Christmas is a coming ....

Am still struggling to adjust the time difference and my body is definitely running on WA time which means I am up all hours and do not rise until the crack of 9 or 10am NZ time.

Am slowly reconnecting to 'old' Waiuku. Went to the Form 2 (yr 8) social held at Waiuku Primary on Tuesday night. Talk about memories abounding as my sister Kay who teaches the yr 8's had taught them dances such as the valetta, dashing white sergeant, maxina, three step polonaise and the waltz, which we learnt back in the day when we were in Form 2 (yr 8). She had also taught them the dance from Saturday Night Fever and several rock and roll numbers from Grease which went down a treat. Even a couple of songs for the old dances sounded familiar - and we had records on a record player in my day and not music through an Ipod, played through an amplifier!!!!!!. The F2 social was a total rite of passage (40 yrs ago, LOL) and learning the dances was the highlight of the (then) third term. I had a new dress made especially and was alowed to pick the material for it myself, lol. I thought I was very smart at the time. Our social was held at the Girl Guide and Scout hall as neither View Rd nor George St schools had a hall. Our first dance started with all the girls having to put one shoe in the middle of the hall and you had to dance with whichever boy grabbed your shoe. Needless to say, the boy who I had the first dance with had made sure he knew which was my shoe...... I reminded Kay about that and laughed because some of the girls this year never wore shoes throughout the whole evening so it would have been wasted on them. All the students seemed to enjoy themselves and it was like watching a more chaotic version of dancing with the stars, lol.

On Thursday night I went to the Otaua Church Christmas Service, which I walked to from my sister's place. The tiny church was packed and it was a very interactive service with local children acting parts of the nativity story and great congregation participation - the story, as it unfolded, being interspersed with Christmas carols. It was great to catch up with some Otaua identities (people that have known our family since my grandmother's time, LOL), one lady indeed (87 yrs old), remembered Kay and I going to Church in Waiuku on a regular basis as young children with our grandmother and I remember HER mother as she gave me a card for my birthday one year!!!

Everyone repaired to the local school across the road for port and nibbles after the service which is also an annual tradition and another chance to catch up with folk. I had taken friend Viv and her son out to the service and after a coffee and debrief at Kay's I took them home. On the way, we detoured several miles to see two Christmas light displays that put Mum and Clive's into the shade for size and spectacle.



I loved that in the middle of farmland, these two houses are lit up for miles and are a sight to behold.

I went to Pukekohe today and was amazed how quick and easy it was, lol. No kangaroos to watch out for and no birds trying to commit suicide! I did see a rat running across the road tonight and a pheasant on the way out to pick up Viv so we do have livestock, just not so life threatening,lol.

Gotta know I am back in NZ when I get to see a tribute to Sir Howard Morrison on the telly. Mum had taped it and we watched it last night and loved it. Two of his original quartet used to sing at the Towers (a nightclub in Rotorua) along with the resident band (who I used to hang out with) back in the day when I was waitressing in Brent's Hotel. Had a chuckle at some of the memories that bought back and it was great to see everyone looking so good as this is going back 32yrs!!!!! Also got to hear the very tail end of Paul Holmes's last breakfast session on Friday, after 22yrs. Tributes were paid to him from far and wide and I wonder how many other radio personalities around the world would have an immediate past and current prime minister in attendence at their farewell.

The first week is already over and it has been a very relaxing one. Have done no Christmas shopping yet so will probably have a meltdown early next week. Have caught up with another primary school friend today who was back in Waiuku for Christmas and have had several phone calls from other friends who I hope to catch up with in the New Year. Have just had some excitement as the police helicopter has been circling overhead for nearly half an hour with lights sweeping the ground. It had been circling for about five mins when the next thing I knew, Kay had skyped me (why phone when you can skype, LOL) to find out what was happening, so Mum has been outside trying to spot which direction the helicopter is flying as I am relaying the news to Kay via my laptop which just happens to be on my knees as I type! I was surprised no one had a scanner on to try and find out what was happening, LOL. Kay has some way of finding out where all the fire calls are in town (we have a volunteer brigade). Some might call this nosey but we prefer to think of it more as community spirit and keeping a finger on the pulse of things heh, heh.

Hot Town, Summer in the City

Not!!! LOL. Am sitting on the couch at Mum's looking out the window at the tide which is full in. The sky is grey, it is very windy and the tidy is grey/brown and choppy- not hugely inspiring. I am still in night attire with winter dressing gown on though do not need sox on feet, LOL. It's nearly midday NZ but of course only 7.45am WA time so in fact got up early this morning having been up for nearly 2 hours. Hopefully I will get the time difference sorted out by tomorrow.

Had a very nice evening yesterday (that sounds a bit irish to me but you know what I mean). I went to the annual Christmas party for the Kariaotahi District held at the old Kariaotahi School and had a great time. The school has been the community gathering space since it closed over 30 years ago and always brings back lots of memories as I went there from aged 5 for the next five years.

The place was decorated with tinsel, balloons etc with a REAL Christmas tree where the old fire place used to be. My sister Kay and I went along and arrived in time to see the local children in attendence playing some games (musical chairs etc) before the arrival of Santa. As per the last 50+ yrs, our neighbour Noel Bulte was playing his saxaphone joined by daughter (and friend) Viv on the guitar. Got caught up in a game of statues but wobbled when it was time to stand on one leg, though Kay did better than me for another couple of rounds, LOL.

The beauty of attending these gatherings is the catching up of people you have known all your life and the possibility of meeting new people to the district. I met up with a 'girl' I haven't seen for over 35yrs who has come back to Waiuku to live. She lives on her family property which can be seen from the sunroom of our old family home, so my future old age community is growing, LOL. One of her sisters has taught with Kay so the links continue. It is wonderful to see the old traditions have endured - we had to practice Jingle Bells numerous times to get it loud enough so Santa knew where to come - I can remember doing the very same at 5, 6, 7, 8 and 9 yrs,LOL. Santa this year had previously introduced himself to me as growing up on my great grandfather's property that was up our road. His parents were sharemilkers and his younger brother was in the same class as me for awhile. We had Santa give out parcels in between a finger food dinner and desert and then it was time for a coffee followed by and a beer and a yarn with a mate of my brothers' . Not a bad first night home.

Called into friend Viv's for a coffee and debrief of the evening on the way home and caught up on some of the most recent family birthdays via photos on the laptop. Also saw photos of the Waiuku Christmas parade held the previous day. Mum and her Red Hat group won 2nd prize in one of the categories with their float. They have won a placing every year they have entered!!!!! Go the Red Hatters, LOL. As we drove back into town saw some of the Christmas lights - the Norfolk Pine town Christmas tree, the Fire Brigade buildings and then of course Mum and Clive's. I am not sure how much of the National grid they have tapped into but if I say you could probably read a book outside in the dark, you will get my drift. The highlight is possibly the sled with several reindeer on the front lawn this year. Clive has been decorating the house for Christmas as part of a competition for several years now and as the house is at the end of a cul de sac, the traffic is phenomenal as the season gathers momentum. The houses entered are published in the local newspaper so people can go for a drive at night and not miss anything.

Got my highest score on tetris last night and got Mum hooked into it. She beat my score that took me a week to reach from when I first started!!!!!! Obviously not as spatially challenged as I am when it comes to fitting shapes into spaces to fill all squares required!

Have just booked tickets to Wellington in Jan to catch up with No 1 son and family. As luck would have it, there was a sale on tickets when I opened my email this morning so was glad I hadn't booked earlier.

Am feeling a might peckish - will go foraging for sustenance as I can have breakfast in Oz time and lunch in NZ time heh, heh. Gotta love this festive season.

The Eagle has Landed!!

Well, here I am back again in NZ - touched down just after 5am NZ time this morning. The last week passed pretty much in a blur. The beginning of the week involved writing, correcting and signing reports, cleaning up the last of the things left behind, plus cleaning and sorting our living area in the boarding house.

Wednesday was the staff end of year dinner which was very nice. It was catered and served by several local ladies - one of whom was my favourite librarian! Highlight of the evening was once most folk had gone, the boss got our DP to cook up some kangaroo for a late supper (around midnight, lol). He had prepared it with herbs and spices including a touch of chili so had a very warm mouth but found it OK to eat. It was cut in decent sized chunks - about 1 - 1 1/2" square and not unlike beef in texture but perhaps a little more dense in structure. (it was late at night so that is about the best I can do to describe it, lol).

Thursday was spent mainly cleaning my place, getting washing and ironing up to date and I changed the lounge around - ok, I moved the TV to a different wall and visa versa with a couch - it has opened the lounge up and feels more user friendly I think. I put my ham on to bake mid morning after scoring the skin with a knife, then putting cloves into the skin, followed by pineapple rings secured by a cherry and toothpick in the middle of each circle. I then sprinkled brown sugar over the whole lot with a small amount of pineapple juice in the tray and baked for the next few hours. The WM had scoffed at me decorating said ham but OMG, it was delicious (the very surprised words out of her own mouth, LOL). We had the ham, a small roast of lamb and a roast of beef with roast vegies and greek salad for our 'christmas' dinner which we shared with one of our cooks and a colleague that the WMH co - teaches with. It was a great dinner and not a very late night as I was still trying to sort packing out.

Friday I got to go to Gton and do my Christmas shopping for the Oz brigade and to get some more Christmas cards. I had the WM's car while she had her hair streaked so was able to browse to my heart's content and found I haven't completely lost my talent for shopping or a bargain, LOL. Of course, I seem to have bought myself several things along the way - as you do - amongst all the other bits and pieces.

We didn't get back to school until 6pm so had my last dinner (more ham) with the entire WM's family as the girls came back with us from their boarding school, then after a game of cards, went home to wrap the rest of my parcels and to finish off the other 101 things I needed to do. I was completely over the whole packing thing in the end and to my cost - just threw things in regardless. I finally got to sleep around 1.30 to get up at 5am to leave school at 6.30am for the airport.

