Wednesday, October 29, 2008

Some Pictures!

Our first look at the Australian coast after leaving Sydney - somewhere south-east of Sydney :)













This sign was in a park in Canberra. I like the last 'suggestion' best!









And our new wheels! A Toyota Hiace.

Sunday, October 26, 2008

And the Visuals . . .


Finally found the camera cable so here are a few pics: Okay, actually just this one of Ethan and Patrick waiting (not so) patiently at the Sydney airport with our 4 luggage carts of luggage!

Of Drains and the Night Sky

My dear friend Michelle has a deep-seated interest in hydrology; the ebb and flow of tides, the pounds per square inch (p.s.i.) of the powerful Niagara Falls, which bottled version tastes the best.

Actually all she really wants to know is this; in Australia, does the water really flow down the drain in the opposite direction as it does in Canada?

Well, in our house all the sinks and tub drains are kind of flat which means the water sort of flows around both sides of the drain. I've tried to determine if it really does flow in the opposite direction but given the current water shortage in Australia, I don't feel I could justify the extra usage just to watch the water flow endlessly in an effort to answer this age-old question.

So the truth of the matter Michelle? Sorry, I can't really tell.

What I have learned is this: the night sky is different. Yeah, I know some of you are thinking "Yup, Laurie sure is a sharp one." But hey, I really hadn't thought about it before. The stars are really beautiful here. It's lovely and dark around our house at night so we can see all the lights across the harbour and a spectacular show of stars from our front room and master bedroom. Shortly after we arrived here I was searching the night sky for the big dipper, the little dipper and Orion's belt (impressed you, huh?! Well actually those are the only constellations I know!) After a while I realized I wouldn't find them. What I should be looking for is the Southern Cross (haven't found it yet). I felt a little sad knowing I could not be looking at the same star configurations as my family and friends in Canada. Then I remembered there's only one moon! I could take comfort in knowing we'd all be looking at the same moon.

Well yeah, except instead of the crescent moon looking like the letter "C" or a backwards letter "C", it looks like either a smile or a frown.

I guess I'll just have to look at it sideways.

Sunday, October 19, 2008

B - LOGged On!

Well it's been a looooong wait but we finally have our internet connection at home. Things are a little different down under! We're still trying to figure out the cheapest way to make phone calls (local and international), and it seems getting a 'mobile' could cost upwards of 40 cents for each connection plus about 1 cent per second! I told Martin I didn't think we needed to get a cell phone right now. Maybe wait till we win the lottery!

We'll be posting some photos very soon . . . just as soon as we find the camera cable. I know it's in one of these suitcases waiting to be unpacked . . . .

Yes, we're still unpacking suitcases but we're whittling away at it and as of last Thursday, we also have our container goods. Seems there were no problems at all with any of the things we brought down (bikes, boats, non-perishable food items, kids toys, etc.) There were a number of things we had been led to believe might be confiscated but everything came through. Now we just have to figure out where to put all this stuff!

The kids had their first full week of school this past week and they all seem to have settled in just fine. After the second day I didn't hear any more complaints about the uniforms they have to wear. They're very casual (navy pants and polo shirts), but the colours are specific to the school so I've had to spend a fortune re-outfitting them!

We're finding the cost of food is quite a bit more expensive than we're used to. Some things are cheaper (like lamb!), but most produce is expensive (of course we're in the 'off' season right now), and dining out is significantly more expensive (local muffin stop at the mall charges $7.00 for coffee & a muffin!!) Of course there are some very interesting things at the grocery (like kangaroo meat!), and we're having to adapt to not having some of our favourite products available (like certain breakfast cereals and good coffee!), but it's all part of the adventure.

As soon as we can get some pictures posted, you'll see what I mean about our beautiful location here. The house is surrounded by eucalyptus trees, flowering shrubs and the most interesting sounding birds. So far I can identify the magpies and the sulphur-crested cockatoos but there are so many others I have yet to learn about. Our view is spectacular - we look out towards the harbour and catch all the beautiful sunsets. The property is very private so we tend to leave the curtains open to enjoy the view day and night.

