We have been here for 10 months now and we have basically got used to scandalous prices. It has got to the point that I don’t flinch or even notice what things cost anymore. Of course, a part of that is because I can’t see them unless I put my reading glasses on! A nasty side effect of aging… and vanity….
I have an inside connection for a Christmas turkey (don’t forget we’re in the southern hemisphere so roasting a turkey when its 40C (over 100F) is not a part of the tradition. A cold meal or barbie on the beach is more likely to happen.)
Last week my much anticipated 10 kg (22 pound) turkey arrived and I didn’t think anything when I paid for it.
A couple of days later I got thinking about it – $100 - ONE HUNDRED DOLLARS for a TURKEY!!!!! I must have been CRAZY! Was this turkey eating caviar and getting daily massages or what???!!!
Crikey! Dorothy, you’re not in Houston anymore!
Saturday, November 29, 2008
Wednesday, November 26, 2008
A Fish Called Dawson!
Dawson was born a water dog. He can’t help it that he loves to get wet and swim (and come ashore and do that “wet dog” shake thing!)
When we first got here he loved going in the calm rivers and swimming. But the Indian Ocean was just a little too rough for him with waves crashing into shore. We’d throw his toy into the ocean and he’d get wet up to his belly but not go in over his head. Whenever the waves tumbled in he’d turn and run into shore, looking anxiously over his shoulder to make sure he stayed well ahead of them. With more practice he got smart and learned to wait and use the waves to bring his toys back to shore, still never getting into the water over his head.
But somehow all of a sudden he has decided to LOVE the Ocean. (Must have been when he was showing off for the girls! Amazing how that can motivate – even in the dog world!) When we park the car anywhere near the ocean he comes to life and starts vibrating. He can’t wait to get out of the car and run down to the sandy beach and water. He now plunges into the Ocean – waves or no waves. He has learned to swim out into the waves and keep his head high and his eye on his quarry as they sweep past him into shore. He can even use the waves to body surf back to shore!
He now aspires to membership on the Canadian Olympic Team – with a Maple Leaf swim cap proudly worn on his head and an aerodynamic lycra swimsuit for that added advantage. (He still needs to figure out how to incorporate his tail into the design.) He’s contemplating synchronized swimming lessons – he’s no fool - that’s where the chic’s are!
Not bad for a dog that will be 9 in January!
http://picasaweb.google.com/frederick.linda/BackAtTheBeach#
When we first got here he loved going in the calm rivers and swimming. But the Indian Ocean was just a little too rough for him with waves crashing into shore. We’d throw his toy into the ocean and he’d get wet up to his belly but not go in over his head. Whenever the waves tumbled in he’d turn and run into shore, looking anxiously over his shoulder to make sure he stayed well ahead of them. With more practice he got smart and learned to wait and use the waves to bring his toys back to shore, still never getting into the water over his head.
But somehow all of a sudden he has decided to LOVE the Ocean. (Must have been when he was showing off for the girls! Amazing how that can motivate – even in the dog world!) When we park the car anywhere near the ocean he comes to life and starts vibrating. He can’t wait to get out of the car and run down to the sandy beach and water. He now plunges into the Ocean – waves or no waves. He has learned to swim out into the waves and keep his head high and his eye on his quarry as they sweep past him into shore. He can even use the waves to body surf back to shore!
He now aspires to membership on the Canadian Olympic Team – with a Maple Leaf swim cap proudly worn on his head and an aerodynamic lycra swimsuit for that added advantage. (He still needs to figure out how to incorporate his tail into the design.) He’s contemplating synchronized swimming lessons – he’s no fool - that’s where the chic’s are!
Not bad for a dog that will be 9 in January!
http://picasaweb.google.com/frederick.linda/BackAtTheBeach#
Monday, November 10, 2008
Wineries in Australia
There are a lot of very good wineries in Australia. Or maybe it’s just that I have a penchant for finding them.
