Paola, Down Under

Refreshing!

2012-01-29T21:06:00.001+11:00

Cider is exceptionally refreshing on a warm summer evening after a full day of rehearsals!

Some other things that are refreshing:

Cold water showers inside in a rehearsal room with intermittent air conditioning
Iced coffees
Cycling home in the evening, downhill, with a breeze up my skirt
Frangelico and Lime on ice
Swimming laps at the pool early in the morning before the heat sets in
Frozen grapes
Banana mango smoothies
Spicy thai noodle salads
Oscillating fans
Cool changes

Creatives

2012-01-24T07:56:00.000+11:00

I'm lucky to have such a great creative team working with me. My designers are awesome and my fellow producers/fellow turtles (Nadia and Sapidah) are fantastic. Our photographer, Atlanta is amazing. Her image for our poster is getting lots and lots of positive feedback.

"terrible, evocative and brilliant"

Here's some more of her Drowning Girls Images:

Rehearsal Butterfly

2012-01-24T07:47:00.001+11:00

As we moved into our rehearsal space, this gorgeous thing fluttered in and stayed with us for a day.

Summer Work and Play

2012-01-24T07:41:00.004+11:00

Last week, I went from this ...

to this....

... as rehearsals started back up for The Drowning Girls. The beach came with me into the rehearsal room, stuck between the pages of my script and notebooks.

Red things that make me happy

2012-01-12T19:57:00.001+11:00

My new red sandals.

I had a pair of white Salt Water sandals when I was little. I remember wearing them to Cadboro Bay Beach, and the rocky beach near our house, and on summer vacation to the Oregon Coast. I feel like I'm 10 years old when I wear these.

My red table.

Best Second Hand/Junk Shop purchase ever! This picture is from its first day at my home. I'll post another one that shows it to its best advantage, properly styled as my desk or dining table. Apparently it is Tasmanian Oak underneath all that red enamel paint, so if I ever get bored of red...I can strip it and have a "new" table.

Busy...

2012-01-12T19:48:00.004+11:00

I've been busy the last few days doing heaps of correspondence for my upcoming show, The Drowning Girls. It's pretty exciting! Tickets sales went live on Tuesday, and it is all becoming very very real.

Scorcher!

2012-01-03T19:29:00.003+11:00

The beginning of the New Year was super hot in Victoria. I skipped out of Melbourne as early as I could on January 1st and escaped down to the coast to visit with Jas, Matt and Ava. Jas and I took Ava to the beach for two days straight.

This is the temperature from the car dashboard...perhaps a few degrees hotter taking into consideration the engine is running...and yet accurate!

Jas and I sat in the George River with Ava for two days. Lovely and cool.

Some Sav Blanc in the warm evening with Jas and Matt...and lawn bowls later!

Welcome 2012!

2012-01-03T19:16:00.000+11:00

2011 has been a bitch! I'm happy to see it go and I look forward to all the goodness and sunshine that 2012 holds. I hope it is just as lovely for all my family and friends both here and in Canada...

I jumped into the New Year with Sapidah and Che.

Good Presents

2011-12-28T18:05:00.002+11:00

I scored big points with the gifts for both Trin and Finn. Both loved the face paints. This is Finn with his tiger face in progress.

It was also fun to help build small houses, train engines, desks and rubbish bins with the set of massive Lego that Santa brought for Finn.

Merry Christmas 2011

2011-12-28T18:01:00.001+11:00

I spent a few days over Christmas in Mt Martha with my friends Sheila and Sue, their son Finn and their foster daughter, Trinity. We had some good laughs, good food and good drinks. The weather was pretty good too.
Having said that, while we sat on the deck sweating in warm temperatures on Christmas Day, we watched the thunder and lightning and dark, dark clouds move over the bay towards the city. Some parts of Melbourne got hit with snow, golf ball sized hail, and deluges of rain!!

Christmas Presence

2011-12-24T10:21:00.010+11:00

I've been thinking that maybe it's just the summer season and warm weather that makes Christmas in Australia surreal. Maybe it's being without the familiar family and friend rituals (Mom's tree decorating, Dad's boozy Xmas cake, coffees out with Lori and Darcy).... not to mention just being without the Canadian family and friends. Maybe it's just feeling adrift because I haven't created my very own holiday rituals down here yet. And maybe it's time for that to change.

So, I'll begin by counting my blessings. In addition to some lovely time spent with friends this week, I have had some really nice Christmas presents already:

Lots of cards and little gifts from Canada and the States arriving in the mail. I don't wait to open them. I open them as soon as I get 'em!
A package that Mom sent with an incomplete mailing address made it to the Thornbury Post Office and was there when I went in to inquire about it.
My mobile phone company waived a $500 charge on my account because of a clerical error.
I've got another paid Directing gig lined up for next year.
With a little help from my friends, I've got a fabulous FREE rehearsal venue in a great location organized for January when rehearsals start back up for my play The Drowning Girls.
I've had a heap of grief with back pain in the last two weeks, and it all seems to be settling down as I settle down.

Here's some new vocabulary for you.
I'm taking to heart the Aussie phrase "Settle, Petal."
Definition: Chill out, Dude.; Cool it, Sister.; Relax, Precious.

I'm pretty sure I can do that.

Almost Christmas

2011-12-24T10:09:00.002+11:00

It's been a bit of an effort for me to get into the holiday spirit down here. And while I've been off work for a while, it has taken me up to now to slow down and begin to relax. I spent the better part of yesterday at the pool in the sun with a good book, and that seemed to help!

The other day, Sapidah, Che and Nadia came over to mine for a Christmas lunch.

Here's the view of the city from the rooftop bbq/garden.

I got even more of the Christmas spirit when I went down to Lorne to visit Jas, Matt, Ava and Alex.

Jas loves to play her Elvis and Jackson 5 Christmas albums, and in the evening, we listened to all their greatest hits as we sipped champagne and I helped her make Christmas hula hoops.

We hung out in the park the next day with Ava and her best mate Rafferty, as the sun burned through the clouds and it got warmer and warmer.

Ava.

Who needs hands to hold a sandwich?

No more teaching, no more books...

2011-12-17T22:18:00.000+11:00

I'm finished the school year at Aquinas. It feels a bit funny breaking for summer holidays in December, but I'm not going to complain! The weather has been lovely and in the high 20's the last couple of days. I've been able to sleep in and it feels a little less surreal now.

We had our Christmas Party at the Carlton Brewhouse in Abbotsford. It was a really fun evening, with a sit down dinner, drinks provided and a dance floor. Some staff members burned holes in that floor.... it was awesome!!
The Carlton Brewery is a very large and important fixture in that suburb. It's where all of the Carlton Draught, Victoria Bitters, Melbourne Bitters and Fosters Beer are brewed in this part of Australia.

Giant Beer on Entry

My beer

Bottle Opener for Giant Beer Bottles

The venue was pretty cool, with all kinds of historic displays and vintage beer posters decorating the walls and other spaces.

