Oz Adventures

Love Those Italians!

2009-07-13T03:16:00.000-07:00

Boy, does it pay to be generous to others. When I volunteered to fix a necklace for my friend, Franca, she retaliated with a dinner invitation. And what a dinner! We were introduced to a fabulous feast that rivaled any gourmet restaurant I've ever frequented.

The meal began with a smorgasbord of appetizers, plump olives, savory breadsticks and oranges stuck with skewers of pungent cheeses and Italian salami. It was very Martha Stewart. Then Franca served something I thought I'd never like but tasted to be polite, octopus ceviche. I was glad I braved it - it was light, lemony and not at all chewy. The ceviche was followed by mussels on the half shell broiled with garlic and breadcrumbs - yum! I thought the pasta dish was our last but I was mistaken. We ate a fish pasta with a light garlic sauce, the latest rage in Rome, followed by a whole roasted fish with roasted potatoes and vegetables. Dessert was homemade tiramisu and roasted chestnuts. I'm glad the tiramisu didn't tempt me because I hate coffee and was so stuffed.

George looks like he had a bit too much of Alessandro's

wonderful Italian wine but I'm the one

who broke two of her lovely wine glasses.

When we invited them back to dinner at our house, I had no idea what to make. Since I knew I couldn't compete, we made it easy. Cheese and crackers and barbeque chicken wings for starters, Pistou (similar to minestrone) soup, roast lamb with cranberry sauce, roasted garlic potatoes and green bean bundles with bacon and chocolate brownies completed the menu. We ended up with brownies for dessert after two of my Easy Chocolate Cakes failed. I've been making that cake since I was ten years old and never had a problem before Oz. It gives me lots of empathy for those Master Chef contestants on TV. Thank goodness I made brownies for the American Women's Bake Sale.

The group didn't seem to mind the informal atmosphere at the Casa.

At least no one had to worry about breaking the crystal.

Thanks to Rose, we even had heat.

No, I'm not pregnant, just extremely full!

Finally Got My Scrabble Fix

2009-07-13T03:09:00.000-07:00

I've been desperate for a game a Scrabble ever since Luba moved and finally got one with my buddies, Jenny, Veronica, Pat and Sophie. We talked more than we played and had a wonderful time.

I introduced them to the Scrabble Word Building book so I don't expect to win next time! I am willing my game and books to Veronica when we go back home so they can continue having fun without me.

Graced by Turnip Royalty

2009-06-21T00:25:00.000-07:00

Our Irish friend, Mary, and I bonded immediately over our dislike of the summer heat and our low tolerance for the same. She is extremely funny and told me a story about when her husband, Gordon, left her without the car to swelter on foot. She said she looked like she'd been boiling turnips all day so I nicknamed her Turnip Queen.

Mary's niece, Marie, is now known as the Turnip Princess. She
won a trip to Oz by selling the most in Ireland and UK for her company.

You can see the sun doesn't always shine in Oz in this photo taken on a rainy winter's day. We made the best of it by enjoying a seaside tea break.

Overconfidence Has Its Price

2009-06-20T23:46:00.000-07:00

This happy group enjoyed a nice coffee at Linda's home in East Perth. Since Sherri just had eye surgery, I braved driving in our new loaner car, Rose's son's Holden Astra City. It's much newer and in better condition than our old Sheila but doesn't have near as much personality.

I was proud of myself for arriving in one piece, even driving through downtown Perth on the way. I even drove on the proper side of the road!

Never get too cocky though! On the way home, I was looking at a landmark instead of watching where I was going on the narrow street and hit the curb. I only grazed the side but it was enough to cause a flat tire. Sherri, a flat tire veteran, told me to pull over immediately. I was all ready to call RAC, the Australian equivalent of AAA, but Sherri said she could fix it much faster.

Of course, nothing is easy here. She had trouble mounting the spare on the axle because the wheel didn't fit right. She tightened it up as best she could but it felt really wobbly. I drove very slowly, much to the consternation of my fellow motorists, who were surprisingly patient. Finally, we saw a gas station and pulled in.

Alan, from Liverpool, was friendly and helpful and only charged $10 to remount the tire and didn't snicker too much. It turns out the spare is much bigger than the sporty tire and that's why it didn't fit. There was an insert that we didn't know about that prevented Sherri from mounting the spare. He warned me not to drive far as it's illegal here to drive with different sized tires here.

I was tempted to make up a good story for George since I was so embarrassed but, being a terribly unconvincing liar, I confessed. He was very sweet and said at least no one was hurt. Lucky for him since our neighbor, Spud, told me to tell George he would rip off his arm and beat him with it if he wasn't understanding about the situation. However, when George found out it cost $200 for a new tire, he did pale visibly.

Sherri comes to the rescue again. What will I do without that woman?

Sherri's hands were filthy so we went into the nearby church and met a really nice sympathetic lady who knows our friend, Lisa. Since then, friends have been trying to make me feel better with confessions of curb-hitting when on the other side of the road. People are so kind.

George Finally Discovers Kings Park!

2009-06-20T23:35:00.000-07:00

After nine months of living near Perth, George finally visited Kings Park, a strange phenomena for one who likes to hoof as much as he. It's been so long since we went on this outing that I've forgotten the name of these cool trees. I'll have to ask Sherri - she's still young enough to remember things like this. In fact, we met this Australian couple on our walk who thought Sherri was our daughter.

There are so many paths to explore in this park.

We walked on this treetop walk, even George who's afraid of heights.

Several of the sidewalks have art like this embedded in them. Between the sidewalk drawings and the gorgeous scenery, I don't know where to look!

Elephant Rock & Green Pools

2009-06-20T23:12:00.000-07:00

The short but steep hikes to see these sights were well worth the energy. Here the group is resting on the way down to the green pools.

Elephant Rock's surrounding water looks almost too perfect to be real.

On our way to the bottom of the rocks, we met Tina and Milton again.

Seeing Big George on top of the rock gives perspective on the size of the formation.

George returned the favor, catching us on the beach below. What a scenic spot for a family picnic!

It was so nice not to see any trash in the area.

The town names are so unusual. Manjimup is one of my favorites - I just like the sound of it so had to take a photo of this sign.

Where Two Oceans Meet

2009-06-20T22:38:00.000-07:00

Geography has never been my best subject and the only time I get geography questions correct in Trivial Pursuit is when I've actually been to the place about which they are asking. Now I know where the Indian Ocean and Southern Ocean meet in case it ever comes up.

Speaking of Trivial Pursuit, we were extremely challenged playing the Australian version at our condo in Denmark (Denmark, Western Australia, not the one in Scandinavia). I was all ready to answer any footy questions. No matter what, I was going to say Ben Cousins , the Aussie football star who is in their news on a nightly basis, figuring I'd have at least a 75% chance of being right. However, we were all hopeless when it came to cricket questions but the ultimate stumbler had to do with cycling. What famous Australian placed 17th in the Tour de France in 1928? Now there's a difficult one. Paul and Sherri missed a pie on that one. Anyway, as usual, I'm off topic!

Guided tours of the lighthouse were available but we didn't want to spend an hour or $17 on it so we just walked around the grounds.

Paul and Sherri pose at the junction of the two oceans.
I guess I should have said Sherri and Paul but I bet
you figured out who's who!

Lest They Be Forgotten

2009-06-20T22:25:00.000-07:00

The primary reason for this little jaunt was a business trip for Paul, who was the featured speaker at the annual US Submarine Memorial Service in Albany. We are impressed that Australians are still actively honoring the American servicemen who died protecting Australia during World War II.

I was not familiar with the history of the American submarines based out of Fremantle and Albany during this conflict and was saddened to learn that 51 submarines were destroyed and 374 officers and 3131 men were lost. The ceremony was extremely moving with a bell tolled for each boat that disappeared. Representatives from many organizations placed wreaths on the memorial to honor these heroes.

It was fun to see Paul in his official capacity. We overlooked a sea of umbrellas to watch the ceremony and felt sorry for him getting drenched is his dress blues. At least he doesn't have to worry about his hair!

Paul has a commanding presence. Must be why they just promoted him to Commander!

Three American sailors, some Australian navy personnel and a few retired submariners pose after the ceremony and tea. After we took these photos, we ran into a friend from American Women's Club and her husband, who continued to stalk us over the next few days. It was like having our own paraparizzi. : )

Sights Along the Road

2009-06-20T22:05:00.000-07:00

With the Varnadores and their new Jackeroo, you can count on seeing the roads less traveled. No super highways for us!

Groups of kangaroos graze peacefully in daylight while we drive by even though they are normally nocturnal.

The tingle forest is something I never expected in Oz. Almost as big as the redwoods of California, the majesty of these trees is not captured in this photo. They stretched across the landscape for miles.

You can tell Fall is in the air. I was also surprised by autumn leaves. It doesn't seem like it gets cold enough here for that!

We hugged the coastline on our way south, with frequent views like this.

I will miss the ocean when we return to landlocked Colorado!

Loving Leeuwin Estates Winery

2009-06-20T21:46:00.000-07:00

The grounds of this winery, like many, are well-kempt and make you want to stay and relax awhile. This is a large winery and is used as a venue for weddings, parties and even a yearly concert with international big name acts. Such diverse entertainers as kd lang, Sting, James Taylor, Ray Charles, Tom Jones, Diana Ross, Julio Inglesias and the London Philharmonic Orchestra have played on the lawns of this picturesque estate.

The basement holds an art gallery with handmade furniture that I wish I could afford to bring home. It's solid so the freight alone would be exhorbitant but I love the Jarrah and other indigineous Australian woods.

George and Paul bellied up to the bar to taste the
wines, coming back with a couple of cases.

We saw a wedding party at our condo that also ended up here. The Bentley in the background is the wedding coach, a bit different than our 1973 VW bug.

Wining in Margaret River

2009-06-13T04:14:00.000-07:00

I loved this sign even though I'm not much of a wino. However, I always enjoy stopping at the wineries and sampling the non-wine items like honey, jams, marinades, and chutneys. Besides, they are usually picturesque and it's good to get out of the car periodically.

There are over 150 wineries in Western Australia and Margaret River is near many of them; it reminds us of Estes Park in the wine country. The area is also a huge surfing mecca and boasts over 40 famous surfing locations.

I like this romantic shot of Paul and Sherri

with the sunset in the background.

The sky almost looks fake in this shot.

George and Alex stayed in the condo so my

romantic photo is with Sherri instead!

Moseying Down to Margaret River

2009-06-13T02:28:00.000-07:00

Wow! This is the view from our picnic lunch site on the way to Margaret River. I can't remember if we were outside Bunbury or Bustleton but it was all gorgeous. One of the best things about Australia is their parks. They have done a great job of not overdeveloping beach areas. Of course, with only 22 million people in a country the size of the U.S., it's a bit easier to keep natural areas pristine.

Sherri fixed us homemade chicken salad sandwiches and guacamole. Does it get any better than this? Yes - we also had Anzac biscuits (oatmeal coconut cookies) and brownies.

This is an emu in the distance. There was one running right beside the car on my side on one of our little detours but I wasn't fast enough to catch a shot of it up close. Darn!

Paul and Sherri bought a new Holden Jackeroo, an Australian brand SUV, so they can go 4-wheeling safely so we went off-road occasionally. No more Britz rentals! It has a device on it called a Roo-Shoo that's supposed emit a high-pitched sound to keep kangaroos away. They're common road kill here.

Paul is standing next to the 10-foot dam as we call it. We were looking for a 10-kilometer dam but took the wrong route. We had a lovely hike anyway so it was all good.

Here is the sign by the car park entrance with an arrow saying Walk to the Dam. We're just too busy gawking at the scenery to be bothered with such petty details.

A sweet photo of Sherri and Paul - they are just way too cute together!

Better Excuse than The Dog Ate My Homework

2009-06-13T00:50:00.000-07:00

This was the end to the last Varnadore vacation so people were questioning our decision to tour southern WA with them! Traveling to Exmouth to dive the Ningaloo Reef, they had lots of fun on the way absailing (repelling down a cliff), sandboarding in the dunes, visiting the seahorse stud farm (never realized that was a viable business!) and just exploring along the way. Unfortunately, they never made it to the reef.

After wasting five and half hours of their holiday along the way waiting around a garage after discovering a fuel leak, they were about 50 kilometers from their destination when the van suddenly stalled after passing a truck pulling a horse trailer. Paul pulled over to investigate and discovered fire coming out the bottom of the van. He yelled at Sherri and Alex to get out while they helplessly watched it burn. A semi, or road train as they call them here, stopped with a fire extinguisher and Paul thought he'd stopped the fire but as he was getting out the cooler (Eskie) to grab the bag with the laptop in it, it started up again. (George was impressed that Paul managed to save the beer.) We are so grateful they weren't hurt! Sherri was worried about the library books and the book she borrowed from me but they lost a lot more than that including everything in Sherri's purse and her prescription glasses. The other good news is that they made new friends with the people pulling the horse trailer who stopped to help.

A frightening video was also shot where you can hear food cans, the tires and the propane tank exploding. Good thing Sherri had the camera in her hand when the van stalled to document it.

Britz, the rental car company, refunded their rental fees, put them up for a night at a hotel, fed them and flew them home. However, they refuse to pay for everything they lost, including Alex's new wardrobe, the electronic security keys for their apartment garage, their IPods, etc. After a month, they're still discovering missing items. Britz is lucky they aren't litigious and should be offering them an all-expense paid holiday to Exmouth in addition to reimbursing them for their lost belongings. I would certainly never rent from this company!

Alex looks so happy at the beginning of the trip. His backpack with his schoolbooks and homework also disappeared in the fire. Sherri sent photos of the fire so his Italian teacher would believe why he didn't turn in his homework.

Farewell to Bali

2009-06-10T01:27:00.000-07:00

I never did find out which god this statue represents but I like the way he looks so thought I'd post it for you to enjoy!

The exotic vegetation always fascinates me.

We will miss the fragrant flowers but not the ubiquitous incense or the chiming music. It must be an acquired taste. I'm also hoping the music from South Pacific will finally leave my head!

Our last sunset from our deck in Bali.

The Intrepid Bowens

2009-06-09T22:48:00.000-07:00

You never know who you'll meet at the Post Office, even in Bali. I met an delightful family there and guess where they're from? Denver! Colleen and her teenage boys, Michael and Mark, are exploring the world together.

Small world continued as I discovered Colleen's husband, Jess, is also a nurse. She was as intrigued about our stories of life for George working in New Zealand and Australia as we were to hear tales of their travels thus far.

Colleen, Michael and Mark have been gone since November and started their expedition with Jess in India. Jess went home to earn more money; they have budgeted incredibly well, spending only $3000 per month including food, lodging and travel expenses. Since Jess left, they have explored Brunei, Laos, Cambodia, Thailand, Phillipines, Viet Nam, and were planning to spend another month in Indonesia when we met them. What a great way for these home-schooled kids to learn about geography and cultures first-hand.

We encouraged them to visit us in Oz but they had a setback along the way. A couple days after we left Bali, Michael had a serious accident and was hospitalized for four days. They then traveled to Indonesia to complete the necessary dental work. Fortunately, he will be fine but I can't imagine how scared Colleen must have been at the time. They decided to go to London and begin their European tour from there since Colleen's parents are there. We are really sorry they won't be in Freo but know we'll meet up with them again in Colorado.

One big advantage to their adventure - Colleen has lost 40 pounds on the journey! Maybe I should rethink our decision to come straight home instead of traveling the world. : )

Palatial Sights

2009-06-08T21:10:00.000-07:00

Part of our Ubud tour included the local prince's palace, with gorgeous grounds and typical Balinese architectural touches done in elegant style. The grounds are open to the public to enjoy and have a zen garden feel to them.

I just love the intricate detail in this gate.

Locals visit on the steps of the temple to pass the time.

Dressing gods in black and white checks is common here.

I think this is one of the buildings on the palace grounds.

Balinese style often incorporates use of gazebos.

