Monday, January 18, 2010

My first day

Firstly, a BIG thank you to the people who have called and emailed. I have really, really appreciated it. As you've probably picked up in my last couple of posts, the weekend was a time of high freakoutitude. And I was moving and cleaning and yeh, it just hit me pretty hard. So thank you again. It's nice to remember that there are people out there who I can lean on when it's rough.

Okay, too soppy.

Today was my first day at The North West Star! It was pretty good fun, and tomorrow I will get my first by line! To give you an early tip, it's about a conference that's happening in Mount Isa for teachers who are being posted to remote areas. And I mean remote, up in the Gulf and around Mount Isa. I dunno if it's gonna go on the web, put I will put a link up if it does.

So yes, that was a good story to do. I also did a couple of other bits and pieces and got out of the office. I'm brimming with story ideas at the moment (well, I've got two) and
I'm feeling pretty good about it.

I had been expecting to feel a bit better about everything once I started work. I know it's only been one day, but I definitely am feeling better this evening. I'm going out for tea tonight with Brad and Nicola from work, and yeh, I guess it was just good to get into work and to have people who are interested in hanging out. Rah and Iain, I definitely took you guys fore-granted. But as Joni Mitchell says, you don't know what you've got 'til it's gone. Oooh, ba ba ba ba...

Here's my profile that was in the paper today. Every day they have a "Meet a Local" section, and today I was it. I also wrote the one for Tuesday and Wednesday, which involved going and hassling strangers. It's not what I'd call a great photo, but when I walked in to one of the cafes to get a coffee today, the woman said "Hey, weren't you in the paper today? You like vegie gardening, don't you." I've made the image a bit bigger, so if you want to read it you can click on the photo and hopefully you'll be able to read it if you're interested.
I'm now down to 2-4 working days to get my landline connected. Not that I'm counting... But it will be great. Y'all better watch out, there'll be a phone ringing near you.

Oh, and the temperature finally fell a degree today to 40. Tomorrow is predicted to be 37, almost jumper weather!

Finally, it looks like Brad from work will be moving in with me temporarily. His girlfriend is planning to come up in about a month and a bit, and so Brad will move in for a while. I think it'll be good to share with someone who's also new to town, and he seems pretty nice. So yeh, that'll be good.

3 comments:

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Unknown said...

Hi SS,

It is tough to move to a new place. I have done it a few times (Sydney's eatern suburbs to Darwin in 1990 and stayed there till 1995 before moving to Newy where I knew nobody) and found adjustment hard. But it works out. You have to keep saying that to yourself. You have a great opportunity here to see things and meet people that you would not get in the city. You ain't missing much in the city -it'll still be here - same ol' same ol'.

Now quit your whining and get that shorthand up-to-speed. And it's byline not by line - now you are a labourer in the garden of words you need to glue that pedant hat on and never take it off.

Nice picture in paper, but not sure locals are going to relate to some sissy boy vege gardener as opposed to a bloke with a ute and a gun and a penchant for roadkill barbecues or meating UK backpackers on long stretches of highway.

Get out as much as you can and join a touch footy team or something like that. Be cool, slow down to QLD bush time and drink mid-strength xxxx gold in moderation. And don't wear blue round origin time - you'll cop more than a $200 fine. Queenslanders take rugby league much more seriously than any sane person would - and they mostly think rugby is for private school lads of a particular persuasion.

Best wishes,

P