The Chaos Fairy - IN AUSTRALIA!!

Holy bananas!!! The Cure have asked 65daysofstatic to remix their songs!!! That's the most exciting news I have. That and the fact that Lars has invited me to go bowling with everybody, so that's good, I might actually have a social life again after being a hermit for TOO long.

I am rediscovering the album P.H.U.Q by the Wildhearts and I'm obsessed with the new Coldplay album. That's it for me, I'm unable to comment further because I'm about to get kicked out of the library (it's closing time). I'm sorry I haven't blogged for so long but I have been going through a lot of personal emotions and I thought it best just to chill out and give myself some space. I'm excellent though, more to come >>>>>> WATCH THIS SPACE!

Speak soon...... xD *your favourite fairy*

Well after all that 'no men' crap I got myself into a bit of a pickle last night with three Germans. Hmmmm. It would have to be a pickle you see because nothing is ever simple for me and we all know I thrive on it being this way. Well one is unbelievably gorgeous (I was in bed watching a Japanese move and eating pizza and he came into my dorm and dragged me out of bed pretty much, plied me with cider) he's into music but he is a TOTAL PLAYER, another is hot but doesn't speak English too well (but well enough) and the third is the cutest, sweetest guy EVER and when he asked me if I liked the hot one I lied and said no then for good meaure I added, 'I'm not into messing around and he's leaving next week so I'm not going there' to which he replied 'I would stay, I wish I was staying' and smiled at me shyly. B*gger. Then he was embarrased and thought he'd made a fool of himself. SO THEN... the hot one cornered me and apologised for not staying with me the night before (I was so drunk I asked him to) and the reason was that he does like me but he knows that the cute one also likes me. So one thing led to another and basically the cute one came home to find me and the hot one snogging like a pair of teenagers on the bonnet of the car. It's funny really, if you tilt your head to one side and screw your eyes up and squint a bit... So hot boy stayed with me in my dorm but there was strictly no hanky panky because sex in a dorm is SKANKY. Which was pointless really because when your roommates wake up to find a man in your bed they all just assume you did it anyway. *sigh*

And the gorgeous one is a devil in disguise. So we simply will NOT go there. He did try to kiss me but I think I shouted NO in his face or something so then he was playing matchmaker for me and the hot one. I'm sitting on my hands.....

It's like being a teenager all over again except we're all over twenty five.

I wasn't planning on blogging today but I honestly have nothing better to do. I've been in bed all day reading Good Omens trying to forget that I don't have a life... yet. I got a phonecall at 4pm from Tree of Life, I have a second interview this week with head office! I really hope I get the job because it is a beautiful shop which trades fairly with India. I bought a skirt from them yesterday (at $35, this could buy me food for two whole weeks) to wear to the interview (a bit presumptious I hear you cry, but the manager gave me positive feedback and lots of tips for my second interview, ie, wear something they sell, so I was daring to presume there would actually be a second interview and lo and behold there is).

My hands are a mess. I worked for a barbecue rib van at the Cairns show for two days last week. I got friction blisters (no jokes, please) and a rather large steam burn (3rd degree - aaarrrrrgggghhh) which is pretty much the size of my left thumb. Chaos reigns supreme. I have photos, I was hoping to 'photoblog' this part of my life but as I mentioned before, I wasn't prepared to blog so I don't have my camera cable. 'What is the Cairns show?' I hear you cry. It is a fairground and exhibition tour, I got to go on rides for free! Well, two rides to be precise, and only when I was accosted by an eleven year old at the end of my first day, which was after 11pm and I'd been at work for thirteen hours with one fifteen minute break. Despite this I loved working there because it got me out of my dorm and actually doing something (I find it hard to get out of bed, I'm so sick of being on my own and I hate my hostel, I tempt myself with REAL FRESH COFFEE every day and I make it last a reeeeeally long time because I'm broke and I sit and read until the staff look at me pointedly). My second shift was fifteen hours, the last day of the show, it was Hell on Earth, mostly because of the damage to my hands the previous day and the fact that I'm just not used to being on my feet so long. I only had a ten minute break on my second day. I got about $350 for my efforts (around 175pounds) hardly seems worth it, does it? Needless to say, in true Dani fashion, I went out and spent $80 on some freshwater pearls which I had custom made into a necklace for me. I'm very happy with them, they are my favourite posession and I earned them I reckon.

