The Mac Camp

When i arrived at the MAC Camp Moranbah, i havent had a clue what my job should be. But Wayne explained i would work in the kitchen as a kitchen hand in the breakfast crew. They start at 2 am. So i checked in, got my little on-suite room and my uniform. I had my first dinner there. Yammi.
The next morning i worked with Jeremys crew. I didn't know what i was supposed to do but that day went well. I was washing the dishes. They are 4 jobs. The cribb room which is definitely a hard job when the fridge in the cribb room is not working. The pots, you will hate the pots if you come across a porrigde pot. The dishes and the Dining room. The dinning room is a very hard job, you really need do have an idea about time management to organize that and still provide good service.
Luckily his crew changed into the dinner crew and the other crew started. But hell that crew was awesome. Alright, Marika and Dedan are just funny people, we did have good times. I stayed there untill Tuesday. There was a job offer for a 5-2( means i work week days and have weekends off). After we cleared up a misunderstanding i got the job. Jesus, now the strangest stuff ever started.
We worked away. I got along with the miners and was always complemented as smiley or the sentence: it is nice to see a happy face once in a while.I liked doing the dinning room but we all swapped around in the jobs. I was brilliant to work with them. I learned a lot. Then we they went for their week off i was sick with a really bad flu. I needed antibiotics and was knocked out for 3 days. It actually took me 2 weeks to get really rid off it. But i worked the Friday with Jeremys crew again. And it was not very hygiene. But my skills werent that good yet. I just did my job in the dining room without looking left or right. When i finished it, everything was topped, cleaned and nice.
So i went for my weekend off which i spent with one of my mates in Mackay. We went out on Saturday. Man that was fun. But as usual something happend=p, they forgot me in the pub.... yepp thats what they did. But no worries. So i went home, already making plan to break into his house or cuddle with the dogs in the garden=p But luckily i didnt have to do any of it. So i went to sleep. 2 hours later he called me up, realized they forgot me somewhere... lol... ahh, he would find it out soon enough that i was safe=p
After that weekend i was collected from one of my chefs. She is brilliant. I picked up all my stuff from the house i stayed before and off i go to my new job.
It didnt take long for me. I worked with Jeremys crew and just did my job. I didnt know better and didnt see as much i would see next time. And hell that would be bad. really bad.
But Marikas crew came back and all good. That Tuesday we moved to Coppabella. Coppabella is another MAC camp. It is about 45 kms east from Moranbah and one of the biggest ones. It has a nice swimming pool, a tennis court and a nice gym. It also has a pub.
That week was one of the strangest weeks i had.The MAC Management Moranbah changed our shift hours without even telling us, so we left Coppabella everyday at 12:30 am and start working at 1:30 am( we found that out a day after)-11 am, and back in camp about 12 pm. If they have organzied the bus, that did not happen very often.
So Marika was sick on Wednesday. And it was a tough day.
Thursday we ran out of fuel in the middle of the way. We had to pull over. Bronwyn, a really strange person, freaked out completely. I had some discussions with her and some arguements. The day before she freaked out with the driver, that he should not drive and it should wait until there were no cars to drive on the main road. Just an explanation, the car was about 2 km away.... She unnerved me as well. But that day just did it. The bus was with the left hindlight on the marking. But totally safe. AND we had hazzard lights on. We were standing uphill as well. SO EVERYBODY could see us. But she didnt want to understand that. Actually the safest place is in the car, with seat belts on. So the rest of the group laughed their butts off. How funny is that??? So while we waited for fuel and our lift, we had a couple of jokes about lighting a fire and do a BBQ. Then we spotted Bronwyn about 20 m east from us. The answer of the question, what she was doing, was. I am checking the airodynamics for the big collision. So i dont get hit. I just cracked up. We all did. How the hell do you check that?? So she stayed seperated from us, and when our lift came she was nearly run over by him. Nobody expected her there!! She is a nice lady but hell she is difficult. She is that kind of person who is afraid of everything but never really lived. And of course she knows everything better. So if the butter is mouldy, just scratch it off and let the miners eat it. No worries. Foodsafety is just a word.
So the story was so brilliant, and when the miners asked me about my day i told the story. I never said who it was, but everybody knew immediately who it was. Same goes for the MAC staff.
