8 Weeks Left

I can't really believe that this will be my last term at La Salle College. In a way it's countdown time. In another way I don't want to leave and I think Dave and I are crazy to go all the way to Canada.

We just keep reminding ourselves that we could all too easily stay her at our comfortable jobs, in our familiar and comfortable neighborhood, going to familiar places to shop, eat and go out. It would be fine, in fact, it could be really good. We could buy a house and settle down. OR...Because we don't have a house, kids or any major responsibilities or obligations we could try something new. An adventure. You only live once, I think it's the best thing to try new things and new places, even if these things are out of our comfort zones.

It's Week Nine

It's week nine of term three. Less than two weeks ago until the next break and then only 9 more weeks working at La Salle College. It's so, so strange. I still haven't told the kids I'm leaving.

Highs of the Last Month:

• We played our Album Launch, it was so, so fun
• Dave and I booked flights to Thailand and San Francisco
• Larni is in town
• It's getting warmer
• Film Study with the Year 12s - "American History X"
• The Year 9s are so excited to write their Historical Narratives
• Some nice movie nights with Dave
• Hell's Kitchen and Mad Men

Lows:

• I've just recovered from a chest infection that lasted for over 3 weeks - I had to take a week off work, I've never done that.
• Rude, abusive parent I had to deal with a few weeks ago
• My Year 8s do not inspire me
• A ton of marking
• Slicing my fingers on a soup can

Overall, I thinks the highs are usually much better than the lows. :)

Rackets and Fives Album Launch

Last night Rackets and Fives launched our full-length album, "Roslyn" at the Rosemount. I actually can't believe it's all over. My favourite high school English teacher and drama director used to tell us to prepare for the empty feeling that comes after the elation of performing a play when it's finished. Sure enough, after spending countless hours preparing for a performance, it's a strange feeling that comes when it's all over.

The same is true with the launch being over, although the whole experience was really fantastic. We spent over 2 years as a band, learning, arranging, playing and finally recording the songs from Roslyn. When Dave and I were in the car on the way to the Rosemount, we were a little stunned that the day was finally here.

Richard and Bre flew in for the launch and we had a fun day of practice at Sound Suite before the big night. We were all supposed to play with the CD beforehand to prepare and Dave, JP, Kok and I had a couple of practices together as well. For a little while it seemed like we were on shaky ground - we hadn't played together in so long! After a bit of a wakeup call from Dave we got back on track and felt a lot more confident when we left Sound Suite.

I have never been to a gig that went by so fast as the one at the Rosie that night did. I had actually been thinking that all the waiting to play would seem long, but it wasn't so. It started off quiet, with few people, and as the night progressed the place filled up. That was a relief.

Geraldine was great - I'd never heard her sing before and she has a really lovely voice. Her soulful, relaxed tunes with the sporadic percussion accompaniment were perfect to start the night off. Next up: Little Ships. A duo (Jack Midalia and Sarah Tout) that I've seen play many times before and they just keep getting better. Kok Wah played some guest basslines that added even more depth to the songs. The third band to play was Community Chest, featuring Laurie Sinagra, the great guy who recorded our album. Their drummer was unable to make it to the gig at the last minute, so the band was a lots more chilled out than usual, which was just fine. They played a really tight set that I got to see most of when I wasn't chatting with the lovely people who came down to see us play. I was trying to keep the speaking to a minimum as I was recovering from Bronchitis. Water, scotch on the rocks and lozenges in my pockets were keeping me going.

After what seemed like minutes it was our turn to set up. The setup went smoothly and before we knew it we were playing "The Good Old Colony Times", a fun, traditional song to warm us up and figure out the sound. Song by song we went through the album, and I think we all had a really fun time playing together. There were some issues with the sound, and despite my remedies my voice was not in top shape but in the end, we just wanted to play the songs and have a good time. I think the people who came down really liked the set. We finished with Confederate, which is such a fun song to play. We were all on a high when we finished playing, hugging each other and sporting wide smiles. I was especially proud of Dave, he wrote all those songs and really, it has been Dave who kept our momentum going, who put is whole self into the band and the music.

After the gig it was back to ours for a celebratory scotch. When everyone had gone Dave and I sat up and talked until late, ten went to bed after a truly great day.

Rackets and Fives are:

Angela Boyce

Breanna Evangelista

Richard MacKenzie

David Lee Owen

JP Papineau

Kok-Wah Seet

You can listen to us and buy our album Here.

Book Review: According to Jane by Marilyn Brant

I just finished a book called According to Jane written by Marilyn Brant.

Premise: One day in high school English, Ellie Barnett's class is assigned Pride and Prejudice and Ellie's world is never the same. A peculiar thing happens to Ellie: she starts to hear Jane Austen's voice in her head, and grows to love the author's 'company'. Jane Austen guides Ellie through her life and remains a constant companion through life's decisions, boyfriends coming and going, etc. Will Ellie ever find her Mr. Darcy? What about the infuriating Sam Blaine, who Jane refers to as a "Wickham"?