Models of the famous Carlton Clydesdales.

This breed of horse played a big part in building parts of Australia in the 1800's: agriculture and building dams. In addition to working with milkmen and green grocers to bring locals their milk and fruit and veggies, Clydesdales delivered beer to public houses well into the 20th century.

This poor horse had an accident with his eye.

And these are the ladies of the Drama Department in basic black and white.

Fixed Address

2011-12-07T09:08:00.000+11:00

I've just sent out my Christmas Cards, and for those who wish to send me lovely, old-fashioned snail mail, my address is as follows:

9/6 Francis Grove

Thornbury, VIC

Australia 3071

Here are two views of my flat. The lounge room and one view of the kitchen. (Brand new kitchen and gas appliances.) More views to come.

Sunlight over EKTORP

2011-12-07T09:03:00.000+11:00

I think it's funny that I'm so proud of my IKEA couch. Sunlight looks amazing on it.

The Rundown on November

2011-12-07T08:58:00.004+11:00

I went underground and really didn't blog at all in November. It was a pretty hectic month. I'll give you a quick rundown on things that happened:

I found a home and moved in. It is bright and light and quirky and I love it.
I bought a fridge. Everyone who rents has their own fridge here. Fridges just don't come with rental properties.
The siren calls of IKEA, local opshops and garage sales ring in my ears once more.
The One Act Play Project I directed for Verve Studios went into production week and then opened, ran its season and closed. I think all my actors found it a positive learning experience.
I lost my iPhone in a taxi on closing night and had to scramble to get a new phone. I lost many phone numbers... some of which I needed to lose.
I went to a fantastic Birthday party for my lovely friend, Jasmina. (If you want the truth.... I got very loose and blew off HEAPS of steam.)
I started rehearsals for my upcoming project, The Drowning Girls. My actors are wonderful and I am SO excited for this production.
I coordinated and ran semester end assessments for my Drama and French students. I've almost finished reporting on 120 students.
I have formed a close bond with my Chinese Medicine Doctor as I went for weekly acupuncture and cupping treatments. I am still drinking spewy tasting herbal concoctions daily.

Smells Good

2011-11-09T19:07:00.000+11:00

Star jasmine at Che and Sapidah's place

Australia smells amazing right now: warm nights with Star Jasmine, Roses and Orange Flower. You can't bottle this stuff!

Getting It Off My Chest

2011-11-01T23:14:00.003+11:00

I am usually careful to be cryptic in my blog posts. I don't want to reveal too much of myself , so I tend to err on the side of optimism and light. Well, right now, I'm in a space in my life where I feel there is power in articulating my anger and dissatisfaction...if only to place it behind me and move forward.
I like lists, so I thought I'd make one.

Reasons I'm Angry:

I'm angry that my heart was broken.
I'm angry that I invested in a "we" when I should have been looking out for me.
I'm angry that I have no fixed address yet.
I'm angry that my body shut down in the face of stress and anxiety and as a result, my health has been compromised.
I'm angry I have to commit time and energy and money to healing.

And here's another list:

I celebrate my resilience and perseverance.
I celebrate and am very thankful for my friends...actually... here, they are my family who support and care for me.
I celebrate the fact that I have two big creative theatrical projects I can dive into.
I celebrate my teaching job, which gives me joy and provides me with good money.
I'm thankful for a great Chinese Medicine Doctor.
I celebrate the lesson of patience.
I celebrate the potential in my present and my future. I'm calling in good things.

Be Free

Uppers

2011-10-23T09:04:00.000+11:00

Last Sunday, I met Sheila, Sue and Finn at Costco for a coffee and a visit and a shopping mission. I bought pumpkin pie and maple syrup. I thought about writing a haiku or something equally clever to express my thoughts and feelings about pumpkin pie and maple syrup.... but I think it's enough to say that these things have helped lift my spirits when I was feeling low this week.

Convenience

2011-10-16T18:31:00.000+11:00

I've decided I am too busy for the next couple months to set aside time to shop at the market. Well actually, if I thought about it, I could do it....it's not impossible. However, I've opted for easy and I am now getting my fruits and veggies delivered every fortnight. My first box came this last week and it was like Christmas.

Check out the Globe Artichoke! I steamed it and dipped each leaf in garlic butter with crusty bread last night!

Transitions in Coburg

2011-10-16T10:31:00.001+11:00

The universe is looking out for me. As I search for the best place to live (as in: by myself!), I am lucky enough to be housesitting for the month of October at a cute little cottage in Coburg while it's owners are overseas visiting relatives in Vancouver. (Fancy that!)

Now, while the cottage is cute, and it's owners like to say it is in Brunswick East, it is technically in Coburg. Nestled in between factory outlets, it is quiet, but it is the farthest out I've ever lived in Melbourne. It's a fresh 10 minute cycle to meet Evelyn and Paul for our morning carpool out to work, and I must look after Oscar.

Meet Oscar:

I am SO NOT a cat lover, and Oscar tends towards needy. He's an old man cat, so that's ok, I guess... at least he isn't hectic. Oscar and I have established boundaries: I feed him on time and he doesn't jump on the dining table or sleep near my face.

Season One... done and dusted

2011-10-09T17:26:00.001+11:00

The Turtles are tired, content and a bit hungover after we celebrated the closing night of the Melbourne Fringe Festival.

Since my production of A Second of Pleasure went up early in the festival, I had the most opportunity of the three of us to see other shows. Nadia and Sapidah's show, Ulrike Meinhof Sings had an almost sold out season, and given that it is an intensely dense text AND a really difficult piece to stage, they ended on a very strong note.

We celebrated with a lot of Honey Vodka shots at the Lithuanian Club (so good and so cheap!), and a bit of a boogie at the Fringe Club. Nadia and I lasted until 4 am. We got messy and we were fine with it!

Breathing Space

2011-09-30T09:16:00.003+10:00

As is often the case, when I finish with an intense period of activity in the city, I escape to Lorne to find some breathing space. I took my time driving down the coast and enjoyed sitting on a few beaches and just looking out over the sea... until the torrential rains came.
I am quite content to just sit and breathe salt air. The weather is immaterial. I needed to watch the sea move and gather my thoughts, allow some learning (personal and professional) to consolidate and to just let myself be.

I had lunch with Jas and Ava, and when the rain cleared, we wandered the main street, popped in to shops and said hi to people.... and yes, we giggled at the adorable baby Ava and her goofy smiles...but mostly we just talked and talked and talked.

I stayed on for dinner at the farm and overnight, and after a great visit, drove back into the city the next morning via Jas and Matt's preferred shortcut.... a new one for me. These backroads revealed deep gullies, rolling fields, a few planted with bright yellow canola, some old farm windmills and twisted gum trees.
It's a good thing for me to take advantage of breathing space. It's good to really sit quietly. And, as I travel on new roads, to be reminded that I actually like new roads and adventure and not knowing what might happen next.

