h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

Hello there

I thought I'd better not take up Websailor's Thumping Thread with my news. Thank you for the "hello" there.

I'd forgotten that I came to hootoo just a year or so after leaving Australia after died. I'm what's known as a Boomerang Pom.. I come and go

And whilst I love it here very much, there isn't any work at the moment. I've been a consultant for the last 3 years and I'm about to wrap up the business and I'm hunting for 'real' work again. I want to go back to working for local or state government in the environmental field.

To my slight surprise I have applied for a job in New Zealand - it was too good to miss - and have made it to the first interview stage (next Tuesday). There are also a couple of jobs here in Australia which I'm applying for and plan to keep applying until I get something.

If I have to move, so be it. I can't continue living in this lovely house if I don't have an income. It always comes back to money, doesn't it?

Fortunatley I don't have roos in the garden, because they would make very short work of my veggie patch. There is a fence around my garden - about an acre in size - and they potter around outside the fence. I hear them every morning as they bounce thorugh the undergrowth on their way to my neighbour's lawn, where they graze and lounge around. Lovely beasts

I've never seen a koala here, but apparently there are a few about. Snakes, yes Cane toads, yes Lots of lorikeets, cockatoos and kookaburras. It's not half bad!

How is your new place? You've moved into an appartment close to the sea, havne't you? Are you on the south coast? Do you have friends and family around you? I do miss my family, I have to admit. I'd love it if they came out to see me, but none of them have made it this far yet One day I hope....

Much love

Fb

Very dear Fb,
Tthank you for your lovely letter.

Congratulations on getting to the interview stage. I shall think of you and wish you luck for it. It sounds marvellous. I believe that New Zealand is super, although you probably want to stay.

I quite agree with you about the necessity of incoming shekels in order to live. !!. I am so incredibly fortunate as I have a marvellous brother who not only bought this wonderful flat for my son and I but who also supports me. I am truly blessed.

You have had a lot to put up with my amd you have come out with flying colours. The environment is such a wonderful field to work in. My Australian granddaughter has got a job in Holland with a firm that manufactures wind turbines. She took a degree in Mechanical engineering at the University in Australia, but could not get a job there. Here uis is much in demand which is great.

Our flat - I live here with my son, overlooks the channel. However, I really am weak and feeble now and cannot go anywhere without my wheelcha8r and being pushed. very dreary for my son. I have met and made a lot of friends, but at the moment - and in fact always - seem to be very busy with thousands of projects. I also had the pleasure of my good friend Zarquhon Singing coming out from Londontogether with her son little to spend the day with us last month. It was marvellous to see her. Another friend came down from sevenaoks on Tuesday and we had a great day together.
I have a magnificent pair of hearing aids now which means that I do not have to look helpless and grin when I do not hear anything. Now I can make a response and actually get involved!!

We are off to the hosptial now as both my son and Ihave diabetes and we have to have blood tests. The point is I forget to do these wretched things.

with much affection and |I hope you get the position you want.


#Christiane
AlsoRan80

17th July 2008

Hi there.

I have decided to date my postings because otherwise I have no idea of when I last wrote.

I replied to your missive yesterday.

Keep well

Today is my lucky day

AR80

Dear Christiane,

It's a great idea to date your postings: I get into a terrible muddle sometimes.

Now, tell me... what's happening today?

We have had several days of rain and low cloud, so it has been wonderful to see the sun shine all of the day. I had a meeting a wee drive away at lunchtime and was able to take the top down on my car. There is nothing quite like driving 'topless'

The temperatures at this time of year are down to a chilly (for me) 8C at night and up to about 22C during the day. I love the feel of sunny warmth on my body... it's a good reason for living in Australia. And I do have to admit to rather liking the cool nights, so that I can snuggle into my doona

I'm off for a glass of water, brush my teeth and that doona now.

Sleep well

Fb

Friday 18th July 2008

Very dear Fb,

Yesterday was a very busy day. I had written about my neice who was going to south africa in order to go whale watching. I suddenly remembered about having been off the coast of the Western cape, in 1972 and seeing a big commotion in the water. when I enquired what it was the hotel manager told me it was a whale mother giving birth to her new calf.

Well, it was such a joyful occasion and I learnt so much about whales yesterday.

Do you have whales off the gold goast or is it too hot for them there?

They are such wonderful creatures. anyway, I spent a long time doing that. and then today I have been writing the birthday greeting to my great hero Nelson Mandela. It would be the crowning event in my life were I eveto meet him. he is such a most woderful man - truly another Gandhi.

It is another grey day today. You do not mention the interviews. I hope youhave had some satisfactory ones.

With affection

Christiane.
AR80

Hello Christiane,

My first interview is on Tuesday morning next week. It's a telephone one and if I get through that stage, they'll fly me out to Christchurch for a face-to-face interview the following week. I'm hoping for the best, because I'd really like to get there and have a look around.

We have humpback whales here - they journey up the east coast every winter (now) to breed in the warm waters off Far North Queensland. There are a couple of albino humpbacks which everybody looks out for each year. One's been named Migaloo, but I can't remember the other one. When and I sailed around the Reef off Cooktown, we'd see the humpies breaching out there. It was a glorious sight

By the way, I live on the Sunshine Coast, which is north of Brisbane. The Gold Coast is to the south - about 3 hours' drive from here (a hop and a skip by Aussie standards )

I totally agree with you about Mandela. He is an inspiration and a hero. He carries such wisdom and dignity.


Fb

Sorry my dear - I shall now say an extra prayer on Tuesday.

wonderful about your humpback whales.I think I read that they are the biggest whales in existence. So glad you like them and of course that you have such happy memories of them with You must tell me about him one day. WS has my other email addy. And of course that you like my hero . NM!! I think we should get on very well. !! In spite of our great age difference. !

With an affedtionate
Christiane AR80

Age can be meaningless. In the great universe in which we live, a mere 30-odd years is a blip!

I saw Nelson Mandela speaking yesterday and am so glad that he's raised the issue of poverty in SA. More and more people seem to accept that poverty is acceptable, although the symptoms (such as AIDS, infant mortality etc) are not. He is an extraordinary man

I have a feeling that Blue Whales are the largest, but they are rarely sighted.

I must go and hang out the washing.....

Fb

Sorry i missed this post. He talks so well and has such a command of english. It is his lack of the wish ofor retribution which I think is such a wonderful strength in him.

Talk too you soon.

Christiane Ar80