Andrea goes to the Brier!

This past weekend I rented a car and drove down to Calgary to take in THE curling event of the season - the Brier. I don't quite know how to describe it but I'm hoping the pictures can. Grown men throwing 44 lb. (20 kg) chunks of granite down a pebbled sheet of ice is like watching the coolest game of chess around (literally). I enjoyed the weekend with my friend and former Starbucks co-worker Courtney (also in the pictures). You go for the curling and the strategy but stay for the party! I hope you enjoy the pictures.

Please have us back A-M!

Anne-Maree....for some reason we're not allowed to follow your blog anymore. Can you please invite us back?! Many thanks from Andrea and Will

Snowy fun in Saskatchewan

Will has had his turn to post some fun winter photos, so I thought it would be my turn. I've got one of me skiing, one of our adorable dog Sassy and some general shots of my parents house and surrounding farms. Hope you all enjoy!

Some Winter Photos

Back in Canada

Wow! Where did the time go!

Nine months ago we left Canada on an Australian adventure. Well, nine months has past and we have had an amazing time and interesting adventures. More importantly, we made some spectacular friends; to all of you - Thank You! -.

Some people are probably wondering why only nine months and not twelve like we originally planned. Well, it wasn't a simple decision, but after much deliberating it was decided that an early departure was the best. It came to several things, first me legal contract time was up. This means I worked for six months with one company. Second, we didn't have a car, nor did we have the money to get one. Third, money. Even though we had both been working for six months, we just didn't have a lot saved up. 

-- A word of warning to anyone with student loans and other debt, save a lot of money. Sure you can find work and get a decent wage, but after the dollar exchange it you send a lot of money home. My advice, save enough to pay your debts for the entire time your there. --

With everything taken into consideration, the last factor was timing; It was December. We decided we wanted to be home for Christmas. 

For all our Australian friends and readers, keep reading a bit longer, we will be posting some great winter photos for your enjoyment.

Again, thank you to everyone for making our time memorable.

Summer, Fall and Winter in three days

We had the joy of experiencing three seasons in three days as we made our way home to Calgary. When we left Hamilton Island on Saturday it was +35 Celsius with about 85% humidity. When we landed in Sydney later that day the air was a lot drier and the temperature was only about +21. 

Our final day in Sydney was FULL. We went to the Sydney Tower, went to The Rocks and did some shopping at the weekend markets there and took a tour of the Sydney Opera House. We finally ended the day having dinner at a tiny cafe down a cobblestone back alley off of The Rocks district. 

 

Here are just a few photos of our busy, fun day. Then it's off to the chilly climes of Alberta (about -30 Celsius).

Goodbye Airlie Beach!

Yesterday (December 13) Will and I bid goodbye to our home for the past six months. Our friend Ricky picked us up, we dropped off our keys to the townhouse, we hopped a ferry to Hamilton Island and flew out to Sydney.

We have made some great friends in the past six months and we will miss them dearly. Ebony, Ricky, Naomi, Cathy, Kath, Deb, Danny, Jenni and the BB's girls - you have been great friends and we can't wait to see you in Canada sometime.

 

Thanks for the memories Airlie!!!

Mackay, Slade Point and taxes

This past Monday Will and I took the day, rented a car and drove to Mackay to get our taxes done before we leave the country. After an entertaining drive including getting lost on the way to the accountants, we made it in time to get about half of our paperwork filed. We were told to come back in the afternoon to sign the final paperwork so we had at least 5 hours to kill so we spent it getting to know the Mackay area better.

I believe we drove every known city street and backroad around Mackay, including a trip out to the gorgeous Mackay Marina. A tour out on the boardwalk and a quick dip in the ocean was all we had time for though before we drove out to the the suburb of Slade Point. 

 

Here are just a few photos of our drive around the Marina as well as around Slade Point. If we were going to stay in Australia, this would be the kind of suburb we would want to live in. 

 

We capped off our busy day in Mackay with a trip to the movies to see Quantum of Solace. Again, I love the new Bond and this script didn't disappoint for action/adventure!

 

We're coming down to our last days here in Australia and although we're disappointed by all of the things we didn't end up doing, we're finding that our lives have been so much richer for the experience we HAVE had and all of the people we've met along the way. We will be sad when we leave Australia.

Can YOU spot the difference?

Hee, hee, hee - Will and I have really noticed the difference in branding of products from North America to Australia. I guess there is some strong market research (and some good facts) behind some of the names of products below. 

(p.s. - Sultana Bran is actually named after the Sultana grape that is grown in Australia and used specifically in this product - it makes sense. However, Rice Bubble Squares don't roll off the tongue as easily as Rice Krispie Squares)!

Soooooooo humid!

The past week has seen the humidity really climb and spring showers/storms blow through. The rain doesn't cool things down here though but rather adds to the already high humidity. The smallest of tasks gets a good sweat going. Even Will, hot weather worshipper that he is, is looking forward to getting home to cooler temperatures and a white Christmas. We both find it exceedingly strange to listen to Christmas carols being blared in the local shopping centres while the temperature outdoors continues to climb.