Still More New Aussie Vocabulary

ranger: (noun) pronounced "rang-ah"; a person with red hair; shortened from  the noun Orangutan; also known as ginger, pronounced "ging-ah".

Julia Gillard is Australia's first  female Prime Minister. In a surprise (that wasn't really a surprise) announcement this Tuesday morning, Julia announced her step up to labour leadership after a vote of non-confidence in Kevin Rudd, the previous leader.
It is the talk of the country. On the trains, the trams, on the sidewalks... all over! What I found really interesting was that almost everyone I talked to would share their excitement, a "Good onya, Julia!" and then would go on to mention: "... and she's a ranger!" How bizarre. It wasn't ever said in a derogatory or condescending way, either. It was always with a little bit of wonder and joy, as if  they were really proud that a ranger had done so well for herself.

It's Not Snake Season

On my walk yesterday, I wandered a portion of the Merri Creek Trail. (It's the Melbourne equivalent to the Galloping Goose Trail. ) Among the typical warnings about not dumping rubbish, not riding trail bikes and sharing the trail with pedestrians and push bikers alike... is the warning to look out for snakes. 

They're only venomous snakes sunning themselves on the trail from October to April. No worries. 

New Aussie Vocabulary

SOOK: (noun) crybaby; whinger. (adj.) sooky baby.

I have a head cold and the world looks bleak.  My short term plans aren't falling into place as I had hoped, the Socceroos have lost their game with Germany and I can't breathe through my nose. Bleak indeed.
I'm such a sook when I'm sick.  I have a tendency to be blue and bummed out about EVERYTHING  when I have the chills and sniffles.
And so, in the great egocentric tradition of bloggers, I am going to list the things that make me sooky.

 I am sad that....

• Immigration is moving as fast as molasses in a Canadian January to process my PR application. 
• I have yet another effing hoop to jump through in the next 6 months in order to stay lawfully in this country. 
• I can't afford to venture back to Canada anytime soon to visit friends and family. 
• I should be doing more crunches and sit ups. 
• The Socceroos lost their first World Cup game to Germany.
• Melbourne isn't warmer in the winter. 
• I can't taste food right now. 

And.... that's enough. Even I am bored with me and my litany of things to be sooky about! So, let me tell you about things that are going well in my life. 

More New Vocabulary: 

RAPT: (verb) delighted; ecstatic; happy. 

I am rapt that....

• My directing debut is 3 weeks away, and it's been an interesting rehearsal process.
• Regardless of spanners in the works, it still makes me smile to see gum trees, to hear lorikeets shouting at each other in the palms and to drift off to sleep remembering how it feels to be lifted up and down in the water with the rhythm of the ocean. 
• I have great housemates and amazing friends here who are like a family to me. 
• Skype, a good long-distance plan and this blog keep me in touch with loved ones back in Canada.
• I only have a cold, and when I'm better I'll get to those crunches.
• The Socceroos will play again. This country loves an underdog. 
• The sun shone today. It was warm and I went for a long walk in the burny sun. 
•  Tomato soup and toast are the best thing for a cold. It doesn't matter that you can't taste them --  you know they're good.

Friday Night Eats

Question: How do you celebrate the end of a busy week?
Answer: Get a man to cook dinner for you.

Zach, Rose and Allie. 

Every Friday night, Rose's boyfriend, Zach  practices his kitchen skills and turns out some memorable meals for us. He has earned top marks for his Ginger Cookies, Teriyaki Chicken, Thai Green Curry and Moroccan Lamb. He refuses to cut corners and makes everything from scratch. Bless him! We appreciate his efforts!

Actually, they're Lemons.

Our limes turned yellow.... and I guess that makes it a Lemon Tree. 

 It's really very obvious. Goodbye cheap Mojito Night... Hello Gin and Tonic!

Meet Chuck - Possum Hunter

VITAL STATS

Sex: Male
Weight: On the heavy side
Real Name: Harley... but we still call him Chuck
Home: Next door
Occupation: Possum Hunter, Rat Catcher, Head of Bridge Street Public Relations




And no, this post does not mean I am now a cat person. Chuck is blogworthy because his coolness transcends his catness.

The Neighbours

 Don't know if you can see them, but the little specks and blurs in the photo are FRUIT BATS flying over the city at Yarra Bend park, not far from our house. Some evenings you can hear them squealing and yelling at each other as they settle in the trees near the Merri Creek, just across the road from us.

If it isn't the bats making lots of noise, it's the RAINBOW LORIKEETS, beautiful little birds that swoop and play in the trees.

In the evenings and late at night, it's not unusual to hear a scuffling and crashing  that sounds like a four year old is somersaulting across our roof. It's not the kid next door, it's the fat BRUSHTAIL POSSUMS.

A slightly daintier and lighter scuffling -- like that of an underfed two year old -- can be heard when the RINGTAIL POSSUMS play tag across the rooftop.