MAJOR injury

Today I had my first major injury since coming to Australia. And no it's not my leg that got hurt, that's just where most of the BLOOD ended up! It all happened because I decided to go for a run to check out the carnival (more on that later ... the "PNE-like" event opens tomorrow and I can see some of the rides from my kitchen!!!). Ok, what was I talking about? Oh yah, the PNE... I didn't get a chance to go this year because I wasn't in Vancouver, but hopefully this Perth "Royal Show" will make up for it. I'm really excited, to allow for all the extra passengers on my train line, they are going to CLOSE my "home" station. Isn't that Great!!! Now I'll get more exercise by walking even further to the train!

Ok, so I was running, it was dark, I was having that awkward moment where you aren't sure if you should keep your hands high and close to the chest, or swing them low, or somewhere inbetween, so as I ran I reached out to grab a piece of long grass. [Running and grabbing things like branches, poles, fences can be pure excitement]. Let's just say Perth-grass is much more sturdier than BC grass. The grass did not budge, so my hand pull up along it to produce one major paper-cut-like "Grass-Cut". I started feeling woozy, and light headed. The blood was pouring out. The sounds from the carnival had me confused and disoriented. But I made it home ok, and now have the band-aid and polysporin on the old wound.

IATO's [Interesting Australian Toilet Observations]

Well I'm not going to write about the whole Northern vs Southern Hemisphere and the rotation of flow in the toilets. In actual fact, toilets in Australia seem to go straight down and have no circular flow at all! What is amazing about toilets here is there are TWO choices for flush. Choice #1 is the "Half Flush" and is designed for a "Number One". It gives the bowl a decent cleaning, but it's not the full thing. The reasoning behind it is to conserve water as Australians have been in a drought for the last 10 years or so! Choice #2 is the "Full Flush", and is designed for ... well you know ... "Number Two". This thing gives the full bowl cleaning. My motto goes back to my childhood days at Bowen Island "When it's yellow, let it mellow [Choice #1]. When it's brown, flush it down [Choice #2]".

Choice #1 - The Half Flush ..... Choice #2 - The Full Flush

Other bathroom things I've noticed is that urinals are urino-where in Australia. Reason again may be with the Water Conservation Strategy, most men's washrooms just have troughs. The big long ditch in the ground that you "Number One" in. It's actually really awkward as there are no set boundaries for men when they pee. Someone can come up and rub elbows with you. I'm not a big fan. "Give me some freaking space", "You can't pee in my part of the trough", "THAT'S MY SHOE!!!". The only troughs that I can remember in BC are at the Pacific Coliseum in Vancouver, and the Boom Boom Room (aka Sketchy McSketchville) in Victoria.

One of the many "Troughs"

Oh yah, but don't ask for the bathroom or the washroom ... you'll get a blank stare. Just get straight to the point ... TOILET.

On another note.... Max stopped by today. Max was the kid who's cell phone I found on Sunday. He was about 15 years old, and was very very thankful. To show his gratitude, he got me a box of Swiss Chocolates. Nice touch! "Milk, Hazelnut, Dark and White Swiss Chocolates with Delectably Smooth Centres" .... Thank you Max!!! Kinda ironic that Max got me Swiss Chocolates

Kinda ironic that Max got me Swiss Chocolates..... (only a couple ppl will get that)