The Plunge Down Under

Birthday Joys (and Errands)

It's my birthday today.  I have spent the majority of it running errands, because that's mostly what you do when you are the mom of four school children and wife of a man who works long hours.  As I carried a collection of bags back to my car, I thought about texting Ross:

"I have purchased my birthday present, bought my birthday cake, and sorted out food that the children can heat up for my birthday dinner.  Is there anything else that you need me to do?"

Inside the Tram Tracks

'Be careful!' called out my fitness instructor. 'Take plenty of water and food with you.'  

I was leaving my fitness session early one day a few months ago to watch my daughter run in a regional cross country race.  She had been training for several months, and was thrilled to discover that she had made the cross country team for her school.  Of course she had begged me to come along and watch her race.  The only problem, from a Melbourne point of view, was that the venue was a fair distance away.

'It's out in the wop-wops,' my friend Gillian remarked when I mentioned the race.

Just Another Saturday in Melbourne

It's been just a regular Saturday here.  I probably would not have given it a second thought except that we are hitting the stage where the handwriting is on the wall.  With a projected return date to North America set at April or early May next year, we have realised that our time in Australia is slipping away all too quickly.  In many ways, I suspect that the months ahead will not be easy ones.  My hope is that we will be able to make the most of them and celebrate the time that we have left.

Our day started off with a Ross specialty, bacon and egg sandwiches hot of the press just before we ran out the door for netball and soccer.  I did the netball run this morning.  The change in Sophie's team from the beginning of the season is nothing short of extraordinary.  The players have gone from being afraid of the ball and almost panicking when it came into their possession to passing it down the court with the precision of a military machine.  They seem to read each other's thoughts (and those of the opposing team), positioning themselves in just the right places to pass and score.  As the ball sailed through the net time and time again, I began to secretly cheer for the opposition.  Sadly for them, they lost 30 nil.  Our coach told us that this very same team trounced us just a few weeks ago. 

The Pinnacle of our Trip to Perth

There is no question in our minds that the highlight of our recent weekend trip to Perth was our visit to the Pinnacles.  Considering that we had to endure a thirteen hour trip on a tour bus that smelled like dead fish and had no air conditioning, this is praise indeed.  It is perhaps just as well that the weather turned cold and rainy.  We had hoped to see the Pinnacles in at least a few rays of sunshine, but alas, that was not to be.  Never mind.  The colors were spectacular regardless, and the other-worldly landscape falls within my category of 'not-to-be-missed' sites in Australia.

Class Captain

The girls and I are preparing for quick weekend away to the world's sunniest capital city.  Fittingly, the forecast is for rain and cool temperatures.  We did bring the rain with us when we moved to Australia three years ago, breaking a ten year drought, so I suppose this is what we should expect.  Two years ago we also had the immense privilege of seeing Ayers Rock in the rain, a rare event. (If I hear anyone tell me that I am lucky to witness this particular corner of Australia in the rain this weekend, I will certainly be smiling back through gritted teeth.)  

Meandering in Melbourne

For a recent writing assignment, I spent a couple of hours doing one of my very favorite things in this beautiful city:  Wandering through the laneways and arcades located in the heart of Melbourne, taking photos, and stopping to savor a cappuccino.  Following is the article I wrote after I finished.

 

A Nostalgic Walk Along Carlisle St

Today I took Cameron for his last double bass lesson in St Kilda.  We have been doing this drive together for over a year now, and I am feeling the sadness that comes when you do something for the last time.  I have a feeling this is the first in what will become a long series of lasts over the next few months.  Cameron hasn't given up the double bass, but his teacher is moving over the weekend, and it is not clear exactly where his lessons will be in the future.   

This was taken about thirteen months ago, around the time of Cameron's first lesson