...and scene.

2011-09-24T17:48:00.001+10:00

We got through this week's season of my production of A Second of Pleasure by Neil Labute. The week was rife with challenges, but we enjoyed a fair review in both the The Age and the Sydney Morning Herald.

While Stephen and Carla worked throughout the week to solidify text, play objectives and negotiate the space, audiences seemed intrigued, curious, perplexed, and entertained.

Every evening, we had a handful of audience members there "on purpose", and we always picked up an even larger handful of randoms. People would glance as they passed, some rubbernecked, others slowed down and then stopped. Still others passed, but paused the turn around and watch at a safe distance.

Each night someone would stop and ask someone else who was watching, "What's going on? " "Is this real?" I loved watching the reactions of people as they passed to catch their trains. I loved it when no one applauded. It doesn't end on a happy note, and the two actors would leave each other at the end of the scene, each walking in their own separate direction: Stephen (Kurt), towards the trains, and Carla (Jess), back up to the street level.

Many people commented that they felt guilty and voyeuristic as they watched Jess and Kurt end their relationship. "I felt bad for watching!" "I felt a little bit wrong."
The grumpy Metro guy who turned out the lights and locked the roller doors at 7 pm every night watched the end of the show one evening and after Jess breaks up with Kurt and leaves him standing there with a train to catch, he said, "Poor bloke.... I had a lady do that to me last month. I was devastated."
And that's the beauty and the tension of site-generic work. Is it real, is it not real?How real do you try to make it? How performative do you make it? Does it matter as long as people recognize the moment as one they themselves have experienced?

Bubblegum and Briquettes

2011-09-17T21:50:00.000+10:00

As I cycled home from my rehearsal today, the city smelled like bubblegum and barbeques. It was a warm day, and a warm evening --- so maybe it was a concoction of jasmine, fresh mown grass, and other scented trees that filled the air with candy-like sweetness. There must have been someone in each neighborhood who was firing up some fresh briquettes to have a barbeque.

Spring Energy

2011-09-13T21:48:00.000+10:00

Spring is sneaking into swing here in Melbourne. The jasmine is blooming and scenting the air, and camellias, irises and violets have been blooming for some time. Calla lilies and roses are starting to open.

I bought two bunches of ranunculus at the market on the weekend, and the riotous colours and open blossoms make me happy.

My fringe show opens next week, and things are busy. Often, I can put way too much pressure on myself to meet my own exacting standards in so many areas of my life. And, of course, this means hello to anxiety and sleepless nights.

I had a great yoga class tonight. At the end of class, when our heads were bowed in namaste, my yoga instructor reminded us to "Be content with your effort". Good timing. (How is it that this man always says the things that I need to hear the most? ...One reason why he's my favourite.)

Launch Party

2011-09-07T18:02:00.000+10:00

Sapidah, Nadia and me

It's on! Turtle Lab has launched! We had a lovely afternoon at Provenance, with Benny and Jules playing cool jazz in the front of the restaurant, and our supporters (30 strong!) gathering at the back.

Me and two of my students, Margot and Tristan.

Chris, Rinske and Xanthe

Elise, our producer and her crew.

Allen and Nick

Turtle Working Bee

2011-09-07T18:00:00.000+10:00

Sapidah, Nadia and I got together on Saturday night to prepare and fill the gift bags we gave out to all those who attended the Launch party. I made and baked Brownies (gluten free and gluten full) and Chocolate Chunk Pecan Cookies to wrap and include in the goodies bag. Red wine was consumed and many laughs were had in the process.

Sapidah was in charge of cello wrap.

Nadia was dogsbody: she poured, scooped, filled bags and tested the product.

Hipstamatic shot of Brownies and Chocolate Pecan Cookies bonbonieres.

Turtle Lab Online

2011-09-03T17:14:00.000+10:00

CLICK HERE to check out our new website!
Nadia, Sapidah and I launch our new theatre collective tomorrow.
It's all happening...

Springtime in Melbourne

2011-09-03T17:12:00.000+10:00

I have been ABSOLUTELY PATHETIC in maintaining this fricking blog! August passed with one post and that's just shocking.
September will make up for it, believe me!

Here's a lovely post though: I had dinner with some beautiful friends of mine on Tuesday night. We ate lots, drank good red wine and talked about both the meaningful and the inconsequential.

Sapidah and Xanthe

Nadia hates having her photo taken, and she never poses.

This is Lara and Karen during one of the meaningful conversations...

Xanthe and I

Rinkse

Lara and Sapidah

Ratatouille Goodness

Mt Martha Visit

2011-08-23T19:14:00.000+10:00

It's been a while since I last visited with Sheila and Sue, and this last weekend, I went down to Mt. Martha for an overnight, had a great catchup and shared two wonderful meals with them and Finn and Trinity.

Sue made a Pavlova, and dressed it with Passionfruit (from their garden), Kiwis and cream.

Finn is a big fan of dessert!

"Life's Good when Phil Collins is Your Inner Soundtrack."

2011-07-25T20:19:00.001+10:00

I teach some funny, cool kids. The following interaction made my week!

Today in my Year 7 French class, Student X was beginning to distract those around him. He's not a naughty kid usually. He's smart and quick to answer, question and make connections in class. Today, however, he was starting to sing a Phil Collins anthem like he meant it. "I can feel it coming in the air tonight, O Lord.... and I've been waiting for this moment all my life, O Lord...!!" ....and then there was the epic air drum solo...!

It was quickly apparent that I was about to lose the six boys in his general vicinity to a great '80s song and there would soon be no end to the group air drum solos....

Me: (as I wandered past him) Hey X, Phil Collins. Nice choice. Everybody likes Phil Collins.

Student X: Yeah Miss, Phil Collins is awesome! (singing loudly, but not unpleasantly) I can feel it coming in the air tonight, O Lo--

Me: So X, While Phil's cool, no question, I'm wondering if you can have him as your inner soundtrack as opposed to your outer soundtrack. What do you reckon?

Student X: Sure, Miss. .... (Still singing, only a bit quieter) Nah-na-na- nah -- coming in the na ta-nah-- O --

Me: Yeah, X, I think the focus here is on the INNER part of the inner soundtrack...you know, like in your head where only you can hear it? Nobody else?

Student X: Ah yeah. But what about the drum bit? (does the drum bit to emphasize it's value.)

Me: Yeah, well...I agree. The drum solo is the best bit... but...

Student X: You want me to do it in my head.

Me: Like only you can hear it.

Student X: Yeah right. OK. Look, I'll try it, Miss.

Me: Yeah...give it a go, X. I think it'll still be cool.

Student X squints his eyes and looks out the sunny window, very obviously singing Phil Collins in his head. He's cool. Undeniably. ...and then he busts out a very energetic drum solo involving his pens, a pencil case, the window and his seat partner's head.

