No more boring … for a while

We were sailing along, living our normal (boring?) life, here on the dock of the (Port) river  …

There were the usual second-hand purchases: a bigger coffee table $15 (cheaper than the smaller one) and a $4 lamp, IKEA lamp $20 -shade- the hundreds of pot lights here are way too bright  - oh and the HUGE Monet poster to hide the ugly (ugly) wall-mount TV contraption in my bedroom!

The new coffee table - guess you need to see the old to appreciate the difference!!

Can you believe this lamp (without this crazy shade) was $130!!

Then Cassia's driving lessons: not really lessons more practicing I guess. She already has her driver's licence in Canada, Spain and now Australia (no test reqrd.- phew) but driving in Adelaide requires her to sit on the other side of the car, drive on the other side of the road and change gears with the other hand (left) - all this and she doesn't have a clue where she is going -  hence the need to practice!!  We start out in the industrial area on the weekend with no traffic - but we've slowly introduced traffic, intersections, traffic lights and people into the mix and now there are only minor jerks, very few stallings at intersections and few (if any) pedestians in our wake! 

A bit more culture: Billed as a "Night Mural Picnic" - we (50-60 people) sat outside at the end of our group of buildings and watched as murals by local artists were projected onto the walls ( "futuristic urban transformations"!). Sandwiched in between some pretty crazy wintry weather, this night was bearable; cool & breezy but a souvenir blanket and hot chocolate (included in the price) helped. It was pretty gosh-darned amazing!

Our house is three doors to the left.

A bit of babysitting the ever-adorable "J". 

Jasper loves Tia Cassia ...

... especially play cubby in Joseph's wardrobe with the wind-up flashlight!

Cassia spending hours applying for jobs all over the country. Cassia receiving rejection notices from all over the country. A bit of shopping to cheer us up and that was about as exciting as life was until Monday...

Cassia had an interview for a job!  It was a phone interview because the job was in Esperance Western Australia.  Cassia didn't really want a job in Esperance W.A. because Esperance W.A. is on the other side of the country; a 22hr drive from Adelaide across the Nullabor dessert , and an 8 hr drive from Perth. But she needed the practice interviewing so she studied the whole weekend and even though during the interview, she couldn't understand a word the manager said, a call came the next day on our way into town, on the crowded tram (street car), to offer her the job!  

Of course she did what anybody who is offered a job in Esperance W.A. would do - she panicked - asked for a couple of hours to make a decision- then broke into tears! We left the tram and went into one of the nicer hotels in town and sat in their lovely lobby and took a million deep breaths …  Call Pablo he'll help make a decision - well it was 3.00 a.m. in Spain, and Pablo turned off his phone when it rang so that was no help!  So ... she had to decide all by herself!

 She knew her best chance of a job would be in a country town. At least this one is on the coast and she will live one street away from a very nice beach and be able to walk to work and there are lots of great National Parks close by and it does have an airport so Perth isn't quite so far and with the flexible work schedule, she can take a trip to see Erin (Perth), a trip "home" to see me (Adelaide) and after I stay for the first two weeks, I'll make another trip and hopefully Joseph will be back and he can make a trip and by then it will be Christmas and Pablo will be there right after!  So YES!! -  she can do it! A phone call to the very nice HR lady to accept and all of a sudden things are pretty exciting here on the dock!  

Dressing for a job in an Australian rural town, working for the local council, requires precision choices in clothing - so off we go to the shops … again! There is a uniform provided!  Yikes!  (You should know that uniforms are very big in Australia.)  This one is (we think/we hope) just a blue shirt with the council logo discreetly embroidered on the chest -so pants/skirts/cardys (sweaters) will suffice.  Oh and a rather adorable dress to compensate for the tough days ahead (pretty well guarantee there will be some).  I must say I rather enjoy shopping vicariously through my daughter. 

The dress we had to convince ourselves she needed!

... the skirt was a no brainer!

 There may be just one letter different but the joy of looking for XS instead of XL (XXL?) is hard to describe.  The shop assistants look at me strangely as they help me look - sometimes I explain - sometimes I don't!  The funny (sad) part is that in my previous life here, most of my shopping in these stores was for an M or S not XL (you should know that Australian sizes are slightly bigger than N.A.). Sad face...

A fleet of Dutch tall ships arrive this week, docking almost at our front door, so we're having a brunch to celebrate and say goodbye to Cassia and then we're off … to Esperance, Western Australia … on the other side of the country ... flying … not driving!!

Believe it or not last week was a rather busy one …

Whales!    

I don't know if the whales are new or not - I know I never heard about whales at Victor Harbor when I was young - but now it's all everybody talks about!! Whales during the winter and you can see them from the beach - it's like birdwatching from the car!!

