tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-57108344224845163572024-03-20T18:20:04.110+11:00An American in CanberraAnecdotes and observations of life in Canberra, Australia from an American womanKellyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03438752508316759825noreply@blogger.comBlogger16125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5710834422484516357.post-81606789727183849122011-01-28T12:54:00.000+11:002011-01-28T12:54:33.233+11:00Australia Day<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dw6K2mujinHJkzHbPZvVu2bhtQoUMC4gpBM7WeZAL3cML_AwHNW5mzDiH7MtPIdvBLiFjBkT7x25zo3Alxy_Q' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div>Wednesday the 26th was Australia Day. What is Australia Day, you are likely asking? Well, here's the brief history lesson.<br />
<br />
Australia Day celebrates the day formal possession of the land in New South Wales (the state I am in) in 1788. So, though Australia is still a Commonwealth country of England and doesn't have an independence day, Aussies celebrate the day the first land was taken possession of for colonization.<br />
<br />
Now, what do Aussies do to celebrate? Well...there are free concerts with Aussie acts like Altiyan Childs (won the Aussie X factor), Jessica Mauboy and Stan Walker (I think they've won Aussie Idol competitions), and Justice Crew (maybe won Aussie SYTYCD). Plus bands like Gangajang and Cold Chisel. I know, none of these may be familiar to you guys. That's okay. :) Also, new Aussie citizens participate in a ceremony and receive their certificates that they are official citizens. And, the Aussie of the year award is given out.<br />
<br />
That's all the public things. What do private citizens do? There is a cricket game to watch, barbies to have. If you saw the Sam Kekovich video I posted on fb, you'll know that lamb is the main barbeque item. Meat pies are common, and some people have pavlovas. Lots of Aussie flags worn around the shoulders of people, temporary tattoos, etc. People have Aussie cups and plates and wear their Aussie flip flops. It's just like the 4th of July atmosphere. Summer day (and it was almost 100F), bbq, family and friends getting together, fireworks and a show of patriotism. Normally Aussies aren't showy about their patriotism but they are on Australia Day.<br />
<br />
So, I have Vegemite on my toast, watched the Aussies lose the cricket game, hung out with Mick since he got the day off (yay!), and had meat pie for dinner. Claire had told me their would be fireworks that night, so Mick and I took the kids and our cameras. We drove to Red Hill lookout (I've posted pics from there before- you can see Parliament House, Lake Burley Griffin, and a ton of the city) and scored a nice place on the rock wall to sit or stand and watch the fireworks. Though the kids didn't like the 45 minute wait, we got a key spot and took some fireworks vids. See below!<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioncBFe4IZMIWB2NAC3pntKhxXzkP1XeO_pR2sbr7IdK5aan5LJfTXPpKucY8PcsJcxVmzEXX4slbeoudRJY0bPf54LJLaGNEOayFNSn0g5rYmMN2UUlKRFzIWQu1sbJ28-HX-sbkjw9w/s1600/Oakes+Family.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioncBFe4IZMIWB2NAC3pntKhxXzkP1XeO_pR2sbr7IdK5aan5LJfTXPpKucY8PcsJcxVmzEXX4slbeoudRJY0bPf54LJLaGNEOayFNSn0g5rYmMN2UUlKRFzIWQu1sbJ28-HX-sbkjw9w/s320/Oakes+Family.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAULwAxkBQQWCEf1L3RlqYCI-rwMbP3acexpmi3oNKfFoOEB1m9Ygo6qzjXjWoHYd4z93qB567cMFvzJ8ZwXMhV3H3tTnO-rfWLthU66boFCfwBXkAERMmkSD0RLRJH_lUkqITBf7lTj8/s1600/AUS+Day+Kelly+and+Mick.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAULwAxkBQQWCEf1L3RlqYCI-rwMbP3acexpmi3oNKfFoOEB1m9Ygo6qzjXjWoHYd4z93qB567cMFvzJ8ZwXMhV3H3tTnO-rfWLthU66boFCfwBXkAERMmkSD0RLRJH_lUkqITBf7lTj8/s320/AUS+Day+Kelly+and+Mick.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3ToUhwH45iTzF3ZZi-tK4nupbWKYH1ajOYkd7RTul7JI57Ve04juN6QdI9QqfQuo1Gen6z37qpmtEN8bLFEtHE5WMn7Y8IdXQn2K56LnM-_pyVTdiZ6sd4TOsh_dDtLBxbLCHhlcQEsE/s1600/Kelly+Eddie+Emily.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3ToUhwH45iTzF3ZZi-tK4nupbWKYH1ajOYkd7RTul7JI57Ve04juN6QdI9QqfQuo1Gen6z37qpmtEN8bLFEtHE5WMn7Y8IdXQn2K56LnM-_pyVTdiZ6sd4TOsh_dDtLBxbLCHhlcQEsE/s320/Kelly+Eddie+Emily.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>So my first Australia Day was great and it felt very special. :) Got to spend the day with Mick and the night with the kids and we had a really good day. I'm including a couple of videos and pics. My vid from my camera doesn't have audio, but when the heart shaped fireworks went off, everyone said "Awwwwwww!"<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dz_601d8FehHPMbtInaikPXHKsgD0km4AREN_z-tu1baWNKxAZu2Y1kx1HJOw7GMjiHhXlsCbsCmzfYVxMP' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe><object class="BLOG_video_class" contentid="FAILED" height="266" id="BLOG_video-FAILED-1" width="320"></object></div>Kellyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03438752508316759825noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5710834422484516357.post-67446827038096101582011-01-21T20:24:00.000+11:002011-01-21T20:24:51.148+11:00Two and a half weeks!Yikes! It's been a long time since I posted.<br />
<br />
This post is going to be a mishmash- more of what's been going on personally for me.<br />
<br />
The kids are on school holidays until February 8th and the holidays are over. So, Claire is back at work and Mick is back at work. The kids HATE vacation care. That's essentially day care and is not with their friends so they really don't want to go to it. It also costs money so that's another strike against it.<br />
<br />
Thus, I have been watching the kids during the week for the past two weeks. We have them during the week and then Claire takes them Friday night, Saturday, and part of Sunday. So I am staying busy during the day. I've been able to talk to a few people, but no time to do a blog. Not that I don't have things to blog about because I do!<br />
<br />
Hmm where to start? How about the neighbor kids? I've talked about Reese and Jay before. There have been more developments that I haven't mentioned yet though! Here's my thoughts about them...I think their mom is busy with their 8 month old brother and she doesn't pay any attention to what they do or where they are. I think she probably prefers it when they are out of the house. Now I have no idea what her life is like. I know her hubby is gone all during the week because he drives trucks. My thesis and proposed dissertation covered this type of separation and its effects on both partners. So I do have a little understanding of having to run a household by yourself and what that does to partners. I am trying to cut her some slack. ;)<br />
<br />
Yet, since the boys started coming over, they've broken fishing poles, lost some of the parts to Mick's old cameras (we found them later!), destroyed the bottom playroom, have hit Em in the eye with nerf bullets, have gone into Emily and Eddie's rooms when they weren't allowed. Emily has gotten hit in the face with a door, Eddie has nearly gotten pushed down the stairs. Money has gone missing, both from Eddie's room and from my purse. A Christmas gift in an envelope for Mick went missing. They've opened a package that was addressed to the previous tenants (which we only found later in the playroom stuffed behind a couch). They have zero respect for rules, zero respect for other people's stuff. The icing on the cake came this week however.<br />
<br />
Reese and Jay came by to play with Eddie this week and they took all of his play guns outside (we'd banished them outside and told them they couldn't play in the house since they didn't respect our rules or our things). I checked up on them and saw them standing on the sidewalk in front of our house. I yelled at Eddie because we have a rule that he can't go past a line on the driveway unless Mick or I are with him. So Eddie came back and was standing on our driveway. Em asked me for a glass of cordial (kind of like kool aid) and I went into the kitchen. As I was walking back, I see the police stopped outside our house. I went outside and they were pulling away. The boys looked toward the house and saw me and instantly knew they were in trouble. Apparently the police knew Reese and he's been "told off" before. They warned the boys that they would be fined $800 each if they kept pretending to shoot at passing cars. Nice. Fantastic. I talked to Eddie about it and he told me Reese is the bad one and Jay really isn't bad. They'd already broken two rules before the police came by so I was done. I told Eddie to come in for lunch and sent the boys home. Jay came back and asked if they could play here while Eddie ate. I said no and sent them home again and told them they were not allowed to come back for the day. Reese wanted to know why and I told him they had three strikes- they broke a rule outside, they were touching items we'd asked them not to touch, and they had the police stop by to chastise and warn them.<br />
<br />
Later that afternoon, we went out to the pool. We have an inflatable pool that we set up in the front yard (which has more space and is flatter). The kids were in and Mick and I were watching them. We watched Reese and his mom and the baby get into their car and drive away. Jay, the 8 year old, was on his bike but just sat there watching us in the pool. So there we were. Normally I would have invited Jay to come over...but he and Reese have gotten out their slip n slide and the kids have stood there and watched them play wistfully. Plus, Mick reminded me that Jay was not my responsibility.<br />
<br />
So I am now torn between feeling bad for the boys and not wanting them around Eddie. When Eddie is around them, he gets taken advantage of because he's younger and smaller. He wants to prove himself and acts tougher and bigger than he is. He broke out the fly screen of a window in our rental house and was throwing plums at Reese. And Emily hates it when Jay and Reese are around. We banned them from her room first, and they haven't respected that. She sticks to me like glue when they are around and hates it when Reese tries to tickle her (she and Eddie both say he tickles too hard, not in inappropriate spots or anything). So that tells me that the less time Eddie and Em are around Reese and Jay, the better.<br />
<br />
Luckily, the boys are supposed to be moving in a few weeks. I am hoping that by the time I get back, they will be out! Maybe a younger boy and a girl will move in. I can always hope!<br />
<br />
The next topic- Visas. Wow...lots and lots of requirements, and very costly. I have 32 pages of information to fill out- the basic info, information about my family, information about Mick and his family, numerous statements about my relationship with Mick to complete. Then, I have to provide proof of my citizenship, proof of Mick's citizenship, evidence of our relationship (our lease maybe? joint bank account?) and evidence of our relationship from the past 18 months. I have to provide 4 recent pics of me and Mick has to provide 2 of him. We have to have 2 Aussie citizens write statements about our relationship and prove that we've been together (and we have to prove those two are Aussie citizens). Mick has to provide work statements and tax statements to sponsor me. I may have to have Bruce be a kind of co-sponsor who says he will help support me or pay for any fines I incur (speeding tickets? not sure) while not an Aussie citizen. I have to provide medical records and history and they assess whether I am a health risk. I have to have a physical, get chest x-rays, and take an HIV test. I have to have a character assessment (police background check) and interview. And all these documents have to be certified copies (i.e. notarized).<br />
<br />
After all this is done, my application will be reviewed. If approved, I will have a temporary partner visa for 2 years. After 2 years, they will reassess our relationship and application. If we are still together and Mick and I have been able to provide for ourselves, then they will again look at my character and health and will assess me for permanent visa status. While I have a temporary visa, I will get a Medicaid card and will have access to health care. I won't have to leave every 3 months. At that point, though we may not be married, the Aussie gov't will see us as such. <br />
<br />
It's a lengthy process and involves a lot of people and money and time. It can take 5 to 10 months to have a temporary visa once the application is lodged. It's a tough process. And once that is approved, I can work! After I fill out my provisional license application and pay that money too. lol, seeing a pattern? Yeah. Me too. Money and paperwork. Lots and lots of it.<br />
<br />
I have pics of the kids swimming in the pool and I want to post those, but I think I will make a separate post for that. I still have many topics I'd like to cover...but I'll get there. :)Kellyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03438752508316759825noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5710834422484516357.post-68329045912663060242011-01-04T11:16:00.000+11:002011-01-04T11:16:29.778+11:00AncestorsMick is big into genealogy and has been researching his grandmother and her parents. Yesterday, he found a man he thinks is his great grandfather. He found a lot of information about the man's time in the Boer War and WWI. He was reading me some of the war documents as he went along. Mick remembers that his Nana never really talked about her parents. Seems her dad kind of disowned her and her sister. He died when she was around 10 years old but was in the war for a few years before that so she really didn't remember much about him, at least not that she shared with Mick.<br />
<br />
Anyhow, I'll get to my point and thoughts. :) Mick was reading out about his great grandfather's alcoholism and I said that didn't surprise me since he was in a couple of wars and we really knew nothing about PTSD at that time. He kept reading and sure enough, the man was discharged for "shell shock" and had neurasthenia and eventually died from complications due to prolonged time in the trenches. Where am I going with this?<br />