That day went and Marika and I went to the pub that night. The next morning Dedan, Marika and I drove with her car to work. It was planned that Bronwyn was taking the bus. But she did not show up. That was friday. The Mac Camp Moranbah had to call Coppabella that they checked on her if she is still alive. She did not give a notice or text. She did not answer her phone or any text. That behaviour is absolutely inacceptable. So i was asked if i would work on Saturday. One of my precious days off. My answer was, yes if she does not show up i will. I did not expect she wouldnt. But apparently she didnt. We had our meeting on Friday. And we were asked why there was a empty bus in the morning. The answer was, we would like to attend this meeting. Otherwise we would not be able to. Ok, we haven't thought about that. That is understandable. Then the next thing was, there was a case about harassment yesterday, it refered to the incident yesterday. So i spoke up and said, i would like to make a statement about that. It was not about her, it was her behaviour and what she said. She should have told us her experience and we would be able to help her. But she just went off and endanger the whole group and was nearly run over by our lift. Nobody expected her at the opposite side of the road. Alright that was sorted out.
Saturday night they called me 12:30 am in the morning and tried to wake me up. They couldnt wait untill 5 am. So they waited for me. We started work late, but managed to do everything. Even on Saturday she did not give any notice. So the Assistent Manager went to Coppabella and talked to her. AND she worked on Sunday. I proposed and idea, that there was a german girl in Coppabella who was not happy with her kitchen crew and here was Bronwynn not happy with hers. So maybe we are able to swap. Everybody agreed with that except the Coppabella Management. And after my experience the week later i do understand his. So we worked along. I went to the pub Saturday night and enjoyed my drinks. I always buy the first one but i usually dont remember the last one ^ , ~
So Sunday was beauty day.
Back to work on Monday, i kept away from Bronwyn. Just in case. So one of our chefs had a go at me, because of the swap. And i told her the story how Bronwyn behaved and what happend, and it was not my decision but the head chef. If he told me everybody agreed than that would be the story. I just proposed nothing more or less. So that was cleared up.
Tuesday was over as well. While Marikas crew enjoyed drinking i was sleeping and prepared myself for the other crew.
Rachel, belongs to Jeremys crew, usually did the cribb room. But she felt fluy so she asked me if i could do it. I said alright, but i need help. Especially because i havent had a clue. But i did not realize that she knew the fridge was broken and it would be hard work to maintain the cribb. So i was fooled. But that day pissed me off. If it would not be for one of my chefs i would not be able to have it topped. We had a kitchen meeting that day. I announced a couple of my ideas like writing down which meat or salat it is etc..
The next day Thursday i was stucked in the cribb room again. This time with more preparation, i had back up stuff, like bread etc already in the cribb room. Same goes for clean equipment. That day i freaked out. I went to my kitchen hand for more than one reason. I said, the hygiene standard in that crew were and probably still are disgusting. I couldnt eat there. They did not wipe the areas clean or used gloves ( very good if you are sick)  or santanize their hands. But touched all the food, the dishes etc. IGITT!!!! GERM ALARM!!!
I said to him, that i wont be in tomorrow when that does not change by tomorrow. He did not feel concerned but threatened. What does that say about him. So he said you quit or you dont, but you cannot threaten me. Alright, why dont you put me on 14/7, Bronwyn is gone? No, she is not. Alright. I did not know that. She told everybody she is gone. He said, he will see when we move in the new kitchen. I answered. You promise??I was refering to the look. I can't promise anything. Yes, i meant the look. So i will see what i can do to improve the standards. Thank you Michaela, you gave me something to work with. The conservation was over.
So i did my stuff in the cribb room, restocked, cleaned up properly. I was wondering how he wanted to imrpove that. So i asked him. His answer: with proper training,my next question: when?! When i got time for that. Alright..... Foodsafety, Food-handling and Hygiene is apparently not that important that you make time for it.AND why the hell did i have to give the kitchen head an idea how bad the hygiene standards of that crew is?? I was already considering to quit my job. I would have in 2 weeks time, when Marikas crew would go for their week off.
SO it would be worse in no time. EVERYBODY got his payslip except me, neither was the money in my account. I went off. Already a bad day was going worse. You are kidding me. So i said, if i do not know where my money is by tonight i won't be in tomorrow. They believed me. I tried to get a hold on our
 "very good" manager. I took my 5 attempts to get a hold on him. I went to the office twice, he was always just gone out a second ago. I called twice his mobile and and the office. Finally i got a hold on him. Yes, he knows my "problem". He is looking into it. He knows that i worked night shifts. But evidently he does not care. So he called me up 30 mins later to check on my account no. he could not read for himself if that number was a four or a one. (Mate, seriously, I write numbers the european way, it would be either a 1 or a 7 BUT NEVER a 4. There is a 4 in my account number to compare with). I went to sleep, was nightie time for little mic. He woke me up 3:30 pm. I found your money. The account number was wrong. Alright we transfer it asap. BUT, of course there is a but, you have to write to the payroll office your account number. Because it is a change.
The rest of the story and it is getting worse will be posted later.
I going sailing again=p LOVE MY LIFE

