Almost the weekend again!

It s a warm Thursday here in Mt Isa. 31 deg, compared to last week when it was 24. the the nights and early mornings are much warmer. some cloud around this afternoon, but I don't think it will rain! The week has just flown by. I was expecting to be home on Saturday, however I . may stay on for another week. I will know for sure tomorrow if I am needed for one more week due to unplanned staff leave (maybe) Last night and tonight I am doing the night duty sleepover in the main house where the office is. Just looking after the phone, emergency stuff and locking and opening the gate etc. I finish at 8 am. I do some chores before I leave and have time to read the paper, have coffee and enjoy the early morning. i was told yesterday before i started at 4 pm that there is a resident ghost,his name is charlie and he makes a few noises, turns on lights etc. I didn't see or hear him last night perhaps he wont make an appearance to a white fella!!!

If I am not staying on for another week then i will leave prob on Tuesday depending on flights. I will hopefully catch the other mine tour(above ground) on Sat. If leaving on Tuesday then I intend to take time off on Monday to visit the Flying Doctor Service and Schools on the Air.

It's been very quiet around here and I will have to buy another book if staying on for another week.

I don't have much more news so till next time......

Sunday in Mt Isa

Sat Morning in Mt Isa

Justbefore I went down the mine

Lazy day today - late start to the day I had a good book. The chores are done and it's computer time now, bill paying etc.... The sun isn't shining today, it's overcast an feels a bit cooler. I had a big day yesterday! I went into town in the morning and went to the Tourist Info centre. The above the mine tour was fully booked but I booked into the 1 pm underground tour.It didn't take me too long to walk around the town and do my shopping. I went to the Buffs Club right in town and had coffee and cake then headed over to the info centre to let them know I didn't have closed in shoes. I was told it wasn't a problem as I would get gumboots!

There were 19 of us and we got dressed up in our full gear with hard hats, lamps on the helmet, gumboots etc it was fun! Had photo taken too, I was the only single woman and there was one very young single man, Bill our miner guide insisted in being in our pics (just us two single people)??? He said to me where is your husband? I thought perhaps it was a pre-requisite for going down the mine. I told him I didn't have one. One of the men in the group (all grey nomads) asked if I was travelling alone. I told him I was alone, but not travelling by road - anyway it was a fun tour! very friendly group and two and half hours later i was back on the surface. learnt heaps, which is good for the brain..

The city centre was quiet at 3.45 - I did think about going back to the buffs club for a drink, but decided to go home.

There are no day trips to take which is a bit of a shame as it would have been great to get out in the bush. You can have a tour of the Flying Doctors Centre or Schools on the air, but only during the week which is not so easy for me.

Well that 's about it for now The photo of myself and miner Bill turned out OK. I have had to take a photo of it so that I could post it on here it's a bit blurred but you get the picture.

Till next time.......

Weekend coming up!!

Taken from my backyard!


I will try again with the photos, have only taken 4! Will take some more tomorrow when I head into town. I can hardly believe that its Friday already. The week has flown by. I haven't had much to do. The manager has been off on sick leave for a good part of the week, so at least I have been able to help with the phones etc. It's a great place to work, different, but great!!


Had a funny thing happen today, one of the women in the shelter came to the office to let us know there was a snake i her garden. Rajni who I am working with (has been in Australia a few months and is from India,) checked it out then phoned the Manager who told her to phone somewhere Rajni didn't quite catch who to phone so she phoned the police who said they didn't have anyone to send out. The manager arrived with her daughter and son in law and looked at the snake. The police phoned back to say they were sending someone out to catch it for us. I thanked them and next thing Sherree the managers daughter ran in laughing!! it was a toy snake one of the children had left it in the garden!!! Luckily we managed to stop the police from attending and we hung the snake on the handle of the cupboard. Doesn't sound so funny now.. I was quite excited about the snake, I though it would be something to write about and I often see snakes when I go places... I wanted to have a close look but Rajni didn't want me to go near it!!! LOL I wondered why it had stayed so long in the same place.





Tomorrow I am going to head into town, maybe have a coffee and some lunch... not much else to do. I did think about hiring a car but decided against it.


So not much news from me... The weather is great. I am making sure I get my Vit D intake everyday.


Til. next time......

All's well in Mt Isa!

I wish I could write about all the great places I have seen since i last wrote - but its quiet here in The Isa and my weekend was very quiet. i enjoyed the sun and blue skies, I lazed around,, took time to do some reading, scrap booking and my sudoku, and it's great having the computer.

Work has been very quiet, have been mostly looking after the phone as the Manager has been away. it was so hectic during NAIDOC week (which was the week before I got here) I think the staff needed time to recover. Tomorrow that may change when Marlene get back!

I am enjoying my time here, it's interesting and as always I am learning and experiencing.

So its a short posting this evening.. The photos are taken from my backyard. Can't believe the mine is right here!!

Til next time...
PS No photos..had problem uploading

Greetings from Mt Isa

I arrived safely in Mt Isa on Wednesday evening. Was a long day - Melbourne - Brisbane - Mt Isa. I think I am in the middle of nowhere!!! However the sun is shining, skies are blue and I woke up this morning feeling pretty good.
I can't tell you too much about Mt Isa as I haven't really seen much of it. I am working at a women's refuge and living there too. Just been to shops to get some groceries ands that's about it. Seemed busy in town yesterday afternoon. Seems many work places close early on a Friday and it may have been pay day.
If you don' know where MT Isa is it is near the Queensland/Northern territory border. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mount_Isa,_Queensland - check it out.. I am very close to the mine, can see it from my backyard.
I am sharing the unit with another woman - she is easy going , so that's good!! Accommodation is quite comfortable, no lovely views as in Cairns, but I love seeing the blue sky each morning when I wake up even if it is quite cool. Reminds me of our days in Harare Zimbabwe withe the cool evenings and the lovely warm days. The Bougainvillea plants are magnificent brilliant colours.
No photos as yet.. but it's early days have only just unpacked and got settled.

Till next time....

It's Cold in Melbourne

I have been back for one whole week and it's cold!!! Started my walking again on Thursday, wasn't too bad at 7 am and once I started walking fast I did get warm.
Its great seeing all the family again - the boys are well. Zac & Shelley picked me up from the airport I saw Fergus on Monday, the first day of the school holidays. We headed up to the city to see the Victoria Orchestra at the Recital Centre - a beautiful new arts venue. The concert was wonderful for children. We peeked into the Art Gallery - that may be next holidays.
I collected Poppy my cat on Tuesday, Shelley looked after her, she had a good holiday!!
Seemed to be so much to do when I got home - i felt a little overwhelmed, but the cube shelves have been assembled and are looking good. The washing line has been removed - it was very offensive for my neighbour!! The trees have been cut back thanks to Malcolm. The new bedroom blind has been fitted, There was a hitch with the front awnings, but that should be finished soon - so a good outcome!!! thanks to friends and family for helping.
Not much news, I am babysitting at the moment, Koby is sound asleep so cute all tucked up in his cot.
Had a good night out last night, I hadn't been out for 5 weeks!! so it was great to catch up with friends and listen to theSubstitutes.. Was a good decision to go out rather than moping at home. It turned into a late night as Jill, Gail, Ian and myself went back to John's place for Karaoke!! yes well , Jill and I make a good duo!! Lots of fun...
that's about it for now.. so til next time