Secret Squirrels in Sydney

Recently here in sunny Oz we had a run of my new favourite reality tv show, 'So You Think You Can Dance'. I love to watch this show because in my head I can dance just like the people on this show. In real life I dance like some kind of wounded animal, but that's neither here nor there. On the finale they got in a bunch of 'proper' dancers to do little skits in between the finalists' dances, so we had a turn from the Queensland Ballet, Stomp, some modern new york ballet thing, and this quite gob smacking performance from some dancers from a group called Pilobolus (whose name always makes me want to sing "do doo do doo do" in a muppet like fashion after I say it). We were quite taken aback by these dancers, as it didn't seem quite right to either of us that human beings can actually do some of the stuff they were doing. Quite incredible.

As it turned out, they were doing a short run at a theatre in Sydney - and my husband (god bless him and all who sail in him) decided to arrange a secret trip to Sydney for us to go and see them. It didn't stay a secret for long as I am super perceptive and worked out pretty quickly what he was up to…. I keep trying to tell him that it just goes to show how well we know each other, not that he is predictable. So we flew down to Sydney at the crack of dawn on Saturday morning, and went directly to have breakfast at Bills in Darlinghurst - one of Bill Granger's places. His scrambled eggs were oh so yummy! Then we went for a bit of a wander round Darlinghurst, which is very trendy and lovely darling. We ended up at Australian Galleries, not entirely unintentionally. We bought a bunch of art by this artist when we were on Kangaroo Island - we couldn't decide which one we liked best so we were very decadent and bought them all! We googled her when we got home, and it turns out that this gallery has quite a lot of her stuff, and she exhibits there sometimes. So we popped in, and asked to see some of her 'pieces'. Felt very grown up when the gallery sales person attendant lady person got out literally EVERYTHING, including going into all the drawers of secret stuff, and gave us little white gloves to look through everything…. Ended up buying another couple of little piccies, which are very cute and lovely. I am a bit worried now though that we might just look like a Christina Cordero gallery when we are finally able to hang all our stuff up on the walls….

So then off we headed to the hotel - we were staying in

the Intercontinental once more, scene of the last 2 days of our honeymoon, which was really nice. Checked in and headed off for a wander - ended up at the Argyle on the Rocks which a colleague of mine had recommended - this might be the coolest pub in the world EVER and I felt very old and frumpy and out of place. Fortunately as it was lunchtime not too many of the beautiful people were there, so my inadequacies could be contained.

After a bit of a nibble and a glass of fizz we headed off to find the theatre, as we were going to the matinee performance. Words fail me as I try to describe the show (I'm not sure whether the arty types would call it a show, or a performance, or a piece, or whatever). It was very physical, almost circus-esque kind of dancing, but absolutely amazing. If you ever get an opportunity, go see!

We were in definite need of a nana nap at that point, but no time! We headed off to Rockpool for dinner, which is one of Neil Perry's restaurants. It was freakin great. We had 4 courses, 5 glasses of wine each, and just a great evening. Sometimes it's nice to totally splurge and treat yourself to something very fancy - I think it was probably the fanciest and properest restaurant I've ever been to, but still quite chilled out and unpretentious, as Australian eateries are. We had such a great time that I kissed the waiter on the way out. I'll admit I was a little fat and tipsy and overexcited when I did it, and he was very gallant about it, but I had a moment of realisation about what I had just done when I got a few metres down the road, and was dying of shame all the way back to the hotel. Not helped by Stu singing "She kissed the waiter and she liked it" to me all the way home. Ah well, we don't need to ever go back!

So a full on and exhausting day, but really really wonderful. Didn't get up to much on the Sunday, as we were fully tired, just had a potter around. Sydney is a great place to visit, but I still don't think I could ever live there. Brisbane is the one for me (or maybe Melbourne if I had to, but don't tell Dan or else he'll crow about it).

Not a lot else to report. Winter is well and truly setting in - in fact the temperature got into single figures the other night. We've dug out the duvet, slippers, jumpers etc. It's quite nice really, I don’t mind a bit of cold. We're off to New Zealand for a week in August, when it will be VERY cold, and we're really looking forward to getting a bit cosy and drinking loads of wine by the fire. Feels like such a long time since we've been properly, good and Englishly cold. Funny the things you get nostalgic about. I've now completed my species allegiance swap at the RSPCA, and am walking dogs instead of cleaning up after cats. It's really good, and has given me a bit more confidence with the doggies - I think that when you just have to get on with going into pens of dogs you don't know and deal with them jumping up at you etc, you just have to get over your fear pretty quick! I'm having some emotional attachment issues though which is sad…. I wish we could buy a house and rescue this one particular woofer that I have fallen badly in love with, but I don't think it's going to happen! Ah well, there will be some other worthy recipient of Robinson love when the time comes, I have no doubt.