I thought the premise of the book was fresh and interesting, especially since I like Jane Austen. The book is told in the first person, which I also like. It jumps between the past and present, following Ellie's life from her teens into her early 30s, another technique that I thought worked. I loved the references to 80s music and fashion. Basically, good premise, promising beginning.

I really wanted to like Ellie, the novel's protagonist, and it seemed like I would at the start of the book: smart, a reader, independant, a little nerdy but liked by her friends. Unfortunately she becomes a frustrating, annoying character as the book progresses. It seems like she doesn't change at all in almost 20 years. Every time she meets a guy she immediately starts picturing a future with them, fantasizing about comittment, marriage and babies. Not only that, she consistently goes for guys who obviosly don't want this at all and gets surprised every time a guy doesn't fall in love with her and want to be with her forever just because they've slept together. She holds a torch for this guy Sam, who snapped her bra staps in high school English and ignored her after she had sex with him in the backseat of a car. Hmmmm... As a reader I think we're meant to realize that people change when they grow up, but since Ellie carries on like she's in high school throughout the novel this is difficult.

There is lots of sex in the book, which I usually don't mind, but in this case I found it cringeworthy because of the writing style and the depiction. I almost had to double check that this book was written by a woman because of Ellie's extreme reaction to being touched in any way, and the dialogue, which read a lot like a porno film. I'm not interested in some Russian guy telling Ellie "Come for me now!" (And she does! Right on command!) and if I had to hear about the "folds between her legs" one more time I would have chucked the book. Oh, and I hate it when it's called "making love". Ew. But that's just me.

I know I'm sounding negative. There are elements of the book that I did enjoy. It was a good idea, and I liked the amusing dialogue between Jane and Ellie, and of course the references to Pride and Prejudice. I just wish that Ellie's happy ending would have been to grow up a little! She was supposed to be a strong, capable woman, but instead, her poor choices and obsession with 'landing' a man just make the reader question how much has really changed since Austen's time.

Back to School...

Already, it's the third week of Term 3. How time flies. The house felt pretty quiet without Caroline, and at first it was a bit of a drag going back to work, truly waking up from the lovely haze of the holidays to find early mornings and a few extra pounds from all the indulgence.

As usual, you hit the ground running when you work at a school, so time has raced by, and it's been good. Last weekend Dave and I were in recovery mode and didn't go out except for food and DVDs until Sunda afternoon, when we went for a nice walk. I've resumed my ballet class every week and I've got a pile of marking to do.

Last week the fridge stopped working, which was frustrating because we don't want to buy a new fridge when we're only going to be in the house another 5 months. However, Dave took everything out, cleaned and defrosted it completely, and it's working again! Fingers crossed that it'll last. Dave's the best for doing that!

Highs of the last couple of weeks: Starting TV Genre with the year 9s. Finishing Season 3 of "Breaking Bad". Finishing Parent-Teacher interviews for the year. Discovering the deliciousness of sugar free Aloe Vera drink. Handing in my resignation for the end of the year. Having a good talk with some of the year 12 girls. Hyde Park walk on Sunday. Finding out that Moe's engagement party is happening when we'll be in Montreal. Phone date with Caroline.

Lows of the last couple of weeks: Caroline leaving. My year 8s and their behaviour. Getting soaked on the way to work. My eye twitching. Holiday weight. Chilly, early mornings.

All in all, things are good!

Bunbury? More like FUNbury!

We were sad to leave Margaret River. It's just so serene and lovely, especially in a great place like Willy Bay Resort. But at least the holidays weren't over!

The drive to Bunners was short but pretty stormy, which wasn't the most fun for Dave. But before we knew it we were there with a nice cup of tea and a movie. Maureen made delicious soup and we ate it with garlic bread and afterwards she put a tasty cheese plate together with strawberries and cherries. We watched "Bottle Shock", a better movie than I thought it would be, and appropriate with our Margaret River wine! We had some Cointreau as well. When Maureen and Allen turned in Caroline, Dave and I sat around and chatted and Caroline took a whole bunch of notes about wedding plannning!

The next day looked a little rainy but we braved the outdoors and went for a walk along the beach and up Bunbury's lookout tower. After our walk we decided to head to Mash Brewery to have some cider and beer, then back to Haig Crescent for steak, potatoes, salad and wine. We also played some Movie-title themes charades, yay! Weirdly though, while watching "40-Year-Old Virgin", I started to feel really hot, and when Dave and Caroline looked concerned (and maybe a bit weirded out!) when they looked at me, I ran for the mirror and discovered that I was covered in a weird, blotchy, scarlet rash. It started on my chest and spread across my entire body! Thankfully, it was gone within a couple of hours, but I still don't know what caused it. Maureen said it was probably something I ate, and that seems likely because I was pretty sick that night.

Because of my stomach I was up a lot at night so I slept in a lot. Dave, Caroline and Maureen had a big breakfast, I sipped on some soup and felt a bit better. We chatted and soon enough it was time to drive back to Perth. Dave said he'd drive (again!) and I was thankful for that. It was a relaxing time in Bunbury - I didn't want to leave!