Now this is a front door with style!

George joked it used to be on the Platinum Suite.

This vase would look great in our foyer. Luckily I didn't even remotely consider it. Right after we returned, a Perth woman was jailed in Bali for stealing a bar mat!

A bit ornate for every day but certainly a pleasure to look upon.

Motor Scooter Mayhem

2009-06-08T18:40:00.000-07:00

We absolutely enjoyed our time with Liz, who lives in Bali now not far from our second hotel in Legian. We met through a mutual friend in Perth, Jenny. Somehow we were too busy talking for me to remember to get a photo of her or her intriguing friend, Deb. However, I did manage to capture this photo of another Aussie friend, Ryan, who was taking a break while working at a hair salon.

Liz came over to volunteer in an orphanage for three months and ended up staying. She now volunteers at a school teaching English and is working with Deb on an Asian AIDS conference being held in Kuta. Liz loves Bali and is enjoying her life there but might return to Oz if she becomes a grandmother at some point. Paying $1200 per year for rent is certainly appealing to us after our $400 per week at the Casa but I just can't stand the heat and humidity.

Deb fascinates me because she left Oz to marry Made, converted to Hinduism (you must declare one of six recognized religions in Bali and mixed-religion marriages are not allowed), and is raising his twin younger brothers. What spunk to change your life so dramatically at 45! She and Made seem extremely happy after five years so it's all worked out. They have a business called Concierge on Wheels with a modern van that even includes child car seats and a DVD player. If you ever go to Bali and want to ride in comfort with an English-speaking guide, email Deb at ma-deb@hotmail.com.

Deb told great stories about adjusting to life with the Balinese. When she first met the family, they all stared at her and wordlessly kept bringing her fruit baskets. Finally, when she couldn't stand it anymore, she gathered all the children and took them for ice cream. When she came back, she was accepted as part of the family and the rest is history. Deb also related a story about their first two-bedroom apartment when they were first married. Her mother-in-law came to visit and was astounded to find the two of them would be the only ones living in all that space. We take so much for granted!

Check out the offering on the front of this scooter, a wise idea in my opinion with the way they careen around corners and go the wrong way up one-way streets! Walking is an unheard of option for them. They were amazed I planned to walk four blocks to the post office and told me it was too far to walk. George was really considered crazy when they found he walked all the way to the shopping mall!

Almost every resident has a scooter unless they can afford a car. It's amazing to see how much stuff they carry on them - even furniture, and it's not uncommon to see a family of four or five on one. It bothered me that often you'd see parents with helmets but nothing on the children's heads. We were eating at a restaurant and someone delivered a huge vat of oil that he had carried on his scooter. On our way to Ubud, we felt so sorry for a guy whose bag of huge prawns had burst open and was strewn all over the busy highway. He was out in the street trying to rescue them in the traffic. To him, they must have represented a fortune.

Jol's Ubud Hideaway

2009-06-08T05:04:00.000-07:00

Jol, a nurse who works with George at the hospital, is as crazy about Bali as George is about Mexico, visiting frequently for weeks at a time. We arranged to meet with her by driving up with her friend, Made, who acts as a tour guide and driver. The photo on the left shows Jol's friend, Jenny from Adelaide, Made and Jol.

Made (pronounced Ma-day) was a delightful guy with whom we thoroughly enjoyed conversing. His name is very common in Bali as tradition dictates that eldest child is named Wayan or Putu, the second born is called Made or Kadek, and those born third and fourth are named Nyoman or Komang and Kutut respectively. The fifth, sixth, seventh, eighth and ninth will be another Wayan, Made, Nyoman, Ketut and Wayan again. They also have a short middle name they never use and different last names that are given to have spiritual meanings. I'm sure it reduces the stress in finding a name but it can be confusing. George should like it because it gives one an excellent chance of getting someone's name right if he forgets. : )

However, Made broke with tradition and called his daughter Monica. Monica was his cousin's child but was adopted by Made and his wife since they were not able to have their own. Sharing children in the extended family is common because the Balinese believe children belong to the whole family. They believe in reincarnation and that they come back into the same family. It's one of the reasons that ancestors are venerated. We really enjoyed having someone who was willing to explain Bali to us and show us the sights.

Jol stays at a home stay with a Balinese family in their compound. Balinese often live in walled areas with several small cottages. Usually cooking is done outside in a central area with bedrooms and bathrooms in each little building. They spend most of their time outside; we saw someone sleeping and a child watching TV on the porch. Many family members stay in each cottage.

This is the outside of one of the cottages.

Jol with the charming daughter-in-law of her host family.

Jol's home away from home, somewhat Spartan yet homey.

Balinese don't use toilet paper but cleanse themselves with a sprayer. How nice of the family to install a toilet roll holder for Jol!

Lazing in Legian

2009-06-07T05:07:00.000-07:00

These are photos from the grounds of our hotel, the Bali Mandira in Legian, where we stayed for our second week. With little cottages spread around the grounds, it gives the feeling of a traditional Balinese family compound. However, we stayed in the tower which was more hotel-like.

The statue at the left depicts one of the many gods representing the Supreme Being, Shiva. Bali Hinduism is unique. The Balinese have been ruled by many other people with other religions and they managed to incorporate aspects of these into their belief system while retaining their core beliefs.

Balinese are very devoted as witnessed by the sight of their offering baskets strewn everywhere. At first, I was very careful to avoid them on the sidewalks until we learned that once the offering is given, it is no longer sacred. You can step on them but it is still frowned on to touch them. Dogs and cats eat the food in the baskets which is acceptable since they are also god's creatures.

We love their practical view of religion. For instance, one Balinese told us that he eats beef because he figures god gave cows to us to eat and who would refuse a gift from god? Another story we were told is that tradition dictated the sacrifice of a pig once the rice crop harvesting was completed. The Balinese solution? Always plant a new crop before harvesting the next so that no sacrifice is needed.

Black and white are used to dress the statues of the gods and are popular colors in Balinese designs, representing good and evil. They figure you have to pay respects to both good and evil dieties in order to stabilize the world. We weren't there for it but apparently there are a couple of days and nights where no one is supposed to be out and about because the evil spirits are flying over and will not stop if they can't see you. I guess the a spirits are easily fooled into believing no one is home.

This structure has a big pool and patio on top of it.

You can even learn how to weave an

offering basket while basking in the sun.

Another reminder of Mexico - hair braiding on the beach.

You can avoid the street vendors by walking

along the promenade, ideal for walking

along the ocean through town.

Chilling in Nusa Dua

2009-06-04T21:20:00.000-07:00

Please excuse the steam clouding the lens; it's very hot and humid in Bali but breathtakingly beautiful. The first photo is from our window in the first hotel we stayed, the Bali Aston. This end of the island is very quiet and less touristy with lots of Europeans and Asians.

It took some time to get used to all the zeros in their currency. I was amazed that our hotel clerk told us he earns 1 million rupiahs a month until I figured out that's less than $100US. It's easy to give some one the wrong amount by a couple of zeros so you have to pay attention.

Beware whenever you are exchanging foreign currency. I met a retired Scottish policewoman who was understandably upset after being shortchanged by a currency exchanger. After watching the man count out their money, the vendor turned it sideways to straighten it. She figures the man tapped it on the edge of the counter, allowing part of it to fall to the floor behind the counter. George always recounted it in front of the moneychanger after he gave it to us; our vendors were honest.

Many of the goods for sale reminded us of Mexico, albeit with a Hindu flavor. In fact, the people reminded us of Mexicans, smiling, hardworking, and practical, very family-oriented and doing their best to make a good living. The tropical climate and scenery enhanced the similarities. Those of you who know how much George loves Mexico understand that's a positive impression despite the bad press Mexico has had lately with the border town violence and swine flu.

Our Airport Limo Service

2009-06-04T21:07:00.000-07:00

We started our Balinese adventure with a trip in the Rosemobile. She and Joan escorted us to the airport in style in Rose's Aussie Winnebago, as she calls it. Rose and her sister once traveled all the way along the southern coast of Australia and back in this but I don't think I'd want to go that far. You do see quite a few vans like this in our neighborhood.

Brave New World

2009-06-04T20:40:00.000-07:00

Meet Andy, Bernadette, Madison and Francesca, new friends from Leeds, UK. We met when they were staying downstairs. They sold almost everything they owned and moved lock, stock and barrel to Perth without jobs or a place to live to seek a better life for their children.

After they arrived, Andy found that tiling is done differently here but is learning how to do it Aussie style by volunteering to work with another tiler for awhile. Bernadette works with the elderly but all the open positions are helping seniors in the community so they would have to buy another car first. Luckily, they have some savings to rely on but I hope they find something soon.

The girls have adjusted amazingly well and Maddie is loving kindy. We marvel at their spirit and pluck!

Fabulous Fashion

2009-06-04T03:35:00.000-07:00

Excuse the fact that this blog is backwards. I am still trying to figure out how to post on a Mac and don't know how to rearrange the photos! : )

Audrey and Evelyn's moms probably didn't know

what they were getting themselves into when

they sat at our rowdy table.

Evelyn is a recent arrival to Perth even though

she's been in Oz for years. Scottish by birth,

she also lived in Canada. We're glad she's here!

Audrey and her mom, Liverpool natives, are extremely fun

and we love them despite the fact they never met the Beatles.

Sue and Fran choose from an array of homemade goodies.

Mary, Margi and Veronica yuk it up over

Veronica's new discovery, tit tape.

I love Australian fashion because all the styles have a kicky edge that's really fun. However, I haven't bought a thing because fashion is pricey here. Luckily, I didn't need to buy to enjoy the fashion show at Veronica's tennis club. Three of the ten ladies at our table won door prizes. We laughed when Veronica, incredible Italian food cook that she is, won The Book of Pasta.

Anzac with the Girls

2009-06-04T02:11:00.000-07:00

Anzac Day is a big holiday in Australia and New Zealand, celebrating the alliance of the two countries during World War II. Jenny is our only Aussie native in the group but Pauline and Pat also count since they immigrated many years ago from Indonesia and England respectively. Since I lived in New Zealand for six months, I consider myself an honorary Kiwi. Veronica is always game for a fun outing. Besides, who needs an excuse to get together with friends? Certainly not moi!

Eating alfresco is a popular Aussie pastime so to commemorate the occasion, we went to a lovely sidewalk cafe to share an array of Aussie dessert delights and gasbag, as my neighbor, Spike, calls it. Wish our friends who aren't here could have joined us!

Hasta Luego Reads

2009-06-04T01:28:00.000-07:00

Our friends, Chuck and Nancie, moved back to the States so we had to have a party! As usual, everyone brought fabulous food and a good time was had by all.

Nancie at the last AWCP Welcome Coffee she attended,

looking good as always despite the stress!

An American food theme seemed right for the occasion. Grilled steaks, chops and chicken along with au gratin potatoes, salads, vegetables & dip, chocolate chip oatmeal cookies, lemon bars and a little Italian dessert from Vito and Veronica, homemade Tiramisu. Even though it's been awhile, I suspect some of it's still on my thighs. Sighs!

We Get by with a Lot of Help from Our Friends

2009-06-04T01:20:00.000-07:00

Well, thanks to Sherri and Paul, we are back online. They lent us their Mac laptop because I didn't want to pay $1,000 more for the same laptop here since we will be heading home in a couple months. It seems our laptop crash was serious stuff and all the data is most certainly lost but we'll find out for sure next week when Ben at Ben Tech gets a chance to look at it. So, if you haven't emailed us in the last couple of weeks, please email us at dsawc@frii.com so we can keep in touch!

I will post photos as soon as I figure out how!

And They Say the West is Decadent!

2009-05-10T01:09:00.000-07:00

I experienced an afternoon of pure bliss yesterday at the Aston Bali spa. For the equivalent of $40 US, I luxuriated with a pedicure followed by an amazing one hour and forty-five minute Boreh massage. Designed to alleviate stress and increase circulation, this massage was much more vigorous than the therapeutic massages I've enjoyed from my sister, Ricky, and my friend, Sarah Jane. At first, I wasn't sure if I liked it. I normally fall asleep during a massage but this was more like being pummeled than being caressed. She did one head massage movement where she was actually pulling my hair near the roots.

For one thing, massages in the US seem much more discreet with the towel demurely shielding your privates during the treatment. Here nudity is less of an issue and, except for the disposable spa panties, one is naked. Sorry if this is too much information for some of you! : )

First, they give you some sort of herbal tea concoction to relax you. After the massage, she rubbed me down with an intriguing mixture of herbs including cinnamon, cloves, and ginger. I smelled like pumpkin pie! This mixture is supposed to detoxify and exfoliate your skin. After it dries, they draw a flower bath filled with frangipani flowers and other flower petals and a scented oil. The ginger and honey tea afterwards make me melt even more. Then you shower and she dries you off and applies lotion. It was heavenly and my skin feels awesome.

I heartily recommend this experience and Bali as a whole. More later!

That's Entertainment

2009-04-20T06:20:00.000-07:00

Someone emailed me recently wanting to know what TV is like in Australia. Television offerings here in Oz are a mixed bag. Although there are plenty of American series from which to choose, there is an eclectic array of shows never seen at home.

For one thing, their approach is much more global. You can get half hour news segments from Japan, Hong Kong, Greece and Italy, just to mention a few countries. Nightly, there is at least one foreign subtitled film to view. Travel and cooking shows are also popular. Antiques Roadshow features the English version, which I find fascinating as the antiques are much older and more varied.

One German series, Komandant Rex, is a crime drama starring a German Shepard named Rex - kind of like Lassie on steroids. My favorite series discovery is actually a Canadian show, a Seinfeldesque situation comedy about nothing in rural Saskatewan called Corner Gas. We've been enjoying English productions of Poirot, Cracker, Daziel and Pascoe, and the like.

Unfortunately, I am put off by the production quality of most of the crime dramas here. Even if the story is good, I get distracted by the video-tape, jumpy camera footage.

However, most of my favorite shows are Aussie-produced, including Good News Week, an intriguing mix of game show craziness, political commentary and comedy. Because Australians are less inhibited than Americans, their jokes are bawdier and it is no-holds barred. If you want to check it out, you can visit http://ten.com.au/good-news-week.htm.

Rock Wiz is also fun to watch. Celebreties team up against one another for rock trivia with a bit of comedy and entertainment thrown in.

Rove is the David Letterman of the Aussie airwaves and I haven't yet learned to appreciate him. When they show clips on the teaser commercials, I never think they are funny at all. One example is Rove asking a guest named Glenn why he spells it with two ens. The guest replies, "Why to you spell Rove with a V?" and they all laugh hysterically. I think you have to be a true Aussie to appreciate it.

Sport is extremely important here and there is usually something to watch, usually Australian Rules footy, rugby or cricket plus tennis and car or horse racing. I do like their commentators who say things like "Crikey!" or "That ref is a total boofhead!".

Of course, they have their versions of the American ratings juggernauts, Idol, So You Think You Can Dance, Top Supermodel, etc. I watch them once in awhile when waiting for George to get home from work and have to say there is a lot of talent here for a small country. However, it does seem like you see the same five hosts starring on all the programs on a rotating basis so maybe there is a limited talent pool.

Even though we only get five free channels here, George hasn't yet resorted to watching Maori rap like he did when we lived in New Zealand! Besides, we didn't come here to watch TV!

LaW without the Review

2009-04-19T05:09:00.000-07:00

The women's group tried a BYOB restaurant instead of going to a winery. For those of you not familiar with the concept, restaurants often allow people to bring their own wine and/or beer. Most charge a corkage fee per person or per bottle, which varies a lot. The Vietnamese restaurant by us charges nothing while the highest corkage charge I've heard is $17 per bottle. Many of the establishments offering BYOB don't have a liquor license but many who sell drinks also give the BYOB option.