Ended up by having two bags plus laptops (had to bring one back to get fixed) and my back pack so got charged $24 for overweight luggage and had to put the laptops in the hold because I was only allowed to have one piece of hand luggage for Sky West in Gton. Grimmaced but thought OK can deal with that - it was $3 per kilo overweight and I think they only charged me for the bags as the laptops and handluggage was overweight as well. Hopped on the plane and woke up in Perth. Found a trolly just inside the door so nabbed it - they are usually locked in lines outside the door and in Perth it costs $4 to use a trolly!!!!! My next challenge was going to the loo ( I know, the familiar theme of all my travel, LOL). What to do - I could not leave my luggage unattended (did not want to be arrested as a terrorist before I got out of the country or to have my luggage blown up!) and because of the shape and amount of it, there was no way I was going to squeeze into the ladies. Just as I was starting to feel a bit desperate, I had a lightbulb moment and thought, aha, the handicapped loo - the only place with a door wide enough for me and said bags to get through - and all was resolved.

The next challenge was that I could not check my luggage in until 3 hours before boarding and as it was 10am when I arrived in Perth domestic terminal, 11am by the time I got to the International airport (by shuttle bus) and my flight was not until 6.50pm, I had some time to kill. I decided to start on my Christmas cards and spent a good two hours on them, posting a pile just outside the door, then read for awile. One of the Brs was already in Perth and he had offered to pick me up for a while if I wanted so did just that. It meant loading all the luggage in his car so as not to leave it behind, and then we found the Belmont shopping area not far from the airport so I was able to have some lunch there.

This shopping area is the equivalent of a small town, all under the one roof, and if I could have, I would have gone crazy as the variety and amount of tempting goodies was just that, VERY tempting but I am glad I resisted. Got back to the airport about 5pm and checked in my luggage. Because of the weight and whinging about my hand luggage at Gton, I had rearranged some of my stuff and repacked it in one of my bags. Imagine my SHOCK at reading Air NZ charges - $20 per overweight kilo. And, wouldn't you know it, they never weighed my hand luggage or laptops (which were now lighter by several kilos that in turn made my two main bags equal 10k overweight). I think the fact they nearly needed to use a defibrolater to help me cope with the shock ( had already done the maths in my head $200!!!!!) meant that was all I had to pay. I was over the whole thing of it all by then and just paid the money with the words 'theiving b%@###'s' running through my head. If I had thought about it I would have repacked a good amount of stuff back into my backpack and put the extra laptop with my other one in the laptop bag and I would have probably only been 5K overweight. (I had also put on extra clothing that I packed in Gton for cooler weather and drunk two bottles of water I had in my back pack, less the cards I had posted too). So be warned any other travellers out there, do not make decisions when you are too tired to be bothered or to think carefully, because it can cost you.

Even though Air NZ is a 'thieving pack of b**%@###'s, I have to say the flight was excellent. After travelling on Virgin Blue from Sydney to Perth in a space that meant you felt like a cricket with your knees nearly folded up around your ears to fit, I momentarily felt like I was in first class by comparison. I was able to stretch my legs out fully under the seat in front of me which was fantastic. I was also very impressed with the new and improved entertainment set up in the back of the seat, that included the remote to same set in the back of the seat as well, instead of tucked into the side of the arm of the seat which is what I have experienced in the past. There was an excellent choice of music to listen to so loaded up a whole lot of songs and settled to read my book. Managed to finish it just before my eyes gave out completely, grabbing about 1 hours sleep when all the lights came on in the plane and we were half an hour out from landing. Landed to 'Eclipse' from Pink Floyd's 'Dark Side of the Moon' playing in the headphones.

Am seriously impressed with the new and improved Auckland International airport. Even though there were multitundious people disgoring from several planes, it took less than 30 mins to get through customs, buy duty free grog, collect luggage, go through more customs and xrays to reach the arrival lounge. Lots of space, lots of people working so lots of queues that moved very efficiently. Loved coming back through the carved lintel/doorway along the corridoor into customs then seeing so many Maori and Polynesian faces which is distinctively Auckland and NZ.

Kay and Viv arrived a short while after to pick me up and it was back to Mum's for breakfast with various family members that turned up. Have to admit to needing a Nana nap by 10 am NZ time as I had been about 22 hours awake and was starting to feel it.

Oooops I did it Again

Confessions about a new toy - I have found the game tetris on facebook and it is as addictive as any other game you can find, even though I am fairly hopeless at it, LOL. It involves arranging a variety of shapes to interlink to fill a line, not easy for the spatially challenged, LOL. I am currently on 19,000 odd points which is the equivlent of having training wheels on and someone holding the bike, LOL. Move over mahjong!

Well, D day has finally arrived and we put the last of the girls on the bus for the airport this morning. Yesterday we had the end of term Mass (2nd Sunday in Advent) followed by graduation which would be the equivalent of prizegiving. Speeches, prizes and people waiting through it all for lunch before heading away. The Bishop of Geraldton was present for both events and it was the final school farewell for the Principal on behalf of the students.

I cannot believe I have done a whole school year and it is a novelty to reach the end of a year and not be exhausted! I was on duty for the weekend and we had a BIG clean up which meant very little left to do today. After farewelling the Kimberly mob, the WM and I wrote our reports - all 24 of them in between the odd coffee and various sustenances. My preferred favourite of the day has been left over lamingtons from yesterday - so covered in coating, they are still moist 24 hours later and the cream is still fresh (they have been in the chiller and then our fridge, heh, heh). There are still some to go but will leave them for tomorrow - maybe, LOL.

Tomorrow will proof read our reports, with a clear head after a good night's sleep and then will move all my stuff back to my house from the boarding school and clean our rooms out. Wednesday there is a staff meeting followed by a staff dinner and then Thursday I am having our Christmas dinner up the the WM's. No doubt Friday will take care of itself and then Saturday it will be off to Geraldton to fly home reaching NZ at at 5.30am all going well.

Good news - for the first time since getting broadband, I am under my useage - yay even with using the internet heaps so am well pleased with that which is a nice change from all the trauma of the last few months. Am up at the WM's place at the moment - had dinner with them tonight and am watching Karate Kid out the corner of one eye. I had a laugh before as most of my visits involve bringing my laptop either to skype or to work some problem out. They have good reception at their place which is a bonus. We are often on line at the same time which reminds me of days gone by when I would go to the next door neighbours and lie on a bed opposite my friend - both of us with our noses stuck in a book, and then going home having had a great day. Only the technology has changed, LOL.

It's now 6 sleeps to go!

Not thinking clearly, LOL.

Have just locked the keys in the ute so could spit and snarl. My library book, LAPTOP, clothes, handbag and all sorts of vital bits and pieces that I lug backwards and forwards each week are tucked safe inside!!!! I feel like a limb is missing so next best thing is to pause in the staff room on the way home to check email and update blog! (Luckily, I do have two of everything, including books, excepting laptop of course).

Did the vegie run today sans vegies. Will have to come up with a new name for the run as we are no longer getting vegies for staff because we were not purchasing enough. Had a good drive in - had a truck with wide load come towards me on the way into Mullewa, did about a mile with nothing to see, then hello, had to take to the very side of the road as this small truck with two behemoth grain silos on top of the tray took up the entire width of the road. In the not only but also realm, the silos also had wheels at each side of the structures, that were both sides of the truck. I have never seen anything like it and was too slow to take a picture!

I cannot believe how much the countryside has changed in three weeks. There is lots of stubble in paddocks where the wheat has been cut. Where canola grew, it's back to bare dirt. There is not a blade of green anywhere except for shrubs and trees that are perennials on the sides of the road or in the odd paddock. The red dirt is starting to show more as the cape weed and all the wild flowers have died off. The pond either side of the road about 10k away has dried out to tussocky grass and is white with salt that is sitting there since all the water evapourated. I wonder where the pied stilts, heron, ducks, etc have moved off to.

It was cool this morning - had a cardigan on again as it was overcaste and windy. It actually rained while I was in Gton for about 10mins but nothing out this way. Went to pick up a part for one of the buses from the garage we deal with and got given a tin of buscuits for the office and a box of beer for the Brs. The bloke there asked me whether they would want VB or Tuis? I immediately said, Yeah, right! how on earth did you get NZ beer over here and cracked up laughing when he handed me a box of Tooheys!!!!!!! Yeah, right indeed, LOL.

I bought a small ankle of ham today for $26 - it said is was a leg but its only about 6" worth so think they are a bit extravagant with the description, LOL. Also got a small roast of hogget and some chops for $14.00 which is a bargain as you usually have to offer up your first born to buy lamb over here. Am cooking the hogget tomorrow up at the WM's place for dinner and saving the ham for next week when we will do a Christmas type dinner before we all head away. I bought some glace cherries (apologies to the purists but they are glace real cherries) and toothpicks to decorate the ham before I bake it with the brown sugar and whatnot topping recipe that Dad used to use.

I felt several urges to buy Christmas pressies today but cannot transport anything back this year as have one large item I am dragging back that I bought before I came home last time!!! (organisation in the extreme). The upside is a bit of a spending spree when I get home hopefully with a good exchange rate in my favour, LOL.

Will sign off now, the moon is a reasonably sized sickle with Saturn and Venus dropped down and to the left now. The milkyway out here is something else again. I tried to video it the other night and walked into a bush for my trouble as I was trying to do a 360o sweep with my head tilted back looking in the screen to see if it was picking up what I could see with my own eyes. Managed a good scratch to the leg instead. I suppose I should be thankful that is all that happened, LOL.

PS: Thursday morning (here) I have passed the 1000th reader!!!!!!!!!! Yay. Even taking off me checking a couple of hundred times and the ever faithfull Mum, Kay, Viv,Laura, J&J who leave comments, thank you to them and to those silent readers out there, you are all much appreciated.