Even though being back in Perth meant the holidays were coming to an end, it was still nice to arrive home. I told Dave I'd run to the front of the house and unlock the back door from the inside, but I was in for an unpleasant surprise...I tried my key, but found that the lock we didn't have keys to had been bolted. We couldn't get in. Because we'd been away, our phones were dead. It was Friday evening, after 6 PM. Such bad timing. Luckily, our next door neighbor Claudia was home and she let us use her computer and phone. We reached our real estate agent, who reluctantly met us and gave us the keys. Finally, at almost 8:00 we were in.

That night we went out to Lido and then out for a couple of drinks and Clarences and Defectors. Ran into Marc Nesbitt and hung out with him a bit. Good night!

Margaret River: Sights, Food and Wine

Margaret River is one of my favourite places. Only a few hours from Perth city, it's a lovely place to relax and get away. As usual, the three of us, Caroline, Dave and I, were running a little late leaving, but we made good time on the drive, stopping in Bunbury to get DVDs and at a litte place on the road to get Caroline an Emu pie (not really wanting to eat an Emu myself, I opted for a Harvey orange).

At last we pulled up to Willy Bay Resort, where we were staying in a Lakeside View self-contained chalet. Dave and I stayed there for our 2-year anniversary and it was nice to be back, and as lovely as we remembered: 2 bedrooms with big comfy beds, a bathroom with a spa bath, a full kitchen, dining room and a lounge room with a flat screen TV and a fire. The first night we went to the market and cheese factory and got a variety of Margaret River cheeses and foods. We went for a drink at the Settlers Tavern, a cozy lodge that reminded us of Canadian pubs, before returning to our chalet and settling in for the night. I had a luxurious shower and then we all sat down to enjoy a feast of Margaret River food and wine. When we were ready to burst we sat in the lounge room and enjoyed "The Cutting Edge" and "Cadillac Records". "The Cutting Edge" was one of my childhood favourites and I was happy to find that I still really enjoyed it. I thought "Cadillac Records" was really good as well, but Beyonce playing Etta James was a real stretch. Great music and fashion, it captured a time.

Our first full day down south we woke up to see the most astoundingly beautiful weather. The sun shone, the day was calm and warm. We saw Yallingup, Meelup Beach, took some walks and soaked up some sun and great views. We went to Wise Winery to have some tastings and then to the brewery to grab some beer and a bite. In Margaret River town we topped up our food and then headed back to Willy Bay for some more food, wine and as always great company! We watched a very silly, action packed movie called "Crank", it was fun, had lots of great chats and watched some fluffy TV before getting into our fluffy beds.

Day 2 = Wineries! Dave was the best ever because he said he would be our designated driver. We visited 5 wineries: Sandalford, Evans & Tate, Pierrot, Cullen and Vasse Felix. Great times! We also went to the chocolate factory, yummmmm. After our adventures we went to the Settlers again and ran into Taryn, Dave's old fried from Perth and her friend who was from Quebec! We had a drink with them and then, again, visited the supermarket to top up our supplies for our last night in Margs.

Caroline's in Perth!

When Caroline booked her flights to Perth over four months ago I was so glad, but wow, it seemed like a long time to wait for her visit. Time always passes more quickly than expected though and before I knew it Dave and I were at the airport, guessing when she'd come out, making up little games about how many people would be out before her.

Even though you wait and wait at the airport it is still always such a surprise to see your friend in person. There are always a few seconds of awkwardness when you haven't seen someone in so long, but it's amazing how quickly that evaporates. It was so great catching up on the drive back to our place in Mount Lawley.

Let me just say that Caroline is an absolute champ - after travelling over 35 hours she stayed up and even went out for a couple of drinks with us for Cutter's birthday at Clarences! After her 2nd warm cider the fatigue started to hit her - she and I went home where we had noodles from Goreng and a little girl talk before she went to sleep.

Dave and I had spent a very lovely but quiet weekend together before Caroline's arrival and the next morning was the first day I officially felt like we were really and truly on holidays. After a sleep in we started the day with birthday cake and bubbles, then it was off to the Swan Valley for a brewery lunch with Josh and Amy; Caroline tried kangaroo! We went for a lovely walk through the woods and bush over the rapids, then out for a drink at the Rose & Crown. A great day! On the next day we took a drive through Fremantle and stopped at Cottesloe beach, where Caroline dipped her toes in the Indian Ocean at sunset. Dave went home and then Caroline and I did a bit of late night shopping in Mount Lawley. She got the cutest dress and shoes at Elroy! We celebrated with a drink at the Queens and some nibbles at Bliss Nooodle Bar before coming home and watching "The Blind Side" with Dave.

Friday was a day to rock out! The three of us went to the AC/DC exhibit at the gallery, it was really fun! Afterwards it was time to get ready for a night out - dinner with Lou, Kok, Dan, Mel, Busta, Liz and Sian at Utopia, then off to Devilles Pad! They had a Beach Boys tribute band playing in addition to the usual fun, kitch vibe, cool cocktails and great music! Dave, Caroline and I met up with Cutter and Mark and had a blast. To continue the great time we were off to Amplifier for more music and dancing! Turns out Caroline was quite popular with the Aussie boys, who lined up to dance with her and tell her that they loved her.

