Let it snow, let it snow, let it snow…….

On January 30, 2014April 11, 2014 By oceangirl63In Uncategorized2 Comments

It is snowing in Georgia and its beautiful. Once again the normally steamy deep south is shivering in below zero temperatures. It is so cold in fact, that it has been reported a polar bear at the Chicago Zoo refuses to go outside. Almost everything is closed or in shut down including some ski resorts. Flights are cancelled and airports are closed, people are stranded, the Air Force Base is closed, schools are closed and the hospital is closed and only taking emergencies. And all this is due to another polar vortex which swept America delivering ice storms, sleet then snow to our area along with plunging temperatures of -12.

In spite of the bitter cold and inconvenience to some folk, it has been an amazing experience to witness this event with the end result of this wild weather being beautiful snow drifts and snow scenes. It all began late yesterday afternoon with an ice storm which was closely followed by sleet. A gentle flurry followed the sleet then around 9pm last night snow began falling. We stood outside and watched the tiny flurry turn into bigger and bigger softer snow flakes that quickly began to blanket all around us. Late into the night we ran about in the snow, built a teeny tiny snow man and had the obligatory snow ball fight much to the amusement of our neighbours who watched us (no doubt with curiosity and bewilderment) from the warmth of their living rooms. We stayed up until after midnight just watching the snow gently fall.

This morning I woke early to rooftops covered in brilliant soft white snow, streets and yards were white, trees boughs were snow and ice covered and all was blissfully quiet. As the community slept I went out and walked. I walked in the snow, I ran in the snow and I played in the snow. Ice cracked underfoot, I slipped and slid occasionally, I blew puffs of white air, I watched the geese on the pond and I wondered why there was no one else about on such a glorious day. It really was beautiful. After an hour or so I took some time to just marvel at the beauty of the landscape and acknowledge how blessed I am to be here. I walked home then made a batch of banana bread. When it was cooked Steve got up then we stood out in the cold air of the white wonderland with steaming mugs of tea.

I hope where ever you are, be it in the summer heat of Australia or somewhere colder, your day has been as joyful as mine xx

‘Before’ – Tuesday 4pm

Snow beginning to fall just after 9pm

Our teeny tiny snow man

Around midnight

‘After’ – Wednesday 7am

Our barbie

Zoe the snow cat

Gus maybe British however he viewed the snow from the front door. I do love his expression – it almost says ‘oh do pardon my feline snow friend’.

My lovely red mittens which came in very handy. Mum knitted these for me a few years ago when I lived in Melbourne.

Checking on our snow man who was still there in the morning although his carrot nose was slightly frostbitten

Our Backyard

A little snow topped bird’s nest

Ready for banana bread and hot tea after a morning in the snow

Australia Day in the USA

On January 26, 2014June 13, 2014 By oceangirl63In UncategorizedLeave a comment

Wonderful Australia Day and nothing makes me prouder nor happier than to see our beautiful flag in full flight. It seems no matter where Australians are on this day – be they home or abroad – they celebrate.

On days such as this you tend to think about Australia and miss (just a little) some familiarity:

Cadbury chocolate: They sell ‘Cadbury’ chocolates over here however it is made by Hersheys and it tastes completely different….and not in a good way.
Meat Pies and Sausage Rolls at the corner shop or bakery
Vegemite: I miss you xx
Tim Tams and Mint Slice: Ditto
Gum Trees and Wattle

We had two celebrations here in the US. The first one was held on Friday 24th at the Warner Robins Air Force Base and the second celebration was held today Saturday 25th (the 26th in Australia) complete with back yard cricket, inflatable kangaroos, a barbie, meat pies and sausage rolls. It was a little odd though as the temps were in the very low digits and we are more used to sun and heat on Australia Day rather than very cold (almost below freezing) weather.

You can’t buy meat pies or sausage rolls in America (nor reasonable pastry to make them with)so as part of the celebration of our wonderful nation we made our own little Aussie icons to share with those who have not experienced them before.

Making the pastry

Cooking the mince for the meat pies

Cutting the last of the sausage rolls in readiness for the oven

A guilty little pleasure wrapped in flaky pastry……what’s not to love

Hot Aussie meat pies

Steven channelling his inner bogan complete with ‘jail tatts’ for Australia Day although I thought a Collingwood jumper and moccasins would have been more appropriate.

Hair dressing tips courtesy of Tony Mokbel

Zoe’s expression upon seeing bogan Steve was kind of priceless

Happy Australia Day everyone, congratulations to our Australian of the Year Adam Goodes and where ever you are enjoy this great day xx

FOOTNOTE: Since posting this blog I have had a couple of requests for the recipes which are now listed below. The recipes are in Australian measurements and I tripled the listed recipes to make the quantity we required.

Puff Pastry for the Sausage Rolls

250g of plain flour
1/2 teaspoon of fine sea salt
250g of butter (almost room temp) cut into small pieces
150ml cold water
Your choice of filling for the rolls
2 beaten egg with a dash of cold water for brushing pastry with before baking

Pre-heat oven (it was on 400 here in America which may be around 200 Aust oven temp) and in a food processor add flour and butter and blitz until it resembles breadcrumbs. With the motor running on the processor slowly add the water. When the mixture ‘clumps’ stop the machine and tip mixture out onto a surface, bring together and wrap in glad wrap then chill for around 20 minutes. On a lightly floured surface gently knead the mix to form a rectangle then roll the dough in one direction only until about 3 times the width (should be around 20x50cm – try to keep the edges straight and even which is a little difficult at first but you’ll get the hang of it and you should also have a ‘butter streaks’ resembling a marbled effect). Fold the top third to the centre and the bottom third over that, give the dough a quarter turn and roll out again (in one direction) to three times the length, fold as before and cover in glad wrap then chill once again for about 20 minutes before rolling out to use.

