adios Townsville, hola Cairns!
Had my last day at Council on Friday, so I gave the office permission for a two hour lunch break, and Jim et al organised fish and chips across the river on the grass near the maritime museum. it was a perfect sunny and beautiful Townsville day, and a great spot for commemorative photos - check out Castle Hill in the background! then back to the office for some ‘creative filing’ - I didn’t even bother with the shredder, to be honest, I just left everything on my desk. hope Damian doesn’t need to give someone a seat anytime soon..
off to the Brewery for a few drinks after work. I left my camera at home. Kiki2 and I walked all over town looking for dessert, she insisted there was all you can eat pancakes at a certain icecreamery, I didn’t believe her, and refused to go back down the hill, but Joelle has since confirmed it! I’m sorry Kiki2! we so could have been eating pancakes and icecream, and not stumbing around Gregory street in the middle of the night!
anyway, I left The Ville in a surprisingly relaxed and unrushed manner on Saturday afternoon, after a quick final pack, a little breakkie with Kiki2, Sascha and Pam (Sascha’s mum), and a little running around to drop Joelle’s car off to the grandparents (sooo cute. Joelle’s grandmother was in the bath).
Sascha took me to the airport, where we had time for some leasurely last chance mullet watching (saw some beauties) and to run into Scott Pape (the guy is stalking me, I swear), before saying goodbye (we didn’t cry - not even Scott Pape), then I booking my car, wandered through the bookshop to purchase vogue, then slouched onto the tarmac and went flying away.
I am now in Cairns, where the weather is fine, the streets are filled with backpackers and the service is fucking terrible. this town needs some serious help in the customer service sector; people are rude, unhelpful and seem disgruntled to have to take precious time out of their day to take your money, I mean, what do you think they are? customer service representatives or something???? I do generalise; the girl at Budget who gave me my little getz (see pic), and the sweetness and light chicks at the Swiss Bakery for coffee, and the dudes at Apple shop have all been swell. I felt like giving them tips for actually being courteous, as well as doing their jobs. don’t get me started on the accommodation people! someone could make a lot of money just by having good staff in this town….
ah, and the uni course is sweet, I am SOOO critical of website flaws already..
see all you sydney-siders in 4 sleeps! xxx
July 17th, 2007 at 7:18 pm
I can not believe, that the kind of last one from us left the Ville, now. This is so crazy. I am happy you didn’t leave in a rush and didn’t cry. It will be always in our hearts and we can meet in 10 years for some revival !
I agree Cairns needs some help with service, its not good! You would be perfect for this. If you can think of some business, I would join.
First of all, you should try to find some service in Cairns and relax, there is a Thai massage place, the Lilliput cafe(great omlette) and some super Italian on , I think Abbott street, towards the hospital, take 4 cheese pasta…mhhhhmm!!
Second, there is Cairns central and Myres, shop till you drop. Maybe little Oskar is still available?! Do you notice, that I would love to be with you in Cairns right now!!
Have Fun in the lad back tropical QLD before going to Sydney!
Ciao
July 18th, 2007 at 9:19 am
Urgent message to Zoe pending her imminent arrival STOP
Tom and Ben are suffering from a dangerous infectious tropical illness called Tour fever STOP
We are Dangerously low on vital supplies - In my case, Veggies, In Toms case Liquid Tomveggies (Beer) have been surviving on frozen chips, sausages and tap water -STOP
Please bring medicines (to avoid scurvy) and much needed motivation to get us to go shopping (I suggest nagging) STOP
We don’t even pay rego STOP
Port Engine is on fire, I’m losing power to the main driveshaft, heading for shallow waters, tell my wife… hello… STOP
July 20th, 2007 at 6:42 pm
Ben: nagging on the way STOP
kiki: yeah, it would be cool if you were here! cairns is a lot less fun without friends.. although I have made some hostel friends, it’s not quite the same!
I have two malaysian ladies who are always in the kitchen cooking/eating and we talk food several times every day, and I had my three boys (2 scots 1 german) - roommates for a few days, we went out for food on their last night.. I really miss them! sad, eh? I’m looking forward to getting to sydney now. I think my chest is going to collapse, but looking forward to getting there!
July 20th, 2007 at 6:58 pm
just to clarify: there’s something wrong with my chest/diaphram/lungs - I think from all the coughing. I am not in danger of chest collapse from, say, my sadness at losing my roomates or the heft of my ample bosom, as considerable as those may be