I Miss Home But Then Agin.........

This Blog (or the High Tech Post as my friend Richard calls it) was intended to be a way of friends and family catching up with our adventures and pictures of the kids etc but, it has become a little more. For David and I it has become a kind of online travel journal and it's great to look back on it and read over what we've done and how we've gone and all the stuff that goes along with this strange and amazing adventure.

Australia Day was celebrated here with the baking of Lamingtons. It's strange what you miss! I almost never ate Lamingtons at home when they were everywhere but there you go. If you haven't had a Lamington in a while I urge you to go out this morning and buy one. They are so good! Anyhoo, I took some Lamingtons into Sabine's class and her gorgeous teacher, Mrs Kruger, asked me to give a little talk about Australia Day and what it means. Only too happy to oblige, (i love giving little talks as most of you know!) I enthralled the First Grade with stories of Captain Arthur Phillip and the unfurling of the Union Jack and tales of scurvy and leaving your family forever for stealing a loaf of bread etc. The Lamingtons were a huge hit even if the coconut wasn't right (no dessicated coconut here, only sweetened).

Australia Day of course brought up the thoughts of home that I usually try to keep buried and squeezed up into a little ball. (Taking your advice there Penny) There is a constant buzz in the background for me of missing family and friends and also, that Australianess that I can't quite articulate. But then again.......there are so many moments here when we look around ourselves and marvel at where we are and that also has been a big feature of this week. We have had so much snow that school has been cancelled for four days out of six and looking outside the windows is magical.

This is a picture looking down our street. The local town, where Sabine goes to school and the shops are is about 15 minutes away and is at a lower elevation but it was also covered in snow and the mountains around are glistening white. The top temperature this week has been minus 2 degrees Celsius. What a contrast to our usual Australia Day!

After making Lamingtons with sweetened angel flake coconut I logged on to buy some dessicated coconut and some of the Australian classics that we've all been missing, Tim Tams and Milo, Golden Syrup and Cherry Ripes. (Blue tac too if you can believe that) and it got me to thinkin' that when I leave here there will be lots of things I will miss about America. (We've settled in here so much that we don't even hear the American accent anymore. Sabine apparently has a strong American accent now but I can't hear it.) Anyhoo, here is a list of things I love (and will surely miss) about America.......

Project Runway (ok, I know you can get that in Aus on Fox but I'm so cable TV'd out I just don't think I'd go there again)
Reece's Peanut Butter Cups

Regis
Left hand turns against the lights after stopping at every intersection. It's a road rule.

J Crew

Crazy bumper stickers about Jesus being one's homeboy

The Daily Show with John Stewart (Presidential Race based Comedy)

Zero Cherry Coke

Drive through everything

snow

hats, gloves, scarves

Driving the Mustang. It is so choice.

Insinkerators

My beautiful friend Elaina

So anyway, hope everyone is well. It's so beautiful here that I've included another picture of some deer that was taken in our little village.

The Happiest Place on Earth etc

The happiest place on Earth certainly is very crowded. I guess everyone wants to be happy. We had to wait in a lot of long lines. The longest wait was the new 'finding Nemo' submarine ride which is set in the Barrier Reef and so the voice over was an Australian accent which was noice. The wait to experience that marvel was about one hour. (Incidentally the ride consisted of looking out of the submarine windows at model coral that was obviously meant to recreate the Barrier Reef but people were taking pictures of it out the tiny windows. What's up with that? It's not the real reef people! It's cement!)

Anyhoo, around here when you go to Disney the first question you get after is 'was it busy?' to which I replied 'yes'. The second question is 'how long did you wait for Nemo?' Well, as it turns out, apparently one hour is not busy at all and people routinely wait for three hours for every ride and so only get to do like three or four rides a day. Happiest place on earth my arse! But the Mitchell's had a fabulously happy day. It was grand! George's favourite was Space Mountain. Here is a picture that they took when we were on the roller coaster and then charged outrageously for it. Check George out! Space Mountain is a roller coaster that is completely in the dark, and I mean completely. You can't see anything at all and it goes WAY too fast in my opinion. I was holding on to Sabine for dear life. She's so tiny and i felt like she would just be ripped away and fall out and I'd never see her again. We did not like it at all thank you very much and the whole time were saying to each other 'god, is it nearly over' and 'i don't think we should go on this again Mummy' and 'certainly not. Is it nearly finished do you think?' etc etc. In the photo I'm smiling but it's only to suppress the gag reflex.

