DAY 33, Wednesday, October 12 2011: Barcelona 1

After finally having a sleep in until around 11 am, I got to see a bit of Barcelona, walking around, driving with busses, chilling a bit at the Beach Platja Bogatell and again some shopping. Of course I know that I always have problems to not to exceed the 20 kg or sometimes 23 kg limit and I definitely have enough clothes. However I saw such a beautiful dress with flowerprints, I just had to buy it and actually practical and classical summerdayweardresses I didn’t really have yet. It is from the brand Desigual, which I have never seen before, but here you can find stores of it at every corner. I heard they have it now as well in Germany in some cities, but not really in Australia, where I have lived the last year. Also my drawing is inspired by that dress, I drew some of the flowerprints and created and mixed it up with my own ideas. Also I added  a palmtree, some plants, the ocean and the sun in the background. The whole atmosphere is relaxed, calm and chilled; the same impression I got from Barcelona today.

It was also so nice to look in the shops and marketplaces without being attacked all the time by the vendors how their product is the best and the cheapest for you, like it was in Thailand. There I really was just treated like a money object and not like a person, which was really annoying after a while. Here in Barcelona, luckily looking around and shopping was much more enjoyable and relaxing. However on the other hand it is more expensive here.

Also the climate is very nice and warm and not so saunalike and sweatalarmy like it was in Darwin, Kakadu National Park or in Thailand. At nighttime it is a bit chilly and I need to put on long clothes. Well it is after midnight already and I better say Good Night.

DAY 32, Tuesday, October 11 2011: KLM Royal Dutch Airlines

I woke up around 8:30 am, even though I still was very tired, confused with timezones, going to bed too late (around 2 am or something) also and being awake for like 44 hours before that night I think. Valeria got ready for work and I was arranging my new travel insurance and onlinebanking, then getting ready and heading to the airport in late afternoon. The flight from Frankfurt to Barcelona was late and it was like 1 am when I arrived in the hostel in Barcelona. My ears were killing me while landing and because of my cold I could not hear anything for hours and I just fell asleep as a baby right after checking in the hostel.

My drawing I did during the flight, we got a biscuit as a snack and as I had no better idea, so that is my picture. And unfortunately I was eating the cookie, I got to much tempted and I am definitately sugar addicted! Kind of cute is the “Delicious Dutch” print at the packaging, I was flying with the dutch airline KLM, from Frankfurt to Amsterdam and from there to Barcelona, a not very time effective connection but very cheap though. 

DAY 31, Monday, October 10 2011: Air India

I am so confused with the time zones! I had a long flight from Bangkok to Germany and also changed flights in Delhi, India. And I don’t know how many hours I had no sleep, because in the planes I was reading, drawing and watching movies. Now its around midnight german time, that would be 5 am Thailand time and 9 am Melbourne time.
I am really exhausted but not that tired, as the adrenaline keeps me to nervous. In the plane I did a drawing of a beautiful indian lady, I have seen in the airplane magazine and added in letters Air India and in remembrance Delhi to Frankfurt. I arrived in Frankfurt am Main in early evening. It was so weird to see germans, hear and talk german all the time, also I recognized german facial structures more than I ever did before! Since more than 2 years its the first time I am back in my homecountry Germany. It is such a weird feeling, but not the feeling that that is my home, it got more foreign to me, I am not happy to go home which at the same time scared me a bit! Luckily a good friend, Valeria came and picked me up from the airport and I felt so much better, because I was happy just to see her. She is still the same person, very bubbly and she even gave me some beautiful flowers! Later we were talking a lot and were eating dinner together and now we are still talking and not in bed yet. 

DAY 30, Sunday, October 9 2011: Bangkok 2

It is around 3 am already, I just came back from the crazy nightlife here and actually there is no time and use to go sleeping this night, as I check out in 4 hours already to get my flight and need to pack my stuff, take a shower and do some emails.  Even though I am actually sick, I was the whole day and half of the night outside to really experience Bangkok. I did sightseeing to see Temple of Dawn, Marble Temple and parks, taking a Tuk Tuk taxi, the Express Boat, did shopping at the markets, where most of the dresses were to little for me. Thai people are so short, I felt really tall for the first time in my life! Guys are like my height and girls are usually all shorter! And usually I am always feeling quite short with my 5’5. So I experienced the first time to try on dresses, which were like a tshirt for me! Luckily I found one nice dress and a skirt, which was a bit bigger in size. It was an enjoyable day, however the people saw me as a money magnet and not as a person. Compared to thai people, usually white people are more wealthy and so they really tried to sell me everything, but so intense and unfriendly, that after a while it really annoyed me! Also the Tuk Tuk driver drove me to some shops without asking me or telling me, where I should buy One Day Travel Tours, where you have to book right away and of course they have no websites or a number where you could book later on. Also the driver stopped at jewelry stores and the sales people really tried to force me to buy something. When I just said, that I don’t want to buy anything, they got extremely unfriendly, which almost scared me!