The Story

Hi Guys,
has been months since i posted.
But everybody on facebook know what happend the last couple of month=p
In Februar i left Alba Group for Brisbane. The plan was to get my second year qualification. Apparently that did not happen.
When i arrived in Brisbane i was collected by a nice old lady, Jennifer. She had a couple of cats and 2 dogs. That's not a good idea in Queensland. With the heat the smell is overwhelming. Don't get me wrong it wasn't messy but it was definitely smelly.
So i met her over www.helpx.net. The deal is that you work a couple of hours and you have free food and accommodation and food. So the next day i did a little bit of gardening and wrecked my ankle. ligament rupture. Of course.
So i changed the host and i went for a family as a nanny. My mood was not really improving. Josephine, who was in Perth at that time, wasn't happy either. I said, hi why not coming to Brissie and we spend your last weeks together. No worries. She called up Friday. Just book my flight. Will be there at 7 am. Alright. I rented a car and collected my stuff. I got an iphone as well. Man i am addicted to it. But i just love it.
I called Josephine up at 10 pm brissie time. Hey sweety, hows the airport. Her answer was, why that, i dont need to be there until lunch time tomorrow. Ahmmm no you are flying in less than 4 hours. darling. Rightio. How funny is that. After that was sorted out we met up at the airport. We decided spontaneously to a road trip to Mackay. I was easy for my to get a job there for us.
So off we go. We made quite a pair, Josephine was badly sunburnt from surfing the day before and i couldn't walk. But we did have fun. So no worries. The first thing we did, we bought a car charger and and plug in for our ipod or iphone.
The first day was pretty easy. We had lunch in Noosa and slept somewhere at the sunshine coast. We parked in front of a no camping sign and slept in our car. I actually didn't because of the food. I could not angle myself in a comfy position. So i took my airmatress, my sleeping bag and my pillow and went for the picnic table. There is no way i sleep on the ground with sipder, snake and other little buggers. Finally asleep i woke up at 1:30 am when the car alarm went off. I nearly fall off the table, hopped one-legged to the car. No Josephine there. Shit, what the hell happend. Then i opened the door and she was sitting there, more than half asleep. After 5 minutes we managed to stop the alarm. She got her sleeping bag and i went back to my sleeping place. Just when i was comfy again i heard a car. Of course, what else. the coppers. f***!!
The coppers said, that is a hell of place you have got there. Yepp it is comfy, i have to say. So we had a little chat and all good. They just advised us to leave before sunrise. If they are called, they have to fine us. No worries. In the morning we drove to a national park where we spent our early morning. The day went easy. Roadtrip =p
At night time, we were tailgaited by trucks. No wonder, there are the reasons for lots of crashes here. When we finally arrived our restplace we were more than happy. We pinched up our tent and everything ready and crashed. Man we were tired. Third day of the road we drove straight to Mackay. I showed her Mackay and we camped at Blacks Beach. That night was the only night with a thunderstorm in weeks. Man -we were lucky.
At the fourth day we put in our Resume at Mackay Labour Hire. That night i organzied that we can crash at a mates place. All good. Next morning we got a call from Mackay Labour Hire. They have a job. Alright. We drove to there. One job- so josephine went. I stayed at my mate's until monday then i got a call. Work for you. Alright, coming in. So my questions- her answers
what am i doing
- i have no idea
how long for?
- i do not know
how do i get there?
-with the bus at 1:50pm
right, where do i get the ticket from?
-hold on. 5 min. later it was faxed.
right- see you then=p thanks pleasure=p

