It was the Sunday before my biggest work week. In five days I would travel and work in Brisbane, Newcastle, Sydney, Melbourne and Hobart, Tasmania. I planned for my day to be as relaxing as possible. By the afternoon, I was coming down with something. My throat hurt, and my body was tired. I faced the week with trepidation (along with zinc, vitamin C, orange juice and prayer).
Despite that, there were wonderful highlights in the week. I met two Aussie colleagues I had been corresponding with. They came to my seminars to get tips from me. I was honored to be looked to as an expert. And it was so much fun to talk shop. Geoff, the fellow who was assigned to be my helper for two seminars noticed that I was clanging a pen to a water glass to signal the end of an exercise. He bought me the perfect practical souvenir – a kangaroo bell!
One evening a driver was assigned to take me from Newcastle to Sydney. I felt like a rock star. Newcastle is known as a coal mining, industrial town. Let me tell you a secret the locals know: it’s a hidden gem. There is such beauty and charm there. The driver was full of incredible stories. For instance, on the coast there is a shark issue. So there are special pools along the shore filled with sea water that are safe for swimmers to enjoy. Aussies like a good practical joke. Every once in a long while, a baby shark would be wrangled and anonymously inserted into one of the pools. Imagine the surprise of a morning lap swimmer when he sees the fin.
By the week’s end, I was flown to Adelaide. I usually stay in the same hotel where my seminar will be. Because Adelaide had a huge car racing event that weekend, there was extremely limited occupancy. My alternative hotel was actually a vacation village just steps from the beach. I was delighted. The Adelaide Shores Holiday Village touted an amenity called a “jump pillow.” I had to find out what that was. Here is a jump pillow.
Here is what you do with it.
Here are the rascals with whom I played a spontaneous game of jump pillow tag. (Aussies children call it “chase”).
I jumped, rented a bike, napped on the beach, and got a funny shaped sunburn; all activities that any respectable tourist might do. The nature and fresh air did me good. I was ready for my final three seminars of the tour.