Happy New Year to everyone. This internet shop I am using is closed tomorrow so I am posting today. Hope everyone has a good one, and that you enjoy whatever you are doing.
Sydney's weather has at last got better and we have had sunshine since Boxing Day. As a result I have made the most of it and got onto the beaches - Bondi, Manly and Coogee, my favourite. At Manly I did a long walk around the headland, with beautiful views and lots of wildlife and flowers to look at (GT you would have enjoyed that!), but of course I injured my left leg quite badly, with too much strain of walking on it and it still hurts real bad 3 days later and I can hardly walk on it properly. GRRR - so annoying as it stops me doing more things now. Weelll, I will just have to lie on a beach again won't I!!
Going to watch the world famous Sydney New Year's Eve Fireworks tonight. Can't wait - as this is what I came for. Will report back on that in a couple of days.
Off for some more sunshine - in the Botanic Gardens, overlooking the Harbour Bridge and Opera House - wonderful
See you soon
Sunday, 30 December 2007
Monday, 24 December 2007
Happy Christmas
Happy Christmas to everyone who is reading my blog!!
Sydney today is CLOUDY - would you believe it! After 2 days of lovely sunny, cloudless weather, it has gone UK-weather again, but at least it is warm - shorts and thin top weather, rather than winter woollies.
No, it is not BBQ on the beach, but as the beach is 5 mins away from where I am staying up at Wyong I will go down there later and play in the rollers!!
More later. TTFN
Published at 11.00am 25th Dec, so 12 midnight for the UK readers!!!)
Sydney today is CLOUDY - would you believe it! After 2 days of lovely sunny, cloudless weather, it has gone UK-weather again, but at least it is warm - shorts and thin top weather, rather than winter woollies.
No, it is not BBQ on the beach, but as the beach is 5 mins away from where I am staying up at Wyong I will go down there later and play in the rollers!!
More later. TTFN
Published at 11.00am 25th Dec, so 12 midnight for the UK readers!!!)
Friday, 21 December 2007
SUN!
Sun, sun, sun
Blue Sky
At last, after 5 days of unremitting cloud and lots of rain and humidity, the sun came out today. Blue sky, high wispy clouds, and HOT.
So....I went to the beach. No surprise there, as that is what I do when the sun comes out at home. Went to Coogee (as recommended by Sally - thanks) and thoroughly enjoyed my day. Walked to the rocks at the left hand end and did my version of rock climbing. Also got pics of the huge plumes of spray and waves that come over the rocks and close up pics of crabs as they scuttled away from the water and under the massive rocks. Then walked on the cliff top and got abstract pics of the sandstone formations and designs within the rocks - lovely.
Back in the city and it is really windy ahead of thunderstorms coming in. Grrr, why can't we have more than one day of decent weather. Going up to family tomorrow till after Xmas so I will update you when I get back
Blue Sky
At last, after 5 days of unremitting cloud and lots of rain and humidity, the sun came out today. Blue sky, high wispy clouds, and HOT.
So....I went to the beach. No surprise there, as that is what I do when the sun comes out at home. Went to Coogee (as recommended by Sally - thanks) and thoroughly enjoyed my day. Walked to the rocks at the left hand end and did my version of rock climbing. Also got pics of the huge plumes of spray and waves that come over the rocks and close up pics of crabs as they scuttled away from the water and under the massive rocks. Then walked on the cliff top and got abstract pics of the sandstone formations and designs within the rocks - lovely.
Back in the city and it is really windy ahead of thunderstorms coming in. Grrr, why can't we have more than one day of decent weather. Going up to family tomorrow till after Xmas so I will update you when I get back
Wednesday, 19 December 2007
Sydney update
4 days in Sydney and have done a lot - as promised I have walked my little socks off (and now can't put my left foot down to walk far as it hurts too much - yeouch!)
Anyhow:
Monday: I met a friend who also has TCS and it was interesting talking to her about her experiences of medics, not being taken seriously (sounds familiar from my early days of discovery that I had a TC), walking and pain problems - yes we all have them, even though sometimes it looks like we are ok. She and her sister kindly took me up to the Northern beaches and coastline in a car, and it was nice getting out of the city and seeing more of the local countryside. I may try to hire a car after Xmas and get out of the city under my own steam.
The Opera House: mixed feelings about it. From a distance, yes it looks amazing, and when I took the pics, the angles, and design IS fascinating. However, it is 60s concrete, inside the entry place it is like a municipal car park, and very dark. from the outside I think it would look better in the evening, with the lights on it. I will report on that later in the week! The Harbour Bridge is a feat of engineering, and I got good pics of the metal work as the ferry went under it yesterday. I am not walking up the span on the Bridge Climb though as it costs about $250!!!
Went up river to Parramatta yesterday - one of the first places to be settled after Sydney. Very interesting tour round the oldest house in Australia, and there is a place in the town called Brislington. The river cat was excellent and quite cheap for the distances (equiv. 3.35pounds for an hour's ride).
Went up into the Blue Mountains today on a trip with Oztrails (very good, small numbers in a small bus) and saw the Three Sisters Rock formation, Wentworth Falls, had a ride on a cable car at an angle of 52deg! above a temperate rainforest, which was in turn at the bottom of the valley which had been mined for coal, and saw kangaroos in the wild - cute. However I will be working with them at the Warrawong Wildlie Sanctuary outside Adelaide, so that will be more interesting and up close.
Just got back into town from that and went into the Botanic Gardens on the walk back up to the hotel - my horticultural and photographic interests came together and I spent an hour or so photographing beautiful and unusual flowers that we don't have in the UK. (I need another camera card now :))
Weather in Sydney is still unsettled. I think you in the UK are having more sun than us at the moment. However when it does come out it is HOT - once the clouds go away it will be great (let's keep hoping).
OK, another update soon. Time for dinner. It might be Japanese tonight - Wagamamas is just up the road
Speak soon
Anyhow:
Monday: I met a friend who also has TCS and it was interesting talking to her about her experiences of medics, not being taken seriously (sounds familiar from my early days of discovery that I had a TC), walking and pain problems - yes we all have them, even though sometimes it looks like we are ok. She and her sister kindly took me up to the Northern beaches and coastline in a car, and it was nice getting out of the city and seeing more of the local countryside. I may try to hire a car after Xmas and get out of the city under my own steam.
The Opera House: mixed feelings about it. From a distance, yes it looks amazing, and when I took the pics, the angles, and design IS fascinating. However, it is 60s concrete, inside the entry place it is like a municipal car park, and very dark. from the outside I think it would look better in the evening, with the lights on it. I will report on that later in the week! The Harbour Bridge is a feat of engineering, and I got good pics of the metal work as the ferry went under it yesterday. I am not walking up the span on the Bridge Climb though as it costs about $250!!!
Went up river to Parramatta yesterday - one of the first places to be settled after Sydney. Very interesting tour round the oldest house in Australia, and there is a place in the town called Brislington. The river cat was excellent and quite cheap for the distances (equiv. 3.35pounds for an hour's ride).
Went up into the Blue Mountains today on a trip with Oztrails (very good, small numbers in a small bus) and saw the Three Sisters Rock formation, Wentworth Falls, had a ride on a cable car at an angle of 52deg! above a temperate rainforest, which was in turn at the bottom of the valley which had been mined for coal, and saw kangaroos in the wild - cute. However I will be working with them at the Warrawong Wildlie Sanctuary outside Adelaide, so that will be more interesting and up close.
Just got back into town from that and went into the Botanic Gardens on the walk back up to the hotel - my horticultural and photographic interests came together and I spent an hour or so photographing beautiful and unusual flowers that we don't have in the UK. (I need another camera card now :))
Weather in Sydney is still unsettled. I think you in the UK are having more sun than us at the moment. However when it does come out it is HOT - once the clouds go away it will be great (let's keep hoping).
OK, another update soon. Time for dinner. It might be Japanese tonight - Wagamamas is just up the road
Speak soon
Monday, 17 December 2007
Sydney
In Sydney now at the Y Hotel, Wentworth Avenue. nice place, cheap but not tacky. Only a short time left on the internet cafe so only a quick entry today
Day of arrival was like England in the Wintertime - pouring rain, cold, windy YUK. However has cleared up today and sunshine and showers. Did want to go back to sunny WA yesterday, but can't so have to stay here.
Managed to see the Opera House and the Bridge - and want to explore more around the area. Lots to do and see, as long as the rain stays away. Met another lady with TCS today and she and her sister took me around the Northern Beaches - lovely scenery and lots of bays and headlands to explore.
OK, off for some dins today. Will write more when I have the time on the PC
Day of arrival was like England in the Wintertime - pouring rain, cold, windy YUK. However has cleared up today and sunshine and showers. Did want to go back to sunny WA yesterday, but can't so have to stay here.
Managed to see the Opera House and the Bridge - and want to explore more around the area. Lots to do and see, as long as the rain stays away. Met another lady with TCS today and she and her sister took me around the Northern Beaches - lovely scenery and lots of bays and headlands to explore.
OK, off for some dins today. Will write more when I have the time on the PC
Thursday, 13 December 2007
Weeks 2 & 3 updates
Be warned - this is a long post, but divided into day sections!
OK, feel a bit better today so can update the blog before I go to Sydney.
Monday 3rd Dec - Thursday 13th
Last week was a trip up the entire length of WA from Perth to Exmouth, with a company called Western Exposure (www.westernexposure.com.au). They were part of Trek America and having done a week's trip in the US with the latter I knew the week would be good.
Well, it went from good to excellent by the end of the week. There was a lot of driving all week, due to the huge distances between anywhere in WA. However, the first day's drive was lightened by us coming across a bounding red roo, and a shingleback lizard just lying on the road. Gary, the co-driver picked it up and we could get a good look at it, rather than being an exhibit in a zoo, say.
The first day, we reached the Pinnacles - a moonscape of sand and the sandstone and calcite "stalactites" rising up out of the sand. In the afternoon we went sandboarding outside Geraldton. The dunes were a creamy coloured yellow (others were blinding white due to the high levels of titanium in them), and our dunes were about 50m high and 75-80deg slope! There was also a howling wind blowing off the top of them, and the sand shifted in blocks like snow does in an avalanche, so I found it very hard to clamber up the side of the dune with the board, and then nearly got blown off the top even before I had slid down. Got up there at last and I shuffled forward on the board, braced my feet on the strip of wood, and then wheeeeeee, all the way down!!! Such great fun. The funny downside of this activity was that every part of me was covered with sand and even found it in my underwear!