That how i went to Mac Camp Moranbah.... and another story starts now

Late - but u ll see

Hi guys, jezzz.
What strange time. My car crash worked out quite well. The police was very nice. So i didn't have to pay a fee or got charged. My insurance covered everything, but that was a hell of a week.
I stayed in Mackay quite a while. My hostel GECKOs Rest or the backpackers is cute. I met awesome people from all over the world. Kiwis, english, aussies, germans and a lot of french =P We had a good time, partying and drinking beer on our sundeck. No worries. But i got a little bit anxious. I was running out of money. So i wrote Jake, one of the hosts ( helpx.net) if he needs a hand on his farm. Too easy. If i hurry up i would get a lift from Toowoomba( west QLD). But that was when the flodds started. Brisbane and Cairns were under water.
So per accident i good a job at ALBA Group Heavy Equipment Support. Pretty cool, because they are doing the dump trucks for the mines. But because of the weather and Yasi the dump trucks are delayed. I  worked there over 5 weeks as a TA Painter and moved into a room in Mount Pleasant Mackay.
When Yasi came along i went to Geckos for a nice Cyclone Party =P But Mackay wasn't in the center, so it was just another storm.
The following weeks were quite easy. I decided to leave Alba Group to get my qualification for my 2nd year visa.  On my last friday, a couple of work buddies and I went out to the tittis bar in town. Hell of a night with a little fight and a lots of drinks =P
I even had a huge snake around me..... Funny animals =P
Next morning i left for Brisbane. I was picked up by a very nice woman Jennifer( helpx host). Next day i helped her in her garden. Of course i missed a step and fell unlucky. My foot is very sore, bruises everywhere and the tendom is gone. So much for that. So i move to another family tonight as a nanny =P who would have guessed that ^^
See what happens now =P
cya around^^

The Years EVE

After Christmas and the bad weather we stopped our boat trip and came back to Airlie Beach. Bronwynn and I were able to stay at a friend's house 40 km from Airlie Beach. On Tuesday we left his house to collect stuff we forgot at Carlos boat.
The waves were amazing high and it wasn't so easy to get on the boats.
We left Airlie Beach and our friend drove us to Mackay, where we met up people we knew from Airlie. We spent the night there, drinking and partying. It was fun.
Carlos texted us the next day, the weather will be fine, if we want to go sailing again.
So i rented a car for 4 days in Mackay, we drove to Airlie Beach, got on the boat and on Thursday morning we set sails again and went off to Stonehaven. It was a very nice trip. We had good strong wind.
New Years Eve we sailed to another place. There we met up other sailors as well. After swimming, surfing and relaxing we went to the beach. A nice fire, good food and drinks waited there.
Exactly 5 to 12 it started lashing rain. So we waited the last minutes and everybody was quite happy to go back to the boats.
Good for us, that Greg was already on his boat. He crashed on the beach with highspeed with his little boat. Luckily nothing happend, neither people nor the boat was hurt/broken.
New Year was complicated. We had strong wind, so Carlos wanted to stay on more day. Problem was, if we stay one more day we wouldn't have left before noon the next day.
I needed to go back because of the car.
We arrived in Airlie about 4 pm, Bronwynn stayed there. At 6 pm i was on my way back to Mackay.... and the rest is in the other post.......

New Year

I started the 2011 on a beach. Surrounded by nice sailors, good food and drinks. But the Day was meant to be

very long.

We arrived in Airlie Beach at 4 pm. After organzing everything in Airlie i drove my nice white rental car back to Mackay. That was at least the plan. But as so often in my life that wouldn't work out.

The drive was nice and quite. But on my way to Mackay i took a wrong turn. I turned around to drive back to the highway. But i got confused. It look like i was on the worng side of the road. But i wasn't.

It was too late, when i realized my mistake. So i hit the other car head-on. My airbags got off and the front of the car was gone. The car started smoking. The other car was in the ditch. The couple suffered a few ugly bruises. We were transported in the hostipal and the police cleared up the mess.

I was checked out, but apparantly i was very lucky...too lucky. I have two bruises and a sore back/neck.
The police came by on Sunday, reported my statement.
I couldn't do anything yesterday, because Mackay was out of Power for the whole frigging day. Everthing was closed.

So i have to do that today. Luckily Bronwynn stayed in Airlie Beach.

Do me a Favour, don't try to call me. send txt od mail or facebook messages.

I answer when i have time for that.