Saturday was a beautiful, warm sunny day, a perfect day to enjoy Caversham Wildlife Park. We saw lots of cool birds and marsupials, fed kangaroos and met koalas, lizards and a wombat, although the emus didn't seem to want to cooperate and come close to us - I think they suspected that Caroline intended to eat them; her goal is to try as many Aussie animals as she can! I loved visiting the bunnies at Molly's Farm. The sun was setting as we drove home and for dinner we got Stones pizza. Next stop tomorrow: Margaret River!

It's Such a Perfect Day

I'M ENGAGED!

Dave proposed on Sunday, it was so lovely!

Here's how it went: Dave suggested we go for a picnic in Hyde Park on Sunday afternoon because it was so beautiful out, it was really nice, sunny, warm and on the verge of hot. We had lovely picnic food and talking in the sun. He then said he had a late birthday present for me, he had ordered it online and it only came on Friday (I thought it was a little strange that he wouldn't let me have it when it arrived, but didn't think much of it). I opened it and it was a beautiful hardcover book that he had Apple make for him, it was called "Five Years" and it was filled with pictures of us and family and friends from the last five years, our time together. On the back inside cover was a message that said "Will you marry me?". That's when he took out the ring and asked! It was so sweet and perfect.

the ring is simple, classic, beautiful and dainty. It is white gold with a very gorgeous sparkly single diamond.

This has been on of the most special and beautiful days in my life, I'm so very happy.

Montreal!

So I have arrived in Montreal for a visit. Well, actually I have been here for a little over a week now! It's pretty amazing how fast the time goes, but also how easy it is to settle into a place you used to live in.

It's been a perfect blend of busy and relaxing. Got in at 4:30 to find that my luggage had been lost. The guy at the counter was super rude and wouldn't even answer my questions! Welcome to Quebec! Oh well. I wasn't going to let it bring me down. It was great getting to 2 BG and seeing my family. I was feeling kind of tired since I don't really sleep much during flight, even long ones, but somehow I ended up staying up until about 2:30 - Caroline came over and so did Moe and Ryan, and everyone was having a great time. Had Mom's home made spaghetti sauce, wine...Yum!

The next few days I went shopping with Mom. Sunday night the fam went to La Porte Greque and had some delicious lamb chops. Monday night because of Logan's insistence we went to see "Scott Pilgrim vs The World", which was great. Tuesday night Tasha and Sanjay came over for dinner and then we headed off to Candi Bar on Mont Royale because my old friend Cheryl was in town. It was really great to see her. If anyone is reading this and is considering going to Candi bar, it's a great place. The bar is made of mega blocks! But beware of their sugary drinks!!! The one I had contained cherry slush, vodka, midori and pop rocks. Wow, did I feel below average the next day, and apparently I was babbling about nonsense in Sanjay's car on the way home. Yikes.

Needless to say, Wednesday was a quiet one. But it was really nice to be in my old house with my family. I talked to Dave that morning too, which was good. Mom, Logan, Tara and I walked around the Pointe Claire Village and made Rice Krispies Squares when we got home. Mom made meat loaf - it was kind of cool for everyone to be having a cooked meal together at the house.

Thursday got a slow start, but after a disaster involving Mom's washing machine Mom and I went out for Gigi's Pizza. I still think it's the best pizza I've ever had! Moe arrived late in the afternoon, because she took Friday off to hang out - so nice! We went out to La Porte Greque and had a great chat. I think we both needed girl time. When we got back, my whole family as well as Moe and Sanjay listened to my band's album so far. I was so excited because everyone really liked it and had heaps of positive things to say about it. Moe, Sanjay, Logan and I went to Clydes afterwards for a bit and had a pitcher of Molson Ex!

The weekend was a fun one. Friday we actually had a lot of fun grocery shopping before our girls' night. I made fajitas, and we all had a cocktail or two, chatted and played board games - Yay! Moe slept over again and left the next day when Ryan came to pick her up. That night I went with Caroline, Sanjay and Tasha to Typhoon where Mike works. I saw Mike, Craig and a few others I hadn't seen in ages. Had a great time with Caroline, and ended the night pretty sober, which is apparently an accomplishment after being there. On Sunday afternoon Nana and Ann-Marie came over and I made them dinner. It was really lovely to see them as well.

Here we are - it's already Monday. After a delicious and filling lunch at the Burgundy Lion Mom, Dad and I spent some time together and looked at old photos. I had a good long chat with Mom and also talked to Dave on the phone. Nerdy playing of my old Mac SE followed. Still can't beat Quest For T-Rex. Haha.

Year 11 Retreat

From Wednesday to Friday last week I went on Year 11 Retreat for my Co-Curricular hours. I'm going to be really honest here and say that I wasn't exactly looking forward to it. Sure, I like the kids and the other staff, but 3 days and two nights...It could seem like forever. I like my own bed, and I like being with Dave every day. But I was going, and that was that! The only option was to be in a good mood about it!