<br />
It pays to have as much information as possible, and to not make snap judgments. If Mick had stopped reading when he saw that on his great grandfather's military contract he disowned his wife and children, he might have thought less of him. If he had stopped reading after he learned his great grandfather was an alcoholic, he might have thought less of him. When all the pieces are in place, it's much easier to see the whole picture. Judging people on things we read about them, rumors we hear, even actions, is foolish. We can't know people's motivations. We probably don't understand their situation, even if we think we do. Because Mick kept reading, he learned much more about the man, about his struggles and difficulties and maybe glimpses into his motivations. Empathy and impartiality makes such a difference. And we've come a long way in recognizing the struggles of soldiers and in treating PTSD, though there's still lots of work to be done! <br />
<br />
Another thought I had about genealogy...what would a descendant find about me? About my parents? My grandparents? Well, my understanding for finding information about genealogy is it relies heavily on war documents, marriage and birth and death certificates, land deeds, and official records like that. What official records do I have? I have a birth certificate of course, and there will be a death certificate. I suppose registration and licenses would pop up, so MFT or psychologist records might be helpful. What would these say about me? What would an unbiased third party gather about me? <br />
<br />
I don't think anyone starts digging into their ancestors in the hopes of finding jerks or thugs or liars or cheaters or murderers. We would all love to think that our ancestors were honorable and highly lauded and successful. The truth is, people are people and the decade or lineage doesn't matter. That doesn't mean I don't believe genetics play a role in our lives, but I definitely believe our environment shapes us and we all make our own choices. So Mick has some ancestors that weren't as honorable as he is. I do too. And so do you. The good thing is we all have ancestors who were successful, good people that deserve praise. And we have to decide for ourselves how we live our lives to be good people here and now, and good people for the future as well.<br />
<br />
As someone who's lost both sets of grandparents, I recognize the not only have I lost four amazing people that I wish I could have had more time with, I've also lost important bits of history. A couple of years ago I asked my parents to write in journals which I gave them, stories of their past, stories about their families. There are times when my dad or mom will say, "Oh, I wish I could ask so and so about the name of that street or that friend or when that happened." I want to have a record of their stories, their jokes, their lives before and after meeting each other. Obviously, I have my own stories of my friends and my family and my partner and my education. And I try through blogs and journals to keep some records of these stories. So I wonder too if all these electronic records will make it easier or harder to know one's ancestors? In 100 years, will someone be able to read these words still? Will they have been discarded as my travel journal likely will have been? Is the internet a more permanent or less permanent record?<br />
<br />
These are just the thoughts I've had while thinking about Mick's searches. :)Kellyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03438752508316759825noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5710834422484516357.post-26254427089628736522011-01-04T10:06:00.000+11:002011-01-04T10:06:44.100+11:00New Year's Eve and resolutionsOn New Year's Eve, I had an exciting event for me...my first time going out with people other than Mick and the kids. Annie and Mandy, who I met at Christmas, invited me to lunch and a girly day. So I drove in to Manuka (where I took the kids to the movies) and met the girls at the shops. Manuka is a fancy area of Canberra, very posh. Annie made a comment that there were some pretentious people and shops. Still, it was nice to walk around. Restaurants are along Franklin street, interspersed with shops, and some have courtyards that are green and nice. <br />
<br />
I got there first and wandered around the shops and the greens. We were meeting at the "green square," which Annie assured me Mick would know. He didn't, lol, but I found it anyway. Annie met me there and we looked around the shops while we waited for Mandy. Annie found a ring and earrings she wanted and since her partner bought her a Swiss Army watch (and Annie's a girlie girl so it wasn't the best gift for her) she called her partner and told him to come find the jewelry and pick something for her. lol She's funny and feisty. While she negotiated with the shop owner about the Spanish pearls, she handed me her phone and I called Mandy since she was late. She'd just arrived so we said we'd meet her at the green square.<br />
<br />
When we found Mandy, we chose a Mexican-like restaurant and ordered food.We picked Mexican since Mick doesn't like it and I really do. :) The restaurant they wanted to take me to was closed for the holidays but they told me it is really good. We'll have to hit there again. Regardless, the burrito I got was fancy. It was more Tex-Mex than Mexican, but I'll take what I can get! :)<br />
<br />
Lunch conversations consisted of Mandy's upcoming wedding, NYE celebrations, drinking, moving, lessons we've learned throughout life. It was a really interesting conversation. I really enjoyed getting to know the two of them better. I hope that we'll get to go out again soon. After a couple of hours chatting, Annie's partner Branamere arrived to buy her a proper Christmas present. While they did that, Mandy and I looked at shoes for her wedding. I haven't seen her dress, but the shoes we were looking at were very cute. Mandy and I walked back to the parking garage so I could add more coins to the meter. Then we met Annie and Branamere again and had gelato. MMMM, that was delicious. Lemon gelato- perfect. It was quite warm that day, in the 90s, so gelato was a great way to end the day. Mandy and I said goodbye to Annie and Branamere and walked to our cars.<br />
<br />
Mick had been watching the kids and I got back a bit before 4pm so we hung out and played. He's building a billycart (sp?) for the kids and Eddie and Emily helped him. Claire arrived and we had a bit of a weird exchange but nothing major. Annie invited me and Mick to her house to celebrate, but we really just felt like relaxing. So instead, we went to the store after Claire and the kids left, bought some champagne and groceries, and came home. We started curry for dinner and just had a nice night relaxing and listening to music and talking. It was a quiet, lovely night.<br />
<br />
Ok, this is off topic, but I know some of you will find it amusing and I didn't mention it in my posts about Christmas Eve so I'll tell you now. On Christmas Eve, I wanted to dress up and make myself up to celebrate. Even though it was just me and Mick, sometimes I get that urge to make myself look nice just because. So I walked out to the lounge room all dolled up, and Claire was in the lounge room to pick up the kids. Reese and Jay had been over and gone home. They were coming up the stairs and Mick was standing at the top of the stairs talking to Reese. When I walked over to wish them a Merry Christmas, Reese said, "You look really pretty." I laughed and made a comment about cleaning up nice. Mick hasn't let me live that down and says now Reese has a little crush on me. Is it really a compliment when a 12 year old says you look pretty? LOL<br />
<br />
Now, onto New Year's Resolutions. I make some every year, and I try to mix in easy, medium, and harder resolutions. I was 3 for 6 for last year's resolutions. I know some people get discouraged if they don't meet their resolutions. Of the ones I didn't meet, one is an ongoing resolution and two just didn't happen and they were easy and medium ones. So I'm ok with that. I accomplished an easy, medium, and hard resolution.<br />
<br />
For 2011, I resolve the following:<br />
<br />
To get an MFT job. That's a tough one because it takes lots of steps before actually job hunting, but I know I can do it.<br />
<br />
To buy a printer. We need one badly and I am guessing I'll be the driving force for that. :)<br />
<br />
To get an Aussie doctor and try to get in better health.<br />
<br />
To visit some churches here in Australia.<br />
<br />
To make new friends here so I won't be as lonely. I need girlfriends to hang out with, talk to, go to lunch with, go shopping with.<br />
<br />
To build stronger relationships with Emily and Eddie.<br />
<br />
To finish my America Scrapbook.<br />
<br />
That does it for me! I could have picked lots of things because right now it feels like there are so many things I want to accomplish and have completed or settled. Did you guys make resolutions? :)Kellyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03438752508316759825noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5710834422484516357.post-54841689863682235952010-12-29T13:41:00.000+11:002010-12-29T13:41:43.969+11:00Fishing DayWe went fishing with the kids a couple of days ago. It was the first time I'd been fishing, and I had fun. It was a beautiful sunny day again, and Mick has four fishing rods so we took those, some bait (the locals recommended corn and cheese and bacon rind), a couple of buckets, and some snacks and water. We also took sunscreen for the kids and everyone had a hat except me. I pulled my hair back in a bun to keep my head from getting sunburned, but I forgot about my neck.<br />
<br />
We fished for a couple of hours. The kids liked it at first, Emily more than Eddie. Poor Mick had to deal with three people who needed their lines cast and their lines untangled and wanted advice. :) We didn't catch any fish at all, but we felt nibbles and we tried hard. We had to walk along a path but it hadn't been kept up so there were patches of places where large bushes blocked the path. Most of these were skeleton bushes, which don't have prickles or thorns and are just annoying to push through. However, there were large sections where the path was overgrown with prickle bushes. Imagine a bush that was solely rose thorns, only sharper, and you've got prickle bushes. Em was wearing long pants but the rest of us had shorts on and I think we all had blood drawn. I had cuts on my hands and arms too. Not the most fun part of the day.<br />
<br />
There were clouds in the sky, but it was mostly sunny and warm. We fished in a couple of different spots but had no luck. It's hard to go fishing with a 6 and 8 year old because that doesn't keep their attention for very long and they don't want to be quiet of course. I can't say I blame them. :) I enjoyed it, and would go again. It was nice just to be outside, though the flies were killer. And then we get to the sunburn...<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPEceAHqbWMN77hB9h7YuxeNex2pr8wZgF_EPYV1GKeF-M5nMVSGR2zVLrZhQJN5HmUhkEPkShpPNqOzo5l6nrO8edkEmMHHeYuFOH2J3WfSV8u7JOkpsjEAc94GVLYbRWOO9MT_dtNKg/s1600/Blisters.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPEceAHqbWMN77hB9h7YuxeNex2pr8wZgF_EPYV1GKeF-M5nMVSGR2zVLrZhQJN5HmUhkEPkShpPNqOzo5l6nrO8edkEmMHHeYuFOH2J3WfSV8u7JOkpsjEAc94GVLYbRWOO9MT_dtNKg/s320/Blisters.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOOou2wCYI2nq-l5RsBTiBj0EkuCoVBGpvD3TBnnYLbNHIW_MIM5bnrwmTEtIb87q8mLieH7SxkaLPDw1tRiQx2YZN-wYAc5I9EXInM_H7F2YSpkW5sSHVCtlQPOwGrJnfBWzvm2-reGA/s1600/Sunburn1.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOOou2wCYI2nq-l5RsBTiBj0EkuCoVBGpvD3TBnnYLbNHIW_MIM5bnrwmTEtIb87q8mLieH7SxkaLPDw1tRiQx2YZN-wYAc5I9EXInM_H7F2YSpkW5sSHVCtlQPOwGrJnfBWzvm2-reGA/s320/Sunburn1.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQrqwQym0WpCGE-zScgd7_BXyJJZnLxAF64IoROKv_o50OJskbSCFYPiCKJC0ie_hPZA-9erHzdugdFAZNyxP_o_Pwu_jxrQLxt2T6k26w_MXjCCwXp5tIMqE4rafWNz0TSYICTGmBHRw/s1600/Sunburn2.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQrqwQym0WpCGE-zScgd7_BXyJJZnLxAF64IoROKv_o50OJskbSCFYPiCKJC0ie_hPZA-9erHzdugdFAZNyxP_o_Pwu_jxrQLxt2T6k26w_MXjCCwXp5tIMqE4rafWNz0TSYICTGmBHRw/s320/Sunburn2.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4BRwgS37OrsJF9Yfci1NwoSq1EMUCtW-OmJFuODermQL3DBZcUEAVN9gSA2s0NC34ICx4Dq8PG4fjpC-RvNT4qBL3T5H95iZ0xPFbYeSLpEOU-vRmu655H-8UA1rtQxpwXY-hnLKZGeE/s1600/Sunburn+blisters.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4BRwgS37OrsJF9Yfci1NwoSq1EMUCtW-OmJFuODermQL3DBZcUEAVN9gSA2s0NC34ICx4Dq8PG4fjpC-RvNT4qBL3T5H95iZ0xPFbYeSLpEOU-vRmu655H-8UA1rtQxpwXY-hnLKZGeE/s320/Sunburn+blisters.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>Because of the tilt of the earth and its rotation, Australia is closer to the sun during the summer than the US is during the summer. Now, I'm a pale girl anyway, so I should have been wearing sunscreen. But I didn't think about it. I guess I didn't realize the power of the Aussie sun. So, here are a few pics to show my scars. It hurts to raise my hands above my head and to cough or laugh or anything that moves my shoulders. And the blisters are getting worse. But, I will survive and now I know better! :)Kellyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03438752508316759825noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5710834422484516357.post-55095771096396634912010-12-29T12:19:00.001+11:002010-12-29T12:52:45.309+11:00Videos of Boxing DayI am posting videos of the snake, one of the lizard eating the frog, and the lizards who had a fight.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dxEkv-zqM11vxPSqMfg7-NIl3G0J0qFRofx0nNvP5BtSaKRv4cJGevxrJRA5bJk8xNWh8b0lsBPO4OyRKwAVQ' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div>This one is of the snake<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dzZTLI_BH5VFnIdfCHhwz9U7eEzgqCTyn6Q6u_9eYJ6W-nj-7SHSWqIts81HkJcM-OS2-5Nk3ck7mu89Vt2kw' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div>This next one is also of the snake:<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dzRlJC_iyABHanHfISYFlRl6TPaFXzU0bgByFQEDy52JWbgOFgEABQdH3_7x63bAOzn78lELVubSwypj8mWyQ' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div>A final video of the snake:<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dy2jXddCbavuFdYnA7ZJZEP0FFoZ2ht_U1aGjg0KMcP1tw0PhCf8njjeh6185GU94mJcqFbqmj5MH-0QGUnSw' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div><br />