In early evening I spoiled myself with a one hour thaimassage, but actually it was to much for me, when the lady was walking or standing on me, it hurted more than it was relaxing or enjoyable! After she really was waiting and begging for some extra tips for her, it was also so desperate of her! At nighttime I experienced the nightlife and was shocked that they show everyone on the streets adult flyers with in my eyes disgusting pictures. They hand it out to really everyone like they do with  normal Sales or Partyflyers. Also lots of Promoters of Stripclubs show you flyers and try to get you in the their venues. I was approached like 10 times, then I just got curious and listened a bit what the guy was saying. He told me about insane shows, I thought he is joking around and wanted to go. However he was so forcing and told me just to go in for free, I can have one cola and watch a bit and then go out again. I was just thirsty anyways and drank there my cola then and saw crazy shows with cigarettes, balloons and whistles, which I never even thought of! And more shocking was, that in the Stripclub was a little kid as well inside, her mum was one of the dancers! The drama started, when I wanted to go out to pay my Cola. All of a sudden my bill was 1700 baht instead of the 100 baht for one Cola! I got told, that I invited 3 dancers to drinks! Wow, I certainly did not, I did not even talk to them! They just invited themselves, but what is that, without even asking me!!! Additionally they wanted to charge me for the shows. Of course I did not pay that amount, I only payed for the Cola after argueing a lot! I told that the promoter made me that offer and so I really only pay for what I got promised! The owner got so angry at me, scared me like hell and she had not even all teeth anymore and with her angry face she looked like a devil! I was so happy when I could escape from that club!

So I really have enough of Bangkok now, its beautiful crazy and colourful, but I don’t like to be treated like a moneymagnet all the time! My drawing is a summary of my impressions and activities here in little black pencil drawings. Also the word: “Pengpai” is included, which I said a lot today to the salespeople, it means: “That is to expensive”.

DAY 29, Saturday, October 8 2011: Bangkok 1

I was awake a bit in the morning and did some emails. Still soo tired and feeling sick I went back to bed and rested almost the whole day, as I catched a heavy cold and my nose is running all the time and my whole body was just superexhausted, no energy to stand up. In late afternoon I went out and walked around at the markets and shopping mall until 11 pm. I bought some stuff and also had one of the best food ever for like so cheap! I tried lots of little things, actually I don’t even know what that all was. And also fresh pressed orange juice and coconut. However some of the meals were very far too spicy and I was crying and my nose was running even more compared to a flood! But maybe that is even good to get rid of my cold! By one thing I was shocked, they had adult stuff at the markets, even there were little kids everywhere! I could hardly believe my eyes sometimes!

My all in total impression of Bangkok is very colourful, taxis in all colours and also so much other stuff, everything is extremely bright! Also I have seen lots of flowers, so my drawing for today encompasses flowers and colourful elements.

DAY 28, Friday, October 7 2011: Sick and Cold

The whole day I spent in airplanes, at first from Melbourne to Singapure and then I needed to switch planes to go to Bangkok. I was so freezing all the time and ordered hot tea and water all the time, but it did not help that much. In the second flight I already felt soo sick, I could hardly swallow, I felt dizzy, headache etc. and my ears were killing me while landing. It was just too long flying in that cool dry air, I guess. That is why my drawing looks also kind of negative, I quickly sketched it in the plane. At first I wanted to draw a kangaroo, but quickly felt so bad and cold, so that the result is just as now. So lucky, when I was on the airport and I felt much better already. It was already around 11 pm, because the planes had delays because of the weather. Half of the way I took a train from the airport and then a taxi to the hostel. While driving I admired the bright colours of the city. The taxis here come in pink, blue, yellow, orange and more. Mine was orange and had Hello Kitty decor everywhere.
After checking in the hostel around midnight, I was walking around a bit in the streets and the nightmarket to get some food and water. Wow, that busy nightlife is really impressive. I just got back around 2 am Bangkok Time, that would be 6 am Melbourne Time or 4:30 am at the station or in Darwin.

DAY 27, Thursday, October 6 2011: Sunset Memories

This morning or better at nighttime, around 3:30 am it was raining in Brisbane. It was even like an experience for me, as I realized that I have not seen any rain in the last 4 months. In the Northern Territory it is Dry Season at the moment, so they don’t have any rain at all from like May to November.