Me: Yeah, nah, X...the drum solo is in your head too, right?

Student X: (laughing) Ah right...I didn't know what you meant...

Me: (laughing too) ....Yeah right. You did so. See if you can do it now, okay.

Student X: Sorry Miss. ...in my head. Can I do it while I put this (rubbish) in the bin?

Me: Yeah. Give it a go while walking. I think that would be the coolest.

Student X walks across the room to put some paper in the bin. He moves smoothly, to the rhythm of Phil Collins in his head. He pauses halfway back to his seat and looks out the window --- to the drum solo --- and then he moves back to his seat.

Student X: Hey Ms Unger, life's good when Phil Collins is your inner soundtrack.

Yes, yes it is.

On a Search for the Best Bomboloni in town

2011-07-24T11:44:00.000+10:00

Here at Lord Street, I am well-situated to enjoy the excellent foodie offerings of East Brunswick and North Lygon Street. At the moment, I am on a personal mission to find the best Bomboloni, or Custard Donut in Melbourne.

Sugardough Panificio and Patisserie is right around the corner from me, and it is too easy to step off a tram and pop in for a treat and a latte. They have a great selection of donuts: chocolate, vanilla, strawberry and blackberry.

This is the Vanilla Custard Bomboloni, lightly dusted with icing sugar and not too sweet, but very custardy!

Holidays Are Over

2011-07-19T18:53:00.002+10:00

Two weeks of holidays fly by, and as always, on the first day back at at school, it hardly feels like I've left! That's alright. I had a good time, and I guess it can be best described as an uneasy balance of work and relaxation.

Top 5 Winter Holiday Activities:

A weekend in Lorne.
Coffees, red wines, hot chocolates, Frangelico and limes on ice, teas and dinners with friends in the city.
Sleeping in and reading in bed on one or two mornings.
Completing official Turtle Lab business with Nadia.
Making big progress on my To-Do List for producing my Fringe show, A Second of Pleasure in September and The Drowning Girls in February.

Catch up with Jas and Ava

2011-07-12T11:49:00.005+10:00

How cute is Ava?! Jas and Matt's little bub is almost 7 months old, and she is adorable!

We went for a walk along the foreshore in Lorne on a sunny, big wave Saturday.

Zephyr leading the way.

Big Swell

2011-07-12T11:33:00.004+10:00

I went down to Lorne for the weekend, and was treated to massive swell! These shots are from Cathedral Rock. These shots don't really do it justice (while it is hip and cool, I haven't figured out how to make the best use of my iPhone Hipstamatic App) ...but the waves were huge and the hard core locals were out for some big rides. (They are the little black dots in the bottom left hand of the frame!)

The car park banter was highly entertaining, and as each new set came in, bigger and bigger, iPhones and cameras came out. All in good nature, the car park guys hung shit on those battling to get out back and avoid copping a mighty wave crashing on their heads.

Salty surf dogs compared this swell with another big one...back in '86.

Turtles at the Bank

2011-07-04T21:44:00.007+10:00

Today, Nadia and I went to the Commonwealth Bank to open an account for our new not-for-profit Theatre Company, Turtle Lab Inc. Now let the fundraising begin!

Check out the uber-hip filters on my iPhone pics....

Happy Canada Day!

2011-07-01T23:14:00.002+10:00

Happy Canada Day to all my friends and family back in a land so 'glorious and free'. I hope you are enjoying heaps of good beer and barbecues and some fireworks too.

These are the ways in which I got to celebrate my patriotism here in Melbourne today:

I wore a splash of red with my de rigeur Melbourne black ensemble.
It was the last day of work at school before the semester break. I'm now on holidays!
The sunrise was amazing. (Thank you, volcanic ash cloud?)
I listened to my "All Canadian, All the time" playlist on my morning walk to meet my carpool buddies.
I have a student who has a Canadian parent, and she was sporting a temporary Maple Leaf tattoo to celebrate the day. She was excited to share it with me.
My students were exceptional in behaviour and in demonstrating their skill sets today... in all classes.
We finished teaching at 1pm, and had an afternoon tea in the staff room --- complete, in usual Aussie style, with a choice of beer, wine, cider or non-alcoholic beverages. (Side bar: sadly, drinking a Hahn Super Dry is not the same as having a Sleeman's Honey Brown on Canada Day.)
The sun shone.
I hummed the National Anthem.
I had pancakes with bacon and maple syrup for dinner.
The sunset was gorgeous.
I had an after-school nap, and then met a friend for a post theatre drink at a cool wine bar around the corner. I wore my Vancouver Canucks t-shirt.

Good times.

Details

2011-06-26T14:19:00.004+10:00

It has been my distinct displeasure this last week to have battled a gastro-intestinal bug. Unpleasant, yes... but also my opportunity to document some of the details in the bathroom.

The Elvis mirror is my favourite!

Whoever Marisa is... we have her to thank for the bathroom soundtrack.

The courtyard is lovely, and this is the household shrine.

My favourite potted plant and the angry three legged hippo.

(Aside: potted plants are called pot plants here, and that never ceases to amuse me.)

Note to Self #28

2011-06-21T21:01:00.002+10:00

Do more often:

Stand still in the rain after a run.
Make rhubarb jam on a whim. (Even just one jar is worth it.)

The Ridiculous and the Sublime

2011-06-18T20:33:00.007+10:00

The feature shelf in the bathroom is multi-cultural...

...and the Holy Family graces the back door.

Sojourn In East Brunswick

2011-06-12T11:34:00.007+10:00

Things have fallen nicely into place considering the past two months have been so turbulent and challenging. One of these things is the opportunity to sublet from my friends Sapidah and Che while they are overseas for three months. Their house is in East Brunswick, (2 suburbs west from where Andrew and I were living), and it's a cozy, healing place to be this winter.

The house is old and full of colour, and as Sapidah is a collector of all things beautiful and kitschy, there's lots to look at and enjoy as each day unfolds. I'll post my favourite things about each room this month. These are some details from the kitchen.

looking out the kitchen window

Salt and Pepper shakers

Vintage Cocktail forks and Pop-art inspired espresso cups.

Sunrises

2011-05-31T22:08:00.002+10:00

It has been clear, crisp and cold in the mornings and at night here in Melbourne. Admittedly, I have become acclimatized. 6 degrees does feel "freezing", and I am wearing a toque most mornings.
When the wintery weather is not grey and gloomy, there are moments of beauty, particularly at the beginning of the day and as the work day winds down.

Last week, as I was waiting for the train one morning, the sun rose and coloured the sky over Victoria Park.

Thank you, Lindt Chocolate

2011-05-22T17:27:00.006+10:00

...for making Dark Chocolate with a Touch of Sea Salt. It feeds my soul!

And thank you also to Woolworth's, where this particular bar was on special this week for $1.89!

