliefs and I feel we are all entitled to believe in whatever we want to believe in. But I don’t believe we should push our beliefs onto others.
That’s my blog for tonight, have a lovely evening. Did any of you see that great game of NRL last night? My team finally won a game after being beaten by Qld last month. Now we just have to win in Qld to wrap up the series…. Go Blues (NSW….Not Carlton!)
Reader’s Responses
Had a couple of messages from long time readers but first time messages.
Campbell….Good to hear from you mate, Annie’s first birthday in September….I’m fighting a battle to keep the black & white demons (Collingwood) away from my daughter. Need your help to sway her over to the Swans & the Red & White….. or ABC (Anything but Collingwood)
Ilsa… Vanessa does not need your encouragement to buy shoes! Good to hear from you too Ils, hope all is going well with you.
Sue F, Emily, Arama & Ilsa all gave me advice on the job I have been offered. Thanks girls, great to know that if Ness ever wants to retire from running our business I have lots of capable business advisors.
Annie’s friends William & Edward gave Annie some advice on Magic Fairy droppings and asked how to get teeth out quicker.
And my sister Heather told everyone what I was leaving her in my will! Thanks Heather now it won’t be a surprise!
Special mention to my Brother in law Brad A, mate it has been a long time coming but it was worth it. Now lets see those whingeing Qld mongrels tell everyone they were robbed! Bring on game 3!
Annie’s Blog
Where am I? I was just getting used to the box on wheels and my comfy cot and then I end up in this place that has this soft stuff on the floor? Wow it is awesome at our place at home we have bricks on our floors & a few rugs, this place has got this soft furry stuff and it is so cool to crawl around on. I love it and I think mum & Dad should get this stuff on the floor at our house.
William my friend wrote and asked how my teeth came through as his are really hurting. William they just came through, I didn’t really have too much trouble with them, mum put this funny tasting stuff on my gums it was called jonbellow or something! Good luck with it.
Hahaha….. Edward was in his pram yesterday and a Magic Flying Fairy dropped magic droppings on his pram….. you are so lucky Edward, did you eat it? If I am lucky enough to get dropped on I’m going to eat it I reckon it will be magic!
Arama told me to keep smiling, it’s hard not to smile when I live with Mum & Dad, you should have seen them arguing with the box on the dash that tells Dad where to drive. It was so funny, Mum was sticking up for the box & Dad was calling it stupid names and saying he was going to Burn it when he gets home…. I don’t think it will last that long!
Good night to everyone.
Love….AnnieInAVan…XXX
Reader Comments (6)
Due to the fact that I am a footy widow, I never thought I would say this but bring on game three AND I am actually going to watch the game for once.
Am a bit gobsmacked about the guy who suggested you might cut off your legs. (I could suggest he cut off his head, that makes more sense to me). We have an American friend, a Vietnam vet, who came back to USA minus both legs. Pretty bloody awful. He's lucky to have a bum. He's an amazing man, has adapted more or less but is anything but happy, though has found a life direction that gives him some purpose and fulfillment, but @@+++%%$$##!!!! to that idiot who you met. I see you are still struggling with the GPS. Toss it. Sorry Bill can't go and watch Dan on Sunday, but he will next time if he can. Not much excitement in D Ck, cold and windy (must be catching) and I have no desire to go further than the front gate. Much prefer staying home ! Hope you do get a chance to visit Kings Park, it's pretty spectacular and has a brilliant Visitors Centre (no shoes though Ness). Happy you sorted out the Quest thingy, nice that the 2nd lot were all okay with it. I'm sure a few days of regrouping will be good for you all. Oh ... Helen and Russell set off a week ago, they are probably up around Menindie Lakes or thereabouts .... not sure of their route after that. North I think. Waving ... xox Sue
If it makes you feel any better James, I went out on my lunch break last week and bought six pairs of shoes in one hit!
Well, two pairs of boots and four pairs of shoes to be exact.
Look, they were a STEAL, it would have been rude not to buy them in the David Jones sale.
Luckily I had just cleared out four bags of clothes and shoes from my wardrobe so had room for them!
Have a great weekend guys.
I am off to Noosa. Stunning weather here at the moment, can't wait.
Lots of love,
Mel
xxxx
OMG! I am so sorry guys, have just heard all about it! Glad they looked after you though...that's the main thing! Nice to know its not so roomy there! Glad I could add a little adventure to the trip for you though!
Will give you a call when I land tomorrow and see if I can make it up to you!
Bloody hell how rude was that guy! I would have said "Mate your head's not working properly so does that mean I should cut out your tongue?"
Some people are so stupid! OK rant over!
Glad your enjoying Quest accommodation! Hope you try and relax and enjoy your time in Perth before you move on again! xxT
Dear Annie,
We would like to say hi and hope you're having a great time. Turns out your mum and dad forgot us and we have only just been told about this little blog.
We will definitely been keeping up with your travels Annie.
Love
Jack and Grace xx