Freaky

I have just started walking as the weather now has cooled down to a managable walking temperature. I took Janaya in the pram today, she was happily enjoying the ride while I was listening to my mp3 player striding it out in my own world. We were walking in Baynton and got to a point where I could go a few ways, I decided to go under the underpass and walk down through a new suburb which is bare with no houses yet but all the cycle tracks are in place. I had just got to the other side of the tunnel thinking 'phew', as I kind of get a little uneasy when walking under the main highway, and just happened to glance down as I was about to step on a snake who was in a mighty hurry coming towards me. My instincts thankfully kicked in and as I was bringing my foot down to connect with the thing, I somehow managed a spring off the back foot just managing to clear it, and set off in a sprint while I was yelling some language, which shouldn't have been said infront of my girl, but I don't think she noticed. then I stopped looked behind me and watched it slither away quickly in the other direction. If my heart rate wasn't up by then is was fair pumping now due to a massive adrenaline rush. I stared freaking out a bit as I was literally in the middle of an empty suburb and quite a long way from anything. I really picked up the pace and walked with my eye on the ground, every now and then I would check behind me just to make sure the snake hadn't decided to follow me. I realised that I have become quite complacent regarding snakes having only seen one at Xmas time, but really they give me the heeby jeebies. Then as I got further away and started to feel braver I began thinking how I should have taken a photo with my phone, but really, as if I'm going to stalk a snake for his picture...

Sean had only suggested yesterday that we go for a walk over the hills, I was keen as mustard but the track is a narrow dirt track through the longish grass, I don't think im that keen now as it will be harder to spot a snake than out in the open on a concrete path.

Sometimes I do wonder about one of us getting bitten and I pray it never happens as I have no faith in the hospital here, though Im sure they have all the antivenom they need, but really the place doesn't have a very good reputation. There is a 2 week waiting list to get in to see a doctor (crazy I know), so many people resort to going to the hospital. Just recently a young lady died, a couple of hours after giving birth to her baby, a collegue of Seans in his 40s went in with stomach pains and died!!!! and the most recent was a man off one of the ships who ate a poisonous fish and died after getting to hospital. 3 very sad events. A friend of a friends little boy broke his arm and had to wait 3 days for a doctor from perth to arrive to set it. The family couldn't afford the costs involved to fly to Perth and get it fixed. I think about 80% of cases end up getting flown to Perth with no assistance financially at all.

Though in saying all that, our friend Brent, was admitted to hospital with a suspected snake or spider bite to his foot which ended up spreading a nasty infection right up to his hip, he spent a couple of days in hospital and managed to come out unscathed and without being shipped off to Perth.

It just makes living here that little bit more exciting, and keeps you on your toes. Did I mention how beautiful the wheather is lately? 55 days since we had a drop of rain... All worth it!!!