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.