Well over and out for the moment, at least I managed to blog more than twice in a year!

Better late than.....

Hello!

Since it has almost reached the one year anniversary of my last blog, and I have set myself the stretch goal of an average of over 1 blog post a year I thought I'd best crack on. It's been a bit of a busy year, so I might have to duck through it a bit quickly, apologies.

Well, in August 08 the old folk's came out for their very first trip to Oz. They spent a bit of time with us in BrisVegas, then we headed up to Hamilton Island and Airlie Beach for a bit. They then jetted off on a very exciting round Oz trip which I was pretty jealous of - just had to keep reminding myself that I live here and can go and see these places ANY TIME I LIKE. Even though obviously I don't, cos I live here and you never make an effort to see the place where you live. Anyway, we had a just splendid time regardless - no great hardship to go to the Whitsundays which might actually be my favourite place in the world. The OFs had a good time too, which I don't think they were necessarily expecting - so much so that they are threatening to come out again one day.

Old Folk's visit August 2008

Then in September it was my 32nd birthday - yes I am turning into a bit of a haggard old crone. We headed out for the weekend to a place called Barney Creek Cottages which we had spotted in a book we own called Beautiful Accomodation in Queensland which is a fairly constant source of inspiration. We stayed in the Lakeside Bungalow and it was totally fabulous. We were very right to have chosen it - it's a lovely big property with a vineyard and just a few self contained cottages dotted around. We loved it, and it is now my dream to run somthing similar! They had the most beautiful golden retriever who basically stayed with us the whole weekend - accomodation and a free dog! It doesn't get much better. Sadly we learned recently that the beautiful Tarni drowned during some of the recent flooding, which is very tragic as she was a lovely dog. We loved it there so much that we have hired out the whole property with our friends for Christmas in July (this is a regular celebration in Aus, as July is probably the coldest month, and the closest you can get to feeling Christmassey). Really looking forward to it, and meeting their new puppies!

2008 - 09 - Barney Creek Cottages

Then on to Christmas and New Year... The weather was certainly a darn sight better than last year, with some actual sun. Went to the beach for Christmas day, then back to our friends' for a barbecue - felt everso Australian. It was great fun. Also managed to fit in the traditional celebration of Fakemas (which was awesome), Stu's Christmas party, and a ball in the city hall for New Year's Eve. It was a really good fun time. I think a lot of the poms find Christmas a bit hard, so it's nice that we all have each other and can have a really good time still. Must admit that sitting on the beach on Christmas day with a Santa hat on will take some getting used to mind. This year Stu's sister and family are coming out again, so we're heading up to the sunshine coast once more to stay in a ridiculously fancy house for the week.... very excited!

Fakemas, Christmas and New Years, 2008

The next big event was another FANTASTIC holiday with our friends Toby and Kat, who came out to see us from the UK. It was brilliant, took a real whistle stop tour round a whole bunch of places - Blue mountains, Melbourne, Geelong, The Coonawara, Great Ocean Road, McLaren Vale, Barossa Valley and Kangaroo Island. Wine and cheese featured heavily. We had a ball, and put on a lot of weight. It was great.

Darkinsons Winery road trip 2009

In other news, we are now permanent residents of Australia. Bit of a misnomer really, as all permanent residency really is is another temporary visa... but hey. At least now our visas aren't tied to Stu's job, so we are both really free to do whatever we want. Also it means we could buy a house. Unfortunately some financial crisis thing means that all the banks want deposits, and none of the miserable buggers are doing 100% mortgages any more. Which sucks! We are condemned to renting for a while longer. Bit sad about it, I had been really looking forward to having a veggie patch and a pooch and being able to hang stuff up on the walls. Not too much of a hardship though really as our house is lovely and we love it here.

The moggies are doing very well, we have finally after months of medication and vet treatments managed to sort out Jerry's urinary tract problems, and he is now the happiest cat in the world. Margot is still the prettiest cat ever, no change there. I am still volunteering at the RSPCA, which I love, but am having a bit of a change of scenery soon. After 18 months in the cattery I'm going to be taking the adoption dogs out for walkies! Very exciting (if a little nerve wracking given that I am a teenchy bit scared of dogs). Had a bit of training yesterday and met the most lovely Great Dane/Beagle cross - seriously. How the hell did that happen?

We are planning two whole trips back to the UK next year - one in April for the lovely Alison Flanagan's wedding, and one in October for the old folks' 50th wedding anniversary. Kind of excited, but also anticipating that they will be exhausting trips! Also off to New Zealand in August for a week, which I am ridiculously excited about. It'll be really cold, and we've got a cottage on the lake with a fire and stuff.... obviously I've been here too long if I can get excited about things like cold and fires! It'll be good though, have wanted to go back since we went on honeymoon, so should be lovely!