I was sleeping a bit again in the airplane from Brisbane to Melbourne, but not enough, I feel not only tired, even a bit sick now and my brain is not working properly anymore and I am very confused where I am and what I just did. During the day I pushed myself with energydrinks to walk around Melbourne and see a bit of the city. There is loads of shopping opportunities here, the variety is just amazing. So today I have been in a big shopping mall for the first time in 4 months. Also there are some nice little cafes, also parks and I was walking around the Yarra River, from where I enjoyed some nice views with the city skyline. But I am freezing today, it is definitely quite cool here, around 18 degrees, but I am so used to hot temperatures that I was wishing to wear a beanie, scarf and gloves, even my ears and face were getting to cold. In Brisbane it was alright during daytime, but at night I was also freezing even with wearing a couple of jumpers. In Darwin and on the station it was very hot lately, like sauna temperatures, so I am extremely sensible to cold now.

However my main impression for the day is, that really everyone was extremely polite and friendly to me, even though I actually was the opposite. Because I feel not that well with headache from lack of sleep, I was kind of grumpy sometimes. Weirdly enough, everyone was smiling at me or wanted to help me or the people in the shops were very kind with excellent customer service skills. Also when I took photos and some people were running accidentally into the photo, they apoligized 1000 times. They were so polite, as I experienced the Canadians all the time, when I was living in Vancouver last year. In Darwin, Brisbane, Sydney or the country people were not that friendly, more normal, but not that polite. I don’t know if its Melbourne or I just attracted all nice people today.

It is now 10:30 pm and again another timezone, it is 1 hour later than in Brisbane or 1.5 hours later than in Darwin, there it is 9:00 pm.

In memories of the nice sunset, I have seen in Darwin, I just did a sketch of that and hopefully it will warm me up a bit now!

DAY 26, Wednesday, October 5 2011: Brisbane

Now I am in Brisbane, in Queensland and it is cooler here, around 20 degrees only, but still allright. However it is cloudy and the sky is grey, at the station it was always sunny and also in Darwin. I think in the whole 4 months there was like 1 day it was grey and very few days, where it was a bit cloudy, but always the sun came through at least a bit  and almost all days were blue sky and sunshine. Now I just realize how spoilt I was, as a grey and cloudy sky really affects my mood a bit!

Also it is a bit in a different time zone, it is half an hour later than in the Northern Territory here. I really also travel a bit around the world in my 80 days J It is 10:30 pm and I just drew a quick sketch of the skyline of Brisbane and the Brisbane River. My impressions from today are just city, buildings, cars, polluted air, traffic, annoying traffic lights, loads of people, shops, ... . Brisbane is a real city, whereas Darwin seems to be so little and much more quiet compared to here! Darwin is more relaxed, but in Brisbane is much more things to do and to see. I was walking around the whole day to see as much as I can and honestly I really need some time again to get used to citylife again, all these cars, dressed up and clean people and also so many jogging people along the river. I enjoyed it, but on the other hand I missed the animals and was thinking of going to a Zoo soon. It always takes time to get used to different lifestyles again. Well, my feet are still very dirty, it is really like deep stain.

In a few hours already I am flying to Melbourne, I have to get up around 3 am already, not much sleep again this week and even waking up much earlier than while working at the station. Last night it was only like 4 hours, as my flight was so early and then I pushed myself with Limited Edition Coca Cola Zero Vanilla to still be awake. I had already 1,5 litres, but its very tasty, yammy. I still need to do some emails, so it will be more Coke, I guess.

DAY 25, Tuesday, October 4 2011: Kakadu Nationalpark

I just came back from the Kakadu Nationalpark Tour, we have seen some crocodiles from the Yellow Water Cruise, walked around Arnhemland and Gunwarrdehwarrdeh Lookout and have been to the Warradjan Aboriginal Cultural Centre. Only some spots of the largest Nationalpark in Australia, its definitely worth a visit and would be better to have more time, than just one day! But actually I am lucky, that it was only one day, because the climate is just to humid and hot at the moment. It is Pre-monsoon Season but it was already like being in an oven all the time. It was 37 degrees but with the humidity it feels even hotter and our shirts were wet after a short time of walking. From December to March it will be the wet season or also called Monsoon Season, then it will be much more extreme. Well for me that was already enough and also there were lots of little flies flying around and landing on my face all the time, they must have loved the sticky sunscreen. However today felt like a real holyday day, I felt good the first time and enjoyed the day and was not sad anymore and living a bit in the past as kind of before. However my dirty feet are still reminding me..haha. Also during the tour I was observing the other people at the tour, they were all so clean, clean clothes, hands and feet. Funnily enough that felt weird to me, I really got used to see dirty hands, fingernails, feet and dirty clothes all the time. Also the way people here behave and talk is so different to the farmers or country people.