As you can see, the view was gorgeous and a good time was had by all. Good thing because the service at Spinnakers sucked - sure glad the food didn't! It is fun because we continue to get interesting new members in our group so there's always someone intriguing with whom to converse. I especially enjoyed meeting Fran and Mary, two new instant friends I met on the ride to Hilarys in Veronica's car. Within minutes, we were all laughing like a bunch of crazy high school girls.

However, even though I'm not a wine drinker, I missed the wine tasting; it seemed like lunch but not LaW. The tasting gives more time to mingle before you eat and it's fun watching people discover new favorites. Oh well, I didn't volunteer to coordinate this event and my policy is you can't bitch if you didn't volunteer to do it. So, I'll go and have fun and won't think of it as LaW.

No Whining about Wine Tour

2009-04-19T04:23:00.000-07:00

I guess I should say whinging here but it makes for less impact in the headline, so forgive me! George finally made it to the Swan Valley for a little co-ed LaW Review. Sherri and Paul took us out for a nice Sunday excursion. First, we toured Guilford, stopping at a few antique stores and a nice craft fair. Then we lunched at Stewart's at Brookleigh. Everyone loved their meals except Sherri, who was a bit disappointed in her main, a vegetarian dish with figs. George loved the pate as much as I thought he would as well as his duck main. I loved my first outing there so much, I ordered the salmon again. Paul enjoyed the fish special, snapper with a fruit salsa. We were able to visit briefly with Olga and had a nice, leisurely meal.

Afterward, we cruised the valley and hit a few wineries. This was a small boutique winery, Henley Park, where George bought some port he thinks almost as good as in Portugal. Paul bought some fresh skin wines at a bargain price to add to their cellars.

Houghtons was a totally different experience, very corporate. They tried one red wine that George really liked until he found out it was $175 per bottle. After pouring half-full glasses for them to enjoy, the bartender admitted they only were able to sample it because she opened the bottle by mistake. There's a wine he'll never enjoy again!

Gone Fishing

2009-04-19T02:28:00.000-07:00

Well, George finally broke out that fishing pole and got lessons from Scott, master fisherman. Scott taught him how to cast and they went to the river to try their luck. They didn't come back with much except a couple empty beer cans but I think it was a truly male bonding experience.

Sue and I stayed to finish preparations on another outstanding meal. It was almost like going home again because she made everything from my favorite Colorado Cache cookbooks!

First, we enjoyed yummy crab empanadas with a pineapple salsa that I could have eaten with a spoon. Then Sue made this beef tenderloin stuffed with all kinds of goodies, including spinach, sun-dried tomatoes, cheese and garlic. Another addition to the recipe request list! The meat was accompanied by baby stuffed potatoes and green beans and followed up with one of our favorite desserts, a lemon pie.

As always, their company was delightful and the night zoomed. We are so glad they kept their home in Colorado and that we will get to see them after our Oz adventure.

Life Under the Big Top

2009-04-19T00:55:00.000-07:00

Veronica arranged another great outing with Diana and Dan to the Cirque de Soleil Dralion performance. I really enjoyed the contortionists and acrobatics of the show I saw 20 years ago but the staging and theatrical aspects of this performance were light years ahead. The costumes were magnificent and the pace non-stop. Here's the scoop on this show according to the Cirque web site:

Dralion is the fusion of ancient Chinese circus tradition and the avant-garde approach of Cirque du Soleil. The show's name is drawn from its two main symbols: the dragon, representing the East, and the lion, representing the West. Dralion derives much of its inspiration from Eastern philosophy with its perpetual quest for harmony between humankind and nature.

Suspended in time between the past and the future, Dralion is a celebration of life and the four elements that maintain the natural order: air, water, fire and earth. Innovation soars to new heights as it defies the laws of nature. Dralion is a dynamic performance that transcends the boundaries of the imagination and leads us into a dreamscape with a new and sparkling perspective.

My favorite segment was a ballet-like trapeze act done with ropes of silken fabric. It was very romantic and actually brought tears to my eyes. Another amazing act was done with eight performers jumping from heights on a wall above in concert. The clowns were also first-rate. If you get a chance to attend a performance, do so!

No Topless but Bellydancing

2009-04-12T00:41:00.000-07:00

We were once talking to friends about Portugal and George was encouraging them to come with us there on holiday. He was waxing poetically about the beaches, our favorite museum and, of course, the food, including tapas, little appetizers that are kind of like a Spanish or Portuguese version of Dim Sum. The wife misheard George and said, "I'm not going to any topless bar!" So every time we have tapas, we think of her and laugh.

Surprisingly, Freo boasts two Tapas Bars and the American Women's Restaurant Group sampled one last month. (Sorry I'm so far behind on this blog but I'm busy having fun!)

After starting the evening at Jimmie Lynn and Chuck's with awesome martinis, we went to Gypsy Tapas House to enjoy an enticing array of tapas. You can order from the menu there or get a chef's selection of tapas for $35. We elected to try the variety and started with a duo of dips with Turkish bread, chili fried olives, smoked almonds, prosciutto, marinated mushrooms, cornichons (little pickles) and grissini (garlic toasts), Catalan bread, and pickled sardines. Then they brought out calamari with garlic and chili, chorizo and a salad with brie and walnuts. We all thought it was pretty good and a decent value for $35 and were ready to think about dessert and coffee when they brought more food and kept it coming - grilled scallops, tiny roasted potatoes, spicy chicken shanks, garlic mussels, bocconcina stuffed meatballs, a salad with peaches and goat cheese, char grilled lamb, baked herb feta with olives and tomato, char grilled zucchini with lemon and mint, ceviche, and baked herb feta with olives and tomato. They asked us if there was anything we wanted more of and we finally had to tell them to quit bringing food! Almost everything was very good but the lamb, scallops, mussels and salads were to die for.

And, if the food wasn't enough, there was live entertainment, a blues/zydeco band and bellydancers. The band made it a bit difficult to visit but they were good. Quite the bargain evening for $35. Good on ya, Jimmie Lynn, for putting this together!

Aboriginal Culture in the Park

2009-03-16T16:36:00.001-07:00

My womens' group explored a bit of Aussie culture during our last monthly meeting. We went to the Aboriginal Art Gallery in Kings Park for a lecture about the meaning behind some of the Aboriginal artwork and backgrounds of some of the famous artists represented in the gallery. Then we enjoyed a picnic lunch while we listened to the authors of a fascinating book about twelve Australian women who grew up in the Pilbara, a remote region of Western Australia. It's called Red Dust in Her Veins. For more information, you can visit their web site at www.womenofthepilbara.com.au. It will give you an idea of the strength and determination of these gutsy ladies.

Diana managed to keep the business meeting short
even though it was her presidential debut.

Veronica and her "Italian bombshell" friends, Barbara and
Franca. Italian women have such a sense of style.

Perth city view from Kings Park is breathtaking on a summer day.

International Women's Festival

2009-03-16T16:08:00.000-07:00

One of the reasons I'm so far behind in my blogging is that I have no willpower. Last Sunday, I planned to spend the evening faithfully updating this blog. Then Sherri called to ask me if I wanted to join her at the Women's Festival. Food, crafts and live music - how could I resist? The mosaic is not the most flattering representation of womanhood but I like to think of it as symbolizing the decidedly decadent side of my personality. However, I could rationalize the outing as the gate entry fees were donated to the Bushfire Appeal.

I sneaked into the refreshment tent as it was about
to close to capture this photo. Pretty sumptuous
surroundings for an outdoor festival, eh?

Three different female musicians performed
original music for the crowd.

Several groups of dancers entertained us,
including these belly dancers.

No matter your age, it is fun to be visited by the fairies.

The children especially had a good time.

Dining in the Pagoda

2009-03-16T15:28:00.000-07:00

Yes, we are still eating our way across Australia, this time at Pauline and Michael's home. She is cutting pandan cake in the photo, a delicacy about which we'd never heard. Pandan is a leaf and the extract is used by Chinese cooks to make rice and cakes more flavorful. It has a fresh aroma, reminding me a bit of the light scent of cilantro (coriander here) but tastes a bit like Basmati rice.

Their home is beautiful with lots of stained and etched glasswork which of course I'd enjoy. Pauline is Chinese and grew up in Hong Kong so there is definitely an Asian feel to it with a decorative lion and its own lucky cricket. Michael built an amazing dining pagoda in the back yard that overlooks a park.

This is the view from the pagoda.

As usual, the meal was phenomenal! We had a tasty assortment of appetizers - stuffed grape leaves, grilled chorizo, little spicy meatballs, olives, cheeses and crackers. The main, as they say here, was grilled marinated lamb with a fresh Greek salad. Pauline had made two desserts - elegant individual pear cakes with whole pears in each and the pandan cake but her friend, Chris, also brought a traditional Aussie favorite, pavlova. Pavlova is also poplular in NZ and is based on a meringue crust and filled with fruit and whipping cream. Chris used blueberries, strawberries and raspberries and it was the best I've ever had.

Bruce and Chris were fascinating dinner companions,
having lived in several countries.

Michael is preparing to grill. What a handy guy!

Lost in Translation

2009-03-09T03:18:00.000-07:00

George and I are constantly amused at the Aussie pronunciations and expressions but the intrigue works both ways. I guess it's a to-may-toe to-mah-toe sort of thing. We giggle every time they say debut day-boo. When KFC advertises their fillets of chicken, they're fill-its. HBF, our health insurance company, is Haitch Bee Ef. I often find George chuckling over something he heard at work like madder than a cut snake or chuna-fish (tuna fish).

However, people will ask me questions that make perfect sense from their perspectives. Why does lucked out mean lucky? Where did phat come from and how can it mean something good? The list is probably endless. I guess the lesson is not to be concerned when one doesn't understand but to ask, learn and enjoy!

Jailhouse Rocks

2009-03-08T07:25:00.000-07:00

The Fremantle Prison is blocks from our house, not cell blocks, but blocks nevertheless. It boasts a wealth of stories, from daring escape attempts to haunted corridors. After completing two of the four tours, I am fascinated with its history.

The prison was erected with local limestone by convicts starting in 1852, completed in 1860, and utilized until 1991. About 9,500 prisoners were shipped to Fremantle from the UK over the years with the last ship arriving in 1868. Others were incarcerated there including local and military prisoners, enemy aliens and prisoners of war.

Although there were some hardened criminals imprisoned at Fremantle Prison, many of the early convicts were sentenced to hard labor for minor offenses like stealing food; 33% were convicted for simple larceny. The local colony requested convicts for many building projects like roads.

This ship model was erected by one of the convicts in
secrecy using porridge to construct most of the parts.

Nancie and Kyra are having too much fun with
their prison visit to be a believable reenactment.

This gigantic clock was installed in 1896 and still works!

Guards spent 12-hour shifts in this tiny guard tower,
suffering extreme temperatures. They spent most
of their time in the hut because of the dangers
of being shot from nearby Hampton Road.

The razor wire acts as a lethal Slinky, cocooning the escapee
with severe cuts and preventing him from movement.

The faint image of a woman is seen from this chapel window
sometimes. I looked at the other side of the window when
we toured the chapel and you can't see it. It's supposed to be
the image of Martha Rendell, the only woman to be executed there.

It's amazing that anyone managed to escape these walls!

Throughout its long history, Fremantle Prison only allowed nine individuals to escape without recapture. The first, JB O'Reilly, an Irish political prisoner, escaped on a whaling boat to the US, where he became a prominent journalist. He enlisted the aid of Irish sympathizers in Australia and the US to fund a rescue operation and managed to free eight of his fellow Fenians. All of them immigrated to the US.

Moondyne Joe is the champion escape artist of Fremantle Prison with ballad written about him and pubs named after him. Although originally imprisoned for stealing food in England, he was arrested numerous times for other infractions; my favorite charge is killing an ox with felonious intent. During his most famous escape, he built a tunnel while outside working and used his pickaxe and shirt as a decoy to look like he was hard at work. Joe was excellent at escaping but not smart enough to leave the island and, like most other escapees, was usually caught drinking at a pub within hours. He once managed to stay free for two years until he was found at a vineyard in nearby Swan Valley.

Another notorious inmate is Brendan Abbott, the infamous postcard bandit who sent postcards to the police of himself in front of the banks he robbed during the 1980s and early 1990s. He is believed to have stolen over $5 millionAU and none of the money has ever been recovered. He successfully escaped from Fremantle prision with another convict by making three extra prison guard uniforms and walking out before the other guard figured out something was wrong. Whether he's overly-confident or just cheeky, he had the nerve to visit Fremantle Prison on a tour, sign the guestbook and then send a postcard of himself in front of the prison. Brendan is now serving time in Queensland but is supposed to return to Western Australia to finish his sentences here. A movie was produced about his life for television.

From 1888 to 1964, Fremantle Prison was the only place
in Australia for executions. Eric Edward Cooke, a convicted
serial killer, was the last of the 44 murderers to be hanged.

There are worse things than hanging. Prisoners were often flogged
with the cat-of-nine-tails, resulting in common expressions
today. Here's a few examples: Cat got your tongue? There's
room enough to swing a cat. Don't let the cat out of the bag.

Definitely a no frills cell!

This refuse pail shows the primitive conditions, worse for women
than for men due to cold food and less frequent bathing.

Poor living conditions cause inmates to rebel, inciting a riot and fire
in 1988 and resulting in relocation to a brand new prison in 1991.

There were a few talented artists imprisoned here. Some wonderful art was found hidden under layers of porridge in later years. Here is some of the art found on the walls of one cell.

Meet Little Sheila

2009-03-01T06:04:00.000-08:00

Yup - we are definitely recapturing our youth on this trip! Check out this 1973 VW Super Beatle that Rose has generously lent us for the rest of our stay. Many of you probably remember the orange VW Super Beatle we bought from my brother, Mike, and drove for 25 years.

Now we have Sheila. I used to call her the Rosemobile but have named her Little Sheila because that's Australian for a girl or a baby kangaroo. For some reason, it seems appropriate.

George has been driving her periodically and it's amazing to watch him squeeze himself behind the wheel. The seat doesn't go back as far as our old VW and he's grown a bit chubbier. I've been afraid to drive. It's hard enough to remember to drive on the other side of the road but having to shift with your left hand just seems beyond my coordination limits. So, Sherri and I have started a new method of cooperative driving. I drive and she shifts. It worked pretty well; at least we got to our painting class in one piece!

Speaking of the painting class, it is lots of fun but I doubt I'll be a latent master. We were supposed to paint sunflowers but, not being one to go with tradition, I just splashed some paint on the canvas to make flowers. It's not horrible for a first attempt but my second painting I started really sucks! We have six other folks in the class and they are all really nice. The teacher is the total opposite of my seventh grade art teacher who told me not to bother to take any more art classes since I have no artistic talent whatsoever. She is very encouraging and makes very diplomatic suggestions.

I haven't been blogging since we finally received all our stuff. I am relishing time with my glass even though I feel like I'm almost learning all over again. We adore our comfy American bed and it's nice to be able to ride my bike to bridge.

More later!

Heat and Fire

2009-02-09T17:45:00.000-08:00

Many of you have emailed or called with concerns about the fire that's raging near Melbourne. Fortunately for us, we are thousands of miles away but our hearts go out to these poor people. The fact they suspect arson makes it even sadder. King's Park, one of the most gorgeous places in Perth, was on fire a few weeks ago due to arson and it ruined a good bit of the park.

Yes, like everywhere else in the world, there is an underbelly to life in Australia. I already told you about the hoons, short for hooligans, who drive irresponsibly. In addition, there are too many bar fights to count. They don't have guns here but are known to injure or kill one another with their fists or broken bottles. The government is considering passing legislation that will require bars to use plastic glasses instead. I would say at least one death a week is attributed to bar fights.

Sometimes, it seems a bit like Lord of the Flies. One of the most shocking things to us is the way they treat the bus drivers. It has become such a problem that there is an armed guard at night who travels on the bus, followed by another car with another policeman. The grossest act committed by the idiots is spitting on the bus drivers. The problem is so pervasive that the drivers are now equipped with DNA kits. We are also disheartened to hear that the ambulance drivers refuse to go to certain areas because they are beaten while answering emergency calls.