Tuesday 4th: early start at 5.15 (this is meant to be a holiday?!?) However, we got to the Murchison Gorge just with the sun rising over the desert into a clear blue sky and wild kangaroos were bounding off to their homes and shade for the day. We hiked right into the bottom of the gorge, the river almost dry, but the scenery and red rocks were stunning. I was OK at climbing and on the way down, but of course my left foot packed up on me on the way back up and I was in horrendous pain by the time I got back to the bus. (ouch!).
After a lot of driving north again, in the afternoon we had short walks to the Stromatolites in Hamelin Pool, Shark Bay. Fascinating, although they don't do much - just filter oxygen and existed right at the start of life on earth - incredible. If you want a good description of what they do, read Bill Bryson's book "Down Under". Another stop was Shell Beach where all of it is made up of half-moon shaped cochina shells - about 5 metres deep and about 5 miles long and 1/2 mile wide. Beautiful, and one benefit was that despite the wind, we didn't get blasted with sand!! Moved onto Denham YHA for the night - nice place.
In the evening, Tammie (the driver) took us to an open air spa. The guy who owns the land has tapped a natural HOT mineralised spring, and capped it with a spa pool. So there we were - about 15 people in a spa pool under the clear Southern Skies, looking at the stars ..... and seeing Orion upside down and back to front - weird!
Wednesday 5th: "feeding time at the zoo". No, not our group of travellers, but feeding the dolphins at Monkey Mia. They were beautiful animals - about 6-7 females come in every day, and a real bonus was that one of them had a baby with her, about 3 weeks old, which played and splashed around, slapping its tail on the water, while the adults were being fed. Spectators are picked at random to feed the dolphins the fish, and I got picked to do so - a great view of the dolphin close up (and all those teeth!). For the rest of the morning I joined an Aboriginal Cultural tour - Capes the Nanda (the name of his group) guy took us around his land and showed us how to identify animal tracks (such as roos, echindas, snakes, a kangaroo mouse), use and taste the native plants and how to build shelters and cook. A fascinating but all too short insight into their culture.
Afternoon: VERY long drive up to Coral Bay, now with only 6 of us in the bus as most left at Monkey Mia to go back south. Ningaloo Backpackers, very nice and clean. At midnight, we sat talking on the sand and again watched the skies and shooting stars over the bay.
Thursday 6th: the start of the best 2 days of the week. Thursday was a dream of a day. I went snorkelling with manta rays at Coral Bay - yes, true!!!! It was such an opportunity not to be missed. Child-size snorkelling gear (mask and flippers - the biggest feet I will ever have!!), and the first dive was a bit of a disappointment as the rays were spooked by too many people in the water at the same time and shot away from our swimming group, but on the 2nd dive, we got THREE all around us at the same time + feeder fish on their undersides. They were beautiful creatures about 4 metres wide - black with white spots on their backs, then pure white on their undersides, a huge oval shaped mouth sieving plankton through enormous gills, and the triangular/diamond shape of the bodies, just barrel-rolling over and over in the azure blue sea. One came straight at me - the huge mouth about 1.5 metres wide!!! Absolutely wonderful experience. In the afternoon of the day we then went snorkelling over the Ningaloo Reef coral and it was stunning - different shapes, colours, fish, textures etc.
Friday 8th we were in Exmouth, right at the top of the LHS of WA, and 4 of us went drift-snorkelling on Turquoise Beach. This means wading into the reef area (with size 20 feet/flippers) with a strong rip tide pulling us sideways, and then letting the current pull us along to the end of the beach. The coral was not as good as on Thursday, but the challenge was the rip tide and my strong swimming came in rather handy!! Then a long walk, a la Baywatch, back to the others, along pure white sand, with an azure blue sea, and under a cloudless blue sky.
Saturday 9th: 0500 start! but we made good travelling time to Northampton for our farm-stay. It had a pool and so I got it but it was colder than the snorkelling water on Thursday and Friday! The farm is suffering from drought and so has gone into tourism, but still they are having a really bad time of trying to raise crops and animals.
Sunday 10th: another early-ish start (0700) and we visited Greenough Wildlife Park on the way back to Perth. The pythons there are beautiful and I have pictures of me with a LONG one draped round my neck, as well as holding baby ones. They are lovely creatures, and not at all scary.
This week: weather very changeable: very hot Monday, oppressively humid Tuesday (like a wet blanket being held over your head), clearer yesterday and today. Unfortunately I had a huge pain flare up on Tuesday and couldn't do anything, and then came down with a cold later in the day and felt really weak and wibbly. I guess all the travelling and different environments was going to take its toll sometime. Better today though, but still tired.
OK, next blog will be from Sydney. I go there Saturday until 3rd January. I hope internet access will be more frequent so can make the blog updates shorter!
See you soon
OK, feel a bit better today so can update the blog before I go to Sydney.
Monday 3rd Dec - Thursday 13th
Last week was a trip up the entire length of WA from Perth to Exmouth, with a company called Western Exposure (www.westernexposure.com.au). They were part of Trek America and having done a week's trip in the US with the latter I knew the week would be good.
Well, it went from good to excellent by the end of the week. There was a lot of driving all week, due to the huge distances between anywhere in WA. However, the first day's drive was lightened by us coming across a bounding red roo, and a shingleback lizard just lying on the road. Gary, the co-driver picked it up and we could get a good look at it, rather than being an exhibit in a zoo, say.
The first day, we reached the Pinnacles - a moonscape of sand and the sandstone and calcite "stalactites" rising up out of the sand. In the afternoon we went sandboarding outside Geraldton. The dunes were a creamy coloured yellow (others were blinding white due to the high levels of titanium in them), and our dunes were about 50m high and 75-80deg slope! There was also a howling wind blowing off the top of them, and the sand shifted in blocks like snow does in an avalanche, so I found it very hard to clamber up the side of the dune with the board, and then nearly got blown off the top even before I had slid down. Got up there at last and I shuffled forward on the board, braced my feet on the strip of wood, and then wheeeeeee, all the way down!!! Such great fun. The funny downside of this activity was that every part of me was covered with sand and even found it in my underwear!
Tuesday 4th: early start at 5.15 (this is meant to be a holiday?!?) However, we got to the Murchison Gorge just with the sun rising over the desert into a clear blue sky and wild kangaroos were bounding off to their homes and shade for the day. We hiked right into the bottom of the gorge, the river almost dry, but the scenery and red rocks were stunning. I was OK at climbing and on the way down, but of course my left foot packed up on me on the way back up and I was in horrendous pain by the time I got back to the bus. (ouch!).
After a lot of driving north again, in the afternoon we had short walks to the Stromatolites in Hamelin Pool, Shark Bay. Fascinating, although they don't do much - just filter oxygen and existed right at the start of life on earth - incredible. If you want a good description of what they do, read Bill Bryson's book "Down Under". Another stop was Shell Beach where all of it is made up of half-moon shaped cochina shells - about 5 metres deep and about 5 miles long and 1/2 mile wide. Beautiful, and one benefit was that despite the wind, we didn't get blasted with sand!! Moved onto Denham YHA for the night - nice place.
In the evening, Tammie (the driver) took us to an open air spa. The guy who owns the land has tapped a natural HOT mineralised spring, and capped it with a spa pool. So there we were - about 15 people in a spa pool under the clear Southern Skies, looking at the stars ..... and seeing Orion upside down and back to front - weird!
Wednesday 5th: "feeding time at the zoo". No, not our group of travellers, but feeding the dolphins at Monkey Mia. They were beautiful animals - about 6-7 females come in every day, and a real bonus was that one of them had a baby with her, about 3 weeks old, which played and splashed around, slapping its tail on the water, while the adults were being fed. Spectators are picked at random to feed the dolphins the fish, and I got picked to do so - a great view of the dolphin close up (and all those teeth!). For the rest of the morning I joined an Aboriginal Cultural tour - Capes the Nanda (the name of his group) guy took us around his land and showed us how to identify animal tracks (such as roos, echindas, snakes, a kangaroo mouse), use and taste the native plants and how to build shelters and cook. A fascinating but all too short insight into their culture.
Afternoon: VERY long drive up to Coral Bay, now with only 6 of us in the bus as most left at Monkey Mia to go back south. Ningaloo Backpackers, very nice and clean. At midnight, we sat talking on the sand and again watched the skies and shooting stars over the bay.
Thursday 6th: the start of the best 2 days of the week. Thursday was a dream of a day. I went snorkelling with manta rays at Coral Bay - yes, true!!!! It was such an opportunity not to be missed. Child-size snorkelling gear (mask and flippers - the biggest feet I will ever have!!), and the first dive was a bit of a disappointment as the rays were spooked by too many people in the water at the same time and shot away from our swimming group, but on the 2nd dive, we got THREE all around us at the same time + feeder fish on their undersides. They were beautiful creatures about 4 metres wide - black with white spots on their backs, then pure white on their undersides, a huge oval shaped mouth sieving plankton through enormous gills, and the triangular/diamond shape of the bodies, just barrel-rolling over and over in the azure blue sea. One came straight at me - the huge mouth about 1.5 metres wide!!! Absolutely wonderful experience. In the afternoon of the day we then went snorkelling over the Ningaloo Reef coral and it was stunning - different shapes, colours, fish, textures etc.
Friday 8th we were in Exmouth, right at the top of the LHS of WA, and 4 of us went drift-snorkelling on Turquoise Beach. This means wading into the reef area (with size 20 feet/flippers) with a strong rip tide pulling us sideways, and then letting the current pull us along to the end of the beach. The coral was not as good as on Thursday, but the challenge was the rip tide and my strong swimming came in rather handy!! Then a long walk, a la Baywatch, back to the others, along pure white sand, with an azure blue sea, and under a cloudless blue sky.
Saturday 9th: 0500 start! but we made good travelling time to Northampton for our farm-stay. It had a pool and so I got it but it was colder than the snorkelling water on Thursday and Friday! The farm is suffering from drought and so has gone into tourism, but still they are having a really bad time of trying to raise crops and animals.