Here and There

Have been back at school for a week since the big trip so have had time to reflect on a few things. I still like Sydney - it seems bigger than when I first visited 20yrs ago - go figure - but any ferry trip on the harbour is still magic, and you can walk a long way round Circular Quay, the Rocks, the Opera House, Botanic Gardens, onto the Barracks and Hyde Park relatively easily (and if you are reasonably fit, to do so, LOL). So a bit touristy and a bit of culture (I know, and you thought the Aussies didn't have any ...LOL)- forgot the Art Gallery as well, and then there is the eateries with a variety of foodstuffs from a range of ethnic cooking - what more could a person want.

I was pleasantly surprised to have enjoyed Canberra after my memories of a bleak dormitory city all those years ago. There is a wealth of touristy and cultural things to visit with Lake Burley Griffin being a focal point of the city with easy access to the above. The Institute of Sport was outstanding and I am sure if you were a sports person (a real stretch for my imagination, LOL)this would be the place to aim for. I found a new food that I liked in their dining room, called Bircher muesli (I had never heard of it before). I googled it last week and it is basically rolled oats and dried fruit soaked in apple juice over night with yoghurt, honey, lemon juice, and slivered almonds/pumpkin seeds added the next morning. I had lashings of it with FRESH blueberries and raspberries each morning I was there and did not feel peckish again until late afternoon heh, heh.

Last week kind of passed in a blur. We had very sad news on Friday. One of our boys lost his 5 yr old brother in an accident when a truck hit him while he was riding his bike. Four of our girls who are close cousins have been away since. We said prayers that night in Mass for the families concerned reflecting on how quickly things can change. Also said prayers for the people in Mumbai. One of our staff has a niece living there and was finding it difficult to get any news of her.

During Mass which was the first one for Advent, we lit an advent candle and had two Christmas carols - one of which I had to sing in front of the lecturn with another staff member to lead the school - Angels from the Realms of Glory with the lonnnnng Gloria in exclesis Deo bit in it. Went into boarding school choir mode and could almost hear Miss Hutton say it was all right, (as I managed to get the right notes and timing to the backing CD) which was reasonably high praise for her - a well done girls was up there with winning a gold medal, LOL. This week it will be Silent Night and O Come all ye Faithful which are two of my favourites. No 9 lessons and carols out here but a Christmas Play on Sunday before graduation instead!!

Went to Geraldton on Saturday for a quick run and noticed several trees with bright orange flowers blooming along the roadside and in several paddocks. Apparently, it is the Geraldton Christmas tree! I have taken a couple of photos but will try for better ones tomorrow when I do the vegie run. Got back from town and went to the WM's place for a gargantuan Pork Roast and Pavlova dinner which was very yummy indeed. I learnt a new card game called scumbag which I played with the WM's family after dinner (and won) before settling back to watch the movie "Mama Mia". I have not seen the stage show which I am told is brilliant. Once I got my head around Meryl Streep singing and dancing and Pierce Brosnan singing, I enjoyed the movie that is light on story line but with some very corny funny bits - loved Julie Waters in her role.

Opened my emails on Sunday to see a photo of No 1 granson with his arm in a sling and the news that he has broken his elbow! I rang and talked to him and his Mum while his Dad was out buying button shirts as tee shirts are to hard to get on for the moment. According to grandson, he was running and fell over with his arm falling on the floor and he fell on his arm. He had two xrays (and a night in hospital) and the elbow bit had separated - he now has wires in his arm and is getting a new plaster caste today. Sounded fairly horrific as accidents often do when you are far away. Not to be outdone, our office lady fell over at basketball that morning dislocating the fingers on her left hand and breaking a finger to the point a bone was sticking out. I had thought of going in that day to watch but decided to stay here and cook dinner instead which is just as well. The basketball people did nothing so it was the WM and the WMH who rang the ambulance and did the most basic of first aid until the ambulance arrived. As of yesterday afternoon she had finally been admitted to a ward in Perth Hospital but no op to get things right yet. She had to fly down to Perth without any nurse or family, carrying her own bag in the uninjured arm, even though she had a cannular in it and was in pain, then had to catch a taxi to the hospital. Makes Middlemore and Waikato almost look good by comparison. It was Geraldton Hospital that sent her to Perth so not a comforting thought that the nearest hospital for anything major is that far away.

Six sleeps to go until the students depart and 12 more till I get back to NZ. I hear the temperatures are in the high 20's. Yesterday we were a warm to the bone 38o and the last two nights, have taken the blankets off the bed and down to a duvet instead. Am still wearing jeans in the mornings which can be cool but am wearing short sleeves and 3/4 length pants especially when outside. Have not got to the sweat dropping off the eyelids heat band yet - that tends to be 40+o.

The harvest is going well - I think Bro said 3,000 ton so far - most days doing over 200 ton which was the entire crop last year. I was talking to one of our staff the other day who also farms with her husband. She was saying someone in the district onsold their wheat for $400 ton last year which has wiped out all their debt, got them seed for next year with a bit left over. The roads are still busy with wheat trucks though on the farm, it should all be over by next week. We are still having days with cloudy skies and wind - like today and it is the coolest start to summer that this area has had in 6 years that the boss has been here.

Do not know what I will be watching on TV tonight. 'All Saints, Packed to the Rafters, Home and Away, and Finding our Families have all finished for the year - which I feel is a week or two early and so the silly season will start here with very average programming going on. I see where NZ did well on the first day of cricket but were getting a hiding yesterday. I also see where NZ won a World Cup for Rugby League - that one passed me by completely. I only know of the Warriors playing league and it wasn't them - this is when I feel totally out of the loop, LOL. I know the All Blacks played in London (and won) on Saturday night because friend Phil from Waiuku days had a seat in the corporate boxes to see the game and had skited several times on skype about being there!!!

Am ready for a coffee now so will sign off. Vegie run tomorrow. Catch you later.

Last day and home sweet home!

Monday again and everyone a bit slow off the mark. Had to be packed, breakfasted and up to the bus pickup spot - to load up the bus at 7.30am (our program) with the bus arriving at 8.30am!!! We were dropped off at Martin Place directly across the road from Channel 7 who were recoding The Morning Show (Sunrise) live!! In one fell swoop we crossed the road to gather, as a crowd was forming to see a car being given away in some competition, while we watched. We ended up on LIVE NATIONAL TV!!!!!!!!! Apparrently it is quite common for the "stars' of the show to come out and mingle with the crowd at the end of each show which you can see being taped through the windows in the building and today was such a day. They came out armed with screeds of promo photos and were happy to sign them as well. In between taping the car segment, we got asked where we came from and then in the following segment got a mention. The WMH got rung and woken up ( 2 hours behind Sydney) and told to immediately tape the program on TV (which he did) and we have several quick shots of students and one of the staff being an idiot behind the guy who won the car (as you do). I recognised a few of the "stars" and got autographs from Mel, Beretta, Koshe and then a separate photo and signature from James Tobin *small squeal* (also from Dancing with the Stars). Half of them mean nothing to me (except James who seems a lovely boy) but now know who is who as many of these folk appear on other programs or news segments during the week as well. Lots of the group got photos with the stars and I have some video of the event which was a highlight for the students and an unexpected bonus indeed.

This helped to cope with the next tour,, to the Reserve Bank Building where we had a presentation re Australian currency notes at the Museum of Currency Notes within the building. The presenter was as dry as you can imagine and most of the information went way over our heads but there were some interesting bits. I also remembered what the Commonwealth Science & Industrial Research Organisation were famous for - creating polymer which is what the Aussi notes are made of and which they sold to NZ for our notes in the 90's (along with 21 other countries to date). (CSIRO also invented disposable contact lenses amongst other things). We saw designs of notes that never made it to printing and notes that were used in days gone by and got told how they picked the designs that finally made todays notes.

Had some down time after that so found a coffee shop while the girls looked about. Walked up Castlerealgh (sp?) street with all the flash shops - Tiffany's, Jimmy Choo, Gucci, Louis Vuitton etc and dribbled as we went past their windows. Got picked up by the bus again and dropped of to Circular Quay for lunch and our last trip which was a 'Harbour Highlights Cruise on the Captain Cook ferry. Had a good two hours on the tide and went up to Darling Harbour as well including going past Kirribilli - the PM's residence and the Governor General's residence next door, and homes of the rich and famous at various spots around the harbour.

We still had a bit of time up our sleeves so went for a walk through "The Rocks" for the girls to do some last minute shopping. Found this little shop that made old fashioned boiled lollies while you watched. They started making a kind of toffee and then threw it over and over a hook to turn it white. It then got cut into rectangles and had blue stripes of toffee interspersed with more white oblongs and then it got put through this machine which cut them into small boiled lollies - very impressive and we all got to try one. We had to cut the visit there short as we were due back at the bus to finally head to the airport.

Flew back here Virgin Blue so no movies etc or anything unless you paid for it. I got into the seat, put my seat belt on and promptly fell asleep - have no memory of take off at all. Woke up with about two hours left to fly so read and dozed for the rest of the flight. Landed about 9.30pm WA time and then waited (in Dome as previously mentioned) until 11.30pm until the WM arrived on the boys' flight, with the PE teacher who was driving us back to school. OMG what a long trip!!!! We got petrol just out of Perth and McD's to keep us going and off we set in the pouring rain. We took turns to drive - I managed about 40k from Carnarvon to Three Springs but really none of us should have been on the road. Kept awake mostly from Three Springs to just before our turnoff to help keep the PE teacher awake.

Needless to say, I walked through the door, dropped my bags, dropped my clothes, threw on some night attire and hit the pillows and then slept for 12 hours. The WM rang me and sent hubby down to pick me up for dinner and after All Saints, went back and went to bed only getting up yesterday to hang some washing out and finally at 2.30pm to get ready to go to work again. Here endeth the trip.

Sunday in the City

Once again the technological bug struck, and another post completely lost this time - am not a happy camper at all. Hopefully I can recreate it in proper fashion again.