My sister Marie came from Toronto to holiday in Australia for 4 weeks. To an outsider it would appear that her objective was to eat and drink her way across the continent. I decided I should help her.
We took a 4 day weekend and drove about 6 hours to the south coast of Western Australia (WA) to the city of Albany and the town of Denmark. It is beautiful countryside with rolling hills, beautiful wildflowers in bloom (spring time) and a gorgeous rugged rocky coast with awesome blue water (where the Indian Ocean meets the Antarctic Ocean. Although on the maps down here they call it the Southern Ocean. Maybe I fell asleep during that class in grade school????)
Oh, and there are some awesome wineries along the way too. Most of them have Cellar Doors where you can test their wares – usually a selection of whites followed by a selection of reds, and sometimes even followed by dessert wines. What more could a person ask for? Well, perhaps a chauffeur would be a good plan, since they take their “Drink Driving” seriously with zero tolerance on a 0.05 limit.
Albany was the first port in Western Australia and became a significant whaling centre. In the late 1970’s it was at the height of its efficiency, “processing” over 1,500 whales per year. Then, due to public pressure the whaling station was abruptly closed – the employees heard about it on the evening news! They have now turned the former whaling station into a museum.
Back to the wineries…. The second weekend Marie was here we drove 3 hours south west to the Margaret River region where there are over 120 wineries. They too have Cellar Doors for tasting the products – just to make sure they are suitable for export around the world. Did I mention there is a chocolate factory? They too have samples…
Perth also has wineries right in our own back yard – just follow the Swan River east and there were more wineries where we took Marie.
After Marie left Perth she went to Adelaide and toured the Barossa Valley, then on to Melbourne where her balloon ride over vineyards was canceled due to inclement weather. Not to worry, when I met her in Sydney there is the Hunter Valley. But I have to say, at that point we were through with Cellar Door wine tasting.
I think it can be said that Marie achieved her objective of eating and drinking her way across the continent. She is now back home attending a detox clinic in Toronto.
My sister Marie came from Toronto to holiday in Australia for 4 weeks. To an outsider it would appear that her objective was to eat and drink her way across the continent. I decided I should help her.
We took a 4 day weekend and drove about 6 hours to the south coast of Western Australia (WA) to the city of Albany and the town of Denmark. It is beautiful countryside with rolling hills, beautiful wildflowers in bloom (spring time) and a gorgeous rugged rocky coast with awesome blue water (where the Indian Ocean meets the Antarctic Ocean. Although on the maps down here they call it the Southern Ocean. Maybe I fell asleep during that class in grade school????)
Oh, and there are some awesome wineries along the way too. Most of them have Cellar Doors where you can test their wares – usually a selection of whites followed by a selection of reds, and sometimes even followed by dessert wines. What more could a person ask for? Well, perhaps a chauffeur would be a good plan, since they take their “Drink Driving” seriously with zero tolerance on a 0.05 limit.
Albany was the first port in Western Australia and became a significant whaling centre. In the late 1970’s it was at the height of its efficiency, “processing” over 1,500 whales per year. Then, due to public pressure the whaling station was abruptly closed – the employees heard about it on the evening news! They have now turned the former whaling station into a museum.
Back to the wineries…. The second weekend Marie was here we drove 3 hours south west to the Margaret River region where there are over 120 wineries. They too have Cellar Doors for tasting the products – just to make sure they are suitable for export around the world. Did I mention there is a chocolate factory? They too have samples…
Perth also has wineries right in our own back yard – just follow the Swan River east and there were more wineries where we took Marie.
After Marie left Perth she went to Adelaide and toured the Barossa Valley, then on to Melbourne where her balloon ride over vineyards was canceled due to inclement weather. Not to worry, when I met her in Sydney there is the Hunter Valley. But I have to say, at that point we were through with Cellar Door wine tasting.
I think it can be said that Marie achieved her objective of eating and drinking her way across the continent. She is now back home attending a detox clinic in Toronto.
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