Tami Down Under

Sweet and Sour News

Well, it has been ages since I last wrote anything on here. What can I say, Im just having too much fun! Actually, I just havent had much happen recently that would be of any interest to you. However, things have changed! Im no longer working as a diving instructor which kinda sucks, but I have to work on some kind of farm in order to extend my working visa for another year. So Im currently working on a prawn farm... yes thats right, a prawn farm! On my first day, I was artificially inseminating prawns, by strapping them to the table with velcro, sticking a tube into her lady bits, and pushing some prawn sperm into her. But it didnt end there.... then I had to hold it still while somebody burnt its eye off(!), which apparently releases hormones to help fertilisation or something!!! Sounds very wrong, but was strangely intriguing. I only did it that once though! The rest of the time, Im feeding, fertilising the ponds, doing maintenance work and stuff. Its pretty boring, but bearable for 3 months til I can get back to diving. And I do get to race around the ponds on quad bikes which is cool. Got 2 months to go!

Im still living with Dave and Jill, and we've just resigned our lease so I'll be sticking around here for a few more months.

Now seeing as you havent been able to see for ages now, Ive got a few more photos (of me naturally!) for you. Some of them are actually of some humpback whales. Its been whale season for a little while and we've seen loads over the past couple of months. They come up really close to the boat (the closest was 3m off the stern, 5m from me!). They're huge!! get up to about 18m and they are absolutley amazing. The crew were more excited than the passengers!!! One day we had 1 that was just playing with us. he was tail and fin slapping, and breaching away for ages really close to the boat and according to the skipper was the best display he's seen in 20 years! Awesome stuff!!

Now to the sad bit!! im sure you've all heard of the legend that is Steve Irwin the Crocodile Hunter, and also of his recent death. a very sad day over here as well. What you wont know, is that my housemate was the person who had to administer all the first aid and stuff before the medichoppers arrived! He was filming not far away from an island where 1 of our boats operate, where my housemate's the safety officer (lifeguard - but better trained -defibs, oxygen etc). His crew raced him to the island where she had to take over the emergency care. He was already dead when they got him to the island; she couldnt get an airway and there were other signs that he was gone as well, but she still had to keep going until someone more qualified arrived. Eventually they did, the guy stuck his hand into Steve's chest, found that the stingray barb had pierced the heart and called time of death within 2 minutes of arriving! Nuts!!! She didnt know it was him until he arrived on the beach wearing his Khakis!! A very surreal moment and a very sad day.

Take it easy. xx

posted by Tami @ 8:13 pm