Much to the surprise of both Davy and I we ended up staying quite late. (We both thought we'd be over it by lunchtime but it really was fun.) Everything was decorated for Christmas and it was really very cool. Here is Cinderella's castle

So of course we've also had our strange, cold Christmas. We didn't have a white Christmas but we did have a white boxing day which led Davy to sing 'I'm dreaming of a white Boxing Day' although technically they don't have boxing day here. Christmas Eve is a holiday and it's back to work on Boxing Day. Craaaazzzy! We had a very nice day, all be it different from usual. It was kind of nice not to have to go anywhere but it really didn't feel like Christmas. I mean it was cold for one thing. What's up with that? We did have a fabulous fresh Christmas tree (they are so nice here) and lots of pressies. The guitar was a hit, as were all the construction things. Guess what? Here's a picture......No, not really, I can't find a good one. Instead here's a very short movie of the old girl in the snow..........It's very short because Blogger takes a long time to upload videos and i just can't be arsed waiting.

We have more snow forecast for tomorrow and we're hoping there'll be enough to use our new snow tube and slide down the hill in the backyard. (note to self, is 911 here, not 000). We're planning on hitting the slopes (how cool am I?) in about a fortnight. Davy, as most of you know is a top fabo skier. The kid's and I will be learning........oh dear. Have high hopes for gorgeous type ski instructor though.....ha ha wish me luck! ( on the ski instructor, not the skiing, no amount of luck will help me there, we all know about my lack of graceful balance in shoes on the street, God help me on skis and worse, chair lifts, aaahhhhhh). Will post from hospital bed while in traction.......xxxooo

Let it Snow... Let it Snow... Let it Snow...

It was very cold here last week with temperatures topping a massive 4 degrees Celsius and then on Friday night it started to snow. We woke up on Saturday morning to Sabine running into our bedroom saying 'it snowed, it snowed!' and when we woke up the whole village was covered in white. This is a photo of our deck.

We had a fantastic weekend of snow angels and snow men and hot cocoa by the fire. Davy and the kids built a snowman but try as we might he just won't come to life like frosty did. Here's "snowy", our snowman.

There is still a lot of snow around and it looks just beautiful. We all feel very lucky to be here and hopefully we'll have a white Christmas. (Weird) It doesn't really feel like Christmas time....There'll be no champagne and nibbles on that deck!

Poor Davy gets pelted with snowballs whenever he is outside with the kids. I can see that getting old very quickly.

We're off to Disneyland in the next week or so, so that's the coming true of two big wishes....as a child I was desperate to go to Disneyland (as we all were I think) and as an grown up I've wanted to live somewhere where it snowed so I guess the message here is be careful what you wish for, it might just come true. (I've only been here 6 months and I'm already turning into a cheesy American!) later y'all xxx

whaddup bitches ( a lesson in culture)

Have taken following notes re American culture


Number of pumpkins carved into jack o lanterns with the leatherman - 2
Number of pumpkins carved with spooky bat scene - 1 (see picture)
Number of pumpkins whose insides were gross, wet and disgusting - 3
Number of candies given to our children during trick or treat - 2350000 (feels like)
Number of tricks - 1
Number of calories consumed by Bianca in the form of candy in two days of Halloween - 6598222 (feels like)
Number of people seen shopping or going about normal daily business in full costume - 2 (geisha and vampire)


Number of Mitchells dressed up as a policeman with handcuffs etc - 1 (davy)
Number of Mitchells dressed as the Cat in the Hat - 1 (george)
Number of witchy Mitchells - 1 (sabine)

Number of "Real Men Love Jesus" bumper stickers spotted - 3
Number of "Real Women Love Jesus" bumper stickers spotted - 0
Number of bumper stickers suggesting Bush is a good president - 3
Number of bumper Stickers suggesting one should vote for Hillary - 0
Number of bumper stickers suggesting Bush is the "Worst Ever" - 1
Number of Bumper stickers describing what Arnie does to himself in his own time - 1

Number of Kevin Costner sightings - 0
Number of Posh or Becks sightings - 0
Number of Celebrity sightings - 0

Side note; Language barrier
She's a ho fo sho translates to She is undoubtedly a prostitute of some description
So Cal is short for Southern California as in 'OMG that is so socal'
OMG is short for Oh My God as in OMG where the #$@! is Kevin Costner!

