March already

     

March 1, 2010

I can’t believe its March 1. The first two weeks went fast but yet it seemed like we had been here a really long time. Now, I think WOW! March 1 we had better get moving. Of course, I need to remind myself that we have 31/2 more months. I think we have time to do a few things. I think they were in their cars because they were cold.

OK, I now believe that SA can get cold. This morning I was wearing long pants, a fleece and my jean jacket in the house. And we learned this the hard way (I guess Dave and I can still be stubborn enough to learn the hard way). On Sat evening there was a light show for the opening of the Festival (Yes, we went to a parade for the opening of the Fringe – the three things, the Fringe, WOMadelaide [World Music] and the Festival are loosely tied together but separate). It had been hot so we went in shorts and t-shirts; we took lots of water because we always need it in the heat. Well, we didn’t need the water; we needed long pants and sweaters, as all the locals were wearing. We almost froze and left before the light show was quit over. Sue was volunteering and when she went at 5:00 it was warm out. She was also VERY cold.  Her shift ended about 10:00.

The light show was put on by Groupe F from France. They have done a couple of Olympics and some shows at the Eiffel Tower. It was pretty fantastic. Saw things I’ve never seen fireworks do before. Sue told us later that there were also acrobats, when there were breaks in the lights, but we couldn’t see them. Again there were thousands of people out. We took a shuttle bus from the city and the line up was about three blocks long. There were many other shuttle stops. The show was at the horse race track. It was packed and when we left we discovered there were people watching from the street and from their cars from quit a distance back. I think they were in their cars because they were cold.

People here take festival seriously. They don’t plan to do anything else during festival time and often they seem to just to “be out.” We went to the city on Friday evening and the streets were shoulder-to-shoulder people. You could hardly get down the streets. There was nothing going one -people were just sitting in open-air cafes or walking down the streets – they were “just out.”

Sue’s volunteering for festival is, as they say here, brilliant. She gets rush tickets for shows that aren’t sold out. We went to one yesterday that would have $50.00 each and paid $15.00 each. We’re going to take advantage of that a lot. I really enjoy any type of live performance so will just go when tickets are available. We went to a dance show put on by the Australian Dance Theatre. I have seen people in such good shape – talk about amazing acrobatics.

We had to pick the tickets up in the afternoon in the city. I didn’t realize the show was at 5:00 – I thought it was at 7:00. So, we didn’t have time to come home to eat before the show. We decided to go to a café and get something to eat. I’m happy to say they were all closed – imagine a day off for the staff! Anyway, we bought some fruit at a convenience store and ate in the Victoria Square. It is a triangular park in between three busy streets in the centre of the city.  It was really nice – cool day, more wind than we have had here but that made us feel right at home.

We walked downtown to get the show tickets and then home again after the show. We were forced to walk along the river – see below

And enjoy the plants, birds and weather.

 As you can see walking along this path to the city is quite a hardship.

This is the grass along the path. Sue agreed to give us a perspective of the size. 

Not sure what kind of bird this but I wouldn't want to have a run-in with that beak. 

These trees are in the city beside the sidewalk.

The swans swim up and cry for food. The red eyes are strange - kinda creepy because they look fake - they don't move or blink. 

Note that the great photog got another kind of duck in one of the swan photos. Will try to get a better shot of it another day. 

Look familiar. This was taken on the river here - not at North Battleford. 

The first week - or so

Today is Wednesday, February ( not July) 9. It's 7:30 am and I sitting in the backyard, looking at a light blue shy filled with wispy clouds. Sure does seem like July.

It's hard to believe we only left Regina a week ago. Of course we lost a day somewhere, which is OK for Sue but I think Dave and I may be past the point where we would want to make a habit of loosing days - even one.

The trip over (or should I say down, I guess its both) was every bit as bad as we decided it would be, so we did fine. Planning ahead I packed enough food so that if Dave and Sue didn't get fed they could eat. Of course, on the longest leg from Vancouver to Hong Kong there were no gluten free meals on board. The staff on that flight made sure the meals were on the next flight. And their meals were really good. Dave has been given not much more that rice cracker in the past.

The weather the first few days was perfect - 20 degrees the first day which was a treat.

Friends - Paul Austring's sister and brother-in-law - picked us up at the airport and brought groceries - thank goodness. They had just hosted a celiac cousin from the US so knew the food and brought what they had!!

