First Week in Darwin.....

I think this last week would have been one of my scariest, busiest and most challenging...!!I have survived...and I am back again this week. I have a large folder-about 15cm thick, of Policies and Procedures I have to know intimately. The joys of a government funded job. I think once my head is around all the newness I will be fine.

My apartment is very comfortable, and I travel about 14km north of the city to work, via a 4-6 lane highway...

I have spent the weekend getting my bearings around the city- being a peninsula, and sea on 3 sides, it is slowly making sense. I drive with map on seat beside me.....and haven't yet got lost.

I caught up with some ChCh friends, Lynda and Percy-it was great to see them.They were visiting family.They had checked my blog and were as surprised as I, to find we were here at the same time.We spent some interesting time at a market on Saturday.

I know there two didn't see me.....

This afternoon I went down to the famous Mendil market- just around the corner from where I am living. Many fascinating characters-this fellow was reciting poetry...for hours on end!!!

This is the market area just before dusk.............

I thought there was too much cloud for the famous sunsets.........

but then it turned to this................

I hear via "stuff.co.nz" that NZ is in the grip of a cold spell, I am sorry you can't enjoy my 30' each day. Do keep warm..and take care......

And so its goodbye to Alice.........

Yes it is goodbye to Alice.I have been here nearly 16 months, and have decided it is time to move on. I have very mixed feelings- it is a fantastic place to live and work, and photographically very beautiful. I finished work last week, and have spent this week catching up with friends for coffee, and meals. I leave on Monday to drive the 1700kms to Darwin.I'm hoping to do it in 2 days. I have decided to do some more study, and obtain my CCPM- Certificate of Clinical Proficiency in Mammography. Yes, at the end of the day I will be squashing boobs!!!! I will be working for Breastscreen N.T. based in Darwin. I feel this slight career change will be beneficial for me as there are many openings around Oz, and in NZ for this specialty. Breastscreen are supplying me with an apartment for 8 weeks, and then I may be able to rent it as they won't need locums- I will be it...They are paying for my training, and paying me what I am earning at present. All I need to give back is some time, so will probably be here for 18mths.Next year I will get to travel throughout the Territory covering Breastscreening, so I will be back to Alice.

I have enjoyed getting out this week at sunrise, and sunset doing things I hadn't done while working.

These beautiful ghost gums still have an amazing attraction- the pure white trunks/branches combined with the feathery leaves are magic.

Late light on a ghost gum.......mmm.....Standing looking at this in the late light ,I realised how lucky I am to be here, to be fit/healthy, to be alive, and to have been taught to appreciate the simple things that make up our lives. Photography surely has opened up my world......

This is part of the range West of Alice- just glows with late afternoon sun.And I was lucky to have to bonus of cloud!!! Quite a rare occurrance!!

Even after sundown there is a stark beauty in this place.

I am sure everyone will appreciate my move north to the tropics has not been taken lightly-but I am always up for a challenge.It will be so different living at 11' of latitude, and so close to the sea. Embarking also into a relationship will mean some changes- we will see........

love to you all, take care, and keep warm.I hear the frosts have arrived-I will not miss them.