Sunday 10th: another early-ish start (0700) and we visited Greenough Wildlife Park on the way back to Perth. The pythons there are beautiful and I have pictures of me with a LONG one draped round my neck, as well as holding baby ones. They are lovely creatures, and not at all scary.
This week: weather very changeable: very hot Monday, oppressively humid Tuesday (like a wet blanket being held over your head), clearer yesterday and today. Unfortunately I had a huge pain flare up on Tuesday and couldn't do anything, and then came down with a cold later in the day and felt really weak and wibbly. I guess all the travelling and different environments was going to take its toll sometime. Better today though, but still tired.
OK, next blog will be from Sydney. I go there Saturday until 3rd January. I hope internet access will be more frequent so can make the blog updates shorter!
See you soon
Wednesday, 12 December 2007
no update yet
Sorry for the lack of updates since the end of Nov. After I got back from the week up to Exmouth (3550kms) I had a huge pain flare-up earlier this week, and now have a stinking cold, so don't have the energy to write anything. Hopefully will be able to do a full update once I get to Sydney.
Bye for now
Bye for now
Thursday, 29 November 2007
Perth and WA
Hello, from my first blog in Australia
I have only been here a week and it seems like an age, as I have done and seen so much
Got here last Thursday afternoon, after 17.5 hours of travelling. For anyone who wants to come to Oz, use Qantas - they are brilliant, such high quality customer service and for someone who has mobililty issues especially when flying, they could not have been better (they are even better than Virgin and United!).
To leave cold sunny London and to get via hot humid Singapore to VERY hot dry Perth 17.5 hours later was a bit of a shock to the system. Apparently this has been their hottest November in years. In Perth Friday it got up to 37degs C - I didn't mind as I slept until midday Friday!!!
Friday afternoon: Fremantle. What a lovely little place. Full of old buildings, one storey high, painted all different bright colours, narrow streets, cafe culture. "Old" churches in the English style of steeples, balconied houses (like in New Orleans) and then the first view of the Indian Ocean at the port, into which my cousins came in 1970. A nice touch was that as we left the quayside, a tall ship sailed out on a training voyage - kinda reminded me of the sailing and immigration history of the place.
Sunday: went up country to Bindoon to see other cousins. Countryside very brown and dry, white bark on trees, palms, blackboy trees which look like they have a very large shaggy hat on the top of a short stumpy trunk. Bindoon is SMALL - and most probably a farming community - it seems a long way from anywhere, but is only 1.5 hours from Perth
Monday: Picked up hire car. Own wheels at last, freedom of the open road, where they also drive on the left and so I don't have to "mirror-drive" as in the USA!! Headed south on the freeway (no traffic Qs!). Stopped at Busselton and walked 1km out on the jetty. Very windy, wooden slats on the walkway, deep blue/green water below, didn't want to fall in or lose the cameras. Lots of photo opportunities. Full on sunshine and VERY hot. Stayed the night at Harwoods Cottages - a bit expensive but such luxury. Well a girl has to have a bit of luxury sometime! (as the rest of the aocomodation is in YHAs!)
Tuesday: Cape Naturaliste lighthouse - small size, bright red door, facing the Indian Ocean. Fascinating history, very dangerous job for the keepers. Unfortunately didn't see any whales although this is peak season for them. Had lunch on Bunker Bay beach, fresh mango, fresh bananas. Dug feet into deep soft white sand, paddled in the water, it was actually warm! PM: went to Ngilgi Cave (pron: Nilgi). Amazing rock formations and acoustics, hard work climbing up and down the rock and wooden steps in the stifling, humid atmosphere down there, but worth the visit. Spent the night at Augusta Baywatch YHA: paid for a dorm room, got a room to myself for $21 - can't be bad. Very comfortable.
Wednesday: up early to another sunny day. Went to Cape Leeuwin lighthouse - boring compared with the other one. But also visited the Petrified Waterwheel, facing directly south, which has been turned to stone over the years. Lovely setting, I was the only one there (again!). Wednesday pm: LONG drive to Pemberton and Northcliffe, and down to D'Entrecasteaux cliffs. Never seen any cliffs like them - they are limestone, eroded into lacy formations, very holey - hard to describe, but with the backdrop of the deep blue ocean and cloudless sky, they were beautiful. Of course I got assailed by flies walking on the clifftop, but the strong wind helped to keep them away.
Saw a sign to Salmon Beach. Was the ONLY person on a beach 3 miles long and about half-mile wide. The sand squeaked under my feet,was deep and white, and the rollers and surf threw themselves onto the beach, one after another, one into another, swirling round and round. I walked westwards to 3 bits of eroded cliff stuck into the beach, and stayed there for the whole afternoon- sunbathing, getting blasted by sands in the strong winds, and then playing in the waves - getting chased up and down the beach, being swept off my feet, taking photos. It was FUN and that has been lacking for a long time. The sun poured down, the insects buzzed in the vegetation, and the birds whirled overhead - and remember I had this all to myself!!!!
Wednesday night: Pemberton YHA - a complete dump. The least said the best. I got out as soon as I could Thursday am.
Thursday: Long drive to Tree Tops Walk. Terrifying 40 metre (not 40 ft as I told Col!) walkways above the Tingle Trees forest. Birds eye view interesting, but I found the boardwalk among the roots and undergrowth to be more interesting. The roots grow out and then hollow out as the trees grow. I could stand in one root space and the top was towering about 3 ft above me.
Long drive to Williams Bay (heading east all the time). Unfortunately the weather had deteriorated to a cloudy and HUMID day and so the colors of the bay were muted, but the rock formations (esp in Elephant Cove) were incredible. Granite masses, eroded in onion-ring erosion patterns, colored deep reds, browns and oranges, huge masses of rock which could be easily walked on, and explored right to the edge of the ocean. The weather made the swell of the sea and waves higher and I could kinda imagine what it would be like on a stormy day.
Last bit of driving to Albany (pronounced Al-bany and not Awl-bany). Very sweet old town - the first place settled in WA. Old buildings, a bit like one's image of Wild West towns in the USA. Bayview YHA -highly recommended, old building, well appointed, run privately and therefore looked after.
Late pm: went to see The Gap (25m sheer drop from top to bottom) and the Natural Bridge - again masses of granite, but in blocks this time. Apparently these rocks can be exactly matched to some in the north coast of Antarctica - part of old Gondwanaland and split due to continental drift (a bit of geomorphology lesson for you there!) The scenery is mind-blowingly beautiful - grey, pale coloured granite, deep blue and green sea, surf crashing onto the rocks, spume flying everywhere, booming of the water as it is forced between the cliffs of The Gap and the swooshing of the spume/bubbles/surf as it hits the rocks at ehd butt end of The Gap. Walked out to right the edge of the drop and wow - the views were stunning. Huge masses of cliffs - never seen anything like it. With the setting sun in the SW sky, and the haze due to the spray I felt very lucky to see this - and yes, once again I was the only one there!
Friday morning: it's raining :(, with a little bit of blue sky coming over :). Plans uncertain for today, as I am due up in the Stirling Ranges mountains tonight. Might stick around town for a while, and then mosey on up there (only about 50 miles to drive). Back to Perth via Wave Rock and Hippoes Yawn tomorrow, and so ends my first week in WA.
BTW: I have also become an Auntie too, baby boy born the day I got here. Everything going well.
See you next week after my trip north to Exmouth.
GT: I will email as soon as I can.
Col: text me
Bye for now
I have only been here a week and it seems like an age, as I have done and seen so much
Got here last Thursday afternoon, after 17.5 hours of travelling. For anyone who wants to come to Oz, use Qantas - they are brilliant, such high quality customer service and for someone who has mobililty issues especially when flying, they could not have been better (they are even better than Virgin and United!).
To leave cold sunny London and to get via hot humid Singapore to VERY hot dry Perth 17.5 hours later was a bit of a shock to the system. Apparently this has been their hottest November in years. In Perth Friday it got up to 37degs C - I didn't mind as I slept until midday Friday!!!
Friday afternoon: Fremantle. What a lovely little place. Full of old buildings, one storey high, painted all different bright colours, narrow streets, cafe culture. "Old" churches in the English style of steeples, balconied houses (like in New Orleans) and then the first view of the Indian Ocean at the port, into which my cousins came in 1970. A nice touch was that as we left the quayside, a tall ship sailed out on a training voyage - kinda reminded me of the sailing and immigration history of the place.
Sunday: went up country to Bindoon to see other cousins. Countryside very brown and dry, white bark on trees, palms, blackboy trees which look like they have a very large shaggy hat on the top of a short stumpy trunk. Bindoon is SMALL - and most probably a farming community - it seems a long way from anywhere, but is only 1.5 hours from Perth
Monday: Picked up hire car. Own wheels at last, freedom of the open road, where they also drive on the left and so I don't have to "mirror-drive" as in the USA!! Headed south on the freeway (no traffic Qs!). Stopped at Busselton and walked 1km out on the jetty. Very windy, wooden slats on the walkway, deep blue/green water below, didn't want to fall in or lose the cameras. Lots of photo opportunities. Full on sunshine and VERY hot. Stayed the night at Harwoods Cottages - a bit expensive but such luxury. Well a girl has to have a bit of luxury sometime! (as the rest of the aocomodation is in YHAs!)
Tuesday: Cape Naturaliste lighthouse - small size, bright red door, facing the Indian Ocean. Fascinating history, very dangerous job for the keepers. Unfortunately didn't see any whales although this is peak season for them. Had lunch on Bunker Bay beach, fresh mango, fresh bananas. Dug feet into deep soft white sand, paddled in the water, it was actually warm! PM: went to Ngilgi Cave (pron: Nilgi). Amazing rock formations and acoustics, hard work climbing up and down the rock and wooden steps in the stifling, humid atmosphere down there, but worth the visit. Spent the night at Augusta Baywatch YHA: paid for a dorm room, got a room to myself for $21 - can't be bad. Very comfortable.
