Many of you may have noticed the extremely long gap in the blogging. Well, as recent events have unfolded, there's been barely time to think and make decisions, let alone blog about it.
On July 13, Nicole and I boarded a plane to return to Sydney after a 2 week visit to CT. Bad weather in DC delayed our flight so long that we would have missed the San Fran-Sydney connection. Rather than be stuck in San Francisco waiting for two seats on a Sydney flight, we opted to re-ticket and stay in CT an extra night. We got off the plane, claimed our checked bags, and headed back to Larry's parents' house.
The next morning, I said to Larry, "What if we didn't go back right away?" We were planning on putting Nicole in school in the US in September, so returning to school in Sydney wasn't absolutely required. Since I telecommuted into a company in CT, there was no pressing reason for me to be back. So, brainstorming ensued, and Nicole and I stayed. I re-ticketed for August 22, giving me enough time to get Nicole ready for school and settled with her "host family."
Just two weeks later, Larry had a meeting with Microsoft where they officially informed him that they would not be renewing our 1-year contract. And, in fact, they were making wide-scale changes in the Microsoft organization and would be ending his contract early - as of August 31.
You could have knocked us over with a feather! Really? Not entirely bad or unwelcomed news, as we are happy to be returning home, but still.
So, rather than fly on August 22 and then turn around and fly again a week or so later, I canceled my return to Sydney. I'm living in the spare room at my parents' once again, with my daughter in the other twin bed. Larry is overseeing the packing and shipping of our worldly goods once again for a second trans-oceanic voyage. We've bought a car, and I've gotten a full-time job in Hartford. And we are in search of some sort of temporary housing until our Farmington house is available.
(And we're planning on meeting in Hawaii when Larry leaves Sydney.)
I wish I could have said "bye bye Sydney" in person. There are so many people I wish I could have hugged. Friends who opened their homes and helped us make our house a home. A church family who welcomed us in January, to whom I would like to say "thank you" - you have no idea how very very much we needed that welcome upon our arrival. Restaurants to eat in one last time. Kookaburras to hear on a final morning. (I am in search of a stuffed kookaburra...)
The reception back in CT has been wonderful. The joyful hugs and exclamations are truly gratifying. So although I am sad to have cut our stay in Sydney short, it is nice to be home again!
Tuesday, August 9, 2011
Wednesday, June 29, 2011
Guest Post (by Larry)
Carla and Nicole are vacationing in the US, so I'm taking a stab at the blog this week.
On Sunday, I drove them to the airport where we were met by Nicole's friend (who happens to be a boy...). The rest of the family is very nice and it was thoughtful of them to drive all the way to the airport to send Nicole off and acknowledge her birthday.
With my newfound freedom, I headed toward the best frozen yoghurt on the plant: Igloo Zoo.
Nicole introduced me to this delight (Pomegrante with Chocolate bits on top) and I try to visit every time I'm near Bondi (or south of the Sydney Bridge). Sadly, there was a traffic jam so I aborted the mission and drove home for some Ravioli Bolognese.
It took me about 2 minutes to find the stuffed Wombat Nicole (don't let the redeye flash freak you out). It still sits in its hiding spot out of respect (since it was after all the birthday present I just gave her the day before...)
On Monday, it was off to work. Here is a shot of our work area, featuring the ever-witty Sarah Vaughan.
That night, Michael Kordahi (Developer Evangelist) hosted a poker game. GP and I (the only managers) were the big losers for the night (go figure...).
On Tuesday, we had a bit of EOFY (= end of fiscal year) fun by going out as a team to eat teppanyaki (=hibatchi). It was a great show with eggs & rice flying.
While we were eating, a taxi clipped my car, knocking the side mirror completely off. I was ablet to pull a McGyver that evening and reattached the components no problem.
We had some fun in the office today (Wednesday) when one of the DEs walked away with his machine unlocked. "Someone" went onto his Facebook account and had some fun with him. He hasn't figured out who yet, so I won't be a spoiler :)
After work, I visited my favorite place to eat: Sushi Train. Fast service, fresh wasabi, organic Cola, and taking only the food you want to eat is what makes it terrific.
Saturday, June 11, 2011
What I Love About the House
So we've been living in the rental house for 6 months now. It's very contemporary, clean (stark) lines, tile floors, high ceilings. I was reflecting today, as I got ready for Chili Night, that there are a lot of things I like about this house - and a few things I don't.
