Slipping Sands, Moreton Bay, Queensland

The next morning we started early to the next destination – slipping sands. It is what it sounds like, an island with slipping sands but formed perfectly and very steep. Time to get out the wax for the sandboards!
On the way to them I learned how to drive the 108 m2 and 24 tonnes heavy houseboat. It is actually not very easy to drive straight!! Did some fishing on the way and sat on the top deck to have a great view over the mangrove filled channels… as a sun was shining I was once thanking myself for doing what I am doing. Doing what I want to do. :)









On arrival we had to struggle to get the anchor fixed in the muddy ground. Strong currents and tides doesn’t makes it easy – and the anchor does not only weight 5kg.. oh well, boys job ahhhhhhhhh not anymore… :)



Everybody got exited to run up the hills and behave like little kids getting a present. Even the dog run with us to the top of the hill, but sand boarding was not her best sport.
We had a great time jumping wild, boarding down the hills, climbing old trees and jumping weird pirouettes to crash in the warm soft sand. Nice stunts , nice pic´s and even a better mud fight :)

Moreton Bay, Coochiemudlo , November 2009

Time for a break – 3 month of work already! :)
Off to Queensland for a bit to see an old friend from back home who is living on a houseboat. Never lived on a houseboat before so thats gonna be interesting. Do i need seasickness pills?Will there be a toilet? And has it got a lightning rod? Hm...
My friend Marcus is kind of unorganised so I was very happy when he picked me up from the gold coast airport – even on time! Very impressed.
After an hour drive we made it to a small harbour to drive in the dark with a little dinky the choppy way to the houseboat which lay in front of Coochiemudlo, a small island in the wonderful Moreton Bay.
Thats actually close to the spot where they found a great white shark, bitten by another great white. They suspect a 6 m long one! Not bad hey. Get the snorkel gear!! :)

The next morning to sun kicked me out of bed at 6 am, well more Barry, the owner of the boat. “lets go for a walk with Teasi!” Teasi is a small old sweet dog who needed to go for a pee. And she is scared of water…. alright alright I am coming.. !
Along the beach of Coochiemudlo bright red colours were blending me in my moring eyes.. it’s the colour of the sand, and together with the green trees and the blue sky a nice start for the upcoming day.

I didn’t know what was expecting me at all – just today – we planned to bet on some horses and watch it in a local pub because its Melbourne day! The most famous horse race in Australia. Before that we spent the day with jumping in the water, hanging around on the top deck doing nothing.

Driving with a little dinky to a bar is even more fun. Betting on the wrong horse wasn’t so fun but being there was everything ;) We were a fun group of Germans, Australian and Polish and on the way to ship along / across the Islands of the Moreton Bay.

Bondi to Bronte Art walk October 2009

Once a year, artists create the ocean walk with over a hundred abstract art pieces along bondi to bronte...

Just another Sunday...

Hang over, early morning run and a long walk along the ocean in between beautiful beaches - accompanied by 5 Humpback whales with there baby - jumping arround like little puppy´s.
Just another Sunday... ;)

And another Sunday... :)

Sydney Apocalypse – Life on Mars 2009

September 23. , 6:00 am , Bondi Beach

I crawled out of the bed after my alarm was kicking me out of my dreams as I suddenly realised that there is a orange glow in my whole room..
Hm, nice sunrise I guessed.
But as I looked out of the window - I couldn’t believe my eyes and I was rubbing them hard again to get the sleep out of my eyes but nothing changed.
Bushfire I thought.
Very close and it must be huge!
Hm, on the balcony : no smell of fire.

What the hell is going on here??
While breathing you got a dry dusty taste in your mouth - and then I realised, the Sandman was tooooooooooo generous last night!
A Duststorm!
Visibility to 100 m limited made it a mysterious bus and train ride to work.