Yesterday I bought some coloured pencils in the supermarket and today in the bus I tried them. As before on the farm I sometimes borrowed the pencils from the kids, because I only had blue, yellow, pink and black in my luggage. I drew the impressions of today in form of an abstract landscape, lots of green, water, sunset and flies and the whole sky in pretty much in orange, which symbolizes the heat.

DAY 24, Monday, October 3 2011: Busdrive to Darwin

It is 9:52 pm and I am in the hostel in Darwin. I just met 2 german girls, I am sharing my room with. They just finished highschool and are travelling around the world for 6 months now. Also I just finished my drawing. I started today in the bus, but most of the time I was to lazy during the busdrive. It was 9,5 hours in the bus from Dunmarra to Darwin and at Katherine we had a 45 min Stop. I drew a portrait in blue of a lady, inspired by a Maxfactor Make Up Advertisement, which was lying around in the bus. 

I enjoyed it a lot, just to see some people and a supermarket again, but it was definitely to hot, it is very humid and tropical hot at the moment. Then I booked a one day tour to Kakadu Nationalpark tomorrow, with 242 Dollar very far to expensive for one day, but I never know, when I will be there again, so better now than later. Also I walked a bit around in Darwin Waterfront and saw the beautiful sunset at the ocean. I really love ocean and beaches. With the amazing sunset view I was calling my parents and felt really bad about lying to them, as they have no clue, that I will come home to visit them very soon. I just told them, that I am still on the farm. Now I am having a shower and hopefully my feet will get rid of all that dirty stains soon. They still look like real farmer feet, soo dirty they have never been before in my whole life.

DAY 23, Sunday, October 2 2011: Saying Goodbye

This morning I packed my last stuff together and left quite a few clothes behind, as I only can travel with 20 kg, which in my eyes is like almost nothing. Also I have a little carton with clothes I will send to my Sydney flat, its still useful, when I will be back there.

In early afternoon a truckdriver dropped me at Dunmarra Roadhouse, because my coworkes are again busy with firefighting. I hope it will be allright! I was quite sad to leave and say Good Bye and was fighting a bit with tears. I had my last homegrown beef for lunch as well and I even got a little present, a cute little card, a book with photographs from the northern territory and eyeshadow. Smile, here I got used not to use any make up anymore, but back in citylife I will wear it again for sure.

The drive from the station to Dunmarra was pretty cool, it was my first drive in a truck and the driver was friendly and funny and we got to see the smoke and the fire along the road. Now it is 8:37 pm and I just forced myself to draw something as I am anything else than motivated to draw. I am just tired and exhausted, I guess I got a lack of sleep in the last week and also I was working long hours for 4 months and now all of a sudden it is finished. That motel room here in Dunmarra has also the worst lighting you can imagine, it is very dark and I could hardly see what I am drawing. I guess, I will be only able to really see it by it tomorrow. I just drew hectically a palmtree, hearts, stars and emotional figures and lines. Its a bit chaotic, the same as my mind at the moment. Saying Goodbye and starting the travels makes me feel a bit crazy right now.

DAY 22, Saturday, October 1 2011: Green and Grey

Today I slept kind of long, I woke up earlier, but did not go out of bed until 11 in the morning. Anyways I am still tired, because I went to bed so late last night. I was booking my flights which actually took until 3 am because of the insanely slow internetconnection here! Sometimes it just loads like 10 minutes just to open one page or load one click! Well, today I had quite a relaxed day, the start of my holidays. I think I will not work for a while, which actually feels weird. I guess it will take a while until I actually can enjoy it. I sorted out my stuff and washed all my clothes, copied some of the nice baking recipes from here and in the evening I did a sportsvideo. The dancing sports video really helped me to feel better, as before I had bad feelings about leaving tommorrow. I hate Goodbyes and I am a bit sad to leave. On the other hand I am looking forward to travel and going home to see my family again. However my feelings are not there yet. Some months ago I could not imagine to work on a farm, now I actually enjoyed it even, Ok not that much, but a bit for sure!

Now its 11 pm and my drawing is just finished. I just started to draw without having any clue what I am going to picture. The result are organic shapes and lines in grey and green only. It has positive spirit and is dynamic and kind of shows my connection to the nature, which I developed here.

DAY 21, Friday, September 30 2011: Cartoons 2

Today was my last working day and that was a butchering day, the 3^rd “Killer” for me since I am here. Now I am so used to raw and bloody meat. I could never imagine before! I helped cutting the meat, making sausages, corned beef, mince and hamburgers.

That way beef is the basic food here, it is eaten to almost every meal, breakfast, lunch and dinner and that every day. Honestly that is getting a bit to much for me, even though I like eating beef.

For my drawing I got inspired again by the kids cartoons on TV and draw a comic figure, without any rolemodel though. I just started what came out of my head.

Now I still need to book flights before heading to bed.