Comfort

2011-05-16T17:15:00.003+10:00

Things that nourished and comforted me this rather wintery weekend:

Going to yoga class and aching satisfyingly for days afterwards. Forward Bends and Twists.
Baking a batch of Gingersnap cookies. They are the quintessential winter cookie.
Hot soaks with Epsom Salts in the bath.
Dreaming a theatre project.
Folding clean, warm laundry out of the dryer. (no, not really earth friendly...)
Meeting a dear friend for a coffee.
Making Roasted Tomato and Basil Soup, cracking open a bottle of red wine, grilling Parmesan cheese over a thick slice of crusty country bread, and curling up to watch a DVD under a warm blanket.

Written Assessments

2011-05-09T21:08:00.007+10:00

I've just finished marking some written work from my Drama 8 students: 120 written reflections on recent Performance Assessments. Wow.

On the worst days, when I think of the time I spend negotiating and managing just the basic social aspects of my drama classrooms... I sometimes imagine taking a step in one of two directions:

1. Self-destruction: Chug tequila straight out of the bottle, (no lime, no salt), until my senses are numb and my brain is obliterated.

2. Self-protection: Curl up in a fetal position in a corner, humming and rocking my body until my senses are numb and my brain is obliterated.

Never actually have to though! In the end, it's too much fun, and somehow there's always something beautiful, inspired or surprising to laugh about and enjoy. These written assessments? Golden.

It was pretty rewarding to listen to them as they worked together and individually to complete the written task in class.

Students were telling each other how they "...appreciated your use of space in that scene", and some congratulated each other on their "collaborative approach to workshopping the script." Reading the finished work was even better! I had some laugh-out-loud moments. These are some of my favorites:

In response to: Identify 3 things you would improve in your own performance.

Student W: Act Better.

In response to: Describe 5 things you did to change your physical body in your performance.

Student X: I had to dress differently, as I always pictured bears to be really neat dressers.

Student Y: Playing a villain challenged me as I was not used to portraying such a negative character. I tried to embrace my inner villain and this helped me to hunch my back, make my hands like claws and curl my body in on itself.

Random Messages

2011-04-29T22:21:00.009+10:00

This week I was reminded that sometimes random interactions are extra meaningful because they seem to directly address my emotional state.

As he watched me stare at a chocolate bar I'd just bought from the canteen, a year 11 student said to me: "What's wrong, Ms. Unger? Ya gunna to eat that chocolate bar or let it go to waste?

Me: "I think I'd like to eat it."

Year 11: "Ya have to think about it?!"

Me: "...yeah. today I do."

Year 11: "C'mon Miss, get it in ya! It'll make ya feel bettah."

After he watched me unwrap it and take a bite, he patted me on the shoulder and said: "Atta girl, Miss. That's the way."

As I waited on my bike for a light to change at an intersection in Northcote, an urban hipster in skinny jeans pulled up beside me on his single speed road bike and said: "Hey. Thanks for wearing that dress today."

As he led the class through Tree pose, my yoga teacher said: "It's not how quickly you get into the pose and hold it that matters, it's the quality of your effort that matters. Remember that once you're in the pose, it's always changing, and even when it's over.... it will be there to do again in your next practice."

Funny Thing

2011-04-28T21:25:00.007+10:00

At a recent dinner party, my friends all agreed that a really good name for a horror movie is "DECIDUOUS".

...and that's Australians dealing with a change in season for you! Hilarious.

Baby Ava

2011-04-21T15:56:00.004+10:00

Matt and Jasmina's little girl Ava is adorable! I went for a visit down the coast a couple weekends ago, and she'd grown heaps since I first met her in January.

Drinks after Class

2011-04-21T15:52:00.002+10:00

These are my lovely Verve students after our last class.

Bike Rides

2011-04-19T16:36:00.002+10:00

Bicycles (specifically "Push bikes") are a popular form of transportation here in Melbourne. There's the highly Lycra-ed set that travel in brightly coloured peletons or the skinny jean-ed hipsters on retro tour bikes. Whichever your preferred flavour, there's lots of bike friendly corridors across the city and into the CBD. Sunday morning was bright and sunny, so Nadia and I rode into the city along the Capital City Trail.

Some sections of the trail had heavy traffic: lots of people strolling, jogging and bike touring with little ones. Other sections, like this one just past Heyington, were idyllic and quiet.

Rowing pairs, quads and eights do their drills up along the river on Sunday mornings.

One of the best parts of the trail is the riverside section just before the bridges into the city. Yes, the view on one side of you is restricted to unattractive bumper-to-bumper footy traffic into the city, but it's pretty special riding along the river suspended just above the water.

We cycled back through Fitzroy to enjoy a coffee before heading home. The Fitzroy Town Hall looked especially grand against the blue sky.

Nadia contemplating Town Hall.

Autumn Changes

2011-04-13T08:14:00.002+10:00

Autumn is here in Melbourne. The weather is changeable and unpredictable. Yesterday was a stormy and rainy deluge in the morning followed by bright sunshine and fluffy clouds in the afternoon. It's cooler, and scarves (say "skaahves") have become part of one's new season uniform. Daylight savings is back, and it's darker earlier. ...Conditions conducive to sipping red wine and curling up in a cozy chair.

Looking into the Sun

2011-04-10T21:50:00.006+10:00

If I could have looked into my future and seen what was in store...

But I didn't know....

And now I've got to look at my present with an open heart and into my future with hope, and do the best I can to turn it into gold.

Comment of the Day

2011-03-28T21:32:00.006+11:00

from a critical year 8 student:

"You're a really good teacher, Ms Unger, and sometimes you're really funny. It's just you're not using your best material today."

Fair enough. Apparently my schtick is rather flat these days. Taking that on board. Will attempt to step it up and rework "my material".

Zen Bath

2011-03-15T22:41:00.003+11:00

Water helps me think. It renews and refreshes me. The ocean and salt water encourage me to play and they buoy my spirits. It's a bit of a distance to some clean sea water from the inner suburbs of Melbourne, so I sought out an alternative.
Tonight I went to the Japanese Bath House in Collingwood. It was beautifully relaxing. You leave your shoes at the door, and you leave your clothes in a locker, and then, completely naked, you quietly and thoughtfully wash yourself alongside a bunch of other quiet, naked people (same sex, mind you). Your body squeaky clean, you sink into a clean, warm communal bath, and then sit and sweat in a hot sauna, scrub yourself again in a cool shower and repeat and repeat and repeat the sequence in any order you wish until it becomes a physical mantra of self care and nurturing. And you find stillness.

Blogging is weird

2011-03-05T08:45:00.005+11:00

I love this picture. The Lorne pier looks like it's in a snow field!

I started blogging because it seemed a good way to stay in contact with friends and family back in Canada when I travelled overseas to Australia. I was looking for a fun alternative to those mass emails addressed to everyone in your contact list. I have a difficult time with sending and reading those missives.

