Lost Aussie on the loose

What No Glue?

DH is down in Australia right now, gone to visit with the Boys and sort them out for the end of the school year.  While I was waiting for him to check in on Skype I spent a little time doodling in Photoshop - have to say there is way less MESS with digital collage and for me the enjoyment factor is actually greater!  Go figure!

Brain Fuzz

Suffering from a little 'jetlag' today....the head is not quite where it's supposed to be and I rather feel like sleeping at very 'unsocial' hours!  So I have contented myself with taking care of a few domestic chores and sorting of photographs from the laptop onto the 'big' 'puter inbetween snoozing!

I was pleased to note while I was 'home', that the world of graffiti art has stretched it's tentacles to the antipodes and tags, sprays and stencils are alive and well in Perth as much as New York or London!

A Little Surfer Dude

My vacation time here in this Down Under Dreamland is almost over.  I have been, seen and done many things in my short time here, got lots of good memories and hopefully the Lost Aussie Lady will send my "Mom" Deb a few of the snaps we have taken!

My final uber cool Aussie experience was to 'take to the waves' and get"tubed"!

After much deliberation I decided that the usual mode of surfer transportation was going to be a TAD large for me.  In stepped my friend CAM the cuttlefish, somewhat moribund but nevertheless happy and ready to help a small surfer in need!

Yayyyy...that's me!  A couple of good lessons from a passing "grommet" and I was good to go! 

I wonder if I can ride this thing all the way to HOLLAND?

A Little More Blue

 

Perth was toasty warm today, 30+C (in the 90's) - and the majority of the day was spent watching #2 son play cricket from 8:30am until 5pm.  Perhaps not everyone's idea of a fun day, but when you have your children for short, sharp and sweet moments, then you just take them as they come!

Before I headed back to the 'northern 'burbs' I stretched my legs around the Swan River for a bit and managed to grab some great pics of the "Boat House" - a somewhat Iconic building on the edge of Perth's riverscape.  The sun was just setting and the water looked delicious.  5 minutes before I took this shot I was competing with a photographer playing prance and pose with a wedding couple making good use of the wonderful setting and gorgeous light.

SOOC

Straight out of the camera (SOOC) - not much you can really do to enhance this sort of picture.  The colours were so vibrant and blue, the water crystal clear.

This is the picture of 'my beach' that I always carry back with me to the US!

Mostly about Milo

The last few days in Perth have been balmy, sunny and wonderful and as my time in Perth draws to a fast close I am making the most of the sunshine and warm weather as DH informs me that it is already COLD in New York - and I am not looking forward to that much at all!  As most of you know, am not a "Brrrr" weather person!

So here is a little warm weather color for you....

My little mate Milo has been continuing his adventures.  Yesterday a trip out and about netted him a new friend - a mini Koala - which Milo informs me is going IN his suitcase as a souvenir- no argument whatsoever.  "No Worries" said I!

Milo also made an astonishing discovery at the grocery store......rows upon rows of fabulous stuff in tins with HIS name on it!   MILO - just happens to be the brand name of an Aussie drink powder (a bit like a malted chocolate drink) and can be sipped hot or cold, or even sprinkled on your icecream!  He was pretty tickled with the stuff and thinks if he puts wheels on the can it will make a great MILOMOBILE!

And, last but not least, his favourite shot of the day.... Milo and Mini Mate Kate the Koala, astride his favourite new brew!

And once the little bug has hit the send button on this post, he is off to the beach.... to surf or not to surf, that is the question!

A Little ARt Break

The kids are all back to school today after their few weeks of "holiday" (vacation in US lingo).  Milo packed a Vegemite sandwich, apple and a box of juice for lunch and is off and about with the boys for the day, so I get some time to do "Mom" stuff and catch up on some chores.  I've even managed to whip up a new digital creation for the blog since dropping everyone off at school! 

I do hope the little fella behaves!

Digital Collage 14x11"

Batter UP!

Since Cricket is the BIG game here and the summer season is just about to start, I figured I would check it out and see what it's all about....

First the GEAR - ugh - such BIG stuff!  David's batting helmet is so big I was not sure if it was for wearing or LIVING in!  and the BAT....hmmm at least on that score David helped me out with a mini version of the big one he normally uses!

.... the BATTING PADS.....way too big for my little leggies - more fun to play peekaboo with!!

Day Tripping for Milo #1

My first day out was a ginger but exciting exercise in getting to know this strange and very wonderful place.  The people here really have a very funny accent, but most of the words are the same, so it's not too bad!

Before we went too far though, it seemed imperative that I take a turn at the wheel and figure out this 'driving on the other side of the road thing'!  Was a little iffy at first, but a few shakes of the tail feather and I was off and zooming - even in KILOMETRES per HOUR....wow!

                           THIS IS 'ME' AT THE HELM - VERY IN CONTROL!

Primary objective of the day was to score the Family's BIG DAY OUT TICKETS.  I am pleased to say that after an initial disappointment, we tracked them down in a somewhat obscure spot called Claremont, so all was well.  However I think I might have to speak to Debbie about coming back - an all day concert with Lilly Allen, Powder Finger, Eskimo Joe - the list goes on..... that would be heaven for a "rockin'"bug like me!

   CLUTCHING MY BIG DAY OUT TICKET - I WONDER IF JAMES WILL NOTICE IF I KEEP THIS ONE?

While we were waiting for #2 son to get his cricket gear ready (more on that tomorrow!) the Lost Aussie Lady and #1 son and I took a trip down to the Swan River to get an icecream.  Sadly the shop was already shut so we just had to content ourselves with some gumnut hunting and silly pictures by the water.

                "ME" AFTER HAVING CAPTURED MY FIRST EVER GUMNUT!

              ME DOING GIANT SPLITTING THE GUM TREE IMPRESSIONS - HA!

          NOW YOU CAN SEE HOW 'REALLY' TINY I AM - COMPARED TO THE TREE!

    SITTING AT THE EDGE OF THE SWAN RIVER WITH PERTH CITY IN THE BACKGROUND

We capped the afternoon off by taking #2 son to cricket practice, where I got to sit in the sunshine and snoozed for a bit before heading home.

      GETTING READY FOR AN AFTERNOON SNOOZE WHILE DAVID PRACTICES CRICKET 

All in all, it was a pretty fun day out for my first "Aussie" experience.  Tomorrow I am going to "PLAY Cricket" - not sure about the 'pads' - but David seems to think I will do just fine!

A Strange Visitor Arrives

A little while ago my friend Deb discovered a funny little millenium bug hiding in her closet at home, he had been tucked in there not long after the clock changed over at midnight and the year 2000 dawned.  Rather than toss the little dude into further oblivion, she decided to send him out and about into the world so that he could see what life is like in the 21st Century!

For tales of his fun and interesting journey to date you can check here and here....

In the meantime, MILO has arrived safe and sound 'downunder' and will be spending a little time having himself a royal antipodean adventure or two! So stay tuned and bear with me while our 'guest blogger' has at it for a few days!

(key learning for today - baseball hats make great sleeping units for tired bugs!)