Where did August go?

I can't believe that wed will be September 1st.... where did the time go?

I have been here on Hamilton Island since Aug 2nd and that feels like forever ago and yet just last week... if that makes sense!

Today is my day off and of course its cloudy and windy out, sheesh! I worked 5 days in a row and did lots of baby sitting at night this week, so I am excited to chill today. This weather is prob great for running in.. so that is ok too, but would LOVE some sun later to hit the beach too!

Race week is over.... I think there was prob about 2000 people here for it, so it might seem very quiet and calm this week in comparison which is ok with us :) Tonight I am baby sitting a family that has 6 kids.... I can't even imagine AND 4 of them are boys-YIKES! I only agreed cuz they have been in the kids club all week and 3 of them will be asleep when I get there so just the 3 older ones will be up- no problem!

Yesterday at the club a lil girl made some art for me with her own special sparkle markers (or textas as they call them here) soooo cute... my first piece of art from a kid- so I hung it on my wall like a proud teacher lol!

I feel like there are lots of things coming up in Sept, many birthdays and many things I want to do before I leave Hamilton Island to head to Vietnam to see my BFF Krista!

My list includes: White haven beach, sky diving, safari tour and reef world tour! My next 3 weeks are going to be BUSY!!!! Gotta start planning the days to do each tour!

I am so excited for Vietnam, scared as well... not sure I have been to a country that the main language is NOT english... so this will be interesting for me, def so thankful Krista will be my guide so that I don't really need to research too much, as she can help me with where to go, what to see and what not to do etc... :)

FOCUS ON FITNESS.... yes this is my current goal..... trying to shed my few pounds of "travel" weight I have put on in the last few weeks! I now have 3 weeks here on island to do something about it and then hopefully in Vietnam I can work out too.... I am doing some mountain race with Krista on the saturday when I get there- so need to be prepared for that... IF i even can prepare for that.... yikes!

I miss Lucas very much and appreciate the updates and photos that my family sends. He is talking so much and can say "Come on, lets go!" and "just a minute". He is growing up so fast!

Thinking of family and friends all the time... wishing you guys could see this place and enjoy its sunshine and beauty with me.... glad I can share my adventures with you all!

Much love

GO live life to the fullest! Cheers

Blessed to be me

I stole a quote from another blog today:

Things happen. Weather happens. Traffic happens. Loss Happens. Troubles are ordinary and common, and they're nothing more than snags in what you wish were a perfect conversation. Better yet, troubles ARE perfect as they are blessings packaged in a way to make you want to get inside of them - to have victory over circumstance - to rise like a phoenix from any fire and say I AM ME. Be grateful for what you get. Be grateful for what you got. This, after all, is what your life looks like. Have an amazing week creating yourself as awesome.

Life happens..... sometimes good and sometimes bad but it happens... so LIVE it.... day by day... do things YOU want to do... go where YOU want to go... meet new people... create your own fun.... be creative, be adventurous, be fun and be YOU that is what LIFE is about!!

Too many people let life pass them by.. some of you are doing it as we speak..... but don't get down and sad.. focus on the GOOD, on HAPPY times and AMAZING friends and family who love you and support you in all your goofy ways!

I am BLESSED to be me! I am thankful for my family n friends who LOVE me for who I am and what I do.... no matter where I travel I know people are supporting me, and thinking of me.

Anyone can travel.. you can do what you want.. set goals and don't be afraid to reach for the stars!

On a funny side note as some might have read on facebook, the other day a lil parrot bird flew INTO my room, cuz i had the door open for a breeze, and he landed on my desk and that scared me cuz I was sitting at my desk, so I stood up in shock and hit my head off my microwave door which was open- OUCH.... I tried to shew him away.. he wouldn't move... so I gently "ushered" him out with my soft laptop case and he SQUAWKED at me lots :P then i swear it was taping on my door... I have no food for you crazy bird.. go away!

LOl.. thought I'd share that!

Much love to all.... live your life to the fullest! Don't let small things get you down! Enjoy today its a GIFT.

Cheers

Island Life

I have been here 2 weeks already and it feels like 1 month... its great!

my job is easy and I love the lil differences of words and things at work... kids have "Dummies" which are soothers... so parents say "if they are upset just dummy them" LOL.. sounds funny to me!

