Tuesday 18th September

84 days to go.

Met up with Tweety at 0730 had toast, vegemite and a cup of tea for breakfast. The first "normal" activity from home I have done. Tweety is again struck down by tummy trouble. Poor guy, just to sum up the differences in our arrival here, I went to the recommended Dr. in W.A. Sat through the interview and he said OK you need Typhoid and Hepatitis B injections. 1 for typhoid and a course of 2 prior to departure and 1 post arrival home. S0 I had 2 on that day and a further 1 3 weeks later. Tweety follows the same procedure in Melbourne. His Dr. has just returned from India and Tweety embarks upon a course of about 30 injections. I kid you not, he has to endure Typhoid, Rabies, HepA, HepB, HepC, Tetanus, Japanese Encephalitis, Measles Mumps Rubella (OK that was a liquid), Athletes foot, gout, karaoke and anything else that is a danger to health.

My Dr. told me to buy a first aid kit and take some Betadine, also recommended a general purpose antibiotic and anti emetic treatment diagnosed by my own Dr. This I do and sorted. Tweety has about 40 prescriptions filled for everything for a rash to amputation. I think it cost about $900A to prepare me for here, a conservative estimate for Tweety is $3000A. Still, not his fault.

Tweety has a Bex and a lie down and I head into work.

At about 1200 he resurfaces, fighting fit in the office. We have to go out to where the secret base is to get ID cards issued to give us access to the field hospital. We head out to the airport and find our way from there. It was a bit dicey because we had to blindfold ourselves when we got to the airport. We just drove very slowly and tried to keep the wheels on the road. We ran over a couple of things, but it was OK, we left our blindfolds on.

Utter confusion at the CIA. They were expecting us, but did not have permission to do anything. Someone important, I think his title was AFP Grand Inquisitor was located on his day off. Well, located is stretching the abilities of the AFP here, he actually walked in to CIA headquarters to refill his water bottle. We get it sorted and return to base.

As we arrive another 3 holiday makers, well, a training team arrive. They are going to be here for 2 weeks. I have worked with 2 of them but the third remains a mystery to me. Although if he works with these two he is either a saint or a maniac. If I were a betting man I would go for maniac.

End of another work day and the nightly rendezvous return as it is our turn to babysit the newbies. We decide to take them to Church for dinner on the first night. Normality for here returns and back to the foyer and nightcaps and arrange an 0800 start on Wednesday.