I find that I really like the "great room." Essentially, the kitchen, dining room, and main living area are all open and one room. The kitchen is just part of the living space, with a long benchtop where we put stools for informal eating. The huge glass windows open up to the backyard, which I also really, really like. If I were to do anything to improve, I would add electric outlets. Living in the US, you take for granted the building code that requires outlets every 10-12 feet. In this kitchen, there are only two outlets. All mixing, toasting, blending must be done within about 2 feet of the "appliance garage" (I like the appliance garage).
I'd also add a fireplace.
We've been using the heating system, since the temperature has been dropping overnight. I like that the thermostat has a timer - unfortunately it's not a timer where you can set a specific time for the heat to click on or click off. Instead, if the heat is on, you can set it to go off in a certain number of hours. If the heat is off, you can set it to go on. My new approach is to really heat up the bedrooms before going to bed, then turn off the heat and set it to go back on at 5:30 or so. I'm the only one who has bought into this approach, though...
I like that you can turn off the electricity at the source. Every outlet has a little button. Even if something is plugged in, it won't work unless you flip the little switch at the outlet. This cuts down on the "vampire" effect of appliances. It's also fun to play tricks on family members.
The master bedroom closet is a walk in - no door - and it is California Closet designed. I really, really like having the shelves and drawers and the double rung hanging areas. I find that I'm neater and put my clothes away in Australia than I was in the US. I attribute that to the closet. Also, I wear a lot fewer clothes. I don't think I've "dressed up" at all since arriving. One of the benefits of working from home for a company 10,000 miles away!
I'm not thrilled with the all-tile floors in the house. Makes everything seem colder. And the lighting in the bathrooms is DARK. And there's no heating vents in the bathrooms, so they never seem to warm up. But I love the shower - it's a dream shower.
In 6 months we have to move house because the house's owners will return from Hong Kong. I hope to find a place we like as much or more than this house. It's been a great first home in Australia.
I find that I really like the "great room." Essentially, the kitchen, dining room, and main living area are all open and one room. The kitchen is just part of the living space, with a long benchtop where we put stools for informal eating. The huge glass windows open up to the backyard, which I also really, really like. If I were to do anything to improve, I would add electric outlets. Living in the US, you take for granted the building code that requires outlets every 10-12 feet. In this kitchen, there are only two outlets. All mixing, toasting, blending must be done within about 2 feet of the "appliance garage" (I like the appliance garage).
I'd also add a fireplace.
We've been using the heating system, since the temperature has been dropping overnight. I like that the thermostat has a timer - unfortunately it's not a timer where you can set a specific time for the heat to click on or click off. Instead, if the heat is on, you can set it to go off in a certain number of hours. If the heat is off, you can set it to go on. My new approach is to really heat up the bedrooms before going to bed, then turn off the heat and set it to go back on at 5:30 or so. I'm the only one who has bought into this approach, though...
I like that you can turn off the electricity at the source. Every outlet has a little button. Even if something is plugged in, it won't work unless you flip the little switch at the outlet. This cuts down on the "vampire" effect of appliances. It's also fun to play tricks on family members.
The master bedroom closet is a walk in - no door - and it is California Closet designed. I really, really like having the shelves and drawers and the double rung hanging areas. I find that I'm neater and put my clothes away in Australia than I was in the US. I attribute that to the closet. Also, I wear a lot fewer clothes. I don't think I've "dressed up" at all since arriving. One of the benefits of working from home for a company 10,000 miles away!
I'm not thrilled with the all-tile floors in the house. Makes everything seem colder. And the lighting in the bathrooms is DARK. And there's no heating vents in the bathrooms, so they never seem to warm up. But I love the shower - it's a dream shower.
In 6 months we have to move house because the house's owners will return from Hong Kong. I hope to find a place we like as much or more than this house. It's been a great first home in Australia.
Wednesday, June 1, 2011
First Day of Winter / What Does Roseville Look Like?
Winter has officially arrived in Australia. June 1 is the First Day of Winter. No snow in the forecast, but it has been the rainiest autumn in 8 years - over 530mm of rain. Of course, I have no idea how much rain that is unless I use the internet to convert to inches (20.9 inches). The trees are still green, the bamboo in the neighbor's yard is still growing, and the kookaburras still wake me up at 6:15 every morning.
There are two trees changing colors on our street. They are maple trees (thanks 9th grade biology) with sharp, pointed leaves, and they are turning into golden yellow balls of light. The picture really doesn't do the view justice, although you can also see the white van that is permanently parked in front of the neighbor's house. In addition to the white van, they also have a white pickup truck, which is frequently parked right across the street from our driveway (makes backing out a challenge.)
The Rifleway is a short cut that involves a few sets of stairs and an elevated pathway through a few backyards. Nicole walks the Rifleway every day on her way home from school.