<br />
This last one is of two lizards as they circle each other and posture for territory:<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dyz0YciMWqeAsXqKSNAACCdC1SPW19lbTF4O4iCOfbS0MC7cRjK2xnbHh7cLIW4vZJNzix2WUgHyZv9za2kgw' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div>Kellyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03438752508316759825noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5710834422484516357.post-75815401553768521382010-12-29T11:07:00.001+11:002010-12-29T11:08:43.058+11:00Boxing Day picsHere are the pics from our Boxing Day adventure. :) Oh, and I forgot to mention that we went to Red Hill Lookout before Cotter Dam and had lovely panoramic views of Canberra. Find the lizards and snakes in the pics below. :)<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><object class="BLOG_video_class" contentid="FAILED" height="266" id="BLOG_video-FAILED-0" width="320"></object></div><br />
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnGlO5Jfs_g0T6xHcXYAkof2Irtxtp4zsbizABWqdaqhR9_YN4wLweQIF0elhMJ5crdfCC_hGBGPyEUHBnrph-do8lH9ld3vtcot22ZoZYr7FLcEbNL_3tpkLSUGc4o6Xd4XLPhAIvxrA/s1600/Red+Hill+Lookout+Key.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnGlO5Jfs_g0T6xHcXYAkof2Irtxtp4zsbizABWqdaqhR9_YN4wLweQIF0elhMJ5crdfCC_hGBGPyEUHBnrph-do8lH9ld3vtcot22ZoZYr7FLcEbNL_3tpkLSUGc4o6Xd4XLPhAIvxrA/s320/Red+Hill+Lookout+Key.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5jfNg5HU8N5CLCI91Lzi6q7MP8RyyG4POC7GpeE3rXsi9LuD9WWQer9mKBFWt-CPxNUWtZ81aOxAoTCwMhY3zxQjxkgkHYLw_z_pvECJJT5FewFAKoTjVkjSHmk-TGi1y9l9pZTjfhzs/s1600/Black+Mtn.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5jfNg5HU8N5CLCI91Lzi6q7MP8RyyG4POC7GpeE3rXsi9LuD9WWQer9mKBFWt-CPxNUWtZ81aOxAoTCwMhY3zxQjxkgkHYLw_z_pvECJJT5FewFAKoTjVkjSHmk-TGi1y9l9pZTjfhzs/s320/Black+Mtn.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqZPIiV5TA-V2XAfSxs3cY4eFMbh_aLAGoIlkY_IsLTm2t59VcOl1Z0yxB9YqRPpEmezgTQVRRKIBn0eDzOkjvlGdFn-mf18L_Zojdq6BVqV2vp7omc8vRPDHGcjWIeC2jWRiCivzeSS4/s1600/Mick+in+the+Paddy+River+Crossing.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqZPIiV5TA-V2XAfSxs3cY4eFMbh_aLAGoIlkY_IsLTm2t59VcOl1Z0yxB9YqRPpEmezgTQVRRKIBn0eDzOkjvlGdFn-mf18L_Zojdq6BVqV2vp7omc8vRPDHGcjWIeC2jWRiCivzeSS4/s320/Mick+in+the+Paddy+River+Crossing.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgn6pKcbsM-aZ_u6pDECT9fOt_wViWl2CoyypRisxlJc5DGf5_LsRr5ljCPz1uMeY3wj-auQwyRuMQOx78bH9gIkyynCNTJZZv3D7h5NY-MoMAQ89V8aJzYgevCOVK-llVlIFAmvLIhGVA/s1600/Paddy+River+Crossing.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgn6pKcbsM-aZ_u6pDECT9fOt_wViWl2CoyypRisxlJc5DGf5_LsRr5ljCPz1uMeY3wj-auQwyRuMQOx78bH9gIkyynCNTJZZv3D7h5NY-MoMAQ89V8aJzYgevCOVK-llVlIFAmvLIhGVA/s320/Paddy+River+Crossing.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5tCJnkFTBk3HYPGeFMwe3ErTX9237oqENoIQ1OspQFEDsNVNp52XDQlL5SJ1vv9riyhYdSUJb12GjEBgF0dDOli5CR4nmMf_CpLu5_FKKJUE_5JHd4phXquP8btYCWEqCi52xa0VOW7U/s1600/Parliament+House.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5tCJnkFTBk3HYPGeFMwe3ErTX9237oqENoIQ1OspQFEDsNVNp52XDQlL5SJ1vv9riyhYdSUJb12GjEBgF0dDOli5CR4nmMf_CpLu5_FKKJUE_5JHd4phXquP8btYCWEqCi52xa0VOW7U/s320/Parliament+House.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4wP23pFu2q9NeHQO5Gj8aA0BnsKoo_MTWJ-qiFKw6ZqC6wkq1Z5NHezM6lNovwOOGSr_MZblBYNyVdKWblbVxcwynnYjeww4KbDTRndc10LVeJ_j52qYgFbS4a6WJ8ZliVXhW8KKzeEg/s1600/Red+Hill+Lookout1.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4wP23pFu2q9NeHQO5Gj8aA0BnsKoo_MTWJ-qiFKw6ZqC6wkq1Z5NHezM6lNovwOOGSr_MZblBYNyVdKWblbVxcwynnYjeww4KbDTRndc10LVeJ_j52qYgFbS4a6WJ8ZliVXhW8KKzeEg/s320/Red+Hill+Lookout1.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdqpCgbFNXkHZbCG3O4mZAudAuGbrckAjQ4_72FqlFcWAIdXAkpm2B8MeQIRaA53T9m10NMrElxBiNEEbkTHlbYWBquDgnBGsfM12TQWRRUnwY8yI8Lh3mecXGCfwRkSvh40-HHQ_iIBU/s1600/Red+Hill+Lookout2.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdqpCgbFNXkHZbCG3O4mZAudAuGbrckAjQ4_72FqlFcWAIdXAkpm2B8MeQIRaA53T9m10NMrElxBiNEEbkTHlbYWBquDgnBGsfM12TQWRRUnwY8yI8Lh3mecXGCfwRkSvh40-HHQ_iIBU/s320/Red+Hill+Lookout2.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBSGKk_9mV9MsrayRiOGAU2J9fEwFVy7z7ghxT0fwXs1zmCd5tBC0s5PzNgUv4cKWlEx79l5icaYw7ou6BQGtn38adDcmQ4-sfH0IBD_3Opi7FMXo6ujbZjtTMmXxyVj5XK4pDVxj6-Ds/s1600/Red+Hill+Lookout3.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBSGKk_9mV9MsrayRiOGAU2J9fEwFVy7z7ghxT0fwXs1zmCd5tBC0s5PzNgUv4cKWlEx79l5icaYw7ou6BQGtn38adDcmQ4-sfH0IBD_3Opi7FMXo6ujbZjtTMmXxyVj5XK4pDVxj6-Ds/s320/Red+Hill+Lookout3.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgM6WRdpfOkPQbill0X0ELRCkThiHIQ5iCsYsVX61p7KHqAOTFbMHwcB2TbpEGGCj1QiUeNymtbyYalDCnFEk-E9UWCvH5K5Q2fcShoulMGJz0nmAlBqvPVBxfS_rwHV3vRtGC9qIEf9jo/s1600/Red+Hill+Lookout4.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgM6WRdpfOkPQbill0X0ELRCkThiHIQ5iCsYsVX61p7KHqAOTFbMHwcB2TbpEGGCj1QiUeNymtbyYalDCnFEk-E9UWCvH5K5Q2fcShoulMGJz0nmAlBqvPVBxfS_rwHV3vRtGC9qIEf9jo/s320/Red+Hill+Lookout4.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFR8rQ8ZpCXHBa35kmBr80eXeHi0kWGrOWLW7TqK6QTQ4bkpLXnNptbVUGGSRvJ2EPDVv7uoGMxqHZfIT38q9sVSGD3gw1deFCFA585beukSqSA8xTZe7CvFokUsOYuZpxI7cG6XTsOzs/s1600/Red+Hill+Lookout5.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFR8rQ8ZpCXHBa35kmBr80eXeHi0kWGrOWLW7TqK6QTQ4bkpLXnNptbVUGGSRvJ2EPDVv7uoGMxqHZfIT38q9sVSGD3gw1deFCFA585beukSqSA8xTZe7CvFokUsOYuZpxI7cG6XTsOzs/s320/Red+Hill+Lookout5.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzFz-9eXhlpIBETf6iG0TYy6l7IM0vF4QNPnZD_9lkXSUF-y57gI16x3TUlZ8zpz7daJUif-DynXwIOy72XzLQfua6ZDgQKhbK_S6RSrEwM2vWSuq_9RM27iKNktuPlHYgPNWjF0MD0s8/s1600/Winning+Lizard.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzFz-9eXhlpIBETf6iG0TYy6l7IM0vF4QNPnZD_9lkXSUF-y57gI16x3TUlZ8zpz7daJUif-DynXwIOy72XzLQfua6ZDgQKhbK_S6RSrEwM2vWSuq_9RM27iKNktuPlHYgPNWjF0MD0s8/s320/Winning+Lizard.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVuM0nPm8fpua8HBf1XugnyyMGLzs_StJw_zkEVmgFq-sMhHkYR4mbwk1S6Ug0ljnJazWve6GKUsQxXtNGlXP_eaPjcOyAyAr_2afhtIDaYhsPnmIGCAUnjPb122mdGoqAEUB-5BXiVrg/s1600/Bird+called+a+brog.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVuM0nPm8fpua8HBf1XugnyyMGLzs_StJw_zkEVmgFq-sMhHkYR4mbwk1S6Ug0ljnJazWve6GKUsQxXtNGlXP_eaPjcOyAyAr_2afhtIDaYhsPnmIGCAUnjPb122mdGoqAEUB-5BXiVrg/s320/Bird+called+a+brog.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVkylFu2F3eCcO6iIMzK1JerinR8uUMxAAihrVnkxW772DcBdoj2AcQu4u6Jz4heWQ4rXwFOM8E6o79z264HERN57aJ8Ttuh_gz9kZbqPtoa9bfif4qnq_FS9m_eIT3YvjVkMri1RX004/s1600/Cockatoo.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVkylFu2F3eCcO6iIMzK1JerinR8uUMxAAihrVnkxW772DcBdoj2AcQu4u6Jz4heWQ4rXwFOM8E6o79z264HERN57aJ8Ttuh_gz9kZbqPtoa9bfif4qnq_FS9m_eIT3YvjVkMri1RX004/s320/Cockatoo.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0X9MAgdgr5_Cm59GeVeAxASdzaAPV3zOhVsoUhGMnq9OjKpAAnPtH0Ua5HfY_nqhhyUtFshR-V9Aqg4RbkrrKx56euz4b27tXqjHugHEa6QNupGeGFMuhWMtB05V2-AJmiAVnrPZKD1E/s1600/Emu+on+the+loose.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0X9MAgdgr5_Cm59GeVeAxASdzaAPV3zOhVsoUhGMnq9OjKpAAnPtH0Ua5HfY_nqhhyUtFshR-V9Aqg4RbkrrKx56euz4b27tXqjHugHEa6QNupGeGFMuhWMtB05V2-AJmiAVnrPZKD1E/s320/Emu+on+the+loose.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYpeKdmkbhH1yG84kZWfk0qZbiQ0oRpFVkQVPHJIUfrKgJNBi1WFusufgO2YekZAjAk_EKWefhHPx8o2fpfEARbBswUw_4k8ptd4ZGFVsE1rxIXkwIVewR3JpcJkVcrtCLx1PkhH4ZHHI/s1600/Emus.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYpeKdmkbhH1yG84kZWfk0qZbiQ0oRpFVkQVPHJIUfrKgJNBi1WFusufgO2YekZAjAk_EKWefhHPx8o2fpfEARbBswUw_4k8ptd4ZGFVsE1rxIXkwIVewR3JpcJkVcrtCLx1PkhH4ZHHI/s320/Emus.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgV-sJCYgEBgIfYuWIrspuK0onfNskZeJu2S0DO7R1GaUQ8DpSg2sTUJ5GnW1kRafzvolPdtVVrg7HssIH0m-aAOYkOgS_oHLgWQ5cAIjvYlRiecuKjJJ-7XuLEiJNjW3gusLpKWKYMmv4/s1600/Emus2.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgV-sJCYgEBgIfYuWIrspuK0onfNskZeJu2S0DO7R1GaUQ8DpSg2sTUJ5GnW1kRafzvolPdtVVrg7HssIH0m-aAOYkOgS_oHLgWQ5cAIjvYlRiecuKjJJ-7XuLEiJNjW3gusLpKWKYMmv4/s320/Emus2.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhGM_nxmocGth_smW6PCwtDlDFaGko6-X8VkRWknZkOMqydM0D93rKCHNdwecDM8rlg9ff6U3kzaj7OEnofIhm1sN04z1z96LhYnQcL7krvDjLvafxb1doLIGhlPrXkrwGrADic61pcno/s1600/Kangaroos.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhGM_nxmocGth_smW6PCwtDlDFaGko6-X8VkRWknZkOMqydM0D93rKCHNdwecDM8rlg9ff6U3kzaj7OEnofIhm1sN04z1z96LhYnQcL7krvDjLvafxb1doLIGhlPrXkrwGrADic61pcno/s320/Kangaroos.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVE8Ikr0YlUECHVE2JiUZCFXGug8vkTr4noxDuzusmzpm9-HTtOzI6DRZKUQkVZeCSD_hyv8jKFCjxWbCSD62JDHI5vxtzkxL8a6WmsO5gSfw1QTHSGy-3ed33lPr4v8Z2INij_tN5z7s/s1600/Kelly+riding.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVE8Ikr0YlUECHVE2JiUZCFXGug8vkTr4noxDuzusmzpm9-HTtOzI6DRZKUQkVZeCSD_hyv8jKFCjxWbCSD62JDHI5vxtzkxL8a6WmsO5gSfw1QTHSGy-3ed33lPr4v8Z2INij_tN5z7s/s320/Kelly+riding.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiW2GSSdVBcRBTYseQMt2Bbrt3FRhBNv8h5ya0MIGFD92zImtzx06xlM9LuRLr1okLtoJeFzqonWngEwv6s4ozGvBIXfhdNEXe35yNcKI7KbPc5sJbsPw1MPkn3fwGP9iaTAbrUrO3E-AQ/s1600/Lizard+eating+a+frog.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiW2GSSdVBcRBTYseQMt2Bbrt3FRhBNv8h5ya0MIGFD92zImtzx06xlM9LuRLr1okLtoJeFzqonWngEwv6s4ozGvBIXfhdNEXe35yNcKI7KbPc5sJbsPw1MPkn3fwGP9iaTAbrUrO3E-AQ/s320/Lizard+eating+a+frog.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiuSh_HQlGw6vxz3AnueCjjthAitmaBYUJlvT2CY7FCKHskt3G-8yqKrKiaiBHQsM5LSs99Brru9NVzDYH7Nz97zSSJ-aumDHPRq817vc2-utxv5UGWAxXZCgVB_SWTulOlqwmQbvk9GA/s1600/Lizard+fight.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiuSh_HQlGw6vxz3AnueCjjthAitmaBYUJlvT2CY7FCKHskt3G-8yqKrKiaiBHQsM5LSs99Brru9NVzDYH7Nz97zSSJ-aumDHPRq817vc2-utxv5UGWAxXZCgVB_SWTulOlqwmQbvk9GA/s320/Lizard+fight.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEqPXx4mpxdeZysuzyPiYJlWQwLji50z6CeekQLz8LVfg0aoNt90rS5LivigfjLUgjImeLmaRouyk2oWbGZSEBin5b5HsQ4N52LwqkL9miukMXoGXST4ywksGbKw3vz_9S6RI5K8anmoo/s1600/Lookout2.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEqPXx4mpxdeZysuzyPiYJlWQwLji50z6CeekQLz8LVfg0aoNt90rS5LivigfjLUgjImeLmaRouyk2oWbGZSEBin5b5HsQ4N52LwqkL9miukMXoGXST4ywksGbKw3vz_9S6RI5K8anmoo/s320/Lookout2.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHkuoHnyQRFY8B4r18TcUDPamUnBRi-FMEQT5QosFwL1Q3qjcLp-ZHgbqPhPlcxxZj_fMfH1EU5ql_r2KZvPn2gRnnKUGVw0MNKVOP3KeKspEyTaVPygU5oroPCNvJZVuOWVmopqzCShY/s1600/Lookout+at+Tidbenbilla.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHkuoHnyQRFY8B4r18TcUDPamUnBRi-FMEQT5QosFwL1Q3qjcLp-ZHgbqPhPlcxxZj_fMfH1EU5ql_r2KZvPn2gRnnKUGVw0MNKVOP3KeKspEyTaVPygU5oroPCNvJZVuOWVmopqzCShY/s320/Lookout+at+Tidbenbilla.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHtd0HEDL5YvWxgS0aODkUrUfLvEuL48dIm2bvxp2aLBbhJ3-p8iam6mfCitof4j3T-1MVEZcv_g2Tsqj5egNgB8H4MUdIVNJi0m7CQ0qJGIxwi3MOJGS6uz1luBybhdKV-So05xQfDgQ/s1600/Losing+lizard+lost+his+tail.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHtd0HEDL5YvWxgS0aODkUrUfLvEuL48dIm2bvxp2aLBbhJ3-p8iam6mfCitof4j3T-1MVEZcv_g2Tsqj5egNgB8H4MUdIVNJi0m7CQ0qJGIxwi3MOJGS6uz1luBybhdKV-So05xQfDgQ/s320/Losing+lizard+lost+his+tail.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQaP6N_rpSNlgYh28Lw-e3K1IiAy83oYRgdn-ideYT2_mcHzf_39BK6NbpfcEUEtihSt5VXZS2qdaTNiYhYheH2Vef1vX-Swh8VxJWkDb052rUedPqOkoSZVf5j3csQS4Z5ZD0BmOLUXU/s1600/Mick+drives.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQaP6N_rpSNlgYh28Lw-e3K1IiAy83oYRgdn-ideYT2_mcHzf_39BK6NbpfcEUEtihSt5VXZS2qdaTNiYhYheH2Vef1vX-Swh8VxJWkDb052rUedPqOkoSZVf5j3csQS4Z5ZD0BmOLUXU/s320/Mick+drives.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhp31Pkm11R3U9HGdZJ2viojzDCPO73aacJ1fJi3x-G1KhEbr453F6upoQ4sEejCriD1Egt3pJpVo9S_BOL7Dg3OV2Z3_rgdLavURIWpe5eikaIK-xwgIithyphenhyphen_b2nlGyxS3v2ZJDjEfGUs/s1600/Red+bellied+black+snake.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhp31Pkm11R3U9HGdZJ2viojzDCPO73aacJ1fJi3x-G1KhEbr453F6upoQ4sEejCriD1Egt3pJpVo9S_BOL7Dg3OV2Z3_rgdLavURIWpe5eikaIK-xwgIithyphenhyphen_b2nlGyxS3v2ZJDjEfGUs/s320/Red+bellied+black+snake.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2ryV1j9C8MYngG4qWV3GZdIyj32l2SvwUFlBYkp24wVCmCSE23JBaRbLat6sg0w7NZTN3buuTtYeXZ4Yp0aj27e7rcD7RFTpXA3I_rq3zcZjbREdBAmBP3hpUSqUIUjtrZ4vbJIt2fhc/s1600/Sleepy+koala.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2ryV1j9C8MYngG4qWV3GZdIyj32l2SvwUFlBYkp24wVCmCSE23JBaRbLat6sg0w7NZTN3buuTtYeXZ4Yp0aj27e7rcD7RFTpXA3I_rq3zcZjbREdBAmBP3hpUSqUIUjtrZ4vbJIt2fhc/s320/Sleepy+koala.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPPZQB8niD_cWC9o8SiaVjRBfB-C0Pf_FMopFPE18W_pIzgCbNFF17IGlM1byjG-Qkg241Taf214c-Ihc59x7f9rrOMbcUS-k5v_7qYcskvMMlMxP_Nkym1mzk5C6hNaIKGtOZgr_iy4Y/s1600/Still+sleepy+koala.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPPZQB8niD_cWC9o8SiaVjRBfB-C0Pf_FMopFPE18W_pIzgCbNFF17IGlM1byjG-Qkg241Taf214c-Ihc59x7f9rrOMbcUS-k5v_7qYcskvMMlMxP_Nkym1mzk5C6hNaIKGtOZgr_iy4Y/s320/Still+sleepy+koala.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2TgkgN66_WFX-OlCBBOJo7AjWU0SoWpnywbmvL5-zeOwwsj4m-h8ANJpiWzlSJlYqRjU0zvvccJISx_ZBUscDgmRXA8wA8EIpWkp63ssS3Pfk-gciaHeZDXzNKhuBBiZ1X4RTiqqXS98/s1600/Tidbenbilla.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2TgkgN66_WFX-OlCBBOJo7AjWU0SoWpnywbmvL5-zeOwwsj4m-h8ANJpiWzlSJlYqRjU0zvvccJISx_ZBUscDgmRXA8wA8EIpWkp63ssS3Pfk-gciaHeZDXzNKhuBBiZ1X4RTiqqXS98/s320/Tidbenbilla.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div>Kellyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03438752508316759825noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5710834422484516357.post-2221327303564852062010-12-29T09:05:00.000+11:002010-12-29T09:05:17.634+11:00Boxing Day<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:WordDocument> <w:View>Normal</w:View> <w:Zoom>0</w:Zoom> <w:PunctuationKerning/> <w:ValidateAgainstSchemas/> <w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>false</w:SaveIfXMLInvalid> <w:IgnoreMixedContent>false</w:IgnoreMixedContent> <w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>false</w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText> <w:Compatibility> <w:BreakWrappedTables/> <w:SnapToGridInCell/> <w:WrapTextWithPunct/> <w:UseAsianBreakRules/> <w:DontGrowAutofit/> </w:Compatibility> <w:BrowserLevel>MicrosoftInternetExplorer4</w:BrowserLevel> </w:WordDocument> </xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:LatentStyles DefLockedState="false" LatentStyleCount="156"> </w:LatentStyles> </xml><![endif]--><!--[if !mso]><img src="http://img2.blogblog.com/img/video_object.png" style="background-color: #b2b2b2; " class="BLOGGER-object-element tr_noresize tr_placeholder" id="ieooui" data-original-id="ieooui" /> <style>
