Daily life progresses here in Brisbane. We wake up to eat Brekky and drink coffee, the kids want to play and constantly show you or tell you something new, William takes a nap at some point, we go to the grocery store, lunch and dinner take their usual place, and once the children have gone to bed, Liz and I resume our stations by the TV with wine and goodies, either watching Downton Abby, a "Home Makeover" type show that is really interesting, Rugby, or simply to talk and enjoy each other's company. Actually, whenever Rugby is on, we usually just talk and occasionally look at the screen to check the score.
Although we maintain a degree of routine, variety and spontaneity make their daily appearance.
They creep in discreetly through the evolution of made-up games: Instead of being smooshed, or even falling off the table, the "spider game" is now a spider (aka. my hand) crawling up their arms, does a happy dance, and "slips and falls" down the other side. I might take a different route as I go running through the pathways near their house. On Monday, I actually took Liz's phone to use the Nike running app and kept going till I'd run 5km.
More views from running:
We ate a kangaroo for dinner.
And yesterday, a trip to Woolworths (grocery store) became driving practice for me! I managed to successfully drive a manual transmission truck on the wrong side of the road, navigating roundabouts, left and right turns, and a car park (parking lot). I've been driving for over 10 years now, but switch a few things around and I felt like a beginner again! Massive concentration and a tight grip on the steering wheel were a few rookie habits that returned.
Variety and Spontaneity also make their appearance with flashing colours (haha...spell check just corrected that word for me...) and a fanfare of trumpets.
On Sunday, Liz's grandmother turned 90! In celebration, we met up with her grandmother and several family members at a park. I was designated photographer for the family photo, and we enjoyed carrot cake, fruit, and other desserts. After being introduced to a few people, I accompanied Emma and William to the river where we helped their cousins feed the ducks, Noisy Minors (a bird), and a large eel! We also played by the slide and swings and near the end, I enjoyed a conversation with Liz's brother (also named Stephen) and sister-in-law.
On Tuesday afternoon, we drove to the top of a mountain where a lookout point has been established in order to see all of Brisbane. A windy river slithers about the city and has determined the layout. In one curve of the river, the main portion of Brisbane- or rather downtown Brisbane-makes its abode. As the river continues, suburbs have formed, each taking on a title of being dodgy, well to do, or average.
From here, we drove halfway down the mountain to the trailhead of a small hike. I love hiking with children because an adventure is always to be had. William's stick became a fishing pole and he "caught" three fish! A couple well placed boulders became a throne, and simply throwing a large rock into the river became the coolest thing in the world.
Yesterday, Wednesday, was quite a day. I'd set my alarm for 4:30AM and kept waking up because I was worried that I would sleep through it. Fortunately I didn't, because I had an interview scheduled for noon in LA and 5AM my time. An opportunity has opened up at my current job and I have absolutely no idea what will happen, but happily I will be content in either position. However, my prayer and desire was to simply have a good interview, especially being so early in the morning, and I believe my prayer was answered. :) After the interview, I tried falling back asleep but my mind was too awake, so I contented myself to resting for a few hours.
The morning was spent babysitting for Liz so she could get her hair done. We played with trains, watched Play-school, ate morning tea (snack), built dirt sandcastles outside, wrote notes and coloured pictures for Mummy, then while Will slept, Emma and I read a few books.
Once Liz had returned and Will had awoken, we took a trip to Woolworth (the same trip where I drove!!!) to buy groceries and a SIM card for my iPhone! It was a bit tricky trying to figure out how to get my SIM card out and which size to buy, but we finally managed and now I can text/call in Australia! The immediate purpose for this endeavour (spellcheck again) came as I left Liz and the kids to take a train to Brisbane to meet up with a friend of a friend.