Sunday began with rain and a tour of the Opera House. I had walked around it 20+ yrs ago but did not inside as it was being set up for an exhibition of some sort. We had a guide walk us through the building, three video snippets to watch as we went around, and got to see theatres where the symphony plays, opera and ballet are performed and choirs sing, plays, stand up comedy and the like is performed. Each had a different roof for the accoustics required and all stages can be performed on without aid of a microphone. The Sydney Opera House is one of the most recognised buildings in the modern world (recognised by two thirds of the worlds population). We saw a bloke tuning a Grand Piano in the symphony theatre and one of our staff sang in the choir/acting theatre and we got the funniest story from the opera/ballet theatre. There is a net over the orchestra pit, put up there after an opera performance that included live chickens on the stage. It transpired that one of the chickens got a bit nervous and fell off the stage onto the head of a celloist beneath and did what nervous chickens do at the same time. The net is said to be 80 chicken proof weightwise and is there to prevent any further nervous chickens falling into the pit, LOL. There are a 1000 rooms in the Opera House that includes changing rooms and various cupboards and 200 steps in and around the builing in the tour we did. It felt like a bit of a work out as we walked our way around. It would be wonderful to see an actual performance there but not to sure about the purple carpet throughout. There are magnificent views from all round the building from every angle. There was big excitement as we were arriving at the back of the building as the stage was being finished off outside for the final of Australian Idol happening that night.

We were meant to walk over the Harbour Bridge after the tour to Luna Park but it was still raining so most of us caught the ferry instead. I think three hardy types made it across - I walked over the bridge one New Year's Eve so did not feel robbed by not making the trip again. Luna Park still looks much the same as it did when it opened in the 1930's. Much of the decor is the same and paintwork is in the same stype. The place has much the same atmosphere as an A & P show or the Easter Show with sideshows and rides. First priority was lunch. Not being a scared to death, shaken to pieces sort of girl, I had taken a good book and planned to find a small warm space to sit and read/watch the world go by. I did do some of this but gave in to two rides. First was the Dodgems - I have never had a go at this but thought my old daredevil driving skills wouldn't go amiss and I wasn't wrong, LOL. Had to fold myself like a grasshopper to fit in and then with no instructions figure out what to do. There was an accelerator and a steering wheel and that was about it. I aimed for the gaps once the vehicles got moving and then shot towards anyone in my way - cutting people off and nudging them out of my way, managing to hit many students and a few staff along the way. Some of the senior boys thought they would wipe me out ... and they didn't! Very therapeutic indeed and lots of laughs.

The second ride was a total blast from the past - a go on the Merry Go Round. I had waited while the WM tried some death defying rollercoaster - twice - and then decided this was the ride to finish the day on. I nudged several small children out of the way to get the horse I wanted (the last time on a MGR I think was the Patuamahoe A&P show in 1967) and the WM got a large chicken beside me. The MGR is over a 100 yrs old and was imported from England - still very bright and with MGR music as well. Laughed most of the way round on that too and loved every minute of it. Not long after, it was back on the bus and over the Harbour Bridge back into the city and evening Mass at St Mary's Cathedral.

I realised I needed to go to the loo by then as I didn't think I would get through an entire service in one piece. I asked several people if they knew of toilets in the building, - no one did - so decided to head across the road to Hyde Park to use the public facilities there. All ready to go and %%%% the notice on the door said out of order. Feeling not a little under pressure, I decided to venture further into the Park as we had had our lunch over the other side of said park earlier in the week and I was sure there would be another loo in that direction. By now I was feeling seriously uncomfortable and after passing a wedding group having photos and some exhibition of African somethings (was moving at a fast clip by now and could not take in details), I finally espied another loo to the right and over a bit, on the corner of two roads with the Cathedral in the background (I had almost gone in a circle). Gathering money out of my purse to be ready to expedite matters on reaching the loo, everything was now clenched and small beads of perspiration breaking out on brow as by now I had had to pass two fountains to reach my objective (women of a certain age will appreciate how I was feeling, LOL). Eureka, there was the door, but wait, the loo is still self cleaning after the last use. Eyes now bulging and everything else very clenched, as soon as the door FINALLY opened, I shuffled in, hit the close door button, dropped trews to the ground and bliss, - which lasted all of 3 seconds as whoosh, whilst in midflight so to speak, the door shot open again!!!!! What to do, what to do - leaned over and thumped the close door button several times and door FINALLY shut ever so slowly and all I could do was THANK GOD, no one from the group had come with me nor was there a queue waiting outside - just the main road and me in glorious state on the throne to an empty corner of the park (thank you, thank you). Fianlly, crossed the road back to the Cathedral to join the faithful entering only to find that several of our lot was missing - using the Cathedral loos!!!! The WM was in hysterics when I told her of my plight!

It took some time, but finally could appreciate the beauty of the building I was in. St Mary's is a brilliant example of gothic architecture with soaring pillars, arch windows with stained glass all down the sides of the building and two magnificent stained glass rose windows fore and aft of the building. Lots of wood and a massive organ which resonated through the cathedral and brilliant accoustics for the choir. The service was a sung evensong type Mass with several stations for communion (no wine only wafers at this one). It was very different to what we are used to here but I loved hearing the choir and organ. I lit a candle and put a few words up for family and friends, very reminescent of the European churches I visited. I stood well back as the holder was a similar design to the one I nearly self immolated when bumping into it in Italy, LOL). After the service we walked back to our accommodation and decided our lot would have an early night for the last day and the trip home the next day. One more day to go.

Sunday

There was more to Saturday!

I am sure I am possess by my own technological raincloud heh, heh, as I had written this brilliant post (OK am suffering from serious lack of sleep) and went to save it when everything froze and I could not seem to work out why, when I had four bars of green (meaning healthy amount of reception) I could not get contact with the outside world and the internet kept telling me there was a problem. Indeed!! I was trying to write my post whilst drinking cappucino in the Dome cafe at Perth airport and could only think that as it was pouring with rain outside that might have made the difference to transmission.(Picture extreme frustration!!!)

Anyway, the bit you missed... After heading back from shopping to a less than exciting meal at the Backpackers (deep fried chicken schnitzel, a sort of coleslaw and chips - the plate was groaning with grease) I managed to sort my lot out to go to the movies with another group whilst I met up with friend Val from Hamilton days (I told you I would give you an honerable mention, LOL). Had two hours which was sensibly spent at a very small cafe heavily foccussed on the most sinful looking deserts laid out tastefully in their fronticepiece cabinet. We did however start properly with a most healthy order of green leaves with pear slices and paremsan cheese salad that lulled the arteries into a false sense of appeasement, even having a glass or two of water. Then, hullo, a 'death by chocolate' experience for Val as she had a chocolate muffiny thing filled with liquid chocolate (after it was heated) and with a knob of chocolate on top. She did say if she had a heart attack on the spot to tell everyone she died happy, LOL. (Sorry Val, there are few secrets in cyber land). For myself, I chose an individually made strawberry cheescake with a tart sized base and about 3" high of strawberry creamy cheesecake filling with strawberry and cream on top, followed by a further shot to the system with a cappucino. (For those who are not family, bear with me, believe me, they will want to be able to share the tastes, LOL). It was great to catch up on all the collective news. Also to find out how my post is now also read by Val's work colleague who also reads my nieces blog (hungryandfrozen) who also watched the video done by the brother - in - law for the Otaua Village Preservation society and thought it was very good. So, our musings are being followed in the office of an outreach of the University of NSW!!! (by people of impeccable taste, LOL,) So, a big hello to Val's colleague too.

I had somehow switched the mobile ph off so when I realised the time, said goodbye to Val and went looking for my girls. They were safe and sound with other staff all playing on various game machines in a place called Timezone, adjacent to the Cinema. Most interesting picture of the night was seeing the WM and our PE teacher (also a kiwi) doing their moves on the dance machine where you stamp your feet on the squares that light up at your feet in time to whatever beat is happening. Move over Michael Jackson, LOL.

Rounded up all the students that were left (and the staff, LOL) and herded them to bed whilst sounds of sirens, traffic and usual big city sounds were going on outside our windows.

Saturday (spot the original titles, LOL)

Saturday dawned damp and cold - it had snowed somewhere near (100ks, LOL) and there was a freezing wind blowing as we arrived at the National Museum 3/4 hour early!!! Once the doors opened,it was bliss to get out of the wind. The National Museum if very architectural and modernly so. There was a woman who spoke to us about the sybolism of the building, why etc but couldn't hear a word she said. I think I got the bit that the Museum was a millenium gift from the commonwealth - maybe.

As museum's go, I thought it was a bit sparse. Parts of some of the displays were very interesting but it didn't feel as though there much flow and was more like an edited highlights version than a meaty, lots of relics type museum. Anyway, I have now seen Phar Lap's heart which was huge, a couple of hills hoists (rotary clothes lines for the uninitiated) and some victor lawnmowers along with an FJ Holden that were all in the social history part of the museum, along with a few more sporting trophies, a 1950's kitchen and caravan. There was quite a bit about the stolen generation with photos of indigenous people who had been taken from their own families with bits of their history since. I found that hard to read but very interesting.

Once our visit was completed there it was back on the bus, farewell Canberra and northwards to Sydney again. We stopped at this huge McDonalds about halfway there that was like a huge roadside eatery, with a petrol station next door and a small IGA a bit further on. It very much reminded me of the roadside eateries in Europe (still milking that trip, LOL)that we stopped at frequently for snacks and the loo. This place was large enough to serve 50 people on our bus in about 15 mins plus other patrons without the workers breaking into a sweat - it was that big.

It was about 3pm when we reached the ubiquitous Sydney Backpackers again. There was a quick unpacking and a bolt out of the door so the girls could get some shopping in before everything closed. The area of George Street we wandered about in was heavily Asian with either dress/trinket shops, food shops or a couple of shoe shops. As we walked round the block, I came across a mall type building that had all sorts and let the girls loose there. One of the things that took my fancy in the 'what next' category, was a stall/shop that was selling coloured shoelaces to go with some of the sneaker type footwear they sold and shoelace jewellry that you can slide onto the lace and keep held to the shoe as you then lace it up!!!!!!

