>not so easy come. even easier go. Last week I worked at the Legal Services Commission of South Australia, in the records department, filing and archiving files related to legal aid. It was supposed to be an initial 2 week contract but after 4 days apparently there was no further work to require the use of temps. The nature of being a temp unfortunately. I was supposed to start work again on monday working for an ISP here in Adelaide, but the job has apparently been withdrawn, so I am again waiting to see what can be offered in the way of temp work here in Adelaide. I’d very much like to stay and secure a 3 month contract. We’ll see what this week brings. Having done two jobs now I am hopefull that I can secure more temp work.

Emma left for Alice this morning (6:30am). Took her rucksack down to the pick up point and said goodbye for the second time in 2 months. Perhaps we will meet again on our travels, if not definately back in the UK.

Not much else to report really. Had a great time with Emma here (if a little expensive with eating out etc). Went to Mt Lofty again yesterday evening and took a photo of the view I so elleqouently described before (not). The photo doesn’t do the view justice so if you are ever here do check it out!

>Finally my break to make up for some of the money I have flittered away these last three months. I’m just back from Hay’s office where I seemed to have made an impression after completeing 3 days work in 1 day. Before I could be confirmed to start my new role courtesy of Hay’s I had to take a little test today. I was given 15 or so numbers and the same in names and asked to put them in order; numbers lowest to highest (numbers were 6 digits long) and names alphabetical. Polished up in around 5 mins and scored highly, with only two names out of place thanks to me not being a librarian and thinking clearly that the c in McDonald is ignored when alphabetising, and that in double barrel names it is the letter before the hyphen which takes precedence. I know that now 😀 Crux of it is I qualify and start work Tuesday, initially for 2 weeks, but its a rolling contract and they have people there already who have been working for 5-6 weeks. I just have to learn to pace myself and not do everyone else out of a job as well as me this time :p I don’t think it’s possible as I’m told its quite a large archiving process.

Emma arrives tomorrow morning for 4 days, so I get to spend some time showing her the few sights of Adelaide. I might hire a car for the weekend. I went to dinner last night with a friend then we drove to the Adelaide Hills, near Mnt Lofty. At night the hills are unimpressive until you decsend back in to Adelaide. If only I had thought to take my bloody camera! The view of Adelaide at night was amazing! A completely flat landscape littered with tiny lights as far the the eye could see. The CBD was clearly visible with only a few high rise buildings extending above the carpet of LEDs. It’s a must for a photo opportunity, and so far the best view I’ve had of Adelaide. After we stopped by the beach for a while, and it was refreshing to sit along the promenade at midnight where the temperature was a comfortable 19.5C! The second best view I had was when I looked up and saw the sky littered with stars. Not for a long time have I witnessed such a spectacle to marvel at.

>what a chore! Yesterday I found myself not cleaning chairs, but marquee’s – and there were only three of us to do what normally is done by 6 people! I did come up with an idea to speed things up and make our lives easier, which the foreman seemed to appreciate – why they hadn’t thought of it before is beyond me. I was supposed to return today, but when the alarm woke me at 6:30am I was too tired and sore from yesterday to make the effort to get out of bed. Just hope they pay me my $90 for yesterday’s efforts.

This foray into the world of blue collar work has now lead me to commit myself for 6 months to try and secure an office job here in Adelaide. I quite like it here now. I already have friends in the form of Alex and his uni mates, with invitations to parties most weekends and meeting up for drinks during the week. I’ve also made some good friends at the hostel I’m staying at who have been here for some time, so the situation is all quite good. If I were to get the role I’d be happy to stay and then spend the last 3 months travelling. I’m already resigned to the fact I won’t see everything Australia has to offer. And at the end of the day, whilst I am backpacking, it has more of a packge tour feel about the whole experience given the path has been walked by tens of thousands of backpackers before me, all clutching the latest edition of the Lonely Planet (I have two, so I guess that makes me worse) with places to stay, must things to see and do with countless tour companies all to willing to oblige in showing you the ‘ultimate’ experience. So I am not entirely disappointed.

Met up with Alex lastnight at Grace Emily’s. A mix of live music, cheap beer, and around 23:00 a ‘free’ BBQ with cold coin donations very much appreciated for a sausage in a slice of bread. Last night was particularly good as Alex and I met up with some German friends from Sydney. I met Ben and Sula when I was in Melbourne too. It was quite strange really. When we got to the pub Ben and Sula knew some people who I had met yesterday evening at my hostel. The backpacking community gets smaller each day.