Wednesday: up early to another sunny day. Went to Cape Leeuwin lighthouse - boring compared with the other one. But also visited the Petrified Waterwheel, facing directly south, which has been turned to stone over the years. Lovely setting, I was the only one there (again!). Wednesday pm: LONG drive to Pemberton and Northcliffe, and down to D'Entrecasteaux cliffs. Never seen any cliffs like them - they are limestone, eroded into lacy formations, very holey - hard to describe, but with the backdrop of the deep blue ocean and cloudless sky, they were beautiful. Of course I got assailed by flies walking on the clifftop, but the strong wind helped to keep them away.
Saw a sign to Salmon Beach. Was the ONLY person on a beach 3 miles long and about half-mile wide. The sand squeaked under my feet,was deep and white, and the rollers and surf threw themselves onto the beach, one after another, one into another, swirling round and round. I walked westwards to 3 bits of eroded cliff stuck into the beach, and stayed there for the whole afternoon- sunbathing, getting blasted by sands in the strong winds, and then playing in the waves - getting chased up and down the beach, being swept off my feet, taking photos. It was FUN and that has been lacking for a long time. The sun poured down, the insects buzzed in the vegetation, and the birds whirled overhead - and remember I had this all to myself!!!!
Wednesday night: Pemberton YHA - a complete dump. The least said the best. I got out as soon as I could Thursday am.
Thursday: Long drive to Tree Tops Walk. Terrifying 40 metre (not 40 ft as I told Col!) walkways above the Tingle Trees forest. Birds eye view interesting, but I found the boardwalk among the roots and undergrowth to be more interesting. The roots grow out and then hollow out as the trees grow. I could stand in one root space and the top was towering about 3 ft above me.
Long drive to Williams Bay (heading east all the time). Unfortunately the weather had deteriorated to a cloudy and HUMID day and so the colors of the bay were muted, but the rock formations (esp in Elephant Cove) were incredible. Granite masses, eroded in onion-ring erosion patterns, colored deep reds, browns and oranges, huge masses of rock which could be easily walked on, and explored right to the edge of the ocean. The weather made the swell of the sea and waves higher and I could kinda imagine what it would be like on a stormy day.
Last bit of driving to Albany (pronounced Al-bany and not Awl-bany). Very sweet old town - the first place settled in WA. Old buildings, a bit like one's image of Wild West towns in the USA. Bayview YHA -highly recommended, old building, well appointed, run privately and therefore looked after.
Late pm: went to see The Gap (25m sheer drop from top to bottom) and the Natural Bridge - again masses of granite, but in blocks this time. Apparently these rocks can be exactly matched to some in the north coast of Antarctica - part of old Gondwanaland and split due to continental drift (a bit of geomorphology lesson for you there!) The scenery is mind-blowingly beautiful - grey, pale coloured granite, deep blue and green sea, surf crashing onto the rocks, spume flying everywhere, booming of the water as it is forced between the cliffs of The Gap and the swooshing of the spume/bubbles/surf as it hits the rocks at ehd butt end of The Gap. Walked out to right the edge of the drop and wow - the views were stunning. Huge masses of cliffs - never seen anything like it. With the setting sun in the SW sky, and the haze due to the spray I felt very lucky to see this - and yes, once again I was the only one there!
Friday morning: it's raining :(, with a little bit of blue sky coming over :). Plans uncertain for today, as I am due up in the Stirling Ranges mountains tonight. Might stick around town for a while, and then mosey on up there (only about 50 miles to drive). Back to Perth via Wave Rock and Hippoes Yawn tomorrow, and so ends my first week in WA.
BTW: I have also become an Auntie too, baby boy born the day I got here. Everything going well.
See you next week after my trip north to Exmouth.
GT: I will email as soon as I can.
Col: text me
Bye for now
Saturday, 17 November 2007
Leaving work
I have just left both my places of work.
I would just like to thank each and every one of you for your best wishes, cards and gifts. I will miss you all, but will be back next year refreshed and ready to go
I would just like to thank each and every one of you for your best wishes, cards and gifts. I will miss you all, but will be back next year refreshed and ready to go
Explore. Dream. Discover
To quote Mark Twain, brilliant American writer:
Twenty years from now, you will be more disappointed by the things that you didn't do than by the ones you did do.
So throw off the bowlines. Sail away from the safe harbor. Catch the trade winds in your sails
Explore
Dream
Discover
....and that is exactly what I intend to do!!!
Twenty years from now, you will be more disappointed by the things that you didn't do than by the ones you did do.
So throw off the bowlines. Sail away from the safe harbor. Catch the trade winds in your sails
Explore
Dream
Discover
....and that is exactly what I intend to do!!!
Thursday, 15 November 2007
Blog re-opened
Dear everyone
I have been persuaded to reopen my blog as my travels begin next week.
I look forward to recording my experiences here and hope that you enjoy reading them
I have been persuaded to reopen my blog as my travels begin next week.
I look forward to recording my experiences here and hope that you enjoy reading them
Wednesday, 7 November 2007
Bye
Due to various reasons there will be no more blog on my career break.
Email me if required and I will endeavour to reply when possible
Email me if required and I will endeavour to reply when possible
Tuesday, 6 November 2007
India visa
As I am going to India (March-April) I have to have a visa for entry. Due to bureaucracy this is only valid for 6 months from the date of issue so I had to get it yesterday
OMG - what a lot of worry and time taken over this. I had been sent a newspaper cutting indicating that as postal applications had been stopped, all visa applications have to be done in person. There were warnings that people were q'ing all night, but still not getting a visa for travel the next day etc etc....
So .... Monday I got up at 4.45 a.m. to get the 5.30 train. Got to India House in the Aldwych, London at 7.30 and already the queue was about 500-strong - my heart sank as I walked along it, past the Indian flag to well beyond the central entrance of the imposing 19thC building, and joined the end of the Q. Even 10 minutes later, when I looked back, at least 30 people had joined the Q. To each other, we expressed doubt that we would get a visa today. The line shuffled forward a few paces every so often, I think as people left the Q, and I got colder and colder - the rising sun was not on that side of the building and the air temperature was about 4deg C! At last the doors opened at 8.30 and the line moved quickly. It split into 2, one for visas and one for Indian passport applicants.
At the bottom of the steps, officials were giving out Q cards. Mine was #626, but a kind lady gave me her spare ticket #581 later, and I was told to come back at 11.00. Two hours, and a long Starbucks coffee later (to warm me up) I decided to go back (rather than wait till 11.00). With no checking of ID or my Q-number, I was just waved through, into the tiniest basement (about 30m x 25m) , all old wood panels, high wooden counters, scuffed flooring, a bedlam of noise and foreign tongues.
There was no-one there to explain what to do, but by talking to both British and Indian people, I worked out we had to watch the number ticker, the associated counter number and then leap forward to ensure that your number was not missed and the official would go onto another person! I sat down when the numbers were at 280!
I watched the officials - one was a miserable guy, around 35-ish, full of his own importance and shouting and gesticulating to the poor applicants on our side of the glass, rejecting their forms if anything was wrong, rejecting official paperwork if it suited him, and sending the applicant on their way to the enquiries counter (a tiny 2ft square hatch around which at least 10 people crowded at one time). The other female official at counter 4 was quiet, and just would not engage in conversation - just did her job, and it must have hurt to crack her face into a smile. I got her at 12.30 pm and the actual processing of the form took about 2 minutes! All that waiting and worry for 2 minutes work! But this was not the end of it.
My passport was taken away and whisked into a back room somewhere. I then had to go along to Window 7 and stand, crushed by many people much taller than me, waiting for the passport to come back again. The young, very pretty girl behind the glass spoke into a microphone to call out numbers totally at random, according to how quickly the passport had had its visa attached to it. So we went from 626 to 230 to 524 to ... 581 at last
While waiting there, I heard behind me a very posh voice "oh I can't believe how disorganised this all is, it's a total disgrace, something should be done". Someone turned round to her and said "This is India - it will be much the same when you get there" and I agreed that anyone travelling to India (and even doing the preparations) should have an open mind on it and not expect services like we are used to.
Anyhow, only a 10 minute wait and my number 581 was called - yeeeaaahhh I had got the visa. A computerised page stuck into the passport, with a round green stamp, which gets me in and out for 6 months on multiple entries. I was so relieved .... and really tired! It was now 12.50 and I extricated myself from the basement and out into the fresh air.
Such is Indian bureaucracy .... anticipating the visit is exciting and I can't wait to get going.
OMG - what a lot of worry and time taken over this. I had been sent a newspaper cutting indicating that as postal applications had been stopped, all visa applications have to be done in person. There were warnings that people were q'ing all night, but still not getting a visa for travel the next day etc etc....
So .... Monday I got up at 4.45 a.m. to get the 5.30 train. Got to India House in the Aldwych, London at 7.30 and already the queue was about 500-strong - my heart sank as I walked along it, past the Indian flag to well beyond the central entrance of the imposing 19thC building, and joined the end of the Q. Even 10 minutes later, when I looked back, at least 30 people had joined the Q. To each other, we expressed doubt that we would get a visa today. The line shuffled forward a few paces every so often, I think as people left the Q, and I got colder and colder - the rising sun was not on that side of the building and the air temperature was about 4deg C! At last the doors opened at 8.30 and the line moved quickly. It split into 2, one for visas and one for Indian passport applicants.
At the bottom of the steps, officials were giving out Q cards. Mine was #626, but a kind lady gave me her spare ticket #581 later, and I was told to come back at 11.00. Two hours, and a long Starbucks coffee later (to warm me up) I decided to go back (rather than wait till 11.00). With no checking of ID or my Q-number, I was just waved through, into the tiniest basement (about 30m x 25m) , all old wood panels, high wooden counters, scuffed flooring, a bedlam of noise and foreign tongues.
There was no-one there to explain what to do, but by talking to both British and Indian people, I worked out we had to watch the number ticker, the associated counter number and then leap forward to ensure that your number was not missed and the official would go onto another person! I sat down when the numbers were at 280!
I watched the officials - one was a miserable guy, around 35-ish, full of his own importance and shouting and gesticulating to the poor applicants on our side of the glass, rejecting their forms if anything was wrong, rejecting official paperwork if it suited him, and sending the applicant on their way to the enquiries counter (a tiny 2ft square hatch around which at least 10 people crowded at one time). The other female official at counter 4 was quiet, and just would not engage in conversation - just did her job, and it must have hurt to crack her face into a smile. I got her at 12.30 pm and the actual processing of the form took about 2 minutes! All that waiting and worry for 2 minutes work! But this was not the end of it.