Now that Cassia is warm with her new coat we can go outside and the whale report said there had been lots of whale activity so we drove 1.5hrs south of Adelaide -  straight to Middleton beach where the whale report said they would be and we arrived at exactly the time the whale report said they would be seen!   - et violà there they were! 

Well we could SEE them!

  Ten steps from the car we could see six or seven swimming (or whatever whales do) about 100 - 200 meters from shore and others we could see spouting (or whatever whales do) way out. It wasn't even cold watching them (well not for me anyway) but it was the first time in a million years that I didn't have binoculars handy - and it was then that I realized I'm starting to miss Joseph!  

  Lunch at the cafe on the beach, a visit to the dump (…er … refuse depot) for a few "treasures" then home - that was a whole day!

Jasper's foot tile is on here!
This is the beach we were whale-watching!

… then just a bit of Sports!  

When you don't have snow and ice and freezing temperatures in winter, you can play sports outside and if your nieces and nephews play sports outside then it behoves you to go and watch them play … outside… at night … in the cold!  Jess played netball outside and she scored all of the points in an 8-0 game, probably because she is the tallest girl on the court. It wasn't too cold that night so we were "happy" to be there to cheer her on. 

Jess NOT playing netball!

 

Sorry no pics of J&J actually playing - it was dark!

Not so happy two nights later for James' football game (another thrashing win for him) on a cold, wet miserable night. He's one of the tallest in his team, so was a big part of the thrashing and in an effort to give the other team a chance he was taken off for the last quarter. Well we figured he wouldn't miss us so we sneaked off early!  

Zane in action.

The next night Zane played basketball indoors -  but might as well be outside (it's an old draughty massive building). His team was winning and mum was freezing and we figured he wouldn't miss us so we sneaked off early!  I think that's enough sports for us for one week!

… then more Shopping! 

A couple of major second-hand 'finds' this week -  a bedhead/bookcase ($35) to replace the ironing board that acts as a TV bench in my bedroom. It scrubbed up well with some Vim; the magazines hide the scribble that wouldn't come off one shelf, the stool hides the hole in the middle at the bottom and the # eight adds a bit of interest.

You have no idea how excited I am to have this piece of furniture!!
(pic taken while in bed)

 While we were picking up that gem a battered-up side board jumped out at us ($80) so home it came because the dining room is desperate for a side board. I figured paint would fix it but somebody had a "share" on Facebook with info on how to restore wooden furniture using olive oil and vinegar. It still boggles my mind that it worked and I wish I had taken a "before" pic because the "after" is quite amazing. 

"after" pic!!

The legs were rather slippery carrying it upstairs and it does smell a bit like a salad and each drawer only holds one tablecloth but it looks wonderful

 - especially under the painting ($25).

Getting there!

Still no place to put dishes so the trolley works for now!

… some Cooking!  

Cassia made a huge (huge), healthy pot of lentils and some banana-chocchip muffins (we selflessly gave away 10 of the 12!), I made a Beef Hot Pot stew that was passable for company and we both made Gypsy Soup (because I have my Moosewood Cookbook now!) Thank goodness Jen bought cheesecakes when they came for the Hot Pot!!  Poor Cassia - Joseph asked her to make sure I stay away from desserts - it's a thankless task!

… and a bit of Culture! 

I think Matthew McConaghie without a shirt is culture?  Anyway, we saw him in MUD and loved it. Also saw Before Midnight (saw the previous two) and I enjoyed it - Cassia didn't like the fighting - but the acting was brilliant as always.   Walked to an art gallery here in the Port - sadly (luckily?) the huge mosaic dolphin was sold ($500) goodness knows there was room for it in this house!  

view on the way BACK from the gallery!

Then tonight - a walk around the streets as part of Illuminart's New Light Industrial project in the Port. 

There was a bicycle inside of this ship!

The projection was contained inside the bottle!
It was a movie of the beach!

art on a wall...

... and inside the buildings!

A little bit cold but Cassia and I (and even Jen & Michael & even mum!!) were all blown away by the different artwork that was projected onto the walls of the beautiful old buildings, 

"trees" of material hand-painted with interior lighting.

as well as the "trees"

 and lanterns 

… and the yummy hot chocolate from my (new) fav. cafe (Red Lime Shack).  Love these people that are working hard to make The Port more alive and more interesting.

So while we were hard at work keeping ourselves busy here at "home", Joseph was back "home" in Toronto and Ottawa and the cottage having perhaps a little too much fun.  He's submitted his visa application and now he seems to think he can enjoy himself!!  

It's all very nice of friends to look after him, and I do appreciate it and I'm sure he does as well - but you can stop now - I want him to come "home" soon!!

Joe and Les ...
looking just a bit TOO happy!

Cassia + 38 years!

The last weeks of June and first of July, life was pretty much on hold: what to put here, what to put there, what to buy or not to buy, what to cook - I needed Cassia here so I could get on with my life!

While I waited for Cassia I sat and looked at this!