st1\:*{behavior:url(#ieooui) }
</style> <![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 10]> <style>
/* Style Definitions */
table.MsoNormalTable
{mso-style-name:"Table Normal";
mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0;
mso-tstyle-colband-size:0;
mso-style-noshow:yes;
mso-style-parent:"";
mso-padding-alt:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt;
mso-para-margin:0in;
mso-para-margin-bottom:.0001pt;
mso-pagination:widow-orphan;
font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:"Times New Roman";
mso-ansi-language:#0400;
mso-fareast-language:#0400;
mso-bidi-language:#0400;}
</style> <![endif]--> <br />
<div class="MsoNormal">Boxing Day…a day much like our “Black Friday,” the day after Thanksgiving. There are tons of sales and good deals and lots and lots of shopping. Also, Boxing Day is the start of the fourth test in the Ashes Series. Most, if not all, of you are going “wtf is that???” Well, I’ve learned more about cricket than I ever though I would. So, we’ll start with a quick and dirty cricket lesson.</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">Cricket is like primitive baseball. I am by NO means an expert, or even fully versed in the rules and whatnot surrounding cricket games. I want to say there are 12 men on a team and two are substitutes maybe. I know that 10 men bat each inning, and to move on to the next inning (there are two innings) all 10 men have to be gotten out. Now, here’s how it’s a bit different. There are two batters at a time and instead of running the bases and only batting once, each batter bats until he is gotten out. Also, there’s a rectangle in the middle of the field called the pitch. The main batter stands behind a line in front of three wickets (wooden sticks) and uses a cricket bat to hit the ball. The bowler starts back from the pitch and has a line he can’t cross when throwing the ball but he gets a running start. A run occurs when the batters swap places on the pitch, running back and forth. If a ball hits a wicket, the batter is out. If the batter hits the ball and the ball is caught before hitting the ground, he is out. If a batter is running back and forth and doesn’t get on his side of the line before the ball hits a wicket thrown by an outfielder, he is out. Some bowlers bowl the ball with a spin on it and some bowl very fast. Most teams have multiple bowlers that can be substituted. To win, a team must get all the batters out twice (complete two innings) and still be ahead in runs. If all players aren’t gotten out twice by either team at the end of 5 days, the game is called a draw. It’s a tie if all batters are gotten out twice and the score is zero. These are obviously really rare. Those are the basics.</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">Now the Ashes is a series of cricket games played between Australia and England. The Ashes is a series of “tests” that take place in November, December, and January. A test is one game (two innings). They are always between Australia and England and they don’t take place every year. The actual Ashes themselves are a cup, a silver trophy, and the trophy is so fragile it never leaves the country it’s in now. Cricket is a big game here, in England, in Pakistan, India, South Africa, and other countries. Obviously not so much in the US.</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">So Boxing Day is the start of the 4<sup>th</sup> test of the Ashes series. England has won one game, one game was a draw, and Australia won one game. England is winning the current series, and if they win this test, the Ashes will be over and the 5<sup>th</sup> test won’t be played. However, a big thing to do on Boxing Day is to watch the cricket. We watched a bit of it, but wanted to go somewhere.</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">We had lots of suggestions from the crew at Christmas dinner. Gibralter Falls, another falls, and several other places. We ended up driving to Cotter Dam and Tidbinbilla. We drove along some areas that had been flooded, including Paddy’s Crossing. Normally, if we’d had the Patrol, we could have crossed the water and gone looking for wildlife. Alas, my car wasn’t going to safely cross. We kept driving….</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">Then we got to Tidbinbilla. This is a wildlife preserve. We bought an annual pass because we knew the kids loved the play area and it was only twice as much as a day pass. The preserve has lots of kangaroos, an amazing playground with ropes and rocks to climb, a huge slide and bridges and water running through it and just generally cool stuff. There’s a sanctuary where koalas live and wetlands where platypus live as well. We walked around for a couple of hours and saw a koala, a red-bellied black snake, lots of lizards, emus, and various birds. The first animals we saw were of course kangaroos. Lots and lots of them. Then we saw a koala just added to the sanctuary. They are almost impossible to see in the wild, and though we searched in the sanctuary, we couldn’t find any. Next, we came across the red-bellied black snake. I thought it was a good size snake, though Mick says it was small. I took video of it wandering around. It is a poisonous snake, so I didn’t get too close, that’s for sure. </div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">We kept walking and I spotted a pair of small lizards. They were fighting! I didn’t get the fight on video, just got them circling and posturing. The victor took the tail off the other and we saw the blood and the stunted tail of the loser. Pics and vid will follow! We kept walking and searching for koalas but couldn’t find any. After leaving the koala sanctuary, we went to the black flats and the wetlands. We drove around and stopped at the lookout. What a beautiful sight! Huge panoramas and lovely mountains and hills around. Then we walked around ponds and through forests. We saw cockatoos and emus and more lizards. We just missed the platypus. <span style="font-family: Wingdings;"><span>:(</span></span> We saw a turtle and several large birds, including black swans and geese and ducks. We watched a lizard eat a tiny frog. </div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">It was a beautiful day…sunny, warm enough. Mick and I really loved getting to spend the time together. And knowing that we can go back and visit the wildlife for the next year is awesome. It was a lot of fun. So my first observation of Boxing Day was filled with excitement!</div>Kellyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03438752508316759825noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5710834422484516357.post-36817151117643345692010-12-27T23:09:00.000+11:002010-12-27T23:09:26.576+11:00An Aussie ChristmasI didn't think this morning that I would make it through the day without breaking down from being away from the US. But I did. Let me tell you how.<br />
<br />
First, Christmas Eve. Mick got home early and we had a really nice night. I cooked dinner and we finished wrapping presents for Brian and Lesley and Ashley. Mick got out his vinyl records and we listened to 80s compilations and sang along til after midnight. We had a really nice time hanging out and spending time together. Mick gave me a pink rose to celebrate our first Christmas together. It was very sweet. <br />
<br />
Then, when we woke up, Santa had stopped by. :) Our stockings filled and extra presents were left for the kids. Yay! I'd made sausage balls so I had some for brekkie. I called my family on Skype and got to speak with my aunt and uncle too which was great. Mick and I opened our gifts to each other and the gift from my parents before we left to go get the kids.<br />
<br />
At Claire's, the kids showed us all their cool toys. They got one of those 4 in 1 game tables that has Foosball and ping pong and air hockey and pool. And Em got a Glee Karaoke game that she and Claire were singing along to. Claire and I had a glass of champagne (haha, at 9:30am) and we had a talk and opened presents. Claire gave us some chocolate and a picnic blanket that folds up. We had a good time hanging out and then took the kids back to our house to open gifts again.<br />
<br />
They tore into their presents and then we had Mick open his surprise present that the kids and I made. The kids are forever saying, "I want...." and Mick's standard come back is "Well, I want a Ferrari." So, the kids and I made him a red Ferrari so he can't say that anymore. :) Pics below! We also had crackers, which two people pull apart and they make loud cracking noises. Inside are gifts and the ones we bought had paper crowns in them, which is an Aussie tradition so we put those on.<br />
<br />
Next we all got in the car and headed to Brian and Lesley's house. Brian is Mick's dad and Lesley is Brian's wife. We arrived and I was surprised because several other people were there besides family and I hadn't expected that. Brian and Lesley have a lovely house and prepared hors d'ouevres for us. The table was set for 13 people and we each had a homemade place card in front of our seat. The thirteen people were as follows: Annie and Branamere (family friends, especially close with Ashley), Ashley and Tom (Mick's brother and nephew), Brian and Lesley, me, Mick, Emily and Eddie, Mandy (Lesley's daughter), Judy and Doug (Lesley's sister and brother-in-law). I had more champagne, which is apparently a tradition for Christmas. :) Who am I to argue? lol<br />
<br />
We had a lovely spread of food for Christmas dinner. Lamb, ham, turkey, and prawns, salads, potatoes, and other various crudites. I'm not much of a seafood eater, but I tried the prawns and they tasted pretty good. The champagne was flowing, the wine was open, and the food was great. The conversations were great too.<br />
<br />
I have to give truly special attention to the people and the way they made me feel. I am not likely to circulate through a party of people. I tend to not feel comfortable "working a room." However, I've never felt as welcome and warmly received as I did Christmas Day by every person there. I sat next to Lesley, who I'd met in Chicago, and we talked for a while about the US and their trip. I was across from Mandy. She is in her 30's and is preparing to move to Norway for a couple of years. We talked a lot about passports and moving to new countries and visas and finding work. She was very friendly and nice. Judy and Doug were nice too, and we talked about psychology since Judy taught psychology and had just retired and since Mandy was thinking of getting a degree in psychology. Because Annie, Branamere, Ashley, Tom and Brian were at the other end I didn't get to talk to them as much at lunch. However, one of the first things Annie said after meeting me was that she wanted to take me out for a girls' night out. Aussie people are friendly, warm, kind, and so very willing to help. I'm reminded again and again how generous people here are. It's amazing.<br />
<br />
After lunch we all sat outside on the patio in the garden and the kids played with Mandy's cat and Brian showed the boys his model planes which are seriously impressive. Lesley served us fruit and chocolates and more champagne. I got to know Annie and Mandy and Ashley better and enjoyed listening to Doug and Tom and Branamere talk about their perspectives. Mick commented that we were multicultural- lots of Aussies, an American, a Serbian, and a Scottish man. I felt that I connected most with Annie and Mandy. They wanted to take me out this week so we'll see if we can all work that out. Annie's vivacious and outgoing. Branamere, her partner, just recently moved to Canberra from Serbia and he is very much going through what I am- a new country, new culture, finding a job, and instantly becoming a parent to two children when he has none of his own. And that's why I think Annie immediately wanted to take me out. She sees that I am going through the same struggles her partner is going through and wants me to know she gets it. And getting to know Ashley was nice. We hadn't really had much chance to talk and he's very nice and though, like me (quiet at first), we did have several conversations and exchanged good-natured jokes. I was very sad to be away from my family and the US for Christmas, but I couldn't have asked for better company since I couldn't be there.<br />
<br />
After Brian and Lesley's, we went to a nearby park and played until the rain started to sprinkle down. We came home, played card games, and fed the kids. Emily gave me a manicure with her new nail polish and used all six colors. :) Claire came by to pick them up. Mick and I had planned to drive to the coast on Boxing Day but the crew at the Christmas dinner changed our minds a bit with how crowded it would be. Bruce had invited us to the coast but we decided to change our plans and instead stay close to Canberra. This was especially good because Claire was heading to the coast Monday and she and her friend were going to leave Boxing Day eve instead of Monday morning. So this way we could take the kids on Boxing Day.<br />
<br />