Right... I am now officially tired. Think this is the most I've typed in one go since last time I blogged. Hopefully I can now keep on top of it rather than just leaving it another year..... hope someone out there is still reading!

xx

Important living in Australia milestone reached

Last time I went to the farmers market, I heard an Australian turn to his Australian mate and inquire:

"Do we need to get some prawns for the barbie?"

Just one thing after another

That is certainly how it feels at the minute! We got back from our amaaaazing holiday all rejuvenated and full of life (if a little bit glum that we couldn't just jack everything in and disappear off round the world for a few years with the Darkinses), but also as I'm sure you can imagine, totally broke. Ever since then, Jerry has been in and out and in and out of the vets, with recurrent FLUTD. This has been both distressing (for all of us) and very expensive. He's back in the hospital again today with a blocked willy (ouch!) and is really in loads of pain and very sad. It is horrible.

Also, during one of Jerry's more normal urinary phases, Stu was also stricken down with terrible tummy pains. After 2 trips to the hospital in 12 hours (both of which required morphine to manage the pain) an ultrasound revealed that he had gall stones, and he was whisked in to have his gall bladder removed. Which was all traumatic enough, without the accompanying short sharp introduction to the world of private health care - including being told that we would need to pay a $5ooo deposit for the operation, because they hadn't dealt with our insurance providers before. I ask you - if I had $5000 available for a deposit, I think I would be able to just pay for an operation, rather than needing bloody private health care. Fortunately our insurance providers turned out to be awesome, and faxed over an immediate guarantee of payment, so Stu could actually get the treatment he needed.

So it's all been a bit crap.

Crazy cat, lady

Once again, my apologies for being totally rubbish at keeping up with my blog. If I could just refer you to any of my other eloquent apologies in recent blogs then that'll save me some valuable typing time.

Well - we have been busy. Our holiday in India was quite simply - AMAZING. The best holiday ever without a doubt. What a fantastic place, and we had the best time. No blog about that yet - I am waiting for Toby & Kat to send over their photos so I have a full set to chose from, but just to tide you over (and prove that we actually went) here's a wee preview. I am assured that this is quite a famous landmark, and should be quite sufficient as proof. The only downside really was that we came back to a poorly Jerry - he has psychological issues bless him, which manifest in lower urinary tract problems. Quite a lot of expensive vet treatment later he's still not quite better and may need therapy.

Stu's friend Jon is over visiting at the moment - they're out at the moment climbing the Story Bridge. Personally I think they need their heads read, but I suppose that'll teach me to get Stu a voucher for Christmas. They've been over to New Zealand for a bit to see Henry, and just generally gallivanting around - it has been very nice. It's going to be quite the year for visitors - the old people are also coming out later in the year for a visit - and we are taking Christmas bookings now if anyone fancies anything a bit tropical for a change!

We have been celebrating a few anniversaries lately - both our second wedding anniversary, and our first year in Oz! I can't believe we've already been here a year - it has flown by so quickly. We still love it though, and don't anticipate that we'll be moving back to England at any point soon - although there has been talk of heading back next year for a bit of a holiday - funds permitting of course.

Well I had better sign off - I need to drop some more hints to the Darkinses about sending me their India pics so I can do a great big India blog. Until then amigos, take care.

You know when you've been warholed

For the last few months here in in sunny Brisbane, the gallery of modern art (GoMA) has been home to an exhibition of the work of Andy Warhol. This has been incredibly exciting for the place - as much as I love wee Brisbane, it does sometimes seem to have a bit of a chip on its shoulders with regards to its place in Australia against cities like Sydney and Melbourne, so I think that the fact that we're the only city which is hosting this massive exhibition has been a bit of a validation for the good folk of Brisbane.

Now I'm not much of an arty person (don't know much about art, but I know what I like etc etc), but since I think the entire population of Queensland has been to see the exhibition at least once in its run, so we decided to bob along too. Since I am mostly ignorant about art appreciation, I wasn't able to do all the strokey beard 'interesting juxtaposition of light and shade' business, so for me by far the most exciting thing there was the Warholising phone booth. Since the beginning of the exhibition it has been possible by monitoring things like facebook profile photos etc to establish exactly who has, and who hasn't been along to the exhibition, so it was very exciting to be able to get our own done.

As you can see Stu's new baldy heid lends itself to the general theme of warholness pretty well. On that note, I am pleased and proud to say that so far he has raised about $1000 for the cause - however it's not too late, so if you haven't already, please donate using the link on the right!

Also - I am happy to announce a couple more living in Australia milestones have now been reached - I have eaten both Lamingtons, and Vegemite.

Gone Tomorrow!

And it's not too late to sponsor him - link to your right....