The Eve of Australia Day

Hello from Sydney!

Well things have been moving right along here. I am completely comfortable in my house. I have found my local pubs (The Bank Hotel or the Town Hall). Work is settling in. I am getting more responsability, and am keeping busy.

Snag in my life: those wonderful housemates that I have spoken of are leaving me. One is moving to Queensland onto a Buddhist Retreat Center. And the other was offered a stand alone one bedroom house in the same neighborhood for dirt cheap. So I have spent the past couple of weeks interviewing people to take the 2 empty rooms. That also means the fabulous Buster Pup is leaving me. Sadness. On the bright side I think I have found 2 new housemates (this will be finalized this weekend) and one of them has a pup. I have to meet the pup this weekend that will be how I finalize the housemates. It is rare that I don't like a dog so I am fairly confident that I have 2 new housemates.

On Boxing Day (the day after Christmas for those who are not familier) I hopped on the longest ferry ride I could find. On the ferry I met this woman from Canada who has also just recently moved here. Her and I have been making touristy plans left and right, since we would not see the sites otherwise. Last weekend we went to Bondi Beach at 6AM to watch the sun rise and the surfers roll in. What a beautiful morning. The future plans: to camp in the Blue Mountains, go to the Aquirium, climb the Bridge and see a performance at the Opera House.

Tomorrow is Australia Day (I have not figured out if it is a Celebration of it becoming a colony, or the day they became a confederation, or what) where I will have the day off and will going to yet another BBQ. if you have not figured out yet the thing to do on holidays here is to hold a Barbie.

Things I am missing: 24 hour Greasy Spoons, Late Night Coffee Shops, and Bagel Shops.

Here is the Vocabulary lesson for this update:

Barbie	Barbeque
Fairy Floss	Cotton Candy
Rice Bubbles	Rice Krispies
Mini Chip Bags	Shrinky Dinks for those who don't know what a Shrinky Dink is go here
Whinge	Complain
Bludge	Bum (as in bludge a cigerette)
Mobile	Cell phone
Mackers	McDonalds
Stuffed	Botched, Broken

I hope all is well. I welcome e-mails from everyone and I eventually get back to the individual e-mails. I do, it just takes time.

Take Care,
Tia