Welcome back to Perth!

It has been well over a month since I arrived back in Perth and I can't believe how time has flown.It has not been six months since I left home and now I'm back where the Australian adventure began.

So touching back down in Perth was a great feeling.Seeing Ayres rock from the plane was incredible.If I don't get the chance to go see it, at least I have seen it from a bird's eye view.Kyle's lovely parents came to pick us up from the airport and dropped Gillian and I back at the Coolibah hostel, where we stayed when we first arrived.We quickly got settled in and straight away felt the Perth heat...it was going to be an awesome summer.Now it was time to find a job to build up the money funds that was so outrageously spent over the Christmas holidays...worth every penny (or should I say cent)!I signed up to a temp agency the second day after we arrived and by that night I had a job lined up and waiting to start the following morning.The position was to last a week, working for a government agency called the Small Business Development Corporation in which I sat in a nice air-conditioned shop at the enquiries counter handing out business licence information and answering calls, booking people into business workshops.It was ok but I didn't get enough training to be able to understand what I was doing or understand the Australian way of doing things like taxes (bleh)!!!The job was only for a week, so I survived.The agency managed to get me another job lined up straight after, and that is where I am today.I am currently working for the Western Australia Police Department for the police licensing unit as part of the firearms unit.My official job title is a data entry/scanner but I get given a lot of different things to do but recently I have been getting paid to sit and twiddle my thumbs.They actual brought me in to replace an Irish girl but she has decided to stay on for another month...so I am waiting in the corner (playing games hehe) till people hand me things to do.I am getting use to issuing firearm licences but I can't tell you anymore than that or they will shoot me (pun intended).It is a very strict office as I actually get access to the police databases and records.It is a very interesting place and the officers are funny.It makes me want to join the police department when I become a forensic anthropologist.Yes for those who didn't know, I am moving to Edinburgh to do a master's in forensic anthropology...so just call me Bones in the making lol!

So that is everything to do with the work front.Now to tell you everything in between starting with my accommodation fiasco.We stayed in Coolibah for the first 3 weeks when we got to Perth...but with the constant stealing of food which we couldn't afford to keep buying over and over again, we decided to give another hostel a try.This hostel (called the Oasis....so far from the truth) was an inhabitable dump.It was dirty and unfriendly.The only thing that was good about it was that we had our own bathroom in our room but still sharing with 4 other people.It was not a comfortable place to live so I booked myself back at Coolibah, a 5 star hotel compared to the other place (ok exaggerating a little but you get the idea).So I am now back at Coolibah and very happy to be back where people actually know me.As most of you know from the previous blog and you have probably noticed her presence back in Aberdeen, that Gillian is no longer with me and now back in good old Scotland.I hope she is coping with the cold whereas I am suffering with the heat.

So when I'm not at work, which is 7am to 3pm Monday to Friday, I get home and usually sleep and make dinner and when the sun goes down and it's not so hot, I have started running (ok power walking) around the city.I am hoping by the time I leave I will be able to run the route I take.Other nights I have been going to the library to study and get my brain in gear for when I go back to do master's.Some weeknights I catch the train up to Kyle's where we usually cook up a storm and some seriously good food and chill out in front of the TV.One night we even went out for a bike ride, well I was on a bike and Kyle ran...he is trying to get back in shape before his football season starts.I've been to watch him at training and it honestly doesn't look like fun...sorry Kyle lol!We have also been to see a few good movies; one includes the Kings speech...which I recommend!Also, we have seen the Black Swan and the Dilemma.

Since being back in Perth, I have taken a trip to Mandurah which is about an hour and a half south of the city.It is a little, peaceful town, very scenic but full of really gorgeous and expensive houses with their own jetty and big boats docked at them.Apparently we found Kyle's future house lol.This coming weekend I am heading down with the Nicol family to Margaret River, 4 hours south of Perth.It is a long weekend here in Australia so I have 4 days with them.Margaret River is known for its wineries and stunning beaches.I can't wait.

Other events have included Australia Day in which I became an Aussie for the day, even getting the day off work to go to a BBQ of one of Kyle's high school friends.It was a really good day sitting out in the sun and playing some cricket (badly I might add).At night, Kyle drove down to the city, joined by his brother Stu and his girlfriend Jenny and we sat up at King's Park which overlooks the city and watched the plane show and the fireworks.It was a brilliant day.

For Gillian's last weekend, we went up to Swan Valley, back to the amazing chocolate factory and then ended up at a place called Supa Golf!The golf balls were the size of my fist, which doesn't make this sport any easier to play...you would think with bigger balls, you couldn't miss (but you would be wrong)!The course was ridiculously hard but the laughs kept coming.Let's just say that balls were flying everywhere and it was a common occurrence to find your ball on the green of whole 11 when you were only on hole 9.We ended the day at the cinemas watching the Black Swan.On the Sunday, we experienced our first AFL game.We went to Patterson's stadium in Perth where we watched the West Coast Eagles, Hawthorn Hawks and the Freemantle Dockers play each other.The Dockers were supposed to be the best team there by miles (and in fact the team Kyle supports)!I think we must of been bad luck charms as they lost both games. Fair to say we were not there to the end!

The last few weekends I have to say have been the best weekends where the sun has been shining and going for dips in the ocean, in the pool, sunbathing and enjoying some drinks.This past weekend, on Friday, me and Kyle cooked up a curry for the Nicol family.The night turned into a drinking marathon and playing drunken Charades.The boys (Kyle, Stu and dad Hugh) against the girls (Me, Jenny and mum Elaine) and I don't remember the last time I laughed so much, it was actually really sore to breathe.I even got to spend the night which was a pleasant change to my hostel bed.On Saturday, we took it easy in the blazing sun.Kyle's parents cooked up a big BBQ feast before Kyle and I got all dolled up to go to The Shed in the city where we watch an amazing live band with friends Jonno and Dave.It was a brilliant night with drinks and dancing and the band was unbelievable.They are there every Saturday, so much of my weekends are now planned lol!

There has been so much going on like karaoke nights and trips to the Bursewood Casino (where I gambled no money, just fed my other addiction to alcohol.....JOKING)!!!There has been so much little things going on in between but I think you know all the big things...oh maybe just the bomb scare in the road next to my hostel, but hey I have wrote a blog, so that means I am alive!!!!Please, don't panic lol!

Before I finish this blog off, I would just like to add my thoughts about the earthquake in Christchurch, New Zealand.Last week, watching everything on the news was very tough to see, now after being there and recognizing many places that we went too which is now just a pile of rubble on the ground.The church we climbed to get the views of the city is no longer standing.I hope that all the Contiki staff that was on our trip and who we met are all safe.

I hope everyone back home is doing fine and all is well.I hope to be calling everyone in the next week or so, so please be warned.

Miss everyone lots.

Love Claire xxx