Every one I've come in contact with so far has been extremely friendly and helpful. A perfect example is the call I made to the local equivalent of the motor vehicle branch. Purchasing and registering the car in Sydney but living in Hobart meant we had to have certain inspections and paperwork in place within a certain period of time. I was expecting to be put through my paces with automated systems, multiple transfers to various departments and the usual bureaucratic efficiencies I've experienced in Canada. Instead what I got was this; first number dialed, answered by the only person I needed to talk to. Not only did she explain what I needed to do, but she also provided me with the names and phone numbers of several local vehicle inspection agencies along with what I could expect to pay. By the end of the call she had also given me (without my soliciting this information), the name of her Canadian neighbour who is a physiotherapist and where she works on specific days! I mean we're talking friendly!

Yesterday we went for a short bike ride down near the beach below our house. There's a lovely, relatively flat walking/cycling path all along that leads to a playground area but along the way we saw a pod of dolphins playing just off shore. We watched them for quite a while as they were travelling in the same direction we were. Ethan was certain they must be sharks because of their dorsal fins but we assured him they were dolphins (sharks don't swim in pods!)

So check back soon . . . we'll get some visuals going!

Saturday, October 11, 2008

Giving Thanks

This post comes to you from beautiful, uptown Mt. Rumney in Tasmania at the home of our friends Jill and Andrew. Jill is a Canadian ex-pat married to born-and-raised-in-Tasmania Andrew. We met them in 1990 when we lived next door to them in a Vancouver west end apartment block. 18 years, six kids and two continents later, we've just finished the most decadent Sunday brunch at their home, in honour of Canadian Thanksgiving. We arrived in Hobart about 48 hours ago and have just dined with half a dozen other Canadian ex-pats, their partners and kids. It's been a full-on immersion this a.m. and we're thankful for it all.

To recap our travels since my last blog; we caught the overnight ferry from Melbourne last Thursday. We departed about 8:30 p.m. and arrived in Devonport, Tasmania about 7:00 a.m. Friday. The crossing was fairly calm by Bass Straights standards, just a bit of 'rocking' (no worse than sleeping on a waterbed with Martin!) We had to fess up to Tasmania quarantine inspection when we arrived with a bag full of fruit and had to go through the inspection lineup. There was no getting past the dog sniffers with anything stashed (not that we were trying to do that, just that we were loath to toss our purchases). But toss we did, after having our own fruit-eating contest in the car as we waited in line for our turn at inspection. Amazing how much contraband fruit one family of five can consume within a 15 minute period!

We drove straight through to Hobart - a 3 hour trip that only took us about 7 hours! We arrived in time to collect the house keys from the real estate agent's office, locate and look at the house, drop in (unannounced) to the principals office of the kids school and have a tour of the school, purchase a few groceries and make and eat dinner before falling into bed. We did not have time to arrange telephone or internet service so are still without both of those until sometime this coming week (we hope).

Our house is terrific. Fantastic views, lovely and comfortable furnishings, kid-friendly trappings (movies, books, toys, fort in the yard). We're very fortunate to have located this home through Jill and Andrew and thank Rob, Jane, Bixby and Solomon for providing same to us!

I had my first 'pang' of homesickness this a.m. when I discovered our breakfast invitation was in honour of Thanksgiving. I had forgotten Thanksgiving was so early this year and as it's such a family-oriented time, I am feeling the distance. Today I am thankful for much, including technology, which facilitates this communication thereby making the distance seem less.

So to all of you in Canada who are preparing for your Thanksgiving feasts, may you enjoy the warm feelings of being in the company of family and friends and know that we are missing being with you in body but are with you in spirit.

Happy Thanksgiving!

Wednesday, October 8, 2008

For Serious Shoppers Only

Imagine living your dream in a place full of signs declaring "Sale". Everywhere you look, every streetcorner you pass, the city is full of signs screaming at you, taunting you, enticing you.