Well... I did manage to do some things  ...

There were more second-hand stores that required my full concentration as I scrutinized the layers of "stuff"; potential bars stool, potential shelves for entry hall, potential dinosaur mirror  for the hall...

Dinosaur mirror!
what do you think Cassia!
... seriously!

... potential chairs for the upstairs deck, potential this, potential that …  exhausting  … I need Cassia.  

Next time I open an ONW I think we must have these!
(walking sticks with a cup holder!!)

My daily walk-through of the Salvation Army store was still coughing up the odd bargin, especially frames

Adorable photo - frame it!!

- gotta get those free paintings framed, even if they are all flowers, (they will either fill or cover the 100 hooks that hang too high all through this place). 

Free art - Frame it!!

...more adorable photos ... more (cheap) frames!

  Even a pair of shoes for $8.00!!  Did I seriously think I could walk in them instead of my Tevas?!!  Afraid you get what you pay for - they have no support. Still they are great for quick trips in the car and to give my lonely red Pikolinos a rest. Hurry up Cassia I need those brown Pikolinos!!

There was a smattering of culture when I joined Pat & Alicia at the Art Gallery of S.A. for lunch (lovely) as well as an exhibition of contemporary art by local artists (amazing) -  I had even met one of the artists! 

http://www.artgallery.sa.gov.au/agsa/home/Exhibitions/docs/HEARTLAND_Events_Program.pdf

Culture - always includes a meal!
(thanks for my red-bird Carol!)

Pat & Alica - our friends from our previous life in Australia!
(They have just returned to Adelaide from living in Chile.)

... and of course the gift shop (memories!!) with good old Folkmanis puppets. (Hard to get it out of your system I guess!

There was lunch with my Mother's friends!!  The senior's menu had meals for $9.95 that included an "all-you-can-eat salad bar & hot veggies (note: a combo meal @ Maccas (Australian for McDonald's) is $8.50!!). Unfortunately, for the regulars, there was a brand-new chef with a brand-new menu, and that brand-new menu didn't include any of their old favourites.  The poor girl taking the orders ran out of words trying to explain that, no it's not on the menu  - no you couldn't order that dish anymore - no there was nothing she could do! It was their favourite and they ordered it every time they came and now what were they to do!!  Oh dear! Getting old isn't fun. Still I had a nice meal and a good chat with people I've known for a million years.

There were visitors to entertain at "my" house (thank goodness for that Nespresso machine!). There was babysitting at "my house" - the darling even asked to go to "seep" and slept for 1.5 hrs in a strange bedroom and he likes nanni's poster of Thomas and his friends (he doesn't know it's to help me remember their crazy names!) but mostly I was just waiting for Cassia.

She was two days in Toronto with Joseph - shopping (he spoiled her!), eating at LEE (urgh! jealous!) and helping him fill the extra suitcase with my list of "must haves". It was hot in T.O. and while it was good to see Joseph (who knows how long before we see him?) it mostly added an extra 48 hrs to the 36+hr flight for her.  Australia is on the other side of the world!

And then finally it was Saturday and she was here!  I had all day to prepare and yet somehow I managed to arrive at the airport after her!!  Still, she was smiling and she looked adorable!

She almost disappeared under the luggage - but she had things for me; winter clothes, handbags (oops handbag - the other one couldn't fit in I guess) quilt covers, table cloths, Moosewood cookbook… and those brown Pikolinos!!  Yippee!!  Silly things I guess, but so good to have them… and so good to have Cassia here - sorry Pablo! sorry Annukka for taking her away - I'll look after her until you arrive Pablo (Jan 2014) - or more likely - she'll look after me until you arrive!  Finally I have somebody to make me a cup of tea! 

Red Pikolinos (almost worn out!! - Brown Pikolinos!

Of course the day Cassia arrived is the day winter kicked in here… and of course she has been cold ever since.  We've installed a heater in her room, in addition to the ducted heating in the house (but it comes from the ceiling -yuk!) so the house is bearable (for her - I'm dying!).  Outside she's miserable, so we spend a day in town looking for the most perfect, warmest coat, in a town where a sweater is often enough to get you through winter!  

But we find one - well we find the style!  

Add caption

The fur is what MAKES this coat ... warm!

The size she needs is in a store on the other side of town! That only takes half a day!! -  but now she is officially warm! We even tested out the coat; up in the hills (it's always colder up there) in the packing shed at Fiona & Graeme's apple orchard (it's always even colder in there!) and it passed the test!!

She's cold ...

... a few days later ... she's hot!

Then today, just in the nick of time I remembered it is our 38th wedding anniversary!  It's a bit tricky because he's over there, and when it's the 25th here it's only the 24th over "there" and I'm here, and when it IS the day over "there" it's the 26th here!! Too much math for me - so I went ahead and called it today because it IS over here … and I'm here!! 