After enjoying such a wonderful Australia Day, I discovered that the local Fremantle celebration did not go as smoothly. Some of the Aboriginal people object to Australia Day and consider it Invasion Day, the day their land was stolen. The government sponsored an indigenous-pride event at Fremantle Park that ended with a few drunken or drugged participants intimidating patrons of nearby Cappicino Strip, a few blocks from our house. Fights ensued and many of the cafes closed to prevent further trouble.

Like the US, racism has always been an undercurrent in Australian society. According to the Epoch Times, Aborigines were only counted in the census beginning in 1967. Before that, they were classified as flora and fauna. From 1901 to 1973, Australians restricted non-white immigration.

Most Australians seem to be celebrating Obama's election and hope for the future is high. However, those who are not excited about our new president all seem to object to him based on race alone. Even Rose, who is a wonderful woman in every other way, told me it was a disgrace that we have a black president. I reminded her that he's also half white. I don't care if he's purple if he can do the job well and hope things change with time. Unless we all choose to work together, the world will never solve its problems. Enough soapbox! I promise my next blog will be cheery!

At Long Last

2009-02-07T06:58:00.000-08:00

Boy, was I happy to see this guy arrive! We now have everything we shipped except it seems some of my glass tools are missing. It's hard to remember what we packed as it was sooo long ago. I should be completing our insurance claim instead of working on this blog but guess what's more fun? George fixed the dresser so it's only the five pieces of glass that are broken. Wouldn't you know, it's the only box marked fragile and, of course, it looks like an elephant sat on it.

We are especially happy to have a comfy bed and are both sleeping better as a result. I've already started playing with my glass even though my kiln isn't fitted with the proper plug yet. Our next door neighbor, Spud, is an electrician who offered to fit it for me. Once we get air in our bike tires, they'll be ready to roll.

My knight in shining armour! Or would you believe bright tattoos?

As you can see, the truck is immense, kind of overkill
to deliver 7 items, but I wasn't complaining.

Arthur and Rose hang the blackout curtains we sent.

Happy New Year Again!

2009-02-01T13:07:00.000-08:00

When we went to Tony and Pat's for dinner, we were in for a special treat, and I'm not even talking about the outstanding meal they served. One of their neighbors held a Lion Dance to celebrate the Chinese New Year and his daughter's upcoming wedding.

The troupe had a mix of ages and seemed like a family business.

The Lion Dance, dating back to 300 B.C., is performed to the accompaniment of a percussion band with at least three instruments, a cymbal, a drum and a gong. The movement is synchronized with the music and the lion moves like a feline. The lion movements and loud music are supposed to scare away evil spirits so good luck will follow.

The Lion rears up on its haunches to be rewarded its red envelope.

Payment to the group is made through "Choy Cheng", eating of the green. Usually it is paid with a special red envelope called hung bao. The Lion is fed the red envelope and the resulting dance of joy symbolizes the spread of prosperity.

The performers were tired and sweaty after a grueling performance;
the tail must constantly lift the head to create lifelike movements.

I hoping that some of the good luck will rub off between feeding the lion a red envelope and it being the year of the ox, a portent of economic stability. One can only hope!

Pat and Tony enjoyed the Lion Dance almost as much as we did.

We feasted on nibblies (appetizers here) before the Dance but our taste buds had no idea what was in store next. Normally, I'm not a calamari fan but their grilled marinated version was far better than the other ways I've tried it. The main was absolutely heavenly - grilled lamb tenderloin with a grilled tomato half, grilled eggplant, goat cheese and a pesto sauce accompanied by perfectly baked potatoes and asparagus, my favorite vegetable of all time. (And one I haven't eaten much of here at $20 per kilo!) George is still talking about this meal a week later. The only disappointment was the tropical carrot cake I made was too gingery because the crystalized ginger here is stronger than what we buy at home.

What a gorgeous setting for entertaining!

Pat looks so small next to George!

The conversation was also lively. We really enjoy Tony and Pat and were so happy to meet Liz and Ian, good friends of theirs. I especially was enthralled with Ian's stories of his recent backpacking trip through Africa. The evening flew by and I couldn't believe we got home at 1:30 a.m.

Our hosts made the evening seem effortless but we
know better! Now what are we going
to make for them? The bar is way too high!

Tony insisted that I needed to be in the group photo.
I really need to figure out how to use the timer!

Moving at a Snail's Pace

2009-02-01T11:35:00.000-08:00

After six months, we finally received some of the things we shipped! Big excitement!

The ordeal has produced many disasters along the way, but thanks to the Fort Collins packers, at least most of it arrived unscathed. I had nightmares about this shipment. My most entertaining one had me greeting the truck in the driveway with great anticipation, only to find that instead of our belongings, they were unloading animals like a reverse Noah's ark. I told them that I was allergic to animals and that there was a mistake and they replied, "Lady, this is what the bill of lading says. They're yours now." and proceeded to try to get an elephant up our circular stairs.

Due to incompetence and a hurricane, our shipment missed scheduled ships, trains and trucks. As it was, they separated the goods and the rest is supposed to arrive tomorrow. (Of course, I had to call the driver myself twice to arrange this!) Ron Wilson Removals, the moving company in Sydney, has been extremely unhelpful. One of the last straws for me was when they were due a couple weeks ago. When I called to see what was happening, I was told, "I think it's still in Melbourne." They managed to get part of it on the train and this segment was supposed to be delivered last Wednesday at 1:00. My loyal friend, Sherri, was here to help and we waited and waited.

Sherri also fixed up the stereo and
rearranged furniture while we waited.

At 2:30, we saw a moving van come down the street so I called RWR in Sydney to find out what was happening. Of course, instead of following up themselves, they gave me the number in Perth to call myself. The dispatcher told me that they were on the highway and would be here in 10 minutes. I verified the address with him but obviously he didn't listen. An hour later, he called to say they were lost and didn't have any time on their mobile (cell phone) so had returned to the warehouse. It turns out they were looking for Charles Street in Perth instead of South Fremantle.

When they did arriveabout 4:30, they were very nice and it only took them about an hour to unload. They wanted me to sign off so they could leave and I pointed out they hadn't put our table back together as agreed. I couldn't believe it when he asked me if I had any tools. He looked at the table and said all he needed was a Phillips head screwdriver. Sherri corrected him because an Allen wrench was needed.

It really bugged her that it wasn't assembled so she
and Paul ended up doing their job for them.

Too bad we'll only be here six more months! We weren't going to ship anything back but if we can't get good money for a few items like the bed and our bikes, we may ship them back. At least the CO people have been apologetic and offered a return move at cost. If you ever contemplate an international move, talk to me first to avoid the pitfalls we've experienced. I will post some before and after photos once we're settled.

You Know You're an Aussie When ...

2009-01-29T05:46:00.000-08:00

My friend, Penny, in Colorado Springs sent me these signs of Aussie-ness she got from an Australian friend. I think I'm becoming an Aussie because many of these apply to me now! : )

You Know You're an Aussie When -

You know the meaning of 'girt'

You believe that stubbies can either be worn or drunk

You think it is normal to have a Prime Minister called Kevin even if he does resemble Mr Magoo

You waddle when you walk due to the 53 expired petrol discount vouchers stuffed in your wallet or purse

You've made a bong out of your garden hose rather than use it for something illegal such as watering the garden

When you hear that an American 'roots for his team' you wonder how often and with whom

You understand that the phrase 'a group of women wearing black thongs' refers to footwear and may be less alluring than it sounds

You pronounce Melbourne as 'Mel-bin'

You pronounce Penrith as 'Pen-riff'

You believe the 'L' in the word ' Australia ' is optional. (I have to add that they add an R when there isn't one, i.e., As-er for Asia, ari-er for area, and don't pronounce R in words where there is one, i.e., roos-tah for rooster, etc. It's mind-boggling!)

You can translate: 'Dazza and Shazza played Acca Dacca on the way to Maccas'

You believe it makes perfect sense for a nation to decorate its highways with large fibreglass bananas, prawns and sheep.

You call your best friend 'a total bastard' but someone you really, truly dislike is just 'a bit of a bastard'

You think 'Woolloomooloo' is a perfectly reasonable name for a place

You believe is makes sense for a country to have a $1 coin that's twice as big as its $2 coin

You understand that 'Wagga Wagga' can be abbreviated to 'Wagga' but 'Woy Woy' can't be called 'Woy'

You believe that cooked-down axlegrease makes a good breakfast spread

You believe all famous Kiwis are actually Australian, until they stuff up, at which point they again become Kiwis

You know,whatever the tourist books say, that no one says 'cobber'

You know the confectionary known as the Wagon Wheel has become smaller with every passing year

You still don't get why the 'Labor' in 'Australian Labor Party' is not spelt with a 'U

You wear ugh boots outside the house

You believe that the more you shorten someone's name,the more you like them

Whatever your linguistic skills, you find yourself able to order takeaway fluently in every Asian language

You understand that 'excuse me' can sound rude, while 'scuse me' is always polite

You know what it's like to swallow a fly, on occasions via your nose

You understand that 'you' has a plural and that it's 'youse'

You know it's not summer until the steering wheel is too hot to handle

Your biggest family argument over the summer concerned the rules of beach cricket

You shake your head in horror when companies try to market what they call 'Anzac cookies'

You still think of Kylie as 'that girl off Neighbours'

When returning home from overseas, you expect to be brutally strip-searched by Customs - just in case you're trying to sneak in fruit

You believe the phrase 'smart casual' refers to a pair of black tracky-daks, suitably laundered

You understand that all train timetables are works of fiction

When working at a bar, you understand male customers will feel the need to offer an excuse whenever they order low-alcohol beer

You get choked up with emotion by the first verse of the national anthem and then have trouble remembering the second

You find yourself ignorant of nearly all the facts deemed essential in the government's new test for migrants.

Aussie,Aussie,Aussie! Oi, Oi, Oi!

2009-01-26T16:58:00.000-08:00

If, like me, you didn't recognize the phrase in this headline, it's the battle cry heard everywhere on Australia Day, the official national day of Australia. Celebrated annually on the 26th of January, the day commemorates the arrival of the First Fleet in 1788, the unfurling of the British flag at Sydney Cove and the proclamation of British sovereignty over the eastern seaboard of Australia.

Even though there are some patriotic aspects to it, like July 4th in the US, it is a good excuse to party and set off fireworks. As usual, the Aussies do it up right. This year, the City of Perth spent almost $1.5 million AU on the firework display and it was absolutely breathtaking. They launched fireworks from several skyscrapers and seven barges on the river, plus laser lights. I managed to take one photo that showed something but, to get a better idea of the extravaganza, do visit this link to the West Australian newspaper site.

http://www.westtv.com.au/?Channel=News&ClipId=1416_WAU2003&bitrate=300&Format=flash

We couldn't help join in the Aussie, Aussie, Aussie,
Oi, Oi, Oi spirit with these decorations.

Diana relaxes after working her butt off to prepare our feast.

Custom usually dictates a snag sizzle (grilled Aussie hot dogs) but, being a Yank gourmet cook, Diana put on a tantalizing feast starting with a dip with artichoke and bacon, followed by turkey on homemade scones, a fabulous green bean casserole with pumpkin, cream cheese and pinon nuts, a tangy coleslaw, American-style baked beans, and capped off with her famous chocolate filled individual cakes. I even imbibed in the wonderful slushy Margaritas and strawberry daiquiris, perfect on a hot summer day.

Jets and helicopters entertained us before the fireworks
with a daring display of flying.

The flag is turned around backward as I missed them
when they flew by the window the first time.

As usual, George was working but I truly enjoyed the company. We didn't have any Aussies at the party but had Canadians, English and South Africans as well as we Yanks. I really enjoyed talking with Anne-Marie about their recent trip to Mozambique.

It wasn't crowded at all as we arrived on the foreshore
right before the fireworks commenced.

Thanks to Lisa and Tom, I got there and back unscathed. It would have been a wild night on the bus. As it was, it took forever to return down the Canning Highway. We'd move a few car lengths every five minutes. Lisa joked it was like Houston in rush hour.

Their VW convertible bug is sporty but can't compete with this little roadster.

A Bird's Eye View

2009-01-25T01:31:00.001-08:00

What could be better than spending a gorgeous day with friends? Lunch at a vegetarian Indian restaurant followed by a Ferris wheel ride with a panoramic view!

Indian food isn't my favorite but the view made it worthwhile.

The food was served as an all-you-can-eat buffet paid by donation.

These spectacular views are from the restaurant deck.

Didn't see any sharks but lots of boats.

The Curious Case of Benjamin Button was originally on the agenda but somehow being cooped up in a movie theater on a relatively cool day wasn't appealing. Sorry Brad, you made a little less money this week! I was torn between a chocolate shop and exploring a market with Diana and Sue or riding the wheel with Shirley Kay and Lisa but decided to ride the wheel since George won't be up for it since he is afraid of heights.

The Ferris wheel towers over the Barrack Street Jetty.

Options for the ride included sharing a car with six people to renting the VIP car with the glass floor. They also plan to add champagne (It's Australia! Who needs a reason to drink?) and a DVD player and TV. None of us could figure out who would want to pay for the view and watch TV instead. We shared our car with a couple from Manchester who were very interested to find Americans living here and joked we are back under the reign of the Queen.

Here are some of the photos of Perth from the air:

An aerial view of the jetty.

The Bell Tower still looks high from the top of the Ferris wheel.

The city scape is so gorgeous. I love all the open space in Perth.

The sky here is Colorado blue.

What a Woman!

2009-01-24T03:09:00.000-08:00

Originally, Sherri came over to help me organize our goods. Alas! Once again the movers let us down. When I called to find out where our belongings were, the answer was, "I think they're in Melbourne." Aargh! Obviously, we won't be writing any letters of recommendation for these people.

While we were trying to decide what to do instead to cheer me up, Rose appeared close to tears because the sink in one of the downstairs units was badly dripping and Arthur was in Mandurah. I think she was hoping George could help her and was most surprised when she joked, "I don't suppose either of you know anything about plumbing!" and Sherry replied that she did. As a Navy wife with a husband who's often gone for months at a time, Sherri has learned to be very self-sufficient. Now she's branching out and doing plumbing work for our landlord.

To complicate matters further, the part Rose bought didn't fit
so Sherri had to downsize it with a knife.

The faucet probably hadn't been touched for forty years and was corroded onto the pipe. I still don't know how Sherri managed to get it off. Since the fitting was too large, it caused water to spurt out everywhere when Rose turned the water back on. I don't think either of us planned a shower but we got one anyway. We were laughing so hard that I forgot to be bummed about our shipment snafu.

Voila! Vin owes her big time.

Afterward, we took the train to Subiaco and enjoyed a tasty lunch of vegetarian pizza (Sherri) and Penne in Garlic Gorgonzola Sauce with Rocket (me). It was yummy and just what the doctor ordered. Then we searched for a shop that we never found until Lisa and Shirley Kay took me there yesterday. What would I do without my friends? I shudder at the mere thought!

Multi-talented Sherri is a great cook as well as a master plumber.
We all enjoyed our meal at our neighborhood Vietnamese restaurant.

One of the things George loves about Oz is that some of the restaurants allow you to bring in your own beer and wine if they don't have a liquor license. Song Tam doesn't even charge a corkage fee like most places so it's a great bargain. We all want to try some Sizzling Prawn with Black Bean Chili Sauce next time. The table next to us ordered it and it looked amazing.

US Presidents

2009-01-21T15:53:00.000-08:00

No matter your political preferences, you should enjoy this You Tube presentation of all the US Presidents morphing to the sounds of Ravel. At least I did!

US Presidents - George Washington to Barack Obama

The Amazing Air Car

2009-01-21T15:50:00.000-08:00

One of my friends sent the link to this You Tube video showing a car that runs on compressed air. Sign me up!

The Air Car !!!!

http://www.flixxy.com/zero-pollution-automobile.htm

Help Me, I'm Melting!