Happy new year

The Boat- A unforgetable Christmas

Merry CHRISTMAS

Hallo, back on shore.
We did have a busy week.  We left for the boat on the 23th. On the evening before that we went for a drink. I ended uo in a night of party, free drinks and good company. We were home about 4 am. AND needed to get up at 6:30am for our boat ride. JEZZZ... what a night. Captain Carlos, a great guy,long hair, about 60, the old sea guy, was supposed to collect us at 8 am, but the weather turned. We weren`t able to leave shore before 1pm. But it was great. We had lots of fun. Even the weather was really bad. We hab a Cyclon, rain, wind, waves. Man-seriously luckily i didn`t get seasick.... or tried very hard.
The first day was short. We arrived in hook island and enjoyed our stay. The way to that space was a little bit rough. But we survived.
Our Dinner was awesome. Carlos is an exellent cook. The evening ended quickly, less sleep and enough drinks=p
The next day Mick, an old buddy of Carlos, arrived. He took us for a ride around the pocket of hook island. It was amazing. We saw purple little craps in sweet water. We went for a walk on a stone beach and climbed up a nice rock=p How adventurous!!!
The evening stopped with a well-cooked meal from Mick, enough drinks and nice smokes =p
The following day started early. It was Christmas!!! We had a huge breakfast. Then Mick took us to a little beach, where we got some reception for our mobile phones.
THEN we went for a swim in the ocean. We went snorkeling. It was murky but still very beautiful.
In the rain we went for a ride with his motorboat. If you sat at the very front, it was like a rollercoaster.
In the afternoon we fished for dinner. We were lucky, but not lucky enough to get it in. Bronwynn and I paddled in the water. She had a Kanu and I had a something different. Like a mix of a surfboard and a kanu. It was hard to paddle. I met up with Bronwynn. We were about to paddle a beach. I lost my balance and something hit me on my leg. OF COURSE. It was a Jellyfish. Nothing serious. But still it scared the shit right out of us. Man. But we had vinegar.
Merry Christmas=p
So, after all that. It was rather unimpressive. We left on the 26th. The weather was going worse. We helped making the boat ready.
I was allowed to set the sail and to steer. NICE. But a gust of wind turned the boat nearly half way. Carlos was taking it over from then on.
In Airlie Beach Bronwynn tried to get the ball. There are chains were to can fix your boat. But the little ball was wraped around the chain. SO we broke the hook to get it. Mick came to our rescue.
Mick took us to the land and offered us to stay with him for the next two days. We collected our stuff at Magmuns and i bought the stupid waterproof case for my camera, which i actually forgot on board.
Mick drove us to a huge Waterfall; to get there we needed to pass a floaded bridge. THAT WAS SO COOL. I always wanted to do that. Mick collected 4 kids on their way to the waterfall. The stand on the boat-trailor.
On the way back, Mick asked me if i wanted to drive. But i didn`t because of the boat in the trailor.
Mick showed us aorund his neighbourhood. It was very beautiful. We saw kanguroos etc.
Today we went back to Airlie Beach to collect our stuff from Carlos. Then we are heading to Mackay.
I stay there with some friends ( another Mick, Mick is a very common name here....), probably for New Years...
We`ll see.
I keep posting!!!

SO ...

Have fun for New Years Eve!!!!

Airlie Beach

Hey,
Sunday night i packed for my flight to Airlie Beach. I couldn't sleep, so i was awake untill 2:30 am. But i had good company and was able to upload the photos from the weekend. Thanks to Olli. He lend me his USB Stick. It took me 2 hours. But there are now on. I tried to upload some here es well, but it didnt work. When i finally went to bed my bunk mate from the top bed stole my blanket. stupid man. I was frozen and the man woke me up because he jumped off the bed and hit me before he landed on the floor.
I wanted my blanket back. He answered sorry i didnt know thats urs. But he actually asked me that question when he moved in. Lucky him that i left.
The morning came. We were collected at the Nunnery and left my little family there. I will miss the guy and girls there. THANKS TO ALL OF U !!!

Bronwynn and I arrived in Airlie Beach yesterday about lunch time. It was very hot. The Airport was tiny and we actually needed to go out of the building to collect our luggage. We tooked a taxi, it was the some price than the public transportion. We wanted to rent a car. But that was more difficult than we thought and much more expansive. So we checked in the Magnums where are staying untill the 23th dez. Hopefully we can sail. The weather forecast shows a lot of high and low which could form a hurricane, so we donot want to be on a boat when that happens. But i might come back in february. Here a some guys are looking for crew members. A month from here to Melbourne. That would be awesome!! We'll if it works out.

Tomorrow we want to hike some smaller hikes here. There are three different available.

Talk/Write/See you soon!!