After the 300 kph satisfaction of a Formula 1 Grand Prix weekend, I needed to find somewhere a little less dangerous so that my now empty pockets could recover in peace! Thankfully, the guys at World Wide Workers managed to set me up with some fruit picking in Nyah West. After several cries of, "Where the f**k is Nyah West?" I was assured that it was a great place to go and earn some cash, lots of work, paid by the hour and a bar to keep you entertained on the weekends! I was just relieved to have something sorted...little did I appreciate how my life was going to change forever!
The elderly woman's concern on the bus should have given me a clear indication of what I was getting myself in for. At Nyah, I was deposited at the side of the road, I was the only person who got off the bus, my rucksack and its big brother were soon covered in a huge cloud of dust as the bus powered off into the distance! As the dust selttled, I soon realised I was in NO MAN'S land!!! The surrounding field's were all brown as a result of the drought. The only sign of life was at the petrol station across the road where I headed in the hope of finding a public telephone...however on further investigation it proved to be a pizza parlour, video rental store, grocery store and bottle shop. The only thing that was missing was the TAB...and a phone. I was assured by the toothless gentleman behind the counter, that there was a public telelphone further up the road to nonexistance! I was surprised to find it located next to a Post Office/Bank...once I had placed the call...there was no turning back! 20 minutes later my pick up had arrrived to take me over to Nyah West and my new accommodation at the "Grand Hotel." The term "Grand" has been used rather loosely with regard to this hotel...I'm sure it was a "Grand" place to be in the 50's but I think its been living off its former glory for sometime now... the "Grand" creats thoughts of marble floors, four poster beds, spa facilities and 24 hour room service...not one of these services was made available to me...I hear that the new owners will try and return it to its former glory!! A tough task if ever there was one!
Once I had paid my first weeks rent I went and introduced myelf to the guys, I interupted their beer bombing...but I was soon being welcomed into the land of craziness...Jessie suggested that, "We're here for a good time, not a long time!" I thought that was a great way to think about it...fruitpicking...until I later found out he had spent the previous 2 years in Nyah. Once the bags found a home, I joined in with the afternoons shenanigan's, if you can't beat them, join them???
The start of my fruit picking career was held up for a day as not enough of the gang were up out of bed in time for work after the night's session in the local metropolis of Swanhill. Back to bed it was then and the afternoon was negociated by reading the newspaper and watching the premiership highlights...not a bad way to start my new career!!!
The saga continues when i can find cheaper internet time!
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