That's how it is when you arrive in Sale, Victoria.

And I write this from the public library computer terminal in Sale, Victoria somewhere south-east of Melbourne. We bought a computer several days ago but have been unsuccessful in finding any internet connections (wireless or otherwise). Tonight we board the Spirit of Tasmania ferry bound for Devonport, Tasmania. It's an overnight ferry so we won't be seeing much but when we land tomorrow a.m., we'll be about 4 hours drive from our new home. I think we're all ready to turn the page on this chapter of our journey. We've seen some beautiful scenery and enjoyed checking out different towns along our way but are anxious to 'settle in'.

More musings and observations from the past few days;
  • First kangaroo spotted: roadkill somewhere outside of Cooma. The kids really wanted to get a closer look so we turned around and drove up beside it. Martin was quick to point out to the kids all the car debris scattered about proving the potential dangers of a kangaroo/car collision. I was quick to point out the smell of the carcass did not warrant a lingering perusal of same.
  • First flat tire: about 1 km beyond the aforementioned roadkill observation. Seems scattered road debris can present a hazard unto itself. Good thing we brought our handy dandy Daddy tire-changer thingy.
  • First road kill by us: on the dark, windy road to the coastal town of Pambula. So busy watching for bush kangaroos we were unable to swerve/stop/avoid running right over the poor little echidna (sp?) This little creature looks a lot like a large hedgehog and moves slightly faster than a speeding turtle with an awkward, stiff-legged gait.
  • First encounter with the outback: Ethan waking up one morning and declaring to all that he's going to have a look at the outback as he heads out of the motel room. A moment later he's back asking "Where's the outback?"

And so we carry on through Sale. Not shopping but enjoying our visit all the same.

We are Melbourne-bound!

Friday, October 3, 2008

On the Ground

Well, we made it. Landed in Sydney 3 days ago. Left Vancouver in a whirlwind of good intentions and goodbyes. Rushing through last minute instructions to family and friends who graciously offered to deal with the shrapnel of our departure. I don't even know what's been forgotten or left undone. I know we'll find out eventually . . .

Our flight was great thanks to having an 'inside connection'. Once the kids were happily plugged in to their personal TV's (took Ethan about 2 minutes to figure out all the controls!), flight attendant Marilyn escorted Martin and me to first class where we were treated to 'bed pods', champagne, great meals with real cutlery, blessed sleep!, and a continuous update on our 3 little people who were left on there own to slum in economy class. Thanks Marilyn, economy class will never be the same!

Our non-stop flight was 15 hours and after our arrival and spending 5 hours in the airport trying to book, arrange, find accommodations, we headed into town with our 3 little people and 15 suitcases in tow. We generated a few looks along the way - me or Martin pushing two luggage dolly's at a time or me pushing two along with the help of Ethan & Patrick (not great steerers!) Seems everything arrived safe and sound.

Here's a few quick observations & tidbits from our adventure so far:
  • Patrick indicating there was nothing good left to watch on the in-flight television as he'd watched everthing. When I asked he admitted 14 hours of non-stop television was maybe a bit too much!
  • Don't shop in airport gift shops for a camera replacement - they run about 33% higher in price than an in-town shop!
  • Don't assume a bank draft issued in Vancouver on a Sydney bank will be honoured by the exact branch in Sydney the draft is issued from!
  • Weekends, stat holidays and the Sydney soccer equivalent of the Grey Cup weekend make it difficult (understatement) to shop for and purchase a vehicle.
  • First Australian wildlife observed: an ibis, followed a few hours later (at dusk) by flocks of giant (seagull-sized) bats flying overhead.
  • Best aussie phrase heard so far; Australian equivalent for a man's speedo swimsuit - a 'budgie smuggler'!
The dream has begun but the stress continues . . . still on the list; purchase vehicle, computer and cell phone. Drive 1500 km to Melbourne to catch Thursday night ferry to Tas.

Goal: To arrive safely in Tas with a few dollars in our pockets . . .