I have a whole post to make on Boxing Day, and today too since I went fishing for the first time and got a bad sunburn. But, those will have to wait because I'm getting sleepy. :) <br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnDHDFU8pQ92Fiudw2wv3t-1d8tDTWHIAO1vurQtE-4S1uh0a-ddd7ia-AFkP96XhOgKJNeB_V0C-X56HwJ2ESIdfAqqZqAz6ihbFlrGGwLw0sHXhD_b2TcJhc0w0BWflDO1ziK5IQdQc/s1600/Sausage+balls.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnDHDFU8pQ92Fiudw2wv3t-1d8tDTWHIAO1vurQtE-4S1uh0a-ddd7ia-AFkP96XhOgKJNeB_V0C-X56HwJ2ESIdfAqqZqAz6ihbFlrGGwLw0sHXhD_b2TcJhc0w0BWflDO1ziK5IQdQc/s320/Sausage+balls.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWGXU4y-y5oI41mgMsOakZv7Z0kPXMQcDiJXiovcUTe00ddaVNsukg5LIvvRNxT18dQadO_GU2NP9Xe48AOuCbuOieyxCs1InJEGLvxrUhuhZ56QjLT1PmNprqHwmrKKpEIGs0Jxy4cZY/s1600/Christmas+cracker.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWGXU4y-y5oI41mgMsOakZv7Z0kPXMQcDiJXiovcUTe00ddaVNsukg5LIvvRNxT18dQadO_GU2NP9Xe48AOuCbuOieyxCs1InJEGLvxrUhuhZ56QjLT1PmNprqHwmrKKpEIGs0Jxy4cZY/s320/Christmas+cracker.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMyz1k64XQj__kJlgDx5Xy0I5PSQFgy9hHEtXs31NPYoHFsBXkOaMOxbls8cnsJic5aYqmtz3b5ApiVOgI2fLB77d4L-9VnMmp9IhaCac2XYmFJMhHRV_H9cKsY0iFoCa5bJTO3zinRX4/s1600/Christmas+Kelly.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMyz1k64XQj__kJlgDx5Xy0I5PSQFgy9hHEtXs31NPYoHFsBXkOaMOxbls8cnsJic5aYqmtz3b5ApiVOgI2fLB77d4L-9VnMmp9IhaCac2XYmFJMhHRV_H9cKsY0iFoCa5bJTO3zinRX4/s320/Christmas+Kelly.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNcmHSLk0cNFe4n5C9QEqcJ-5G0yvpZFap0CdRSrk3nZ5bBxBuDiV1Izd4l7zNlQLLE5X7nbkloeiYdislkkIafEXmw7xPwn9p5SxV4GQV_P3tx9pSiI_aWOmm3q86CxugDCPuiLhA6O4/s1600/Christmas+Kelly2.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNcmHSLk0cNFe4n5C9QEqcJ-5G0yvpZFap0CdRSrk3nZ5bBxBuDiV1Izd4l7zNlQLLE5X7nbkloeiYdislkkIafEXmw7xPwn9p5SxV4GQV_P3tx9pSiI_aWOmm3q86CxugDCPuiLhA6O4/s320/Christmas+Kelly2.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfi4eQA_LlsXpjD0PDIpnLWb-Hfd7Qh_H_cPiOeH7yTAKQ8vCfk8YA73pJ9Fui-xIEYcVUDepRLGKsJsgh2_mI9tUaeo34qq-lF9xaXOdDNsb5So7fziR6jTOOOYvujWjM8LfatWhwlN4/s1600/Christmas+Mick.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfi4eQA_LlsXpjD0PDIpnLWb-Hfd7Qh_H_cPiOeH7yTAKQ8vCfk8YA73pJ9Fui-xIEYcVUDepRLGKsJsgh2_mI9tUaeo34qq-lF9xaXOdDNsb5So7fziR6jTOOOYvujWjM8LfatWhwlN4/s320/Christmas+Mick.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJaBlnKNaMh8nivhxr-syWT2HWYQOowbL04DJh6iBfrLhvNkPUXWr_g9VSos1Pxx8FxkQ6-UAWVFayrnM6fSMX1kJ_Z2JjL2V9pfEeG72QKHGxc45-AR8nHE29SlN6TcXG-_G6YLXuU-M/s1600/Christmas+Mick+and+Kelly.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJaBlnKNaMh8nivhxr-syWT2HWYQOowbL04DJh6iBfrLhvNkPUXWr_g9VSos1Pxx8FxkQ6-UAWVFayrnM6fSMX1kJ_Z2JjL2V9pfEeG72QKHGxc45-AR8nHE29SlN6TcXG-_G6YLXuU-M/s320/Christmas+Mick+and+Kelly.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZSYyVcoNdx8c-lzTAKjXDoGCu78Hz-UuiRQ5IPHcuUGOmCoN0YyoRlrdWgUdZ3RfrgZKpIeWrmqQL7zS-MBTrl99Az6buhCNCChCh2g_aAgN-jbkJJ0JVCzsE84S61sE1BEtIhkM3ItI/s1600/Ed+with+cars.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZSYyVcoNdx8c-lzTAKjXDoGCu78Hz-UuiRQ5IPHcuUGOmCoN0YyoRlrdWgUdZ3RfrgZKpIeWrmqQL7zS-MBTrl99Az6buhCNCChCh2g_aAgN-jbkJJ0JVCzsE84S61sE1BEtIhkM3ItI/s320/Ed+with+cars.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtTEvR5wSEOgTf1zQ9k8puK_bJa_Ph1G0b7neFWajtmXRgQYj3shLXyqoSc-94YNCfq9Mcae46BNYlY3WwzkFJl3m2EwmW943G5Dq5qtX9ua6vThvoZb3AtZOGEdX6a7W9iXWa30U6vXY/s1600/Ed+with+hot+wheels+track.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtTEvR5wSEOgTf1zQ9k8puK_bJa_Ph1G0b7neFWajtmXRgQYj3shLXyqoSc-94YNCfq9Mcae46BNYlY3WwzkFJl3m2EwmW943G5Dq5qtX9ua6vThvoZb3AtZOGEdX6a7W9iXWa30U6vXY/s320/Ed+with+hot+wheels+track.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNoKb9DIaNwjWYRjSKTwl6nyQwpIcoiU8JYafh76LO8_WwFBB-pLM5zXfWL4So3EciusJRQvpQpLHK-g3r4oL5uO2pZUoFav5C0pCzXonkcDsXqHmxItHFrJyGqAtKVvFQZ3ZiPqF040E/s1600/Eddie+and+Emily+pull+cracker.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNoKb9DIaNwjWYRjSKTwl6nyQwpIcoiU8JYafh76LO8_WwFBB-pLM5zXfWL4So3EciusJRQvpQpLHK-g3r4oL5uO2pZUoFav5C0pCzXonkcDsXqHmxItHFrJyGqAtKVvFQZ3ZiPqF040E/s320/Eddie+and+Emily+pull+cracker.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPg8tTUMw8gW0xUt7UhxFUHA2x3T1CMCDXRwT6HCX8gHzMuKl9_d52VPBKk7v0eJavo8Liru0moLFfVGHWcUONhk6snqe3dbvdILnnw6QUwIHaZ_QdlEDGPBzfJf3hktCnxC3iO4Cno0o/s1600/Em+DSI+game2.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPg8tTUMw8gW0xUt7UhxFUHA2x3T1CMCDXRwT6HCX8gHzMuKl9_d52VPBKk7v0eJavo8Liru0moLFfVGHWcUONhk6snqe3dbvdILnnw6QUwIHaZ_QdlEDGPBzfJf3hktCnxC3iO4Cno0o/s320/Em+DSI+game2.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVgGoRAKZ05Irl20n3lezOvfid6rWz4gj9UgSEiOZEwId7cvpRzwkMWARfYnu6fD5c8JhlKHVIcL90CT7E_4_wRpwu4jKNNpMNRFvaTQ7TXXvVfe1xMWz6xaP__yScxYelZr_L1fg-kZA/s1600/Em+gave+me+a+manicure.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVgGoRAKZ05Irl20n3lezOvfid6rWz4gj9UgSEiOZEwId7cvpRzwkMWARfYnu6fD5c8JhlKHVIcL90CT7E_4_wRpwu4jKNNpMNRFvaTQ7TXXvVfe1xMWz6xaP__yScxYelZr_L1fg-kZA/s320/Em+gave+me+a+manicure.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEix5uWom60iBNnHkSwVWzambdW1AIfDykR7xgaIwMVK-5CLih41LxfNxsdBtPhNjBoC9ifgttVZ6mfl5f3TwJTWJryoeo7O8tl5XmorG4mBiu3EdcRL253wcn_QCVad_moam8ydgJRgv5U/s1600/Em+with+nail+polish.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEix5uWom60iBNnHkSwVWzambdW1AIfDykR7xgaIwMVK-5CLih41LxfNxsdBtPhNjBoC9ifgttVZ6mfl5f3TwJTWJryoeo7O8tl5XmorG4mBiu3EdcRL253wcn_QCVad_moam8ydgJRgv5U/s320/Em+with+nail+polish.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwq0UShw9My-XCEU0zImx9ZNC0O6v1O-y52O4lgrKCwis-FPKbeJqXibpCnTsPF37bP6ASIM9u3DHN-BP0_JrOivKnVc3J9EUVwTsk8cBG_uz_4evHjNzQtKhyheGD8agyJz1OMlAUAcA/s1600/Em+with+stationary.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwq0UShw9My-XCEU0zImx9ZNC0O6v1O-y52O4lgrKCwis-FPKbeJqXibpCnTsPF37bP6ASIM9u3DHN-BP0_JrOivKnVc3J9EUVwTsk8cBG_uz_4evHjNzQtKhyheGD8agyJz1OMlAUAcA/s320/Em+with+stationary.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEin9JlRuacfKK9BLmvW8jEbhxKGG-HGIHzxs3DqH6tm0SmZFUe64hR-VXVV_xt1uafWJYCaR8D3MzpsfYa27rq7HaBjpwu0j0-2Dkhxbr8-iYtlk5vK9NBbPgOHF52dJdWCJ48jChSUQ24/s1600/Emily+and+Eddie+open+gifts.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEin9JlRuacfKK9BLmvW8jEbhxKGG-HGIHzxs3DqH6tm0SmZFUe64hR-VXVV_xt1uafWJYCaR8D3MzpsfYa27rq7HaBjpwu0j0-2Dkhxbr8-iYtlk5vK9NBbPgOHF52dJdWCJ48jChSUQ24/s320/Emily+and+Eddie+open+gifts.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinllTR85NrRKyvmlZmRzmaPoQHyiGFvN3_WVxhwCPe1_cgdVbhXIAS7kfp2CYCAUlbU8EjG0txrNgYIhFUMigMVsiRd_cmMf0ULL3i-z4AWNQ1ymNKi-rAO8qaYahpXOWm5zCqSPPZP9A/s1600/Emily+and+Eddie+pull+cracker.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinllTR85NrRKyvmlZmRzmaPoQHyiGFvN3_WVxhwCPe1_cgdVbhXIAS7kfp2CYCAUlbU8EjG0txrNgYIhFUMigMVsiRd_cmMf0ULL3i-z4AWNQ1ymNKi-rAO8qaYahpXOWm5zCqSPPZP9A/s320/Emily+and+Eddie+pull+cracker.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJC353z-zub_vFqCusN0mVehCHt3CZ9uqhQa2oFZhxqjt7s9jqamJ-5_iWrh6lPU4GdkKcq3WOHl87FSzPNQSmXB1RtsZQeOPHyA14aGWDgoEC-yS9_6clLNEgwJ6MogPJVHwJtUbp9sw/s1600/Emily+crown.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJC353z-zub_vFqCusN0mVehCHt3CZ9uqhQa2oFZhxqjt7s9jqamJ-5_iWrh6lPU4GdkKcq3WOHl87FSzPNQSmXB1RtsZQeOPHyA14aGWDgoEC-yS9_6clLNEgwJ6MogPJVHwJtUbp9sw/s320/Emily+crown.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7jbFWJvvf7hFeYqNvxw54T4VE0o1QrW4JR3gBtatf5vqBr_aV20GI52kwX_1ULKtHNzAPOPoAOudmorHWXlGmUS4B9O96wFn3Z4gO9RYRElldO_9dQ08hDS7fvVUOr0OSKXMg_FDq1X4/s1600/Kelly+crown.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7jbFWJvvf7hFeYqNvxw54T4VE0o1QrW4JR3gBtatf5vqBr_aV20GI52kwX_1ULKtHNzAPOPoAOudmorHWXlGmUS4B9O96wFn3Z4gO9RYRElldO_9dQ08hDS7fvVUOr0OSKXMg_FDq1X4/s320/Kelly+crown.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmm0rFY3ZOeY8QvREcI9z8Otk-ptJcWyU_N1GYUk_WERuHUAU2proRBGKeIZdCwEbUa-iedVDQhFLFLcqKKpcOdszsqx0vTVvHcbSJNtZJMhWcnmpSm3OcWWdyqCeWkK_pXIDuLqpOnO0/s1600/Mick+crown.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmm0rFY3ZOeY8QvREcI9z8Otk-ptJcWyU_N1GYUk_WERuHUAU2proRBGKeIZdCwEbUa-iedVDQhFLFLcqKKpcOdszsqx0vTVvHcbSJNtZJMhWcnmpSm3OcWWdyqCeWkK_pXIDuLqpOnO0/s320/Mick+crown.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiv9uCtDYZTYY2Rfge_pml6ahP1waVbj3kNHfQbbABERMNcEyrhJ-CeYGXMkKxmosDg0oBDiXKAaETE7Wt-uIm8uz3pM8xYXBPNGvbIcXgecsXmpAcR3GGBOHefRp7cGNrxb5iTZfy5eg/s1600/Mick+looks+at+pliers.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiv9uCtDYZTYY2Rfge_pml6ahP1waVbj3kNHfQbbABERMNcEyrhJ-CeYGXMkKxmosDg0oBDiXKAaETE7Wt-uIm8uz3pM8xYXBPNGvbIcXgecsXmpAcR3GGBOHefRp7cGNrxb5iTZfy5eg/s320/Mick+looks+at+pliers.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWlhUgclgcEDeuxetJyGbG6HkycBV0HVt7E7v6IArKmOblf7-ccGFZpUsCKP9cIZ-68LTx-xaVFIXqqlTcLdRCxG8U0d1O8VdI0rVJqGXNWo9FtiKavV1oewL3uRh6RELDkKAoI8drCjU/s1600/Mick+opens+Ferrari.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWlhUgclgcEDeuxetJyGbG6HkycBV0HVt7E7v6IArKmOblf7-ccGFZpUsCKP9cIZ-68LTx-xaVFIXqqlTcLdRCxG8U0d1O8VdI0rVJqGXNWo9FtiKavV1oewL3uRh6RELDkKAoI8drCjU/s320/Mick+opens+Ferrari.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEij3O4kIZACcixocRBdcY5tQlmjGM0nWT_qHSbloIjVPobct5SvWDcJRsl76dL3koabMo-2BctcSYbcGLXmSXwUYSqJ-HIibngOyPm9T-SKyfjfhnlafzUNJ8Mvm04EXIlhbOQ-I_3rK9Q/s1600/Mick+opens+pliers.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEij3O4kIZACcixocRBdcY5tQlmjGM0nWT_qHSbloIjVPobct5SvWDcJRsl76dL3koabMo-2BctcSYbcGLXmSXwUYSqJ-HIibngOyPm9T-SKyfjfhnlafzUNJ8Mvm04EXIlhbOQ-I_3rK9Q/s320/Mick+opens+pliers.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9ere4luBOY6tKlEGV-UQ0qN2mxk9iF-dDTHr9YV22HJvA61HIyxqDN8F9F8GOsmp9_WyvobCOyo0PiadQM0UKnN-td8EOjp_VAqfZMJ-66wtCyG-Mj2We-4ZFTqqD5vOOs9ef06YFMSE/s1600/Mick+present.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9ere4luBOY6tKlEGV-UQ0qN2mxk9iF-dDTHr9YV22HJvA61HIyxqDN8F9F8GOsmp9_WyvobCOyo0PiadQM0UKnN-td8EOjp_VAqfZMJ-66wtCyG-Mj2We-4ZFTqqD5vOOs9ef06YFMSE/s320/Mick+present.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFHHrOk2XZImv_YuwG97_r68mC0w4Kduf7MrHZvhBO0w9GUXtdxcWwYhH7wbscue0bRdSUP7KOeBg8xfauWcn9yiCTafLH0Xe7g38mBcq5UlZIi-86Vi0H91OSvhfDINcJ4YT-TqjOVY8/s1600/Mick+swings.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFHHrOk2XZImv_YuwG97_r68mC0w4Kduf7MrHZvhBO0w9GUXtdxcWwYhH7wbscue0bRdSUP7KOeBg8xfauWcn9yiCTafLH0Xe7g38mBcq5UlZIi-86Vi0H91OSvhfDINcJ4YT-TqjOVY8/s320/Mick+swings.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjniuRSaDcZeF3h4MAPze0sk8DLz8mmyWuuM-KsNkBFhjhS260MjDS0x2mPB8Emoe5vUVX2d6f7GGjPzF_G_rhBnhwZjfAR7sqotV5Qrro4LPAVC6AuRkRsXh0kXzFbiuD8e8-GAPGtsFU/s1600/Mick+swings2.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjniuRSaDcZeF3h4MAPze0sk8DLz8mmyWuuM-KsNkBFhjhS260MjDS0x2mPB8Emoe5vUVX2d6f7GGjPzF_G_rhBnhwZjfAR7sqotV5Qrro4LPAVC6AuRkRsXh0kXzFbiuD8e8-GAPGtsFU/s320/Mick+swings2.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDricYb7k2A6-IzCAjRfcVvPPaSfXhqVRszqOGbTROVd8NALX22F1OzkOQVqvaZgu1XRsz8y4bPhrL02G0N71JotJMQ5bu0BBbuf-4VLOBDjfmbBFWNTwlnF_JszG-7NLHpbvPRmpbrfE/s1600/Mick+with+red+Ferrari.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDricYb7k2A6-IzCAjRfcVvPPaSfXhqVRszqOGbTROVd8NALX22F1OzkOQVqvaZgu1XRsz8y4bPhrL02G0N71JotJMQ5bu0BBbuf-4VLOBDjfmbBFWNTwlnF_JszG-7NLHpbvPRmpbrfE/s320/Mick+with+red+Ferrari.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6MYre0bd66N8gi-rUav-xQ8TyUEq0MNc7e9sIevxgKefv_rz8blztR4kjyYHjZpRD9WjwWLLjICBCAGvhDjaes9KaETjdejpUPLuaSmvq1MOOWTFkIfAAvmjNDw2bYgvl75KtLUbBgZw/s1600/Pink+rose+from+Mick+on+Christmas+Eve.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6MYre0bd66N8gi-rUav-xQ8TyUEq0MNc7e9sIevxgKefv_rz8blztR4kjyYHjZpRD9WjwWLLjICBCAGvhDjaes9KaETjdejpUPLuaSmvq1MOOWTFkIfAAvmjNDw2bYgvl75KtLUbBgZw/s320/Pink+rose+from+Mick+on+Christmas+Eve.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6Ico0T8DuFu6RGKAbM1Uq0HsprbGPZBPOdBuk_Us9PRC8OpG-MYT8TdVbtjMeDBcjiGt9X1abzVQUybCUhZ4CJ4XxNkcAZKxp5ter_BRX4OhC1kMJgvSXdCpZ9ctmFqdbKXVof8_5D7I/s1600/Sad+bc+I+stopped+pushing.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6Ico0T8DuFu6RGKAbM1Uq0HsprbGPZBPOdBuk_Us9PRC8OpG-MYT8TdVbtjMeDBcjiGt9X1abzVQUybCUhZ4CJ4XxNkcAZKxp5ter_BRX4OhC1kMJgvSXdCpZ9ctmFqdbKXVof8_5D7I/s320/Sad+bc+I+stopped+pushing.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>I've attached the pics! They never attach in the order I want them to, but I know you all are smart cookies and know in general what goes with what! :)Kellyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03438752508316759825noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5710834422484516357.post-56575062320030204802010-12-24T10:03:00.001+11:002010-12-25T21:39:10.496+11:00A personal postIt's Christmas Eve here in Queanbeyan and I am feeling a bit pensive. Hmm, pensive? Not in a bad way.<br />
<br />
First, let me add a couple things I also thought of about driving. It is illegal to talk on a cell phone or text while driving. And, all tickets in Australia are really expensive. Speeding tickets can be $300+, and that's for 30km/hr over I think. There are lots of random breath tests given. I haven't been tested yet, but I've seen three since I've been here and Mick's been through one too. It isn't just at night. These random roadblocks happen during the day as well, any day of the week. The drunk driving limit is 0.05, so it's lower than the US and they are really harsh on driving penalties.<br />
<br />
Ok, so yesterday...whew! It was a very frustrating day in some ways. The grocery store was INSANELY busy. Seriously, I think every free person in Queanbeyan decided the store was THE place to be yesterday at 2pm. We had a couple things break yesterday- an ipod docking station of Em's and the car's passenger side mirror was slightly damaged. The docking station we couldn't fix, but the mirror we taped up and it's peachy keen jelly bean. :) The kids helped me make People Chow of course, as the pics from yesterday show. They were desperate to have some, and some of the fudge. But they were not listening well at all yesterday, which is unlike them. Maybe it was just Christmas approaching excitement. I'm not sure. So they didn't get to try the treats until last night, but they loved them.<br />
<br />