The retreat ended up being really, really great. Accommodation was rough and very cold at night, but that was hardly noticeable. The kids were there to focus on their relationships with family, friends and others and to reflect on their lives. There were activities about communication and active listening (I ran one of those), making a road that signified their journey in life, reflecting on what each member of their family means to them and more.

On the first day the kids were read the story of the Warm Fuzzies. They then each got a bag that they put their name on and decorated. Over the course of the retreat everyone wrote "warm fuzzies" to one another, and everyone got to read the contents of their bad at the end. What a great idea!

I ran a workshop on day 2 called "Music is my Life", where the kids are meant to compile 10-12 songs that make them think about people and places in their lives. To model the task I shared some of my life experiences and played some songs. Even though I get up in front of a class 5 days a week, many times a day, I still felt quite nervous about getting up and sharing. But I'm glad I did, and I'm glad I was honest with them about some of the things that happened at different parts in my life. I think it encouraged the kids to dig deeper when they did the activity.

By the second day the mood at the retreat was already different. Kids were coming out of their shells, being more honest with one another and branching out, talking and interacting with other students who weren't necessarily friends before. That night we had a liturgy. Every student brought a candle, and we lit them all. Towards the end, the kids had to think about something they wanted to get rid of, a feeling, an experience, anger, guilt, etc. and they wrote it down on a piece of paper. One by one each kid quietly stood up in the candlelit room and ripped up their paper, throwing it away. After this, a girl named Emma got up to sing a song. She's had some tough times in her life and when she started to sing her voice broke and she began to cry. Immediately, friends were by her side, holding her hand, encouraging her. She sang the whole song, even though her voice was breaking now and then. It was really beautiful. Because of the overwhelming emotional reflection over the days, most of the kids were in tears when Emma sang her song. After the song finished everyone hugged someone, or many people. I had some students I didn't even know giving me a hug. In school it might feel weird, but it was nice on retreat.

The next day was also quite emotional - each student received a letter from their parents, or a parent. This part of the retreat reduced even the toughest, jockiest guys to tears. The great thing was the letters would say how proud parents were and how much they loved their kids. That reinforcement and expression of love and pride just made the kids cry, because they were overwhelmed with reassuring, happy feelings.

I think it was really a great experience for all the kids, and I feel so glad that I got to be a part of it. I wish we had done something like this at my school.

July Holidays

The year's middle holiday is coming to a close. Compared to our Vietnam adventure in April, these two weeks have been incredibly relaxing. The World Cup was fun to get into, checked out some Jazz at The Bird, went to the 6s & 7s album launch at the Rosie, welcomed Maureen back from the UK with a lovely dinner at Clarence's, Went for walks into the city and to the library, had some dinners out, partied at Cutter's big birthday and Dave & I celebrated our 5-year anniversary with a few nights in Margaret River filled with relaxation: food, wine, the country and each other.

It was really a good couple of weeks.

STOMP

It's time for STOMP, a special day at La Salle College. Everyone dresses up and has fun, providing a gold coin donation for worthy causes. Everyone had to dress as something starting with one of these letters: STOMP. Teachers do it too, it's heaps of fun! I was a punk, along with the lovely ladies in the library. Here are some pictures:

Five Years

Dave and I are celebrating five years of being together today. How amazing is that?

Also: Happy Canada Day, everyone! :)

Getting Up to Date

Oh my. I have been away from this blog for too long. There are posts I keep continuing to write, and since I haven't finished, I don't update on news, and things just build up. Well, I think it's time to write now, catch up on the past later.

Things I have to post about:

1. Mom and Dad's visit.

2. Starting the new school year.

3. Dave and I in Vietnam.

4. Everything else in between!

It has been a pretty quiet weekend. Dave has been feeling a bit rough so we've been laying low. Sometimes, and I mean this in the most lovely of ways, it's nice when one person in a couple is feeling a little bit sick, as long as it's not really ill - it gives the other person an excuse to just chill. Friday night we went to the Rosemount for a celebration - Cutter has left RTR and is starting a new company. It was great to see people I haven't seen in awhile, and it was a really nice night out, especially for May!

Saturday was a really lazy day, filled with DVDs, snacks and generally just hanging out in the house. Saturday night we got Thai food and we watched 'Anvil', which was pretty funny, and also 'Perfume', because Dave just finished reading the book. From what I remember from the book the movie was pretty true to the story, but it bothered both of us that the man they cast as Grenouille was not so hard on the eyes, when in the book it was quite the opposite.

Today I have to do some work, but surprise surprise, I'm putting it off. Instead, Dave and I watched "Bride Wars", a movie that I originally swore I wouldn't allow Dave to watch because of how feral these girls get about weddings, planning and huge expenses! I think it was fine though, it was pretty fun.