They have continued to be very helpful and we are going to the Wayne Shorter concert with them.

The house is great. Neighbourhood is very close to what we would call downtown. Here we say we are going to town or to the city. Being a 15 minutes bus ride doesn't seem like going to the city for us.

Bonny gave me a diary which I've actually written in it every day, which is unusual for me. Not sure I'll be able to keep it up but will try.

We managed to find the grocery store on Saturday and bank and metro information on Monday. Suzie Healy at the bank was very helpful. Found out there that the bureaucracy continues. Sue needs a tax number to be able to wrk. This interesting tidbit is nowhere in her visa information so she didn't know. She has applied for one, which will take about 28 days to come but apparently she can work for 28 daysbefore she her employer has to have the number.

Sunday morning we went to an art show and brunch with Eileen and Peter. Dave met Eileen in Saskatoon. There were boat races and swimming races on the beach we were at. It really reminded me of one morning when Dave and I had breakfast with my cousins in Vancouver, right down to the fact that we didn't know the races were on until we got here.The differences were blue sky, much like Saskatchewan - all blue (slightly different shade of blue) with white wispy clouds, palm trees on the beach and a helicopter flying over to watch for sharks. Yes, that's right, sharks. They were having swimming races and the helicopter was watching for sharks. Eileen was saying she doesn't like to go in the water because of the sharks - no surprise there. The last time she was in, they saw a fin coming so got out quickly. Turns out it was a dolphin, but somehow that didn't make me more comfortable!! We're told that there are never any reports of people "being taken". One must assume this means by sharks, not aliens, although if there are no reports it could refer to both.

Monday was hot - even walking at 9 in the evening was oppressive. Fortunately we get evening here. It's light until about 9 pm. I haven't seen a sunset or rise, but am told we should go to the beach late afternoon and stay to watch it. I think we are going to go this afternoon - Wednesday. It is hard to tell in the city but I don't think we get rises and sets in the same way here as at home. I'll know better after the trip to the beach.

Tuesday it was 39 above here and 30 below at home ( with the wind chill). Yes, we find 39 degrees stifling. When it is a little cooler than 30 the Aussies race along in long pants. We, of course, are barely moving, constantly heading for shade and panting for water.

Dave does do better in the heat than Sue and I. He actually makes some progress when he's walking and he has to wait for us to catch up.

Mornings are "cool" (the definition of cool being that its easy to breathe outside and one can actually be comfortable in shorts and t-shirt) and fresh until 8:30. Then suddenly the air is hot. The same seems to be true in the evening. Its like someone turns a switch at 8:30 am and pm. Although the evenings don't seem as fresh to me, but that could just be fatigue on my part.

There are spider plants growing outside here!! Ours froze in the dining room when we had the door opened for about three minutes.

two and half weeks here

Didn't Wal-Mart buy Woolworth's in Canada? There is no Wal Mart here - at ;east not in Adelaide.

Our home away from home - back








The front of our home and it is february - not July and look at all that green.

Unpacking n Feb. 5 - still Feb 4 where we came from.

February 23, 2010

Two and a half weeks – it’s interesting that it seems like we have been here forever but for no time at all. 

We’ve walked quite a few evenings in the park about three blocks from the house. It follows the river into the city one direction and into the hills (18.5 kms.) in the other. It’s only about a 45 min walk into the city.

There are many types of black and white birds – small penguins that look just like their larger namesake. I heard that they don’t fly, but then I thought I saw some in a tree, so I guess we’ll find out…. There are some that look like small prairie chickens, ducks, robins, only slightly bigger, and some that sound like crows. They don’t sound exactly like crows but they are as annoying!

We have had cooler weather most of the time; so have been able to get about. 30 degrees is starting to feel “cool”. Fortunately we have most days in the mid to high 20s. However, the sun is very hot in the afternoon. The UV is extreme almost everyday, a few days it falls to very high. I have a wide brimmed hat that is UV protection 50. I got it at the Cancer Council. Their hats aren’t bad but the clothing is awful. We’ll just have to stick to cotton and cover up.

It’s rained once, but is incredibly dry here. The grass in the yard grows with almost no water and the weeds don’t take over. I haven’t quit figured that because usually the weeds take over in the hot, dry weather. Where there is no grass the ground is simply bare. There are beautiful roses in the yards in the neighbourhood.  I don’t know how much work it is to grow them.

