Books

I've discovered an Australian author that I really like! Steven Amsterdam. His first book is "Things We Didn't See Coming" and I loved it. At first I couldn't figure out if it was one long connected story or if it was a series of short stories. Turns out it's more like a series of connected short stories with the same main character. His writing style leaves so much unsaid...plenty to think about and ponder.

Tim Winton and Christos Tsiolkas are two Australian authors that I'm anxious to read. Christos wrote "The Slap". I requested it from the library today and I'm only 184th on the list. Seriously. I guess I'll get to read it about this time next year? Tim Winton wrote "Breath" and "The Turning". I should be able to get my hands on those a little sooner.

Borders has a book club that meets about once a month and last month's selection was "The Housekeeper and the Professor" by Yoko Ogawa. I was certain I wouldn't like it because the storyline involved two things I dislike....math and baseball. But, honestly, the story was so sweet I was crying by the end. I loved it! It's a short little book and she has the direct style of writing that I prefer.

If possible, everyone needs to get their hands on any of the "Bigfoot" books by Graham-Roumieu.

http://www.amazon.com/Graham-Roumieu/e/B001IGM0YO/ref=ntt_athr_dp_pel_pop_1

Click on the covers to see inside the books....I especially liked "Bigfoot: I Not Dead". Kelsey and I were looking at them the other day and I was nearly in tears from laughing. I thought they were so original and clever.

The Inconvenient Convenient Bus Stop

I'm getting lazy about public transportation. Now that we've figured out the easiest routes home, I get a bit irritated when I have to walk bus or ferry stop that's a bit farther away. Just a tiny bit irritated, not the kind of irritated that makes me want to run out and buy a car but the kind that can ruin an hour of my life. Perhaps this is all part of the settling in process and I'll get over it soon.

Main Street, Stop 6 is a thorn in my side. It's one of the closest stops and I only use it to get to Bulimba or Cannon Hill. I don't use it often but when I do, the bus is inevitably late unless I'm not paying attention. I haven't yet missed that bus due to lack of attention but I have twice been scolded by helpful bus drivers who warn me that I "just got lucky" because someone needed off at that stop. You see, the problem is that this stop sits back from the road just the slightest bit and you can't see the bus as it comes off the bridge until it is there possibly flying past you like some unfeeling robot. Since that bus is almost always at least 8 minutes late, I tend to get tunnel vision and start to feel a little dizzy if I stare at the very spot it will appear for too long. The RULE is that you must flag down the bus to let them know that you want a ride. Why? I don't friggin' know. There's only two bus routes by that stop and why else would someone choose to stand out in the sun (you can't sit on the bench that is provided by the city so that you'd be in the shade because you'd miss the bus for sure) right by the pole that signals that "this is a bus stop". Those particular buses only come about once an hour. Are there people wandering around the city who see those blue poles and feel a compulsion to stand there for no good reason? Honestly, I'm sure the drivers are trying to be helpful and it's not their fault that the stop is placed in such a ridiculously inconvenient spot. But, I've been in a foul mood lately. I know my desire to spit on them isn't very mature. Don't worry, I wouldn't actually do it. I just sigh, smile and take my seat reminding myself that I don't have a car payment and once I'm on the bus, I don't have to pay much attention at all.

Eoin (I hope I'm not spelling that wrong) is one of the ferry drivers. He is, without fail, friendly and happy to see us. He's going to get Christmas Cookies when the time comes. He greets us with a smile, chats with us about various things, shares stories and just generally makes our day a little bit nicer. Several of the ferry drivers are wonderful that way. We chat about food, the weather, where we're from and just general chitchat. In contrast, the guy I call Grouchy Dwarf grunts at us when we show him our tickets. Or doesn't acknowledge us at all leaving us standing there wondering if he's actually looking at us since we can't see his eyes because of his sunglasses. So, we wait to be acknowledge because we are good citizens. We want to make sure that he sees our ticket and knows that we can legally board the boat. He seems terribly inconvenienced by having to dock the boat so we can board. And while some ferry drivers will happily dock the boat a second time at the same stop if they see people racing to catch the boat, Grumpy sighs heavily and then as slowly as possibly, docks the boat again. The people who step on alway say "Thank you so much" and Grumpy just stares at them blankly. I think he should try to find another job.