School has been fine - on Friday we took the year 8s to Fremantle, it was so much fun! Week three of term two has left me pretty tired, so I'm glad we had a quiet weekend. Last week I was unfortunately beating myself up a lot, and being overtired didn't help me in terms of looking at things rationally, and I was thinking of myself as a disappointment. I plan to take a more healthy approach to how I perceive myself and what I do from now on, if I can. I always think I have to be the best in every area, and find it frustrating when I'm not. The best teacher, the best in my relationships, the best in keeping house, the best at maintaining myself physically and emotionally. But that can't happen. We can't be perfect in every area, and it's essential to make sacrifices and compromises to balance everything out. It's a hard notion to get used to sometimes.

Time to sign off, and try to catch up on other posts...

Ho Chi Minh City

Ho Chi Minh City is an assault on the senses. It's incredible. We arrived in the evening, and shared a taxi with this guy from Malaysia. We were immediately astounded by the lights, the sights an the crazy chaos that is Ho Chi Minh. There were motorbikes everywhere, vehicules weaving through laneless traffic. To make yourself known in a car you had to honk your horn. Traffic lights, when presented, were more of a guide than a law. There were people everywhere - walking around, selling wares and food, selling rides on motorbikes and cyclos.

Dave and I arrived at the Metropole, our hotel. It was quite nice! We were tired, but wanted to see some of Ho Chi Minh. So we got dressed and had a wander. We had dinner in a place on a backstreet surrounded by plants, and cocktails at Xu Bar before heading back.

The next day, feeling fresh, we set out to see the sights. It's hot and humid in Vietnam, and hard to stay hydrated. I love it. We discovered that crossing the street was risking your life! Avoid the cars, step out and the motorbikes will (hopefully) drive around you. We learned that hesitation was dangerous. We had lunch at a place recommended in a guide we read, and it didn't disappoint! Dave got the most delicious Green Mango shake ever, and I got a fruit shake made with fruits I didn't recognize, which was so interesting. You could see the food being made, the produce and spices used. Yum!

That afternoon we went to the War Museum, originally called the Museum of American War Crimes. The exhibit was amazing, sad, disturbing, thought-provoking, shocking and heartbreaking. There were planes, weapons, photos taken during the Vietnam War, opinions of people involved, and, sadly, an exhibit about how the Vietnamese are affected by Agent Orange. It was so intriguing to see the Vietnamese view of the war.

After that we went to the markets, took in the amazing sights, bought a few little things. I loved the markets. I don't know if I loved how we got there...Outside the museum we were asked if we wanted a ride on a motorbike. I am terrified of riding on motorbikes, but took a deep breath and agreed. We were going to the markets, and it would take awhile to walk. Although in the traffic the bikes don't go too fast, there is a lot of weaving a dodging, and I was pretty scared and relieved to get to the markets in one piece!

That night we were meeting Karen, a Vietnamese girl Dave's dad met though his company when he was in Ho Chi Minh. She arrived with a friend on motorbikes - it looked like I was getting on one of those again - oh no! Even though I was still a little scared, after a little while I actually enjoyed it a bit, although I was still happy when the ride was over, haha. Dave and I couldn't believe it when the girls pulled up to the restaurant we ate lunch at!!! It was delicious the second time around, too, and the girls knew how to order better than we did. We had these thin, flat rice rolls, and filled them with salads, rice, meat...yum! The girls were really nice. karen spoke some English, her friend spoke none. They were really sweet. After that we went for a coffee. The traditional coffee in Vietnam was intense; a drip coffee mixed with sweetened condensed milk. My coffee had the texture of melted chocolate, and was almost as sweet.

Since the girls had to work the next day, they were going to head home. Dave and I wanted to go out and see a few places. We had drinks at Saigon Saigon and the Rooftop Garden, both with gorgeous views of the city. There was a party happening at Saigon Saigon, people were doing the Macarena, noooooooo! They made some pretty tasty cocktails. We had a Saigon beer at the Rooftop garden, which was elaborately decorated with plants and giant animal statues. we were worried when we saw a crash on the road below - a car ran into a motorbike with two people on it; thankfully they seemed all right, but it made us realize that maybe things didn't run so smoothly all the time after all. We then took a taxi to the backpacker district, where we went to Q-Bar and the place across the street, where we partied until after 5 in the morning!

The next day was our last day in Ho Chi Minh. We slept in a little bit, and had little hangovers, but nothing that could stop us! We were headed to the History Museum, but our first stop was lunch! We stopped for a fruit shake and then took a taxi. We walked around and went into the first restaurant we saw, a place off the beaten track. Looking around, we saw tanks filled with fish, eels, snakes and frogs. The menu had delicacies such as snake, testicle and brain. Dave, feeling advenurous, tried to order some snake! But they didn't have it or something. We ordered some food by pointing at items; tried to use our phrasebook, but to no avail. The girls who worked there laughed at us when we tried to figure out some of the food, and watched us eat the whole time! It was an experience, that's for sure. The History museum was really interesting. At that point it was almost time to go. We went to a cafe near the Saigon River, then to the Rooftop bar for one last look at the city. At our hotel, we got our stuff and went to the place we were meant to catch our bus to Nha Trang.

