september

It's September again. Seems like I was just celebrating my 30th birthday, and here it is two whole years since. Time sure does fly. I always used to love this time of year in North America. September meant the end of summer, cooler weather, autumn holidays, and back to school.

The first two years we were here, I had a really hard time in September. I wanted it to be autumn, and it felt weird that it wasn't. But this year, I am so looking forward to spring. It's felt like a long winter here, and I am ready for some sunshine. Can't wait for beach weather, kayaking weather, and picnics by the ocean. Looking forward to snorkeling with The Husband too.

If you are in the northern hemisphere... what was your favourite part of summer this year? And if you are here down under... what are you most looking forward to this year?

victoria

She is my youngest sibling, so much like I was it's almost scary. She is so full of life and she absolutely cracks me up.

summer vacation in Michigan

It was hot, sunny, and gorgeous. We spent time with my family, and a couple of days in Frankenmuth. Such a fun vacation - relaxing and full of laughter. Sorry we don't have great photos - I was having too much fun to take many!

changing seasons

Gosh, I am not doing so well with this blogging thing, these days. Sorry to the (maybe) one or two people who still check it occasionally, hoping that perhaps, just maybe, I found some time to actually write something.

We had dinner last night with some folks who have just moved to Sydney from the good ol' USA and we were commenting on blogging. I was thinking back to when we first came here, when everything was new and exciting. It was easy to blog then, everything seemed interesting and "blog worthy." Nowadays, I think back over my week (work, grocery shopping, laundry, dinner, work...) and think, meh, not much to report! Sad, I know.

Perhaps it will help that is is nearly spring here in Oz. Cannot tell you how nice that is. It's been a chilly winter and I am ready to get me some sunburn, I mean some summer. Pretty soon the jacarandas will be blooming!

Our vacation back in Canada / Michigan was a nice one, but too short. We had a great time with G and with our friends and family. Since returning, we have been back to work and busy. Traveling for both of us - a conference for The Husband and Brisbane last week for me. Teaching 4 back to back sessions on the same thing, not exactly my idea of pie and ice cream, but it was fun to see another city.

It's nearly autumn back home again, and it gets easier and easier each year to deal with the changing seasons. I still miss my birthday month being about pumpkins and falling leaves... but here we look forward to the spring sunshine and upcoming beach picnics. So, it all evens out. We have some fun plans for the next few months. A few weekend trips, a friends wedding, and a big end-of-year finale. Can't wait. Have to try harder to get my blogging shoes on more often.

life takes over

We are in the middle of our third winter here in Sydney. Sometimes it amazes me that we have lived here nearly three years. There are days when I don't know where the time has gone... like it was just yesterday when we arrived. I remember the day I exited the airport into the heat and humidity, taking in the smells and sounds of Australia for the first time. I remember learning how to find my way around on the bus and the train and on foot. I remember hearing the Aussie accent over and over again until it no longer sounded foreign and started to sound normal.

At the same time, there are days when I feel like we have been here forever. I think back to all our firsts here; all of the things that are now part of our daily life. Things we now do without even thinking about them. We have done what we set out to do here - we have made a life. And it's a good life. We have made the effort to learn about Australia and have come to appreciate so much about this country and it's people.

I joke sometimes that I either love it or hate it here. But to be honest, I have had more joys here than sorrows. Last week I planned to meet a friend in the city after work. So I left my car at home, took a bus into the city, walked to meet her, spent an hour showing her around the city, grabbed sushi, then walked back to the station and took the bus home. As we crossed the harbour bridge, I looked out the window at the lights of the city and found myself thinking, "I love it here." And the truth is, I have had so many of those moments here. And someday, when our time here is over, I can honestly say I am going to be very sorry to say goodbye to Australia.

I haven't been blogging much lately, for lots of reasons. One, I joined Facebook. Yeah, I know. I joined in a moment of weakness when I was really sad and lonely and somehow I thought FB would make everything better. Ha. Can I just say, if you treated me like crap in high school, is there a reason why we'd want to chat it up now? Anyway, another reason I haven't been blogging is because I started a new job in June and my life has surprisingly become a lot calmer. It suddenly felt like I had my life back, and it's been nice to just experience what that feels like. And speaking of life, the other reason I haven't been blogging is because, well, because life has just sort of taken over.

