Day 8 – Dysart (again)

I’m bored! Have driven around Dysart so many times that I think I know it backwards, there is nothing more to see! Been to the shops, the community centre, driven past the hospital, there is just nothing more to do in Dysart! And we are here for another 5 days!

 (Vanessa here...James might be bored but I very busy catching up on all the things I have been wanting to do for months along with that thing called work!)

 We went for a bike ride today, but left it until a little later in the day..... Big mistake, it was hotter & more humid! Was like riding a bike in a sauna! Why does fitness have to be so hard?

 Have to share something that happened last night during my presentation. There is usually time for people to ask me questions during my training sessions. I usually get questions relating to Sex & other personal issues (C’mon this is the mining industry) but last night one guy asked me “Have you ever thought about getting your legs cut off?” What the!!!... I mean sure my legs don’t work, but why would I cut them off?.... I still get surprised by the way some people think. I can actually feel one of my legs....so the idea of cutting it off is something that just does not appeal to me.

 It rained here today, no wonder everything is so green.... I reckon they had an inch of rain in about 60 minutes. Ness & I played in the puddles.

 I write a monthly newsletter for work, usually I am away by myself on a site visit or at home where I can get a couple of hours quiet time to put all of my thoughts down & send them out to clients. But last night I was in a caravan with Ness! The newsletter normally takes 2 – 3 hours to do, last night it took 5. Have you ever tried to concentrate when someone keeps asking you questions?????

 But speaking of my beautiful wife she made me really proud today. Last night we were told we would have to move the caravan so the garbage truck could get in and pick up a skip that is down the road from where we are parked in the van. Anyhow we hooked the van up (we are getting really quick at this) & moved it to a car park nearby. After the garbage truck had been we decided to move the van back to its spot. Ness said she would go & get it. Now Vanessa has had a bit of experience towing the van forward, but not many chances to reverse it.

 Well I am happy to report that she reversed the van next to the gutter with only a few mm gap, an excellent job Ness well done. I said to her that we will now have to start having competitions to see who does a better job!

 We are going out tonight with some of the management team. I do get to mix with some pretty nice people. It’s funny though the mining industry has a real “Us against Them” mentality. And when I visit a site I spend most of my time with management. In reality I would probably rather spend more time with “The guys”.... after all I used to be one of them. One of the things that Ness & I might look into is ways to break down this mentality. Surely it would help make workplaces communicate better & therefore be safer?

 Talking about dinner you may have noticed that I have not included what we have been eating for a few days? That is because we are staying at the camp & eating at the Mess. Now when I say Mess I guess a lot of you get a mental image of a commercial kitchen with a few benches & seats for the guys & girls to sit at. NO WAY! The mess at this camp is brilliant, firstly the building has a full glass wall that looks out onto the golf course (Yes golf course) the furniture is nice quality tables & chairs, but the choice of food is absolutely amazing! Each night there is a choice of at least 4 – 6 main courses, all accompanied by vegies & freshly cooked sauces. There is a different soup each night & a full salad bar. Deserts galore (I have had green jelly every night this week!) cakes & fruit, Oh and did I mention the icecream fridge? 8 different flavours & a box of cones (or you can fill a plate)

 So this week you will have to just imagine us doing it tough at the camp Mess, next week I’ll send through more of Vanessa’s recipe’s.

 Ok gotta go, have an early start tomorrow (4am) then have to move the van again so they can get a delivery truck in..... Why did they park us there again?

 Till next time Vaarwel

 James