Here i sit at my desk on Saturday arvo with a joey on my lap licking my hands and trying at the same time to crawl into my pouch. It's rather difficult to type gsdgasdyu;vhcn.,m ..........Ok now she's under my shirt and quite content ot go to sleep. she's stopped wriggling around. Her mother got eaten by one of the local women who took the joey to C's subsequent to the evening feast. I guess at least she got it half right and they have to eat right?? Oh god he's so cute I could cry.

My first couple of hours back in K, were spent at the airstrip for a medical evacuation. A 14 year old girl had been stabbed 7 times by a 17 year old boy. She'll be Ok but it was soon discovered that the reason they couldn't find the knife was because it was embedded in her shoulder. It does sound worseon paper. Oh to be an aboriginal. It automatically puts you in danger just to have black skin out here.
Ok the joey is no longer cute. She just shat on me.........Lucky their poo isn't mushy...... sorry.
After my month away from here, all became much clearer to me I suppose, although I went through what I now recognise to be a bit of mental anguish to get there.

I am now over the culture shock which through me into fits of despair and irrationality on a daily basis in the first weeks of being here. I'm getting to know the people better and building relationships. I love the country.

Despite that, I have resigned from my job as Sport & Rec Officer for a couple of reasons. The job is grossly understaffed and unsupported emotionally and professionally. And I don't believe I am the right person for the job. At least not as a solo driver. To be able to do this job well, it helps to be creative and perpetually energised, and you have to want to work long hours. You have to be patient and tough and you have to be able to let go of all previous ideas, about just about everything. I'm working on these, but I decided the job is crap quite franky so I'm currently considering another role in Kintore becasue I'd really like to stay now. I'm not sure about the new job either so if that doesn't work out I'll see what else is around in the territory and try my hand somewhere else. i might even start again in Alice. Who knows.

Time to wake up Joey. I'm off to put on a movie for the kids. A history of the Hawthorn Football Club which I can almost guarantee they will want to watch for over and over again for 12 hours straight........

Two sleeps left in a bed that doesn't propel me across the room with the slightest move
( coasters on a concrete floor). One must ask why I have done nothing to rectify this problem. I ask myself this same question every morning as I step onto the concrete floor at the break of day. I think I've created a metaphor for viewing the world from different angles, and getting out of bed on the wrong side, for there is no wrong side in my little bedroom in the compound at K. There are only right sides. Alas I am going back to K despite all the shitty crappy stuff, because beneath it all there is a purpose bigger than you and I and rewards that words cannot give credence to. Somewhere beneath it all, is THE answer. I just have to figure out what the question is....

It was really great to catch up with those of you I did, and a bumma to those I didn't but you know you can always come and visit. I'll make you a coffee. Or rather Brenda Breville can make you a coffee thanks to a handful of people who felt sorry enough for me to go out and buy me a coffee machine how cool is that? Would you like a latte, cappucino, macciato, mocha, moccachino, flat white, espresso or perhaps you'd prefer a hot chocolate? You know you want to. ppppprrrrrrrrrrr.......... All for now, I'll keep you posted as always. Call me 08 -8964 7111, visit me, think of me, pray for me, COME AND GET ME.............................. Al