DAY 20, Thursday, September 29 2011: Pink

My farmexperience is going towards an end now. The new lady, who will replace me in 2 days arrived today already. She is very nice, kind and friendly to everyone and is planning to stay permanently. In the evening was the last killer for me and we had delicious Barbeque with a bit of the fresh meat. I really have to say that I got so used to the life here. Just 3 months ago I still was so disgusted by all the raw meat and blood and how they hang it on their washing lines over night. Honestly the barbeque tastes the best I ever had in my whole life, it is just better and fresh compared to the meat I usually eat from the supermarkets.

For my drawing I was quite tired already and just felt like pink and drew quickly without thinking what it could be, while watching TV.

DAY 19, Wednesday, September 28 2011: Icecream, Jelly and Co.

Yesterday I did not write much at all because of extreme tiredness! Actually quite a lots of stuff happened. Mr. Mad died, I was a bit sad but weirdly enough not that much; probably because he just annoyed me so much and it was his own fault, when he is not drinking the milk. However I remember some weeks ago, I was extremely emotionally involved, when some calves were dying, it was very intense and terrible for me. Well, one life was gone, at the same day a new one was born. A horse gave birth to Sweety, a cute little foal. Everyone was so excited and happy about it! Apart from that I almost ate a frog yesterday! I don’t know why and how. But I was drinking my cup of green tea in the morning like every usual morning. And of course you don’t always look into the cup before taking a sip. All of a sudden it was very slimy around my lips and I was like..iieh what is that??? I was looking into my cup and screamed. A frog in my teacup!!! I mean they are cute, but they can be so scary, when they appear so suddenly, you would never expect them!  

Today after work I did a sportsvideo in the evening again and I called some insurance companies from Germany, as my health insurance needs to be renewned soon. My drawing today is dedicated to my love for sweets. I really feel like Bridget Jones, who really has trouble to discipline herself with her little addictions. For me its really the same than for other people with cigarettes or alcohol. I just cannot think of anything else than sugar sometimes! So unfortunately I had Icecream, jelly, cake and oats with golden syrup today and also in quite an enormous portion.

DAY 18, Tuesday, September 27 2011: Tired

Just extremely tired, that is all I can say for today and so my drawing also have that message. I say Good Night now. 

DAY 17, Monday, September 26 2011: In the Middle of Nowhere

Mr. Mad is really annoying me and kicked me again with his hooves and I have a big bruise at my leg now. He is just spitting out the milk and does not want to drink at all.

Tonight we had Indian Chicken Curry, cooked by Krucksy the farmer. Very jammy, but my belly is sore now, as it was quite spicy and it feels very hot now in my stomach.

I just drew a sketch of the landscape here, it is inspired by a photo I took while we were driving around in the middle of nowhere. The colours are just pale, as my energylevel is very low, feel quite exhausted and not very vivid and don’t feel like bright colours.

DAY 16, Sunday, September 25 2011: Day Off

Pretty tired today as I did not sleep much last night in the swag and we already woke up around 7:30 am and now it is 8 pm and I had not even a nap. Anyways I was just chilling out in front of the TV and the Computer, sorting it out and backing up the files on my harddrive. For my drawing I was not that motivated. I just drew some abstract and colourful lines and forms, which captured my emotions in that moment. As well I got a bit inspired by aboriginal artwork, which I have seen yesterday at Ladies Day.

 

DAY 15, Saturday, September 24 2011: Ladies Day

I had the day off! We went to Top Springs (the little hotel and bar in the middle of nowhere) for the day and the night. On the drive there I have seen 7 kangaroos on the road and then they were jumping away very slowly. It was just fantastic like in a movie, to good to be real. During day there was Ladies Day, they are organizing that twice a year, it was good fun to meet some other girls. In the evening they were also boys coming and we had a good party and then slept outside under the stars, just in a swag and headed back Sunday morning to the Station. Because I was there the whole day and night, I did not have much time for my drawing. I just sat down for a bit in a quiet corner and draw some flowers, just in black and white. And its all on a small paper only, so I could draw on a book.

DAY 14, Friday, September 23 2011: Orange and Pink

The new calve is still mad like crazy and just spitting out all the milk when I am trying to pour down his mouth, also he kicked me with his hooves, which hurted a lot. I call him Mr. Mad now!

Other than that it was a very pretty relaxed day, just tired, like usual, because I went to bed to late, because I did another sportsvideo after my drawing until late at night.

Today I just drew an abstract landscape in orange and pink, I just let my fingers go. This phantasy landscape has warm and positive spirit though with a big flower and dynamic curves.

