Friday 23 May

Hello hello.
Things aren't too bad here. Still working as often as possible, and because of a very generous donation I haven't had to spend any of my earned money this week on transport or food, so saving is easier. Also grabbing all the free stuff I can, it helps.
I have just finished reading Twilight. Ha, it's brilliant. It took a day and a half, and I have the second one, ready for tomorrow. Thanks to Abi and Cat, it was as good as you said.
I had a reply for the cattle ranch job, and there's not much work at the moment. I shall wait.
And also, a friend is looking to get rid of her backpack, and she was eying up my suitcase, so another swapsies could be imminent.
And also, I've planned where to travel. West of the city are the Blue Mountains; I was planning a camp a few months ago, and I may try it. That's my latest plan. I'm very aware that I've made a few of these plans, and none have come to completion, and so if this one never starts I will be very, very annoyed.
All it takes is the first step out the door. The rest is easy.

Dan, nice one about exams, you have any plans for free time? Thanks for that hat advice, I was toying with getting a cheap one from a tourist shop, but if it's a long time I'll be using it, the extra spendage will be payed off in quality.
Say heydeehey to Cat and folks, and speak soon man! Oh jeez, I'm not sure why but lately I've been having serious urges to play Skies of Arcadia. No idea what started it, but I need to play that game again, haha.
Abi, I'm planning on keeping a journal, and I'm gonna try and make some video diaries when I can, and then post them on the web when I get back.
And Ma, thanks for that, I've heard good stuff about it. Just need to get a job there, haha.

Right, I have work tomorrow, and it's late. Must be off, toodlepip.

"I like the dark, it's when you can see the stars." (Bella, from Twilight)

Hi everyone.
I'm not happy. In fact, I'm gutted, and annoyed. I got a phonecall today, from my job agency. My old job, the good paying one, has a free place, and I was asked to fill it. The cinch? I have to stay in Sydney for another four or five weeks.
I took the job, because I need money, and this is a certain chance to get it. But I'm so, so damn annoyed. I was looking forward to being called and told that there was no work left at the department store, because then I could have finally had the boost to go camping. I had a dream last night of just that, and I woke up really psyched up for it. The dream was great, actually, it was of Dan and me, and we were living in this little hut in the tiniest of villages, and we had to catch fish and hunt animals, and it was awesome.
But because I now have to stay in Sydney for another month, it means that when I'm free, I'll have about six days to start the cattle ranching job, in order to complete the full three months for a second year visa. If I do manage to get a job after those six days, I'm pretty sure the farmer would sign for the visa anyway (there are so many ways of skipping through the legal requirements, apparently only one out of fifty written applications get checked). But it's just so frustrating.
And the most annoying part? I remember writing not so long ago, saying how I make all these plans that never happen. This was the closest I'd come to going through with a plan, and now it's bogus.
But.
Now I've had a chance to work stuff out, plans may have changed. What I'm thinking of doing now, is working these four or five weeks, in that time getting my tax back (end of the tax year). This will leave me, I'm guessing, with around maybe $5,000, maybe more if I save and am lucky. That will then let me get a New Zealand visa. I can then do my camping, going up the coast to see a bit of sand, a bit of the East coast. And then around September, I trot over to New Zealand, and then I would like to get serious. I want mountains, I want real wild. I prefer forest to jungle, and New Zealand has that kind of terrain. I want to walk through some of the places seen on Lord of the Rings.
So that is what's forming in my mind. Disappointed about the way it's worked, but needs can overule wants. Gotta look for that silver lining.
On the plus side, me and Scott have found a cheaper place, literally across the road from the hostel. There's nothing keeping us here now; almost everyone has moved out, and the place is overrun by new people, making the oldies the outcasts. So saving could be slightly easier. And also, by starting this old job again, I might try and go to the classes I haven't been to in a while. I need to lose weight, I've seriously plumped up, because I was planning on burning it off on this ex-camp. So yeah, throw out the pies, in with the veg.
So many annoying niggles.
And I finished the second Twilight book a few days ago, I'm now waiting for the third one, that's circling the hostel. Can't wait.
Ok everyone, it's late and I need to grab some sleep. All the best, hope everyone's ok. Good luck to those hunting for jobs, and for those finishing exams, keep at it, the end of the tunnel's in sight.