Last night was also the night of a huge Rugby game that is part of a series called the State of Origins, comparable to our SuperBowl. A mass of (mostly) men in maroon QLD Jerseys (the colour of the local Rugby team) crowded the train as we got closer to the city and thus the stadium where the game was held. At one point, most of the train emptied itself and I disembarked myself two stations later. My phone came in handy as I waited and communicated with Ben and his sister Jess to determine where and when we would meet. Because of the rugby game, there was absolutely no parking so as they approached the station where I'd been waiting, I hopped into the car and we left to find parking. Lest you fall off your chair (mom) in astonishment that I would allow a stranger to pick me up, the situation was well "researched." :)
Variety and Spontaneity also make their appearance with flashing colours (haha...spell check just corrected that word for me...) and a fanfare of trumpets.
On Sunday, Liz's grandmother turned 90! In celebration, we met up with her grandmother and several family members at a park. I was designated photographer for the family photo, and we enjoyed carrot cake, fruit, and other desserts. After being introduced to a few people, I accompanied Emma and William to the river where we helped their cousins feed the ducks, Noisy Minors (a bird), and a large eel! We also played by the slide and swings and near the end, I enjoyed a conversation with Liz's brother (also named Stephen) and sister-in-law.
On Tuesday afternoon, we drove to the top of a mountain where a lookout point has been established in order to see all of Brisbane. A windy river slithers about the city and has determined the layout. In one curve of the river, the main portion of Brisbane- or rather downtown Brisbane-makes its abode. As the river continues, suburbs have formed, each taking on a title of being dodgy, well to do, or average.
From here, we drove halfway down the mountain to the trailhead of a small hike. I love hiking with children because an adventure is always to be had. William's stick became a fishing pole and he "caught" three fish! A couple well placed boulders became a throne, and simply throwing a large rock into the river became the coolest thing in the world.
Our Hike
Yesterday, Wednesday, was quite a day. I'd set my alarm for 4:30AM and kept waking up because I was worried that I would sleep through it. Fortunately I didn't, because I had an interview scheduled for noon in LA and 5AM my time. An opportunity has opened up at my current job and I have absolutely no idea what will happen, but happily I will be content in either position. However, my prayer and desire was to simply have a good interview, especially being so early in the morning, and I believe my prayer was answered. :) After the interview, I tried falling back asleep but my mind was too awake, so I contented myself to resting for a few hours.
The morning was spent babysitting for Liz so she could get her hair done. We played with trains, watched Play-school, ate morning tea (snack), built dirt sandcastles outside, wrote notes and coloured pictures for Mummy, then while Will slept, Emma and I read a few books.
Once Liz had returned and Will had awoken, we took a trip to Woolworth (the same trip where I drove!!!) to buy groceries and a SIM card for my iPhone! It was a bit tricky trying to figure out how to get my SIM card out and which size to buy, but we finally managed and now I can text/call in Australia! The immediate purpose for this endeavour (spellcheck again) came as I left Liz and the kids to take a train to Brisbane to meet up with a friend of a friend.
Last night was also the night of a huge Rugby game that is part of a series called the State of Origins, comparable to our SuperBowl. A mass of (mostly) men in maroon QLD Jerseys (the colour of the local Rugby team) crowded the train as we got closer to the city and thus the stadium where the game was held. At one point, most of the train emptied itself and I disembarked myself two stations later. My phone came in handy as I waited and communicated with Ben and his sister Jess to determine where and when we would meet. Because of the rugby game, there was absolutely no parking so as they approached the station where I'd been waiting, I hopped into the car and we left to find parking. Lest you fall off your chair (mom) in astonishment that I would allow a stranger to pick me up, the situation was well "researched." :)
The memorial I waited by:
Anyways, we eventually found parking, walked to a restaurant to eat dinner, and since he is studying politics, I learned all about the Australian government/history and even about the current possibility that Australia would have a new prime minister that night! The Labor Party is currently in power and they did end up changing Prime Ministers last night!! (So I was here to experience a little history in the making.) Elections are coming up in September. Even though their chances are slim, the Labor Party is trying to gain more favour with the voters.
I made it home safely and partly watched/mostly talked to Liz during the State of Origin game. The QLD (Queensland) team crushed their opponents (New South Whales) so it wasn't much of a match anyway.
My train ride back home
I hope you're all doing well!
Wonderful writing and I love the "European/English" spellings!
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