DAY 13, Thursday, September 22 2011: Stars

Yesterday we also got a new calve, which mum has died. They call these poor kids poddys and my job is it to feed them with milk, so that they can survive without their mums. At the moment we are having 4 plus the new one makes 5 then. However today I tried the first time to feed it, which is not that easy. The little boy is not used to people, so at first I need to catch it and he is fighting all the time, then I try to open his mouth to put the bottle into his mouth. He is really mad and fighting and not drinking at all. Well, I remember it was difficult with the other 4 in the beginning as well and now they are almost like pets, they are very friendly and you can cuddle them. So lets see.

In terms of my drawing today, I just wanted to draw some stars and so I did and added some colours and graphic combinations, which came to my head. I realized that it is not that easy to draw stars, I mean so that basically every corner is in the same distance to each other or at least almost. My star-landscape looks a bit child style like, I guess.

DAY 12, Wednesday, September 21 2011: Red and White

It is 9:34 pm and today I will go to bed very soon, soo tired. Yesterday I also called some flightcompanys for Around the World Tickets etc. and sent some email requests as my work here at the station will be over soon and I still have no clue what I am going to do after, where and when I will be travelling. I just have some ideas, but nothing can be said so far. It was after midnight yesterday again, when I went to bed.

So today in my lunchbreak I just felt asleep for a bit, but very deep even it was very short only. Unfortunately the damn fires are still making trouble and Tammy, the farmers wife and Krucksy, the farmer were going out for a couple of hours to do firefighting again. Luckily they came back around 8:30 pm and have the night to sleep! So I was looking after the kids until they came back and after I just called my parents back home.

My drawing today I did quickly while I was looking after the kids. I just started to draw without any clue what I am going to draw as I was not that motivated anyways. The picture is just in red today, I kind of like the combination between red and white only. Its an abstract landscape. There is a tree, which is kind of realistic, also some gras on the ground, the rest is more phantasy style and you can imagine whatever you want. For me there are millions of bugs flying in the sky and a big crazy snake.

DAY 11, Tuesday, September 20 2011: Sugar 60 g

Yeah, I was very good and did a sportsvideo yesterday and also even today again! Well being disciplined in sports doesn’t prevent me from eating sugar stuff. I had an iced coffee again today, only one package has around 60 gram sugar! However so I just drew a package of Iced Coffee and also put the information about the 60 grams on paper. When I was drawing the letters for sugar, I was thinking what colour sugar should have. I could not pick any, of course, sugar is just every colour, or it can take on every single one. Maybe that is why I am so addicted to it, I like colours as I like sugar a lot. Well, after a while I decided to colour it purple, for me today sugar is purple. But in the background I added lots of vivid colours symbolizing the meaning of sugar. The iced coffee is in brown and in the background on top I added some blue icecubes, because you enjoy it chilled.

Oh it is already 10:40 pm, I should go to bed, but the internet is just working now and I need to check some flights now.

DAY 10, Monday, September 19 2011: The Tree

No Firefighting anymore! The situation is back to normal and hopefully will stay like that!

My drawing today is inspired by a tree here at the station. I just took a photo of that tree and draw it after that photo. However the rest of the picture is just imagination, just a bit nature and beautiful coloured sky, like it could be in dawn. But the most important thing is the tree. Now its about 9:30 pm and I am motivated to a dancefitnessvideo before heading to bed, maybe the sleep would be more important for me, as I will be tired tomorrow morning for sure. However I also try to do 3 times a week a sportsprogram a la Laptop DVD style (the only way here in the middle of nowhere).

DAY 9, Sunday, September 18 2011: Cartoons

The situation with the fires is a bit relaxed and so my coworkers came home tonight at dinnertime and can have a night of sleep finally!

I was just working half day today, well, usually Sundays are off. I slept the time I had off in between, the early waking up times still killing me and that is really a thing I hate about living and working here, I am definitely not a morning person! Now its 10 pm and I should better go to bed soon, as 6:30 am is Breakfast already. I just finished my drawing for today, a comic/cartoon figure. I just was watching a bit cartoons on TV today with the kids and then I decided to draw one by myself, as the last time I  have done that was in my teens or so. I didn’t use any inspiration, I just drew out of my head, started with the head and ears, then the nose, the glasses and eyes, the mouth, the hair and then the body.

DAY 8, Saturday, September 17 2011: Blue

The damn fires are still making trouble, they were out the whole day and stay overnight as well, one guy just came by in the evening to get their food packages. I really wonder how they are doing that, but the adrenalin keeps them awake and here and there they are having a nap a bit in between.

