Tuesday, May 30, 2006

Crikey! Look at the size of that alligator, Terry!

I can't remember how much I've told you about the site where I'm working right now. It is the Dandenong Treatment Plant (DTP) in one of the western burbs of Melbourne. It is a very industrial area, though my boss here just told me that he was born in Dandenong, on a farm! So, most of this industry is fairly new. You may also recognize the name Dandenong from the mountains I went hiking in last weekend. Yep, same name.

OK, so DTP is basically a giant cess pool. Or it was. We are doing the environmental bit for the redevelopment of the site. There are lots of giant submerged, filled-in tanks and large fields where they spread the sludge of Dandenong. Most of this has now overgrown with a combination of grass and some kind of berry brambles. There are (supposedly) snakes and wild pigs onsite, though all I've seen is someone's lost sheep dodging traffic.

I'm telling you all of this because of the GAP field uniform. Standard issue is two pair of some kind of weird fabric that beads water and has an eternal crease (though amazingly still needs ironing) khaki pants and a collared, khaki long sleeved shirt (also requiring ironing) complete with GAP logo above the pocket. Nice to have field clothes that I don't have to worry about paying for, don't get me wrong there, but I feel like a deranged zookeeper. Any minute now I'll be shouting "Crikey! Look at the size of those pigs! They look hungry, mate!"

To top it all off, I was given an outstanding jacket yesterday (it really is cold here in the mornings!) complete with orange vest build right in. It really is an amazing jacket with lots of good pockets, an insert (also with orange safety vest built right in) that you can take out, and removable sleeves. I may never go back to Carhartt's! But, once I put on this great jacket, I look like a firefighter. I am becoming a one-woman homage to the Village People. Or the "People that you meet each day" skit from Sesame Street.

Either way, if someone hands me a rainbow colored feather...

3 comments:

K said...

I so very need to see pictures of this!!!

Anonymous said...

I am with Kim! Pictures would be good!

Anonymous said...

I LOVE hearing about your happenings! Your pictures are great too!!