At the end of the walk from train station, through Rifleway, to home, you arrive at our front door:
There are two trees changing colors on our street. They are maple trees (thanks 9th grade biology) with sharp, pointed leaves, and they are turning into golden yellow balls of light. The picture really doesn't do the view justice, although you can also see the white van that is permanently parked in front of the neighbor's house. In addition to the white van, they also have a white pickup truck, which is frequently parked right across the street from our driveway (makes backing out a challenge.)
So, that's the view from our spare room window. It occurs to me that I haven't posted many (any) shots of our village. Here is a virtual tour of Roseville.
When you arrive in Roseville by train, your first visit is to the Roseville train station.
From the train station, you can walk to our house by crossing Pacific Highway and walking along the Rifleway.
In the center of Roseville, on the other side of the train station, is our new church, St. Andrews Anglican church. During the summer, after the service, "supper" is served outside the main doors.
At the end of the walk from train station, through Rifleway, to home, you arrive at our front door:
Saturday, April 30, 2011
What I Did Today
Since we arrived back in December, there's one thing I've really, really wanted to do. Today, I finally got to do it. I got to PET A WALLABY AND A KANGAROO!!!
Larry and I headed to Featherdale Wilderness Park where the wallabies and kangaroos (at least the not endangered ones) hop around freely. What a sight to see! We of course purchased the food, served in ice cream cones, and braved the compound.
Wallabies are simply adorable. And the Koalas....! Well, take a gander at these shots. Yes, the Koalas in the picture are real. And yes, my husband is rabbit-earing the Koala.
As adorable as the wallabies, kangaroos, and koalas were, the Cassowary was aggressive. I leaned on the fence to take its picture, and it lunged for the park map in my hand. Yes, it lunged, as you can see from this picture:
After it grabbed the map, it pecked at it a bit then swooped it up from the ground, folded it in half with its beak, and swallowed it down whole. Couldn't believe my eyes. Hope it doesn't get sick from it.
The Tasmanian Devil ran around in circles, over and over again, lap after lap, in the track it had been working on for quite a while, judging from the track.
We admired the dingoes, the dozens of birds, and the reptiles. We saw some of the most poisonous snakes in the world, safely behind glass. I hope I never see them anywhere else!
Larry and I headed to Featherdale Wilderness Park where the wallabies and kangaroos (at least the not endangered ones) hop around freely. What a sight to see! We of course purchased the food, served in ice cream cones, and braved the compound.
Wallabies are simply adorable. And the Koalas....! Well, take a gander at these shots. Yes, the Koalas in the picture are real. And yes, my husband is rabbit-earing the Koala.
As adorable as the wallabies, kangaroos, and koalas were, the Cassowary was aggressive. I leaned on the fence to take its picture, and it lunged for the park map in my hand. Yes, it lunged, as you can see from this picture:
After it grabbed the map, it pecked at it a bit then swooped it up from the ground, folded it in half with its beak, and swallowed it down whole. Couldn't believe my eyes. Hope it doesn't get sick from it.
The Tasmanian Devil ran around in circles, over and over again, lap after lap, in the track it had been working on for quite a while, judging from the track.
We admired the dingoes, the dozens of birds, and the reptiles. We saw some of the most poisonous snakes in the world, safely behind glass. I hope I never see them anywhere else!
Friday, April 22, 2011
Club Med and The Whitsundays
After 5 days in Airlie Beach with an exciting excursion out to the Great Barrier Reef, we headed out into the Whitsunday Islands for a stay at a Club Med Resort. We love the all-inclusive vacations: plenty of games and activities for Larry; lots of teens for Nicole; and a supply of beach chairs for me. Club Med Lindeman Island did not disappoint.
From arrival to departure, we caught only glimpses of Nicole as she spent most of her time with the Teen Club. Larry hiked the island paths. They both tried their hands at the trapeze. We sailed one morning and played bocce. We taste tested the cocktails and mocktails of the day. At night, we enjoyed the evening's entertainment, put on by the resort staff. The best show was their take on Cirque du Soleil - truly amazing to see the tricks up close.
The Whitsunday Islands are gorgeous, stunning scenery. There are 74 islands, only 8 are inhabited, and they are part of the Great Barrier Reef protected area. If you get a chance to visit the area, be sure to choose an Island resort as your base to visit the Great Barrier Reef and the Coral Sea.
From arrival to departure, we caught only glimpses of Nicole as she spent most of her time with the Teen Club. Larry hiked the island paths. They both tried their hands at the trapeze. We sailed one morning and played bocce. We taste tested the cocktails and mocktails of the day. At night, we enjoyed the evening's entertainment, put on by the resort staff. The best show was their take on Cirque du Soleil - truly amazing to see the tricks up close.