Friday

Questacon was our first stop today. Again, an interactive venue that had an educational, scientific bent. My eyes glazed over the first part and chatted to one of the staff instead. The next bit was more interesting with models of a snake, crocodile, spider that moved - took video of that. Then there was this set up that replicated how a thunder storm built up which concluded with a brilliant lightening display (again on video). We went into a display that replicated being in a house whilst a 4.5 richter scale earthquake occurred. Doors flung open, shelves fell down culminating in a huge crack appearing in the wall of the kitchen that we were stood in. Have to say, I have felt worse jolts whilst living in Rotorua and I thought it was a bit tame, but the students enjoyed it. Had to move back from the spider exhibit as even though it was obviously fake, I think I have a cell memory implanted re spider shapes and could not go any closer. The spider reared back with its legs waving in the air as it was ready to pounce on another insect - ick.

The highlight of this place was the next floor that was set up like a fair ground. There was a roller coaster simulator, a row of clowns you could throw balls into their mouths, and various other side show type activities. I put my hand into 'Zoltan's' hand for my fortune to be told. I did it three times and got the same message so who knows, LOL. I thought I might have tricked it, heh, heh. There was another fortune telling stall that you pressed buttons to get a response and got several different answers there. Two other exhibits that most of the group enjoyed/were terrified by were a 5mtre drop down a slide that looked to be polished aluminium and a simulated guillotine where you put your head and hands into appropriate holes and felt the wind and heard the noise as the guillotine dropped. Needless to say, I tried neither, LOL. Both exhibits resulted in huge adrenelin rushes for those who participated - very much in the line of feel the fear and do it anyway, and go back for more (you got two shots at the drop which involved getting into a boiler suit and hanging by your hands from a pole that was the 5 m above a curved slide so the feeling was like free falling from yr optical senses even though you knew there was a slide to zoom down on as you fell - so I am told, and observed, LOL).

Following Questicon we moved onto the Australian War Memorial Museum which was a personal favourite of mine when I visited it over 20 yrs ago, and how it has changed with new exhibits and an enlarged collection of display items. The exhibits are Still outstanding and a total tribute to those who have fought, those who survived and to those who have fallen. I defy anyone to visit this museum and not be moved at least once by what they see and hear. There are wonderful interactive exhibits (new to me) such as a helicopter landing with a moving background movie running on two walls with the sound of the helicopter in full sense around sound. We sat in a section of a bomber plane going for a sortie over Germany and again felt the vibrations as it flew, opened the guns and dropped bombs, with lights from below shining up through the plane as we were being 'spotted' from the ground, this alongside a commentary from the crew as instructions were being passed from one to another, and then a follow up of memories of the flight from those who got back and survived. There was also a destroyer simulator that did a similar thing, you could feel the swell as the destroyer cut through the tide, again with commentary.

The diaramas that I remembered from my last visit were still there but seemed to be in a different display area as you would expect after 20+ years, still very moving, especially the one of the Somme which is part of my family history. There was one of the original boats that landed on the beach at Gallipoli - with bullet holes still in it. It is hard to comprehend some of the statistics with these battles and the incredible losses sustained. Our tour through the museum focussed on the technology that war inspired - gas masks, plastic surgery, types of clothing, transport and communications to name a few. Our guide had a passion for the information he was imparting which I think communicated to us all and the students asked lots of questions. He commented on my NZ accent and asked did I barrack for the Wallabies - only when they play South Africa, France, England etc and not in any particular order of preference but NEVER against the All Blacks heh heh!.

There was an amazing research room where you could look for any Australian relation who had been in any war, dead or alive. I spoke to one of the guides there and he said they are trying to get a photo of everyone of the 150,000 dead (to date) on their data bases. The youngest Aussi to die in any war was a 14 year old lad who threatened to run away from home if his parents did not allow him to join up - I think that touched our lot as many are around that age. The Vietnam War figured prominently in the displays which were new to me and a lot of acknowledgement of how badly the returned servicemen were treated on their return from Vietnam.




This is two views of Peter Corletts' Simpson and Donkey which is to the left of the main steps into the museum and one of the most famous images depicted around ANZAC day, from my memory.

If that was not enough, after our whistle stop tour of the Museum, we were back on the buses to Parliament House where we had a tour of the House of Representatives and a Tour of the Senate. This time the students had an interactive session in a room set up like the floor of the Senate with all the various roles such as Speaker of the House, PM, Ministers, Leader of the Opposition and their Shadow Ministers, Clerks of the Court and the one who carries the Mace and leads the Speaker in (mental lapse and cannot think of the name this time of night - 11.30pm). The teacher involved in this part of the tour then put the students through their paces opening a session, with a Member posing a bill, debate on the bill, a vote etc. It was very well done and it was interesting to see how the opposition team reacted to the 'govt' getting their bill passed. Everyone got right into the role play aided by scripted bits and then their tried their own skills in the debates.

The business part of the day concluded with a drive up Mt Ainslie to see the Telstra Tower. I had been there before and was knackered so as it was Telstra communications and I am so over them, I stayed with the bus and had a leisurely afternoon tea while the rest climbed up the tower and looked at the view.

Had an hour at Belconnen Westfield shopping centre after dinner and then it was goodnight sailor for the troops after a feature filled day.

What was I thinking!

I went to check in on my 'Thursday' post to see if there were any comments - which are the first thing I always go to - when I happened to notice that I had somehow finished the post in mid-stride so to speak - possibly because the WM and I have been doing 17 hour days and my brain was a little fried that day, LOL. I hope you have all been waiting with baited breath for the next installment!!!!!

The next stop was Government House (after the previously mentioned lunch on the Thursday post)- very flash gates with a gate house and guard to check cars in. We had two sick students who were in no shape to go on the tour so got them off the bus for some fresh air and I opted to stay with them. It would have been great to go and see the inside of the place but being a kiwi, thought it was better that the Aussies got to see their own place, LOL. I knew the WM would take photos (and she did,). Meanwhile, sat under some big old tree on GRASS and watched some crows being divebombed by some other birds while the two students started to come right. One of the students noticed that there was a clicking sound by the fence behind us and went to investigate only to find a small turtle stuck on an electric fence wire at the base of the fence and the clicks were the power shorting out as it was being shocked. One of the boys found a long stick (as you do) and managed to eventually flip the turtle off the wire onto its back and then managed to flip it over right side up, only getting a few shocks himself. We were not sure whether the turtle survived but after a minute or so, its foot started to come out of the shell which was great. On reflection, we were lucky not to have been accosted by a gun toting guard I suppose - poking around at the surround fence, in possibly terrorist activity, LOL. In fact a gardner person came over to check what we were up to and then liberated the turtle further back in the property - so that is as close as I got to the Governor General's residence.

Next stop after that was the Commonwealth Science and Industrial Research Organisation which is reasonably self explanatory. There were interactive parts for the students to have a go at - the bits that stick in my mind are seeing two sorts of stick insects, an aquarium of fish, some dead parrots stuck to a wall and for the life of me I cannot remember a single thing more about the place except they made a smashing cappucino and baklava, LOL. However the stop after that was riveting (was never a science buff as school, LOL)and this was much more me. We went to a place called Cockington Green and I can THOROUGHLY recommend it. It is set in beautifully planted grounds and all to scale throughout are English village houses and amenities showing all sorts of styles of architecture over the years and in different locales. Took masses of video but haven't checked it yet to see if it does the place justice. The detail was phenomenal, down to the vehicles parked at the houses, the animals and figures of people. There was a church with church bells ringing, house boats in a canal with horses pulling them, a hunt with a very Thelwell type horse sitting down being dragged up by the reins , with houses from basic, to castle, and everything in between. There was a miniature railway track with trains running through the place, a soccer ground with players and huge crowd in the stands with commentary and singing coming out of the speakers as you passed by. There was a miniature maze and stonehenge... but wait, there is more,... and then you get to the international part. OMG is all I can say.


This is a miniature Phillipina Butterfly House and one of the international houses to give you an idea. For NZ, there was Waitangi House (on video) with sheep on the front lawn which I thought was a bit of a dig!!

The detail is amazing throughout the display and the time we had did not do it justice. There was also a model railway running through the place that you could have a ride on which the students all seemed to enjoy.

Rain started to come in again as we headed back to the Institute for dinner, followed by the last half hour of 'Make me a Supermodel'. Will get to watch the full taped version (I hope) when I get back to school but the short version is - the bloke won (another memory lapse because I cannot remember his name). I think Shanina - a 17 yr old girl who had consistantly come top in most weeks challenges would have won, but she cheated in the third to last week and it did not look good.
It was a good unwind before getting everyone settled for the night.

Thursday in the Capitol

First stop off the rank this morning was the National Film & Sound Archives which I thoroughly enjoyed. The building has a distinctive art deco feel to it which kind of set the scene. We were taken into a small theatre and saw snippets of movies that had special significance to Aust. We saw a snippet of what is left of a 103yr old movie about Ned Kelly!!! which is the oldest piece of film they have in the archives. We saw a snip of a "Crocodile Dundee Movie", the wedding on "Neighbours" between Craig Mclaughlin and Kylie Minogue which is remains having the largest audience of all times for a single episode of anything (can't remember their character names), a montage of "Bandstand" episodes that were hilarious showing a very young Rolf Harris, Jackie Weaver, John Laws etc. My personal favourites were a clip of a women's woodchopping contest with some hearty fulsome types woodchopping in doubles with the old hand held saws whilst wearing dresses and and then the axe chopping again in dresses!!! The commentary was sexist to say the least and talked about 'Sheila's' chopping wood and when they had finished they could get back to the kitchen to cook dinner (chops, LOL). This was an actual news report that was played before a movie back in the day. Truely, it was a sight to behold. The second clip that had everyone in stitches was the clip from "Skippy", - how did we ever believe Skippy actually 'talked'. It was hilarious watching it with our kids because half of them wondered why the boy was firstly hugging a kangaroo instead of eating it, LOL. Ah those were the days when life was much more simple!!