My passport was taken away and whisked into a back room somewhere. I then had to go along to Window 7 and stand, crushed by many people much taller than me, waiting for the passport to come back again. The young, very pretty girl behind the glass spoke into a microphone to call out numbers totally at random, according to how quickly the passport had had its visa attached to it. So we went from 626 to 230 to 524 to ... 581 at last
While waiting there, I heard behind me a very posh voice "oh I can't believe how disorganised this all is, it's a total disgrace, something should be done". Someone turned round to her and said "This is India - it will be much the same when you get there" and I agreed that anyone travelling to India (and even doing the preparations) should have an open mind on it and not expect services like we are used to.
Anyhow, only a 10 minute wait and my number 581 was called - yeeeaaahhh I had got the visa. A computerised page stuck into the passport, with a round green stamp, which gets me in and out for 6 months on multiple entries. I was so relieved .... and really tired! It was now 12.50 and I extricated myself from the basement and out into the fresh air.
Such is Indian bureaucracy .... anticipating the visit is exciting and I can't wait to get going.
Friday, 2 November 2007
Highly recommended
Part of the (boring) preparation for travelling is to ensure that all your documentation is in place. In the past (this makes me sound old!) this would be paper tickets and paper copies of passport, drivers licence, etc etc
Now I must highly recommend a new system of document records: http://www.myonlinesafe.com/index.aspx is a secure depository of electronic versions of travel documents. You sign up to it with your own username and passwords and then basically scan in images, and put in details of all the important docs you need. Wonderful invention!
2 weeks to work - it can't go quick enough now....
Now I must highly recommend a new system of document records: http://www.myonlinesafe.com/index.aspx is a secure depository of electronic versions of travel documents. You sign up to it with your own username and passwords and then basically scan in images, and put in details of all the important docs you need. Wonderful invention!
2 weeks to work - it can't go quick enough now....
Wednesday, 17 October 2007
Keeping going...
I received a very nice email which complimented me on this blog and how interesting it was (I hope that it is going to get even more so very shortly!). The sender also said that sometimes I seemed a bit down and grumpy but "now I understand that it's probably from the pain you're suffering"
That sparked in me a little rant in general about how people in pain are perceived.
Now that I have a mouthpiece to write exactly what I want to I am going to detail what it is like to be in chronic pain and yet try to live a constructive and fulfilling life. Doing this Career Break is important to me, yet there could possibly be accusations of appearing fully-abled but having disabled "privileges" (which is the attitude I have had from people all my life).
When I put up the description of what it is like to have the chronic pain and the reasons why I am grumpy sometimes (which I thought I had conquered and could hide better) I felt that people could see exactly what it is like. Yes, I might be doing the travelling, but I still have to deal with the pain and frustrations of the limitations of not doing what I want (can't do a lot of tourist walking in cities for example, etc). I may possibly have a flare-up of TC pain and a huge swelling of my feet due to the EM, any time any place, and that could throw my plans out for days/weeks.
I do envy travellers who don't have to think of medical problems, but as I have said all along (and all through my life), this TC, EM and my feet will not stop me doing things that I want to do and experience, and I will get through somehow.
5 weeks today I will be at LHR!
That sparked in me a little rant in general about how people in pain are perceived.
Now that I have a mouthpiece to write exactly what I want to I am going to detail what it is like to be in chronic pain and yet try to live a constructive and fulfilling life. Doing this Career Break is important to me, yet there could possibly be accusations of appearing fully-abled but having disabled "privileges" (which is the attitude I have had from people all my life).
When I put up the description of what it is like to have the chronic pain and the reasons why I am grumpy sometimes (which I thought I had conquered and could hide better) I felt that people could see exactly what it is like. Yes, I might be doing the travelling, but I still have to deal with the pain and frustrations of the limitations of not doing what I want (can't do a lot of tourist walking in cities for example, etc). I may possibly have a flare-up of TC pain and a huge swelling of my feet due to the EM, any time any place, and that could throw my plans out for days/weeks.
I do envy travellers who don't have to think of medical problems, but as I have said all along (and all through my life), this TC, EM and my feet will not stop me doing things that I want to do and experience, and I will get through somehow.
5 weeks today I will be at LHR!
Tuesday, 9 October 2007
Flight tickets shock
I had the most horrible day last Wednesday 3rd Oct - when I discovered that the flight tickets (the most basic things to get me out of here) had been booked in the wrong name.
I cannot believe that I got SO close to not being able to follow my dreams, and getting out of here. Just think of all the bookings I have made, all the hard work of earning enough money to pay for all the accomodation, the car hire, the Kiwi Experience, the India teaching etc etc - all of it would have fallen over like a pack of cards.
Thankfully as I was 7 weeks away from departure, the flight guys could cancel and rebook me on the exact same flights, so I haven't lost anything, but still......
Wednesday was not a good day :(
I cannot believe that I got SO close to not being able to follow my dreams, and getting out of here. Just think of all the bookings I have made, all the hard work of earning enough money to pay for all the accomodation, the car hire, the Kiwi Experience, the India teaching etc etc - all of it would have fallen over like a pack of cards.
Thankfully as I was 7 weeks away from departure, the flight guys could cancel and rebook me on the exact same flights, so I haven't lost anything, but still......
Wednesday was not a good day :(
Tuesday, 11 September 2007
The Deed is Done
Yes, the deed is done!!!!
I have paid the final balance on my trip and it is all official and SO EXCITING!!! 10 weeks today I will have left work for 6 months and will be packing the last bits in the bags to fly on the Wednesday.
Departure seemed to be close this weekend when I went shopping for "India stuff". Mossie net, sleeping bag, first aid kit, and for Australia swimming costumes, summer clothes for winter time
I have also got a place to stay for every night I am away now - having just finalised the South-West Australia car hire and accommodation today. Many thanks to J for all help with that - what would I do without you :)
The only things I have to do now is get my ETA for Oz and the Indian visa, but the latter can't be done till early November with a trip to the big smoke to visit the Indian embassy. THEN I will feel that I am almost on my way
Speak later
I have paid the final balance on my trip and it is all official and SO EXCITING!!! 10 weeks today I will have left work for 6 months and will be packing the last bits in the bags to fly on the Wednesday.
Departure seemed to be close this weekend when I went shopping for "India stuff". Mossie net, sleeping bag, first aid kit, and for Australia swimming costumes, summer clothes for winter time
I have also got a place to stay for every night I am away now - having just finalised the South-West Australia car hire and accommodation today. Many thanks to J for all help with that - what would I do without you :)
The only things I have to do now is get my ETA for Oz and the Indian visa, but the latter can't be done till early November with a trip to the big smoke to visit the Indian embassy. THEN I will feel that I am almost on my way
Speak later
Saturday, 18 August 2007
Money
I guess one of the worst fears for anyone taking a CB is money - or the lack of it! 6 months without a regular income is SCARY!!!!! But I think I am going to be OK. The benefit of paying for things (like accommodation and transport) up front is that anything I earn now is for ME :).
I am mentioning the CB to more people and 2 girls at my PT job today got really excited on my behalf! So hello Gabby and Alex - thanks for your support and enthusiasm, as talking to you and people like you are making it more and more exciting, despite the worries and fears.
The next 2 weeks on vacation from my main place of work are going to be full of paperwork and plans, getting everything straight before the final run to November.
Hello to Jason, by the way. Missing our conversations about non-EM stuff :)
Speak soon
I am mentioning the CB to more people and 2 girls at my PT job today got really excited on my behalf! So hello Gabby and Alex - thanks for your support and enthusiasm, as talking to you and people like you are making it more and more exciting, despite the worries and fears.
The next 2 weeks on vacation from my main place of work are going to be full of paperwork and plans, getting everything straight before the final run to November.
Hello to Jason, by the way. Missing our conversations about non-EM stuff :)
Speak soon
Tuesday, 14 August 2007
Latest update
Another month goes by and only 13.5 weeks till I leave :)
OK: quick medical update: saw my consultant last week and the good news is I haven't done any permanent damage to my spinal nerves. The fact is even though I can do a little bit of running (well shuffling, really) I am NOT ALLOWED TO DO IT (just remind me of that when I try next time!). The nerves are subject to neurodyspraxia (mechanical damage) and I have to be careful with activities - although I can walk OK and keep fit now, which is big progress from last month. Such is life, living with a previously tethered cord, and associated disabilities!!
CB news: booked the last of the accommodation in Adelaide and Auckland, and booked my place on the Kiwi Experience bus. New Zealand looks so beautiful with so much to do...
Got a new camera at the weekend - must learn how to put up photos on here for when I am away! Let's try this one
OK: quick medical update: saw my consultant last week and the good news is I haven't done any permanent damage to my spinal nerves. The fact is even though I can do a little bit of running (well shuffling, really) I am NOT ALLOWED TO DO IT (just remind me of that when I try next time!). The nerves are subject to neurodyspraxia (mechanical damage) and I have to be careful with activities - although I can walk OK and keep fit now, which is big progress from last month. Such is life, living with a previously tethered cord, and associated disabilities!!
CB news: booked the last of the accommodation in Adelaide and Auckland, and booked my place on the Kiwi Experience bus. New Zealand looks so beautiful with so much to do...
Got a new camera at the weekend - must learn how to put up photos on here for when I am away! Let's try this one
Thursday, 5 July 2007
Pain
One thing I perhaps haven't made clear on this blog so far, is how much pain I live with, and how this so dominates any plans for travel.
I have lived with chronic pain, 24/7, since 1999. It is due to tethered cord syndrome, accompanied by spondylolisthesis (vertebral slippage), underlying invisible spinal and visible foot deformities, acquired Complex Regional Pain Syndrome (CRPS) and erythromelalgia. It takes several forms: nerve pain in back and legs, bone pain in ankles, knees, sacrum and back, and all forms of pain in feet. It is a grumbling type of pain, which flares up regularly into unremitting, uncontrollable-by-drugs, depressing, despairing pain, during which I want to curl up and stay in bed, but can't as I still have a life to lead. I also have the erythromelalgia which is caused by nerve damage in my back, which causes my feet and ankles to swell, with yet more pressurised, pounding-headache type of pain, which is again uncontrollable and incurable.
