Hey, True Blue!

Since my last entry, I've had a birthday, met a hero, started a full time job, had more animal encounters, entered a volunteer application for a Reptile Park, been to an Air Show and seen a partial solar eclipse. Like you do... All new territory and a lot of happiness, but there has been the occasional low too which as I've come to learn is a regular part of this illness. Ironically the person whose book made me understand the condition so much better, Former England cricketer and Somerset Captain Marcus Trescothick, played recently for Somerset against Bovey Tracey CC. My first season away from Bovey and I could have met another hero.

Royal Australian Air Force
"Roulettes"

What I've learnt is that it can hit at any time, in any place, and that any slight negative can trigger it. What is less easy to understand is how to make it go away. The obvious answer would be to do things that make me happy but unfortunately that doesn't always happen. I've already mentioned cricket, and through April and May I'd usually be starting to get back into playing and I'm not. What is crazy is that the temperature and weather here has been perfect for cricket! We're talking mid 20's and cloudless, yet the locals over here claim that it's cold?! With no cricket it's very important to do things that give that extra lift.

April was a superb month for weather, unusually warm for this time of year I was told. For me it's been fantastic to enjoy some heat after the single figure English winters. Not only that, but some of the things Jess and I did in that month were amazing and I've managed to settle into my new job fairly well which always helps. 

Jess and I with
Burmese Python

My first Australian birthday was made very special by everyone over here. The gifts I received meant a lot to me too, and the lengths that people went to in order to ensure I had a good time was very moving. A family dinner on the Friday night, dinner with my Best Man on the Saturday and a trip to the Australian Reptile Park to see some amazing creatures was the weekend plan. The Reptile Park is stunning, the animals there were incredible. A lake full of American Alligators was a good spectacle at feeding time, a giant Saltwater Crocodile that moved at incredible speed (enough to scare the hell out of the 200 people watching!) and snakes in outside open air enclosures made this place like no other wildlife park I'd been to before. And that's before I mention the venomous snake display with a species I'd never even seen in the flesh before! The world's longest venomous snake; The mighty KING COBRA!

Jess and I with
American Alligator

We managed to have close encounters with koalas, kangaroos, a wombat, an alligator and a Burmese Python. Somewhere through the day I was convinced to take a volunteer application form and I have an interview later in May. It would be great to have some hands on experience with such beautiful, powerful and captivating animals. All in all, it was a fantastic birthday with wishes from around the globe. The only blot I guess would be some cousins ignoring it for the 3rd year in a row, despite acknowledging my sister's birthday every time. They don't want to see or hear from me, I'm not wasting my energy on them so I've deleted them. What's really sad about that is that I haven't done anything wrong to them at all, and they know it. I'm sure there will still be some point scoring to be done though. Dilligaf? Actually, I do.

Jenny Talia

Speaking of Dilligaf, one of my presents from Jess was to go and see Kevin Bloody Wilson at Wenty Leagues. I'd seen Kev and his daughter, Jenny Talia, in Plymouth in 2007 and found them both hilarious. Here in their native Australia they didn't disappoint as classic one-liners were delivered alongside several classic songs! I won't say what was said, I'd rather urge you to get tickets and go to a show of theirs while you can! Visit www.kevinbloodywilson.com and find a tour date to suit you, just go in with an open mind and determined that nothing will offend you!

As winter draws closer over here it is very deceiving. It gets dark earlier (around 5pm) this time of year than I am used to, and it is quite chilly first thing in the

Kevin Bloody Wilson

morning. But come 11am the sun has burnt off any cloud and we're left with another beautiful day with clear blue skies and temperatures in the 20's. It's easily been 20-21C here today in Sydney and yet I look at the weather for back in Devon where it is supposed to be the start of summer and it says rain and a high of 12C from now until the end of the week! What is especially nice is being able to do a full day's work, be paid a good wage for it and not have to come home stinking of the products I sell. There has always been a steady flow of Brits heading to live in Australia, if you have the opportunity I think you'd be a fool not to. To quote Kevin Bloody Wilson:

"AUSSIE, AUSSIE, AUSSIE! YOU F**KIN' BEAUTY!"

Wenty Leagues
28th April 2013