We then moved into the interactive display part where you could see clips of all sorts of movies, tv programs and radio pieces. "Dr Paul" was on one set of the radio pieces (no one under 50yrs will know what I am talking about here, LOL) but did not get to hear that. There was a dress that Dame Nellie Melba wore, plus a friesan cow print suit that some rock and roller wore back in the 50's that caught my eye. The place is a veritable treasure and could have spent hours there. Not only have they featured Australian made movies, programs etc but any movie etc that an Australian has been in that may have had interest.

We had lunch at Commonwealth Park where the students could get rid of some energy on the playground equipement that was provided.

Yesterday ....

Was an interesting and long day. First stop on the way to Canberra, (pronounced Canbra according to the locals (Aussis) and spelt Kamberra originally by the indigenous people of the area) was at a little town called Berrima. It's claim to fame is that it is like a reproduction English Village (go figure, LOL) with lots of quaint shops and the oldest continuously licensed pub in Australia - OMG they could twin with the Kentish Hotel!!! (oldest continuously licensed pub in NZ that happens to be located in Waiuku - the old home town, LOL). There were lots of bakery/coffee shops serving devonshire teas etc, and gift shops of many and varied sorts. There was a fancy produce shop that sold olive oils, chutneys etc, several clothes/boutique type shops, an old fashioned lollie shop that truely had every variety known to mankind and maybe then a few more, and my personal favourite, a gift shop that had opened down stairs, next door, as a Christmas shop. The decorations and Christmas regalia were fascinating and it was like a magic fairy land (except it was Christmas but you get my drift). It had miniature villages, old fashioned looking ornaments and a variety of nativity scenes ranging from the cheap and cheerful,to some very expensive china sets that were rich in colour and form.

Finally got everyone back on the buses - you may be impressed, I bought nothing other than a coffee and two bananas!!! and headed on towards our destination. We were to have lunch in the gardens behind the Hyatt Hotel but it was raining and so ended up by eating in an underground bus, carpark!!!! Extremely salubrious, not! We then did a bit of a tiki tour around the main parts of Canberra and as the rain had ceased went to Lake Burley Griffin where we stopped for some fresh air and a run around for the students. There was a chap hiring out paddle boats and a lot of the group got out for a paddle on the lake while the rest of us enjoyed another coffee on dry land. The lake has a fountain in one part of it and that was going as we drove to where we stopped. The bus driver told us the fountain had enough pressure to hold up the bus three times over (useless piece of info #7498, LOL. The next useless piece of information was that every car registered in Canberra, ACT, starts with a Y!

Time to move and off we went to Old Parliament House where we had afternoon tea in the rose garden to the right of the building. No, we didn't have any HRH representatives there, but we had packets of buscuits and a drink supplied by the bus company who is doing our trip, to keep the kids going until dinner. We then had a tour of the Electoral Education Centre situated in Old Parliament House and watched another diarama with moving pictures of people in a 3D kind of way midst the props placed appropriately in the background. The Aussies seem big on this method of imparting info (refer back to oztrek). There was a bit of a potted history on Aussies and how they got the vote - must say, I nodded off towards the end and missed the last bit. We then went into an interactive area and the students got to look up a family member on the electoral roll and answer a couple of multi-choice quizzes on different aspects of voting. Next stop was another room where we were told the makeup of the local, state and federal governments. Think I zoned out in that bit as they were talking about things like senate and ... just remembered I zoned out so have no idea what that bit was on. Several students were then picked out and a mini election was held with scruitineers, ballot papers, voting booths, counting the votes, proportional voting etc so they got to walk through what it is like to vote. Hopefully, some of this information will stay with them. Over here as I have already mentioned, it is illegal not to vote! and you can get fined for not doing so.

We were the last ones there for the day and so finally got on the bus to our accommodation. We are staying at the Australian Institute of Sport!!!!!!! We have an entire wing and there are athletes staying here as well. I have a room to myself and am enjoying that, hence reading and doing this is not interfering with anyone else. After we unpacked and went to eat in the dining room where the athletes eat. OMG real food, brilliantly cooked - all lablelled as to its nutritional value. Real vegetables and a greek salad to die for. Not a processed piece of food in sight!!! I enjoyed every mouthful. No sooner was dinner over when we had our last tour of the day to Sportex which was a complex where there were interactive games to have a go at whilst surrounded by a veritable gallery of photos, medals and memorabillia of the best of the bes sportspeople Australia has had to the present day. There was a bat from Donald Bradman, one of Campo's rugby jumpers, Cathy Freeman's shoes to name a very few pieces. There were Olympic medals galore from Munich and Sydney that I remember. The kids really enjoyed there but we came to a sudden halt when one of the boys shooting basketball hoops, fell over someone else and dislocated his knee. He was taken away by ambulance and one of the staff went with him while the rest of us bought our various groups back and got them settled for the night. I think I got to bed around 11pm. Will call it a night now as it is the same time again and I have been up since 5.45am.

It has been raining on and off since we got here. There are parts of Canberra that remind me of driving into the city from Porirua. There are cycle paths all over the place and it looks as though the place has grown significantly in the last twenty years since I was here last. Then it was like a dormitory town. I was here on a Sunday and I saw one live person the entire day we were here and they were riding a bike. The place seemed beige and entirely shut for the day. The vegetation looks a lot more like NZ here, though there are plenty of gum trees, there are also birches, willows and pine trees. I saw hebes at Old Parliament House and thought they were in fact a Native NZ plant??? maybe not. I actually took a photo yesterday of the (unmown)lawn at Old PH because it was covered in clover. I had been staring at it for awhile, thinking, this doesn't look right and then ping, clover flowers!!! - real grass, LOL. The WM thinks I am crazy but after all the red dirt we see back in WA, its like being back in Kansas Dorothy!

Day 1 of Trip

The day dawned fine and warmish changing to impending thunder storms this evening so have gone through the whole gamut of temps today. Cardigan on and off, on and off, LOL. Breakfast was interesting this morning - it was cooked, in stages, no butter out to go with toast (which I cooked for our lot), not tea or coffee, had to ask for sugar to go with cereal and eventually got margerine to cover toast. The cooked part was processed bacon, cooked tomatoes, two sorts of eggs, sausages of some heavily processed sort, and mushrooms. There was ample juice and towards the end, pieces of cut apple and a bowl of candy canes - go figure.

Semi fortified by toast and scrambled egg and a coffee from Starbucks (one of the other staff did a run for the rest of us) and I was up waiting for the bus which happened to be outside a glorious second hand bookshop with what looked like end of lines that were new. Thankfully the bus came before I had too good a peruse, LOL. First stop was Sydney Tower and Oztrek. I had been up the tower last time I was here and it is a bit like the Eifel Tower (shameless name drop, LOL), once climbed, it's done. Today it was fine so did have a good view and Sydney is spectacular from that height. Oztrek involved sitting in a darkend room viewing a diarama that with the aid of technology had a couple talk/display four different aspects of Australian culture. Each time one interactive diarama was over, our seats moved in a circular stage kind of way and we were at the next post. This was followed by going into a small theatre and being seated in groups of four, with a hand hold bar that dropped down over us much the same as a ferris wheel bar and once again we were interactive with some dramatic scenic views of Oz. The bar was to hold you in place as the seats moved,swooping and juddering, diving etc much the same as a simulator for flying. Went from the rain forests, to the national parks, the ocean, and the outback with a few highlighted tourist areas in between. The girls did very well and screamed when we shot down the mouth of a crocodile in a swamp and dived into gorges, underwater etc. It took about 40 mins so was not a shabby, shortlived experience.

We left there and by bus headed to the Barracks. This has been a major restoration project since I last visited it over 20 yrs ago. Can you believe it, I was the only one out of 70 people who had been there before, and I am the Kiwi!!!!!!. The building has been pared back to the original roof and ceilings that had been covered by lowered ceilings over the years. There is the remains of the original lime wash which is over 200yrs old on the ceiling. The Barracks was where all the early convicts were housed on arrival in NSW. At one time 600 men were living in the building. As convicts slowed down being sent out to the colonies, the building then housed women settlers who arrived to work/and marry. As they have restored the building many artifacts have been found and there is a display of the same in the museum part of the building. After our tour there we had some down time so lit out to find a Commonwealth Bank as we needed to cash a school cheque for trip money. OMG, we came across the Versailles of Banks - it had soaring green marble pillars throughout, marble floors in pinky, tan colouring and the sort of hush that says serious money. There was a bloke in a suit holding the door open out the front of one entrance. Looked more like a fabulous old hotel than a bank or some small palace, LOL.

After sorting our transactions we walked back to Hyde Park where we had lunch. There was this strange bird on the lawn (another pest I was told) and I believe it was an Ibis - I am sure they are the birds of Egyptian tales and pictures. I have taken a photo but have done something when I downloaded them and cannot find them on my computer at the moment - grrrrr. Anyway, they are a strange looking bird with a curved beak, about the size of a pukeko. After our picnic lunch we went to the Power House Museum which is a technology and science type museum with lots of interactive exhibits. Not unlike the Museum of Transport and Technoogy in Auckland, NZ. I had a quick look at the musical instruments on the way to look at 'a women's work is never done' which is an exhibit about all aspects of the last centurary's (mostly woman at home) tools of daily living, clothing, and leisure activities for women. Another exhibit that was very exciting was seeing a replica? of the robot from Lost in Space ( got a photo of that too). I initially thought it was a dalek but wrong show, LOL.