The Tree of Life job is only casual, about three part days a week so I still need to look for more work, but if I get the job, and I really really hope I do, I will be working with these beautiful alternative girls who look like they might like music and art and so hopefully I'll be able to make some like-minded friends. I haven't made any friends since I moved to this hostel. Not only is it a dump but it's full of the kind of kids who are happy to live in a dump. There is an army of ants by the head of my bed (lovely) and lots of tiny little creatures running around the kitchen. Needless to say I am moving out on Friday. Fingers crossed the next hostel will be nicer. I have been in Cairns, which is Tropical North Queensland, for two weeks now, the first hostel was a palace but only allowed you to stay a maximum of two weeks and I'm hoping to be here for several months. Before I move into a share house I'd like to be secure in a job and at least try to make a few friends before I move out to the suburbs. Working holidays aren't much like holidays guys, so don't be disillusioned, it's not all sun soaked beaches and parties. Also, Australia does get cold in winter, against popular belief. It rains all the frigging time in the tropics (that's why there are rainforests here). Still I'd rather be in North Queensland than Victoria, it gets FROSTY there in the mornings! Literally.

Despite all this I am happy. I have met some amazing people and I have seen some amazing sights. On the Greyhound bus from Darwin to Cairns I saw the sun rise and set over the mountains. I have seen kangaroos, koalas and crocodiles in their natural habitat, it has been incredible. I've even seen a possum! It was very cute. I wouldn't trade these experiences for the world, I do get lonely but it doesn't last. People come and go, I am going for my free meal with some new roommates tonight. Beats dinner on my own! I hear from S every now and then, which is lovely, but I don't miss him. I always knew how I felt about him and it was always just... nice. It's his birthday today, I should still be in Victoria, which is where he is now, but I could not stand the weather! I have learnt that all I need to survive is, myself. Of course that doesn't stop me craving some kind of company! I met a great guy in my first week in Cairns, he was English and so intelligent, it was nice to converse with someone who actually knew what they were talking about, he loved music and had read a lot of the same books as me, but I wasn't attracted to him. I'm starting to think that side of me is switched off for the time being? It's certainly safer and keeps me saner.

I will update soon, I promise. In the meantime, here are the photos...

Darwin, NT

Perth, WA 1

Perth, WA 2

Perth, WA 3

Perth, WA 4

Hi I'm tired and not the happiest fairy today I'm sorry. I'm not unhappy though, don't confuse this with me being miserable! There was an incredible thunderstorm yesterday, it started very early Saturday morning and basically lasted all day. The roads were flooded! It was crazy, and I'm telling you, you haven't heard thunder like it was thundering here in Perth. LOUD.

I'm off to Melbourne a week today. In fact my flight is at 00:05 so technically it will be very early Sunday morning when I fly out. This means I arrive at around 5am and I'll be grumpy probably and just want to sleep all morning! Les is meeting me at the airport, he's taking a week off work so we can just hang out and have a good time, y'know, see the sights. Everybody keeps telling me I'll love Melbourne so I'm quite excited. Then we're off to Bairnsdale (where Les lives) and hopefully I will be able to work for him and earn some money. I'm hoping to fly up north in August so I can get some sunshine and see some beach action! I have only been to the beach a handful of times since I've been in Australia, now it is too cold and rains all the bloody time - much like England! My brother is obsessed with me going to the Neighbours set and getting Harold Bishop's autograph so I suppose I'd better try and do that whilst I'm there too... ahem...

My hair is goddam bloody awful, it's 50% brown roots and has basically no style. I want to bleach it and have it short and spiky on one side and long on the other but I have no money so I'm not sure if that's going to happen any time soon. I don't know what to do with it at the moment it's honestly unmanageable. I have also been binge eating for a week due to, I think, being on the pill which I have now stopped taking. Bloody hormones!! Grrrrrrrr...... 'Why is she on the pill?' Hmmmm, kind of met someone but it hasn't quite turned out how I expected, suffice to say he's just not very exciting... But he's lovely and kind of cute and from down the road in England! (Small world). I'll call him S for the purposes of the blog. Anyway, I thought it was going to be some kind of exciting fling because I'm not interested in anything serious right now and neither is he BUT, despite the time frame we both knew we were working in, ie, a matter of weeks before we both leave for Melbourne (he's driving, I'm flying) he is far too laid back and we've only seen each other a handful of times and I really wouldn't shout about it *sigh* I've never had a casual fling before and I give it a go and nothing happens. Haha! This could only happen to Chaos. Bless me. Anyway I only have 9mins left on my internet ticket so I'm going to love you and leave you my friends! Here's a little Chaos Fairy adventure:

