We are now one month into our stint in the far north. It is notionally a 24 month posting, but with the vagaries of the posting cycle we will only be here 22 months. At least that is how I am pacifying Jane! I think we will be residents of the territory for approximately the next 660 days or so!
My work is good, and Mess life is excellent - probably the best I have seen anywhere. We have had a number of functions, which is really nice when trying to get settled into a new area. It is expensive though - I thought that paying $4.00 for post mix soda water was a bit steep.
I had forgotten how debilitating the humidity can be. We have just been out for a couple of hours to the local shopping centre (air conditioned, so winning), and I am wrecked. We have to sleep in air conditioning if we are to sleep, so the climactic conditions are taking a while to get used to.
MacK is settling into school, and is really enjoying some of the learning methods being used. He has spent so long being read to that he was almost affronted at having to participate in the reading process for himself! He is now enjoying discovering new words, and I can see he will be reading in no time.
We have discovered some of the fun stuff offered by the top end - the wave lagoon in the city was great fun for 5 hours, and at only $18.00 for the family was excellent value for money. We haven't traveled as far as we might like into the national parks, intending to save them for the dry. It has been excellent having David and Jess up here, and we have seen them regularly for dinner (continuing the Crawford Wednesday night family dinner tradition).
Over the Australia Day weekend we traveled to the Corroborree Pub for the annual cricket match between them and the Humpty Doo Pub. I went as a spectator, but was roped into playing. That was always going to be a concern, as I hadn't played since the under 8s, and am really not built for cricket! I have to say I batted better than I bowled (had to bat well to claw back the runs I leaked bowling), and the mighty Humpty Doo team triumphed yet again.
My work is busy and challenging, and I think will keep me interested out to the end of next year. Jane has found work, and it is perfect. She is working four days per week in between MacK's school hours. Not having to put MacK into after school care will save us lots of tears towards the end of the week I am sure.
In addition, Jane is putting her new found welding skills to work. She is fixing an old Jarrah outdoor table with broken legs - soon it will have nice new steel legs, and she is planning (or I am planning on her behalf) to build the chairs to go with it!
We are getting lots of interest from Southerners to come up and visit. Please don't be offended if we tell you the key is in the letterbox, as we have flown south in search of the cold you are just as keen to escape!