We have neighbor kids who come over to play and they came by last night. Unfortunately, both are boys so Emily doesn't really want to play with them, and when she does, they are rough playing with her. A couple of weeks ago, the older boy, Reese, who is 12, opened a door not knowing Em was on the other side and she had a bruise on her cheek for a while. (And yes, I know there were far too many commas in that last sentence!) Mick told her just to tell everyone she got in a fight with a tiger and they should see the tiger! :) He is such a good dad. Anyway, Reese plays a bit rough and Em doesn't like him and Eddie fluctuates back and forth. Ed likes the 8 year old boy, Jay, better. I think the family is just a bit different and maybe the kids haven't been taught better. They were telling me last night that they know all their Christmas presents already. How sad is that? Christmas morning should be a good surprise! I think Reese and Jay's hearts are in the right place...like Reese especially tries to get both Em and Ed playing and having fun and does some thoughtful things like asking both me and Mick as well as Eddie if he could borrow a playstation game. Yet they do some thoughtless things too. For example, last night they came over just as I was helping Emily and Eddie make their homemade pizza (they put on the sauce and toppings) so they knew dinner would be soon. When I called Eddie up and told him the pizza was ready, instead of Reese and Jay leaving, they just waited downstairs. Mick and I didn't know they were still down there until Eddie said something. And they go into Emily's room without her permission. So, I am in charge of talking to them today if they stop by. Just interesting dynamics and I wish Emily had a girl to play with.<br />
<br />
Because it's Christmas Eve here, I've of course been thinking a lot of what would be happening if I were in the US today. I got up early today and made peanut butter fudge which is cooling. I'll make sausage balls too. I'm not making Christmas dinner because Mick's dad and Lesley invited us tomorrow for lunch and I'm sure we'll have turkey or prawns or lamb. Something Aussie Christmas-y. Brian and Lesley are big on health food and organic food so I can't bring them any treats. Instead, we're bringing a bottle of wine.<br />
<br />
Mick's been getting presents from people on his route. Aww, giving the postie a present! :) He says people love posties and are always asking him questions and talking to him. We didn't give our postie anything, but she only just delivered a letter to me, and Mick hasn't gotten one yet. My first letter, btw, was my Christmas card from Mandy. So thank you Mandy! :) It was really nice to get a Christmas card to put on our mantle this year. And nice to get a letter here. I always feel more like it's my home once I get that first letter to me, even if it's a bill or something. :)<br />
<br />
It's cloudy today and rain is predicted for this weekend. lol, I wish I could record the noises I'm hearing. The kids are still asleep, but two Rosella parrots are arguing in the tree out front and on our roof and it's noisy. :)<br />
<br />
Oh! Last night, just as the kids headed to bed, I went to our bedroom and turned the TV on to have a few minutes of downtown before sleep. Poor Eddie walks out into the hall, and I can see his room from the bed. He's crying and I thought he was upset because Mick had a stern talk with the kids about being good for me and listening and we'd also discussed the cost of expensive adult things like ipod docking stations and how they shouldn't be broken and should be looked after and that upset both kids too. No, Eddie wasn't upset about that. He'd seen a spider in his room on the wall. So I grabbed my shoe and told him to show me where it was and I'd kill it for him. Now, you all know I am NOT a spider fan. And yet, when Eddie asks me to kill a spider, I don't hesitate. Well, Mick heard Eddie crying and took over, so I didn't end up having to kill the spider, and good thing! Mick flips on the light and BAM! Huntsman spider, huge! Remember that pic I posted on facebook of the Hunstman spider? Yeah. Giant. No wonder Eddie was FREAKED! Mick killed the spider but poor Eddie was scared. So Emily loaned Eddie one of her teddies, a lion to protect him. We had a family talk about how Huntsmans aren't poisonous and he was just hanging out there eating the mozzies that were going to bite Ed. Eddie came and stayed with me in the bed for a while and we talked about spiders and decided instead of funnel web spiders, we would call them funny web spiders and they probably wrote jokes in their webs. :)<br />
<br />
If I were in the US, I'd be in Memphis now, helping Mom bake and cook. My aunt and uncle are on their way to Memphis, or may even be there by now. I imagine Stu and Ashley might stop by. I wouldn't have gotten out of bed at 7:15am though. I can guarantee that! I wouldn't be making homemade Bisquik or marshmallow fluff. I would be having lots of discussions and chats with my parents, my aunt and uncle, brother and sis in law.<br />
<br />
Here's it's just as good to watch the excitement on the kids faces and see them helping bake and merging Aussie and US Christmas traditions. The kids make me laugh lots. For example, right now they are sitting on the couch making faces at each other and saying over and over "Would you like to marry me?" And earlier we had a raspberry blowing contest. They keep life super exciting. :) And I remember last Christmas being without Mick and how that was super hard too. So it's a trade off isn't it? If I had a transporter I would be able to be both in the US and in AUS. But then I'd be running around like crazy and up at all times of the day and night. I guess the truth is that no matter where I am, I have to make some sacrifices and really, I'm lucky. 20 years ago, I wouldn't be able to Skype with my family on Christmas day. I wouldn't be able to text my friends. I wouldn't be able to have international connections no matter what country I was in. I wouldn't have been able to maintain my relationship with Mick or have met Emily or Eddie or Bruce or Claire. So thank you modern technology. :)<br />
<br />
I do want you all to know that I miss you. I miss my friends, my family, my colleagues. I miss the US and the cold and Christmas traditions there. I'm so lucky you all still stay in contact with me, via facebook or email or skype or all of the above! I want nothing more than for each and every one of you reading to have a wonderful Christmas, filled with love and joy and family and friends and celebration. For those of you like me who are Christians, I hope that you treasure the celebration of the birth of Jesus and all that comes with that. :) And whether you are Christian or Jewish or Agnostic or Atheist, whether you will be with family or friends on Christmas, I want you all to know that there's a friend in Australia thinking of you and sending you love and happiness.Kellyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03438752508316759825noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5710834422484516357.post-27684945940634773892010-12-23T13:01:00.000+11:002010-12-23T13:01:59.841+11:00Driving on the left- VideoHere's the vid I was talking about...short and sweet.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dxBjzcD1beiuU6KRUpP8pd2q6g0OBSMyAUcnjC3_x6sTLANl7PU-qPJDT7vNn9a4uvl2c5SHxNGqf0BecgqGw' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div>Kellyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03438752508316759825noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5710834422484516357.post-90669715428335405492010-12-23T12:50:00.000+11:002010-12-23T12:50:34.099+11:00Driving on the leftHi all! First, I'll say the movie excursion went super well. I laid the ground rules down that they would stay with me at all times while walking around and would listen and be kind to each other and other people. They agreed and off we went! :) Megamind was very cute and the kids loved it. Do you want to know what it costs for two kids and one adult to attend a matinee? $45. That includes 2 $1 lollipops and $4 parking. It seemed more expensive to me than it should be, but maybe I'm just out of touch. (LOL, I sound like an old woman- "when I went to matinees, they were $4! For adults!")<br />
<br />
I'm posting pics of the moon the night of the lunar eclipse. We tried to see the lunar eclipse, but it was pretty impossible for us in our location. Still, they look cool!<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVVV0oKz6al0sUa3HC55KSHBZoyVF-2h8Zf94SVe13ZPmi-l7onkVEjRsogxy6LqG7_21eLbTA15UE8mBtBzSP3_KMr_IkfRaiJ6IhZEwde67g1Ox0HeOM_8ov3qoAGgZXvY0CGbsnyZA/s1600/Moon2.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVVV0oKz6al0sUa3HC55KSHBZoyVF-2h8Zf94SVe13ZPmi-l7onkVEjRsogxy6LqG7_21eLbTA15UE8mBtBzSP3_KMr_IkfRaiJ6IhZEwde67g1Ox0HeOM_8ov3qoAGgZXvY0CGbsnyZA/s320/Moon2.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZbFgF4rQgjFKm0ewZQIeAN-R0br7GdAly5wSkzzaYMUSUolqDHzCQOPKgTY07J924GekR5HH4c8UPWvajdk7Qi05r7OEut4t8urbHjqioqNUS8iV9TZYBkTWwkGOTguFiubA6A955QP8/s1600/Moon1.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZbFgF4rQgjFKm0ewZQIeAN-R0br7GdAly5wSkzzaYMUSUolqDHzCQOPKgTY07J924GekR5HH4c8UPWvajdk7Qi05r7OEut4t8urbHjqioqNUS8iV9TZYBkTWwkGOTguFiubA6A955QP8/s320/Moon1.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<br />
And, for more pics...the kids helped me make Chrissy goodies today. ;) I made homemade marshmallow creme which let me make chocolate fudge. Chocolate fudge and people chow. The kids loooooved making people chow and they liked it even though they swore they didn't like peanut butter. Next up I'll be making homemade Bisquik so I can make homemade sausage balls. :) Oh, and peanut butter fudge, maybe...<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgtMXLedDzv7cIt1-j0uHDyuG575FG9CBz6WgSPMNgr1HXTa3PRo2p5-X0JFXHG9NZAiUtRqcNiOIUXenySJASiCEaGv4dRMo1U7EXGUj6GT78_FwLKmclKxmELU1GWBz5zQLhYoJWSs4/s1600/Emily+with+people+chow.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgtMXLedDzv7cIt1-j0uHDyuG575FG9CBz6WgSPMNgr1HXTa3PRo2p5-X0JFXHG9NZAiUtRqcNiOIUXenySJASiCEaGv4dRMo1U7EXGUj6GT78_FwLKmclKxmELU1GWBz5zQLhYoJWSs4/s320/Emily+with+people+chow.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWIRSEK2b96rXAn7XWAB80LHIFpQ_ES26V91kwV6mQaXUYqM9DiKdqj_4RZG40RqnSDKi86JpW8rU-uY5rceq2ifuniiO-cXBM2Hr_qUrZxjU7HAdq-u6eyt1wx8c45PAVqZva-lJuMqo/s1600/Marshmallow+creme.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWIRSEK2b96rXAn7XWAB80LHIFpQ_ES26V91kwV6mQaXUYqM9DiKdqj_4RZG40RqnSDKi86JpW8rU-uY5rceq2ifuniiO-cXBM2Hr_qUrZxjU7HAdq-u6eyt1wx8c45PAVqZva-lJuMqo/s320/Marshmallow+creme.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFILv1oGlTlAqfP7plWTRd2kEzp_pEnbVtHbIAU8qbpWmspzLVkVyP4X2XjovAf3Jg61gZlOQlF-12om7qU8e03QvZAe8xOZ0zPuCVZAuBU-oThHIeL7Z9fjazP4OiJIJalb0omY1QCsU/s1600/Chocolate+Fudge.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFILv1oGlTlAqfP7plWTRd2kEzp_pEnbVtHbIAU8qbpWmspzLVkVyP4X2XjovAf3Jg61gZlOQlF-12om7qU8e03QvZAe8xOZ0zPuCVZAuBU-oThHIeL7Z9fjazP4OiJIJalb0omY1QCsU/s320/Chocolate+Fudge.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhY9kpa2tRbLc91C6tREQSUjgOWhI7Bv8MgpA4AgG2xBk5RlmHCXKsQV6Rgi8ZyYUljwakLhjnWXGue3HISQKAeplbDfHhizS1zRFLy67hBLTkiski4KP2oh2ENbtZvq-VHGJA8OgdnjxU/s1600/Ed+with+people+chow.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhY9kpa2tRbLc91C6tREQSUjgOWhI7Bv8MgpA4AgG2xBk5RlmHCXKsQV6Rgi8ZyYUljwakLhjnWXGue3HISQKAeplbDfHhizS1zRFLy67hBLTkiski4KP2oh2ENbtZvq-VHGJA8OgdnjxU/s320/Ed+with+people+chow.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<br />
<br />
So, today's topic is driving. This encompasses a lot of things...the layout of Canberra, being on the left side of the road (of course), spatial relations, all of that. Canberra is a planned city. Therefore, the land is all owned by the government and it is "leased" to homeowners for a dollar for 99 years. Just a way for them to control the ebbs and flows of land transfer and city planning. In the center of the city is, conveniently, the city centre. ;) This is where Parliament House is located (equivalent of the Capitol Bldg in Washington D.C.), and this is surrounded by Lake Burlygriffin, the embassies, the Prime Minister's house, and other posh neighborhoods. Tiny towns spread out on all sides. Each town has its own town centre which has shops and restaurants and grocery stores and gas stations. These centres are surrounded by houses and flats. You don't ever address a letter to Canberra, ACT. It's always addressed to the tiny towns- Bruce, Belconnen, Isabella Plains, Red Hill, Manuka (pronounced Monica), Calwell, Macquarie, Page, Kambah, Tuggernong, Narrabundah, etc.Each of these towns is connected by major roads that are the equivalent of highways. I live in one of the eastern towns, barely on the edge of Canberra, called Queanbeyan (pronounced Queen-bee-yann). The kids' school is near the city centre, as is the theatre we went to yesterday.<br />
<br />
Here's how driving on the left works. It probably would be easier for some and harder for others. The biggest thing for me was confidence, and I still am not 100% confident but I do okay. The steering wheel is on the other side of the car, on the left if you are facing the car. The rear view mirror is of course then on my left when I am in the car, and this takes a lot of getting used to. It's hard to remember to use that mirror since I was so used to looking to my right to see what was behind me. It's a trippy experience because the majority of the car is now on my left instead of my right. The indicators are on the right side of the steering wheel and the windshield wipers are on the left. When I first started driving I kept turning on the windshield wipers instead of turning on the indicator I wanted.<br />
<br />
Mick took me to his old neighborhood of Royalla, which is outside of Canberra and out in the country. The houses are much further apart and there is no one on the road during the day. So after we bought the car, he drove me out there and I drove around Royalla to get the feel. It has a few roundabouts so I got to practice those. He also had me start trying to get the feel of the car spatially by driving over the bumps on the middle line and the side of the road. I focused solely on staying in the lane and didn't pay attention to my speed. At first, I was either going to fast or too slow. After my session at Royalla, I drove part of the way back to the city on the highway to try maintaining my speed and lane space.<br />
<br />
<br />
Then, Mick had me drive to Bungendore, which is about 30 minutes east of Queanbeyan. We drove there, had a pie and cherry slice for lunch, and back to Queanbeyan. I hated going 100 km/hr. I felt like I didn't have control. Now I can do that without a problem. 100 km/hr is only about 60 mph so it's not like I wasn't doing that in the US. :) It was just the difference of being in unfamiliar territory and unfamiliar car. But I had a lot of practice.<br />
<br />