The Whitsunday Islands are gorgeous, stunning scenery. There are 74 islands, only 8 are inhabited, and they are part of the Great Barrier Reef protected area. If you get a chance to visit the area, be sure to choose an Island resort as your base to visit the Great Barrier Reef and the Coral Sea.
Thursday, April 21, 2011
Vacation Critters
We continue to enjoy the wildlife Australia has to offer. Our holiday in Queensland brought us into contact with a few new critters.
Wednesday, April 20, 2011
The Great Barrier Reef: More than Great
We arrived home Tuesday evening to find Sydney airport in the middle of a security breach! After reflecting on the ease of domestic transport (didn't even have to show a photo ID to get my boarding passes), it was unexpected to find that they had evacuated the entire terminal of all staff and passengers. Everyone had to be re-screened because 14 or 16 people had gone through security without proper screening. The airport was "chokkers" with people, and the airspace filled with planes unable to land because of lack of gates and/or ground crew. An interesting end to an otherwise flawless family holiday.
Starting in Airlie Beach, we enjoyed picture-perfect weather, which has been rare in Queensland this year. (You may remember they've gotten quite a bit of rain and experienced overwhelming flooding.) We rented a Moke and drove up the coast. Kudos to Larry for driving a Very Stripped Down vehicle that maxed out at 80kph and had the gear shift on the left-hand side.
We drove the Moke to Cedar Creek Falls. Along the way, we felt very adventurous as we drove over a slightly flooded causeway to reach a secluded and stunning waterfall. We proceeded to break our camera on the rocks lining the falls - thank goodness for camera phones!
Large, striped lizards greeted us in the parking lot. As far as I can tell, they were monitor lizards (aka Goanna lizards), and they were more afraid of us than we were of them. As soon as you started approaching, they moved rather quickly into the woods.
We also drove up to Bowen to see Horsehoe Beach, a lovely little beach where we ate our lunch with a view of the Coral Sea. Why is it called the Coral Sea? Well, along with sea shells, little bits of coral are strewn across the beach.
The next day was our Big Adventure Day. We boarded the FantaSea Cruises boat and headed 40 miles out to sea where their ReefWorld pontoon awaited us.
Fortified by 2 immodium, a dramamine, and a Xanax, I not only survived the 2-hour boat ride but donned a bright pink stinger suit, goggles, and a life jacket to snorkel with the denizens of the deep. (I looked like a giant Peep in the pepto-pink stinger suit.) After mastering the art of breathing through the snorkel, I floated along like a giant piece of seaweed, admiring the flash of blue and green darting around me. I was most impressed with the giant clams with their brightly-colored "mouths" that opened and closed rhythmically. (Okay, so I didn't take the following two pictures, but what I saw looked exactly like these photos.)
Nicole made her first scuba dive, and the instructor called her "a natural." She positively glowed when she returned from her dive and wanted to go again. Good onya, Nicole!
The trip out to the Reef was definitely the highlight of our Airlie Beach stay - then it was on to Club Med on Lindeman Island. Watch for that update on the next post!
Starting in Airlie Beach, we enjoyed picture-perfect weather, which has been rare in Queensland this year. (You may remember they've gotten quite a bit of rain and experienced overwhelming flooding.) We rented a Moke and drove up the coast. Kudos to Larry for driving a Very Stripped Down vehicle that maxed out at 80kph and had the gear shift on the left-hand side.
Large, striped lizards greeted us in the parking lot. As far as I can tell, they were monitor lizards (aka Goanna lizards), and they were more afraid of us than we were of them. As soon as you started approaching, they moved rather quickly into the woods.
We also drove up to Bowen to see Horsehoe Beach, a lovely little beach where we ate our lunch with a view of the Coral Sea. Why is it called the Coral Sea? Well, along with sea shells, little bits of coral are strewn across the beach.
The next day was our Big Adventure Day. We boarded the FantaSea Cruises boat and headed 40 miles out to sea where their ReefWorld pontoon awaited us.
Fortified by 2 immodium, a dramamine, and a Xanax, I not only survived the 2-hour boat ride but donned a bright pink stinger suit, goggles, and a life jacket to snorkel with the denizens of the deep. (I looked like a giant Peep in the pepto-pink stinger suit.) After mastering the art of breathing through the snorkel, I floated along like a giant piece of seaweed, admiring the flash of blue and green darting around me. I was most impressed with the giant clams with their brightly-colored "mouths" that opened and closed rhythmically. (Okay, so I didn't take the following two pictures, but what I saw looked exactly like these photos.)
Nicole made her first scuba dive, and the instructor called her "a natural." She positively glowed when she returned from her dive and wanted to go again. Good onya, Nicole!
