Day 210 – 11th August 2018 – Darwin, Moving day

Moving Day!  We bought a new cover for the van and rather than move the cover we moved to a new site.  I will miss our little frog family and our spot, we have grown to like it there.  But we think that the cover is going to help deal with the heat a bit better, keeping the sun off the van. Continue reading “Day 210 – 11th August 2018 – Darwin, Moving day”

Day 208 – 9th August 2018 – Darwin, Mindil Markets

I had to work 8am to 1pm today and it was meant to be the last training shift with Rory, but he called in sick before going on leave!!  So I am now flying solo for the next 2 weeks starting today.  The next two weeks will be full time, Sunday to Thurs 8am to 4pm.

After my shift I met mum and we went for lunch at the bakery in Darwin City and then went to the WWII Oil Tunnels.  I usually love this kind of history but I have to say it was a bit disappointing.  Some of the information was interesting but they effectively spent a massive amount of money building these underground tunnels to house the oil to be used in the war but they had so many issues building them that they were never really used for their purpose.  They spent over $1 million pounds but the tunnels kept leaking.  I feel for the men who worked in really tough conditions to build them and it would have been a heartbreaking project.  It was a tunnel with a whole lot of signs to read with a lot of information.  Overall, if you are in Darwin, I wouldn’t rush to see this one.

That evening we went to Mindil Beach Markets and I have to say that I was really impressed with it.  I am not a huge market fan but they had great food and everyone sits on the beach to eat their dinner and watch the sunset on the dunes.  The funny thing is that everyone claps when the sun sets, like a wonderful performance, which it is I guess.  Still made me giggle.  I couldn’t believe how many people go to the Mindil markets considering they are on every Thursday and Sunday and the population in Darwin is relatively small.  Amazing how many people go.  There was great live music and we listened to a band play with didgeridoos.  Great music, food and atmosphere, overall a very affordable and fun night out.  We did a bit of shopping around the markets and really enjoyed the night.  Definitely add this one to the list of things to do if you are ever up this way.  Apparently Thursday night is much busier than Sunday which I also found interesting.

Mindil Markets, Mindil Beach, Darwin NT
Mindil Markets, Mindil Beach, Darwin NT
Mum on the dunes at Mindil Beach watching the sunset, Darwin NT
Mum on the dunes at Mindil Beach watching the sunset, Darwin NT
Sunset Mindil Beach, Darwin NT
Sunset Mindil Beach, Darwin NT
Band at Mindil Beach Markets, Darwin NT
Band at Mindil Beach Markets, Darwin NT

Day 205 – 6th August 2018 – Darwin

Monday was a public holiday in the NT, called Picnic Day.  It is a day celebrated with horse racing and a Railway Picnic at Adelaide River, though we didn’t actually do either.  When I was reading up about it, I found this info on Wiki that made me laugh….  ‘On Monday 5 October 1936, a train transported people from Darwin to Adelaide River, leaving at 7 am returning at 11 pm. The hotel at Adelaide River recorded record sales and the train was “forced to stop often as a number of male Darwin passengers fell off at various points along the line”‘.  Gold! Continue reading “Day 205 – 6th August 2018 – Darwin”

Day 204 – 5th August 2018 – Darwin

I had a 10 to 2 shift at Woolies this morning and then spent the rest of the day getting ready for Mum arriving.  She is coming to visit for a week and staying in a cabin in the caravan park.  Our first Darwin visitor and the second visitor for the trip.  We loved having the Cunninghams visit us in Margaret River and now looking forward to Mum’s arrival tonight.  Great to see family again. Continue reading “Day 204 – 5th August 2018 – Darwin”

Day 203 – 4th August 2018 – Darwin

Col and I were invited to go fishing at Shady Camp with KD, Col’s Boss, and Hal who is a work colleague of Col’s.  We took the boat and swung past Hal’s house to pick up KD and Hal and then do the two and a half hour drive to Shady Camp.

After my traumatic experience at Dundee Beach backing the boat down the ramp (or not backing it down the ramp), I was determined to get some practice before being put in that sort of situation again.  So I volunteered to back the boat down the ramp as there were not many people around that day.  Keep in mind though that Shady Camp has the highest concentration of Salt Water Crocs anywhere in Australia!  So I was a little nervous getting into the boat.  Hal waited with me in case I needed any help, but it all went pretty smoothly and I backed the boat down the ramp on my own without any issues.  I was the only one on the ramp though which helps.  Hal and I then quickly scrambled into the boat without getting eaten by a Croc and we headed off to explore the Mary River with the hope of catching some big Barra.  This is actually a bucket list item for Col.  Shady Camp is an iconic Australian Fishing spot, and catching a big Barra is the icing on the cake. Continue reading “Day 203 – 4th August 2018 – Darwin”

Day 202 – 3rd August 2018 – Darwin

Someone in the park is selling their cover for the van, and we decided that might be a good investment as things heat up for the wet season build up.  They had the ‘Taj Mahal’ of covers that went over the van as well as the ensuite and had fake grass attached to it.  When we went to check it out it had ceiling fans and a dart board (I now really wanted this place of course) and this was one fancy caravan park shelter!  Complete indoor/outdoor living.  But they wanted a lot more money for it than we wanted to pay for a short term solution.  They mentioned that another couple in the park were thinking of buying it and selling the one that they had which was not as fancy.  We then went and checked it out.  This looked more like what we would want and the price we would want to pay.  It is only a few sites over from where we are and we both felt it would make a difference as the heat and humidity starts very soon.

So it looks like we will be moving up in the Trailer Park world, hahahaha.

Day 201 – 2nd August 2018 – Darwin

My shifts are generally 10.30 to 2.30pm, yes it’s a hard life up here :)  I have to say that I love the short work days as I can still get done what I need to before and after work.  The time at work just flies too.  So definitely enjoying that aspect.  I worked 8am to 1pm yesterday due to learning the role with Rory and the stocktake, but generally I do 10.30 to 2.30pm.  As I am not on the printed roster yet, I checked with my manager before leaving the store yesterday if he wanted me in today and what time.  We agreed on the usual 10.30 to 2.30pm shift and off I went.  So I got ready this morning and headed into work and on the way in I got a call from Woolies asking if I was coming in today?  Whaaaaaat?  I explained that I spoke with my Manager yesterday and was asked to come in at 10.30, but she said they were expecting me for 9am to 1pm, unfortunately no-one had given me this info.  There was no stress and no-one was upset which is good.  Just a miscommunication. Continue reading “Day 201 – 2nd August 2018 – Darwin”

Day 200 – 1st August 2018 – Darwin

I worked with Rory who is a character and has worked for Woolies for over 10 years in many different roles.  He is only young but knows the place inside out.  He makes me laugh and I enjoy working with him, I think  he is loved by every Department.  He does all the discounting of stock for Perishables and Groceries as well as ‘Plan-O-Grams’ which is reshuffling stock according to the Merchandise Reps that come into the store and request a change.  Or to move items quicker and reposition etc.  Reshuffling stock is a massive under estimation of what this entails, it is an involved and challenging process to rework an area and includes re-shelving, re-printing tickets and a total restructure of an aisle section. Continue reading “Day 200 – 1st August 2018 – Darwin”