Next we drove around the neighborhood where the kids go to school. Neighborhoods are trickier because people park along the street and the road gets narrower. Also, Canberra has this thing where they put medians to narrow the road further in an effort to slow people down. And speedbumps are crosswalks so they are very wide. I don't like driving through the neighborhood, needless to say. There's also lots of parallel parking, which I wasn't stellar at when I was in the US, much less here!<br />
<br />
Finally, when Mick had a job, I would drive to the grocery store and drive the kids to school. I still don't feel awesomely confident about driving to new places, but I do have a map and I can try to navigate a bit. I've done pretty well I think. :) Haven't hit anything or anyone though I would scare Mick sometimes with how close I got to those stupid median things. The worst thing for me is trying to drive through parking lots that are really fully. Parking is still tough because of the space relations. And yesterday in the parking garage they have narrow lanes that are tough for me to maneuver through without hitting the sides with my tires (or, as Aussies would spell it, tyres).<br />
<br />
There's no way to describe fully in words what driving on the left is like. It's taking my 17 years of driving experience and flipping it on its head. I have to post a separate post with the video, but stay tuned...<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><object class="BLOG_video_class" contentid="FAILED" height="266" id="BLOG_video-FAILED-0" width="320"></object></div>Kellyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03438752508316759825noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5710834422484516357.post-49523796433655452652010-12-22T10:41:00.000+11:002010-12-22T10:41:51.855+11:00Christmas in AustraliaIt's been an experience getting ready for Christmas here in Canberra. I'm used to a different experience. I've had several people ask about traditions of Aussies for Christmas, and I was curious myself about the different experiences. So, the general and the personal....<br />
<br />
General:<br />
Here in my Canberran neighborhood, very few people decorate outside their homes. I don't see wreathes, or lights, or blown up decorations, or letterbox Christmas ribbons. If you were to drive through our neighborhood, you wouldn't know it was Christmas at all. City centres decorate, as towns and cities do in the US, with decorations on the light posts. Because it's not cold here, I don't see snowflakes or snow-type decorations in store windows. There are apparently houses that decorate outside, but it's definitely not the norm.<br />
<br />
Turkey is popular for Christmas dinner. And cherries are normally a big deal. This year, because of all the flooding and rain, cherry crops were ruined and cherries are about $15 per kg. lol, I move to a country that celebrates cherries and the first year I'm here, the crop is ruined. It really sucks for the farmers who have lost a lot of revenue because of the floods. Pavlova is a fancy dessert here. It's a meringue with yummy cream and topped with fresh fruits (cherries, at Christmas). Lamb is another food common at Christmas.<br />
<br />
Santa is called Santa or Father Christmas. Crackers, which are small poppers filled with different toys and items, are frequent favors. They usually have paper crowns inside which can be worn during the Christmas dinner or festivities. Santa likes cookies and milk and his reindeer like carrots, just like in the US. The Christmas carols aren't nearly as pervasive. Radio stations wait til mid November to early December to play Christmas songs. They have Christmas specials on TV and those are a bit different. I haven't seen How the Grinch Stole Christmas or the Charlie Brown special or Rudolph. They have different specials and Christmas classics. They do show It's A Wonderful Life and more recent Christmas movies like Elf and National Lampoons Christmas Vacation and Fred Claus and the Santa Clause movies. The little towns that make up Canberra have their own carols celebrations, but Claire and I have made plans to go to three different ones and each time they get rained out. So this rainy season isn't helping.<br />
<br />
Speaking of seasons, Aussies call this time of year the "silly season." I had to ask Mick why because I kept hearing it. He said it originated as a weather term in northern Australia. As the monsoon season approaches, it's always cloudy and very hot but it doesn't rain and it drives people crazy. He said the suicides increase drastically in November and early December as the monsoons approach. The term got broadened colloquially to represent the build up to Christmas.<br />
<br />
Even though there isn't snow or cold, Aussies have the same Christmas carols. They sometimes twist them for fun to talk about beaches and sun, but the originals are the ones played and sung publicly. <br />
<br />
Personally:<br />
At the beginning of the year, I had great thoughts of putting up our tree, decorating with ornaments we bought and with the ornaments I've accumulated over the years. We had wreathes and snowglobes and music makers and all kinds of decorations. Obviously, with the move, that has changed.<br />
<br />
It's a tough time right now because we're still trying to get settled in here at the house and get schedules and planning worked out. Mick has a job but I don't and there are costs associated with moving of course. So we're having as simple a Christmas as possible. And the most important things we have for free- I have Mick and the kids and get to spend every morning afternoon and night with them pretty much. For my relationship with Mick, this is heaven. After years of back and forth and living our lives in pockets of time when we are both awake, it's such an awesome blessing to be with each other. And getting to have the kids so much is a lot of work but so rewarding and fun too.<br />
<br />
So we have a lovely tree and a mantle with four stockings on it. Mick has a Santa that sings and dances that he found and we have that on our fireplace. Emily and Eddie each got a Christmas card from one of their friends so we have those two cards displayed. That's the extent of our decorations this year. As I often do, I find myself wishing I had my things in the storage unit here. I'd love to be able to decorate our house. Maybe even tie some red bows on our balcony. Christmas doesn't seem to be quite the display that it is in the US though. :)<br />
<br />
I also miss listening to carols around the house and the church music program. It's tough being so far away. I know a few people sent us cards and my parents sent us gifts, but none of those have arrived. I wrapped all the presents we have in one afternoon, and didn't have time to put on Christmas music while I did it. There are some really great things those...like the kids checking out their presents (ok, that was cool the first time but now they're forbidden to touch them because they keep accidentally ripping the paper), and the anticipation to see them open their gifts. I had a good time working with the kids yesterday on a surprise gift for Mick, and they love to help me cook and bake so we're going to do People Chow and fudge and sausage balls this week to give to Claire and Ashley and Bruce (and save some for us of course!).<br />
<br />
This is the first year I won't see my family on Christmas, and I will greatly miss that. I will see them on Skype, on their Christmas Day, but I won't see them on mine. The good part is that I will get to spend time with Mick's family and his dad and Lesley have generously invited me to Christmas dinner with them, Ashley and Tom, and of course the kids! So I'll be with my Aussie family on Christmas and that will help.Kellyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03438752508316759825noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5710834422484516357.post-42343445408064895092010-12-21T07:44:00.000+11:002010-12-21T07:44:17.042+11:00Got the okay to post pictures!I've been really careful not to share pictures of the kids and to keep mentioning their names to a minimum. Mick and I discussed this last night and he and the kids were fine with me posting a few pictures. So, though I didn't put them on facebook, I'm posting a few now!<br />
<br />
These are from a couple of weeks ago when we decorated the tree. I'm also going to post a few of all of us racing the scalextric cars. And, to finish it all off, a few of Emily and Eddie before their hip hop concert. They've been taking lessons for weeks now and had a big performance this past weekend and they did so well! We were all really proud of them.<br />
<br />
It's a strange place I find myself in...I've never given birth. I was the youngest in my family. I was rarely around kids younger than me. All the kids in my neighborhood were older than me. I wasn't comfortable around kids. I never babysat. Yet here I am, a marriage and family therapist who has spent hours doing therapy with kids and now I have two awesome kids in my life and I couldn't be happier. That doesn't mean I'm not learning. Ha! I'm learning lots and lots.<br />
<br />
Things I learned from Love and Logic and MFT training come in really handy. ;) I understand that I have to be consistent, have to mean what I say and follow through so don't speak hastily, keep my cool and be calm in the face of strong emotion. There are things that I've learned or have become crystal clear to me in my time as stepmom...<br />
<br />
<br />
EVERYTHING has to be even. EVERYTHING.<br />
Giving choices is a great way to negotiate and win!<br />
The best gifts are the ones they make for me.<br />
Sponges! You have to lead by example.<br />
Some of the funniest things and most clever have come from their mouths.<br />
I detest spiders, but I will kill any spider for the kids.<br />
Yikes! The amount of cleaning needed for dishes and laundry is phenomenal.<br />
Bottomless pits, both of them.<br />
They like to test me to see if Mick and Claire and I are on the same page.<br />
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtgJ8T10ubncZWsUjQAZGEQ3JAUFBAy9fWq-3ss8FlKmBOB7IwjXc66tiAYWoXBi-KGNL7EPceBXsTSoTUTg5LGuuA_AKBd9MY404ewvsVnl8G6LxNK9clUrd1wa_Ed6-0UjkbiDCdahY/s1600/Em+and+tree+small.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtgJ8T10ubncZWsUjQAZGEQ3JAUFBAy9fWq-3ss8FlKmBOB7IwjXc66tiAYWoXBi-KGNL7EPceBXsTSoTUTg5LGuuA_AKBd9MY404ewvsVnl8G6LxNK9clUrd1wa_Ed6-0UjkbiDCdahY/s320/Em+and+tree+small.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRtuXXo3j220_MXk_k43mGywbduN_JN1kQtMEKgklfrybTPfSgSW9l0LMy20-HqaLCKalOnwhZsOExCQy_yFleSmiM9M9h4vLaw1WWwIsiNyu4Bk4oh4A0N6AoWcMr1XguRXooNFq78is/s1600/Eddie+Mick+and+the+tree+small.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRtuXXo3j220_MXk_k43mGywbduN_JN1kQtMEKgklfrybTPfSgSW9l0LMy20-HqaLCKalOnwhZsOExCQy_yFleSmiM9M9h4vLaw1WWwIsiNyu4Bk4oh4A0N6AoWcMr1XguRXooNFq78is/s320/Eddie+Mick+and+the+tree+small.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigznbi7UO0vq_bt97en3LnKdw-wUDGeIu_-qlkYcbFQVWBab7I-mA43IndP3Zmn3MgrIeBhkr4Y2U5NuSym6uUxDA1BYJsO19uBjHkb1yG0LeUF185Irhjx0dKehn4qm-9ZkZC6f7xLpk/s1600/Mick+Eddie+cars.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigznbi7UO0vq_bt97en3LnKdw-wUDGeIu_-qlkYcbFQVWBab7I-mA43IndP3Zmn3MgrIeBhkr4Y2U5NuSym6uUxDA1BYJsO19uBjHkb1yG0LeUF185Irhjx0dKehn4qm-9ZkZC6f7xLpk/s320/Mick+Eddie+cars.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwzLkmqEZOXE2bvvztpO5Wqaj_6adGS2RpeKlVbCmA-fm60WQX3MZ5ansx4uGIo18vMr9BojTgbj_oYRjwXyKon0dFHGGnJFcnCItlBLqIGHSR35rft1J-PZZeAGcNwoplHLm4MwwpaM8/s1600/Eddie+cars1.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwzLkmqEZOXE2bvvztpO5Wqaj_6adGS2RpeKlVbCmA-fm60WQX3MZ5ansx4uGIo18vMr9BojTgbj_oYRjwXyKon0dFHGGnJFcnCItlBLqIGHSR35rft1J-PZZeAGcNwoplHLm4MwwpaM8/s320/Eddie+cars1.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYHxHL6151xXpIaaO3GgzA0UienTBoI8AHQ-lZ_4USnRL4Bmjm9puftf9QLNRzmkyV2Zn_hxRLK0tqm2P1bLjDKUuvB11sXWdUp7wBM6NKSOhcPbgX3_tj9mQ2VF0tgdH0FUdOnfCDKJY/s1600/Emily+Eddie+cars.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYHxHL6151xXpIaaO3GgzA0UienTBoI8AHQ-lZ_4USnRL4Bmjm9puftf9QLNRzmkyV2Zn_hxRLK0tqm2P1bLjDKUuvB11sXWdUp7wBM6NKSOhcPbgX3_tj9mQ2VF0tgdH0FUdOnfCDKJY/s320/Emily+Eddie+cars.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQG2LGaTwH4ZZHlXOxoYO2kwloevvm66Nzqdn7mCJtKW_iFkqvlrgS6W9pz4lwvRVDURQhAvOz0YRWMSf9Cty2MOVmBPmgY_poQV4AG0W4OJZpFoItyMMYonKRWZAJCMTb_8zpOZdp_p8/s1600/Emily+Eddie+cars2.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQG2LGaTwH4ZZHlXOxoYO2kwloevvm66Nzqdn7mCJtKW_iFkqvlrgS6W9pz4lwvRVDURQhAvOz0YRWMSf9Cty2MOVmBPmgY_poQV4AG0W4OJZpFoItyMMYonKRWZAJCMTb_8zpOZdp_p8/s320/Emily+Eddie+cars2.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjv7l0t_O3C6_aYIr0CMDMx3H42u6VDKcfW0v9NW0d2v7FhljRBkB9J72dewqH8bri074qH2IuqbHzYg2FZqHuRSydHDGBpfXa20ian-AjnavbP6MeAOK_FONIKkkZ0LPXmB5VJWKC4Dx0/s1600/Emily+hair.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjv7l0t_O3C6_aYIr0CMDMx3H42u6VDKcfW0v9NW0d2v7FhljRBkB9J72dewqH8bri074qH2IuqbHzYg2FZqHuRSydHDGBpfXa20ian-AjnavbP6MeAOK_FONIKkkZ0LPXmB5VJWKC4Dx0/s320/Emily+hair.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipLvjTAtHm32Ho4QIle3clx1mGYfVN_nZYJ42-M6KLON9hMytF-PBUnFdxiI4DRddph2y056OG5eyXf89Tb8BNLtFeQq6jFaCd-kql2PEnOZOlyKKyqFc5GHlmZWHlta7lH1bA2OViqBM/s1600/Hip+hop+Eddie.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipLvjTAtHm32Ho4QIle3clx1mGYfVN_nZYJ42-M6KLON9hMytF-PBUnFdxiI4DRddph2y056OG5eyXf89Tb8BNLtFeQq6jFaCd-kql2PEnOZOlyKKyqFc5GHlmZWHlta7lH1bA2OViqBM/s320/Hip+hop+Eddie.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihiFU9Joro-ivEohTNmwwcg3XeWiMNWbxvEgo0JDjynkVwYeQfAuZhnaWv3wM6rY9d6FcfKUyfPT1_AB0KtBQpA2-4h9sb8MggQpiHjdoFTot-jvkjnm0SIfFUXr7VYgqxFfrUvlTs2V8/s1600/Hip+hop+Emily.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihiFU9Joro-ivEohTNmwwcg3XeWiMNWbxvEgo0JDjynkVwYeQfAuZhnaWv3wM6rY9d6FcfKUyfPT1_AB0KtBQpA2-4h9sb8MggQpiHjdoFTot-jvkjnm0SIfFUXr7VYgqxFfrUvlTs2V8/s320/Hip+hop+Emily.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEha1XW_-ju2k1KrIcuZZC1lBhr_1p7ZbU1LHMxzo9PswXvMuCcGoWFyHZbb1yfVX2l3EirVc1pAoIe9JvKYV0J1zN-8rksO3ot7XG466eAm3YwkbjfiSev5t0ddxGIH5XxIBopVXkFGn7g/s1600/Kelly.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEha1XW_-ju2k1KrIcuZZC1lBhr_1p7ZbU1LHMxzo9PswXvMuCcGoWFyHZbb1yfVX2l3EirVc1pAoIe9JvKYV0J1zN-8rksO3ot7XG466eAm3YwkbjfiSev5t0ddxGIH5XxIBopVXkFGn7g/s320/Kelly.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiINnnlcVnPXVC3TiLtt3Ts6yOmRcI_kFLwI6XldkldddvhGWIsvo3IgW6WrTJs0hz7TsJTNxMNnt3V32olokeOCJMgBUPKaqQg0-MLrEcGTT7-7kV1C8k-3-KDVb14HOZTQZyfXxF4M5k/s1600/Kelly+Emily+Eddie+cars.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiINnnlcVnPXVC3TiLtt3Ts6yOmRcI_kFLwI6XldkldddvhGWIsvo3IgW6WrTJs0hz7TsJTNxMNnt3V32olokeOCJMgBUPKaqQg0-MLrEcGTT7-7kV1C8k-3-KDVb14HOZTQZyfXxF4M5k/s320/Kelly+Emily+Eddie+cars.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjU4yplZjaITT5VjqY9l49LsEsqVKihcynfchReTjNCp_mGkFlX0DU3KwDxdd-kPXYfMs_8lQxQRYIYOFXgmDcfcDzkB8NaeWxfTsL2iF2h-yKTwC6vT53t2zlVoaG4rtBvyYBfPfHmFqU/s1600/Mick+cars1.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjU4yplZjaITT5VjqY9l49LsEsqVKihcynfchReTjNCp_mGkFlX0DU3KwDxdd-kPXYfMs_8lQxQRYIYOFXgmDcfcDzkB8NaeWxfTsL2iF2h-yKTwC6vT53t2zlVoaG4rtBvyYBfPfHmFqU/s320/Mick+cars1.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>I know there are lots more and I'll see if I can add to them...when I have time! lol The kids make sure there's never a dull moment here and they're with us all this week so busy busy busy! Enjoy the pics.Kellyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03438752508316759825noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5710834422484516357.post-25724818719507603852010-12-17T14:20:00.000+11:002010-12-17T14:20:03.715+11:00An overview of life in AustraliaAfter I made my first post, I realized I really should have done a proper introduction. :)<br />