2009-01-17T22:02:00.000-08:00

I'll try not whinge too much about the heat here, especially since many of you are suffering through a terribly cold and snowy winter. However, it was 108 degrees F this week! When we decided to come here, we were seduced with Internet reports of average highs of 85 with lows of 65 in the summer. Either there's a lot of truth to climate change or somebody's making up tall tales!

I take a shower, sweat while I'm drying my hair, cool off, sweat again... Luckily, Veronica and Audrey saved me from this vicious cycle by inviting me to South Beach with them the other day. We had a wonderful visit and time went quickly despite the heat. I'm really going to miss Veronica again when she returns to England for another three weeks on Wednesday.

Veronica captured me on film wading in the ocean with my pants rolled up since I still don't have a bathing suit. We are supposed to get our shipment on Thursday (crossed fingers) and will definitely go back to South Beach often as it's only blocks from our place. We'll have to buy an umbrella first as there's not a wisp of shade on this beach.

While they swam, I hid under the umbrella and read a recent
People Magazine Veronica's son brought when he came to visit.

Audrey looked so great in her bikini that some young men whistled at her. However, she didn't agree and forbade any shots showing her in her suit. We rewarded ourselves with cool drinks and fish and chips at the little cafe on the beach afterward.

They both look cool as cucumbers while I was bedraggled.

How Does He Love Me?

2009-01-17T07:14:00.000-08:00

I am so lucky to love my husband after 30+ years of marriage. He may forget the exact date of our wedding or not notice when I get my hair fixed but he does have a way of telling me the feeling is reciprocal.

Most women dream of being showered with luxurious gifts - diamonds or at least fine jewelry. If not, flowers are always a good choice for romance. Any of these choices would be perfectly fine with me. However, how do I know he still cares? Full-priced branded peanut butter at $8.00 a jar! You have to know George to know what a sacrifice it was for him to part with his hard-earned money at that price. I'm sure the grocery cashier had to pry the money from his fingers. : ) Just kidding, George! I will savor every time I spread my toast with love.

Don't forget to enjoy all life's little blessings and to share them, even if it's just peanut butter. However, there was the time he bought me a tongue scraper for Valentine's Day - I promise I won't share that!

George Pays for My Sins

2009-01-16T00:17:00.000-08:00

I don't know if refrigerator envy makes the list of the seven deadly sins. Maybe it's just a dangerous sin in our case, but ever since we moved here, I lusted in my heart whenever we'd be visiting friends with spacious refrigerators.

Ours was a mere postage stamp of a refrigerator, good for George's milk, a bit of meat and cheese, and a few vegetables but not much more. And the freezer was tiny, especially after making room for our second Christmas turkey.

So, we looked into rentals and couldn't find anyone willing to rent for less than a year. Then one day I was talking to Rose while she was cleaning the Gold Suite and commented that their fridge was nice and big. Rose said we could swap and the idea became reality but not without a little drama, or as they say it here, dra-mer.

Rose was amazed all all the stuff we did fit into the mini-fridge.

In order to make room for the larger unit, we had to move the portable dishwasher into the space where the small refrigerator used to be. As George and Joan were moving it, he popped something in his arm, causing him great pain. Of course, we wanted him to have it looked at but, being his stubborn self, he refused to go until the next day.

The object of my desire next to George's bane.

He spent much of the day in the ED (ER in Yank-talk) only to find - yes, you guessed it if you've been following this blog - the x-ray technicians had gone home for the day and he had to return the next morning for his ultrasound. Luckily, the ultrasound revealed he had torn some muscles and had fluid on his elbow but that he hadn't torn a tendon and doesn't need surgery. The good news is he got a week off and is enjoying his sick time walking, searching for travel deals, watching movies and hanging with me. It's nice but I do feel badly that he was hurt.

Joan insisted on cleaning the refrigerator too!

I didn't get a photo of getting the refrigerator up our spiral staircase since I was trying to lend a hand. George could only use one arm so Joan and I helped. It was challenge but with teamwork we all managed. I was afraid Arthur was going to be crushed underneath the beast. The good news is the refrigerator is in place and working like a champ. We have ice and everything!

Needless to say, we're all glad the movers are supposed to schlep
all our belongings up the stairs when they finally come.

Lunch is Back in Business

2009-01-11T07:53:00.000-08:00

After a couple of boring weeks, I went out with the girls on Thursday for lunch and a movie. It was fun to get caught up on everyone's holidays and to hear about Sue's trip back to Colorado. I was jealous but managed to control myself and didn't scratch her eyes out or anything! : )

I never thought I would enjoy an American chain restaurant so much but the ribs and fries at Tony Roma's were scrumptious. We haven't been able to find baby back ribs at any of the butcher shops and I'm surprised how much I miss them. Sue and Diana were excited about the homemade iced tea with no sugar but were dismayed to find a no refill policy at $4 per glass. We all thrilled to have free bread. None of the restaurants here give free bread, chips or rice so this was a treat. The small things in life that one never appreciates until they are not available!

We went to a matinee to cool off as it's been in the high 90s and low 100s for a couple of weeks. Even though the reviews I've read subsequently have not been good, all of us immensely enjoyed 7 Pounds with Will Smith. It was an incredibly thought-provoking movie on many levels. Do see it if you have a chance so we can discuss it.

I had a spinach-in-the-teeth moment when I managed to get on the train only to look down and see the underwire of my bra had escaped and was sticking out for all the world to see. Liz assured me it wasn't showing at the restaurant. Maybe we'll get our shipment one of these days so I'll have others. It will be like Christmas when our shipment finally arrives. I am really sick of the clothes I brought in my suitcase and I'm sure everyone else is too! We figured the 6 to 9 week estimate might be slightly optimistic but it will be 6 to 9 months at the rate we're going.

2008 in Review

2009-01-04T17:18:00.000-08:00

Since most of our friends are gone or spending time with family, I've had time to catch up on my emails. This was a cute one on You Tube sent from our friend, Jan. I don't know why I can't make it into a link but you can cut and paste it:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TWiXy550HyY

Now That's a Snowman, Er, Snowwoman!

2009-01-01T01:29:00.000-08:00

Our friend, Judy, sent us photos of the world's largest snow-person to make us miss the snow. It's really hot here today so it worked for me. Check it out - it's pretty amazing!

http://wbztv.com/slideshows/Worlds.Tallest.Snowman.20.666058.html >

Lentils and Red Panties

2008-12-31T22:26:00.000-08:00

Most Americans are familiar with the southern tradition of black-eyed peas and ham and I've jumped off a chair while eating an apple at midnight to celebrate the new year in the Norwegian way with our friends, the Lindmarks. However, I hadn't heard about the significance of lentils and red panties until last night.

Dan, Diana & Jen ensure lots of money
for 2009 by eating all their lentils.

Thanks to Veronica and Vito, we embraced the Italian New Year last night. Lentils, like black-eyed peas, stand for prosperity in the New Year. Hopefully, if enough people eat them, the world economy will improve. One can only hope!

Veronica wore a sexy dress but what color are
her panties? Only she and Vito know!

Unfortunately, I didn't know to wear red underwear last night to guarantee a year of great lovemaking. I guess George is off the hook until next year! Veronica says red panties are a hot item for sale in Italy this time of year. Now you know what to buy next Christmas!

Party genes are strong in Veronica's family,
shown with her niece and great niece.

As usual, the food at Veronica and Vito's was amazing with an array of appetizing morsels - cheese trays, an antipasto platter, and egg rolls for starters, prawn & mango with spinach and pear & walnut with watercress salads, and baked ziti. Desserts included decadent profiteroles, a wonderful carmel mint mousse and tiramisu which I skipped since I hate coffee. Somehow I missed this great-looking tart and bypassed Pauline's scrumptious chocolate mousse cake but was given some to take home. Good thing I didn't make my New Year's resolution to lose weight!

Lena (right) brought the profiteroles and I assumed she made them. She replied in her still very Italian accent, "I don't make those anymore. I am an Aussie now!" She and her husband, Romano, have lived here 50 years and own one of our favorite Italian markets.

Andrea's daughter is helping to improve international
relations by marrying an Englishman in April.

His parents are enjoying their first visit to Oz so
much that they are considering moving here.

The boys steal a quiet interlude to talk fishing. Maybe someday George will get his fishing pole that's sitting in Sydney with the rest of our shipment.

Pauline, Pat, Judy and Veronica enjoy reminiscing.

Yes, the Macarena made it all the way Down Under!

There were also other dances including old rock, 40s dance music, Latin beats and disco. Vito does a Travolta-worthy disco - he's staying alive!

Dan relaxes after spending most of his time at the gold mine.
It reminds me of - "Working in a gold mine, going down, down.."
I know I'm dating myself with that song.

Everyone awaits the countdown to midnight
with their noisemakers and crackers.

Vito opens the official 2009 bottle of champagne.

The English tradition of singing Auld Lang Syne while in a circle holding crossed hands was not caught on film as I was a participant but it was fun. I didn't really know the lyrics but here they are for future reference:

Should old acquaintance be forgot,
and never brought to mind ?
Should old acquaintance be forgot,
and old times since ?

CHORUS:

For auld lang syne, my dear,

for auld lang syne,

we'll take a cup of kindness yet,

for auld lang syne.

And surely you’ll buy your pint cup !
And surely I’ll buy mine !
And we'll take a cup o’ kindness yet,
for auld lang syne.

CHORUS

We two have run about the slopes,
and picked the daisies fine ;
But we’ve wandered many a weary foot,
since auld lang syne.

CHORUS

We two have paddled in the stream,
from morning sun till dine^† ;
But seas between us broad have roared
since auld lang syne.

CHORUS

And there’s a hand my trusty friend !
And give us a hand o’ thine !
And we’ll take a right good-will draught,
for auld lang syne.

CHORUS

Our littlest partier lasted until the bitter end. Her eyes
weren't that red; I forgot to push the red eye button.

It was so worth slaving in a hot kitchen in almost 100 degree heat and almost getting flashed by an Aborginal drunk on the bus after taking the wrong bus to be there! But that's another story. It's time for bed!

Happy New Year or As They Say in -

2008-12-31T21:16:00.000-08:00

Arabic: Kul 'aam u antum salimoun
Brazilian: Boas Festas e Feliz Ano Novo means "Good Parties and Happy New Year"
Chinese: Chu Shen Tan
Czechoslavakia: Scastny Novy Rok
Dutch: Gullukkig Niuw Jaar
Finnish: Onnellista Uutta Vuotta
French: Bonne Annee
German: Prosit Neujahr
Greek: Eftecheezmaenos o Kaenooryos hronos
Hebrew: L'Shannah Tovah Tikatevu
Hindi: Niya Saa Moobaarak
Indonesian: Selamat (Hari) Tahun Baru
Irish (Gaelic): Bliain nua fe mhaise dhuit
Italian: Buon Capodanno
Khmer: Sua Sdei tfnam tmei
Laotian: Sabai dee pee mai
Polish: Szczesliwego Nowego Roku
Portuguese: Feliz Ano Novo
Russian: S Novim Godom
Serbo-Croatian: Scecna nova godina
Spanish: Feliz Ano Neuvo
Prospero Ano Nuevo
Turkish: Yeni Yiliniz Kutlu Olsun
Vietnamese: Cung-Chuc Tan-Xuan

These translations are from www.fathertimes.net. I'm embarrassed to say I don't know how to say it in Ukrainian but will ask Luba or George and add it later.

A Gift with a Heart

2008-12-28T23:12:00.000-08:00

Our good friends, Chris and Harry, sent us a precious gift that captures the Christmas spirit but does much more. As a young man, Harry volunteered in Africa for Lalmba Association. Each year, Harry makes a donation and we get a gift made by the people who benefit from the donations. This year's gift is handmade from native grasses and banana leaves by the villagers. It took them two years to make the sets.

Lalmba means a place of hope and brings American doctors and nurses to provide medical care for some of the poorest people in the world. Lalmba also cares for 1,576 orphans, many of whom are AIDS orphans.

If you'd like to make a donation or to find out if any of these nativity sets are still available, you can contact Hugh & Marty Downey at Lalmba@aol.com.

All Hospitals Are Not Created Equal

2008-12-28T22:09:00.000-08:00

PVHS, where George worked for 26 years, just received the 2008 Malcolm Baldridge Award for Excellence, so we are used to superior health care. We knew things would be different here with socialized medicine and expected more basic care at the public hospitals.

However, we were most surprised to hear that the private hospitals are also run quite differently. Shirley Kay, one of my American friends, told me a story about her experience with the local private hospital that I found incredible. Hopefully, you'll find it interesting too.

Shirley Kay's 18-year-old son hurt his ankle jumping off a pier at the beach. (I can certainly relate to that!) He has a high pain tolerance and refused to go to the hospital until much later after his mother insisted. They had the usual emergency room wait that happens anywhere but were shocked to hear that there was no x-ray technician on duty. After being advised that one could be called in for a $70 fee, Shirley Kay agreed so they waited another hour only to be told that the technician had changed her mind and wanted to stay at her Christmas party! They were given the choice of going to another hospital or returning in the morning.

Shirley Kay was skeptical when the x-ray technician looked the same age as her son and even more worried when the girl started flirting with him. "Oh, were you the one who came in last night? I'm so glad my friend didn't want to leave her party. You're cute!"

However the young technician did seem proficient so Shirley Kay left her son to search for the doctor. She was unable to locate the doctor but was informed by her son that he needed surgery and a pin. Shirley Kay surmised the doctor had visited and couldn't believe it when her son said, "No, the x-ray technician told me." That would never fly at home - she'd be so fired!

The ER doctor was very nice and efficient and gave Shirley Kay her mobile number along with the referral number for the orthopaedic specialist. Shirley Kay called the specialist's office Monday morning and explained the whole situation to the receptionist. Imagine her exasperation when the receptionist told her their first available appointment is the end of February. Shirley Kay replied, "Haven't you been listening to me? He's had a serious break and can't walk. May I please speak with the doctor?"

"He's in the theatre right now."

"The doctor's at the movies?!" Again, we speak the same language, sort of!

Anyway, it got all sorted out with the ER doc finding another specialist and the surgery already completed. It sure makes me happy I didn't break anything when I fell. Something else for which to be profoundly grateful!

George was not quite as amazed at this story because the Fremantle Hospital has 400 beds and there are no pharmacists, phlobotomists or x-ray technicians on duty nights and weekends.

Cottesloe Beach

2008-12-28T03:15:00.000-08:00

Boxing Day was a perfect day for the beach for me, although the locals thought it was cold at about 90 degrees F. Pauline and Michael picked me up and we were supposed to meet three other couples.

Lynn, Doug, Michael and Pauline by the wall.

Due to the breeze, Pauline and Lynn were cold so Michael and Doug found a sheltered but shady spot that was wonderful. As we were moving, they were all jumping down from this short wall. Like a ninny, I refused Doug's offer of help and told him I was fine. Famous last words! I should know how uncoordinated I am and remembered just as I tumbled spectacularly down this gravel slope. My pride was more injured than my body and I was embarrassed at the fuss they were making. Michael even went to the car to fetch a first-aid kit.

A view to a picnic. Just what I needed - more great food!

We wondered what happened to the rest of the group while they were trying to "ring" us and couldn't "raise" us. They even called Veronica to call our house to find out if we'd left yet. Michael thought maybe he should try someone's "mobile" but Pauline thought the beach wasn't that crowded and that Tony would find us. More famous last words!

We finally found the rest of the gang after lunch.

Now Tony has "sorted it out" and is collecting email addresses and mobile and land numbers for the group so it won't happen again.

Since we haven't received our shipment, we don't have bathing suits yet and I refuse to buy one since I just bought two for the trip before we left. The water looked so inviting but I enjoyed visiting and watching the people of all ages instead of swimming.

Now I'm not sure I'll ever go in the water! They closed Cottesloe Beach today because of shark sightings. A man was carried off by one yesterday just south of here and is presumed dead. Scary!