Since my spinal surgery in 2001 (OMG, nearly 6 years ago!) the chronic pain dominates my life. I can never escape it - as soon as I get up in the morning it is there, as soon as I put a foot to the floor it is there, as soon as I drop to my knees in my house to get around, it is there. People think that just because I work 2 jobs, (mostly) keep a smile on my face, am actually walking, I am "fixed", that the spinal surgery did its job and the pain disappeared. If only.....
I got to the point in 2003 that I felt fit enough that I could do the Race for Life, and indeed I did. No problems, just the expected excruciating ankle pain and muscular weariness, but no long term problems at all.
I bethought it of me to do the same this year, on May 20th. Baaaad idea - I think I have acquired a long-term, permanent, debilitating, nerve-damage injury in my Right leg (the strongest of the two). Why, why, why did I do that stupid race? Why didn't I follow my instincts and not do the bl....dy race? I just pray that 6 years of post-op progress has not been wiped out in 1-second of running in that stupid Race.
This is another reason why I am feeling so down today. The pain from the injury is not getting any better. I tried to hop, skip, & jump across a road today, and nearly collapsed with the pain in my leg, and the fact it didn't have any power and could not support my (little) weight. Even before my surgery, and even when I was deteriorating fast, I could still run - now that is totally gone. I can't run one little bit, which is so depressing. It also makes me feel very vulnerable, as I couldn't get out of danger if danger presents itself on my travels.
I am getting a referral back to my nsg, but what can he do? This is my injury, I can't face the trauma of any more major surgery, and anyway, scar tissue would make things worse and not necessarily cure the problem.
I just hope (ever optimistic when faced with TCS issues and usually disappointed, I might add) that this injury is not as drastic as I am fearing. The CB will be dominated by pain - I don't want anything else to go wrong to spoil the travels.......
Hopefully I will be more up-beat next time. Speak soon
I have lived with chronic pain, 24/7, since 1999. It is due to tethered cord syndrome, accompanied by spondylolisthesis (vertebral slippage), underlying invisible spinal and visible foot deformities, acquired Complex Regional Pain Syndrome (CRPS) and erythromelalgia. It takes several forms: nerve pain in back and legs, bone pain in ankles, knees, sacrum and back, and all forms of pain in feet. It is a grumbling type of pain, which flares up regularly into unremitting, uncontrollable-by-drugs, depressing, despairing pain, during which I want to curl up and stay in bed, but can't as I still have a life to lead. I also have the erythromelalgia which is caused by nerve damage in my back, which causes my feet and ankles to swell, with yet more pressurised, pounding-headache type of pain, which is again uncontrollable and incurable.
Since my spinal surgery in 2001 (OMG, nearly 6 years ago!) the chronic pain dominates my life. I can never escape it - as soon as I get up in the morning it is there, as soon as I put a foot to the floor it is there, as soon as I drop to my knees in my house to get around, it is there. People think that just because I work 2 jobs, (mostly) keep a smile on my face, am actually walking, I am "fixed", that the spinal surgery did its job and the pain disappeared. If only.....
I got to the point in 2003 that I felt fit enough that I could do the Race for Life, and indeed I did. No problems, just the expected excruciating ankle pain and muscular weariness, but no long term problems at all.
I bethought it of me to do the same this year, on May 20th. Baaaad idea - I think I have acquired a long-term, permanent, debilitating, nerve-damage injury in my Right leg (the strongest of the two). Why, why, why did I do that stupid race? Why didn't I follow my instincts and not do the bl....dy race? I just pray that 6 years of post-op progress has not been wiped out in 1-second of running in that stupid Race.
This is another reason why I am feeling so down today. The pain from the injury is not getting any better. I tried to hop, skip, & jump across a road today, and nearly collapsed with the pain in my leg, and the fact it didn't have any power and could not support my (little) weight. Even before my surgery, and even when I was deteriorating fast, I could still run - now that is totally gone. I can't run one little bit, which is so depressing. It also makes me feel very vulnerable, as I couldn't get out of danger if danger presents itself on my travels.
I am getting a referral back to my nsg, but what can he do? This is my injury, I can't face the trauma of any more major surgery, and anyway, scar tissue would make things worse and not necessarily cure the problem.
I just hope (ever optimistic when faced with TCS issues and usually disappointed, I might add) that this injury is not as drastic as I am fearing. The CB will be dominated by pain - I don't want anything else to go wrong to spoil the travels.......
Hopefully I will be more up-beat next time. Speak soon
Monday, 2 July 2007
...and more :)
Yep, I spent more money this morning and booked my New Zealand "adventure". Instead of using the Magic Bus (of which the information was in short supply and not well explained on their website, and I had no reply to my emails!!) I am going to travel with Kiwi Experience - on a bus, but with lots of trips and fun-things included + a free intro to Auckland. I guess KE is a bit like Trek America and Let's Trek in that the drivers know an enormous amount about their country and so the travellers can benefit from that as well as getting cheap travel round the country.
That's all the bookings I need now. Phew! My credit card can take a rest for a bit!! The rest of it is PAYG and as needed.
I am getting so excited about this; even recounting it to a friend at lunchtime I could feel the excitement building, and sharing it makes it more real and coming-up-soon :)
20 weeks and counting.....
That's all the bookings I need now. Phew! My credit card can take a rest for a bit!! The rest of it is PAYG and as needed.
I am getting so excited about this; even recounting it to a friend at lunchtime I could feel the excitement building, and sharing it makes it more real and coming-up-soon :)
20 weeks and counting.....
Saturday, 30 June 2007
More travel bookings done
I am not very good at updating this blog, am I!! Nearly a month since the last post. Anyway, in the next few months, there will be more frequent posts, as plans are coming to fruition and I am having to spend money on bookings!!! I also promise to update it much more frequently when travelling, so that everyone can share my adventures.
Yep, I have a lovely place to stay in Sydney - at the Y on the Park, in Wentworth Avenue. It is what they call a boutique hotel, and it looks very nice, and "safe" for a girl on her own. It is within walking distance of the centre of town and for me, with limited walking ability and chronic pain, that is an important thing. I don't want to get tired out with walking to somewhere even before I see the place :). In Adelaide I will be at the highly-acclaimed Youth Hostel - do you think I will be young enough to stay there??
I have also booked my flight tickets. OMG the distances and times are HUGE. 17 hours to Perth via a 2-hour flying visit in Singapore (hello Auntie Nina there, whom I am named after); on the way back it is 14.5 hours from Sydney to Mumbai, let alone then getting to Delhi :-0). The quick trips to Europe next year will be peanuts by comparison.
At work, my plans for my career break are now well-known in the Faculty, as I had them published in our Faculty magazine. The overall reaction was "well done; sounds an amazing trip; look after yourself and enjoy it as much as you can before coming back here!" I intend to, don't you worry!
With all this rain we are having in the UK I am really looking forward to the blue skies and azure seas of the Indian Ocean of Western Australia in their summer time. Can't wait.....
OK, that's it for now.
Yep, I have a lovely place to stay in Sydney - at the Y on the Park, in Wentworth Avenue. It is what they call a boutique hotel, and it looks very nice, and "safe" for a girl on her own. It is within walking distance of the centre of town and for me, with limited walking ability and chronic pain, that is an important thing. I don't want to get tired out with walking to somewhere even before I see the place :). In Adelaide I will be at the highly-acclaimed Youth Hostel - do you think I will be young enough to stay there??
I have also booked my flight tickets. OMG the distances and times are HUGE. 17 hours to Perth via a 2-hour flying visit in Singapore (hello Auntie Nina there, whom I am named after); on the way back it is 14.5 hours from Sydney to Mumbai, let alone then getting to Delhi :-0). The quick trips to Europe next year will be peanuts by comparison.
At work, my plans for my career break are now well-known in the Faculty, as I had them published in our Faculty magazine. The overall reaction was "well done; sounds an amazing trip; look after yourself and enjoy it as much as you can before coming back here!" I intend to, don't you worry!
With all this rain we are having in the UK I am really looking forward to the blue skies and azure seas of the Indian Ocean of Western Australia in their summer time. Can't wait.....
OK, that's it for now.
Sunday, 3 June 2007
"modern" travel
I've been reflecting on the communication differences between this trip overseas for a long period and my last one, as a student in 1992, when I went to Ball State University, Muncie, Indiana, USA as part of my American Studies at Keele University
I am amazed at actually having a blog. That makes me sound really "old", but I never thought I would be in the position to actually need one. This blog is primarily a means to keep in touch with family while I am away, assuaging some of their worries, and I will be able to let off steam about things that have not quite gone to plan, or effuse on the wonders of what I am doing ... at my age :). It will also be an aide memoire to me when I write my journal or if friends ask me what I did and when.
Secondly: I can keep in touch by email. Yes, such a simple thing that we all do and take for granted, but it is a wonderful thing for making the world smaller. For instance, I have never met my cousin's daughter Rachel, who lives about 50 miles from Perth, WA, but we are corresponding by email and I almost know her already! My old mum (said affectionately) and my dad's sister now correspond by email, while only a short time ago, they had to wait a couple of weeks for letters to come and go all that way.
Thirdly: letters aka snail mail. When I was a student at BSU in 1992, this was the only way to keep in touch. I used to write pages and pages to my family as to what I was doing and how my studies were going. I would stand in line at the post office for the American stamps with the eagle on them, and with blind faith pop them into the box-shaped post "boxes" and they would wing their way over the pond.
We had long, slot-shaped pigeonholes/mail boxes in the small foyer of the Hall we were in, and I used to check the mail eagerly every day. It was such a joy to receive the long letters back, on blue, tissue-thin Air Mail paper, and I used to drink in the news from home. It was odd to discover that while we were having a long hot summer and Fall, the UK was having its wettest Autumn for years. However I could also write back that we had just experiencd a tornado within 2 miles of town, and then we had fog for about 2 weeks non-stop.
Back in 1992, mobile phones were huge bricks, not the slim-line versions we have today. Even though they existed, they were a luxury item, and the cost of calls and ownership packages was extortionate. What a difference to today when everyone has one.