Saturday 17th May

Heya everyone.
I know I haven't updated in a while, I apologize. Life is moving slower than I like at the moment. I wanted to move out of Sydney a month ago, but sometimes what you want isn't easy.
I've now officially applied for cattle ranch agencies, I'm expecting a call back any day now. Meanwhile (luckily) I'm still getting hours at this huge convenience store, and I'm on a mission to spend as little money as possible other than obvious expenses, ie rent. Food is now something to be rationed. I don't drink at the moment, I don't go out. Not that I did before, heh, but now I have a better reason for it.
Oh yeah! Something awesome happened yesterday. I was working at the department store, and I got invited out for drinks after work. I have been accepted in society! Man, it was such a frikking good feeling, having a laugh with people completely unrelated to the hostel. And now I know more people at the job, it makes it more fun. I'm already meeting loads of them, and I get a smile and a wave from some of the nicer ones. Man, I love it. And also, nobody there thinks I'm under 25, haha. Every time they realise, it's the same response. It's good. It's goooood.
Heh.
On a downer, I'm ill again. Was throwing up last night, haven't eaten a meal comfortably since. I'm sure it'll be ok, it's just annoying. Everyone is sneezing and coughing. This flu epidemic is really serious, I passed a bus while walking down the street and a lot of people on it were wearing masks, covering their mouth and nose. Because Australia is so close to Asia, it's a lot more paranoid. But I think, I think, that there haven't been any confirmed cases. Yet.
I'm still planning my camping trip. All I need (still), is a backpack, which I can get because Scotty owes me a bit of money, and can pay back whenever, I need some iodine tablets, some filter paper and I need a trip to a hardware store to get some copper or aluminium piping, with which I hope to make a blowgun. I plan to go out with some big bags of rice, and then I'll hunt for meat. Probably birds. Scatter a bit of rice, get the birds or animal close, and then pfft. A meal. I have everything else I need. Oh yeah, and a map.
The knife I bought has some fishing line inside, so I can find a small river and then snaffle a worm, or a gecko. Spook a gecko and it's tail gets detached, and riggles. Stick that on a hook, and just wait for a fishy to bite. The knife also has a compass, so that'll be good.
The cattle ranch job sounds awesome. I read some details, and it involves horse riding, wild camping, cooking, cattle catching and branding, fence building and mending, possibly tutoring kids... Everything. Which is great! I've put up fences, I've helped kids with homework (Tom Elliot and Daisy, I'm looking at you), I like camping and I'm looking forward to getting back on a horse. And I've told myself that if I get a job, I'm gonna buy the classic Ozzy hat. And maybe some boots. If I can afford it.
Right, I'm outta material. I hope this long post covers part the lack of postings. Good luck to exam peoples, all of you guys, and everyone else, keep smiling. Think of rainbows, the rays of light through a raincloud, and sunrises.
Haha.
All the best.
Tom

Friday 9th

Hey everyone.
Just letting you know I'm still here, still breathing.
I want to get out of Sydney. I want to go camping, and just live outside of cities for a while. I would like a bit of breathing space.
However, I need more money to get this started, and I need to start fruitpicking soon to get the three months needed in. So I'm still grabbing all the hours I can for this rubbish-payed department store job, but it doesn't really save money, it just keeps the balance even.
I found that I have about $4000 in tax money, which I can claim back, it's just difficult. I'll look into it, because that would really, really help.
Not much more to say.
Speak soon.

"Not all who wander are lost."

Friday 1 May

Hi everyone.
Man, this week has been a bit more exciting than usual. I have worked since Tuesday, and I have more work this Sunday and all next week, at the huge supermarket place. Damn, it's so much better than the Co-op, haha. Great people, a nice atmosphere. And the pay is nice too, fnar.
So I'm happy with that.
And two oldies have come back! Marta and Giovanni, two awesome people who were in the Swagman when I arrived and through my first stay in Sydney, have come back. They're leaving soon, to go fruit picking, so this means that if they find a place, I can phone them and join them, and have a kickass three months. Looking forward to it so much more now.
So yeah. Working most days for a week, that should help get me by. It's because lots of people are ill, and there's been some people quitting. Man, an economic crisis and a pandemic - not a fun mix, at all. This country is scared, the danger level for this swine flu has jumped up to level 5, out of six levels. The world is burning, for some reason.
Anyway, gotta go. A drunk has sat next to me (I'm in Maccy's) and I don't trust him.
Oh, I'm eating healthily again now. I know I keep saying this, but it's on my mind at the moment.
I'll upload some photos when I can, I took them just for you persistent fools. But the hostel internet has crashed again.
Speak soon, all the best.

Oh yeah, to Cat's message. A friend of mine has the books, so I might try and steal them from him. I've heard from lots of people now that the books are much better, so I look forward to a possibly good read. :)