Making Up For Lost Time

I am trying to make up a bit for the gap in previous posts but still, pace myself to avoid tiring (or, worse yet) boring those who take the time to read this Blog.

First of all, let me say that it’s probably hard to imagine how much I appreciate the comments and remarks people give when a post takes place. The feedback makes it worth trying to put what I (and at this point, with Nancy here – we) are experiencing.

Bethany departed last Sunday after her two weeks with us to participate in her second cousin’s (Bethany Welsh) wedding in Hawaii (on Hilo). It was great to have her as our “guest” and she and Nancy got to do some of the tourist things that are still on my list. They visited Moreton Island for a day, hugged the koalas and ‘roos at Lone Pine Sanctuary, shopped downtown at the Queen’s Street Mall area, did some antiquing with the ladies from church and enjoyed each other’s company. It was clearer than ever that our little girl is now a woman and during our evening games of Rummy we had a chance to get in a few “adult” conversations. Being here gave her a bit of appreciation for the good and familiar things back home and took a bit of the mystique away about living abroad.

Since Bethany was here with Nancy, they did most of the grocery shopping (the pantry is currently a bit fuller than it was during my “bachelor” time) and they have had a chance to experience Australian “sticker shock” at the market. First, get your head into metric and Australian dollar conversion mode and then consider this (and these are advertised prices):

Bananas – $6.95 AUD per kilogram = $3.15 USD per lbs

A 3 roll package of paper towels - $3.49 AUD= $3.10 USD

Walnuts - $18.99 AUD per kilogram = $7.59 USD per lbs

Turkey breast (sliced) – $19.98 AUD per kilogram = $7.98 USD per lbs

Microwave popcorn (3 packages) - $3.99 AUD = $3.51 USD

18 cans of Coke (no deposit) - $12.99 AUD= $11.45 USD

Thank heavens the wine is reasonably priced!

The best part of a day is when people start coming into work quoting the low temperature they survived the night before – remember it’s the dead of winter here currently – and they describe the almost freezing temperatures of “4 degrees Celsius” that nearly left frost on their car over night! We try and not sound too condescending when we describe what a Michigan winter can be like – and showing pictures tends to put them over the top.

I am very conscious that I am missing the best time of the year back home – our friends (the Wagner’s) have been at our home having a bit of a vacation while Nancy is here – and I miss the greenness of a Michigan summer (it’s kind of brown here currently; plus there’s a drought on). I’m sure I will appreciate the next one much more having had to endure its absence! Hang tight; another update is coming soon - keep the feedback coming!

Holy Smokes - Too Long Between Posts

O.K. - I can't believe how long it has been since my last "transmission" from the great land Downunder. I have been lax, remiss, derelict in my duty, etc. (fell free to keep adding descriptive phrases).

Well, this isn't going to be a catch-up session. Rather, it will be a bit of a teaser for coming attractions - by necessity. Lots has been going on since the last update; so much that there will need to be several installments to dispense the wisdom, humor, mirth and other things in a dosage which will not create permanent brain damage in the recipients.

Here's a teaser: Last weekend, a friend from our new church down here finally convinced us to go to Mount Beerwah on an "adventure". I'm thinking fairly steep and difficult "hike"; we get there and we're talking a "grab the side of the rock and grapple your way to the top - do not look down!" experience. Nancy was barfing from over exertion; I was overly tired from one of the longest weeks of my life so we had a bit of a challenge facing us. As it happened, we didn’t get to the summit (Bethany and the others did) and Nancy and I had to pretend to be the Mount Beerwah social committee, greeting all the climbers who passed us on their way up - most of them telling us that we had already completed the difficult bit, the summit was a piece of cake (SHUT UP - young and healthy people barely breaking a sweat and not even breathing hard).

We have tales of Bethany's visit (she headed to Hawaii yesterday), my situation at work, Nancy's lung butter ailments - it is the "dead of winter" here in Brisbane - Bethany and Nancy as typical Australian tourists - plenty of cool news and pictures to come soon. Please hang in there and remember - you can e-mail with your thoughts and comments to spur us on. We miss you all and the "normal" stuff that was, until recently, taken a bit for granted. We like e-mail!

Blessing - Rick (& Nancy - for a little while)