Christmas Down Under

2008-12-28T02:13:00.000-08:00

Holiday traditions here include shrimp on the barbie and a day at the beach. I waited until Boxing Day to have my beach outing and made meatloaf and turkey to celebrate instead. Since George had to work Christmas Day, we started our celebration the night before Christmas Eve with a holiday dinner on the patio. Since we still haven't received our shipment, I bought some plastic Santa placemats and some candy canes and ribbon to try to make it more festive. It's amazing what you can get for $10 from Red Dot stores.

In Vito's honor, we served Bill Dorin's famous meatloaf recipe from the cooking school he attended in Italy. We enjoyed conversing with Pauline and Michael, Veronica and Vito, and their children who are visiting from New York and London. It's funny to hear Luca and Ann-Marie speaking with New York accents since Veronica still has her British accent and Vito's accent is decidedly Italian. Ann-Marie is finishing her degree in Translation and Luca works for Unicef.

Christmas Eve was celebrated with more new friends and their families. Somehow Lisa and Tom' s family escaped without having a photo taken. It's been fun to meet the college age kids that we've heard so much about. Grant is in high school here while Trisha is attending Texas A & M. Sherri's family have only been here a month so Alex isn't in school yet and Kris is in school in Georgia.

Paul and Sheri's daughter, Kris, was a real trouper, arriving

hours before the party after flight delays due to weather.

Alex, George and Paul "chill" on the warm night.

Sherri and Lisa take time out to look gorgeous for the camera.

Time flies when you're having fun! Paul and Nicole know
how to party hearty and left at about 1:30 a.m.

Cooking Misadventures

2008-12-27T04:47:00.000-08:00

It's always a bit of a challenge to cook here. First, one has to translate cups and tablespoons to grams. Then, there's the fact that the ingredients are slightly different than I'm used to using. The ovens used forced air which heats differently. The cookware is thinner so I burned my pound cake. Some ingredients just don't exist here - green chiles, Velveeta cheese, Monterey Jack cheese and Crisco to name a few.

The other morning, George came into the room where I was emailing and told me someone in the neighborhood was barbequing and it smelled so good. I thought it odd that someone would be grilling so early and said, "Are you sure it's not the food you were warming in the microwave?" "No, come in the kitchen and smell this! It smells so wonderful." It was actually the almonds I was toasting in the oven and forgot about.

However, the classic cooking story is that of our Christmas Eve turkey. One of the butchers had a flyer telling us to order our fresh turkeys early so we dutifully submitted our order for an eight kilogram bird. When George went to pick it up, the clerk gave him two turkeys, each weighing four kilograms, and asked him if that was OK. He asked what his alternatives were and she actually said his choices were that he could take them or leave them. So we found room in the freezer for one and cooked the other. It looked more like a big chicken than a turkey but it tasted good.

Ornamental Extravaganza

2008-12-26T05:42:00.000-08:00

Veronica sure knows how to throw a party and, luckily, I know how to have fun when the opportunity presents itself so it's an ideal arrangement. I wasn't feeling in the holiday spirit at all but her ornament exchange did the trick.

We had everything from sushi to nuts,

had a good yak before the gift exchange,

and ate way too much!

Eighteen women of all ages enjoyed the festivities and, of course, the food! I say women of all ages because Veronica refers to her friends from when she lived in Perth before as her "old timers." I do think she needs another term - perhaps we should have a contest.

There's always room for special desserts or pudding as they say here.

Who could resist Audrea's gorgeous Christmas log? Not me!

An array of prezzies from which to choose.

We drew numbers to decide who got first dibs on the goodies. However, we were allowed to steal a gift from someone else if we coveted it or choose something unopened on the table. It got wild with several items being stolen the maximum number of times.

Shirley Kay displays her stained glass candlestick holders.

Audrey models her ornamental "earrings."

Shirley Kay, Queen of the Stolen Gifts, opens another present.

This shoe tempted me since it reminds me of my godmother, Jeanne.

Karen and Pauline examine Kate's choice.

Sophie stole this DIY ornament to decorate with her daughter.

This first gift was stolen and regained. Ah, sweet revenge!

Nancie gets a Santa - he's popular this time of year!

Marka opens a Santa, only to lose him quickly.

Marka takes a peek before showing the rest of us.

She doesn't want to lose this one too.

My favorite "ornament" - couldn't resist stealing it from Diana.
She took it from Pat but I still feel guilty.

Karen opens a beautiful ceramic plate.

Pat loves her Santa.

Karen only enjoyed this one for a minute before Veronica snatched it.

I think Veronica deserved her choice of gifts for throwing such a great do. And thanks to Shirley Kay for giving me a ride home when I can't find my way out of a paper bag here!

Bridge Bash

2008-12-20T04:22:00.000-08:00

WARNING! Those of you who have no interest in bridge should probably just skip this blog entry to avoid being bored silly.

This is a very bad picture of Betty, my Saturday partner.
I love her Scottish accent and warm personality.

Playing duplicate bridge here is similar to playing in Fort Collins even though most folks are playing ACOL instead of Standard American. We play in a church just like our Fun Bridge Club but this church is very modern and open, a converted warehouse. Membership costs $50 per year and saves you a dollar or two on the table fees, $3 for regular games and $5 on red point days for members. We have up to 72 people playing and it is a diverse group aged 40 to 97. There are folks from Singapore, India, England, Scotland, Italy, Croatia, South Africa, New Zealand, Canada and another American, my other semi-regular partner, Janice.

Janice is a very good player and is trying
to teach me some new tricks.

Daphne (center) is our oldest player at 97 and is a
formidable opponent and amusing companion. Her daughter,
Maureen (left), brings her and they sometimes play as partners.

Instead of using bidding boxes, they use a pen and paper and everyone writes their bids down in turn. This can be extremely challenging if you can't read your partner's writing. My partner, Betty, ended up putting me in a 6C slam bid because she thought my S was a C! Of course, I couldn't quit laughing the whole time I played it.

Meet Chris, our unflappable director on Saturdays.
Gotta love his festive shirt!

The other difference is they use all kinds of complicated movements instead of having North and South stay in place and rotating the EW pairs. I usually just follow my partner who seems to be able to interpret the choreography. Once I played with Cliff, who was as clueless as I. We both had to laugh - it was like the Keystone Cops. Since neither of us was used to their scoring system, we traded the honors, which we later found out was a big no-no.

John and Moira, the club champions, are a delightful pair.
John is a psychiatrist and Moira was a psychiatric nurse
so George has a lot in common with them too.

The Fremantle Bridge Club group have been warm and welcoming despite my lack of bridge prowess. I have been very generous to our opponents lately. Yesterday, I went down spectacularly by 1400 points. I'm surprised my regular partners haven't fired me. They are both very patient and generous ladies.

I am now card-carrying member of the Australian Bridge Federation. My goal for the rest of my stay is to become a graduate and to obtain the two master points needed for that. I think I can do it if I play with Janice enough. She is a very good player and does extremely well as long as I don't do anything silly. Actually, I don't care about the points but think it sounds like an innocuous New Year's resolution, much easier than losing weight!

Players relax during the holiday party,
enjoying their wine and visiting.

I love the hominess of the group. Doreen sells her homemade jam, which is outstanding. Jeanette brings in fresh farm eggs and Maureen has been bringing in juicy apricots. We always have tea breaks with bikkies (cookies to you) but occasionally we also get Margie's special profiteroles and other homemade goodies. There is usually a weekly raffle for chocolates and the money goes toward the club parties and to charity.

Marion gets into the spirit of the season.

Club president, Margie, and Di prepare the feast.

John volunteers for bar-tending duties. After the game,
many stay for $1 glasses of wine or pop
and some snacks and to socialize.

Malcolm, like everyone else in this group,
doesn't let his physical limitations interfere with bridge.
He and David toast to another year of fun.

As much as I enjoy this, I miss my regular Biddies bridge and other social bridge. I hope the Chalkie (that's Strine for teacher) group that Barb hosts will still have a place for me next summer when we get back. I am trying to organize a foursome to play Christmas Day since George will be working. May all of you have grand slam holidays!

Small World Stories Continue

2008-12-20T04:08:00.000-08:00

Waiting for the CAT bus this week, I noticed a little girl trip and fall over the curb. As a confirmed klutz myself, my heart went out to her. When she came to sit at the bench with her mother and sister, I asked if she was OK. You could tell this was no wimpy child - she wiped away her tears and gave me a 1000 kilowatt smile.

When her mother asked if I was American, I could tell she was too. After the usual, "Where are you from in the States?" and finding out they are from California, we moved onto "Where do you live?". It not only turns out they live on the next street (down from Ada Rose's) but lived at our place when they first came to town. It would probably be an interesting book to chronicle the stories of all the folks who stay here. Upstairs, Downstairs sounds like a good title but I think that's been used before. : )

Like us, they were less than thrilled with the accommodations but love Rose. When their shipment didn't come when they were ready to move to their new place, Rose lent them dishes and other kitchen things to tide them over.

Speaking of shipments, ours is still in Sydney, awaiting AQIS clearance. Now they are telling us that the AQIS folks are off until after the first of the year. It's so frustrating since it was shipped on July 29! If we'd known it would take this long, we wouldn't have bothered shipping anything. Oh well, I guess it's just a lesson in learning to live without the things one thinks one has to have.

One Degree of Separation

2008-12-13T19:48:00.000-08:00

The world is indeed a small place!

George was working with Maria, a new nurse from New Zealand.

George: Hi, Maria, you sound like you're from New Zealand. We used to live there in Lower Hutt.

Maria: Oh, really? You sound American or Canadian.

George: I'm from Colorado in the US.

Maria: I used to work with a nurse from Colorado when I was in Auckland.

George: Tom Amick?

You can imagine the look on Maria's face when she heard that. It was indeed Tom Amick, who worked with George at PVH ten years ago. We just got off the phone with Tom, who didn't know Maria had moved to Oz.

Let this be a lesson to you - whatever you do, someone knows someone who knows you!

Geriatric Melodies

2008-12-10T23:40:00.000-08:00

I hope this peacock curtain on my illicit photo shows up on the blog because it was gorgeous as was His Majesty's Theater where we experienced our first Australian performance. I discovered as I was snapping it that no photography was allowed.

The production was extremely amateur with the principals reading Internet jokes and other people's poems from big booklets and forgetting their lines even with that. The main male actor was difficult to understand and too far away from the microphone much of the performance. When they sang the 12 Days of Christmas, Aussie Style, you couldn't understand the words at all. To be fair, what they lacked in talent, they made up for in enthusiasm but I have attended an elementary school performance that was far more professional.

The highlight was a solo by the piano player who was substituting for one of the regulars. I think we lucked out to get the understudy in this case! Fortunately, tickets were only $19 and we had fun together afterward with a lunch and gossip at a food court. I had an amazing Thai lunch for only $7 that helped make up for the dismal performance.

Here are the words to the Aussie version of the 12 Days of Christmas in case you want to mix it up a little at your next sing-along:

The Twelve Days of Christmas

On the first day of Christmas my true love sent to me.

1. An emu up a gum tree.

2. Two pink galahs.

3. Three jabirus.

4. Four kookaburras.

5. Five kangaroos

6. Six platypuses

7. Seven koalas climbing.

8. Eight possums playing.

9. Nine wombats working.

10. Ten lizards leaping.

11. Eleven numbats nagging.

12. Twelve parrots prattling.

Now, like me, you probably want to figure out what numbats, galahs and jabirus are so I'll leave you to it!

More Bus Adventures

2008-12-10T23:16:00.000-08:00

We went to another fun dinner at Vito and Veronica's last Friday. Gastronomic delights this time included bruschetta with tomatoes and basil, assorted cheeses and olives, grilled Italian sausage slices, shrimp creole with rice, peas with carrots, and baked Alaska. Scrumptious!

And afterwards, we had a free concert on the bus. Six rowdy schoolies (Oz for drunken teens) were singing happily at the top of their lungs and taking requests from all. Somehow, they didn't catch my sense of humor when I requested Silent Night. Instead, they sang it with gusto. They were harmlessly having fun but we felt for the poor bus driver who had to endure that on his last run of the night.

Most of the bus routes stop at about 6 p.m. but they run the busier routes until about midnight and special Night Buses run in areas where the nightclubs are clustered. We changed buses at the railway station and glimpsed the night life of Freo on the way home. There was a throng of young folks out partying on the Cappicino Strip. Things must get out of hand at times because they had a security guard on the bus and another following the bus in a car.

Australians do like to party and fighting seems to be part of the culture. Every week, there is a news story about a young person who is hurt or killed in a bar fight. They are airing many public serivce campaigns about drinking irresponsibly and that one punch can kill. Now the government is considering making the pubs use plastic glasses since it's often a broken beer bottle or glass that inflicts the most damage. Since we don't hang out at the bars, it's certainly not a problem for us.

Exploring the Arts in Perth

2008-12-04T15:46:00.000-08:00

My friend, Teri, discovered a bargain even George can appreciate - free City tours every weekday. We explored the cultural offerings of Perth last Tuesday on the Art City tour. In addition to fellow Americans, Sherri, Nancie and Teri, we were joined by My from Kuala Lumpur, Olga from Russia, and our Aussie tour guide, Lindsay. My was enjoying an annual break from her busy family with a holiday by herself and Olga was spending a year touring Australia alone. We were like a walking United Nations.

I enjoyed the tour although it was a hot day. You'd think I'd learn to bring my hat but left it as it was cool and cloudy when we left Freo.

The three of us lunched beforehand and took a quick tour
of London on our way, London Court, that is.

I love the philosophy on this Bavarian building -
No minute comes ever back again.
Take heed & see ye nothing do in vain.

This decoration is typical of the gorgeous and
unusual holiday decorations downtown.

This Aboriginal art mosaic depicts creation of the Earth and the battle of two snake warriors. It contains over 10,000 pieces of marble embedded in the plaza concrete.

This sculpture is formed from one piece of rare Australian marble and rests on a bed of water, constantly rotating. It represents the world and weighs a literal ton!

This view shows the full sculpture and a glimpse of Perth life.

This work, entitled the Caller, is open to interpretation but,
since is was done by a German who escaped Nazi rule,
I prefer to think the figure is calling for freedom.

I agree with Lindsay's opinion that this sculpture deserves to be displayed on a pristine beach. The patina on the metal gives the piece a rich look you can't see in this photo.

These shots are from Earth From Above, an

international outdoor exhibition traveling the world.

It's tough to compete with Nature for beautiful outdoor art.

For some reason, this one intrigued me. I don't
think of Aussies as having low self-esteem!

What a beautiful place for a work of art!

This pagoda houses four fountains,
each representing a piece of Oz history.

Images like these span the top of a brick wall and
relate the cultural history of Perth.

My told us the Chinese characters mean happiness but
are upside down. Guess the artist wasn't Chinese!

Olga translated the Russian and Greek for us but I don't

remember what she told us. Senior moment! It had
something to do with building the railroad.

My is my kind of woman! She sought shade at every opportunity and salivated every time we passed a gelati shop or a pub. We were both rewarded with cool drinks at a pub at the end of our tour with Nancie, Sherri and Teri.

You Snooze, You Lose

2008-12-04T14:54:00.000-08:00

Or, at least I did!

My friend, Nancie, is known for organizing fun trips and has formed a subgroup of American Women called WOW, Women On a Wander. Unfortunately, I have to get up at the crack of dawn to join them for these outings, or so it seems to me, a life-long night owl. I didn't make this trip but thought you guys would appreciate the scenery so I included it in this blog anyway!

This is the view from the top of the falls.

I hear it's a good thing I didn't come as the hike to the falls required bushwhacking and it's snake season. I only have sandals to wear since we still haven't received our shipment so it wouldn't have been practical.

Diana, Nancie and Karis enjoy their new friends.

Nancie cools her feet after a long hike.

Australian Beer Truck - Ingenious!