Blogging appealed to me because I could be creative about what I shared with people. They could see what I saw in my pictures, and in my writing I could evoke the new and different smells, tastes and sounds of my life away from them. I could share my opinions and views about my experiences in that new world, and (sometimes honestly and other times cryptically) reveal to them what I was feeling.

Blogging is a public activity, and while I confide and share my feelings with a small group of people whom I love and who I know love and care for me, I really feel that the big 'ol blog-o-sphere doesn't deserve to know all of me.

And yet, I want people to know what's happening in my life. I want to connect with those who are far away from me; those people I can't hug in person or share a chat over a cup of tea.

Here goes the crypticism: (is that even a word?! it sounds and looks like mysticism...)

Suffice it to say that I am in a place in my life where there is both darkness and light. It's a place of potential; of choice. I'll be okay when I come through it.... it's just tricky when I'm in it.

Beach Glass Poetry

2011-03-04T20:43:00.007+11:00

Sharp edges made soft and rounded by rolling and brushing against sand in the tides.

Ocean jewels.

Wet lollies. Sugar candy.

Beach Glass Reality

2011-03-04T20:43:00.006+11:00

The most common colour of glass found on Victorian beaches is amber brown, the colour of discarded bottles of Carlton Draught and Victoria Bitters (also known as VB).

Where did February go?

2011-03-04T20:32:00.001+11:00

Where did this month go? I think this may be the first time in 3 years when there's been less than 5 posts in a month. Well, it's been busy. Life takes over, and making clever observations of local flora and fauna or the best local place to get coffee and pastries is sometimes doesn't feel like a priority.

Having said that, Andrew and I have begun to explore our neighborhood. We have now collected take-away menus from all of the restaurants in Fairfield Village. We quite like the local Thai, and we learned the hard way that we can save $7 per main and $5 per starter at the local Indian by ordering take-away instead of eating in!

The Fairfield Train Station is guarded by The Dog Statue. I quite like him!

Apropos of dogs, I was born in a year of the dog. February was my month to learn (inadvertently) a bit about my Chinese Zodiac sign and some of the personality traits of people who are born in "dog years".

For those of you who know me well and love me, check this out. Certainly as I've reflected on the month just past, it's a bit interesting. Chinese Zodiac: the Dog

Look, I can't believe in it all, because to subscribe to it completely would be to deny the ways in which I am unique as an individual, and the ways in which my behavior has shifted, grown (or eek! not developed at all!) given my life experiences so far. (blah blah blah)
But seriously, come on! It's just interesting, is all.

Hey, how closely do you resemble your Chinese Zodiac Sign?

Cue the song I kind of wish wasn't in the Soundtrack of my Life, but it seems kinda appropriate lately.

Play me now!

Flashback

2011-02-13T09:29:00.007+11:00

Life continues here in Melbourne. Andrew has been away in Brisbane on tour this week, so I've had our place to myself. My clothes are on the floor, and the dishes are unwashed.

The Australians like to talk about Febfast... that thing you do when you try and get back to healthy after all of the Christmas silly season indulgences. (Andrew and I both really love gelato...and there's a gelato shop five minutes walk from our house. True fact: we have not yet walked there. And seriously, why walk when you can have yummy gelato in your tummy 5 minutes sooner?!) So....I've decided it's a good opportunity to join in on Febfast and have a week of healthy, spartan living and a whole lot of exercise.

I'd rather not post a whole heap of sweaty, self-portraits of me puffed after running, so instead, I'll post some pics of a great party I attended in December. My friend Emma turned 30, and to celebrate, she invited some friends to join her for the night at the famous Pole House on the Great Ocean Road.

The pole house looks out over Fairhaven Beach, and it is a fantastical 70's delight inside! Cork and carpet walls, funky light fixtures and amazing wrap-around views.

Good weather helps make the pictures look impressive! It was really exciting, and we all felt a bit like rock stars to be partying at the pole house!

A Jesus Moment looking west from the balcony.

Reflections on School Year Startups

2011-02-03T10:28:00.002+11:00

It doesn't matter whether you're in the Northern or the Southern Hemisphere, schools smell the same.

Outdoor views

2011-01-24T13:42:00.005+11:00

Our new apartment is in a block of 7 units. We have two entrances: the one through the front door of the building, and the second through our courtyard/driveway. On the right there's a door through the gate? That's it.

Along the drive, there's an existing planting of roses, succulents and Bird of Paradise. We also have a little grassy patch with a space for outdoor dining.

Reflections on Moving

2011-01-23T11:42:00.000+11:00

1. Moving over the course of several days does not make the process any easier.

2. Cleaning up as one moves out is the least fun activity in the world.

3. I have very strong negative feelings towards dirty venetian blinds.

4. Happiness is a vase of fresh flowers, a cold cider and air conditioning.

Yeah, I know the Director...

2011-01-23T11:40:00.001+11:00

In addition to moving house this week, Andrew has been directing a development of a new Australian rock musical, RAWK. This piece is part of a showcase of 4 new musical theatre works called Carnegie 18.
While RAWK is kind of along the lines of musicals like Hedwig and the Angry Inch and Tommy, the other pieces are all very different: there's an Opera about Netball, a Cabaret piece and a very dark musical about infanticide ....Yes, I know. "!??!"(Beautiful music, heavy content).
I don't think Andrew would be offended if I said that my favorite piece is definitely CONTACT, the Netball opera.

Enjoy this clip of RAWK.

And this one of CONTACT.

Moving to Fairfield

2011-01-14T12:18:00.003+11:00

(Not Fairfield!)

Click on the link below to check out the apartment Andrew and I will be moving into on Monday! It's about a 5 minute drive from where I live now in Northcote.... Fairfield is the next suburb east, actually.

Our New Address: 2/178 Gillies Street, Fairfield, Victoria 3078

Meet Ava Dimitra Neill

2011-01-14T12:16:00.000+11:00

I went down to Deans Marsh on Wednesday to visit Jasmina, Mat and their new baby girl, Ava.

She's a really good little girl, and she looks a lot like her daddy. She's got his ears, for sure.

Sunday Visit

2011-01-14T12:14:00.000+11:00

We visited Sheila, Sue and Finn in Mt. Martha on Sunday. Finn is 3 and he's a super active little guy.

Sheila, Sue, Finn, Andrew and me.

The Godfather

2011-01-14T12:10:00.000+11:00

Jackson and Alice are Andrew's godkids. They think he's pretty cool.

Note to Self #27

2011-01-14T12:01:00.000+11:00

When hoping to see Australian wildlife, always say your wish out loud. It will come true.
I wanted to see an Echidna, I put it out there, and we saw one! Here's the little guy trying to pretend he's invisible.