Once we finished there it was a quick trip to Circular Quay and on to the ferry for Manly. There was a storm warning and it had begun to drizzle so wondered how the trip would go. There was a bit of a swell as we came into Manly but the trip was mostly smooth without the storm eventuating. A pizza dinner had been organised and then we had some free time to wander through the town. Stopped at this ice cream place called 'Cold Rock' where you can order a variety of ice creams, then a variety of lollies etc to mix into the ice cream (crunchy bars, snickers,sour snakes etc). I decided to try peanut butter ice cream with Tia Maria. The Tia Maria ice cream tasted a bit feeble but the peanut butter icecream was delicious. Will look for that again.

Another ferry trip back to CQ and it was back onto the bus and our accommodation. Got the girls straight to bed as it was 9.30pm Sydney time and we had another early start today. I began this post last night and am finishing typing this whilst in the bus being driven to Canberra. The marvels of modern science and the fact that Bigpond actually works so well in a city, LOL. We are driving in a drizzle of rain and the motorway looks just like peak hour on the Auckland motorway. In fact I havn't seen this much traffic since Easter when I was home. I could be in a car just driving under the East Tamaki turnoff (pause for a small homesick moment - you know, rain and bad traffic, LOL).

Will quit while I am ahead with the battery and try to work out how to get my photos from one place in the computer to where I can access them. Catch you later.

Here I am in Sydney Town

Wilmot street and Victoria House is in one of those doorways!

It's 11.30pm Sydney time and I am sitting downstairs in Victoria House, an experience that puts a whole new meaning into budget accommodation. It is in Wilmot Street for those interested. We (the girls and staff) have been given dormitory style rooms with bunk beds to sleep in - 10 bunks in the room I am supposed to be in!! The girls were less than impressed - no mattress protectors and beds with ripped mattresses, sheets - clean but with stains that have not come out in industrial laundry treatment, with an aircell blanket (sorry, you get a pillow and pillow case as well). There is dubious air conditioning that the manager finally got going as the girls were going to bed. There are some windows that open, though that is not necessarily a positive thing. However, all this pales into insignificance when after walking up the seedy side street that we are on, there right at the end of the street....., across the road....., is the cinema, where the RED CARPET PREMIERE of Baz Luhrmann's "AUSTRALIA", WITH Nicole Kidman and Hugh Jackman (*squeal twice,LOL) will be appearing TOMORROW night!!!!!!!!!


If you look closely you can see the rolls of red carpet in the entrance of the theatre. There are trucks and minions everywhere as I write - this may very well be the first published photo of the pre, premiere, LOL. Who would have thought I would be in Sydney coinciding with such an auspicious happening.

My day started at 5am in Tardun having got to bed somewhere around 1am this morning and we were on our way by about 6.30am. Had a good trip down as the WM and I travelled with another staff member, in her car, as there were heaps of staff to go on the bus with the girls. Bliss indeed if any of you know what travelling is like with a hoard of girls who all have their MP3's and phones on playing different sorts of thump, thump music, screeching with excitement at everything on the way. Enough said. Had a good flight with Qantas - contrary to what you may have read in the papers lately, (there was the odd bit of turbulance but we all had seat belts on heh, heh).

Things of note on the way down, saw a very large wedge tailed eagle sitting in a tree just before Morawa and then somewhere after Mora, there were all these huge hay bales that were square standing on end in the paddock looking somewhat like stone henge plinths. God knows what size cows eat them, LOL! There were round bales as well that looked as though they were wrapped in some sort of plastic covering lying on their sides in other paddocks and then some normal sized smaller square bales. As I write this, I realise the bales are not strictly square as in four equal sides but square oblongs (is it the lack of sleep you may well ask, LOL). I should have taken a photo but we were trying to catch up to the bus so maybe on the way back. I did get a few cat naps in on the way down and managed to sleep most of the way on the plane, hence me feeling wide away now - a few coffees along the way also helped I think, LOL. Had a flat white the size of a small swimming pool at DOME (a coffee and snack type franchaise over here) at Perth airport and am still feeling the effects.

We arrived at our accommodation around 9pm and after finding respective beds, went down the road to get a bite to eat. In the space of about 400m there is two Hungry Jacks, Starbucks, KFC, McDonalds, a Kebab place, Gelatissimo (ice cream to die for) and several pubs and coffee/cake type places. Most of the girls had Mc D's or Hungry Jacks. I opted for a kebab and baklava for desert which was sinfully sugary, nutty and dripping with honey.

Am on five bars with the G3 broadband here and it has never been so quick, LOL. The joys of living in a big city. Tomorrow we are out and about going to Sydney Tower and Oztrek, touring Hyde Park barracks, circular quay and catching a ferry to Manly so a busy day. The temp has dropped considerably - down to the 20's so have had jeans and jumper on today. It was muggy for awhile when we first got here and were busy unpacking etc. It is feeling quite fresh now. Am feeling thirsty so may go and get some water. Catch you later.

It's been a long week.

I am writing this up at the Wm's kitchen table as I am ostensibly here to help her with an assignment, LOL. So far, have helped with a couple of questions, played a couple of games of mahjong and done some banking. I realise it has been a week since I have done a post and am wondering where it all went. I was on duty last weekend - big highlight was putting up the Christmas tree in the dining room. I know it is early but with the trip next week it would mean so little time to enjoy one before the end of the term. We put a double CD of Christmas carols on and sang along as we decorated. We had one of our mothers staying for a few days and she spent the afternoon and the evening braiding the girls' hair for basketball the next day. They really enjoyed having her here and having a bit of fuss being made of them.

Sunday was all go as we had to be on the bus for Gton by 9am for our first game of basketball. Unfortunately it was a loss to us but the girls improved during the game which is the main thing. We then had a picnic lunch at the newly developed waterfront where there is a walkway along the foreshore and playgrounds, shade spots and barbeques. This is part of a major project for Geraldton as they upgrade the whole waterfront area. After lunch we went for a game of 10 pin bowling. My best score was 9 with one shot, in saying that, I was still last on our team, LOL. Back to basketball again and this time the U17's won a fiercly contested game. I had to remind myself to breath, I got so caught up in the game. Am starting to learn some of the terminology, LOL and am enjoying watching the games immensely. We finally got back to school at 7pm, thankfully to a cooked dinner by the WM who had it all ready for us. I ended up by staying the night at school as I took two girls into hospital the next day.

I have to say, my first experience of the 'Aussi hospital system was very good. We had been given conflicting times to arrive and I chose the earlier one to be on the safe side. Although we were on the day surgery ward, the girls were to stay the night before and the night of the op due to the distance we had to travel. We thought the girls had to be nil by mouth on the Sunday night but it transpired it was in fact Monday night so we were given sandwhiches, soup, custard and jelly after they found out the girls had had nothing to eat that morning which was great. The staff were very friendly and patient with all the questions and did their utmost to make the girls feel at ease. After they were admitted formally, around lunchtime, we then went and waited in the tv room on the ward until late afternoon when beds were finally available. I ducked out and bought the girls pyjamas as they did not want to wear hospital duds and got them a magazine each to keep them occupied. I left here at 7.30am and got back at 6pm so it was a long day. The WMH had cooked me dinner and we sat down and watched the final of Dancing with the Stars and the semi final of Australian Idol. Luke (Constable Angelo, from Home and Away) and his partner Luca won (deservedly) and Danny Green (a boxer) and his partner came runner up, for those who are interested, LOL. What was really great was that he had also taped "Rove" the night before and he started off with a bit about Helen Clark losing the election and John Keys winning the night before (he does his show on a Sunday here).

I went home Monday night and was just relaxing with the first load of washing on when I had to bring the work ute back up to school as four students had to go to Gton for Dr's apts and to be dropped off home. Then I had four trips (walking) backwards and forwards as I have moved into the WM's place to look after her boys while the WMH has gone to Sydney until Saturday night to attend a funeral. I had planned on cooking a chinese banquet that night and thought what the heck, will do it anyway as the meat was ready to have last rites read over it if it wasn't cooked immediately. We had invited another staff member up for dinner and decided to go ahead without the WMH anyway as there was too much food for just me and the boys (although we did make a serious dent in it). For those playing at home, we had combination fried rice, chicken and cashews, vegetable chow mein, beef and oyster sauce, and wontons with sweet and sour sauce. Once again, I found my recipes did not taste quite the same with using aussi ingredients instead of NZ ingreds but the boys and our colleague were very impressed. I sent a plate over to the WM who also enjoyed it - yay. I also tried a pavlova - something I haven't cooked for about, oh, I don't know, maybe 15yrs - and it was not a roaring success. Not sure whether the eggs were too old, too warm?, or the little bit of yolk I got in there (that I thought I got completely out)made a difference. It remained fairly soft and very chewy when I wanted crisp and chewy. I will have to try again when I am home I think with my never fail cordon bleu recipe and an electric oven. I think I have mentioned one or three times before how I hate cooking with gas.

Wednesday was the Gton run, pick up the girls from hospital and was back here early this time, in time to go straight to doing homework, dinner and back to work with two girls down sick with tonsilitis and a 24/48 hour vomitting bug!!!

Friday:
Things just get better and better. Had a girl arrive back yesterday, Miss it hurts when I go to the loo and I think I may have a bladder infection. Great (thinking to self, I am sure there is some ancient remedy for this but cannot remember what). Rang her parent who was in the middle of nowhere at work, so could not come and get her and then rang the WM for advice. I had given said girl some strong pain meds so that the pain went from 10+ down to about 8 while the WM rang the local hospital to see what we should do. We had about four out of five boxes ticked for 'go straight to hospital, (do not pass go, do not collect $200) so at 10pm the WM drove her 3/4 hour to be attended. Meanwhile, all the rest of my girls were in bed and mostly asleep, so left a note on my door with the WM ph number and went next door to sit there in case the boys woke up to an empty house. Talk about the devil and the deep blue sea, LOL. I got back to my own bed about 1pm after debrief with what had transpired at the hospital. For any of you who ever suspect you may have a UTI (urinary tract infection), over here you should be at the Dr's within four hours, as failure to do so can result in unbelievable pain, and a hospital admittence if the infection gets to your blood stream and vital organs. Due to lack of sleep and having to deal with post op, and more medical issues than I am comfortable with, the milk of human kindness is a mere sour curd at the moment. I am going to the WM's place I think and will collapse on the couch for a few hours - I watered the plants yesterday and they will cope until tomorrow - and may just shut my eyes for a bit of respite.