2008-12-04T14:40:00.000-08:00

George is waiting for this truck to park in our driveway but no sign of it yet! Perhaps they'll come for Christmas instead of Santa. : )

www.tom-phillips.info/powerpoint/australian.beer.truck.pps

It's another good reason to visit! I will petition for some stud muffins for those of us who don't appreciate the beer bimbos.

Turkeys Live Long Here

2008-12-03T04:18:00.000-08:00

Thanksgiving is not celebrated by the majority of Aussies, but we are doing our best to introduce the holiday by seducing them with the traditional foods. Our American Women's Club hosted a magnificent feast worthy of buffets in the good ole USA. For many of the attendees, it was their first Thanksgiving dinner. I can't count how many Australians and New Zealanders have asked us about Thanksgiving; they are intrigued by all the Hollywood versions they've seen. We had turkey, dressing and all the trimmings, including pumpkin and pecan pie.

The Australian-American Club President
experiences his first Thanksgiving.

Another American friend went to a potluck with a mostly Australian crowd with mixed results. Even though they were given recipes, some turned out a little bit funny, such as black pumpkin pie and watery green bean casserole. However, it is difficult to make the feast when you can't find the main ingredients. Pumpkin is a popular vegetable here but they are green instead of orange. You can buy canned Libby's pumpkin at a fancy department store for about $6 a can. I searched for Karo syrup and found a bottle for, you guessed it, $6. Everyone brings back little blocks of Crisco when they go home. Turkey is $9.95 per kilo here so a 16-pound turkey is about $80. I did order one for Christmas Eve; sometimes it's worth it to pay for tradition!

Does Santa have a South Pole workshop?

George did miss his college football as do many folks here, but Santa came to visit and everyone had fun. It was nice to see friends' families having a good time. This adorable little girl said it all when she found the microphone toward the end of the evening and shouted into it, "I love pie!"

Beautiful scenery is one of the benefits of getting lost.
Aussie Rules Football by the river.

We did have an adventure getting there and back. I wasn't able to find the Tawarri Reception Centre when I looked for directions on how best to get there via Transperth. I called their offices and was instructed which train and bus to take and was assured we only had to walk a couple of blocks. After going the wrong direction for awhile, we asked directions and ended up on the right track but walked at least two miles before finding it. It was a beautiful day as you can see. At least we worked up an appetite.

This house up on the cliff intrigues me.

Normally, one of our friends kindly offers us a ride home. However, everyone's cars were full with families. We assured them we could take the bus and train and got directions to a bus stop at the top of the path from the centre. We left about 10:30 and found the bus stop with no problem except that buses there quit running at 6:00 p.m. So we trucked back down the hill to call a cab to get to the train station.

Fred and Gail saw us walking through the parking lot and insisted we get a ride to the Stirling Highway where they had seen night buses running. They put the kids in the back window and dropped us off since it was a work and school night and they live an hour away. We again found the bus stop easily but discovered the buses that were running didn't come to Freo. Calling a cab seemed like a good idea but there wasn't a pub in sight and, of course, we have no cell phones. Finally, we spotted a 24-hour gas station and were asking the clerk for directions when a guy overhead us and said, "Get in. I'll take you to the train station." We have so many things for which to be thankful, especially for the kindness of strangers! We also are thankful for our friends and family who take the time to read this blog. We love you and miss you!

Still a Stranger in a Strange Land

2008-12-01T04:40:00.000-08:00

Just when think I have assimilated I find I'm still clueless here. Arthur gave us a turkey breast he got from a friend because he likes us and hates turkey. It was frozen so I put it in the refrigerator to defrost. Two days later, it was still hard. George was worried it might spoil so I decided to cook it regardless. When I opened it up, the skin looked funny, all brownish, and the meat looked a bit odd. I smelled it and it smelled good. Then I finally realized it was pre-cooked and packaged, bone and all!

Then I decided to make one of George's favorites, turkey tortilla soup. I went to the store to buy some, only to have people stare at me blankly when I asked for chicken broth. I patiently spelled broth to the Asian grocer, thinking he just didn't understand my American accent and got the same blank stare. Finally, I searched for it myself only to discover they call it chicken stock. He and I had a good laugh when I went up to the register to pay for it.

Rambo is Painting Our Apartment

2008-12-01T02:58:00.000-08:00

Otherwise known to us as Superman and Wonder Woman, Arthur and Rose pose as the Casa handyman and cleaning lady when not performing miracles browbeating our landlord into submission to make this place livable. We would have had to move without their help because the place was such a hole, but, most importantly, they are a joy to know.

Rose and Arthur are Characters with a capital C! Rose is originally from Liverpool and has a million stories. She lived in the States for thirty years and holds the title as the non-American obnoxious American because she gets frustrated with the way things are done in Australia by comparison. Rose is a get things done kind of lady and the Western Australia (Wait Awhile) mentality drives her crazy. She and Arthur also remind us of Andy Capp and Flo and are so entertaining when they are squabbling because you can see the love they have for one another despite what they're saying.

Rose might be tiny but, believe me, she's a spitfire.

We have Rambo painting our walls! Arthur just celebrated his 64th birthday despite the fact that he served multiple tours in Viet Nam with the Australian version of Special Forces. He's been struck by lightening twice, shot and blown up but still can run circles around guys half his age. Arthur loves to have fun and is so warm-hearted.

No Aussie barbie is complete without a sausage sizzle.

Arthur is more than a tough guy; he's an accomplished cook and enjoys throwing parties. He not only invited us to spend the day and have dinner at his home in Mandurah but also drove us there and back, with close to an hour drive each way!

Since no one is allowed to help in Arthur's kitchen,
Jill supervises instead.

Despite the fact that we occasionally get angry people at our front door when Vin overbooks, there is an upside to living above holiday rentals. We met two wonderful Canadian sisters and hung out with them while they were here. Arthur also invited them to come to Mandurah.

The crew at one of the beaches along the way.

It's hard to believe such a beautiful beach is
so deserted even on a cloudy day.

Doesn't this make you want to have a picnic?

The weather changes quickly here. What intriguing clouds!

The water is crystal clear and inviting.

This used to be a nude beach but is now
used to exercise thoroughbred horses.

Penquin Island can be reached on foot at low tide
and is inhabited by, you guessed it, tiny penguins.

Claire and Jill relax on our patio.

Bead Bonanza

2008-11-20T00:43:00.000-08:00

Last Saturday, Arthur, our adorable Aussie handyman, came to paint the inside of our place. After seeing me beading the week before, he was excited to tell me about some beads he'd seen at a garage sale on the way over.

I was preparing my lasagna for the Bake-Off and hesitated, thinking that it wouldn't be worth my time. However, since he had gone to all the trouble of bringing me the lady's phone number, I felt obligated to call. After speaking with her, I decided I should take a look since beads are so expensive here. Arthur took me over there and was I glad!

Wow - all this for only $200, including a bead board, the wooden tray above that makes into a six-foot table, and the box full of cotton fiber! This ought to keep me busy until our shipment arrives with my glass goodies. Good on ya, Arthur, and thanks, mate!

Double-Time for Napping

2008-11-20T00:05:00.000-08:00

None of the patients have mistaken George for Eminem's manager yet but the patients are sicker than the average Mountain Crest patient with many schizophrenics. As the staff say, they are quite mad. George still enjoys working with the patients and likes his co-workers. Many new nurses have come so he's no longer the new guy. He's even beginning to understand most of what they say to him.

One of the things that does drive George crazy (no pun intended) is that they send patients on leave and then give their beds away. When the patients return, the nurses are the ones who have to hear all the complaints and find them accommodations. The hospital is very full so it is a challenge. George's co-workers say it has been worse in the past, with patients lined up on gurneys in the hallway and even outside. They even stashed some in the parked ambulances. Unfortunately, being a government facility, administration is largely comprised of politicians instead of medical personnel. It's enough to drive one to drink!

We have yet to check out the hospital bar on a Friday night because George is usually working. His schedule has sucked for the last couple of months with Tuesdays and Wednesdays off, making it difficult to plan social activities with those who have normal weekday jobs.

George wishes for a better schedule but loves the overtime pay and differential pay for evening and night shifts. Those of you who know him know that it's hard for him to resist overtime. Here they have an even greater incentive for double-shifts. When he works an evening and a night shift together, he gets time and a half for the first two hours of the night shift and double-time for the last eight hours. If it's not busy, he gets a nap during the night. To top it off, he is allowed to come to work four hours late the following day and gets paid for that. Sort of makes up for the lack of technology!

After working a lot this week, the scheduling office asked one of George's co-workers to find out if he'd like to work another double-shift. George replied that he'd rather eat a truckload of dog poop. Not batting an eye, his colleague told the person on the phone, "No, George is dining out tonight." I'm so glad people are able to maintain their senses of humor despite having such stressful jobs.

Lasagna Bake Off

2008-11-16T15:19:00.000-08:00

Our neighborhood has very Italian roots and we love it. And, as anyone who knows us knows, we also love food. So how better to marry the two, but with the Annual Lilly Street Lasagna Bake Off?

These judges take their taste-testing seriously.

Jenny and Paul, at #10 Lilly Street, have organized this event for the past eleven years. They invite everyone on Lilly Street and neighboring streets to participate. T-shirts and aprons are produced to commemorate the occasion and people test recipes all year in hopes of winning the big trophy.

Originally, we had planned to go with Veronica and Vito and we were really looking forward to trying Veronica's authentic lasagna and spending the afternoon with them. Unfortunately, their daughter suffered from a burst appendix so Veronica rushed to England to be with her. George worked a double-shift the night before and was sleeping during the early part of the festivities. Luckily, I am not shy and wasn't going to miss the fun.

Christine and Priscilla enjoy their nibblies - prawns.

As usual, a wonderful opportunity to meet new friends arose. I was on my way over to Lilly Street to take some photos for you folks after delivering my lasagna. En route, I saw a lady struggling to get a folding chair out of her car. I offered some assistance and we chatted on our way to the party site. Christine is recovering from hip surgery and was still game to party. Australians are a hearty lot! Christine invited me to join Priscilla, her friend and Lilly Street resident, and the rest of their group.

While there, I met Sally, with whom I really hit if off. I was telling her about these beads I bought and we decided to go back to the Casa so she could see them. Sally couldn't believe it when she came up to the door; she and her daughter lived here three and a half years ago when they moved to Perth. It is a small world indeed! She is astounded we still have the velvet curtains and chairs.

Back on topic! Entries were accepted for three categories: Lilly Street residents, non-Lilly Street residents and out of the square (we'd call it thinking outside the box). I don't think they were ready for something as strange as my entry, Lasagna Ole, a made-up concoction with chicken, black beans and other ingredients Italians don't normally use. The out of the square entry that won was (gasp!) vegetarian lasagna. Seriously, I found out later they have definite criteria for judging - many layers, finely diced ingredients, firm lasagna, no browned edges, etc.

1st place winner, Lilly Street, celebrates by holding up his trophy.

The non-Lilly Street winner thanks his gran for her sauce recipe. Awww!

Jenny, the ring leader of this event, won a door prize and honorable mention for most improved lasagna. We'd be suspicious, but she was harangued for how vile her lasagna was the previous year so we forgave her for being an ungracious host by winning. They threatened to call child protection services last year after tasting her entry. : ) Jenny should be a stand-up comedian; her emceeing was extremely funny. I hope I get to know her better.

Jenny hugs her well-deserved door prize.

All generations are represented and a good time was had by all. Even George managed to enjoy it after he woke up, evidenced by the satisfied look on his face in this photo.

A Walk in the Park

2008-11-10T20:35:00.000-08:00

Forgive me for being so far behind on my blogging duties, but three weeks without the Internet ruined my blogging schedule. The following are from Kings Park in September, the month when wildflowers burst into unbelievable colors. Heather, our tour guide, was knowledgeable and funny. She warned us there would be lots of X-rated sex talk about the flowers.

This is my favorite plant, the Kangaroo Paw.

This arch incorporates many Aboriginal symbols.

The curvy bit of this fern variety fascinates me.

Kings Park covers nearly 400 hectares, that's over 15 million square feet. It reminds me of Stanley Park in Vancouver, BC, Canada. Kings Park was established in 1872 and is visited by more than five million people per year, making it the most popular visitor destination in Australia.

Hard to believe the park is part of a large city!

Kookaburra not only sits in the old gum tree, but the Aborigines
also use its red sap for medicinal purposes.

The photograph of these bright flags doesn't
capture the impact of the sight.

As part of the Wildflower Festival, local schools
painted vibrant posters.

Nearly two-thirds of the park is covered by bushland, with 319 species of native plants and 80 different types of birds.

These non-flying ducks are the original bungy-jumpers, jumping out of their shells from the tree nest and foraging for food on their own.

Look closely to see the owls in this tree!

To see some spectacular shots, go to http://www.bgpa.wa.gov.au/ and enjoy! You don't have to be an avid gardener to enjoy the beauty of this park.

Beach Party Bingo

2008-11-09T18:06:00.000-08:00

Actually, this post has nothing to do with bingo but it sounded like a catchier title for some reason. Could it possibly have anything to do with the margaritas I drank last night? By the way, decent margaritas are not easy to find here and worth their weight in gold, figuratively and almost literally. Not only is tequila $50 a liter, but the margarita mix is $12 a liter - it sure makes us miss Costco!

Tom and Lisa hosted an American-style barbeque with stuffed burgers smothered in homemade Texas barbeque sauce. Um-um good! We started the feast with grilled spinach, cheese and almond quesadillas with guacamole. Then, as if that wasn't enough, Vito made bruschetta with Italian bread like that from his hometown, brushed with his family's olive oil and garlic, then topped with a chopped tomato concoction with fresh basil. Ambrosia!

Vito and Diana relax after slaving away on appetizer and dessert.

The feast was accompanied by traditional potato salad, an extravagant fruit plate, and a variation of the mandarin orange salad from Colorado Cache with the addition of fresh strawberries and candied macadamia nuts. (Thanks, Pam and Michelle, for providing the recipe!) It's funny how food can make you feel like you're back home. As usual, dessert was spectacular; Diana made a decadent chocolate mousse cake that was as delicious as it was gorgeous. This has become an unofficial Sweats group. (For the uninitiated, Sweats is what we call our gourmet group in the Fort, short for Sweats Gourmets since we don't dress up.)

George is cleaning up the mess I made when I broke a bottle of Tabasco. Thank goodness I could crop myself out of this shot.
Yea, Photoshop!

I am so sorry that I didn't even take the camera out at this function. I don't know if it's because I was having too much fun or because I had two margs. Luckily, Veronica was on the ball and snapped the photos you see here.

Our superb host Tom, ready at his grilling post.

Dan and Scott, both Colorado boys, look awfully content!

I do wish I had a picture of George with Javier and Kyra's daughter, Gabiola. He took her down to the beach, supposedly for a short walk, and they returned and hour later as buddies. Her little sister, Mea, missed Gabby after a time so Mea and I went to search for them. They were almost to the house, holding hands and talking away in Spanish while pointing to sights along the way. Definitely a Hallmark moment! Followed by another when Gabby and Mea saw one another and ran to hug. Nothing like the simple pleasures of life to make one appreciate being alive.

I hope all of you are cherishing your simple moments!

Our hostess, Lisa, almost danced on the table.

Virtual Roma

2008-11-05T22:28:00.000-08:00

My friend, Veronica, is married to Vito, aka the Italian Stallion. (You should call them sometime when they're away just so you can hear their message - Vito makes "Leave your message after the beep" sound so sexy!) Even though she's originally from England, she is a fantastic cook and must have been Italian in a former life.

George and I were privileged to be invited to dinner last night at their house last evening and, oh, what a dinner! We started our feast with fresh mussels in a fragrant and tasty broth. Next she served a pasta with olive oil and zucchini that sounds so simple but was simply exquisite. Then we had one of my favorites, Capri salad with fresh mozzarella, basil and tomatoes on a bed of lettuce. This salad looked like something from the pages of Bon Appetit. However, my favorite was an English sweet - sticky caramel and date pudding. Our taste buds were tingling long after dinner.