The trip out to the Reef was definitely the highlight of our Airlie Beach stay - then it was on to Club Med on Lindeman Island. Watch for that update on the next post!
Tuesday, April 12, 2011
great barrier reef vacation part I
today is day four of our first family holiday in the southern hemisphere and we picked a great time and location for it. getting here by air was easy. as an american i have gotten so used to all the security from removing shoes and jackets to segregating my liquids. flying within australia hearkens back to the pre 9-11 days when you could see someone off at the gate or greet them with flowers. it was completely refreshing to fly.
once in ailie beach we were pleasantly surprised by the resort. our 2 bedroom apartment was clean well sstocked and on the pool for great views and convenience. not to mention the view of the coral sea from our terrace.
the highlight so far has been the great barrier reef. fortified by a dramamine, a xanax, and two immodium, i not only survived but thoroughly enjoyed the day. once i stopped hyperventilating through the snorkel, i just floated in wonder at the sights. the best moment? when nicole returned from her first scuba dive ever with an indescribable look in her eyes. she loved it and wants to do it again.
today we are enjoying the airlie beach
once in ailie beach we were pleasantly surprised by the resort. our 2 bedroom apartment was clean well sstocked and on the pool for great views and convenience. not to mention the view of the coral sea from our terrace.
the highlight so far has been the great barrier reef. fortified by a dramamine, a xanax, and two immodium, i not only survived but thoroughly enjoyed the day. once i stopped hyperventilating through the snorkel, i just floated in wonder at the sights. the best moment? when nicole returned from her first scuba dive ever with an indescribable look in her eyes. she loved it and wants to do it again.
today we are enjoying the airlie beach
Friday, April 1, 2011
This Week's Adventures
Most exciting moment? Being completely lost in Sydney. So lost, in fact, that I momentarily considered parking the car and taking the train home so that Larry could go back and get the car. But then I dug deep and reminded myself that I am a 45-year old, college-educated, 21st century woman. We began ignoring the GPS (which is what caused the lost-ness) and intuitively back-tracked over the bridge. We simply went home.
I was supposed to be driving Nicole to her Classics Dinner at a boys' school in Summer Hill, an inner-west suburb of Sydney. According to the GPS and Bing Maps, this drive should take 28 minutes (it's only 12-14 miles away). With a targeted arrival time of 6:45, we left the house at 5:45 to allow for traffic and getting lost. Instantly, the GPS changed our route because of a "traffic incident" on our path. It proceeded to change our route every 2 minutes and eventually had me doing u-turn after u-turn until we ended up in a cul-de-sac somewhere in either Willoughby or Artarmon.
At 6:30, we finally crossed the Sydney Harbor Bridge at approximately 10 miles per hour. To avoid yet another "traffic incident," the GPS directed me to take the East Suburb exit and then instructed me on how to drive through Sydney to get to the West. Then, the GPS got really confused.
Once we were buried between the skyscrapers, the GPS signal intermittently failed. First, it said we were on Elizabeth Street. Then, we were on Market Street. First, I was supposed turn left. I dutifully put my signal on and get on the left-turn only lane. Stopped at the light, the GPS changed its mind and told me to drive 60 meters and turn right. Only the presence of my daughter and my conscience prevented me from swearing like a sailor.
It was now 6:50. Nicole was going to miss the social time and would probably be 30 minutes late for the sit-down dinner. We conferred, and she agreed that the Classics Dinner wasn't mandatory and she'd be okay with missing it. At that point, all I wanted to do was go home. We did.
Ignoring the GPS completely, we turned left and left again to retrace our steps and, hopefully, find the Bridge. In a city where the Bridge is the dominant landmark, it was thankfully fairly easy to get back on the right path to home. We went back over the harbor and found the Pacific Highway. Continuing to ignore the GPS' instructions to turn on various side streets, I stuck to Pacific Highway like a white on rice through North Sydney, Milson's Point, Waverton, Artarmon, Chatswood, and ultimately, blessed Roseville.
One hour and 20 minutes after backing out of the garage, we three pulled back into it (we picked Larry up as he walked home from the train station).
I have a very understanding daughter with a tremendous sense of humor. She and I cooked dinner together, and we all sat down for American Idol. Not the dinner we were all expecting, but Classic in its own way.
I was supposed to be driving Nicole to her Classics Dinner at a boys' school in Summer Hill, an inner-west suburb of Sydney. According to the GPS and Bing Maps, this drive should take 28 minutes (it's only 12-14 miles away). With a targeted arrival time of 6:45, we left the house at 5:45 to allow for traffic and getting lost. Instantly, the GPS changed our route because of a "traffic incident" on our path. It proceeded to change our route every 2 minutes and eventually had me doing u-turn after u-turn until we ended up in a cul-de-sac somewhere in either Willoughby or Artarmon.