Today I was cheating myself and had a bit of cake and Iced Coffee, however I had not much normal food in exchange, to make me feel better all in total. However my belly feels weird now. Damn it, but I could not stand my sweets addiction today! Hopefully I will not be like Bridget Johnes in her diary, who never really is successful in reducing her cigarettes and alcohol consumption. In my drawing today I even wrote it down in silver letters, “The Territory’s Own Iced Coffee” and “Cake”, it is an abstract picture just in blue colour. I just felt like blue, also because its the colour of water, which hopefully will fight the fire! That picture is kind of an Ocean of my Emotions and Memories.

DAY 7, Fryday, September 16 2011: Flowers

Half of the station is on fire now, it has jumped more and more and now even here outside at the houses you can smell smokey fire air. Its insane how many hours they are on duty! 2 workers of us and 2 from another Station, Newcastle Waters arrived tonight to have a night of sleep and tomorrow in the morning they will be going there again. Another worker came today at lunchtime and had a bit of rest in the afternoon and went back this evening. I am really praying that that will be in control and finished soon. I can be lucky that I just do my normal station maintenance jobs, like feeding the animals, moving sprinklers, gardening etc.

I am also tired, but actually I feel bad as compared to them, I have no real reason to be tired. Well, today I did my drawing in my lunchbreak and in the evening now I just finished another Dancefitnessvideo, I am kind of sweating now. While I was drawing, it started to annoy me a lot, I just didn’t feel like drawing, but I wanted to have it done to have the evening free. So I really needed to force myself today. Luckily after like 20 minutes I got more into it and it was quite allright and even a bit relaxing. I started to paint a tropical flower, like I have seen them on Hawaii and then just added flowers and flowers and then decided to put them into a vase and after all I felt like a light blue background. Light blue is one of my favourite colours and lately I also love pink, actually since I am in Australia, so that is almost one year now. Even my Creditcard is in pink..lol.. However so some flowers are of course PINK!

DAY 6, Thursday, September 15 2011: Palmtrees

This will be a short message, as I am extremely tired. I just did a quick black pencil drawing in a sketchy style of a beach and some palmtrees. I love beaches and also kind of miss it here in the middle of nowhere, also you cannot find any palmtrees here. The drawing is inspired by the Mindil Beach in Darwin, where I have been June 1st on my way to my farmexperience.

In terms of the fire it is getting worse, because of the wind, it has jumped and my coworkers are out there since yesterday evening dinnertime, more than 24 hours already and they will stay the whole night for sure. They just sleep for like 2 hours, sometimes a bit here and there. I feel so sorry for them!

DAY 5, Wednesday, September 14 2011: Frog

Pretty relaxed day for me, the early start as usual, but I had a kinda long lunchbreak, which I used to learn some french and do one Dancefitnessvideo. As here is no gym of course, that is an alternative I am getting used to. In the beginning it felt really weird to jump around in my little room completely alone, except the little Laptopscreen. But still I have to state the fact, that a real sportsclass with other people is just simply much more fun!
However my coworkers had nothing than a relaxed day, the poor guys had like a 27 hour shift. Starting the normal daywork at 7 am yesterday and then around 7 pm heading to do firefighting the whole night. They came back around 10 am this morning! Then they were sleeping a couple of hours during the day and tonight around 6 pm they were leaving again for the whole night. Since a couple days here are a few bushfires at the neighbour stations and desert lands and they are trying to get it dying and prevent it to come to their Station. Its 10:45 pm, I have the privilege to be heading to bed soon. Hopefully the fires will get in control soon!
My drawing today is not a bushfire though. It is a frog, as here are always dozens of frogs in the bathroom and also sometimes in the bed. They are actually quite cute, but they are not that nice, when they jump on you, a bit scary sometimes. However in remembrance to them I drew a little frog today.

DAY 4, Tuesday, September 13 2011: Lady Gaga

Because of the late night of the stores pick up stuff, we had a bit later breakfast, 7:15 am, anyways I am lacking a bit of sleep, but Coke Zero is just the best. Now it is alreay 10:20 pm again and I am having another Coke Zero to keep me awake to write a bit. Just finished my drawing Number 4. Today actually I was a bit thinking what I could draw and not just drawing whatever comes up to my mind. I was checking pictures on my computer, which I could draw. So I liked a portrait of Lady Gaga with her sunnies the best and created my version of it. I just borrowed some coloured pencils from the farmers kids and tested them. Actually I could imagine that better with real colours, like tempera or watercolours or acryl or something like that. But I am a bit limited here and only have access to pencils. Well, one thing I know for sure, when I am back to a City, I will stock up on some colours.

DAY 3, Monday, September 12 2011: Hearts

Wow, only day 3 and I am already kind of struggling a lot with my timemanagement. So basically just to find the time to make the drawing of the day. Well it was quite a long working day at the station. 6:30 am Breakfast like usual, hhm anyways still very far to early for me, even after 3 months here I am not getting used to waking up early.