We also enjoyed the company. Veronica also invited her sister-in-law, Pat, and some friends, Pauline and Michael, who happen to be mental health nurses. Pauline used to work on the same floor at the Freo Hospital where George now works and is now working in the community doing counseling. Michael teaches nursing at Notre Dame. The evening flew by and we couldn't believe it when we realized it was 11:30. Most folks had to work the next day. Hopefully, George will get a weekend off soon and we can have everyone over to the Casa.

A Day at the Races, Aussie Style

2008-11-04T23:50:00.001-08:00

Tuesday, November 4th is election day, right? Only in the US - in Oz, it's Melbourne Cup and you need to hang onto your hat or buy one if you don't have one.

The Melbourne Cup is a thoroughbred horse race that rivals any other world horseracing event, including Ascot and the Kentucky Derby. In Victoria and New South Wales, race day is a public holiday but in Western Australia, it's more unofficial but festive. Shop owners close their stores because everyone is partying during Melbourne Cup. Most bars and restaurants have celebrations but there are also heaps and heaps (as they say here) of home parties.

Cyndi Blake held a wonderful bash for the American Women's Club of Perth and friends at her home. We started with champagne and mimosas, followed with an array of yummy appetizers, sandwiches and incredible bite-sized desserts.

Prizes were given for "Fashion on the Field" and we bet on the horses with a number lottery so there was plenty of reason to yell for our favorites.

We are also raising money for a worthwhile charity in Tanzania to help build a home for grandparents and their orphaned grandchildren.

Our hostess, Cyndi, won best dressed.

Imelda would be jealous of these winning shoes!

This was my favorite skirt and shoes. The labels
above the pleats read Lady Luck.

My friend, Diana, wore my favorite hat!

Everyone in this group has a good sense of humor.

It seems right that an Aussie won Best Hat!

The dots are shiny, sparkly and silver!

I won a bottle of champagne for my hat for Most Original. I don't know if it's because I'm the only one who decorated my own hat or because the drunken Kiwi judge liked me because we used to live in New Zealand.

Donna & Bonnie, my new beading buddies
who just moved here from Houston.

Nothing like mimosas to make any party festive!

Straight champagne also works.

The lady in red has belonged to AWCP for 27 years.

My photo of the start didn't turn out too well.

The race was extremely exciting with a photo finish. Viewed, an Australian horse, beat Bauer, an Irish entry, by a nose. Actually, it looked like he won by a nose hair to me, it was so close!

And a good time was had by all!

Mexican Night at the Casa

2008-10-31T06:46:00.000-07:00

We inaugurated our outdoor patio this week with a Mexican Fiesta. Many of us from the States miss Mexican food more than any other cuisine and you can't find good Mexican meals at the restaurants here.

Everyone brought something and the food was YUMMY! We had guacamole, black bean salsa, pico de gallo, Mexican pumpkin soup, tequila shrimp, chicken enchaladas, bean burritos with all the trimmings including homemade green chile, Casa de Loma salad and Tre Leche Cake which, as the name implies, is soaked in three different types of milk.
We had a visitor from Colorado who happens to be a Mental Health Nurse at the VA in Denver. Small world!

She is visiting her sister who is one of my friends from the American Women's group. We also invited an Aussie nurse that G works with who had never had the pleasure of Mexican food before. In additon to us, there were one Brit, one Italian, five Coloradoans, two Texans, one Californian and two Puerto Ricans. It makes for scintillating conversation!

Note the fancy sheet tablecloth and decorative clothesline - musts for the most sophisticated do. We plan to have many more parties up here so come visit!

I Love a Parade

2008-10-26T01:35:00.000-07:00

You never know what's going to happen in this wonderful country! I went grocery shopping this afternoon and ended up participating in the Blessing of the Fleet, a time-honored celebration that's been going on in Freo for 60 years. When I came out of Woolies (of course, that's Aussie abbrev for Woolworths), I saw the surrounding streets cordoned off, policemen everywhere, groups of people all dressed up, some as angels and sailors, and a couple of marching bands.

Being my inquisitive self, I had to find out what the hubbub was about, and am so glad I did! I asked these three guys standing by the church if they knew what was happening and they explained about the Blessing of the Fleet. Italian sailors initiated the tradition to celebrate the new fishing season.

The Fremantle Festival is unique because the two statues which are carried in the procession are representative of the two towns from which the majority of its fishermen migrated, Molfetta and Capo d'Orlando. Our Lady of Martyrs was the original protectress of the fleet and her statue was crafted in Australia. The history of her devotion goes back to the crusades where the likeness of the Madonna was believed to have protected soldiers in battle.

In 1952 the people of Capo d'Orlando, a town on the north-east coast of Sicily, gave the tiny statue of the Madonna of Capo d'Orlando to their fellow Sicilians in Fremantle, since many miracles had been attributed to her. In 1954, the Madonna di Capo d'Orlando joined the Madonna dei Martiri in procession. While the Madonna dei Martiri is carried by the men, the Madonna di Capo d'Orlando is carried by young women.

I was bummed that I didn't have my camera (who brings their camera to the grocery store?) when one of them suggested I get a disposable one so as not to miss the opportunity. I thought of all our faithful blog readers and decided to spend the $10 to capture the experience on film. I caught up to the parade and saw my new buddies marching in the procession. I snapped their photo and offered to send them a copy.

Dom and two friends. My photo of the Rossi
boys together didn't turn out!

One of them invited me to join them in the parade so I lugged my suitcase full of groceries and seized the day. We proceeded to the Esplanade where we boarded one of the boats and sailed around the harbor for about 45 minutes. It was a gorgeous day and they were all good company. They even offered beer, pop and bottled water on the boat. You have to love Aussie hospitality!

It turns out the three guys are brothers from a little town called Roelands, about two and a half hours south of Freo. Every year, their church rents a bus for this event and they've been coming as long as they can remember. Paddy works at a dairy factory making yogurt while Dom and Jack run a farm with everything from ducks to macadamia nuts. I also met Gloria, Paddy's wife, Rosa and a bunch of other nice folks.

This was even more fun than our ambulance ride! When we docked, we then assembled for a return trip back to the church with a stop for daytime fireworks at the Esplanade along the way. They went back to the church for more mass and singing with a follow-up celebration of food and drink and I went to the market to buy vegetables before it closed. I hope George's milk isn't sour!

Wild Horses Don't Have to Drag Me

2008-10-22T05:26:00.000-07:00

Although I spent a summer working at a dude ranch, I spent most of my time working in the kitchen, seeming as how I'm allergic to horses and prefer food to horse poop! So if I had known our LaW (Lunch and Wine) Review were going to an equestrian center, I may have thought twice about it.

Thank goodness I didn't have the opportunity to change my mind; we had our absolute best LaW outing yet at Brookleigh Estates. Even though Brookleigh's tagline is Equestrian Heaven, the place offers so much more than horses (or, as Aussies say, horse. Why is it they say maths, sport and horse when we say math, sports and horses?). Anyway, I'm off topic again. Good thing I'm not being graded for my essay-writing abilities on this blog!

Glen, our host from Brooker Furniture of Freo, was a hoot.

We arrived at 11:30 and were offered generous amounts of many different varieties of Lancaster Wines by their manager, James. Lancaster is a small vineyard that only sells directly to wine lovers. James was very knowledgeable about his stock, or at least he seemed to be by this wimpy drinker who sampled several kinds on an empty stomach. Fortunately, I had sense enough to quit after the third white and the sparkling wine. I kept thinking we'd eat lunch next and James kept bringing out yet another bottle to sample and then we went on a tour of the facility.

Do we look extraordinarily happy here or what?

I really didn't expect our own personal dressage show. What a treat! I knew absolutely nothing about this as Americans don't spend much Olympic air time on this event. I can't think of the rider's name - senior moment! Or should I blame it on the grape? However, she was wonderful with the horse and with us. I was totally blown away that she could train a horse to do such complicated dance steps without discernible moves on her part. If you ever have a chance to see dressage live, I heartily recommend you do so.

This lady competes at an international level and shared interesting facts to know and tell:

It costs $10,000 to ship a horse on an airplane to most international locations with no frequent flier miles!
Germany, where this lady trained, is the center for dressage excellence.
Western Australia is home to Sonja Johnson, winner of a silver Olympic medal in the Beijing Games.
Life expectancy of a horse averages between 20 to 30 years and varies just like with humans.
It only takes her 20 minutes to braid the mane into this fancy look. I could sure use her manual dexterity in the morning with my hair!

She hopes to represent Australia at the world
event to be held in Kentucky in 2010.

I was also impressed with the relationship between horse and rider. When she answered questions afterwards, the horse was nuzzling and licking her with great affection. We were allowed to feed it black licorice but I passed as I didn't want horse hives in the palm of my hand. It's amazing that something that large could be so gentle.

She has worked with this horse for 12 years
and was present at his birth.

As much as I enjoyed the show, lunch was even better and not just because I was starving. The Brookleigh owners, Olga and Nikki, joined us for lunch along with Glen, James, our riding expert and a marketing person from Lexus. The food was the best I've had since we arrived and was so plentiful. First we were treated to incredible appetizers, which would've been enough for me. Everything was homemade and extremely fresh - focaccia bread with a hummus dip and dipping oil, garlic toasts with pate, calamari, out-of-this-world venison sausage, warm olives from their orchard, prosciutto, ham, salami, and cheese. It was extremely heavenly. We had a choice of mains (we call them entrees, but to Aussies, entrees are appetizers) - steak with a leek and potato pie, chicken with forest mushrooms in phyllo with a mustard seed sauce and salmon wrapped in proscuitto with the most scrumptious potato and spinach gnocchi in a lemon sauce. Can you tell what I had? It was sublime!

Meet Olga, wonderful woman of horse and hospitality.

It's a toss up though as to which I enjoyed more, the food or the conversation. I had the good fortune to sit next to Olga, the fascinating owner of the estate. Olga originally hails from England but lived for 30 years in Bermuda running a surf shop. After visiting her daughter, Nikki, about 15 years ago, she settled in the Swan Valley. Originally, they wanted to buy five acres so they could have horses and ended up with this 89-acre vineyard, olive grove, restaurant, indoor and outdoor arenas and accommodation for horses and their riders. They started out with a riding school and boarding horses and grew it into this viable business.

Olga had lots of fun stories and was delightful company but I was mostly impressed with the warm and caring way they run the business. It had such a good vibe about it. I commented on that and she said it's because they treat their employees like part of their family. They plan an outing every three months with all the employees. Last month, they rented a yacht and hosted a dinner cruise on the river. Too bad the commute would be so far - I'd be tempted to get a job there! If you ever get to Perth, do visit Stewart's at Brookleigh. You can visit their web site at www.brookleigh.com au to see some good photos and a menu. I plan to take George there and any visitors who come. You won't be disappointed!

An Early Halloween

2008-10-13T06:28:00.000-07:00

What do you get when you cross Halloween, wine and a sunny day?

Spring in the Valley, an annual event in the Swan Valley, 20-minutes from Perth.

Our Dingo Bus was fun but the Purple Party bus even had Karaoke!

Our fearless leader dressed appropriately for the day -
she needed a lasso to herd those cats!

Here is the motley crew while everyone was still relatively sober.

The Swan Valley is home to wineries, microbreweries, a chocolate factory, honey and fruit stands, golf courses, equestrian pavilions and olive companies. There's even a cuddly animal zoo where you can hold koala bears. Here is a pdf map of the area for those who are really interested:
http://www.swanvalley.com.au/NR/rdonlyres/4FDA5EF1-CE07-4EF9-B938-1FFD07F44E65/0/SVTCMAP0708.pdf

Our first stop was at 10:30 a.m. at Lilac Hill Winery and Iron Park Brewery.

Believe it or not, I even tried a glass of wine here at that hour -
when in Rome!

I hear the beer was good here. Hope he's not really picking his nose.

Food offerings ranged from the simple, a sausage sizzle or pizza,

to the sublime, seafood platters and chocolate pear tarts.

Amelia tried almost everything -
where does that little thing put it?

We had name tags for our group that said Hello, I'm .... One was supposed to write his or her name in the blank space underneath. One young Australian lady in the group wrote Pissed (which means drunk here). By the end of the day, her name tag described her perfectly. I wouldn't have wanted to be her on Monday morning. She was definitely over the hung, as George's mother used to say! Our next stop was Lancaster Wines.

Some wineries were definitely more upscale than others but people were having fun everywhere. Where else could one meet Homer Simpson, Che Guevara, Jesus and Cleopatra all at once? I enjoyed chatting with two young men named Ryan who own a walking tour business in Perth. I bet they'd be great fun on a city tour and might see if the club wants to arrange an outing. If you ever get to Perth, here's their web site - www.twofeet.com.au

This is the Ryans - too bad I accidentally
deleted the better photo of them!

The police were out in force and monitored behavior strictly. They could come to search buses randomly or if people were acting drunk and unruly. If one person had a drink or open container on the bus, all the liquor on the bus was confiscated, including purchases of cases made at the wineries. Now there's effective peer censure! One young guy in our group tried to bring a drink on the bus. Not only did the bus driver stop him but several of those sitting up front also admonished him.

We saw a couple of fights break out and the police were there immediately to break it up. I was talking with one officer, commenting that this probably wasn't their favorite event. He said the costumes actually made it easier because people think they are disguised and won't be caught but the police know to chase the guy in the camouflage outfit. However, for the most part, it was like a giant cocktail party with people of all ages.

One place even had a merry-go-round and jumping castle for the kids.

The Black Swan was very upscale.

By the time we arrived at the Black Swan, I was ready to sit and relax. I enjoyed sitting and chatting with Joanne, Amelia, Paul, Lisa and Tom. We had a nice window seat with a nice view to the tasting area.

Michael and his buddies were delightful,
the epitome of Aussie charm.

It is a small world! Phil, the guy on the left, was born
in Fort Collins and lived on Hanna, the same street
on which our good friends, Jeff and Nancy, reside.

Fish Tail Wines was my favorite
of all the places we visited.

I don't know if it's because it was at the end of the day or if it's just because it was a laid-back family atmosphere, but I really liked this place and even bought a souvenir t-shirt. Fish Tail Wines also had a delicious sweet wine Tom discovered for me, knowing I'm not much of a drinker and definitely not a wine drinker. Thanks to Bernadette, it was a g'day, mates!

Those of you who do enjoy the grape should come and explore. In addition to the Swan Valley, there are other wine-growing regions nearby.

Characters Welcome

2008-10-08T00:49:00.000-07:00

People-watching here never fails to entertain me. Our nephew, JP, a Hollywood script writer, would get lots of good material from the folks I see on my almost daily CAT bus rides. Today I saw a bagpipe player with an orange Mohawk, multiple body piercings and a wild array of tattoos rocking out with a Scottish ditty. A gaggle of seniors of various backgrounds critiqued his performance and appearance. (He's actually quite good if you're a bagpipe lover.) I heard German, Italian, and Aussie comments but my favorite was, “Crikey! He looks a right rooster and sounds like a castrated kangaroo.”

Most Australians are a happy lot but there are a few who look like their dogs just died. One of my favorite pastimes is trying to get a smile from the stern-faced seniors on the bus. They always look at me like I’m going to try to steal their purses. (Maybe I just have spinach in my teeth or toilet paper on my shoe!) Perhaps Freo has changed too much for them and they are overwhelmed at the growth. It makes my day when I actually get one to smile.

There is always an assortment of tourists and I am amused by their comments and observations. I'm getting so I can tell the Germans from the Italians but am still mystified by the origins of the Asians. I thought I had a family all figured out yesterday until I heard one of the children speaking English with an Australian accent. I must remind myself that this is a nation of recent immigrants. People are often surprised that we aren’t planning to settle here permanently. It's a great place but I don't think it will ever be home!