Finally, computers. Back then the computer boxes were like TV sets, the screens were green (yeuk) and hard to read. Computer programmes ran at 64MB. What a difference from the flat screen slim-line, ultra-fast ones we use now.
Part of what I am looking forward to is sharing my experiences with family and friends almost in real-time. I will be able to publish a blog, or send an email, and they could almost be "with me" at that time. However, I still have to master putting photos on this blog - any ideas anyone?!?!?
Until next time :)
I am amazed at actually having a blog. That makes me sound really "old", but I never thought I would be in the position to actually need one. This blog is primarily a means to keep in touch with family while I am away, assuaging some of their worries, and I will be able to let off steam about things that have not quite gone to plan, or effuse on the wonders of what I am doing ... at my age :). It will also be an aide memoire to me when I write my journal or if friends ask me what I did and when.
Secondly: I can keep in touch by email. Yes, such a simple thing that we all do and take for granted, but it is a wonderful thing for making the world smaller. For instance, I have never met my cousin's daughter Rachel, who lives about 50 miles from Perth, WA, but we are corresponding by email and I almost know her already! My old mum (said affectionately) and my dad's sister now correspond by email, while only a short time ago, they had to wait a couple of weeks for letters to come and go all that way.
Thirdly: letters aka snail mail. When I was a student at BSU in 1992, this was the only way to keep in touch. I used to write pages and pages to my family as to what I was doing and how my studies were going. I would stand in line at the post office for the American stamps with the eagle on them, and with blind faith pop them into the box-shaped post "boxes" and they would wing their way over the pond.
We had long, slot-shaped pigeonholes/mail boxes in the small foyer of the Hall we were in, and I used to check the mail eagerly every day. It was such a joy to receive the long letters back, on blue, tissue-thin Air Mail paper, and I used to drink in the news from home. It was odd to discover that while we were having a long hot summer and Fall, the UK was having its wettest Autumn for years. However I could also write back that we had just experiencd a tornado within 2 miles of town, and then we had fog for about 2 weeks non-stop.
Back in 1992, mobile phones were huge bricks, not the slim-line versions we have today. Even though they existed, they were a luxury item, and the cost of calls and ownership packages was extortionate. What a difference to today when everyone has one.
Finally, computers. Back then the computer boxes were like TV sets, the screens were green (yeuk) and hard to read. Computer programmes ran at 64MB. What a difference from the flat screen slim-line, ultra-fast ones we use now.
Part of what I am looking forward to is sharing my experiences with family and friends almost in real-time. I will be able to publish a blog, or send an email, and they could almost be "with me" at that time. However, I still have to master putting photos on this blog - any ideas anyone?!?!?
Until next time :)
Saturday, 2 June 2007
New Zealand plans
I am absent from work due to this pain flare-up and so have had time to think about the planning of the New Zealand part of the trip.
IT IS TOO LARGE A COUNTRY TO SEE IN SUCH A SHORT TIME!!!!!
I have jiggled around the dates for the Australia bit and will stay in Sydney longer before Xmas and before going to Adelaide. Then it is straight to Auckland to have 6 weeks in the country. I am going to use the Magic Bus (weird name, but a good way to see the country and get accommodation too in the passes), but will have to rationalise what I see. I want to see the natural beauty of the place, and do things I would never have the opportunity to do in the UK (climbing a glacier, all the activities around Queenstown, smelling the sulphurous fumes in Rotorua, and bathing in the hot-water sand-bath on the beach! are among the highlights) - so I feel myself leaning towards the big outdoors, rather than spending time in the cities.
Also, I will just have to go back for a 2nd trip won't I?!?!?
OK, must get back to that map.
IT IS TOO LARGE A COUNTRY TO SEE IN SUCH A SHORT TIME!!!!!
I have jiggled around the dates for the Australia bit and will stay in Sydney longer before Xmas and before going to Adelaide. Then it is straight to Auckland to have 6 weeks in the country. I am going to use the Magic Bus (weird name, but a good way to see the country and get accommodation too in the passes), but will have to rationalise what I see. I want to see the natural beauty of the place, and do things I would never have the opportunity to do in the UK (climbing a glacier, all the activities around Queenstown, smelling the sulphurous fumes in Rotorua, and bathing in the hot-water sand-bath on the beach! are among the highlights) - so I feel myself leaning towards the big outdoors, rather than spending time in the cities.
Also, I will just have to go back for a 2nd trip won't I?!?!?
OK, must get back to that map.
Thursday, 24 May 2007
Health worries
I don't usually put my current health worries in the worldwide domain, but these affect my plans for the CB
I have a condition called tethered cord syndrome (see my TCS website). I live with chronic pain (meaning it has lasted for more than 3 months) and have occasional flare-ups in pain and symptoms. These I can cope with as the pain is the same - the spinal and leg and feet nerves jangling, elastic-band feeling of tension on the sciatic nerve in R leg, excessive tiredness etc
But now I have a different type of pain and my mobility is affected.
The new type is affecting the way I walk - it is a tightness of the sciatic nerve, twanging on evry step. My R knee is turning inwards (which it never did) and all my muscles hurt like hell, my legs go from under me, my back and ankle joints get stiff as a board. Now, I have walked 6 miles along Hadrian's Wall a couple of months ago and for me that is like doing the London Marathon. Why on earth do I now have this new pain when I haven't done anything different to what I usually do?!?!?
I don't usually go off on one about the TCS, but this is an exception. I hate this thing, I hate the fact it stops me doing things, I hate the constant pain and disability, when my brain and heart say I want to be the active one and walk, walk, walk. I hate my deformed feet which make me different from everyone else - enduring the stares and "ooh, look at that, she is weird" label that I get from everyone who doesn't know me well. I hate the fact that the pain comes along without warning and makes me AB-SO-LUTE-LY exhausted, but I have to keep going as I don't want to take time out from work (both of them). I detest the fact that "this is it - no more improvement in your condition" and there is not a blind thing I can do about the TCS and its results - no more can I fly to the moon, can I escape this thing. I know it will lead to full, wheel-chair disability in fewer years than I would like, and I hate that too - why the hell do I have to stop doing things just because my feet are going to give up before the rest of me (which is what happens now).
OK, rant over.
However, one of my worries about the CB is that I will have a flare-up and it will stop me doing/seeing/experiencing once-in-a-lifetime things. I just pray that being as fit as I am, I can overcome the flare-ups and they won't be too bad. However when I walk a lot, my feet get exhausted quicker than I do, and that will also stop me doing things
Why did I have to be the mug who ended up with this TCS? OK, mine isn't as bad as some people I know on the TCS grapevine, but it still makes me different and I oh so wish it didn't affect me.
Next blog: back to CB subjects properly.
I have a condition called tethered cord syndrome (see my TCS website). I live with chronic pain (meaning it has lasted for more than 3 months) and have occasional flare-ups in pain and symptoms. These I can cope with as the pain is the same - the spinal and leg and feet nerves jangling, elastic-band feeling of tension on the sciatic nerve in R leg, excessive tiredness etc
But now I have a different type of pain and my mobility is affected.
The new type is affecting the way I walk - it is a tightness of the sciatic nerve, twanging on evry step. My R knee is turning inwards (which it never did) and all my muscles hurt like hell, my legs go from under me, my back and ankle joints get stiff as a board. Now, I have walked 6 miles along Hadrian's Wall a couple of months ago and for me that is like doing the London Marathon. Why on earth do I now have this new pain when I haven't done anything different to what I usually do?!?!?
I don't usually go off on one about the TCS, but this is an exception. I hate this thing, I hate the fact it stops me doing things, I hate the constant pain and disability, when my brain and heart say I want to be the active one and walk, walk, walk. I hate my deformed feet which make me different from everyone else - enduring the stares and "ooh, look at that, she is weird" label that I get from everyone who doesn't know me well. I hate the fact that the pain comes along without warning and makes me AB-SO-LUTE-LY exhausted, but I have to keep going as I don't want to take time out from work (both of them). I detest the fact that "this is it - no more improvement in your condition" and there is not a blind thing I can do about the TCS and its results - no more can I fly to the moon, can I escape this thing. I know it will lead to full, wheel-chair disability in fewer years than I would like, and I hate that too - why the hell do I have to stop doing things just because my feet are going to give up before the rest of me (which is what happens now).
OK, rant over.
However, one of my worries about the CB is that I will have a flare-up and it will stop me doing/seeing/experiencing once-in-a-lifetime things. I just pray that being as fit as I am, I can overcome the flare-ups and they won't be too bad. However when I walk a lot, my feet get exhausted quicker than I do, and that will also stop me doing things
Why did I have to be the mug who ended up with this TCS? OK, mine isn't as bad as some people I know on the TCS grapevine, but it still makes me different and I oh so wish it didn't affect me.
Next blog: back to CB subjects properly.
Wednesday, 9 May 2007
Why I chose the projects for this CB
Well, the original plan was to go to Thailand with GYFGU and do their Thailand Adventure (Bangkok, teaching English for 1 week, stay in a Buddhist monastery, learn Thai cooking and the final week would be on a beach on Koh Samet). Then around Easter this year .... I had a flare up of the EM, which gets worse when the weather or my environment is warm and **humid**. This reminded me how painful and debilitating this condition can be, and the weather conditions in Thailand would be, yep, you've guessed it, warm/hot and humid.
One of the reasons for this CB is to escape the period of the UK weather which exacerbates the EM - the central heating in buildings in the winter and the warm, dampish type of weather we have at that time of year. I could not contemplate a whole month in an environment in which I could not keep me and my lower limbs cool enough, enduring the very conditions I am aiming to escape from, so regrettably I had to withdraw from the Thailand project.