I got hammered playing a drinking game last Saturday and I crashed out in bed at 11:30pm which was a bit lame and I woke up at 5:30am (couldn't sleep) then  I threw up my Crunchie Nut Cornflakes at around 7:45am and went to work a 9hr shift. Nine hours on a Sunday! Crazy. I was hell tired (Aussie slang for you there). Everyone counted what I had to drink and it turned out to be at least 43 shots I necked in under an hour (it wasn't shots of liquor or anything, it started with cider which in turn led to goon, of course...). *slaps forehead*

I have lots of news obviously, but I'm out of time!

Alrighty. I got my test results and I do not have cancerous spores, arthritis or a lump of any kind. Score! What I do have is an excess of bursal fluid which is basically the liquid secreted by glands in the shoulder used to grease your shoulder joints and help them move more easily. Or in my case, move with great agonising difficulty. I have also not been in pain for four or five days -result! It still twinges every now and then but I can live with that. So long as it's not so goddam painful I have to take extra strong painkillers and then run out of said painkillers and have to take codeine instead and then have an ALLERGIC REACTION leading to me being shivering and feverish and locked in a crummy hostel toilet stall for AN ENTIRE NIGHT. Yep, the less said about that the better. Ha.

I'm going to see Pendulum tonight! Whooooooooop! Bop bop bop. I have no idea how I'm going to get there as half the time the Freo train skips the Showgrounds stop. I might have to walk from Claremont or something but I'll really have no idea where the hell I'm going. I'm just going to follow the people who look like they're on drugs...

I seem to have acquired what I have termed 'instant relationship' (it's a growing phenomenon). At the moment I have an instant boyfriend as opposed to the instant girlfriend I had a few weeks ago. I honestly don't know how this happens but I blame pheromones. For everything. Mylen finds this hilarious but doesn't actually dispute it, (she thinks it's my pheromones too you see). His name is Mattie and he is absolutely gorgeous but so completely stupid it is honestly painful. Bless him, I feel like such an evil bitch but when he said something entirely ridiculous the other night I told him he was really 'special' and he blushed with pride and said nobody's ever said anything so nice to him. Completely unironically. Dear god. Oh he thinks I am just the bestest thing since sliced bread. Scary.

I have a job! It's at Borders Bookshop (oh holy hell not again) and I start on Friday. Thank you thank you thank you! I was beginning to think I was undesirable in a working capacity. Now I have a mantra in my head as I'm sure many of you have your concerns, the mantra is 'I will not sleep with anyone from work, I will not sleep with anyone from work'. So important you have to say it twice for the extra added impact.

Well I'm off now as I need to get ready, despite it being only 3:30pm the gig is at 6pm and I need to eat some instant noodles and wash my barnet. I love you guys! Leave me some more comments :)

xD

PS I really will blog about V Fest. If it isn't hot and sunny tomorrow (highly likely) then I won't go to the beach I will stay right here and blog for you.

Thanks JB :)

I ended up calling Health Direct (which is exactly like NHS Direct) and talking to a very nice nurse who was mildly horrified that the doctor I saw yesterday did not even look me over. (Side note, the doctor I saw yesterday was called J. Mahon, I used to go out with a boy called J. Mahon, I like coincidences like this, they make me smile). She went through a load of questions and then said that I needed to go and see a GP again immediately. She gave me three numbers for surgeries on my road (I live in a suburb quite far from the city) but alas they were all full and wouldn't see me so I jumped on a bus and went back to City Central, the medical centre I visited yesterday. The receptionist told me there were no appointments there either and I really struggled to hold back the tears, I was unsuccessful. She asked 'is it urgent?' and I said 'yes, I've found a lump and I think I need a referral', she called one of the doctors and as his client was running late he saw me straight away. He examined me, prodded and pushed which made me cry more tears (it really frikkin hurts you know) then put me through for blood tests and xrays and an ultrasound. Progress! At last. I had four blood samples taken today which made me fairly woozy as I had only eaten a bowl of Coco Pops, but then I bought my super strong pain killer tabs as the paracetamol/codeine/ibuprofen combo just wasn't even touching the pain, ate a chilli cheese scroll (I'm addicted) and a meat pie. I love pie :) This country is amazing for pie lovers, they have actual pie shops here, you just walk in, order a hot pie and then you eat it from a paper bag! So then I felt sick and drowsy and full so I got a train then a bus home and got back at 5:45pm and slept til about 9pm, oops. I need to call a medi centre called City West to go and get my xrays and ultrasound done, I'm hoping I'll get an appointment Friday or something. I also need to find the medi care centre and apply for a medi care card because then I can claim back half of the fees including prescription fees which is pretty good.