Campfires

2011-01-14T11:58:00.000+11:00

There was some cultural sharing around the campfire. Michael introduced me to Damper, a kind of a scone/bread that is iconic Aussie Bush Tucker (Definition: Outback cuisine) Michael's Damper recipe was a bit deluxe, with garlic mixed into the dough. It was pretty yummy when smothered in lashings of butter.
I, in turn, introduced them to Smores. A fair exchange.

Damper or "Scone on a Stick" roasting over the coals.

Camping

2011-01-14T11:46:00.000+11:00

We spent the last few days in the Merimbula area camping down the road at Bournda National Park with Andrew's great friends Michael and Helen and their kids, Jackson and Alice.

One cool day, we tramped from Tathra back to the campsite...a good 13 km walk along the coast. The views were lovely and would have been more spectacular in sunny weather, but it was fine hiking weather. This picture was taken as we neared the end of the walk and were about to finish the last kilometre along Bournda beach.

Alice posing in front of the family caravan.

Alice posing again in front of our tent.

A tent with two big rooms and a vestibule! Big enough to stand up in?

I have never known such camping luxury!

Mob Warnings

2011-01-10T17:31:00.004+11:00

The General Store at Pambula does a brisk business this time of year. Everday, we'd pick up a newspaper to read on the beach, and everyday I would scoff at the sign posted in the car park.

Until one morning, we got to the beach early, and saw this mob hanging out in the field across from the store.
I counted about 45. This is a shot of only one corner of the field!

More Pambula

2011-01-10T17:15:00.005+11:00

One day we decided to hang out next door to Pambula beach proper.... at Pambula Lions beach. We went on a beach stroll and wandered around the corner from the surf beach to the inlet.

The reef here was a dark red.

These pictures don't really do it justice, but it looked as though they were drenched with red wine.

Once again, as expected... there were surfers in and out of the water all afternoon.

Boardwalking

2011-01-07T15:17:00.002+11:00

Now that we're back in Melbourne, where it's hot and dry and windy, we miss our coastal escapades. When we did go on hikes...they were never very arduous. This is from our walk around Merimbula's Top Lake.

When NOT to Frolic in the Sea

2011-01-07T15:15:00.002+11:00

Maybe when Bluebottle Stingers are in the water! We went on a short hike one day and had planned to freshen up after the walk with a dip in the ocean, until we saw these stingers washed up along the high tide line. The tide was on it's way out, so we figured that they were freshly beached, and didn't take the plunge.

Also known as Portugese Man of War, they are kind of beautiful. In a scary way.

Bluebottles have long, stinging tentacles that can wrap around you and leave nasty welts, and it appears that there is never just one Bluebottle.

Sea Frolic

2011-01-07T11:22:00.003+11:00

We spent hours on the beach at Pambula: surfing, reading, body surfing and boogie boarding.

Surfacing

Calm on the sand bar.

Oysters on the Road

2011-01-06T18:09:00.006+11:00

Oysters were a big treat while we were on holiday.

We had them in Sydney at Christmas lunch.

We bought the best ones from a dodgy roadside shack in Merimbula, and we definitely agreed with the taste rating in Tathra.

Good Times in Caravan Parks!

2010-12-30T21:45:00.001+11:00

Seriously! Lovely!

Our Beach hut...

Tathra

2010-12-30T21:37:00.001+11:00

Tathra is gorgeous! Our little beach hut at the caravan park was right across from the beach access.

The weather was changeable, but the water was clear and warm-ish.

One side of the beach is all rocky cliff, and one evening, we scrambled along the rocks from the Tathra Pier back to the beach.

First Day on the Beach

2010-12-30T21:29:00.001+11:00

The first couple days we spent on the South Coast were cool and breezy. That didn't stop us from getting in the water...

Happy Holidays!

2010-12-28T21:27:00.001+11:00

I hope all of my family and friends had a joyous Christmas! I hope your food was delicious, your company excellent and your blessings too many to count!

I spent Christmas with Andrew's family in Sydney. We ate well. Seafood was plentiful in addition to the old standbys of ham and turkey.
I really enjoyed spending some more time with Andrew's parents, and his brothers and their families too.

We are now in Merimbula for a week, before heading back to Melbourne. We've had adventures as well as some very restful times, and now that I have some time and some internet access, I'll share some of it with you.

Shopping for Xmas Gifts

2010-12-19T22:59:00.002+11:00

There are such great places to shop in Melbourne in the city and on High Streets, that I have been able to avoid frequenting malls for the three years I've been here.

With my holidays and Christmas tasks officially starting this week, I needed to buy a very specific gift for Andrew at a very specific store. There's only two of them in Australia, one is in Sydney, and the other is newly arrived here in Melbourne: The Gap.

For my purchases, I missioned all the way out to Chadstone, a massive shopping mall in the South Eastern suburbs, otherwise known as "The Shopping Capital", and the "Paris of the South". (Look, it's big, but it's not any West Edmonton Mall.)

I found the Gap in the Luxury section of the mall, down from Louis Vuitton and Jimmy Choo.

Look, if I really miss North American vanity sizing, I might mission down to "Chaddy" and blithely purchase a size 0 or 2 again for a bit of an ego boost. However, if it's a good deal I'm after, (and I love a good deal!)... forget about it! Melbourne will never see any of those great end-of-season sales you can expect at the Gap back in Canada. The average price for anything here was about $79....pre-Christmas sale price. Retailers in Australia may be desperate to get people in the doors as they compete against on-line shopping this year, but apparently the retailers in the Luxury section of Chadstone have a different clientele and a different interpretation of the term "price-reduction."

The salesperson who assisted me was delighted to discover I was Canadian, (like most Aussies, he had spent a ski season in Banff), and then shocked that I could live in Melbourne for three years, and only just now make my first visit to "Chaddy".

It's true, I'm now no longer a "Chadstone virgin", but I'm just left feeling a little underwhelmed.

Pro-D

2010-12-12T12:20:00.006+11:00

Our Professional Development week finished off with a fun day of workshops. I chose to cruise through a cupcake decorating class.... mostly because you got to eat what you made. :)

Note to Self #26

2010-12-10T18:29:00.001+11:00

You can expect all the neighbours to show up to annual Christmas street parties.

Block Party!

2010-12-10T18:14:00.000+11:00

Last weekend, on a hot and sunny Saturday, we went to the annual Bridge Street Christmas Street Party. Nobody parked on the street that day, and council blocked off both ends of the street from traffic.

There was chalk art.

a Jumping castle for the neighbourhood kids.

Lots of people came with salads, drinks and chairs and sun umbrellas. The trees are quite leafy and full on the "nature strip", so most people sat under trees on the grass beside the sidewalks. Zac and Rose and I brought our chairs, drinks and brownies to share.

BBQ snags and rissoles on bread with tomato sauce were served up.

Dads and kids played Street Cricket.

Santa made an early appearance with a bag full of lollies.

The bands of Bridge Street all played: 3 in total. (We have a very musical street!)

The street loved the music!

Rose and I had a bit of a boogie.