At 6:30, we finally crossed the Sydney Harbor Bridge at approximately 10 miles per hour. To avoid yet another "traffic incident," the GPS directed me to take the East Suburb exit and then instructed me on how to drive through Sydney to get to the West. Then, the GPS got really confused.
Once we were buried between the skyscrapers, the GPS signal intermittently failed. First, it said we were on Elizabeth Street. Then, we were on Market Street. First, I was supposed turn left. I dutifully put my signal on and get on the left-turn only lane. Stopped at the light, the GPS changed its mind and told me to drive 60 meters and turn right. Only the presence of my daughter and my conscience prevented me from swearing like a sailor.
It was now 6:50. Nicole was going to miss the social time and would probably be 30 minutes late for the sit-down dinner. We conferred, and she agreed that the Classics Dinner wasn't mandatory and she'd be okay with missing it. At that point, all I wanted to do was go home. We did.
Ignoring the GPS completely, we turned left and left again to retrace our steps and, hopefully, find the Bridge. In a city where the Bridge is the dominant landmark, it was thankfully fairly easy to get back on the right path to home. We went back over the harbor and found the Pacific Highway. Continuing to ignore the GPS' instructions to turn on various side streets, I stuck to Pacific Highway like a white on rice through North Sydney, Milson's Point, Waverton, Artarmon, Chatswood, and ultimately, blessed Roseville.
One hour and 20 minutes after backing out of the garage, we three pulled back into it (we picked Larry up as he walked home from the train station).
I have a very understanding daughter with a tremendous sense of humor. She and I cooked dinner together, and we all sat down for American Idol. Not the dinner we were all expecting, but Classic in its own way.
Friday, March 25, 2011
A Day at Sydney Harbor
After last weekend's torrential rains, we were looking forward to being able to get out of the house and see some sights. We left Nicole home expecting a friend to visit (and, supposedly, to do math) and headed off on the train to Circular Quay. Trains here are double-decker.
We intended to visit the Royal Botanical Gardens; however, with the threatening weather, we decided to stay closer to civilization in case we had to duck inside to avoid a soaking. A short walk from Circular Quay is the Opera House. It is magnificent up close and personal.
The view of Sydney from the Opera House is also stunning.
Of course, right across the harbor, is the iconic Sydney Harbor Bridge. We could see groups of people climbing the arc of the structure, and all I could think was "no way, Jose." The more moderate option is the climb the pylon (hmmmm). The least strenuous is a walk across the bridge along the pedestrian path. If we'd had a bit more time today, we would have given that a go, to see if my fear of heights would kick in or not. Alas, that will have to wait for another day.
After a stroll around the Opera House peninsula, we explored The Rocks, an intimate, historical district that is actually the oldest part of Sydney. We picked our way through the open air market and searched for a place for lunch. After considering a couple of pubs that looked deserted, we headed back to the Quay to read menus and evaluate views. We ended up at Peter Doyle's @ Quay, and it was a GREAT choice.
This was the view from our table, and the food terrific as well.
What a lovely morning and lunch date with Larry!
We intended to visit the Royal Botanical Gardens; however, with the threatening weather, we decided to stay closer to civilization in case we had to duck inside to avoid a soaking. A short walk from Circular Quay is the Opera House. It is magnificent up close and personal.
The view of Sydney from the Opera House is also stunning.
Of course, right across the harbor, is the iconic Sydney Harbor Bridge. We could see groups of people climbing the arc of the structure, and all I could think was "no way, Jose." The more moderate option is the climb the pylon (hmmmm). The least strenuous is a walk across the bridge along the pedestrian path. If we'd had a bit more time today, we would have given that a go, to see if my fear of heights would kick in or not. Alas, that will have to wait for another day.
After a stroll around the Opera House peninsula, we explored The Rocks, an intimate, historical district that is actually the oldest part of Sydney. We picked our way through the open air market and searched for a place for lunch. After considering a couple of pubs that looked deserted, we headed back to the Quay to read menus and evaluate views. We ended up at Peter Doyle's @ Quay, and it was a GREAT choice.
This was the view from our table, and the food terrific as well.
What a lovely morning and lunch date with Larry!
Tuesday, March 22, 2011
A Day in the Life...
...or What Does Carla do all Day?
Those of you who knew me in CT, knew me as the chair of the stewardship committee, the pumpkin queen, president of the parents association, adult Sunday school teacher, and VP Talent Management at InSource. Relocating to Australia brought me to a hard stop. Gotta say, it's kind of nice being able to reinvent and reallocate my energies!
