I am in Darwin. It’s my first time here so feels a little bit special. I came up for work yesterday. Finally got to meet my boss and colleagues. They are all a bit mad I think, they all seem to talk more that me (which as you all know is a fair bit) but they are great. All very passionate about what we do and passion is contagious so I am feeling all inspired too. I was only at the office on Friday for two hours but it already feels so valuable. I have been winging it a fair bit since I started and haven’t been entirely sure if I’m on the right track at all but when I went through the stuff with my boss she kept saying things like, “this is so great” and “what a good idea” (she even wants to use some it herself) and was really excited by some of the students work. It was such a weight off my shoulders. I am going back on Monday and Tuesday to go through some admin stuff, observe classes, have some meetings (of course) etc but I feel like even if I wasn’t that the trip would be worth it.

This weekend though I am hanging Darwin. I am staying with some friends of mum’s. They are uniting church minister’s (even the wife) and are very cool hippy Christians, who have a very cool hippy Christian house, with lots of cool hippy Christian books and friends so I am really indulging that side of me. I am reading Marcus Borg because Gemma has been talking to me about him and I like him too.

Today, I went to the beach. It made me so happy. I don’t think I realised how much I missed that salty smell and the sounds of the waves and the feel of sand and water on my feet. It was a beautiful beach, surrounded by these amazing cliffs but no one it really. I went for a massive walk. I didn’t swim. They said you could, the box jelly fish don’t come until October but I was still a bit nervous so I went to the pool instead. It is right on the beach so I could still enjoy the view without the worry and I could also swim some laps. it has been a long time and that also made me so happy.

Tonight the hosts are taking me to the beach again to watch the sunset and drink wine with nice cheeses. How perfect is that.