Tonnes of dust travelled over 1500 km from the Australia Outback to the east coast and the high iron oxide content of Australia sand absorbs blue light.
Life on another Planet, that’s what it was.
One of the biggest Dust storms in Australia History – and for sure – I am in it. :)

North Shore Veterinary Hospital, Sydney

Apro po another planet.. I found work at the animal hospital where I was working 2 years before! Why another planet you think??
Well I can tell you: I am happy to go to work.
What?? Jeap, I love my job a lot.
Not a single day I was pissed off to get to work, I don’t even mind the one hour drive to the Sydney North Shore. I love the ride over the bridge, seeing the harbour every morning gives me a smile in my face.
It is a huge hospital but never somebody screams at you or treats you like shit. Everybody is so friendly, helpful and lovely to each other which makes such a good atmosphere.
Also, I have to have a break. Well this is definitely another planet.
A one hour brake, I am even allowed to leave the house or use the internet. BOA!!
There is always food around – everybody is a chocoholic. :)
Everything is possible here – intubating snakes, chemotherapy for ferrets or place a pace maker in a dog and saving all kind of wildlife are only a few things what impresses me.

Ha, and we have a vet nurse day! Can you beat that?? :)
During surgery you can see cuddling cockatoos and cheeky rainbow lorikeets through the huge glass wall.
I get so spoiled here , why cant it be like that everywhere? Do I have to travel on the other side of the planet to have that?
Well, unfortunately my time here is limited. My stupid visa only allows me 6 month in one company.. :)
But that time I will enjoy as much as I can to take all what I learn more and all the good atmosphere with me, wherever I will go …

Ps. I broke my toe in my first month at work ( for sure something must happen every month of my life ) while a infusion pump with metal holder crashed on it… :)
MY FIRST EVER BROKEN BONE!!!!!!!!!!

Body and Soul Bridge Marathon, Sydney

Time for a challenge, or two. The Body and Soul Bridge Run was coming up and I couldn’t resist to go, even with a broken toe. This run is for charity ( like everything you do here – everywhere! ) and it’s the only chance to run over the harbour bridge without having traffic on it.

A 10 km run along the harbour and botanical gardens with another 70.000 people gave me such a adrenalin rush that I run all the way through.

Just stopped at the water stations – Catherine ( vet nurse ) and me were having big water fights to cool down our system – and after 1 hour and 13 minutes we arrived at the Goal – The Sydney Opera House.
That was so much fun, and we felt so good afterwards that we went straight to Mc Donald’s. :)
Hey I only had a wrap ok.

Palm Beach, NSW

A nice Sunday, a funny Sunday. I woke up after a 3 hour sleep and a massive hung over to join a trip to Palm Beach. The car was packed with vet medicine people and the sun was on our side, spring: 30°. After visiting another friend on a child fest ( which was awesome! ) we made our way along the ocean with million dollar views and houses to Palm Beach.

We went up the walk to the lighthouse as it suddenly made a “sssssssssssssssssssssssssss “ sound out of the bush and a green tree snake crossed our path. Nice one! Not dangerous, just very beautiful.

A few more walks along the cliffs and through the thick bush until we arrived on a fantastic place with a whole view over Palm Beach. Amazingly- incredible - beautiful place.

On the way back we jumped in the 17° hot ocean ( well It took me a while – still spoiled from the 30° warm Caribbean water .. ) and enjoyed the warm sun on our skin.

For sunset droved to the north head above Manly with the nice background silhouette of Sydney’s city while the waves where crashing against the high cliffs and with strong winds who nearly swept us of the way…

Back in the car we were discussing, laughing and whistling to hot joggers as suddenly something appeared on the street which we all haven’t seen in wilderness before….
A real ECHIDNA!
And because we all screamed heavily for at least 10 seconds, instead of getting out of the car and taking a picture, the Echidna disappeared in the bush.
They blamed me for not taking a picture,
I just said : “HE WAS TOO FAST!!”
( for everybody who doesn’t know the echidna speed – it should be equal to a snail. ;) )
I blamed the screaming.
People who heard us must have thought there is a massacre going on.
We laughed about that situation the whole way back home and they couldn’t wait to make fun of me the next days in the animal hospital.
It was a great day, thanks to Anita, Susie, George and the beautiful weather :)