No Bull....there is an actual fake bull

As our beautiful friend Chris Harle pointed out we've seen fire and we've seen rain. Natural disasters do seem to be following us around but truly the Californian fires are a way away. We're all very safe and Arnie is nowhere in sight. Sooo glad we decided against purchasing a Malibu mansion though. phew......


We're all settled into our fabulous new house which is very large and accommodating for guests so why not blow a couple of thousand and come on over. The move sucked a little, but moves generally do. Here's a picture of the kids in the UHaul




In other news, marriage my friends is about compromise, give and take and in my case staying at home while your husband hangs out in a suite at the L.A. Hilton on Emmys night, supposedly for a "geotech conference" and i use the term "geotech conference" lightly as there did not seem to be much geoteching going on people. Begrudgingly, here's a picture of the terrible conditions endured......











Obviously at a "geotech conference" one has to ride a mechanical bull. Here is a picture or, as I like to call it, evidence..



The bull did leave some unsightly and I'm told reasonably painful bruises so some comfort can be sought in that.....




Comfort can also be found from the wonderful Tim Veness, who travelled over for the "geotech conference" and brought with him a most welcome thing...a big bottle of coopers. Thanks Tim. Here's a picture of Tim in front of the big Universal Studios ball thingy which is obviously an important mecca for geotech types.


So that's where we're up to. Stay tuned.....next week is Halloween. Pumpkins have been carved, costumes have been purchased, it's all happening people.....

Strange Days Are These

After a strange and somewhat horrible week of confrontations with Landlords, strange rashes, confrontations with Doctors, settling in at schools and major property decisions (which all resulted in a teeny bout of homesickness) the Mitchells are back baby! And furthermore, we're moving. (obviously after confrontation with landlord).
We have taken a 12 month lease on a lovely house just down the road (but far enough away from the above mentioned landlord). We're moving in tomorrow so I will post pictures of the house and moving adventures (of which there should be many as David's only helper is me and 'muscles' George Mitchell). Hopefully it won't end in divorce.

But my main news is the fabulous resilient settling in powers of our children who, I'm sure you will all agree are the most fabulous children in America. George started preschool and loves it. He has a new friend called Matthew and they always hold hands (heads up Sal!)
Sabine is starting to shine at her new school. Today she won an award for best demonstrating this weeks rule of 'treat others as you would be treated'. For your viewing pleasure I have managed to overcome the tremendous obstacle of my own technological ineptness and have not only taken a video of her receiving the award but have downloaded things and run things and posted things and in general been brilliant while not understanding what it is I'm doing in the manner of all geniuses. Here it is .......(probably this will win an Emmy).


It's kind of hard to see her in the video so here is a picture as well so Nana doesn't go mad on me
Isn't she fabbo? So now we are off to move our still unopened boxes and try to navigate our way through the maze that is satellite broadband, digital television and American phone companies......(oh dear, could be another trying week!)

International School Career leaves Mother in Foetal Positon

We are so proud of our girl today! She started school today at her new American school and what a superstar she is. There was hardly a nerve in sight....she was much more excited and only looked lost for a minute or two standing in her class line. Then she started a conversation with the little girl in front and bob's your uncle. bff. Triumph!!


If only the same could be said for the neurotic mother. I fought back the tears as she stood a little lost in the line then I teared up completely I'm afraid while the precious little thing tried to keep her cool as everyone around her said the pledge of allegiance. God Bless Her. Then I practically followed her to her classroom. The poor child couldn't lose me. Directly following that I made my way to the car (mustang) and cried my head off.

Later, when the neurotic mother had to phone the school on completely unrelated business she happened, just in the passing of normal conversation mind you, to ask the office lady if she perchance had heard any crying around the halls that morning. The neurotic mother was told "I went into Year One Mrs Mitchell and I met your daughter. She is a lovely sweet child. She's fine." I mean god. I was only casually asking. Now we can't wait for her to come home and hear all about it. Even George keeps saying "I wonder how Sabine's going......" She'll be home in 4 hours and 48 minutes so I'll let you know......