Last night while all the drama was unfolding, it was set against wind blowing a living gale outside and a spectacular lightening storm with a full moon as the back drop. The moon was a glowing orangy, golden orb in the early evening and then around midnight was thinly covered with black clouds as the scudded across the sky. I tried to get on email with my own computer this morning but the weather did not allow for broadband to work for me to be able to skype.

I realise over the last few weeks the Melbourne Cup was won (don't know the horse, just that it was Bart Cummings who was the winning trainer - again, his eyebrows were a focus on Rove, LOL), Obama won the elections in the USA and of course Helen lost and resigned as did Michael Cullen (know that from talking to family) but it makes little difference to life in the bubble that we are in out here.

Will try for another update before the Sydney trip that is meant to begin on Monday. Hope you all have a good weekend.

Bits and Bobs

Have come up to school to use the computer - 24hours to go before I can resume internet on my laptop and counting, LOL. In a cruel turn, I am also on duty this weekend so may not get to contact anyone much before next week! I feel like I am on holiday this week as have been off since Tuesday morning. The WM and hubby are going to Perth for the weekend so we swapped a shift and I am starting on Friday afternoon instead of evening and then working until Sunday evening.

Yesterday was the weekly trip to Gton. Had Br with me again and one student going in for an apt with two extra to bring back. It was good to have company as we had a full day. Was able to drop three books back at the library and get three more. I have interspersed my library books with paperbacks of my own purchased during the hols. I may need to join Gton library as have just about worked my way through all the ones I want to read in Mullewa. Mind you, as the end of year is coming fast, I may just last out. Speaking of the end of the year, my tickets have been booked to return on the 13th Dec and to leave on Jan 25th. With the trip to Sydney happening the week after next, its all countdown now.

Had a lucky break yesterday and finally found the sort of wok that I have wanted, in a kitchen/gift shop I had not been in before. I had just gone to my fav. bakery in the main street (was too late to get any sushi) and I saw a wok on a stand as I passed the aforementioned doorway. Then of course, it was a zoom around to Woolworths to get a slew of chinese cooking products plus an amount of meat and veg so I can get back into business again. For those who do not know, I once did a Chinese cooking course which was the real deal and for sometime used to whip up a banquet at the drop of a hat, cooking wontons by the 100... The bonus was yesterday that vegies appeared to be quite cheap (or I am becoming acclimatised to the horrendous prices that are normal and by comparison they are cheap). Have to do a bit of reorganising of the fridge and will need to co-opt the freezer part of the fridge up at school for the extra meat - will just have to eat it all now over the next few weeks, LOL. It is my turn to cook for the WM's family next Tuesday so will let you know how it all goes - am thinking a 3 - 4 course meal.

I think I saw my first snake on the road yesterday - it was black with what appeared to be yellow markings. Do you know how many shreds of tires and sticks there are on the side of the road between here and Geraldton?????? Probably a millionty, trillionty, LOL. This however was not still or wooden ergo it was a snake!!! I was completely was scanning the sides of the road all the way as I was told the other day, if you run over a snake, you have to check that has come out from underneath the car and not got caught up in the tyre and is still under the car - I didn't need to hear that, LOL. The bird population are particularly suicidal at the moment - there are now 2 ex pinkatoos and possibly an ex '28' with one or two unidentifiable very small birds. Felt a bit squeamish about the birds but not a lot I could do about it.

Road useage has changed again - there are now huge trucks (appearing huge on what is essentially one car roads, LOL) on the gravel roads carrying wheat as the crops are being harvested. I passed wheat fields yesterday that look as though they have had a buzz haircut. At the railway sidings in Mullewa there are two huge ovals that look as though they are sided with white corrugated iron (about 6m high) which are filling up with wheat. They are filled to the brim, heaping in the middle and then covered with a blue tarpaulin type set up to protect the seed from the weather - should it rain I guess. It was very cloudy yesterday morning and cold today - I did see earlier in the week it was to rain in Perth this half of the week but so far, the weather is fine and breezy here. I believe we have 2 silos of barley harvested already from the farm and it is all go for the rest of the crops.

Christmas is everywhere in the shops. I was looking for beads, cord and safety pins for one of the teachers yesterday to make angel decorations. I went to Spotlight which is like an Aladdins cave at the best of times and wished I could have had a good poke around for myself. The bank balance is probably glad I didn't though, LOL.

It is the annual sports dinner tonight so will come back up for that this evening and then Mass. It is the final of Supermodel (welcome to the shallow side, LOL) so may have to get that taped. This Sunday is the final of Dancing with the Stars and Danny Green, a boxer and Luke ( Constable Angelo in Home and Away) are the two main contenders I would say. Watching this balances the murder/mystery books I am stuck into at the moment- that is my excuse and I am sticking to it, LOL.

Have heard from No 2 daughter in law today and she and number 2 son have started ante-natal classes - no 2 son wondering if calving cows is helpful prior knowledge, LOL( I remember one of my brothers wondering the same when the cord was wrapped around his son's neck prior to delivery as he had dealt with a similar problem with one of his cows!!). Mother and impending child are doing well, just to keep you all up to date.

Am feeling the need for sustenance so will wander home and have a late lunch. I tried some turkish bread last week and it is one of my new favourite tastes. May make a greek salad as I have all those ingredients as well. Such choices, LOL.

Things to try the patience of a Saint!!

Telstra/Bigpond, need I say more. Well, yes indeedy I do. On the downside of living in Australia, these interlinked companies would be top of the list in 36 font sized letters. To recap, when I bought my new laptop and found I could go on broadband I asked the Telstra people at the shop, which plan would be good comparing my useage on dial up to a new plan. A 400 MB plan was decided upon given that was twice as much as I had been using and I went merrily along my way. In fact, by the time I had downloaded whatever needed to be done to kickstart the new laptop, I started getting nasty emails saying I had exceeded my plan by 250%. I then rang Bigpond to increase to 1G being the next step up. More nasty emails saying I had use over 750% - another phone call and it transpired that I had not been changed over at all - arrrrhhhhh. During that conversation, the person on the other end changed me to 1G but during the process said I had already gone over that and 3G would be better, OK I said - do it. You think that that would have worked!!! but wait there's more.

It would seem you can only change useage amounts once during a billing period (mine ends on Nov 7th) so the change to 3G did not go through - no one let me know that however so I merrily continued to use broadband and ended up with another email re another 250% over usage. Cleared the decks to contact them again this morning (you need to allow at least an hour from initial dial up on the phone until you complete a call - most of the time taken up with pressing ph buttons following robot commands!!) and eureka, got someone called Charlene, who could speak English and had a good grasp of what was going on. She explained what had happened and why I had not been changed over to 3G but then came the kicker - my bill is up to $400 with the over useage (small choke and heart arrythmia due to shock while I assimilated this information). As Iwas seeing my life flash before my eyes, she then said she would send me documentation to put a request in to nullify the extra charges and said only to pay the actual plan cost while my claim was sorted - can take up to 3 months!!!!! Charlene then put soothing classical music on while she wrote up our conversation and the path my attempts to get the correct plan had taken. She then suggested I not use my internet until the 7th (immediate close down and removal of wireless connection) and told me that since I had initially rung re the 3G plan, there is now a 5G plan for the same cost and she has noted that to go through for me on the 7th. She has also given me two direct dial numbers to follow this up should it not go through on that date. Bless. This is a very long winded way of saying that there will no be more Skype until next Sunday!!!!!! I did get one small comment in about the difference in NZ where I had broadband, unlimited useage for $39 month!!! Memories.....

I will only be using the laptop this week to play mahjong on, LOL and to maybe figure out how the rest of the new programs work which will not be a bad thing either. Just as well that I also got to talk to sister Kay, Mum and another friend from NZ last night for a good catch up with all their news.

Had a fairly laid back weekend - I was quite tired and slept most of Saturday afternoon and Sunday afternoon - mind you I had been reading late both nights, LOL and have finished two books since Wednesday. Went to Morawa with the WMH and several of the girls on Saturday for a bit of a grocery stock up - slowly perused the shelves and got some interesting bits and pieces. The WMH got me to get a bag of green apple licorice and OMG is it delicious (and fat free, LOL) After our shopping we decided to stop in the only cafe/bakery in town to have a coffee and to pretend we were like real people for a change, LOL and had a delicious cappucino and a home made pie. I seldom eat pies, and never a mass produced one anymore, so it was a nice change.

On the way, I finally got to see one of the camels that live on a farm not far from our end of the trip. I missed seeing the snake that crossed the road. Have come to the conclusion - I keep looking for something the size of an anaconda - at least as thick as my arm, when in reality the snakes are often pencil thin and quite small. It was a bad day for birds as several flew into the car and became ex birds - felt like I was in an Alfred Hitchcock film after the 5th one!!! The best part of the trip was seeing two fairly large, wedge tail eagles just sitting in a tree on the side of the road. We backed the vehicle up to try and getsome photos but got just that little bit too close and they flew off. It was only by chance that I noticed them as they were sitting on a dead tree and it must have been a small movement that caught my eye. We had seen a black cockatoo on the way with it's distinctive red wedge of colour in it's tail so a good amount of livestock was seen on the journey.

Am off to Mullewa this afternoon to drop one of our girls off at the bus stop. She is our only year 12 and has finished for the year. Have some pickups to do as well and will get this weeks mags to go on with. It's morning tea so will grab a coffee, catch you later.