However I had a bit longer lunchbreak and found some time to learn some french, which I am by the way also committed to learn every day for 30 minutes since a while already. Also I was just chilling out and reading a bit, not very motivated to make the drawing. Ah yeah and also it was Dakota’s, one of the farmers child 4^th birthday and we were baking a purple cake and singing for her, it was very cute! But I just knocked off at 7 pm and then we had dinner together until around 8 pm. In the evening I needed to help to pick up the stores from Top Springs. Food, like bread, cheese and vegetables are getting delivered there, because here in the middle of nowhere is obviously no supermarket. The meeting point for the truck was at 10 pm, so we left around 9 pm. So I had like one hour freetime between 8 pm and 9 pm, where I had a very long and needed shower and washed my hair and put bodylotion on, yeah and soon we needed to leave to be there on time. Then we were loading all the cartons and were driving back and unloading the most important things, which needs to go into the freezer at least. Well then it was already a bit after midnight, when I was back in my room. Then quite tired, I just drew whatever came up on a piece of paper and it had to be fast, as I just wanted to go to bed. I am still in pink mood, so the whole picture is in pink and a bit red this time. Also I was a bit emotional, so maybe that is why quite a few hearts were coming up.

DAY 2, Sunday, September 11 2011: Pink Dream

Not a nice day in our history, in remembrance of the September 11 attacks 10 years ago.

Waking up around 10 in the morning with quite a hangover. Oh my god, that was a night, we were all quite drunk in that little bar. I was talking to some of the country people about sunscreen and bodylotion and was so shocked, even one girl admitted, that she never uses it, not even facial moisturizer! Alright, maybe that is a matter of what you are used to, but no sunscreen, when you are working outside all day in the Australian Sun!!! Their poor skin! Then in my drunken mood I was touching their arms and really saying always what I was thinking..of course that it is to dry etc. Because I did not have a lot time to get ready this evening, I had bodylotion in my bag, which I applied in the car. I am a bit addicted to Bodylotion and I just feel not complete without it after having a shower. That fact is quite amusing for those people here, who never use it. However I ended up putting bodylotion on almost everyone in the bar and I felt like I am advertising Bodylotion. It was just hilarious and at least everyone loved the smell of it. It was a cool and funny night and by far the craziest and best drive back home in my whole live, to crazy though to comment about any details. I needed tons of water today! Whatsoever I did my second drawing, I drew Rachel Burr, an Australian Model. She had that pose on the cover of the ZOO magazine. I felt like just colouring her in pink only. She is so hot, kind of too hot to be real, so that pink creates a sort of dreamy feeling.

DAY 1, Saturday September 10 2011: Blue Monster

While working at the Station, various thoughts crossed my mind and all of a sudden I couldn’t stop thinking about the title “Around the World in 80 days”. Its that famous novel by Jules Vernes, which also was performed on stage and in film. However for me I wanted to combine different crazy thoughts. I just was so sick of my sugar/chocolate addiction and I kind of can never stop thinking about lollies, cakes or chocolate. I kind of always try to eat less of them with not such a longterm success, I guess I am really addicted. Also kind of annoying is the matter of fact that I put on some weight and my cityclothes don’t really fit anymore. 

SO I said to myself, allright 80 days without sweets, unless in any special occasions where it would be very unpolite not to try the a lovely baked birthday cake for example. Crazy and tough idea, well as my substitution I added a more crazy fact. For the next 80 days I will draw or paint one picture per day. I always loved to paint years ago, but I kind of lost track of it and never could find the time or similar excuses. Well now its time for the sweetless drawings in 80 days. Each sweetless day a drawing in 80 days. Just one crazy thought, but I knew, thats it, I gotta do that! So I am very determined now! For today I had no clue what I could put on paper, so I just drew whatever came up. Actually in the beginning I wanted to draw Billy, the farmers baby. But soon I recognized that faces are really not so much my strength. Whatever I just created a funny blue monster and some other elements. I just let the pencil go whatever my emotions were, well the result is an abstract and phantasy like drawing. I didn’t have much time, as we had dinner and then I spontaneously joined 2 workers for a little party in the closest town Top Springs. Well there is just a hotel and bar and thats it! Incredible unbelievable for me as a Citygirl! So I had no spare time left in the evening to finish the drawing, actually I wanted to add a bit more, but time is over Anja!

Intro and actually its Day 80 today

The documentary of my 80 days mission will start tomorrow, actually today is the last day of the project.

Each day I did a drawing and wrote a little diary note about it. Honestly my goal was also to blog about it every single day. Well I was travelling and had sometimes no internet or such a bad and slow connection, so that it was just not possible. Also its kind of hard to find so much time every day to draw, write and also put it up online. Soo today is day 80 and I did it! Now 80 days of online uploading work will follow.