So now the rest of the story of our time in Alice begins. Alice is a place in the middle of no where full of people from everywhere. So of course there are often problems. The first time we drove through town was an eye opener. I was just not used to groups of adults hanging around in the middle of the day and seeing drunks at the library. I must admit I was a little scared, but I soon got over that. Most trouble in town is between the indigenous, not the whites. I never felt unsafe at all and soon grew to like Alice and its uniqueness.
I worked at the hospital on the medical and surgical ward about four days a week. Mainly lates and weekends and then Mark worked mornings and a couple of days during the week. Mark got a job working for Country Diesel. So financially Alice was definitely worth it for us!!
Working in Alice for me was hard, interesting and very different. 95 % of my patients were Indigenous with various health concerns. It took a little adjusting but I soon got the hang of it, but culturally it is so so different. I think everyone in Australia is aware of the health and social issues of our Indigenous but I never really truly appreciated it until now. I have never nursed so many people with renal, diabetic and cardiac problems that are so young and so problematic. I looked after people from the communities out of town, town folk and people from the town camps (which tend to be the bad areas) and like most cultures there are all sorts of people. I met some truly lovely patients and some not so nice ones!! It is so sad though to see the domestic violence, alcohol and other issues that plague these guys.
The people I worked with were mostly great, some I think may have been there a bit long. I was surprised how many Indian and African nurses were there working, not so many Australian nurses. I thought I would have trouble understanding the patients, but it was the nurses sometimes who were the hardest to understand!!!
 |
| My work |
 |
| Marks work |
 |
| Bell and I after work one day |
The kids were spoilt having so many friends around, (12 or so kids at any one time). So you can imagine what happened when Halloween came about. We don't normally celebrate it, seeing we are Australian not American but the kids beg and begged!! So we let them dress up and we all bought lollies. Our resident face painter did her magic and they looked great. Then they went trick or treating around the caravans. They got full of sugar and went crazy, so a pretty normal Halloween I think!!
The mornings were spent working so the afternoons were often spent at the pool. It was so hot most days it was the only way to truly cool down. The kids have come along way with their swimming. I have been teaching them their strokes and they seem to be getting it!!
 |
| Charlotte and Finn |
 |
| Charlotte and Charlotte |
 |
| Jake |
 |
| The Crew |
I should probably mention the people we have met in the park. We have the Ellis family, Dan. Kaz, Sam, Will and Zac. The Furmage family, Cam, Ton, Jordan and Riley. The Beeson family, Marty, Bell, Charlotte and Meg. The Richard family, Pete, Sam, Georga, Claire and Finn. The Cronan family Matt, Nikki, Hazza, Will and Emma for a week. Just to name a few!!!
 |
| Charlotte, Georgia, Claire, Jordan and Charlotte |
 |
| Jake and Riley |
 |
| Jake and Charlotte after the market |
 |
| Puzzle time |
 |
| Pizza night |
 |
| Bad girls concert. They dressed up, got tattooed and put on a concert!! |
The Beeson, Ellis and us went out to the iconic Monties for drinks and dinner one Sunday night. Was great sitting outside listening to music with mates. Even with the kids there!!! We sat them at the end of the table and tried to pretend they weren't there.
We spent a lot of our spare time sitting around drinking and socialising with the neighbours, in between work etc. I know sounds tough right!! One night we all pooled our meals and had a Mexican night. We set up the tables on the road and away we went!!
Tone is a face painter and our children got spoilt rotten having their faces painted so much. She is a really talented artist and I just had to share my two favourite photos. Thanks so much Ton!!
Mark and I took the kids out to Rainbow Valley one day. About an hours drive from Alice Springs. Its a really beautiful but hot place. We did the short walk, took some photos then headed home!!
In between working we tried to still see as much of Alice as possible. We spent one day out at the East MacDonnell Ranges. First stop was Emily Gap. A picturesque place with red rocks, white sand and the blue blue sky. Some pretty nice Aboriginal art too!!
Then on to Jessie Gap, pretty similar to Emily Gap!!!
Corroboree Rock was next. Apparently it was onced used as a storage area for the Aboriginal people, but they think it wasnt used for Corroborees as there is no water source nearby. So not quite sure why its called that then???
Trephina Gore was pretty but I imagine it could be spectacular especially when it has water in it. Was very dry when we went. It has these magic red cliffs and once again I was taken aback by the beauty of the reds against the green of the trees and the blue sky. Didn't spend much time here, had a walk around and got our feet dirty in the mud.
 |
| We found a little moisture! |
Flynns Grave is just out of Alice so we stopped on our way out one day to do some 4wding. Pretty specie view from there of the Macdonnell Ranges. Reverend John Flynn was instrumental in the establishment of the Flying Doctors.
We headed out one afternoon with the Beesons, and Dan and Cam for a spot of 4wding at Owen Springs. Was a basic dirt road most of the way, through usual scrub and dry areas of NT. Then we got to the river bed, and that was amusing. The boys had fun driving in and out and luckily didnt get bogged. I went in the car with Marty and nearly wet myself with laughter when he started to spin the tyres, until he informed me he hadn't even put it in 4wd drive! We had a BBQ tea, and then headed back, Was nice to get away for the arvo.
 |
| kids running in the river bed |
Mark had been told about a 4wd track just out of Alice on crown land. The Beeson crew and us went out one day and had a lot of fun. It seemed like a boring dirt road until you got further in and found the fun bits. Had a great afternoon out took the Cruiser through his paces along some hills and rocks. Dinted him a little but all ok!
