Packing...

Shopping is done and while I know there are Tim Tams in the US I'm not sure if there are caramel and dark chocolate so...I come bearing biscuits. And lollies. (The guy behind me in the check out line assured me I can buy them at WalMart in the states. I assured him I'd rather lug them from Perth than go to WalMart.) Plus other magnificent treasures. Sadly, in the end the budget didn't run to 5 pairs of pink UGG slippers for the slumber party in CA. Perhaps they'll have something equally fluffy to purchase at the transit lounge in Moscow? Scored 5 books for $16 which was such a deal I don't even care if they are much good - they just need to get me across the Pacific and can be left in random places if they aren't. Discovered yet again that buying presents for babies is too fun. Suitcase is open on the bed in the guest room and all that's left to do is to mutter some incantations summoning warmer weather in Houston. And decide how many sweaters to pack.

The life of a working girl ;-)

So here's where I work. My office is in a gigantic townhouse built literally on top of the tunnel for the Graham Farmer Freeway. Three stories, 4-5 bathrooms, 6 bedroom, 2 kitchens, koi pond and three story waterfall in the center atrium. So over the top it amuses me every time I walk in. There are about 15-18 of us working there and still plenty of room to expand. So I suppose it makes sense from a rental standpoint. And the fish are a nice touch. The Omniware office is in an area of town called Northbridge which is literally 'the other side of the tracks' from the Central Business District. It's an area with a bit of a late night reputation for mayhem and as a result I understand some people avoid the area, but I love it. Very multi-cultural, lots of young people in interesting outfits, bars, ethnic restaurants, cafes, and it must be a backpackers haven as well with hostels on every corner. Easy to get to by train, bus, car...and fun to walk around.

Front door

The whole shebang

The neighborhood makes the office great. Walk out that little wooden gate above and turn right and you're facing a square block size park with giant banyan trees, fountains, benches, birds etc. Across the street is the Opal Cafe, great for a mid morning latte and a gorgeous chicken and avocado sandwich for lunch. One block down is the Italian grocery/deli and the Corica bakery. Two blocks away is an entire street full of Asian cheap eats joints. There's an art house movie theater around the corner.

The CBD is on the other side of the tracks from the park

Greek Orthodox Church on the corner

Favorite tree

A year today and 10 things

It is one year today since I arrived on the Fatal Shore. The Fatal Shore Mike arrived two weeks earlier and we planned my arrival so that I could be here for Valentines Day. Being newlyweds and all...that heady sense of romance and adventure was still running strong. So here are 10 things I've learned since we arrived. 1. Australia is gorgeous, still plenty wild, and still it must be said, a land of real opportunity. I remember taking a river cruise in the first couple of weeks and the captain talking about how many fortunes have been made here. I was skeptical, but having seen how it works for the last year I believe it. I don't know how many times since we've arrived that we've looked at each other and said "man - if we could get the franchise or concession to do xxxxx, we could make millions here!". 2. Being a woman of leisure is great, in limited quantities. Pursuing entertainment and/or housework as a career does eventually pale. Now I freely admit that having worked for the last five months I'm ready to take off again and play - plan some road trips and see more of the countryside. But it's that whole 'balance' thing. Just enough work and just enough play makes life very sweet. 3. The Randalls produce section will probably never look appealing again. Preservative free fresh foods are the best. Sure you have to shop all the time but yum. 4. Living with views of water is the best daily therapy ever. Even Mike is convinced. 5. Apartment life has its frustrations along with benefits. Love not having to handle maintenance and free access to amenities but hate living with the restrictions. And lets not even discuss the irony of "Sounds of Silence" thundering through the ceiling again. 6. Living in walking distance to stores, cafes, and about 10 different kinds of ethnic restaurants is the bomb. 7. Seeing the Indian Ocean is always a thrill. Every single time. Hundreds of times. Incredible clear blue water, whales, islands, waves, surfers, beaches. 8. Australia politics, economics, news reporting, and social concerns are just as weird as those in the US. And being unplugged from US politics, economics, news reporting and social concerns is a refreshing break. Plus it appears that Big Brother watches closer in Australia than in the US. Slightly unnerving. 9. One can actually come to miss rain! 10. And that heady sense of romance and adventure? Still running strong :-)

I am lame

I recently bought my first gifts to take back to the states. Dog toys. I am just that lame. So eager to see the Willa-beast again that I'm bringing toys to bribe her to act excited to see me. To demonstrate why I can't wait, here is a photo of said Willa beast (on the left) with her greatly missed dearly departed pal Zulu The Wonder Poodle. I mean, look at her charming angelic face, and that pretty blond hair is as soft as silk. That said, if anyone has any requests from the great Land Down Under let me know. I'm arriving with empty suitcases and am happy to bring as much Vegemite (including the new Cheesy Vegemite - ooooo) as anyone needs. I may even still have a blow up kangaroo tucked away in the guest room...

Oh you spoiled Perthians

Was just emailing my sister about this. I think summer is almost over...it got down in the 50s the last couple of nights and I had to put a blankie on the bed last night. Bless their utterly spoiled by weather hearts, they are saying this was the hottest driest summer EVER. Perth is about to beat a record set in the 1880s for longest consecutive days without rain. Recently we had the hottest January night in 21 years (it only got down to about 78), and the temp didn't drop below 68 at night for 11 whole nights in a row!! How do they survive? After experiencing my first I now LAUGH at their summers. Yeah, a few hot days but overall a non-event (except for the flies - the flies are icky but they are also gone now). You know how really I know they are spoiled? They NEVER mention the humidity. There's never a "feels like 105 in the shade" remark and nothing about a 'heat index'. Even when its hot you can find a bit of shade and be fine. Now I will fuss about the weather pattern a bit simply because it's been regular as clockwork on Wednesday afternoons about blowing a gale which is interfering with sailing. We had to skip it this week again due to winds. Glad we did too - there is an unconfirmed report that one of the boats in our division broke their mast when the wind went from 8 to 25 knots in about 3 minutes. (approx from 9 to 29 mph).