End of Winter

Working on action shots - UQ campus

First winter has almost concluded (aka we made it) ~ spring begins here on Sept 1st. Not sure why but Fathers Day is Sept 2nd so everything is and continues to be just a little bit different. Here are a few photos of recent adventures ~ Riding on Public Transit in Brisbane, Hanging out at University of Queensland (now that is a nice campus), Lone Pine Koala (not bear!!!) Sanctuary, and just general Brisbane activities.

Swing Hangers

Things are good here, term is almost over, looking at a few trips to NSW, Northern Queensland and perhaps Melbourne again in the coming moths. Anna is coming to visit as might Mina.

Dingos can be pets we have learned ~ just not in Queensland

The Lone Pine Koala Sanctuary is one of our monthly outings - we seem to see the same things each time (not that anything can actually escape so this seems expected). However, we are planning on trying to see more of the Cassowaries and less of the Kangaroos and Wallabies.

But, when in Rome.

These can't be pets

All is good on this end. Hope anyone who reads this is also well.

July in Brisbane

Michelle and Ella's B-Day Cake

Sunny winter day at the Botanical Gardens

The weather has been wonderful but with a few illnesses - it is cold season here - as well as the start for a new term these posts have not been as regular. I have put up a few random shots of our various activities in the past few weeks that might be of interest. Botanical Garners, Brisbane Museum, Birthday Cake, et al.

South Australia and Victoria

Adelaide South Australia

Ella, Michelle and Todd took some time off to explore bits of Australia this past week. We went on a road trip this past week - Adelaide for a conference and then on to Melbourne. Ella had her third birthday here and seemed to enjoy the books and puzzles.

Adelaide was pretty impressive and the number of Universities as well as cultural sites to visit such as the Art Gallery, Museum and Botanical Gardens were great.

South Bank of Melbourne

Melbourne Victoria

I really liked Melbourne and hope to get back there before the end of the year - we got to see Simone and Sally and Ella met Chloe. They seemed to have fun together and shared a passion for ice-cream.

The Gentoos

Ella liked the Gentoos

Both wonderful places and so different from each other as well as different from Queensland and Brisbane. Beginning to get a better perspective on the Australian culture and mentality. Was also happy to get back home to the relative warmth and familiarity of the East Coast (despite a full email inbox). Here are some photos that capture a bit of the trip.

THE (NOT SO) SUNSHINY COAST

This past weekend we went to he Sunshine Coast - North of us but still in South East Queensland on the Pacific Ocean coastline. We rented a car - a little Hyundai Micra - and it was standard. So picture driving down the wrong side of the road while working a manual transmission. Pretty cognitively taxing for a 'bear of very little brain.'

Anyway, the Glass House Mountains, Mooloolaba and Maroochydore are places we will need to go back to visit most certainly. We also went to see Dora the Explorer.

OOTB

Michelle and Ella spend that last week at the OOTB festival in Brisbane. It was an amazing Children's festival situated in the Cultural Center of South Bank. Although it was winter, the days were bright and sunny ~ top of 21. Pretty good time had by all. Here are a few simple photos of what we - or more so Ella-  got up to.

Ella can now say

Didgeridoo

WINTER

Winter has arrived and we being first time folks in Brisbane did not really pack all that well for the cool nights and ample rain. However, we are managing with the help of a few select purchases of rain boots from K-Mart, umbrellas that are left in my maths lab and layering. Amazing how it can go from being damp and chilly to t-shirt and sweating weather in the space of a few minutes. Here are some pictures of the shipment that arrived from Canada - Ella only has many things due to the kindness of others. Something we are working to help her recognize.

Next week is the OUT of THE BOX (OOTB) children's festival that should be pretty enjoyable.

Relaxed Weekend in Brisbane

The big plan for this weekend was the Greek Festival - 37 years and still going strong. We even got a preview on the Queen Street Mall Friday night where Ella and Michelle partook in a little Greek dancing.

Ella and Michelle with ?Zorba

This actually might have been the highlight of the festival as when the real things started it turned out to be mostly Greek food (cooked meat) and mostly rides - kind of a PNE type experience without the benefit of Squire Barnes or Tamara Taggart. There was to be some Greek Cultural experiences but they did not quite meet our schedule.

However we did spend some time in the West End of Brisbane exploring many of the shops and street vendors. This is certainly a place that we will return to many times over our stay here.

Here are a few photos of our West End afternoon.