Fun in the Summer

Friday Mom stayed in. Her neck was a bit shaky and she was fine with some relaxation. Dad, Dave and I went to City Beach. The waves were great! Usually I hesitate when it comes to swimming in the ocean if it's cold, but the waves made my decision - I couldn't miss out on that much fun! Beautiful, fun day. That night, Richard and Ash came over for dinner, I made a vegetarian pasta with Rose sauce. Mom gave Ash a bag of buttons, which Ash loved.

The next day the gang went to the Art Gallery. That night was Liz's birthday party. Dave and I met up with Renee, Owen, Rich and Ash, got take away from Goreng, and took a maxi taxi to the party. It was a great night, but weirdly cold! The punch was deceptively deadly, meaning the next day was a bit of a nothing day. dad whipped up a delicious lamb chop BBQ, and we watched movies.

Monday we all went to AQWA, which was incredible, I'm really fascinated by life under water. Afterwards we walked around Hillary's and had a beer at the Breakaway. That night we all went to The Sparrow for dinner. It was so much fun, Mom and Dad loved the food and of course, the owner and his jokes. Great night.

Dave was in the city the next morning, getting fitted for a suit - he's a groomsman at JP and Kerry's wedding. Mom, Dad and I went to Caversham! I love caversham. It still gives me a thrill to see an Emu. And I know it's lame, but I just love the bunnies. I tried to avoid looking at the sign that said I could take a wonderful bunny home for $20.00. We went to the farm show, and Dad got on the stage and had a go with the whip! It was great fun! I got frustrated on the way back because I missed my exit and kind of got lost. I have no sense of direction and I hate that. Mom and Dad were blown away by Stones pizza....mmmmmmm!

Mom, Dad and I wandered into Perth the next day, to look around and even do a bit of shopping, and Dave went rock climbing with Kok Wah. I took Mom and Dad to Utopia for some bubble tea, something that Dad resisted because of the sissy name, but he loved it! Yay! On the way back home we stopped into the Brisbane and shared a Pimms Cup, and now Mom and Dad are real Pimms converts! After we wandered home we all went for a tasty dinner at Koinonia, we had such a lovely time. We also checked out a new place in the area, Clarence's, and had a drink. Definitely a place I want to check out again.

The next day was Mom and Dad's last day in Perth. We went to the beach, and Mom swam in Australia for the first time. :). I was a little teary that day, because I knew Mom and Dad were leaving. After the beach we all went to the Brisbane for a Pimms Cup, then we had a picnic. Watched Mom and Dad pack, and she spoiled me by giving me beautiful Lancome and Dior, Armani and Betsey Johnson Perfume. Sat with Mom outside and talked, and bed was a little early, it was time for the airport in the morning.

I am so, so happy that Mom and Dad came to visit...I already miss them.

Rottnest

Rottnest Island!!

Drove to Freo to get the ferry and when we got to the island we got our bikes. I hadn't ridden a bike since I was a teenager I think, but it was fine. The only problem was that the bike they gave me was in pretty poor shape...the gears were suck but would change without notice, jerking the bike - I almost fell off a few times. Dave ended up taking that bike, and dad rode the other one. Dad was so great, and rode the bike all day, better than I would have done!!! Mom and I walked around the island and hopped the bus. I felt bad for Mom. She was fighting a migraine, but was so strong. She didn't even complain about it, even though we lost the boys at one point. I couldn't believe how well she did. We saw Quokkas, so cute, my sister would have loved them. They were so tame and used to people that one lady had to remove one of them from her bag! The beaches on Rottnest Island are some of the most beautiful I have ever seen. We saw Salmon Bay, Parkers Point and Little Parakeet Bay. Dave and I snorkeled there, it was fantastic! Mom and I missed the bus to Thompson Bay and had to walk quite a long way. When we all got to the pub for some eats it felt pretty good! We hadn't eaten all day and I devoured my steak sandwich! The Kingston Barracks was our accommodation - we were pleasantly surprised to find that our room had its own bathroom! Dave and I got bunk beds, a double for Mom and Dad. Exhausted and sunburnt, we were all asleep by 9:30.

Day 2 of Rottnest:

A less intense day than the one before. Unfortunately Mom woke up to find that her head was still hurting and on top of that she was unable to move her neck. The flies outside were terrible!! We took the bus into town (there were some pretty entertainingly annoying ladies on the bus!), had breakfast pies at the bakery and Mom opted to stay in the little village while Dad, Dave and I went to the Basin. The Basin was lovely. I spent most of my time reading on the beach. It was a hot day, but I had the chills a little bit from overexposure to the sun the day before. Dad and Dave swam and snorkeled, and though the water was beautiful, it was cold. We met up with Mom in the afternoon, went to the pub for a beer and hung out before catching the ferry back to Freo. Great trip, and it was nice to get home.