Tomorrow I'm taking it easy. I think our washing machine is fixed which means I don't need to schlepp down to the laundrette to do my washing, woo hoo! But it's only 23 degrees tomorrow so I have no idea how I'm going to dry anything. Oh well. I will finish my packing, for those of you who don't know I brought a ridiculously huge packed suitcase bag thing with me and I am very proud to say that I have successfully managed to downsize to my funky Tesco backpack :D So that's good. Mylen has very kindly offered to stick around a bit longer before going on her trip up north to Exmouth, Broome and Darwin so that I can find a job, save save save and go with her! Which I really want to. Any of you fancy fundraising for me that would be coolios as I am spending far too much on medicare at the moment! ;)

I am reading The Princess Bride by William Goldman it is absolutely brilliant I recommend it - go and buy it! If you don't laugh out loud whilst reading it I will eat my $20 beanie which I love so much....

I went to the doctor yesterday. He didn't even look at my shoulder, just listened to me, told me the problem was escalating (this has been going on for seven years) and that I should seriously look into having MRI scans etc and possible surgery to remove whatever is pressing on the nerves. He also said, 'I'm not saying it's cancerous' and I laughed (I actually laughed) and said 'no of course not'. Because I was so nervous and distracted by the pain, I was too busy cracking jokes about how I can't really afford surgery as I'm a lowly backpacker to actually get everything done that I went there to do, ie, basically get a goddam professional to have a bloody look at my back and tell me if they can see anything unusual. So today when I went and had a shower I noticed a lump the size of an egg on my shoulder blade. I am trying not to freak out but you understand, it's difficult. So I calmed down and thought logically (I like to think I have a logical and analytical mind, it drives me crazy sometimes but in times like this it helps) and so I decided to call my insurance company on their 24hr (emergency) helpline but they didn't answer the frigging phone. So now I'm at a loss ladies and gentlemen, because I cannot afford the $65 walk-in fee to see a GP again and if I go to a hospital the fees are going to be astronomical. Or it might be better if were to be referred to the hospital by a GP, I just don't know how it works in this country. Or it might be better to just come home to England where everything is free on the NHS you just have to wait months/years for them to get round to actually doing anything. I JUST DON'T KNOW.

Well life is just a bit shit at the moment. I'm sorry but it is. And I know I should be thinking +positive+ to achieve positive results but I just cannot muster the energy I'm afraid. I am in so much pain and on so many painkillers that now I have a stomach ache too, so I might actually need to go to a hospital which will be expensive because I am a lowly backpacker with no job. Fucksake. The pain is extremely bad, sharp, dull and throbbing all at the same time; in my shoulder, elbow, wrist and the finger joints of my left hand. Occassionally it hurts to breathe and it definitely hurts to laugh so I'm not doing too much of the latter! It hurts so much it wakes me from my slumber and demands 'more pills wench!'

It's raining hard outside again, literally pouring and quite cold. I've been walking around in a cardigan and beanie IN AUSTRALIA, what's that about? Darn winter.

I'm moving back to the hostel on Friday which is good because I hit lowest of the low today when I realised I was eating Nutella straight from the jar with a fork (imagine my 'raised eyebrow' look, if you will). I did go to the supermarket today but could only buy non-perishables because the fridge still doesn't work and still freezes everybody's food. Oh, and I'm off bread, I'm fast becoming an obese lardy arse with no job. Of course, I'm sure shovelling Nutella in my gob by the forkload isn't too good for my health either...