MIna's Shower

2010-12-07T19:16:00.000+11:00

Matt and Jasmina are having a baby any day now. The little O'Neill bub is due on December 13th, but who knows... 2 weekends ago, we all gathered to shower her with gifts and goodwill.

Lots of sweet treats!

Emma and Shanah (Note the Cricket in the background. Very Aussie!)

Mina and her sister-in-law Vanessa and nephew Toby

Me and Mina

Seed or Pod

2010-11-25T19:57:00.005+11:00

I saw this big tumbleweed-like thing when we were on the foreshore at Dee Why. There were a few of them scudding across the footpath. I've no clue what they are, but they look interesting.

Sydney Mini Break

2010-11-25T19:47:00.004+11:00

I usually have Wednesdays off, and this week, I flew to Sydney on Tuesday evening after work to meet Andrew. He had a gig earlier that day in Sydney's CBD, and was staying a day longer to catchup with his parents.... so yes, I met his parents, Tony and Liz... and his brother Jono, Jono's wife Sandra and their little boys: Thomas and James. (That's not the whole family, but it's a good start!)

The weather was gorgeous, with a bit of a breeze. We met Tony and Liz for lunch in a cafe overlooking the foreshore. For the rest of the day, we hung out and lounged on the beach, and had a play and a swim in the water (warmer than Lorne ocean!)

We were back on a plane that evening and in Melbourne by 10 pm, refreshed, relaxed, ready and set to finish the rest of a busy week.

Best mini break ever!

Signs of Summer

2010-11-25T18:10:00.004+11:00

It's a month until Christmas, and the holiday decorations are out everywhere! The weather is heating up. Case in point: last night was the warmest overnight so far in Melbourne this year --- 22 degrees. Nice! It's also MANGO season!

It would not be exaggeration to say that I adore mangoes. They are making a frequent appearance in my meals: with yogurt, in smoothies and in salads. Stay tuned for Mango vodka slushies!

Saturday Afternoons

2010-11-11T20:59:00.002+11:00

Last Saturday, Andrew and I spent a warm sunny afternoon wandering around the sculpture park at the Heide Art Gallery.

There were people picnicking on the grass, and bees humming all around the beautiful grounds. Funny, but I was more concerned we might disturb a snake during our wanderings.

No snakes... but just my luck, one of those bees hummed up my skirt and stung me!

An antihistamine and a Monteith's Apple Cider later... it's all good! Who knew? Better than an Epi-pen.

It's Been a While

2010-11-07T16:37:00.006+11:00

Rock sculptures in North Lorne

Life's been busy, and my internet has been dodgy... but here I am, with an update.

Teaching continues to be fun and easy.
Spring is in full swing in Melbourne.
I've got projects for next year in the works.

Andrew and I got away for the Long Weekend at the beginning of November. Melbourne Cup is "the race that stops the nation". For those punters who love the races, it means a weekend of suits and ties, frocks, fascinators, betting on horses and drunken shenanigans. For us, it meant that we could get away down to Lorne for three whole days!

There was some sun, some rain, some surf and a great deal of relaxation!

Sea sponge

Home

2010-10-20T15:59:00.004+11:00

I've been back in Melbourne for a week now. My jet lag is dissipating and Spring has properly arrived to welcome me home. It's a warm day today (22 degrees) and I spent a fair bit of it weeding and tidying up our little courtyard garden. The sun is gorgeous and warm and the wonderful scent of jasmine, lilac and roses waft down our street and laneway.

I'm lucky to feel at home in two places in the world. I had a beautiful visit back to Victoria, BC to spend time with family and dear friends.... and I had a blissful return back to Melbourne, walking right into the embrace of the man I love.

Where's home? In this land here, which continues to offer me surprises, opportunity and a future full of potential.

Thanks for Food!

2010-10-12T13:19:00.010+11:00

The turkey is a great holiday bird.

Dad carves.

It's a ridiculously American vegetable dish for holidays, but it has long been my favourite: Yams baked with marshmallows, butter and brown sugar. Ambrosia!

Ubiquitous pumpkin pie.

Island Scents

2010-10-12T13:02:00.004+11:00

There are some scents that evoke particular moments from one's past, and memories of these moments flood in pretty strongly when you haven't smelled those scents for a long time. In the past three weeks, during my stay in the "country of my origin", these are the scents that have been triggers for me. (In no particular order...)

Tim Horton's kiosks
Salt air
Creosote on the wharf pilings at Fulford Harbour
Wet cedar chip trails being warmed by the sun
Dry oak leaves and pine needles
Mom and Dad's coffee brewing in the morning
Walking past Roger's Chocolates on Government Street
Turkey baking in the late morning
Pebble beaches

Bedtime Stories

2010-10-11T15:30:00.006+11:00

In my best Australian accent, I read Wombat Stew to Aubrey before he went to bed.

He takes pretty good pictures for a 4 year old.

It was the best friend dinner! Lori and Peter made the best bbq ribs in the world with rice and green beans... with lots of good red wine and a Blueberry galette for desert.

Sunny

2010-10-09T18:07:00.003+11:00

Weather in Victoria has been ridiculously gorgeous this last week. It got grey and soggy today, but on Wednesday, we drove to the breakwater and enjoyed the warm afternoon sun and light breeze.

Canadian Television Good Times!

2010-10-07T16:55:00.006+11:00

Australians should check out this alternative to Dancing With the Stars!

"From hockey skates to toe picks, catch all the action on CBC as former NHL players team up with professional figure skaters... all in the name of charity."

Pretty funny, eh?

Big Brother

2010-10-05T05:05:00.005+11:00

My older brother lives in Seattle, and he and my sister-in-law have 6 kids. I feel like the crazy aunt who blows into town every three years.... and it was kinda like that on Sunday when I flew into town on a little sea plane for lunch! It was brief, but very worthwhile as I got to see 4 of the 6 kids and have a great chat with my big brother.

Dan and I at the Sea Plane Terminal

Dan, from the plane.

Marcus, Sophie, Christian and Robin.

Friends

2010-10-05T03:43:00.009+11:00

It was big time friend time on Saturday night. Josie and Lori organized a dinner and wonderful people came along for a catch up. Lots of hugs all around!

Kevin

Josie

Jacqui, Glenn and Andrew

Linda and Jenn

Cathy

Marilyn

Lori

Visit with the Demmings

2010-10-05T03:25:00.007+11:00

On Friday, I had a fantastic visit with Ross, Tanya, Roan and Jolina Demmings. As always, great company, great food and great martinis! I enjoyed seeing their beautiful home, made even more beautiful by recent, epic renovations.

Canadian Gothic

We went on a walking tour of Langford and Goldstream, and I appreciated the new,Vegas style improvements to the main drag: neon signs and illuminated, musical fountains.

Jolina and Roan shared their favourite books with me.

In the morning, we went to Roan's soccer game.