For the most part, life here isn't sort of new anymore. It's comfortable. It's grocery shopping and weekends and dropping off clothes at the cleaners. It's just.. life. And while life is good and we are good, there doesn't feel like there is much to talk about. It feels like the honeymoon is over and I have accepted that Australia is never going to put it's socks in the hamper. And I am ok with that. But I am not ready quite yet to give up on the excitement. There is still so much we haven't done here yet.

So, starting in August, I am going to try and get some of that honeymoon feelin' back. I am going to make more of an effort to find things to get excited about. But first, I need to spend a weekend in bed to try to get rid of this cold.

random winter photos

A few random photos from last weekend's trip to the markets.

on the counter

Things you will find on my counter (or benchtop, as they say here) in winter:


A pot roast in the slow cooker. Warm and smelling delicious when you come in from the cold. Root veggies, staple sides to most winter meals. Lemons, to season grilled haloumi salads and Moroccan tagines. Fruit, to keep away the scurvy. (At least that is what The Husband likes to say.)

It was the coldest morning recorded in 15 years today. It was bloody cold. I think they said -4c, but I can't be sure. I couldn't hear over the sound of my shivering. Crazy to think that people 'back home' will be grilling at the lake this weekend, watching fireworks and making s'mores. I feel like curling up under a couple dozen blankets and sleeping til spring!

Happy Canada Day / Fourth of July, everybody!

winter again

I think it rained every single day of May, this year. And probably most of the first 2 weeks of June, as well. And while you don't have to shovel rain, therefore I shouldn't even think of complaining about it... 6 weeks of solid rain can really get to you. However, the winter sun has finally arrived and we have been having crisp mornings followed by glorious blue skies. It's winter again in Sydney.

I think I may have been here too long, because I find myself missing snow. How insane is that? It feels like winter. The leaves have all fallen and the trees are bare. It's cold at night and people are wearing scarves and mitts. There are end of financial year sales on in all the shops, and it almost feels like Christmas. But, what it all really needs is a light dusting of snow to tie it all together.

Thankfully, next week marks the start of the Sydney Winter Festival. For the second year, the magic of a snowy winter is coming to Sydney. With an ice rink and mulled cider and a snow machine... visiting the Winter Fest is like a mini-vacation to the Alps... just a short bus ride from home. I can't wait.

And, if that wasn't enough, my favourite market is also having a winter festival, Winterland, starting in July. Pretty excited about that one too.

But, best of all, in Balmain they are hosting Christmas in July! With caroling! I am so there. The Husband doesn't know it yet... but I am planning to hit all three festivals this year! Hooray! Let it snow, let it snow, let it snow!

arrival of winter

In the past two weeks, the weather has turned cold here, and the rains have started. It's funny how you wish all summer for cooler weather, but as soon as the winter comes, you dream of sunshiney days. It has been nice, however, to "rug up" as they say, and wear cozy sweaters and make pots of chili.

We've been busy lately - working altogether to much, and doing some travelling as well. The Husband is getting to travel for work quite a bit in the next month, which makes him very happy. As I have had some exciting new changes to my job, I'll also be looking at doing some travelling in the next while. Pretty exciting stuff.

Not all that much to report lately, just wanted to share a few photos taken at a popular kayaking spot nearby, on one of the last of our warm autumn weekends.

symphonic

Last night we had tickets to the symphony. Now, I know you are probably scrunching your nose and rolling your eyes and thinking "really? the symphony?!"... but seriously, it was one of the best nights of entertainment I have ever had.

When I was growing up, we didn't get to watch regular TV. But we did get to watch whatever videos could be borrowed from the local library. And so my brothers and sisters and I grew up watching lots of animal documentaries, and lots of musicals. So when I heard that the Sydney Symphony was doing the best of Rodgers & Hammerstein's, on stage and screen, I was pretty excited. And rightly so - what a show it was!

Always a joy to attend a show in the world renowned Sydney Opera House, going there at night with it lit up and surrounded by people all dressed up is really an experience. We had fantastic seats and I felt like a kid in a candy store, watching all the different instruments and hearing them play the songs I grew up listening to. Definitely a night to remember.

The whole time, I was thinking about how much my family would have loved it, and how I wished they all could have been there with us. I am feeling a bit sorry for myself this weekend, as I am missing out on the big family party for my Mom today. But I am thinking of you, Mom. Hope you have a fantastic birthday and Happy Mother's Day! Mwah!