So, I had a whole month to play with. Plans changed to going to Western Australia, and seeing their coastline and country. I also had 2 more full months allocated to being away - well, what to do?!? The GYFGU project at the Warrawong Wildlife Sanctuary just outside Adelaide looked just the thing - a completely new place of work, away from offices, phones, people needing my attention and actions. I also have it in mind to use this volunteering placement to "test out" a potential new career/employment after the CB. So, I will be working with kangaroos, wallabies, potoroos, platypuses etc, and living and working alongside the staff at the Sanctuary and being there after the public has gone home. Can't wait :)
I visited the Adventure Show in London at the beginning of February and went to a seminar on "meaningful career breaks". Now being an eternal tourist is all very good, as long as you can be a responsible one, but I wanted to do more for my 4 months than just travel and lie on a beach. I have a great facility for using the English language and can spot a typo 100 yards away; I have done TEFL courses both at my current place of work and with i-to-i.com. Therefore when I saw the month-long GYFGU project teaching English in Rajasthan, the desert state of India, I knew that was what I wanted to do. The climate will suit me, I will do something I hope/know I am good at, and will also get work experience, again with a view to a complete career change when I return to the UK. So India, here I come!
The rest of the time I intend to stay in Sydney, walk my little socks off (always being careful to take care of my deformed feet (see my website for details), and go into the Blue Mountains and surrounding area. I hope to meet up with a contact I have made through my TCS website, who also has a version of TCS - meeting other people with this condition is always interesting and educational, and makes me realise how lucky I am to be able to do this CB.
For the month before India I am in New Zealand. It is a country I have always wanted to see, for its natural beauty, for its adventurous activities, and for its unique culture. More about this in the planning blogs in the future (that's saying I haven't really got an agenda about it yet :))!!
Kalispera for now.
One of the reasons for this CB is to escape the period of the UK weather which exacerbates the EM - the central heating in buildings in the winter and the warm, dampish type of weather we have at that time of year. I could not contemplate a whole month in an environment in which I could not keep me and my lower limbs cool enough, enduring the very conditions I am aiming to escape from, so regrettably I had to withdraw from the Thailand project.
So, I had a whole month to play with. Plans changed to going to Western Australia, and seeing their coastline and country. I also had 2 more full months allocated to being away - well, what to do?!? The GYFGU project at the Warrawong Wildlife Sanctuary just outside Adelaide looked just the thing - a completely new place of work, away from offices, phones, people needing my attention and actions. I also have it in mind to use this volunteering placement to "test out" a potential new career/employment after the CB. So, I will be working with kangaroos, wallabies, potoroos, platypuses etc, and living and working alongside the staff at the Sanctuary and being there after the public has gone home. Can't wait :)
I visited the Adventure Show in London at the beginning of February and went to a seminar on "meaningful career breaks". Now being an eternal tourist is all very good, as long as you can be a responsible one, but I wanted to do more for my 4 months than just travel and lie on a beach. I have a great facility for using the English language and can spot a typo 100 yards away; I have done TEFL courses both at my current place of work and with i-to-i.com. Therefore when I saw the month-long GYFGU project teaching English in Rajasthan, the desert state of India, I knew that was what I wanted to do. The climate will suit me, I will do something I hope/know I am good at, and will also get work experience, again with a view to a complete career change when I return to the UK. So India, here I come!
The rest of the time I intend to stay in Sydney, walk my little socks off (always being careful to take care of my deformed feet (see my website for details), and go into the Blue Mountains and surrounding area. I hope to meet up with a contact I have made through my TCS website, who also has a version of TCS - meeting other people with this condition is always interesting and educational, and makes me realise how lucky I am to be able to do this CB.
For the month before India I am in New Zealand. It is a country I have always wanted to see, for its natural beauty, for its adventurous activities, and for its unique culture. More about this in the planning blogs in the future (that's saying I haven't really got an agenda about it yet :))!!
Kalispera for now.
Monday, 7 May 2007
Thanks are in order
Before I go on, I must say thanks to a few people, who have encouraged, cajoled, and supported me into this CB
To M and JBB - what would I do without you both. Without assigning particular roles to either, you have supported me through the past 7-8 years in all my trials with the TCS, supported with your words, actions and knowledge with troubles at work, always there when I need you, and in various ways are helping me with this CB. What can I say - you are totally amazing, both of you.
We must all 3 of us remember absent friends, of course.
To Geraldine Taylor - you are a friend indeed. This time last year we had only just met, but I feel I have known you for the whole of my life. Your support and knowledgeable advice on all sorts of subjects over the past year has got me through some bad times, and yes, you are partly responsible for me going on this "big adventure"!!
To Jason Davies: I know you say that my part in keeping well is the most important, but you and I know I would not have been able to get through the past 3 winters without your help and skills. Through your work, you have enabled me to become stronger physically, to the point that I can actually consider this trip in the first place and the EM is not such an issue. I can almost see a time when it won't be so dominant and dreadful. Anyhow, this coming "winter" I will be in the sun :) so the EM will lie dormant for a while. I will see you lots when I get back - I must show you all my photos! I must also say thanks for your advice earlier in March - you know that helped me finally decide to do this CB
To Ian Pople: your inestimable skills got me back on my feet (literally) and I cannot thank you enough for that. I hope you enjoy reading this blog about my adventures.
Next post: accommodation, flights, useful links (perhaps .... when I have time to write)
A bientot
To M and JBB - what would I do without you both. Without assigning particular roles to either, you have supported me through the past 7-8 years in all my trials with the TCS, supported with your words, actions and knowledge with troubles at work, always there when I need you, and in various ways are helping me with this CB. What can I say - you are totally amazing, both of you.
We must all 3 of us remember absent friends, of course.
To Geraldine Taylor - you are a friend indeed. This time last year we had only just met, but I feel I have known you for the whole of my life. Your support and knowledgeable advice on all sorts of subjects over the past year has got me through some bad times, and yes, you are partly responsible for me going on this "big adventure"!!
To Jason Davies: I know you say that my part in keeping well is the most important, but you and I know I would not have been able to get through the past 3 winters without your help and skills. Through your work, you have enabled me to become stronger physically, to the point that I can actually consider this trip in the first place and the EM is not such an issue. I can almost see a time when it won't be so dominant and dreadful. Anyhow, this coming "winter" I will be in the sun :) so the EM will lie dormant for a while. I will see you lots when I get back - I must show you all my photos! I must also say thanks for your advice earlier in March - you know that helped me finally decide to do this CB
To Ian Pople: your inestimable skills got me back on my feet (literally) and I cannot thank you enough for that. I hope you enjoy reading this blog about my adventures.
Next post: accommodation, flights, useful links (perhaps .... when I have time to write)
A bientot
CB update
Sorry for the long period of no news, but plans have been hatched and arrangements are getting clearer.
The current plan is to leave the UK (with its cold, wet, rain, snow - you get the picture that I want to leave the wintertime behind!) and fly into Perth, Australia - the sunniest place in Oz. I will join family there and then go on a "Lets Trek Australia" trip up to Exmouth via the Pinnacles, Monkey Mia, Ningaloo Reef, Coral Bay, staying on a sheep station and probably camping all the way up the coast. Back to Perth and then over to Sydney for a couple of weeks. Adelaide's Warrawong Wildlife Sanctuary (GYFGU project) beckons next, then back to Sydney and the Blue Mountains and meeting friends and family. Onto New Zealand being a typical tourist, then India for a teaching English project, and back to Blighty sometime next year.
I have a good feeling about this whole trip - time to spread my wings, to take time out, to try different things - sandboarding, snorkelling, swimming with dolphins, working with wildlife, and my biggest challenge - TEACHING English!! Oh well, I love the language and imparting my knowledge and experience, so I hope I will ok at it. This project is with GYFGU, so go and have a look at their Rajasthan project under the India section.
See you next time
The current plan is to leave the UK (with its cold, wet, rain, snow - you get the picture that I want to leave the wintertime behind!) and fly into Perth, Australia - the sunniest place in Oz. I will join family there and then go on a "Lets Trek Australia" trip up to Exmouth via the Pinnacles, Monkey Mia, Ningaloo Reef, Coral Bay, staying on a sheep station and probably camping all the way up the coast. Back to Perth and then over to Sydney for a couple of weeks. Adelaide's Warrawong Wildlife Sanctuary (GYFGU project) beckons next, then back to Sydney and the Blue Mountains and meeting friends and family. Onto New Zealand being a typical tourist, then India for a teaching English project, and back to Blighty sometime next year.
I have a good feeling about this whole trip - time to spread my wings, to take time out, to try different things - sandboarding, snorkelling, swimming with dolphins, working with wildlife, and my biggest challenge - TEACHING English!! Oh well, I love the language and imparting my knowledge and experience, so I hope I will ok at it. This project is with GYFGU, so go and have a look at their Rajasthan project under the India section.
See you next time
Tuesday, 17 April 2007
Sunday, 15 April 2007
My first post
Welcome to Nina's Big Adventure - my first blog which will record my adventures on my career break. It will include the planning stages, worries, joys, frustrations, and will also cover links and websites which have been useful to me.
The first site has to be explained. Gap Year for Grown Ups is entirely relevant to me as I am not your traditional "gap-year traveller". I am 40 (and a bit) and GYFGU offers a wide range of projects and adventures which are aimed at the older-gapper. See www.gapyearforgrownups.co.uk for details.
The second site also has to be explained. I have a spinal condition called Tethered Cord Syndrome which is essentially a weird form of hidden spina bifida. I was facing major spinal surgery and found that there was no information online which was easily readable and comprehensible for the average patient. I did lots of research, wrote the website, had it approved by my neurosurgeon and it is now recognised as the best website in the UK for information on TCS (by Asbah and by readers of it). Please see www.btinternet.com/~tetheredcordresources.
OK I have to sign off now, but there will be a lot more information appearing as and when I get to time. The design of the page may change too, so watch this space!
The first site has to be explained. Gap Year for Grown Ups is entirely relevant to me as I am not your traditional "gap-year traveller". I am 40 (and a bit) and GYFGU offers a wide range of projects and adventures which are aimed at the older-gapper. See www.gapyearforgrownups.co.uk for details.
The second site also has to be explained. I have a spinal condition called Tethered Cord Syndrome which is essentially a weird form of hidden spina bifida. I was facing major spinal surgery and found that there was no information online which was easily readable and comprehensible for the average patient. I did lots of research, wrote the website, had it approved by my neurosurgeon and it is now recognised as the best website in the UK for information on TCS (by Asbah and by readers of it). Please see www.btinternet.com/~tetheredcordresources.
OK I have to sign off now, but there will be a lot more information appearing as and when I get to time. The design of the page may change too, so watch this space!
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