daytripping

Heather and I went for a day trip to Daylesford today. Well, half a day anyway. Oh boy! It turned out to be a bigger adventure than we expected. Firstly, it had poured rain all night. I mean POURED. It was pelting against my window and I'm sure it was the noise that woke me up numerous times. The drive to Daylesford of about 40mins was interesting. We passed a lot more "lakes" than normal and it was a challenge to see through the windscreen even with the wipers on full speed. We had to slow down to cross some "rivers" that streamed over the road too but we did eventually make it safely there. We decided to go to the Farmer's Market because the Makers Market (the main focus of the trip) didn't open until 10am. Not much going on at the Farmers Market which was outdoors in the wind and rain. Talked to a few nice people including one lady who was holding down her stall while the wind tried to send it flying.

Let's be adventurous. Never seen this ... er... vegetable before. Kohlrabi is apparently a bit like sweet potato or turnip. It's sweet apparently anyway and can be eaten raw, bitter skin removed, or cooked numerous ways. The guy said it's big in Germany. So we bought one each. I'm yet to try mine. We didn't stay too long since it was a pretty small market due to the weather. Heather wanted to look in a cute little shop called Wombat Gifts but it seems most places open at 10am on Saturdays there. So we still had some time to kill. We went to this neat little cafe with a lovely open fire. It wasn't actually too cold today. Pretty warm considering the winter we've had. Just wet. But it was a cosy inviting place to have a cuppa.

After 10am we went to Wombat Gifts and had a good look around. Lots of nifty, interesting little bits and bobs to look at in there. Then we made our way to the Makers Market. Oo, this was delightful. And thankfully inside!

It is filled with stalls of handmade goods. Such lovely stuff. The fabric made me jealous and the ideas were making me giggle with glee. These hats were great and love the one that Heather is trying on here. It's a bit redder than the pic shows. She decided to buy it too. It looked really good on her. They had a green one like it which I liked but none of the hats were big enough. *sigh* The problem with having a big head.

There were lots of really nice stuff that I wasn't willing to pay the asking price for though including some cool button rings. I did end up buying a little button hairclip though. My main purchase, a great purchase, was from the guy up on the stage. You can just see him in some pics. His name is Geoffrey Williams and he really looked british. Think the British black guy from Oceans 11. He was making some groovey sound. Relaxing yet inspiring. Gave the market a great atmosphere. I bought his CD.

And that's where we thought the adventure had come to end. But we were so wrong! Just out of Daylesford cars were stopping on the windy road. Windy as in lots of curves though the wind was still blowing too. If you click on the first pic you can see the tree fallen across the road. We ended up getting out to go help. A bunch of people were pulling at branches till they broke and then tossing them over the side of the road down the valley. That was were the tree was previously rooted. It broke on the barrier at the side of the road too so we were able to all get on one side, lifting and pushing, and get it just over the barrier. It was fun and felt good to work with others I didn't know to accomplish something that helped us all.

Laugh we did and giggled with glee at how our day trip turned out so adventurous. Still more awaited us...

At Creswick the road was blocked again. This time with too much water to pass. See the guy wading almost waist deep toward that shop? And the guy that directed us to another route home said the water would come up to our windows in the river ahead. So we had to turn back and drive 10kms or so to take the other turn off toward home.

Along roads sometimes like this. But it was a thrill for us. And see my new CD? We grooved and laughed and chatted all the way home. What an adventure! I think I need more little adventures in life.

the wet

March 2008>> I took a walk across our local lake with family. Years of drought had completely sucked our lake dry. The lake bed cracked and solid to walk on and looking more like a paddock or field. That sun does look wonderful though. Oh the warmth! Mmm.

August 2010>> It's been a wet year. Most rain in 20years or so I think and it's not over yet. They've also routed some drains to run to the lake to help restore this recreational area. I took this photo this morning. You can see the same boatsheds and buildings as the first pic (just...) from a slightly different angle. And the black swans are back and breeding again too. Nice to see.

stage two complete

Wow! Already. I was expecting this stage to take longer to come around. Stage two was the interview with Smart AuPair which I had this afternoon. I had a skype conversation with someone in Adelaide around some internet hiccups. The connection wasn't too great and half way through my laptop froze so I had to jump on dad's computer. I didn't bother trying my internet at home coz it's hopeless in the evenings. I got some of my own questions answered and answered lots of hers. It was pretty casual and we had a good chat and she said she was happy to accept me into the program.

She also said, "Just a curious question, did you know there's a well-known hotel over there called the Gellert Hotel?"
I replied, "Yeah, in Hungary right? My dad's looked it up before. Looks quite fancy."
It would be fun to go and stay there. He he.

So now the next stage in my overseas journey is completing an online course with Smart Aupair and reapplying for my passport and waiting for family matches to come for consideration.

stage one complete

I got there. It's all done. I've been working on my application for the program run by Smart AuPairs for a few weeks now. It takes a while to get it all together. But it's done now. Everything collected and scanned and emailed through. How exciting! The ball is rolling. Now to await stage two.

smart move

Oh yay! I'm getting quite excited again about an adventure in the UK. For a while there I was getting a little stressed as I originally planned to find a nanny job in the UK and move there of my own doing. The time has come when preparations need to begin and the idea was becoming a bit daunting. But thank you God for google search! I've found a program I can go with.