<br />
I left the US at the beginning of November and flew to Australia to live in Canberra. Canberra is the capital of Australia, so all the embassies and the prime minister and all the "pollies" aka politicians are here. I arrived here on the 7th. It's been about 5 weeks now. We arrived in Sydney, rented a car, and drove to Canberra straight to the kids. Mick has two children, Emily (8) and Eddie (6). They are awesome. They were so so so happy to see him again. Mick's ex's name is Claire and she has been super nice to both of us since we got here.<br />
<br />
We stayed at Claire's house for a couple of weeks while we found a rental house. The housing market here is on a bubble, they say. Houses are insanely expensive, nearing LA prices. Because it is so crazy mad expensive to own a house, the rental market is almost completely saturated. Houses get rented in days here. Our house, being on the lower rungs of the Canberra housing market, we got the day after it was listed and we had to beat out three other interested parties. It's a cutthroat market. Our landlord plans to tear this house down in a couple of months and has applied to the city to put apartments on the land. So, this has its ups and downs. The downs are that he doesn't care at all that it hadn't been remodeled or updated in 40 years. He also doesn't have much motivation to fix anything that goes wrong. The ups are that we can do pretty much anything we want to the house and yard. So we painted the lounge, the kitchen, and the master bedroom. We've covered the rest of the walls with framed pictures and pics we cut out of magazines. Ed's room has car wallpaper so we left that and added lots more pictures of cars and motorbikes and spaceships. Em's room has floral wallpaper that's not too offensive so she's added pictures of music artists and a few astronomy pictures. We have a nice yard for the kids to play, and a 2nd floor porch that's partially covered so we can sit outside and enjoy the weather. So the house has come along really well.<br />
<br />
Mick has a job as an Australian Post worker. He rides his little motorbike around all day and delivers mail. He has a really big run, one of the biggest in his division, so he ends up working 10-14 hour days. He's especially busy right now since there are so many packages and Christmas cards. The mail works a bit differently here. Your letterbox can only receive mail. To mail letters, you have to find a mailbox at a shopping center or go to the post office. Packages sent through the Post are delivered to your local post office and you get a notice in your letterbox that you have a package waiting for you. So posties (postal workers) drive around on their motorbikes and try to find your letterbox. There are no standards for where your letterbox should be or how big or anything. For example, our letterbox is not on the sidewalk where it should be but is about a third of the way down our driveway. I'm sure our postie isn't a fan of its location. Also, government workers have strict health and safety regulations so the uniforms of all the gov't workers are day-glo colors. Mick's shirt is florescent yellow. He has a matching "cape" that attaches to his helmet and protects his neck from sunburn. Sun safety is another big thing in Australia, but I'll talk about that later.<br />
<br />
I just heard back from the Australian Psychological Society and can now apply for a provisional registration as a psychologist. This means I will have supervision for 1 to 2 years, but can do therapy and assessments and after my supervision I can register as a psychologist. So that is great news for me! I'm working on my registration and then will start job hunting.<br />
<br />
Mick and I have the kids 50% of the time and we've worked out a schedule with Claire and routinely revisit the schedule to make sure it works or adjust if needed. Today is the kids' last day of school so they'll get a few weeks vacation with me and Mick and also with Claire. They don't go back until February, so this is their summer vacation. The school and all things connected to it is something else I will do a post about. :)<br />
<br />
See? I told you I had tons to talk about! That's a good overview of how things stand right now for me and for Mick. I'll try to do a topic or two a day, plus sprinkling in personal stories as well.Kellyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03438752508316759825noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5710834422484516357.post-88559539054497973002010-12-17T13:11:00.001+11:002010-12-21T10:36:43.946+11:00A New LifeI've been thinking about starting this blog for a couple of weeks now. There are so many aspects of life here that I want to talk about and want to offer my point of view about. I finally bit the bullet and started this.<br />
<br />
So...where to begin? I really have a million topics I could talk about, both personal and general. I have lots of ideas for topics like driving, language differences, the Aussie translator (my list of words that Australians use instead of what Americans might say), being a stepmom, weather, Christmas traditions, grocery stores, recycling, birds, and so so much more.<br />
<br />
I think to start with, I should put up the Aussie translator list. Mick and I have gone through words used by Americans and Aussies and I've gotten his approval that these are equivalent. :) So, though Americans speak English and Aussies speak English, it's a whole new vocabulary!<br />
<br />
For your perusing pleasure:<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">What an American says: What an Aussie says:</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">1) Ketchup Tomato Sauce </div><div class="MsoNormal">2) Jumping Jacks Star Jumps</div><div class="MsoNormal">3) Sweatshirt Jumper</div><div class="MsoNormal">4) Sweatpants Trackies</div><div class="MsoNormal">5) Counter top Bench</div><div class="MsoNormal">6) Trash can Bin</div><div class="MsoNormal">7) Gift basket Hamper</div><div class="MsoNormal">8) Car trunk Boot</div><div class="MsoNormal">9) Car hood Bonnet</div><div class="MsoNormal">10) Gas Petrol</div><div class="MsoNormal">11) Cookie Biscuit</div><div class="MsoNormal">12) Biscuit Scone</div><div class="MsoNormal">13) Fries Chips</div><div class="MsoNormal">14) Chips Crisps</div><div class="MsoNormal">15) Burger King Hungry Jack’s</div><div class="MsoNormal">16) Friend/Buddy Mate</div><div class="MsoNormal">17) Sidewalk Foot path</div><div class="MsoNormal">18) Jump rope Skipping rope</div><div class="MsoNormal">19) Take a sick day Chuck a sickie</div><div class="MsoNormal">20) Mosquitoes Mozzies</div><div class="MsoNormal">21) Presents Prezzies</div><div class="MsoNormal">22) Howdy G’day</div><div class="MsoNormal">23) Thank you Ta (pronounced tah)</div><div class="MsoNormal">24) Vacation Holiday</div><div class="MsoNormal">25) Slacker Bludger</div><div class="MsoNormal">26) Poorly done Bodgy</div><div class="MsoNormal">27) Full Chockers</div><div class="MsoNormal">28) Bye See yas later</div><div class="MsoNormal">29) Field trip Excursion</div><div class="MsoNormal">30) Surprised/Shocked Look like a stunned mullet</div><div class="MsoNormal">31) Layaway Lay by</div><div class="MsoNormal">32) Ground beef Mince</div><div class="MsoNormal">33) Breakfast Brekkie</div><div class="MsoNormal">34) Vegetables Veg</div><div class="MsoNormal">35) Drunk Pissed</div><div class="MsoNormal">36) He was fired He was sacked</div><div class="MsoNormal">37) Real and true Fair dinkum</div><div class="MsoNormal">38) Pharmacy Chemist</div><div class="MsoNormal">39) Drunk driving Drink driving</div><div class="MsoNormal">40) Tomato Sauce Tomato Puree</div><div class="MsoNormal">41) Fair or Carnival Show</div><div class="MsoNormal">42) Movie Theater Cinema</div><div class="MsoNormal">43) Crust Base</div><div class="MsoNormal">44) Fast food Take away</div><div class="MsoNormal">45) Math Maths</div><div class="MsoNormal">46) Flip flops Thongs</div><div class="MsoNormal">47) Faucet Tap</div><div class="MsoNormal">48) Closet Robe</div><div class="MsoNormal">49) Trailer Caravan</div><div class="MsoNormal">50) Construction cone Witches’ hat</div><div class="MsoNormal">51) Appetizer Entrée</div><div class="MsoNormal">52) Truck Ute</div><div class="MsoNormal">53) Light bulb Light globe</div><div class="MsoNormal">54) Edger Whippersnipper</div><div class="MsoNormal">55) Zip code Post code</div><div class="MsoNormal">56) Drywall Gyprock</div><div class="MsoNormal">57) Cell phone Mobile phone</div><div class="MsoNormal">58) Mailbox Letterbox</div><div class="MsoNormal">59) Well Bore</div><div class="MsoNormal">60) The dump The tip</div><div class="MsoNormal">61) Garbage Rubbish</div><div class="MsoNormal">62) Z Zed</div><div class="MsoNormal">63) Mom Mum</div><div class="MsoNormal">64) Hurricane Cyclone</div><div class="MsoNormal">65) Aluminum Aluminium</div><div class="MsoNormal">66) Blow Fly Blowie</div><div class="MsoNormal">67) Elementary School Primary School</div><div class="MsoNormal">68) Country Bush</div><div class="MsoNormal">69) Master suite Ensuite</div><div class="MsoNormal">70) Speedos Budgie smugglers</div><div class="MsoNormal">71) Diapers Nappies</div><div class="MsoNormal">72) Pacifier Dummy</div><div class="MsoNormal">73) Throwing a tantrum Spitting the dummy</div><div class="MsoNormal">74) Toilet Dunny</div><div class="MsoNormal">75) Cooler Eskie</div><div class="MsoNormal">76) Small aluminum fishing boat Tinnie</div><div class="MsoNormal">77) Can of beer Tinnie</div><div class="MsoNormal">78) Bar-be-que Barbie</div><div class="MsoNormal">79) Sausage link Snag</div><div class="MsoNormal">80) Sausage patty Rissole</div><div class="MsoNormal">81) Glass bottle of beer Stubby</div><div class="MsoNormal">82) Parking lot Car park</div><div class="MsoNormal">83) Blinkers Indicators</div><div class="MsoNormal">84) Comforter Doona</div><div class="MsoNormal">85) Football Footy</div><div class="MsoNormal">86) Go to the store Go to the shops</div><div class="MsoNormal">87) Sweet! or Awesome! Bewdy!</div><div class="MsoNormal">88) Downtown City centre</div><div class="MsoNormal">89) Gay Man Poofter</div><div class="MsoNormal">90) Passionate Kiss Pash</div><div class="MsoNormal">91) Brights High beam</div><div class="MsoNormal">92) Popsicles Icy Poles</div><div class="MsoNormal">93) Cotton Candy Fairy Floss</div><div class="MsoNormal">94) Sprinkles 100s and 1000s</div><div class="MsoNormal">95) Baby stroller Pram</div><div class="MsoNormal">96) Chicken sandwich Chicken burger</div><div class="MsoNormal">97) Candy Lollies</div><div class="MsoNormal">98) Windshield Windscreen</div><div class="MsoNormal">99) Getting pregnant Falling pregnant</div><div class="MsoNormal">100) Flashlight Torch</div><div class="MsoNormal">101) Pound Key Hash Sign</div><div class="MsoNormal">102) Zip line Flying Fox</div><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12pt;">103) Guy/Man Bloke</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12pt;">104) McDonalds Mackers</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12pt;"> 105) Rice Krispies Rice Bubbles</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12pt;">There are more I know. I keep thinking of them through the days and I add as I go along. I'll update you as I think of more. And a few of these are things that some Americans say too. There are also different spellings of words and different pronunciations that I'll do a separate post about. But, here's your initiation into the Aussie language. There are lots of nicknames and shortening of words to end in -y or -ie. As some of you know, Mick calls me Finchy and I call him Oakesy sometimes. At Em's school, one of the volunteers calls her Oakesy as well. It's almost like Aussies want to be a hockey team and give everyone and everything a nickname. It's something I love about the Australian people. I'll do a whole post about Aussie people too. :)</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12pt;">****Edit- Here are another couple...</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12pt;"> </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12pt;"> 106) Clothespin Peg</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12pt;">107) Tag Tips</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12pt;"><br />
</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12pt;"><br />
</span>Kellyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03438752508316759825noreply@blogger.com1