The Gum trees loose their bark and the trunks are multi-coloured and smooth. The leaves are like big maple leaves – at least I think those are the gum tree leaves. They are falling – I think because autumn is coming. It may just be because it is dry. The leaves are brown and crunch under our feet in 40-degree weather.

The evening sky has few, single easy to see stars. Here we are looking out of the Milky Way instead of into it (At lest that’s what an Aussie friend in Canada told us). There are few stars and big empty areas. The moon is brighter – probably due to fewer stars, but maybe also because there is the hole in the ozone. Two nights ago there was a haze around the moon like a sundog.

Prices are a little higher. We are not sure about things like health care – it may cost more because there appears to be more private care. Housing in about the same as it would be in a bigger city in Canada. Minimum wages seems high – about $15.00 an hour, but it may buy the same standard of living. 

We have the car now and have done some driving. Everyone seems to be able to drive on the wrong side of the road. I’m not sure how they all learned to do it so well. They are so good that no one has run into us while we are practising. Some “foreigners” have flags on their cars. We think it is to warn people that they may be driving on the opposite side than the locals do. Maybe we should have one. Fortunately, the car is easy to drive and is an automatic. I can drive a standard, but its hard enough staying on the left without having to change gears, too.

We are regulars at the bakery and coffee shop down the street now. All the coffee in the shops is made in espresso machines – very tasty. Long black is a black coffee, short black is espresso, flat white is half milk. The first time I went out and the woman with me ordered a flat white, I thought she was ordering wine.

We’ve taken trips to two of the beaches – back to Brighton so Dave could see it. We went to Brighton on the train. We also went to Glenelg on the tram. It is closer and the tourist beach. It is a walking mall near the beach. And, the cars have the right of way. The signs at the corners tell pedestrians to yield to cars.  The sharks have the right of way, as well. When the shark siren went everyone got out of the water. That wasn’t a surprise but the cars were. The ocean was cooler than I expected even though it was in the heat of the day. And, in the evening the beaches cool off quickly. In fact, we found it quite chilly. The wind off the water is cold.

The central market – opened Tuesday to Saturday – is like a big famers market and specialty shops. The produce is wonderful. We are here at apple, melon and pear harvest. One of my favourite foods in cantaloupe – rock melon here – juicy and melts in my mouth.

The fringe festival officially opened on Friday. We went to the parade in the evening – with about 20,000 other people. We watched the parade, which lasted about 90 minutes. Sue is getting around – she knew two of the people in the parade. Then went to the Garden of Unearthly Delights. The centre stage band was called Mojo Juju & the Snake Oil Merchants. Give them a listen at http://www.myspace.com/mojojujuvoodoo.

Instead of selling popcorn, the venders sell corn on the cob on a stick.

Saturday, we went to Darlene and Greg’s for supper. On the way Greg took us to the top of Mount Lofty so that we could see the view of the city. Fabulous. You can see the entire city.

Leaving we saw a kangaroo in the bush having a snack. It was BIG, about the colour of a mule deer, and just munching on the grass. It finally did hop a short distance so we could see it move. It stays bent but hops on its hind legs.

Darlene and Greg live in the hills in a beautiful location. Very enjoyable visit and really nice to see the hills. It will be awhile before we drive up there on our own….

Sunday, we vegged all day. We were really tired. Combination of heat, jet lag and everything being new and different. As Dave describes it, it is kinda surreal. Its different but similar and the same, but different .

Last evening we went to the Garden again, then wondered down Rundell, one of the main market streets in the city. The band WooHoo Revue was busking. They are playing the Fringe Theatre at the Garden this evening. They are really good. Again, give a listen at http://www.myspace.com/thewoohoorevue. They were joined by a couple of belly dancers who are part of the festival but were just on the street and decided to dance. Great show!!

The music has different influences here. There is more African and middle eastern and, I’m sure, other influences that I’m ignorant of.

The folks we are renting from have been super accommodating. We have everything we need here and they have been willing to help with whatever we ask. Sure has made our transition easier.

The garbage system here has three parts. We have a trash can, a recycle can and a compost can. The trash goes out every week and the recycle and compost alternate. I know there are similar systems in Canada. We should be doing it in Regina. The bio basket (see photo) we have for in the house is the same as what we had in our guest house in PEI. PEI has strict garbage restrictions, because they don’t have much space, but the entire planet is quickly running out of “space” and forgiveness for the garbage we produce.

