AFTER five years at the Mandurah Mail and more than 50 columns later this will be my last Konundrum, my last hurrah.
As of today the Mandurah Mail will be one excellent journalist – or at the very least a journalist – lighter and I will be perhaps nursing a sore head following leaving drinks.
My Konundrum this week is how to sum up five years of my life into just 400 words, however if there’s one person who can do it it’s the King of conundrums; hell, I’ve solved some doozies, from dealing with having two letter boxes to possibly having scurvy.
I’ve seen, done, and learnt a lot during my time at the newspaper.
Boy have I seen some things while out on the job.
Seeing a boar suck from a cow’s teat – milk spilling from the mouth – now that’s something you don’t see in every job, and also something you can’t un-see.
I’ve also done a lot; I got to share the opening line of my comedy routine to comedian Stephen K Amos, which he rubbished, rode in the back of a fire engine, rode in the mobile at the paceway and written an award-losing column.
My greatest achievement at the Mandurah Mail - some might think it was writing about a bandicoot and some ducklings and maybe they’d be right, (my hand did feature on Japanese television) - was being named joint winner of the staff Christmas baking competition.
Forever my name shall be etched on the mixing bowl trophy; or until the black texta fades.
I’d like to say what I’ve learnt about most is spelling or grammar or a sense for the news, but that would be a lie.
I feel like I’ve learnt more about child birth. People in the office have never been afraid to over-share.
Despite their over-sharing, the people I’ve worked with at the newspaper are what has made this job great. There really couldn’t be a more entertaining, some might say crazy, group of people.
Before leaving I will solve one of the work conundrums.
Who takes my desk? No one does.
It shall be retired for a one-year period to honour my work life.
On a serious note I’d like to thank everyone who has helped me and become my friend during my time at the newspaper. There’s far too many to mention but I will miss you all.
And to think, maybe my time at newspaper wouldn’t have even have happened if I’d been given that spelling test in my interview five years ago.
