Bits and Pieces

My stuff is here. Only it's hard to get excited, apparently it's been here for 3 WEEKS. I doubt I would have found out, except I called to check. Now they're trying to get out of delivering it. Oy, these people.
I've almost got the rest of the lawn chairs assembled. If you've ever assembled furniture, you know what the instructions were like. Badly translated. Very badly translated. Now, I'll treat them with oil, and stain them. It'll be so great to have them done.
Here's an odd thing. I'm trying to explain to Stephen the concept of screened-in patio. They don't have such things here. A picture would help, I think, but do you think I can find one? No. If anyone can find a link for me, I'd be ever so grateful.
I'm getting quite used to things, and then there will be something that totally blows me away. For example, Thursday is late-night shopping. That's the one day a week all the stores stay open late, until 9 p.m. And, apparently being open Saturday afternoon is a recent thing. There's a McDonald's here that's open 24 hours. It's on the main road, I'm hoping that it starts a trend.

One Day at a Time

Today, we did a little shopping - picked up some light fixtures, and stopped to look at a patio showroom. I'll go into detail about that later.
I quit smoking a while ago (yes, again) and I've been having trouble with it. The cravings were making me crazy, and it just wasn't getting any better. I was really suffering, I felt like crying all the time. Since buying a pack of cigarettes isn't an option, we went to the pharmacy to see what they suggested. I've been using the patch, but I was ready to get some Valium from the doctor, it was that bad. Well, the nice lady at the pharmacy suggested that I try the gum, and the inhaler. So that's what I'm going to do. Maybe the patches stop working after a while? So, I popped a piece of gum, and carefully chewed it according to the directions, and... aaahhhh. I told him I think my shoulders relaxed about 3 inches. That knot inside has unknotted. It's not perfect, but at least I don't feel I could kill someone for a puff. So, maybe, I can now concentrate on kicking the psychological habit. In the morning, I'll puff on the inhaler, and use the gum during the day. And hopefully, put my addiction behind me. At least now I can think it might be possible.

Ladies Who Lunch...

...have a tendancy to become er... over-refreshed. On Sunday, I suggested that Stephen call up these friends of ours, Ray and Deniece, and invite them over for lunch. Because they did that for us, a while ago, and we owed them a lunch. I'm outside, assembling the rest of the patio furniture( I know, don't ask) and I come inside to get some water. He says "You know that saying,'Be careful what you wish for?'" Yeeeeees...?""I just got off the phone with Deniece, and they'd love to come, they'll be here tomorrow." I think my heart actually stopped. "Tomorrow? But.." Here is where I should explain that Monday was Anzac Day, a national holiday, and everything is closed. Lunch for 4 isn't really a problem, but I didn't have the provisions in the house, and the grocery is closed, it being Sunday. Not to mention the fact that we haven't been able to do any work on the house, I haven't vacuumed since I got back, and I've been meaning to wash the windows... you get the idea. I had actually hoped we could take them out for lunch. Did I mention we don't actually have 4 dining chairs to sit on? So, I'm hyperventilating, but quietly, and Stephen saves the day. He offers to go to the Indian place, Bangles, and get curry. Bangles is all that's open on Sunday evening, so he fished out the menu, and placed the order. Bangles is also unusual in that they actually deliver. Not many places do that here.
Monday comes, and I'm vacuuming, and scrubbing and whatnot, and I forgot to have breakfast. And then it's noon, doing last minute things. I've worked up a thirst, so I pour myself a glass of wine and get in the shower. Only now remembering, oops, I forgot to eat. So, yeah, I was beyond tipsy, but he assures me I didn't embarass us. And, Deneice was in the same condition, in fact we both had a nap later. I needn't have worried, everything was fine.

Typical Australian Efficiency

I should have probably mentioned Stephen by name. My other half. The Brit who sometimes finds himself just as bemused by this place as I am. Last year, we bought some patio furniture, and arranged for it to be delivered. So, a few days later, I hear the delivery truck pull up. I'm sitting there waiting for the driver to knock, or ring the bell,or something. Silly me. What he does is unload all the furniture at the top of the driveway, and leave. No signature, no nothing. This is fairly typical of the Australian level of service.(Bunnings, I'm looking at you. You, too, Harvey Norman.) Poor Stephen had to lug about a dozen pieces of wooden furniture down the driveway, and out to the backyard. It almost seems as if it's a point of pride to give crappy service. Kind of like "I'm not waiting tables(driving a delivery truck, etc.) for a living, just until I find a real job."

Which leads me to talk about when we went to go get a fridge. I had just arrived, and this was my first shopping expedition. We went to Harvey Norman(think Crazy Eddie's and Bob's Discount Furniture, all rolled into one.) He decided to get a chest freezer, and a fridge with no freezer compartment. So, after looking over the two in front of me, I said "O.K., where are the rest of them?" Thinking there had to be a larger selection. He said, "What do you mean, this is it. These two." He still laughs at the look on my face. But that's pretty typical for choice here... it's pretty much take it or leave it. That's when I started calling this place "the ass end of nowhere." In a fond way, of course.

Crash Bandicoot

Crash Bandicoot
Originally uploaded by ozgirl36.

Our other visitor is a bandicoot. He's tail-less; apparently when they fight, they chew each other's tail off. Also, we've been told that you can train them to eat out of your hand. Yeah, uh, no thanks. I'll watch from a distance.

Mr. Tabby

Mr. Tabby
Originally uploaded by ozgirl36.

We've been putting birdseed out for the wildbirds, and it's fun to watch them. Cheeky buggers will come and peck at the kitchen window if we're late setting up the buffet.
This week, a big ole tabby cat has shown up, and made himself at home. But, he's wearing a bell on his collar, so he's doomed to disappointment. Poor thing probably thinks he's losing his touch, never knowing the bell is announcing his arrival. "Dammit, my stalk and pounce never gets past stalk anymore."

Huh?

I must confess. The real reason I wanted this blog was to be able to tell this story.
Every morning we take a walk down along the river. A few days ago, I saw a jogger coming toward us, wearing a t-shirt, and some really short shorts. Or what I thought was shorts. As he got closer, I thought "Hmm, those are..hang on... is he...???" I turned to look at the back view as he jogged past, and yeah, it was actually his underwear. We walked on for a bit, until it really sank in, then I nearly wet myself laughing.

Today, I'm recovering from some bug or other that he was generous enough to share with me. Everytime I'm under the weather, I'm reminded of when I first got here, a year ago. I was constantly ill, and on a first-name basis with the girls at the pharmacy. This one particular time, it was mosquito bites. I swelled up so much, I looked like a chipmunk. He said "You look like someone shoved an air hose up your butt." I had to laugh at that, because that's exactly what I did look like. Really, I thought I was going to burst open, my fingers looked like little sausages. Ahhh, good times.

A Brave Beginning

So. I created this as a way for family and friends to keep up with what's going on with me. It's hard to adequately describe what my life is like now, so I'm hoping this helps. Also, when I've got dinner started and am settling down with a glass of chardonnay, it's barely even the crack of dawn for all y'all. The adventures of me, Down Under. With pictures, and everything!
I don't come at the top of anybody's list, but this here is all about me, my little corner of the universe.