The other flowers on this plant are                               In-house bio basket
individually yellow or pink.

Do these ducks look familiar?








This cactus is in our front yard











This is local grass - a close up of the photo plant below

Is this a lily? It grows on the plant below.

The first week - or so

Today is Wednesday, February ( not July) 9. It's 7:30 am and I sitting in the backyard, looking at a light blue shy filled with wispy clouds. Sure does seem like July.

Its hard to believe we only left Regina a week ago. Of course we lost a day somewhere, which is OK for Sue but I think Dave and I may be past the point where we would want to make a habit of loosing days - even one.

The trip over (or should I say down, I guess its both) was every bit as bad as we decided it would be, so we did fine. Planning ahead I packed enough food so that if Dave and Sue didn't get fed they could eat. Of course, on the longest leg from Vancouver to Hong Kong there were no gluten free meals on board. The staff on that flight made sure the meals were on the next flight. And their meals were really good. Dave has been given not much more that rice cracker in the past.

The weather the first few days was perfect - 20 degrees the first day which was a treat. Friends - Paul Austring's sister and brother-in-law, Darlene and Greg - picked us up at the airport and brought groceries - thank goodness. They had just hosted a celiac cousin from the US so knew the food and brought what they had!!

They're great folks, very helpful and we are going to the Wayne Shorter concert with them.

The house is great. Neighbourhood is very close to what we would call downtown. Here we say we are going to town or to the city. Being a 15 minutes bus ride doesn't seem like going to the city for us.

Bonny gave me a diary which I've actually written in it every day, which is unusual for me. Not sure I'll be able to keep it up but will try.

We managed to find the grocery store on Saturday and bank and metro information on Monday. Suzie Healy at the bank was very helpful. Found out there that the bureaucracy continues. Sue needs a tax number to be able to wrk. This interesting tidbit is nowhere in her visa information, so she didn't know. She has applied for one, which will take about 28 days to come but apparently she can work for 28 daysbefore she her employer has to have the number.

Sunday morning we went to an art show and brunch with Eileen and Peter. Dave met Eileen in Saskatoon. There were boat races and swimming races on the beach we were at. It really reminded me of one morning when Dave and I had breakfast with my cousins in Vancouver, right down to the fact that we didn't know the races were on until we got here.The differences were blue sky, much like Saskatchewan - all blue (slightly different shade of blue) with white wispy clouds, palm trees on the beach and a helicopter flying over to watch for sharks. Yes, that's right, sharks. They were having swimming races and the helicopter was watching for sharks. Eileen was saying she doesn't like to go in the water because of the sharks - no surprise there. The last time she was in, they saw a fin coming so got out quickly. Turns out it was a dolphin, but somehow that didn't make me more comfortable!! We're told that there are never any reports of people "being taken". One must assume this means by sharks, not aliens, although if there are no reports od disappearances it could refer to both.

Monday was hot - even walking at 9 in the evening was oppressive. Fortunately we get evening here. Its light until about 9 pm. I haven't seen a sunset or rise, but am told we should go to the beach late afternoon and stay to watch it. I think we are going to go this afternoon - Wednesday. It hard to tell in the city but I didn't think we get rises and sets in the same way here as at home. I'll know better after the trip to the beach.

Tuesday it was 39 above here and 30 below at home ( with the wind chill). Yes, we find 39 degrees stifling. When it is a little cooler than 30 the Aussies race along in long pants. We, of course, are barely moving, constantly heading for shade and panting for water.

Dave does do better in the heat than Sue and I. He actually makes some progress when he's walking and he has to wait for us to catch up.

Mornings are "cool" (the definition of cool being that its easy to breathe outside and one can actually be comfortable in shorts and t-shirt) and fresh until 8:30. Then suddenly the air is hot. The same seems to be true in the evening. Its like someone turns a switch at 8:30 am and pm. Although the evenings don't seem as fresh to me, but that could just be fatigue on my part.

There are spider plants growing outside here!! Ours froze in the dining room when we had the door opened for about three minutes.

Its now about 1:00 pm. I was editing so I could post and we've discovered that the fridge has quit. Its about 38 degrees outside.... We will have to figure out who the fridge belongs to - the property company or the people we are subletting from and how to get it fixed. I'm waiting for some calls back. Thank goodness we speak english - not Australian but at least english.

Photos to follow - as soon as I figure out how to pst them.