I came across Smart AuPairs and after looking through I realised that I meet the requirements. Most aupair programs only go to about 26 years old you see which puts me in the too-old category. But since the youth mobility visa for the UK goes up to 30 so does the Smart AuPairs program. They also go to other European countries but they go with the younger age group. I finally got a hold of someone in the Adelaide office the other day and fired all my questions at them and now I'm satisfied. As long as my application is excepted (and I don't see why not), I have a program to go with. It takes a lot of stress off.

The AuPair program means I have a structure to follow for getting myself ready which helps a lot. They also help me find a family and the families are screened just like I am so it's safer. They also support me when I go so that if things aren't working out they'll help or find me a new family to work for. I still have to organise my own airfare and visa but I'd planned to do that anyway so that's fine. There's also three different levels in the UK: AuPair, Mother's Help and Professional Nanny. Each level is more responsibility, more hours and more pay. I'm not quite sure if I qualify for all of them but I like the idea of having a professional nanny certificate at the end of my year. I've been working on my application the last couple of weeks and it's close to being done.

So YAY! It's all happening. Just gotta keep organising, culling and saving, saving, saving!!

wait...I've grown?

There's been a few situations lately where I've found myself commenting on someone's behaviour or response and expressing my distaste only to have my listener respond with something like, "Yeah but he's still young. He's only 20."


When did I grow up??


It's wierd to consider... Looking back on the last ten years--it's been that long since I was 20 years old--not a whole lot appears to have changed. I'm still single and still finding my way. I'm not settled into a career nor do I have any great plan laid out on the table for my future albeit I have spent a year living overseas and am making moves to take off again next year. Due to my lifestyle, usually more in sync with my younger friends than the ones my age who are building careers and getting married, I often forget that I'm actually that much older than these 20 year olds.


Yet as I reflect on my life in the light of these recent situations I've commented on, I take note of the fact that I have indeed grown. I've been learning from the various experiences I've lived through and I've gained a wider range of years of perspective. I'm more mature-minded than I used to be even though I'm still quite practised at undisciplined and lazy.


I suppose it's the same with all living things; most growth is subtle.

a week in Sydney

On Thursday 1st July I got up insanely early. But I never mind when the reason is going on a holiday. (Thanks so much Dad for driving me to the airport!) Flew Tiger Airways for the first time. I don't like Tiger at Melbourne airport though. It's kinda....tatty. And get this, they actually weigh carry on luggage. First airport I've seen that has a bag weight check that you have to go via. I hadn't weighed mine and it was too heavy. I switched some things around and then decided to get in line to check in. It was my first dilemma whether I needed to 'check in' when I was flying with only carry on. I was stressing a little in line. There's only one line for all the Tiger flights and time was ticking on. By the time I eventually got to a counter they were apparently just closing check in for my flight. At least I made it. Second dilemma was that my bag was still too heavy but with no time left to work out what to do I checked it in. Cost me $55 to do so, darn it! But I got to Sydney happily enough and found the right train to head out to where my brother and his family live.

It was splendid to spend a week hanging out with them. We didn't really do much but when I practically live on my own (and I'm a homebody) it's nice just to have company around. Especially family. The kids had to behave under threat of being sent to school on Friday. Ha ha. Last day of term for them so they skipped the games they usually play. We mostly did stuff like went shopping, played computer, watched movies, ate and a few other bits and pieces. Taught my niece and the two older nephews how to crochet as they wanted to learn. It was also good to stay up late and watch movies and talk with Simon and Esther. On Sunday we did go 'touring' a bit. It turned out to be quite a nice day. So we caught the train into the city and then the Manly ferry. Got a nice view of the Opera House and Sydney Harbour Bridge going there and back.
It was where I wanted to go hunting...in Manly. Simon, Esther and the kids hadn't been there before so they were happy to do some adventuring. It was a successful hunt. We'd done our research. Ice creams! From Australia's first Ben and Jerry's Scoop Shop! I ate B&J's a number of times in the USA and it's rich and delicious. A bit on the expensive side but it's a treat. Not so bad when you're buying for just one anyway... And I'm sure the ones in the USA were a bit bigger. Still, we all enjoyed our icecreams. I indulged with chocolate therapy and phish food. Mmm.

Simon's birthday is this month so as a present for him I booked a table at a local restaurant for him and his wife and sent them out for dinner. Back at home, after a peckish tea and getting the table cleared and kids in pjs (not hard when I said I wasn't putting on the movie until it was done--just need the right motivation) we settled in with snacks and milk to watch some original episodes of Astro Boy. He he. Funny watching such old cartoons now with the expertise they have in animated films these days.

I also quite enjoyed the afternoon I played a board game with my nephews. We were pirates and treasure hunting. We got quite loud and animated in our hunting and stealing and sword fighting. And Tim so nearly won...until the Royal Navy came and we had to drop all our treasure and then I went and stole his pile. Ooo I'm nasty. No mercy. Let's play to win! The rivalry was fun.

Ah, but holidays always come to an end. To come home I had to add to my luggage a few forgotten items from previous visitors as well as some gained gifts. To save some stress I posted near 3kg home so my bag was under the carry on limit. $10. That's what it cost to post. Way cheaper then checking my bag in again.

So I'm home again. Working again. Sliding back into regular life and preparing for the next anticipated adventure. (Next on the list is the Bendigo Sheep and Wool Show!) Thanks for having me stay a week in your house, my Gellert family, and sharing your company and food and such. I just wish I could visit a little more easily so I could come a little more often.