Lost Aussie on the loose

Pricey Paradise

It may surprise many of you, but I have a love-hate relationship with Australia.  I love coming home and being able to spend time with my family, children and friends.  I adore the clear blue skies, balmy weather and the opportunity to walk on unfettered beaches and enjoy the luxury of walking and bike paths.....

What I don't like is the cost of living here!

Yes, electricity might cost cents on the dollar compared to the US, but if you want to buy a sandwich at a cafe you need to be ready to up the ante to the tune of about $14 and as I learned, much to my chagrin, a pint of beer will set you back a good $11!!

Eleven dollars for a pint of beer?  I just about fell of my perch when I had to fork that across a bar at a Pub this afternoon... and not for anything fancy mind, just whatever happened to be on tap and in a run of the mill drinking establishment, sans fancy tablecloths or waitress service - this was for go get your own juice, pay and sit.

I realise that the demise of the US dollar has had severe impact on travellers from across that way, but what I don't understand is how regular, ordinary Aussies can put up with prices like that?
If I was earning a wage here and wanted an afternoon out with my "mates" it seems like I would have to be saving for a week (or 5) in order to afford to go out.  And how the hell does a pint of beer realistically cost $11?   I think in the snottiest of establishments in London, the most I have ever paid for a pint of beer is about 5 quid and in New York City? maybe $6 or $7?  So I am not quite sure what sort of gig Perth is operating on but it's one that I don't care for and don't understand.

Anyway, on to sunnier matters....  I dropped by the Subiaco Craft Fair this afternoon.  Held at the University of Western Australia campus - which to my mind might make it the UWA Craft Fair... but who is quibbling....
Lots of wonderful local color and artisanal work on display.  I'd coveted a piece of pottery to buy at the end of my perusing only to find that I had left it too late and the specimen in question had just been snapped up.  Hopefully though the potter lady will be in touch next week to let me buy another edition of the piece I'd spied and imagined sitting on my dresser in New York! And although I complain about the cost of things, this must be the only place in the world where you can buy a TUB of Red Gum honey for the "princessly" price of $20!  Go figure.....

Momentous Milestones

My eldest son graduated from High School on Tuesday. As you can imagine, it was an incredible moment for me, as a mother and as a parent.  Hard to believe that 14 years from Kindergarten and Pre-school have landed us here.  Scarry too, to think that the work completed over the last two years will culminate in a strenuous set of exams to be held over the next two weeks, the results of which will decide what James's future will hold.

So, it's onwards and forwards my BIG "little" man! .... a last valiant push to get these exams finished and done with the best effort you can so that the next steps you take will be good strong ones that place you in the best stead for the future.....

I'll leave you with the poem read by the Headmaster during our final Chapel Service at school with the Boys ...

On the birth of a son
by David Campbell

(for Andrew)

The day the boy was born, the wall fell down
That flanks our garden. There's an espaliered pear,
And then the wall I laboured with such care
Such sweat and foresight, locking stone with stone,
To build. Well, it's just a wall, but it's my own,
I built it. Sitting in a garden chair
With flowers against the wall, it's good to stare
Inwards. But now some freak of wind has blown
and tumbled it across the lawn - a sign
Perhaps. Indeed, when I first saw the boy,
I thought, he's humble now, but wait a few
Years and we'll see!- out following a line
Not of our choice at all. And then with joy
I looked beyond ther stones and saw the view.

********

Blowing in the Wind

A few snaps of my walks by the river today.  The glorious morning when it's all still and quiet, the afternoon when the sea breeze has blown in and makes for great sail/surfing weather.....

The landscape is everchanging here... glorious one moment, sublime the next!

True Colours

So much Blue, with hints of Green and Gold - I defininitely know I'm in "Oz".

Lots going on with Family this week - I hope to be more constructive and "entertaining"  after the weekend.

City Snippets

Still life and Real life .......

Out and About

One of the things that is dramatically different between my life in "Oz" and the one I have in the US is the amount of time that I spend outdoors - WALKING!

Everything here is set up so that it's safe and easy to get your sneakers on, bike out and just have at the fresh air.  Down by the river in the City there is a "walking lane", a "biking lane" and then a car lane - all very civilised indeed!

Most other places around Perth are fairly similar with bike paths a constant companion to most roads and as the majority of the land that is adjacent to all the waterways and the sea is publicly owned  (or governement land) it makes access for the common man on foot or with a trusty two wheeler, pretty easy!

Most mornings see me up early to take #1 son to school and to avoid the traffic going back into the City I usually spend  about an hour "taking the air" and grabbing some photos along the way.

This old place below is quite representative of the early style of Australian Federation style architecture, probably circa 1920's.  Red brick, red tin roof with a bullnose verandah.... this one still quite charming despite it's weedy and unkempt surrounds.

Peekaboo from Downunder!

Yoo Hoo... I am here, and no, I did not take a wrong turn in Dubai or fall off the edge of the planet - I've just been a bit busy and preoccupied since I got back to Perth.
Inbetween being "Mum" and getting over a horrendous dose of JetLag, unfortunately the Blog just had to languish around until I got sorted!

I'll start you off with a panorama shot of Perth, taken from Kings Park a couple of days ago.  The weather here is lovely, in the high 60's and 70's, sunny and bright.  Perfect for walks along the river (which is five minutes from my doorstep)!
Click on the Panorama to see it larger!

  

And then a few snaps from my walks over the past few days, all from just hereabouts in the City, 5 minutes from my door!

Ciao for now.....

12,000 Miles To Go

In not too many hours from now I will be hopping on the first of three planes that will carry me home to Perth. 
New York to London, London to Dubai and Dubai to Perth (follow the red dots on the map!)

Not the quickest way to get there, I admit, but in the interest of "thrift" I have cashed in some of my many hundreds of thousands of Frequent Flyer miles and got some portions of the journey for the price of fees and taxes - which believe it or not almost cost the same as the ticket price - there's always a catch somewhere huh? - go figure!

Anyway, in 20,094 kms time or (approx 12,000 miles) I'll talk to you again, or perhaps sooner if I'm passing the hours during one of the flight connections.

From New York, over and out..........