13th February 1992 Day 208

The Diary
A day of sorting things out. My cheque which was arriving by express post wouldn't be there until the afternoon. I picked up my new glasses and then we all went to the bank to close our accounts and get travellers cheques. Easier said than done. 1.5 hours later I had some travellers cheques but my account was still open and I had to bring in the cheque so they could clear it and then send it to a bank in Singapore and close my account. I had to write out a letter to authorise this and the girl helping didn't have a clue what I should write. "What shall I write?" I asked. "Write what you want to do" she said. "Which is....?" I asked. Blank look. So I made something up.

I received a valentine's card from Christy and a long letter from Rob Hay, bought a mozzie net, flip-flops and numerous other small items. I picked up the cheque at 4pm and dashed to the bank as they said they closed at 4:30pm. No they didn't, they shut at 4pm. What a bank.


I had my haircut for a bargain $7 but it still wasn't as short as I wanted it. We had a Chinese in the evening and the waitress spilled a glass of water over me. Went for our last VBs and bumped into the two Irish girls we'd shared with in Katherine. Left after the first set of a blues band with an image problem. AC/DC's new drummer, Alex Lifeson circa '73, Ken from Magnetic Island on bass and a housewife on vocals and bad dancing.


2012
Rob Hay - ex PW mate who now lives in Noo York. May see him at the end of this week, funnily enough.

11th February 1992 Day 206

The Diary
Another letter at poste restante - this time from Dileep. He's transferred to Newcastle, Steve's not seeing Cathy, Rich Goddard and Isobel were made redundant. Heavens to Betsy.


All my documents were present and correct at STA. I ordered some new frames for my lenses, looked at mozzie nets and coils, marvelled at the ineptitude of the Commonwealth Bank and sent Christy the crappest Valentine's card I could find. Also had some more injections including one in the bum. Ouch.

We all went to see JFK at the pictures, a marvellously complicated film that leaves you with a headache from the loud file score and from concentrating too hard. I think Donald Sutherland did it, so that he could marry Marilyn Monroe (who was already dead) and defect to the USSR to end the Cold War and beat Gorbachev to dismantling communism. Or it could have been......

Went for something to eat in town but it was shut. And it was raining. Phoned Christy, reverse charges and discovered my refund had turned up. Yee hah.


2012
Dileep - erstwhile flatmate from my time in Leeds with PW. He now lives in Melbourne and hasn't changed a bit. Steve (Allen) - our other flatmate - probably hasn't changed a bit. Other than he now seems to support Arsenal when he was always a Crystal Palace fan to my recollection. I remember watching the Man Utd v Crystal Palace FA Cup final at his parent's house. I think he down about 20 cans of Guinness during the game. 
Rich and Isobel - other friends from PW days. I think Rich lives in the USA and Isobel lives in Rome.


Mozzie nets, injections etc. - we were getting ready for our imminent departure to Asia.


Refund - I assume my tax refund.

10th February 1992 Day 205

The Diary
The shortest bus journey for quite some time - a mere 4 hours. We'd reached Darwin. I dashed to poste restante to pick up my mail after the 3 of us booked into the Darwin Transit Centre. 3 letters from Christy and 1 from dad. Shame I'd heard all the contents on the telephone.

Filled up at a pancake place and watched the English soccer as per usual. I even managed to phone home and catch someone in. Dad officially retires in April but finishes mid-March because of his holidays. He'll be a man of leisure like me!


2012

Katherine to Darwin - 317km

Total distance since Sydney - 7,869km