I saw a hummingbird at my window the other morning that was a treat. There are butterflies everywhere... I love going for a fun and just running through heaps of them.. or having them flutter around while playing soccer.

I saw some ducks yesterday as well.... they had white heads.... so different so neat!

I also love to see the possums..... I think they are cute, but not when they are in the garbage bin and I want to put my garbage in it :P

Today is my day off... and its cloudy :( So I will do laundry, clean my room and head into town to post office to send some lil things home to the fams!

I can't believe its almost Sept... where is the time going? Its flying by... which is ok! I have been gone now for 6.5 months almost 7.. wow!

When I walk home at night there is not lights on all roads like home.. so I sometimes feel my way... you know you walk off the road if you hit gravel.. lol.. but I also use my phone as a flashlight sometimes.. so I don't walk on any dead toads :P

The last bit of road in the dark before my place always reminds me of "where the wild things are" the tall trees and dark forest looking area... I love it. 

The stars are indescribable at night... sooo many I love it.. reminds me of summer nights at camp... away from the city and just OUT in the OPEN.....God made a beautiful place!

Thankful for easy work and good co-workers, even more thankful for extra hours babysitting.. I babysat Thurs-Sat night as well as sun morn and sun night this past weekend.... saving money to do fun things like sky dive and Reef tour.

Life is good.... wishing everyone the BEST always!

Enjoy life..... its a gift and tomorrow is not promised to me or to you.. live like its your last day.... not to sound morbid but really.. cherish what you are doing and who you are with!

I would love for my family to all be in Aus even for a week so they can see this beautiful place... What a great adventure I have been blessed with.. I love life!

Aussie SLANGuage

Words I hear in Aus: Meanings

Fair Dinkum fair enough

Nappie diaper

Cot crib

No worries cool, yes

Yous you guys

Ta thank you

Donger portable

Afternoon Tea snack

TEA ("come over for tea") dinner

Bub Baby

Mate friend

Doona/Duna duvet

Bloak man

Lollies candy

Stuffed up made a mistake

Knock Off finish work

Biscuits Cookies/Crackers

Saltana Raisin

Smoko work break (even if you don't smoke)

Chuck A Sickie call in sick

Roster schedule

More to come.... too funny. Right now ALL my co-workers are Aussie so we will start a book at work of what they say vs what I say..... its fun to learn and teach them as well!

Cheers

Hammo

Island life is good to me.... I am def enjoying this place... just seeing the different look out spots and finding hiking trails and just getting to know many of the people that work here as well!

Sunday night we went for cocktails at Pool Terrace and wanted to go catch the sunset at One Tree Hill, but some of my co-workers kept drinking so we missed it, oh well another time. We then head down to front street for Marina Daze... where we gather on the lawn there by the water and listen to live music, so rad! I loved sitting outside under the stars and under the palm trees, while looking at the boats and water and hearing live music, so nice!

Monday I worked and was in Toddler room by myself, very chill, very easy. Only 7 kids to watch and some went into the sr room to do better crafts! All good. I went to check out staff basketball and I LOVED it.... so good, we had 3 teams of 5-6 people and there was only 2 of us girls there. I was sweaty and I loved it all, got a few shots in and loved meeting new people! :)

Tues (today) I had more training and we did some games etc.. was fun! I was walking home and some guy that works here stopped in his golf buggie to offer me a ride- THANKS! That is a good way to meet people.. just stop and drive people around :)

I went for a run with a guy here named WOODY who is usually wearing cowboy boots and a cowboy hat... I was sad my ipod didn't work cuz music really helps me run, but it was cool to have someone run with me too!

After that we chilled in our lil lawn area here in "Lake View" where I live.... throwing the rugby ball around and just chatting to people as they came to join or just walked by!

I have wed thurs off this week, but we are busy at the club so I will do a few hours tomorrow afternoon to help and I get paid MORE so that rocks!  I'll hit the beach then go into work!

I also get to do a babysitting job this weekend,.. which is TAX free pocket money :) and a good way to see some of the accommodations around the island!

I want to do a Reef tour soon... so exciting! 

