Recently I turned my life on its head and left the comfort zone of home town, family and friends in Wellington (NZ), to start a new chapter in Western Australia. As I adjust to my new surroundings, I find myself thinking in the shape of stories and letters home. Feel free to take a seat and read on..

Thursday, June 30, 2011

This and that..

Sometimes new lives and ongoing relationships go a bit pear shaped..  I think it’s a sign it’s time to start doing some more growing.  I tried to get my personal growth removed years ago but it didn’t work; so once again I am grappling with some things old, some things new, some things borrowed..  the blue part comes and goes.
Landlord Dave left a couple of weeks ago for Scotland to see his dear old mum and we moved into his place.   Great timing Dave, it’s been cold and wet since you left and we really appreciate the warm, cosy house, and especially the indoor nocturnal loo trips & showers for 6 weeks. Yay!!  
How quickly a change of location can disrupt routines and habits.  That’s not necessarily all bad, but I’ve noticed how much I’m missing without all the to-ing and fro-ing from Hobbiton to the loo, shower and clothes line (the latter due to a major change in the weather at last). Not to mention having the use of a car which means I have to make myself go walking just for the sake of it. Radical!
Here’s a little of life 'round here lately:

Just around the corner from our place I have discovered a gold mine - with bananas up to $19.00 a kilo earlier this week, I figure as long as no-one else gets to these first, I'm all set.  These babies will keep me in coffees for weeks! Yes, I know there's a small issue of someone else actually owning them, but I can dream..
(Bananas have been anything from $13.00 to $19.00 per kilo for months after the terrible flooding in Queensland & Canarvon earlier this year.  It's a bit of a dilemma - support the growers or be outraged at the price - never before have I eaten a banana that cost more than an avocado - but we tend to go with the support the growers model). 




Last week we took a little drive over to Kalamunda and drove past these.  I helped myself to five lemons, waved uncertainly in the direction of the house and mouthed 'thank you', and off we drove.  Later in the afternoon on our way home, the tray was still full.  Wish I'd taken more.. those lemons were good.


Thank you free lemon people. 


Recently I joined the 'Petroleum Women of Perth'.  How I came to be doing this is a long story, but I did.  It's a club for the wives of men working in the oil and gas industry here, and while the Talking Engineer doesn't work in oil OR gas, and I am not actually his wife, I qualify as an associate member.  Whatever. My current policy is say yes to everything (as long as it doesn't get me into too much trouble). 


There was a small takeover bid outside the other day - having consulted my Simpson & Day Field Guide to the Birds of Australia, I'm pretty sure the one with the worm is a Grey Butcherbird.  The smaller one looking to steal it is a Magpie Lark.  The Butcherbird won. (Magpie Larks always come across to me as a bit stupid)







Did you know that if you click on the photo you get a larger view?  
Just thought I'd mention it.

More soon xx

Thursday, June 2, 2011

Afternoon Tea in the Sycamore

Busy time


I just went to investigate the strange rhythmic clicking noise, and steady stream of 'helicopters' falling to the ground, despite the complete lack of a breeze.  

Apparently it was afternoon tea time for five galahs, and the venue our sycamore tree.  

Think I'll put the kettle on...






Who, me?
Shh, I'm concentrating
Hmm..  the equivalent of cake crumbs
Dead helicopters