The End of Lindeman

Monday 22nd August
The time had come to hang up my towels and bleach bottles and leave the island. I'd been there for 9 weeks and what journey it was. I remeber my first day when i arrived and thinking to myself "what the hell is this place?" then to where i rather enjoyed the island life with the people i met although the work was rubbish, to where I didn't want to leave at all in the end. The last 2weeks was the best by far. As people started to leave including my beloved Ash and Peter which was not good times at all (the end of the snake and bananna adventures), it meant there was alot of 'last disco's' which you had to go to and also 'leaving drinks' just in GE bar so it was pretty much party, party, party. Also in the last couples of weeks I became very close friends with a french girl called Maud and we got on very well although like everybody else, she could hardly understand me. We would spend most nights in the GE bar playing pool or she would attempt to teach me french or even a group of us would go watch the shows in the main bar.
My last 2 nights were very good. The second before last, it was my leaving do in the GE bar and literally everyone turned up. I was sat there with my beer minding my own buisness when the music went off and Simone and Maia walked in with a big cake and everyone gathered round whilst singing some leaving song. If i'd been a girl there would of been tears. It was such a nice gesture and just made me realise the friendships i'd made on the island in such a short time, it was like a second family some people. For the first time in my life I can say I was speechless.
Then on my actual last night, we decided to take some food from the canteen and a few beers, then a big group of us walked up the mountain for sunset and sit up there for tea. It truely is the best view i've ever seen, so beautiful. The best/ worst depending on how you look at it was when we returned. As i was walking past the pool with Simone, I was suddenly grabbed by all the lads, stripped of my bag and pockets emptied and then as everybody gathered around the pool with their cameras at the ready, it was 1,2,3... splash. Straight in the pool, full clothing still on. Hilarious.
As I left on my the island, all my good friends at the island all came to the jetty to see me off or as Trisha said "make sure I get on the ferry!". So after a few pictures with everyone it was time to board the boat so I gave everyone 1 last hug and kiss. Then as the boat departed everyone stood on the jetty to wave me off. Got to say it was rather emotionally, hehe.
Although I was sad to leave, it was time to move on. I couldn't be on the island forever afterall. My time on the island was complete and I had to get back to Jamie and Emily in Cairns where the van was all set to go. I was catching the 8pm Greyhound coach from Airlie back to Cairns.

Au Revoir Lindeman
xxx