My laptop is being lame... so no pics on here lately-sorry! All pics on facebook for now!

Much love from Down Under!

Its a small world after all.........

Hamilton Island so far soooo good! Did u know that Nicole Kidman has a place here- yup.. I want her to come so I can meet her and the her kid and offer to Nanny for them in Nashville ;)

A girl can dream!

Yesterday I had training from 8:30-9:30.. then got my groceries delivered right to my door, then went to the beach to read my book and soak up the sun and take a lil nap!

Came back and went for a nice run! then read my book and got ready for dinner on front st at Popeyes fish n chips! After that we went for ice cream and then as I sat there eating two VERY GOOD LOOKING men walked by... i stared at them then said "ZAN?"

Ya it was my friend Zan who I met in TO but who is Aussie and his BFF Daniel who I met in TO and is from TO!!!!!

SUCH A SMALL WORLD.... I knew Daniel was in Aus visiting Zan but I have NO IDEA they were coming to Hamo.... they didn't know I worked here just thought I was visiting too- LOL! I wish;)

So we hung out last night and chatted til early morn... so cool to see people I KNOW here on the island. We are meeting up tonight after their fancy dinner at Yacht Club, then we'll chill tomorrow and sun before they leave :(

So cool!

I start real work today... lol... should be easy, in the kids room its a 7:1 ratio, so max kids I can have is 7... super easy esp compared to cruise ship days when I had 50-100 kids :P

I love life..... pics to come.. sorry my laptop is being lame!

Hamilton Island

Here I am safe n sound on the beautiful Hamilton Island!

I arrived monday morning and got greeted and had to fill out papers then get my Staff ID card etc.. then got shown to my new home. 

My staff accommodation is in a lil area called LAKE VIEW and I have my own room!

I have a bed, bathroom, tv, fridge, closet, microwave and free wireless Internet.. I think I am going to like it here ;)

I took the free shuttle bus around to check out where things were etc... went to the general store down on front street at the marina and bought SOME food... its So expensive for ANYTHING on the island... so I bought some basics but def going to get groceries from colesonline... they deliver right to my door :) 

Met a few people during my first day here! Got settled in and un packed, make it feel like home!

Tuesday I had the whole day to explore... so I went for a run, then went to the beach and laid there in the sun reading my book, I think I even fell asleep for a lil bit.

It is one of my co-workers b-day so we went to dinner at Manta Ray Cafe down by the marina on front street. nice food, good times. We stopped by "thai-riffic tuesday" at a staff area near me, met more people. Tammy the birthday girl and I live in the same area so we wondered around and met whoever was outside, then decided to head to R BAR which is staff bar, cuz its her b-day! 

We went to check it out, got some drinks bought for us, which is always nice! Met more people... I played pool with Brad from water sports cuz his partner got TOO drunk and had to leave the bar!

good times!

Wed I started my training... sort of boring but informative! Got my uniform which is a teal top and blue shorts like mens bathing suit material-weird! :P

I work as a group leader at CLOWNFISH CLUB... with the kids... :)

After training today I went to clownfish to learn and go over sched and how things work etc..

I am the oldest worker so far, our supervisor is away and I think she is close to my age, MAYBE the same or 1 year older!

Had a good day.. time flies and we only had 6 kids and 1 baby this afternoon, I loved to hold her all afternoon!

We take kids from 6 weeks old to age 14! HUGE range, but of course they are split into age groups for activities etc!

I have more training tomorrow only in the morning then I have the afternoon off! We have staff "olympics" fri and sat we are going out dancing and sunday we are going to One Tree Hill for sunset cocktails.... ya its pretty fun here!

There are heaps of staff activities and sports... which I will love... basketball every mon night and fun run every weekend....only 5km!  I can do it.... 

New goal- WEIGHT LOSS..... trim up in the next few weeks.. gained some weight from traveling, sleeping diff hours and eating all kinds of cheap food!

Hotmail is NOT working for me.. sorry to anyone I have not written to on there this week, hopefully it will be fixed soon!

I am excited to try new sports and to get out and see more of the Great Barrier Reef while I am here and of course get to see White Haven beach which is top 10 in the world and many say its the BEST ever!!!!

 pics to come from all my adventures that I will see n do while here!

Much love