and life gives me just what it decides I need.

My posts won't have photos for awhile as I'm using Mum's laptop which doesn't have my camera program - it's in storage in brisbane with just about everything else I own in the world.

The day I flew out of mt Isa, mum was taken to hospital with pneumonia. She has never been hospitalised before - except to have five kids- and doesn't take well to being ill. It is good that I have the time to care for her while the need is there.

It was hard to leave Mt Isa after five great years. I decided to become a landlord and rented my house to a young colleague. Centacare care me a lovely lunch that so many attended - I was surprised. The packers were so efficient that all the paperwork etc I'd left out to bring with me is currently in storage. I have 186 boxes and yes- mostly books and fabric!

I had a surprise farewell at mt Isa airport - an indigenous family I've worked with drove 140km so the kids could see me get on the plane and then they'd know i had left and weren't just not coming anymore. They'd had a cake made for me - it looks like a wedding cake! heart shaped, pink, covered with roses and says "Farewell Jill". Such thoughtfulness and kindness.

but somethings don't change! Telstra! Over two weeks ago I went into the Telstra shop to get a mobile - I had to hand in the work one, and the car! I chose the mobile and plan I wanted, and because Telstra was upgrading their program, I couldn't get activated as I was a "migrating" customer. So I got a $10 pre-paid to see me through the next 5 days - and I still don't have a phone service despite being put on hold for many hours, hung up on and transfered back and forth. I've spoken to 27 telstra employees!

with the current economic climate semi-retirement isn't looking good, though i have enough books and fabric to outlast me. There seems to be plenty of work available and I've put in an expression of interest with four positions on the Gold Coast. I'm holding on to the belief that the right one will present it'self at the right time.

Living in the "city" is very different, the traffic hazzards are different, no-one sleeps on the roads here, and they whizz by so fast. Even buying a car is a daunting task that i will have to tackle sooner or later. Then again they do have a public transport system. I'm currently driving Mum's car - this too was scarey as she has always not allowed me to do this. Having shopping available at just about all days and endless variety is still unique.

I'm continuing to knit beanies for the homeless and searched Mum's garage for left over wool. I had an interesting find - a jumper in size 8 she had been knitting for Dan - size 8 would have been when he was around 6-7 years old and he's now 24. So I unravelled it and it makes good beanies.