Barnsey,

I was wondering how the job was going?  Enjoying it?

I have been a regular visitor to Townsville Base hospital the past month.
Buggered my ankle (Severe dislocation) on 2nd May, and then spent 6 days in
hospital while they cleaning it out, and set it back into place. I then
stayed another couple of days in Townsville till a mate picked me up to
bring me home in his Landcruiser wagon.  Turns out we live closer to
Townsville than Rocky! Aside from a mdeiocre 140kms of dirt, the rest is
mostly reasonable bitumen.  The traffic into Townsville from the west seem
to be a lot better as well; Rocky's western traffic sucks from about 140kms
out.

Another mate took me back for my first post-op inspection; leaving here last
Sunday (20th).  They have removed sutures put a new (fibreglass)cast on,
x-rayed it for alignment, and I am due to return in 4 weeks for the next
assessment.  Ironic that the ligaments and tendons I have torn/abused take
longer to heal than if I'd broken bones.

I was impressed with the hospital (well..the bits I saw of it).  It was just
luck I went to Townsville rather than Rocky (there was an available RFDS
plane returning with a spare berth), but I think I prefer the place to RBH.

The hire Landcruiser we did the second trip in was a GXL V8 Petrol Auto.  It
must be the nicest rig I have done distance travelling in.  Fuel economy was
a bit worse than my turbodiesel trayback, but not hugely so.  There is a
pearler of a growl from under the bonnet when you put the boot in at the
lights, and it is a very nice rig in both town and on the road.  I was
surprised and impressed.  It will be interesting to see what that 4.5V8 TD
motor will be like when it goes into the next Landcruiser wagon (200
series?).

Anyway, just thought I'd see how you're doing.  Ironic that not long after
you leave Townsville, I seem to be damn near living there!