It has begged the question, though, of what I do all day?
I'm up at 6:30 to wake Nicole. At 7:10, I zip Nicole up to the train station for her daily commute to school. Upon my return to the house (by 7:23), I make sure Larry is up. A couple of beds made, a quick neatening of the kitchen as my English muffin toasts, and then I watch one of my favoriate Britcoms over breakfast.
Then it's over to the laptop for email, skype, and some work. At some point in the morning, some light housekeeping - cleaning the bathrooms, vacuuming, laundry - it's not so bad when you can spread out the chores over the whole week instead of trying to cram them all into one morning or afternoon.
The afternoon is reading - for Lent, I'm trying to spend more time in devotional reading - and a movie that I've recorded on the DVR.
To get out of the house a couple of times a week, I have a few options: walk up to Roseville (it's all uphill, but luckily it doesn't snow); drive somewhere; take the train or bus to Chatswood to shop. I plan to do more of these little outings to get myself out of the house more.
Nicole gets home around 4pm, and we hangout for a bit while she has her afternoon snack. Then it's homework for her and dinner prep for me. Once a week, Larry and I head out for a small group study. Occasionally, I have a book group night or a movie night. This weekend, we are invited to a new friend's birthday party. Nicole has a Friday night youth group social event and a Saturday night school event.
Not to worry, folks. My pace may be slow, but it's relaxing!
Those of you who knew me in CT, knew me as the chair of the stewardship committee, the pumpkin queen, president of the parents association, adult Sunday school teacher, and VP Talent Management at InSource. Relocating to Australia brought me to a hard stop. Gotta say, it's kind of nice being able to reinvent and reallocate my energies!
It has begged the question, though, of what I do all day?
I'm up at 6:30 to wake Nicole. At 7:10, I zip Nicole up to the train station for her daily commute to school. Upon my return to the house (by 7:23), I make sure Larry is up. A couple of beds made, a quick neatening of the kitchen as my English muffin toasts, and then I watch one of my favoriate Britcoms over breakfast.
Then it's over to the laptop for email, skype, and some work. At some point in the morning, some light housekeeping - cleaning the bathrooms, vacuuming, laundry - it's not so bad when you can spread out the chores over the whole week instead of trying to cram them all into one morning or afternoon.
The afternoon is reading - for Lent, I'm trying to spend more time in devotional reading - and a movie that I've recorded on the DVR.
To get out of the house a couple of times a week, I have a few options: walk up to Roseville (it's all uphill, but luckily it doesn't snow); drive somewhere; take the train or bus to Chatswood to shop. I plan to do more of these little outings to get myself out of the house more.
Nicole gets home around 4pm, and we hangout for a bit while she has her afternoon snack. Then it's homework for her and dinner prep for me. Once a week, Larry and I head out for a small group study. Occasionally, I have a book group night or a movie night. This weekend, we are invited to a new friend's birthday party. Nicole has a Friday night youth group social event and a Saturday night school event.
Not to worry, folks. My pace may be slow, but it's relaxing!
Thursday, March 17, 2011
My Birthday Part II
So thanks for all the Facebook wishes. Loved being remembered by so many people. Say what you like about time wasting, I've seen the upside of Facebook - birthday wishes and mutual friends living in Australia.
Larry, Nicole and I celebrated my birthday on March 16 with dinner at a Japanese restaurant in Kirribilli. Kirribilli a town under the Sydney Harbor Bridge with winding streets and lots of town houses. It reminds me vaguely of San Francisco. Nice dinner. Lovely gifts, too. An aboriginal design ceramic vase, some coasters with aboriginal art, and a gorgeous wrist watch. On top of the lovely champagne lunch, turning 45 was a memorable birthday indeed!
Larry, Nicole and I celebrated my birthday on March 16 with dinner at a Japanese restaurant in Kirribilli. Kirribilli a town under the Sydney Harbor Bridge with winding streets and lots of town houses. It reminds me vaguely of San Francisco. Nice dinner. Lovely gifts, too. An aboriginal design ceramic vase, some coasters with aboriginal art, and a gorgeous wrist watch. On top of the lovely champagne lunch, turning 45 was a memorable birthday indeed!
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| Standing on the Sydney Harbor Bridge footpath |
Tuesday, March 15, 2011
It's My Birthday - Part I
It's my first birthday in Australia. People have asked me, with concern, how I will be spending the day. Well, I am having a GREAT day. I just got in from my 2-1/2 hour champagne lunch where I celebrated turning 45 with five absolutely lovely ladies - three Australians, a Brit, and a South African. I left with an armful of flowers, cookies, a gorgeous scarf, and Bill Granger's Sydney Cookbook.