Well aren't we blessed with my consecutive blogging? I am in absolute agony today. As I have (what doctors can only hazard a guess is) a trapped nerve at the base of my neck (which I have suffered from for about seven years now) and I clearly slept funny last night and f*cked it up again. Bah. Currently my left shoulder blade, my elbow and wrist and oddly every now and then the left side of my chest are KILLING ME. So much so that I feel like I might throw up at any given moment. But I'm still in the city sitting in an internet room so it's not like it's incapacitated me so I can't complain too much I guess. I'm sure there are people worse off than me but right now OH MY GOD I am so sick of this.

Well last night Mylen and I decided to be a bit classy and go through a bottle of vodka rather than a box of goon - something new and different for us! We reasoned (ha bloody ha) that we would have a few glasses and then we could finish the rest tonight as it is Friday night, but alas, true to form, we clean near finished the bottle! There is a bit left but not really too much to shout about. So tonight we're probably going to be on the goon and the vodka. Oh well! What's a girl to do? Last night was pretty good, as always with the lovely German girl with the French first name and the Polish surname (don't ask me!) We sat in the courtyard of her hostel and smoked shisha with the crazy Kiwi who seems to stalk us whenever we are in the building, which lets face it, is quite often, and some French guys (whom the shisha belonged to). I got way too philosophical when I was lying in bed trying to sleep after this, as a born story teller my mind tends to work as if it is relaying a blog entry which can be exhausting. Damn shisha and vodka combo...

Goddam my arm hurts.

My Pendulum ticket came!!!!!! It says 'Pendulum and friends' on it and was $78 (but I'm guessing Les bought it off ebay for me so probably paid more than that - THANK YOU LES!) I am soooooooooooooooooo excited!! I am going on my own but don't think that will be a problem as I am just going to be dancing like a maniac anyway. It's a late night event so no doubt I shall be partying all night again. Oh it's a hard life. I am also off to V Fest on Sunday on my own but I am not worried about that either!

I am feeling more and more sick with the pain I don't know what to do............

So what's new with this fairy? Quite a lot actually! I quit my job. I absolutely hated it in the end. As it was all commission I was working long days on my feet and not earning anything, what's worse is I was paying for travel, food, energry drinks, you name it!! So money-wise I was going into the minus which was not a good thing. Now I am desperately job hunting as I want to go up north with my new friend Mylen in around three and a half weeks. I have a bit of money but not enough to go away with really. When you consider that I am paying $150 p/w in rent but I'm not actually earning anything my money is rapidly going down!

I have lots of photos on my facebook if any of you are wanting to take a look! Lots of photos of sunsets on the beach and general drunken rowdiness.

So the big things I have learnt since being in Australia:

• most everybody who is travelling (or just generally a bit skanky) drinks Goon. This is wine in a box and it is DIRT cheap. You can buy it in two or four litre boxes and it knocks your block off it really does. Goon can contain all sorts of ingredients including FISH EGGS!!! (In fact most boxes contain fish eggs, honestly if you read the ingredients you would never drink it. Well I still drink it I just try not to think about it).
• Clothes are really cheap! I've bought lot's of cute little dresses which go from around £5 to £15 which is good as I somehow managed to fly out here with far too many clothes and shoes but not the right clothes. I didn't have a bikini, a beach towel, flip flops, sandals of any kind! My excuse for this is the fact that I had been living on my mum's sofa and so all of my stuff was in the garage packed away.
• I really hate sand. Actually I already knew that but I just thought I'd reaffirm it. For Nikki's birthday we went to Scarborough Beach (I live on Scarborough Beach Road) to watch the sunset. We cooked sausages, burgers and onions and had a little pre-cooked barbecue! We all drank far too much goon which resulted in Nikki and Gemma wrestling, bundling me with sand and breaking Gemma's thumb. Hah. That's what you get. I am still finding rogue sand in my pockets despite having washed my clothes! Arrrggh.
• I find aircon far too cold and have to wear a jacket or jumper.
• It even rains in paradise. After a week of 34 - 38 degree heat it then rained and oh boy that was some rain. It didn't stop for around thirteen hours straight. I was walking around in a beanie and cardigan armed with an umbrella! Crazy. Is this really Australia?
• I bloody love music festivals. Actually I already knew this too but it's IMPORTANT. I am off to V Fest on my own on Sunday because nobody could afford a ticket. Hey ho I'm sure I'll have a giggle on my own! This leads me nicely to....