Kangroo Point is apparently posh. Too posh for nice buses. Since most people here drive, we apparently get the crap buses...and sometimes they smell a little crappy too. A mixture of old B.O. and mold. When we were staying in Teneriffe we were so impressed with how nice the buses were with their bright blue seats, clean floors and air conditioning. I'm not sure the Kangaroo Point buses even have air conditioning. What will that be like in the summer? I'd rather not imagine. The windows rattle loudly and sometimes it sounds like the bus is having some mechanical problems. Often when we take the 475 bus home, we get one of the new ones and it feels like a little mini vacation.

Homeschooling Activities

The homeschool group here has some great activities. Last week was archery. We couldn't find a hat for Benji in time to catch our bus so he opted just to take sunglasses. We slathered on sunscreen but since I was in the shade, I offered him my hat...he took it because honestly, being shaded from the sun is important. Notice that the hat is on backwards. Afterward, we all went to a nearby park for lunch. I didn't see Benji all day but when I did see him, I discovered that he'd hurt his toe. Significantly. Luckily we had a ride to the train station as buses didn't even go out to the place we were at that day. By the time, we got out of the train station, it was obvious that we were not getting home by public transport based on the speed that he could walk. I was concerned that his toe was broken because it was turning an ugly shade of blackish purple and swelling in that gross way that injured toes swell. So, we grabbed a taxi and he was pretty well incapacitated for the next few days. By Sunday, he was able to walk well enough to help me with the Northy Street Farmer's Market but really wasn't fully back to normal until about Wednesday. I'm so glad it wasn't broken. He wouldn't have been able to go anywhere for so long!

Yesterday's homeschool group activity was "survival skills". We ended up in Ashgrove in a gorgeous preserve with no bathroom facilities. When we first arrived, we saw a kookaburra but I don't know that he was in an "old gum tree". One of the dad's had set up a "plane crash" site and the kids were the survivors. They treated wounds and injuries. They built a stretcher from bamboo. They learned how to get water. There was loads of fake blood made from chocolate. I only really saw Benji when it was time to eat because he was having an absolute blast with his friends:) I sat on my little blanket and chatted with the other parents. When someone would drive somewhere for any reason, I'd catch a ride to go to the toilet knowing that if I didn't that by the time they got back, I'd be wishing I'd gone!

Welcome to Australia, I Hope You're Not Thirsty

This is a takeaway flat white. Size Large. They usually cost between $3.80 and $4.70 depending on where you buy it. But, it was delicious. We ordered a small the other day and it was the size of one of the kiddie cups we used to get at McDonalds in the U.S.

When I go to a cafe and order tea it comes in a cute little teapot. I usually ask for a glass of ice. Sometimes they don't understand me because "why would I want a glass of ice?". I simply must be saying something else. Anyway, sitting in the cafe with my little teapot, it feels like a lot more tea than a takeaway tea. But, it could be that it just feels that way because it's a tiny mug and I get to keep refilling it from the teapot.

One exception is at Three Monkeys where the cups of chai are massive. And by massive, I mean soup bowl size. Oh and I just remembered another exception, the Gloria Jeans cafe at Borders has really large sized larges....I can sit there with that tea for a full afternoon reading magazines and people watching! They are located at an intersection where there's almost always a busker providing entertainment. Sometimes, the term entertainment is being used very losely but not every day can be perfect. The other day there was a fellow singing with great enthusiam but it was dreadful. And his partner was clapping along with the music but was completely offbeat. It caused a strange discomfort to watch it. I wonder if he earned any money. When the light changes, massive amounts of people come walking by the window unaware that they are being observed. Every now and then there's an odd bird who walks up to the window where we are sitting and presses his face against it or bangs his drumsticks on it or just says "Hello". We don't know why they do this. Aren't city people fun?

There is no lack of cafes here and for that, I'm grateful.....Even if they mostly serve kid sized portions;-)