It's been a great trip so far... the old Pajero humming on the long deserted roads, my toys in the back and special driving tapes playing loud. Made a stop at Geraldton and quickly decided that I want to live there... the first job offer's fallen through, my handler at the AMA is exploring other opportunities. It's a fair bit bigger than Carnarvon, has several beautiful surfing spots, and the medical scene is humming and bustling. Watch this space!

I'll skim over the Perth bit...it's mainly about people, and strangely enough I've established more Perth connections in Carnarvon than I have during my Perthian episode....I still think it's not done to name people in this public domain.

Anyway...Lancelin is my idea of a holiday resort. A hundred houses, a couple of cray boats, two pubs and a surfshop. The local Backpacker is run by a lovely couple, the friendly atmosphere there is almost palpable. And it's only a hundred metres from a wonderful windsurfing spot... with grass to rig on, beside a bay with progressively higher waves further out. Now that I've got the gear, my plan was to ride a wave. What actually happens is that I approach the gap in the reef, usually manage to get over the first couple of nonbreaking waves and then hit a windless spot. Invariably, there's a big (to me at least) breaker rolling in at that moment. I then do some quick thinking, resulting in a fright-and flight response, do an even quicker gybe and get the hell out of there. Until courage and determination are sold in pillform, I don't think I'll get off the Nicorette or on a big wave.

Naturally I attended The Wedding of Bruce and Naomi. The old salts reckoned it was amongst the best. Against a backdrop of the Avon Valley in Toodyay bride and groom exchanged rings. Tears were shed, beer ran in torrents.

True to form they celebrated their honeymoon in the company of friends. And so it came to pass that I had my first taste of life Down South. The Margaret River area is covered in forest, there's twisty roads, and every other building is either a winery or gallery. Very European altogether.

I notice I'm not very inspired and will end this page right here.