We dined at the Ad Lib Bistro in Pymble. What a fantastic meal. Spaghettini with chili, parsley, and hand-picked crab meat. Why does "hand-picked crabmeat" sound so much yummier than just, plain, crab? I picked the restaurant out of the Sydney Morning Herald Good Food Guide 2011. Really, really good. If you are in the Sydney area and haven't eaten here, I highly recommend it.
I have dinner with Larry and Nicole to look forward to tonight at a Japanese restaurant in Kirribilli. Can't wait!
We dined at the Ad Lib Bistro in Pymble. What a fantastic meal. Spaghettini with chili, parsley, and hand-picked crab meat. Why does "hand-picked crabmeat" sound so much yummier than just, plain, crab? I picked the restaurant out of the Sydney Morning Herald Good Food Guide 2011. Really, really good. If you are in the Sydney area and haven't eaten here, I highly recommend it.
I have dinner with Larry and Nicole to look forward to tonight at a Japanese restaurant in Kirribilli. Can't wait!
Sunday, March 13, 2011
A Lovely Sunday
Spent a lovely Sunday afternoon with my husband. We walked around Lane Cove (for those of you in CT, think West Hartford Center) making notes of restaurant locations and shops. Larry stopped for a milkshake. Milkshakes in Australia are not the thick, foamy shakes of the US. They are more like thick milk with flavoring.
After our stroll about Lane Cove, we headed home with a side trip for afternoon tea to a lovely outdoor cafe in Roseville near the tennis courts, Sous le Soleil. Larry had his cuppa, and I enjoyed an Australian favorite, the Lemon Lime Bitters. We shared a Berry Financier, which is not a banking professional covered in berries but is an almond cake with blue berries served with strawberry sauce. This was just enough to tide us over until dinner after church.
It was quite a warm weekend, lots of sun, so it was good to be outside. We'd gone to the beach on Saturday for about an hour. From this scenic overlook spot, you can see three beaches: Manly Beach on the far left, Freshwater in the middle, and Curl Curl on the right.
Sometimes I have to pinch myself when I realize I live in a place of such stunning beauty.
After our stroll about Lane Cove, we headed home with a side trip for afternoon tea to a lovely outdoor cafe in Roseville near the tennis courts, Sous le Soleil. Larry had his cuppa, and I enjoyed an Australian favorite, the Lemon Lime Bitters. We shared a Berry Financier, which is not a banking professional covered in berries but is an almond cake with blue berries served with strawberry sauce. This was just enough to tide us over until dinner after church.
It was quite a warm weekend, lots of sun, so it was good to be outside. We'd gone to the beach on Saturday for about an hour. From this scenic overlook spot, you can see three beaches: Manly Beach on the far left, Freshwater in the middle, and Curl Curl on the right.
Sometimes I have to pinch myself when I realize I live in a place of such stunning beauty.
Sunday, March 6, 2011
WHEW!
Whew, we are nearly done arranging all our worldly goods. When we woke up on March 2, our house looked like this:
And then, just a few hours later, it looked like this!
We had just the one living area with monochromatic rental furniture - serviceable but boring. Because we'd bought a refrigerator, the rental became a fixture mid-way between the dining and lounge areas.
The relocation movers arrived promptly, and somehow, they managed to maneuver the double lorry in reverse to park in front of our house. No idea how they did it, since street parking is the norm in the area. Driving a regular car is sometimes taking your life in your hands as you dodge oncoming cars by slipping into the spots between cars parked on the street. The lorry driver, Adam, must be a miracle worker.
And then, just a few hours later, it looked like this!
We had just the one living area with monochromatic rental furniture - serviceable but boring. Because we'd bought a refrigerator, the rental became a fixture mid-way between the dining and lounge areas.
The relocation movers arrived promptly, and somehow, they managed to maneuver the double lorry in reverse to park in front of our house. No idea how they did it, since street parking is the norm in the area. Driving a regular car is sometimes taking your life in your hands as you dodge oncoming cars by slipping into the spots between cars parked on the street. The lorry driver, Adam, must be a miracle worker.
When the truck doors opened, there was our stuff, wrapped in brown paper and packing tape, and we began the effort of truly moving into our new home. The moving crew were wonderful. They unloaded the truck in record time and placed each item in the designated room (more or less).
Larry and I worked on unpacking and putting away. It was joyful to see our things again; however, having lived with the bare minimum for so long, we both felt like we'd shipped too much.
It feels like we've been unpacking for days, and not everything is completely settled. But it's darn close!
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