The New Year

Maureen and Allen decided to come visit us in Perth for a few days and for New Years. On New Years Eve Dave made everyone a delicious green curry, and we all got dressed up, listened to music and drank champagne. For a celebration we went to the Upstairs bit at the Flying Scotsman, where Cutter and Pete were deejaying. We danced and brought in the New Year together. Unfortunately I overdid it with the champagne. I felt really bad about that. I wasn't feeling so well the next day. Maureen, Dad and Dave went to Scarborough Beach, while Mom and I stayed in and I had a nap. Mom made pasta for dinner, which was yummy.

The next day we all went to Fremantle. We took the ferry, which was fun. It was a very hot, sunny day, which I love. We wandered the streets, saw the Round House, ate fish & chips, walked through the markets and had beers and Mad Monks and Little Creatures. I really enjoyed Mad Monks, we got to try everything. Early in the evening we took the train back, had gin and tonics while watching comedy on youtube, had dinner at Goreng.

On the 3rd Maureen and Allen went back to Bunbury. Mom and Dad went to explore Kings Park. Things were a little tense for me; I tend to put a lot of pressure on myself and it had built up. Alex's surprise birthday party was on this day, but I was in no condition to go. Dave went with Jack and Nat, and I stayed home. It was good to be alone. I find I really need that periodically. I tidied the house and watched some trashy TV online and felt better. When everyone got back we had sushi and watched The Ugly Truth (terrible film!) and The Hangover (pretty funny).

The next day started off lazily, with a sleep-in and Mom, Dad and I hanging about the house. We were listening to Dave doing Morning Mag on RTR - he was really good! He deicated an Elvis song to us. Finally, we all decided to drive to Cottesloe Beach and see the sunset. What a great decision! It was beautiful. As the sun went down a familiar movement caught my eye in the bush and sure enough, it was a wild rabbit! Yay! then, as we walked back along the beach we passed amazing screaming trees filled with Rainbow Lorkeets. Dave took us on a driving tour of his old Uni haunts and we had Pide for dinner. Episodes of The Office at home followed before bed, a great day.

Arrival, MR and Christmas in Bunbury

Mom and Dad were here in Perth for the last three weeks. I am so, so happy that they came to Aussie Land. I already miss them.

The day they arrived there was a lot of catching up to do. When we got to our place Mom had a lot of surprises for us. Lots of Clodhoppers for Dave, and some delicious vodka...I got some clothes, shoes, a great mug for my tea and Twizzlers and Tostitos nacho cheese galore! That day Mom and Dad crashed early and we headed to Jack's housewarming party. It was a beautiful night, balmy, which is a wonderful rarity for nights in Perth. Dave and I hadn't seen our friends in a while, and it was awesome to catch up with everyone.

We all spent the next few days hanging out, going for walks around Mount Lawley and Hyde Park, going out for dinner. After a couple of days we packed up the car and headed for Bunbury. Would our parents like each other? Get along? I hadn't particularly thought about it until we were in Bunbury, climbing the stairs in the Tower (Mom was too scared to go up, hee hee). It was late afternoon when we pulled into the driveway, and we all got such a warm welcome! I could tell that everything was going to be fine. Maureen prepared such a delicious spread of food for dinner, and we all had a great time.

The next day, Mom, Dad, Dave and I got back into the car an went to Margaret River, where we were staying for one night before coming back to Bunbury for Christmas. We visited wineries and beaches, went to the Lake cave, which was beautiful, and stayed in an adorable cottage, where we enjoyed our Margaret River wine and food. One winery we went to, Eagle Vale, had some of the best wine I had ever had, and was run by this funny French guy who really knew his stuff, he was pretty fun to talk to. The surroundings at the cottage were spectacular, a bush setting where you could see amazing birds, kangaroos and adorable bunnies! It would have been great to spend more time, but it was great to get a taste of Margaret River.

The next evening we were back in Bunbury and it was Christmas Eve. We had another delicious meal, and the table looked so lovely. We also now had some Margaret River wine to share! We also played board games!

The next day, Christmas day, was unlike any Christmas I had experienced. We got up, had some breakfast (I manned the BBQ much to the distress of Allen, hahaaa) and then got in the car because we were going to be singing Christmas Carols at a Christmas lunch put on for the underprivileged and homeless. It was good fun! When we got back to the house it was almost time to give each other presents. We made delicious Cosmopolitans and sat around the tree. I think everyone got really spoiled! Dave's parents gave Mom and Dad a package full of Aussie goodies, and for Mom, Dad and I, a boat trip to see dolphins! Mom and Dad got Maureen and Allen Canadian goodies. Dave and I spoiled each other, and we both got Mom and Dad a bunch of stuff, including a wine tour in the Swan Valley. The worst thing that happened was in my excitement I fell down the stairs into the living room and gave myself a pretty nasty bruise. Having had only one Cosmo, I didn't even deserve it! Oh well. We went to the beach and for a swim in the afternoon, it was lovely. The Christmas trip to Bunbury was a real success.

The day after Boxing Day Mom, Dad and I went on our boat trup. It was so much fun! We had perfect sunny weather and saw heaps of dolphins. That night we all got Joe's pizza with Joe's chilli dogs and watched movies. Driving back to Perth the next day, we remembered the last few days happily.