We seemed to be spending most of our time working, so Mark took a couple of days off work. We went with the Beesons out to the West Macs. We drove for an hour or two out to Gosse Bluff, this amazing crater. You drive up to it and then leave the car and walk the rest of the way. I was expecting to arrive at the edge but no we were in the middle of it, without even realising it. It is a place of Aborginal significance. The story goes that a baby in its cradle (dish) fell from the arms of its mother (a celestial star, in the dream time) and created the crater.
We walked along the track next to the dried creek bed at Redbank Gorge. We got about half way into the gorge and turned back, kids were annoying and we wanted to do a few more walks at the other gorges. Apparently there is a nice place to swim at the end, but not for us on this day.
Next we stopped at the look out at Glen Helen over looking Mt Sonder. Found some water in the distance, looked inviting. We drove into Glen Helen resort but didn't stop, another unique NT "resort"!!
Ormiston Gorge was fabulous. Belinda was very mean and made us walk up to White Gum Lookout. I like to bush walk but have an aversion to steps, there were heaps and heaps on this walk. Meg chucked it and I wanted to too!! It was bloody hot and I wanted a swim. But in truth it was worth it, a spectauclar view and took some great photos. Then was rewarded for my good behaviour with an icecream and a swim in the gorge. We got changed and walked down to the gorge, I just dumped my gear and jumped straight it, boy it felt good. Until we experienced it ourselves I hadn't really understood what hot hot days feel like!!
We stopped at the Ochre Pits on the way home. A short walk in to the pits to see the ochre that the Indigenous use for their paintings etc. Your not allowed to take any but the kids tried to steal some in their pockets. Naughty little buggers, they had been told not too!!
And back again to my favourite place Ellery Creek. This time I actually got in. Was fabulous laying about, swimming and looking up at the cliffs. We took the kids boogie boards and pool noodles and swam through the gorge. One of those magic moment on this trip!! After a swim we had a BBQ tea and then went back to Alice.
 |
| Smart Ass jumping in my photo!! |
We had a terrific day out with the Beesons at the West Macs. It was a long day but so so worth it. Days like this remind me what our trip is all about.
We took the kids to the Araluen Arts Centre, they have a gallery, museum, plane centre and lots more in one area. The gallery was great, some amazing and expensive aboriginal art. There's an especially gorgeous painting of Albert Namijira there that I loved. We met an old aboriginal lady called Maggie again that day who was selling more of her art, but it didn't take our fancy so no sale today. Then we went to the museum part. Kids and I enjoyed the first hour of it but not the last as we waited for Mark to finish!! Then went to have a look at a few old planes in the hangers out back. A quaint little museum, most exciting part was walking in an old plane and watching a movie!
We took the kids to the Royal Flying Doctors in Alice. Cost a bit, for what it is, but its going to a good cause. You watch a 15min video and then do a self directed tour of the museum. I liked looking at all the old medicines they had there and the inside of the plane. But I was disappointed, not one mention of my favourite TV show from a few years back, the iconic Aussie series Flying Doctors. Was sure they would have had something, sniff sniff!!!
 |
| Jakes a little over museums! |
Pictures are a little out of order and am too lazy to fix it now. We went to the School of the Air on the same day we went 4wding with the Beesons. Once again another interesting place, pretty similar to our schooling. Kids liked it!!
Then the Cronans joined us. They had been in QLD working since we left them after Cape York. Was so good to see them again. Had a lot of fun catching up. Unfortunately I worked almost every day they were there!! We did manage a trip out to Palm Valley with them and Dan and his kids. First stop was a walk to the look out over looking the valley. Some spectacular rock formations. Kids had a blast crawling and climbing them.
Then further into the valley we saw our first palm tree, was so weird to see a palm so far from the sea. The day was overcast and cool (a good thing in NT, except for the photos!). We walked around the valley and it actually started raining. We were in the middle of the dry desert area of NT, in a rainforest with palm trees and it rained. What a surreal moment!!
 |
| Emma, Zac and Charlotte |
 |
| Jake and Will |
The local wives tale is that if you see the Todd river flow three times, you've been there long enough to be a local. The river had been bone dry the whole time we were there. Then one day on the way to work I looked outside my window and was gobsmacked to see the the river flowing. Took a few snaps and was almost late for work.
Another unique part of Alice is what happens to cars left on the side of the road, they get burnt. So often we would see an old car and the next day it was a charred mess. Bell and I were on our way to work one morning and took a snap of this one. Only in NT!!
The Beesons left Alice earlier than us, Bell had finished work and they wanted to see Uluru and Kings Canyon. But its ok we will also see them for Christmas too!!
We went one evening before Pete and Sam left out to Vietnamese, with the Ellis family too. Food was pretty good, except I ordered King Prawns stirfry. Unfortunately I didn't realise they would be would be whole and deep fried. I think everyone else found it amusing seeing me dissect them!! Nice to have a night out.
And our last major thing before we left, Christmas carols. We went with the Ellis and Furmage families. We just love Christmas and was so nice to start to get in the spirit of the festive season. Was interesting to hear carols sung in Pitinjarra too! And the fire works were amazing such an awesome display!!
Okay so that almost ends our blog of Alice. I guess to summaries how we feel leaving is that we are excited to be heading to the coast for Christmas. We do like Alice but hate the heat this time of year. It just got so hot in the last few weeks. And living in a caravan, air conditioned but small with kids inside!! We spent so much time working here, the whole point I suppose. But looking back we still managed to do a lot of site seeing too. Both Mark and I enjoyed the work here and could easily have permanent jobs here, but have declined those offers for now. I think we will come back sometime, but definitely not in the summer. We were lucky to have lots of friends around, but at the same time its not always easy living so near people. Truthfully it was hard at times, but luckily the good times far outweighed the bad and we all left as friends!! Hopefully to meet up one day again on our travels. So for now we say farewell to the NT but see you sometime!!