 … and to delight my husband I decided to give him some of his "favourite" things as a gift; a brand new King Tut statue (this one is about 1/3 the size of our original!), and not one but two Caroma plastic stools.  

Caroma plastic stools
White one = $5, blue one = $10!!

He hates those stools more than anything else in the whole world and he thought he had seen the last of them with ours in storage in Ottawa - ha!  He just doesn't understand the bounty that is second-hand shopping!   

New King Tut - 12" high

King Tut - well Joseph and most of our friends dislike the ridiculously large, brightly-coloured statue that has looked out of place and dominated our tiny house in Ottawa for a few years.  The crazy thing is, that in this house, you would hardly notice the big one - but the "new" one is less than 12" high!

38 years!! … it was a crazy day, July 25th. 1975, 

… who would have thought we would be together and "… still crazy after all these years"!!

Fairly normal life …

Apart from the fact that I have a home in Toronto but I'm living in Adelaide, and that my husband is in Toronto and I'm in Adelaide, life is actually pretty normal right now… for me anyway!

My new normal!

Not so much for Joseph who landed in Toronto with yet another kidney stone that had him dropping some Oxycontin with his flat-mate Nathan (who has a broken ankle ).  The stone lasted seven days until it left on his birthday. That's good because he is very busy …

He's found all the pieces for both computers - desktop and laptop - and  has both working and where Joseph is concerned, that is a small to medium miracle. He's setup his phone and his own Skype account all the while on Oxycontin and still suffering from jet lag. He borrowed Nathan's car (nothing like capitalizing on somebody else's misfortune !) and took off for Ottawa on Canada Day, presumably not on Oxy anymore and over the jet lag, and is busy visiting anybody and everybody that we've ever known … or are related to!  (They all say they miss me but they also seem very happy to be able to serve chicken for a change!)  

Tom & Elizabeth - they must be serving chicken - they're pretty happy!

Milo waiting patiently for Joe
to help with his rock collection!

Danielle and her lovely new house!

It seems that the new tennants in the museum store don't seem to be doing so well - so that's a nice quiet feeling of satisfaction (a tad narcissistic as well?) 

The last of the minerals -  all going to the museum - not the museum store (they didn't want them)
- to the museum itself

and he's decided that he doesn't need my "help" so he's down sizing our storage locker and funnily enough it seems that my beloved King Tut has to go!  

Urgh -moving across the hall ... except for King Tut  and the canoe.

There's room for the camping equipment but not Tut - hmmmm!    

There's a few more dozen friends to visit (who knew he had so many), some at a lake, some not and then it's back to TO to finish the taxes, apply to come back to Australia, pickup Cassia for her two-day stop over in Toronto enroute to Adelaide and fixup the two bathrooms in the condo.  Busy for sure, normal? - not compared to me that's for sure. 

Back in Adelaide, and for the first time in a year, I'm starting to feel "retired" and enjoying it  - for now anyway.  It's a short walk to the centre of "The Port" - the shopping area of Port Adelaide - with it's mishmash of empty stores, beautiful old and art-deco buildings and the shoppers in all shapes and sizes from all walks of life.  I walk through the Salvation Army second-hand store to pickup odd pieces I need and am disappointed to find out that my 10% seniors discount (on my $3.99 purchase) is only available on Tuesdays! :(  

I'm excited to find a cafe in the middle of the empty stores that serves great coffee, is vegan (but I can still find something I like!) and seems to be doing some nice community work as well.

Coffee shop in my 'hood!

 It has been almost full each time I visit and I think it's going to be my local coffee shop and they'll be sick of me before too long.

I love having the flexibility to do my favourite things; 

babysit Jasper when needed and visit Ikea - not on weekends! 

I love to babysit him - so cuddly in his Thomas onesie!

                           

I love having a nice house with a great view that my mum loves so much she comes for a sleep over. (She loves it so much she's coming back for another sleep over!!) 

I love that Cassia will be here soon so she can help me cook because I've forgotten how and I love that even though it's winter here I can still walk down the street in my Teva's (I have no other walking shoes here with me) wearing a fluffy little sweater with only a scarf and not be the least bit cold.  

I love being "home" but I miss my friends (& family) in Canada terribly and I'm starting to miss my husband… I've run out of his salad dressing so he sends me the list of ingredients and says I have to make more!

… and it was Canada Day and I wasn't there … for the first time in 28 years and my first as a Canadian citizen!

About as Canadian as I could muster - Mischa put up the flag - we just had to find the hat!

So that's my life right now - not sure it is worthy of a "blog - post"!!   There has been no catastrophic events, no melt-downs (well major ones), no interesting events (except for choosing a vacuum cleaner) so I'm hard-pressed to write something interesting and/or funny ... obviously!

Aaaah -being retired means I can "do" lunch at the art gallery with Alicia!