Stormy Day.

Last night a did a small load of laundry that was not worth putting in the dryer so I hung it up to dry outside… it rained last night and my work clothes are damp.  I was running up and downstairs all morning grabbing money, clothes and food trying to make it out the door on time.  Luckily I did or I would have been late for work.

Jess told me on my way to the bus stop she could make it in today because of a doctor’s appointment, she thinks she has shingles and is desperate to get them checked out.

To my delight I was put into mammals today, which means less hard work than usual.  The volunteer I was with, Sabrina, is from Brazil on a one-year scholarship.  We started with cleaning the dingo enclosure, the golden possum enclosure and then preparing the food for our not so miniature pig and chickens.  Then it was off to our morning tea break.  Sam came into the café with something exciting for me… a cassowary feather!!!  He always has my back when it comes to collecting feathers.

This is a platypus.

After break we went to the feed shed and when we walked in I was surrounded by the most atrocious smell from a rotting deer leg sitting on the counter.  We ended up working in the feed shed for sometime before we left to clean Phil the wombats enclosure.  Everyone takes precaution when they are around Phil and it is the funniest thing.

Nasty deer leg.  Enrichment for the Tasmanian Devils.

BEWARE!

Halfway though the day the water in the taps stopped working, it is a regular occurrence here at the sanctuary and people find working taps to fill watering cans with to clean dishes.  Before lunch we gave the dingoes an early dinner, they are so freaking cute and I wish I could bring one home with me!

Tamini.

Today we got an early lunch that was also extended by 10 minutes, how lovely!  I had my delicious frittata for lunch with a salad and chilled out for as long as possible.  Sam went out on a date recently and I was dying to know how it went, not to my surprise it went well and another is in the near future!  I kept giving him ideas of what to do for the next date… they were mostly things that I wanted to do and Sam figured it out pretty quickly.  Most of the things involved food and movies but he was happy with the many ideas nonetheless.  

    

Sam!!!

Sabrina.

Lunch ended and the weather seemed to become increasingly humid and storm clouds gathered above.  We chopped up a bit more food for some of the animals and then headed out to feed it to them.  We started with the wombats, and then Daisy the possum was next and ended with the squirrel gliders!!!!!!  I hadn’t seen any before and oh my goodness was I excited to see them.  There are three, I forget their names but they all have to do with bugs.  I even got to touch one of their tales!!

Daisy <3

Hopper the glider!

 Finally work was over and just in time because it started to rain and then pour!

Back in the city it wasn’t raining too bad but I was still getting a bit wet.  I called Jess on my walk home and it turns out the doctor says it is shingles… she is on a medication right now that makes her super tired.  Somehow she still wants to go out tonight, not sure if that’s a good idea but she’ll learn in the morning if it was or not.

This hill doesn't seem like much but it's a pain to walk up everyday, especially in the rain!

I prepared myself another plate of nachos and while I was eating them a storm was raging outside.  Thunder was cracking so loud and so close the windows I almost jumped out of my seat because it scared me so much.  Finally I finished my nachos and retreated to the safety of my room.

I almost finished the gift I have in mind for Rob and Sharon, which is a dream catcher and then headed out for a run when the storm passed.  I didn’t have long for the run because Jess wanted to go out at 7:30 but I knew I would just have to run extra fast.

My legs absolutely killed during and after my run and I had to rush through my shower routine to be ready for Jess.  She was waiting in the lobby when I came down and showed me her shingles; she thinks it’s a rash because it is spreading a bit but it looks painful and uncomfortable.  

We headed to the bar for a quick drink and to wait for her friend Leana.  When she arrived we headed out in search of another bar, it was raining and we took every opportunity to duck under cover and stay dry.

The girls managed to get us lost and our walking time was increased and my energy was draining fast.  We finally made it to a bar called Down Under, which is supposed to be a backpacker’s bar.  It was pretty empty and a somewhat drunken man decided to strike up a conversation with us; it consisted pretty much all about staying safe when having sex.  We all ducked into the bathroom for a while after saying goodbye hoping he would leave.  We got out and he was gone so we ordered another drink, he showed up again but this time with his friends and they all started talking at once.  Leana is from Germany and her English isn’t exactly perfect so she became overwhelmed with all the chatter quickly and couldn’t understand anyone.

Finally we enjoyed one last drink before I persuaded Jess and Leana to leave.  The walk home was wet and surprisingly cold.  I couldn’t wait to get home and take off my clothes and cuddle down under the sheets.  

That’s exactly what I did and I couldn’t be happier to know I could sleep in.  I figured a day off volunteering wouldn’t hurt, especially if I needed the sleep.