so this is ingham huh?

So I've been here for about a week now. Dad's been gone since Sunday and since then I've been hanging out on my own.

Dad leaving was sad. It was fun doing the touristy thing together, and getting my place set up. I'm really glad he came up and he was a huge help.

And now I'm all on my own in a strange town, over 2000kms from everyone (everyone of course being everyone I know and want to spend time with) !

I have to admit that I have had moments where I've thought... "Oh man... what am I doing here?"

Had I stayed in Newcastle this summer, I know I would have had an amazing Christmas and summer.

Last year's summer was one of the best ever. Hanging out with Luke in Parnelliville and the east end, going to the beach, snorkeling, taking photos, coffee with mates and generally having fun. Coming to Ingham meant not being able to spend this summer in the same way. I have to admit I feel pretty bummed out about that.

Also... I miss Luke, Mum, Dad and Kirra lots (and lots). Not to mention all my buds.

But I'm hoping it will all be worth it if this job goes well. And I will get to spend a few days in Newcastle over Christmas. I'll just have to make the most of them!!

Anyway - what can I tell you about Ingham?

Ingham is a small town, about 120kms north of Townsville on the Queensland coast. The town is supported by local sugar cane industry - every where you look in this town theres a rail crossing for a cane train line. In fact, there's a cane line running right behind my house.

I was warned about the noise by the real estate agency. But I haven't found it to be a problem. From where I'm sitting right now through my window, I can just see some cane fields in the distance. Gimme some sugar baby...

The town has a population of about 3000 people. It's big enough to have pretty much everything you could need in the way of shops and services including a local swimming pool (50m, no less), picture theatre and to my amusement even a scrap booking shop. There's a Coles and Woolies and Ingham is also lucky enough to host a KFC, Maccas and an Eagle Boys.

It kind of reminds me of Kurri Kurri, north of Newcastle. Wide, streets with lanes divided by huge median strips, lined with parking spaces. Lots of small businesses and little shops. A typical rural centre. The layout of the town is kind of weird though. The main street sort of forks in two different directions and run off in a millions other directions. (As a road designer I think dad found Ingham a tad frustrating).

My apartment is on the outskirts of town (though I'm still only a 5 minute walk from Woolworths). It's part of a block of 4 flats, which I share with two little old ladies and a contractor who's working on the local hospital and is only around 4 days a week.

On my first day here, dad and I were accosted by Ethel, the lady who lives below me.

Ethel was most upset as the land lady had asked her to move her "bonsais" (not really bonsais, just small trees in oriental pots...) out of the section of the carport which was apparently meant to be my space.

Not wanting to make any enemies on my first day here, dad and I assured her that we didn't want to upset her and that we really didn't mind if she left her "bonsais" in the car port. Later that day the land lady showed up to give me a remote control to the TV which she'd forgotten to leave. Dad and I told her we really didn't want to disturb Ethel and that we were quite happy to park elsewhere, but she told us Ethel had to move anyway.

Apparently after dad and I left went and told Ethel she had to move her gear, and then started shifting everything herself! (I'm sure that's breaking the term of the lease but anyway...)

Needless to say when we saw Ethel later that night she was not a happy camper. The poor things was genuinely upset and I felt really bad. She was out in the car port cutting down her clothes line with a knife and proceeded to tell me about what happened, whilst brandishing the knife about to punctuate her story.

Eventually it all got sorted out and the guy at the front said he'd park on the street. But yeah - I'm hoping to have a quiet time from now on.

Thought I might make Ethel a cake or something.

I start work tomorrow!!! Yea ha! I'm looking forward to getting stuck into the job and seeing what it's like. I had a call from the girls at the paper today and they've organised a welcome dinner for Dannae and I (Dannae is another journalist who's starting with the paper the same time as I am) on Thursday night. I thought that was really sweet.

I quite like everyone of met from the paper so far. Last Saturday night dad and I went to a calendar launch that the paper had organised to raise funds for the local footy team. Actually.. it was a nudie calendar (teehee). There were lots of photos of bottoms around...

But it was a nice opportunity to get to chat to everyone from the paper. Sad thing is most of them are leaving!! That's why they've hired Dannae and I. One is going overseas, on is having a baby and one is moving to the sunshine coast. Oh well. The paper's manager will still be there though and she seems pretty cool.

Tonight I'm meeting Dannae, the other new starter at the paper for a drink. I'm looking forward to meeting someone who is in the same boat as me - I hope she is fun.

Well. I have exhausted my blogging muscle for one day I think.

If you are reading and you haven't sent an email.. then get your act together!

xox tegz