Back: Doug, James (Me), Ben. Front: Hailey & Sarah - Copyright James Hill 2009, All Rights Reserved.

I've been spending time with some of the UK candidates since we got in touch on Sunday. It's been absolutely brilliant, especially to speak with people who have been experiencing similar emotions and the frustrations that we've been presented with.

Yesterday, we journeyed to Westminster to create a little patch of Australiana (deck chairs, beach towels, tim tams, vegemite), approaching anyone who dared enter our 5 meter perimeter. The reception from the public was fantastic, only too happy to accept our free Tim Tams (which everyone just said were penguins) and lapel Koala toys. Hopefully working together might get more press for Queensland, the Great Barrier Reef and even possibly ourselves.

Holly, Jackie, Sarah, Ben, Hailey, James, Doug - Copyright James Hill 2009, All Rights Reserved.

All of us standing on Ben's defender, posing on the south bank, this was after our drinks meetup socialising for the BBC.

Not sure why I look so surprised considering I took the photo.

Tired. Bed. More photos on my flickr stream.

The skies opened up, then the hail battered down on our waterproof hoodies, the pattering sound instantly transfixing me into a motionless state. Mesmerized my mind raced back to the last time I could recollect a similar feeling, images flashing through my memory came to screaming halt as I remembered the moment.

My parents and I sat on the verandah overlooking the turquoise turned gray waters as a thunder storm rolled in over the Whitsunday islands, the massive tropic raindrops beat down on the corrugated roof, the sound instantly deafening. I'm ready to come home.

It felt relaxing to be in the middle of nowhere. No cell phone reception, no internet, no laptop, completely disconnected. No reason to make contact with anyone, no means to accumulate votes.

Unfortunately the video is more of a montage, the weather turned too foul to keep the cameras around my neck, the old 5D is no longer working due to water damage and I couldn't risk the new as I have upcoming shoots before I leave the UK. So I apologise guys as you'll never get that update from the summit.

I've just got back from an exhausting two day hike in the Lake District (north west england) where it hailed on us solidly and with gusts up to 80km/h (obviously nothing on cyclone hamish, but exhausting none the less) I'm absolutely knackered, so it's relaxing to be back inside answering emails in the warmth, one of which was an email interview with the Whitsundays coast guardian, I thought I'd share it here as I'm sure it answers some questions that others may be interested in.

How did you hear about the "Best job in the world'?

My mum called me, excitedly reporting that dad had found a blogging & photography position on Hamilton Island that started in July. I couldn't believe my luck as my UK VISA expires mid April so it all seemed to fit perfectly, then I looked at the actual job advertisement and realized there would be some tough competition, and thus got cracking on the application.

For those that haven't seen your video can you explain what it is about?

Well, I tried to take a different approach to making my application, most of the other candidates focus on themselves for the entire minute however I open my 60 seconds with my photography from the Whitsundays, I tie in my relationship with the region, add some local knowledge through a couple puns then plot through a short narrative of my life and related experience, then it's all wrapped up with more photography of our beautiful islands.

I felt it was more important to spend time showcasing the region than trying to say I'm an "excellent communicator" when it would be fairly evident whether or not I am actually an excellent communicator.

How did you feel when you found you had made the short listed top 50?

Absolutely incredible, there is a video on my website (http://jamesonhamo.com) that I recorded specifically for my parents to show them what I was experiencing right as the shortlist was released. I felt a substantial amount of relief as I had spent a fair bit of time on the application and the psychometric testing that I had completed the week earlier had me second guessing myself, but mainly excitement, satisfaction and honour that a local could have the opportunity to share the region with the world.

Alrightly, that's it for tonight. I've got to go find some deep heat to rub into my aching muscles. More to come tomorrow, and perhaps a video or two of breathtaking mountains and punishing weather.

Since being shortlisted I've experienced a plethora of emotions that have taken me from the screaming heights of excitement, an exuberant buzz that embraces me with the thoughts of endless possibilities of where this opportunity might lead me. Then on the flip side there are the troughs of uncertainty and doubt that leave me feeling empty and shallow, these don't usually last very long as my amazing support network of friends and family usually kick me in the bum and I snap back to my usual day dreamin' state.

I think my first state of confusion was when it seemed everyone else shortlisted was getting media appearances except myself. I missed a couple media opportunities in the form of a press conference in Brisbane, and unfortunately not being in Australia and being listed as an Australian added to the confusion. But no despair, I have some ideas in the pipeline that may raise my media profile, so I'll be getting under way as soon as I return from hiking up England's highest mountain

Scafell Pike with an elevation of 978 m (3,209 ft), definitely won't be the highest I've reached on foot, but it'll allow for some stunning photography opportunities and a place to clear my head. As the snow falls in Cumbria I'll be thinking of the friends and family that are or will be effected by cyclone hamish. Best wishes to all and stay safe.