Soundwave: It was amazing. I well and truly found my happy place, despite the Red Jumpsuit Apparatus pulling out which was probably the band I was most looking forward to seeing! I finally got to see City and Color live which was brilliant. I love his music, his voice is incredible and his lyrics are genius. I saw: The Offspring, Incubus, Killswitch Engage, From Autumn to Ashes, Fall of Troy, Motion City Soundtrack, Saosin, Scary Kids Scaring Kids, Mindless Self Indulgence, All Time Low, Socratic, Halifax, My American Heart, Madina Lake, The Matches and I'm sure there were more but I can't remember! Purple are the bands I loved :)

I am living in a house by the sea which is great in theory but it's so far away from the city I am spending far too much on travel so I am moving back to a hostel not this Friday but next Friday. Countless times Nikki, Mylen and Gemma have sneaked me into their hostel and I've shared one of their bunks which is NOT comfortable - especially when it's the top bunk! So it makes sense that I move back over to the heart of the drama. Sadly Gem and Nik flew to Adelaide today so I probably won't see them again! Which is weird because we spent so much time together and Nikki was the first friend I made when I landed. That's going to be the hardest part of travelling, saying goodbye, because I am a notoriously soppy git.

I love the beach, I've been to a few gigs, I've made lots of friends, I am going to Rohin and his girlfriend's house tomorrow night with Mylen for a session then we are going to an indie club called Amplifier which I am told is open til 6am, so that should be interesting! Last time I went to a club was Black Betty's on Saturday and they had a cover band who played lots of rock and indie songs which was amusing to sing along to. We didn't get home until 5am and the clocks went back too so we partied for an extra hour! It was a pretty heavy, crazy night but we had such a laugh. I've been a bit rough this week after drinking five nights on the trot. I would love to say I'm going to tone it down a little but I wouldn't like to lie. I am in Australia having the time of my life!!!

Howdy!! I'm in Australia! Perth, WA to be exact. I've been here just over a week and I'll be quick because I really need the loo and I only have 20mins left on my 'net ticket.

My job
I love it! It has it's moments of course but mainly it's good for the following reasons:
1) it's for charity so I am actually doing some good. I sign people up to make ongoing donations to 'Mission Australia', our main focus is youth suicide and homeless children. Australia has the second highest suicide rate in the WORLD, the ratio is one per day which is terrible. Around 37,000 children are homeless every night and 10,000 of them are under the age of twelve. Homelessness has always been something I have felt very strongly about and I gave to Shelter in England and as for children's charities I donated to Great Ormand Street Hospital and Pennies from Heaven (http://www.penniesfromheaven.co.uk/q-a.pdf). I feel very proud!!
2) it's commission based so when I'm on form and super duper friendly I sign lots of people up which makes lots of money for the charity and lots for me! (I am wrestling the guilt on this one, it's hard but what's a girl to do, I need the spindooza)
3) I get to work in the sunshine all day, every day. Whoop!
4) the people I work with are B R I L L I A N T. They are really unbelievably friendly, sweet, funny and very cool. They are all into music, art and movies (sound familiar) and my boss is GOOOOORGEOUS, his name is James and he's only 27 or something. There are lots of English and Irish backpackers working there so I don't feel like the odd one out!
5) the company I work for have bases in all major cities so if I do a good job here I am guaranteed a job wherever I go. Most successful people work their way very quickly to leader/trainer and then they get sponsored by the charity to stay in the country if they are from overseas!! So if that's something I feel I'd like to do in the long run then that's pretty exciting :)
The sunshine
It has rained a little bit but it has still been warm! It's bloody lovely. The beaches are extremely clean and the water is beautiful :)
Perth - the good, the bad and the plain ugly...
In all honesty after 48 hours in this place I was less than thrilled. It is a beautiful state, very lush and green and the Swan River is gorgeous. However the city itself is a sleepy town, it is an overgrown concrete jungle which, for some reason, the government keeps granting permission to companies to build huge hideous towerblocks. I don't know why this is as many of the previous towerblocks remain empty. The mind boggles it really does.