Life in the G Desert is never dull!

I have had better weeks, but encouragingly worse ones as well. Today, our Centrelink Manager chased her mother across the basketball court with a shovel. When her sister stepped in to protect her mother, she copped the shovel across the chops. Just to make sure the job was done, the perpetrator got in her car and ran her sister down with a nice hefty Toyota Landcruiser. She was promptly whisked off to the local lock up, from whence she was bailed some 2 hours later. She put up her own bail of $500 for the privelige. Needless to say in the meantime she is suspended from work and required to face up to court which coincidentally is making it's monthly appearance in K next week. I should add, that the shovel barer is believe it or not an upstanding member of the community who took offence to being confronted about her recent petrol sniffing antics. Hence the need to whack people with shovels and Toyota Landcruisers. oops, her sister is currently awaiting an aircraft to pick her up and deliver her to Alice Springs hospital where hopefully she'll be plastered up and put back together.

I've been waiting for a 4wheel drive to arrive since I got here 10 weeks ago. A Toyota Troupe Carrier which is licensed to carry 11 people. When I first arrived it was coming in 2 weeks, then it blew out to 3 weeks ago, then 2 weeks ago, then last weekend. Imagine my excitement when I saw it roll into town last Saturday night. Not wanting to appear too eager, I waited until Sunday to check it out and take it for a test drive. Picture this?? It has no back seats, no airconditioner, the back doors don't open, it has no roof rack, no spare tyres, no jack, no tool box(requirements out here), the tyres are undersized and apart from being able to carry myself around it's completely useless. It had been purchased sight unseen from Victoria (who does that??????????) for a pretty tidy sum. It wasn't even a BARGAIN for #^&* sake. At least I don't get chased by ferrel scabies ridden dogs anymore so I should be grateful. WELL I'M NOT!!

We had a movie night last Wednesday night. We attracted the biggest crowd for a movie to date, to watch none other than "Bush Mechanics". It was such a pissa. We watched 4 episodes and when it was over, they wanted to watch them all over again. And for anyone who is curious about whether that's fair dinkum. I can tell you unequivocably that yes, it is! Every last bit of it. It's so much funnier now than it was when I saw it a couple of years ago. It's SOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO funny. The "Bush Mechanics" are from around this country too I'm told.

I can taste it. The beer. mmmmmmmmmmmmmm...... Al