I am about to go off on an adventure!
As my friends know I do a lot of work in the North West of Australia with Aboriginal organisations, businesses and communities. In the past I have always flown in and hired cars to get around. I have always thought it would be a good idea to have my own car up there and then fly in and drive my own vehicle.
Well finally, as circumstances have permitted, not least of all being in my own business without having to justify the "expense" to home-based business partners, I've decided to do it. So last month we bought a 1996 Mitsubishi Pajero. I've spent this month kitting it out, repairing and replacing tyres, windscreens, put on a bull bar and spot lights, and taken it for a test drive on a job to Kalgoorlie (600 kms east of Perth) to see how it stood up.
It actually stood up quite well (being a one lady owner car from new) so we are now preparing to drive it up north.
We're leaving this Saturday to drive to Broome in 2 days, a journey of 2,200+ kilometres. Amanda will drive with me to share the driving. We are aiming for Newman, a mining town in the desert about half the distance, on the first day and then arrive in Broome on the Sunday.
The following week we are working together in a community called Lombadina, about 250 kms north of Broome at the end of what is probably the worst road in Australia (sand and gravel, corrugation and potholes). The week after that, Amanda flies home while I go on to Fitzroy Crossing, about 400kms north east of Broome. I sahll then drive back to Broome and leave the car at Kevin and Ali Fong's house for safe-garaging and fly home.
At journey's end we should have driven over 3,500 kms in 2 weeks!
Obviously this will require an entry in this blog with photos! So keep an eye out for the report.
At the moment though, as I was away on business last week, I have 5 days to do about 2 weeks work before I go on my drive.
It's hard to keep the positive aspect when it's all happening and you are short-staffed and the staff you have are inexperienced problem-solvers. Like the old saying it's hard to remember that your prime objective is to drain the swamp when you're up to your arse in alligators.
However, I go for my walks every morning (more or less!) and go through a process of reminding myself of all the good things I should be grateful about, all the people who are great in my life and that I should be grateful for, all the things that have happened to me that I should be grateful for, and at the end, fill myself with so much gratefulness that the negatives pale into comparison.
Nevertheless it is hard to come home on a day like this when everything seems to have gone wrong and people aren't responding to all the responsibilities you are offering, and not feel great frustration.
Ah well, time to practise what I preach - I'm off for a walk and then the gym to burn off the negatives and regain the positives.
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