I filled the sausage rolls with a mixture of pork mince, sage, finely diced onion and freshly cracked pepper bought together with an egg. Place mixture down the centre of the pastry and bring edges together and secure with some of the beaten egg. Cut into pieces and place on a lined baking tray, brush with egg and bake until golden.

Shortcrust Pastry Recipe for Meat Pies

I made the mince and gravy mixture the day before so it was cold when going into the pastry however you can make your own variation on the mixture (and again I tripled the mix). I also found this recipe to be ‘very short’ so I am still on the look out for something a little more to my preferred taste however it was good enough to use on the day (and everyone seemed to enjoy the pies as well as the sausage rolls…..orders have been placed). Pre-head oven to 200 (400 here in the States).

250g of plain flour
125g of butter chilled and finely chopped
1 egg beaten with 1 tbsp. of chilled water

Process flour and butter until it resembles breadcrumbs. With the processor motor running add the egg and water mix and continue blending until the mix begins to form large clumps. Stop machine as you don’t want a ‘ball’ of dough. Turn out onto a very lightly floured surface and gently knead only to bring mix together. Wrap in glad wrap and chill for about 20 mins. When ready turn out onto a lightly floured surface and roll out to your desired thickness, cut dough to fit pie tins, fill with mix, cut tops, brush with egg mix as before and bake until golden . I also pre-baked the bottoms of the pie then added the mix, topped with pastry brushed with egg and then baked…..I didn’t want a soggy bottom.

‘Little Australian flags courtesy of Lyn Lillicrap….we thank you :)’

Happy Birthday F.B.

On January 23, 2014 By oceangirl63In Uncategorized6 Comments

It is Steve’s birthday today. Happy birthday fat man xx

In honour of this auspicious occasion I made a southern classic: Cajun Gumbo……….4+ hours later this is the result

I added more broth to the bowl once the photo was taken and it was served on rice.

I did not however, make the ‘tuxedo’ birthday cake.

Martin Luther King Day

On January 21, 2014April 11, 2014 By oceangirl63In UncategorizedLeave a comment

It’s a national holiday here in America today (20th January). Today celebrates the birthday, the life and the remarkable achievements of Martin Luther King.

Martin Luther King was an activist, a humanitarian, a visionary and a leader in the African American Civil Rights Movement. He organised non-violent protests against segregation and was pivotal in ending legal segregation in the South. He led the March on Washington in 1963 where he delivered his ‘I have a dream’ speech and in 1964 he was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize. He was assassinated in 1968.

Happy Birthday Dr King

Moving day(s), a mockingbird and a tornado warning

On January 16, 2014April 11, 2014 By oceangirl63In UncategorizedLeave a comment

I’m back.

It’s been a while since my last blog……around 10 days I think, so here is the catch up since then.

It has been very hectic here, we moved plus we have both had the dreaded flu. Some crazy, mutant, foreign, fatal strain which seriously knocks the bejesus out of you. And the flu shot I had during the Australian winter has absolutely no effect on it either. Steve contracted the flu first and due to this particular strain being highly contagious I was next on its hit list (despite all my hand washing, avoidance of sick people – ‘its not me its you’ and orange eating). I think it may have been due to the strange weather patterns here that we finally succumbed to ill health. Well it was that or our very bad eating habits since arriving in the States but I’ll go with the weather as we experienced a polar vortex complete with below freezing temperatures (our pipes froze), snow and ice storms, artic winds and did I mention below freezing temps. IT WAS BITTERLY COLD!!!! Even the little lakes here in the community we now live in froze over. It was quite amazing.

These vortex’s are quite deadly and dangerous but thankfully after a week of miserable weather the temperatures began to increase which oddly made for perfect tornado weather (something about the cold and warm air mixing). We were in our new home four days and received our first tornado warning which I have to say was a little scary. The storm front started here in middle Georgia around 9:30am and swept its destructive way across the south and ran out of puff just short of the Atlantic ocean in North Carolina. You know how it can be a normal moment or day in time, then all of a sudden it goes eerily quiet: the quiet before the storm! Well that’s exactly what it was like. Of course the eerie silence is broken by the sound of the tornado warning siren though!

Anyway, back to the hectic element of the past week plus. Our move. We have moved into our home which is great and I have discovered we have our own resident mockingbird which is very special. And after observing this dear little chap I completely understand why ‘it is a sin to kill a mockingbird’. They are very sweet, very interesting and highly entertaining little birds. Apparently they are great mimics too apart from also having about 200 songs in their own repertoire.

Our home is lovely and we live in a pretty, well maintained gated community with its own flocks of resident Canadian Geese (a lovely and elegant bird). The geese have right of way on the roads and footpaths, as they should, and although they are artic natives they are very much at home here. I can actually hear them outside as I type this. They are doing their afternoon patrol or making their way back from visiting somewhere. They have a distinct honking call which is pleasurable to listen to although no doubt they will hiss, as most geese do, when they are a little perturbed about something.

I am still getting used to the house with its mysterious freezing pipes and plumbing, its nightly creaks and groans, thermostats and central heating (everything is in Fahrenheit) and deadly trash compactor. On the upside we have a flagged letterbox and squirrels in our back yard. Yes, apart from a lovely mockingbird we also have squirrels (the grey squirrel, the fox squirrel and another little southern flying squirrel who is timid and rarely spotted) who again are very entertaining and very cute unless you have out door cane furniture – which we don’t so we welcome the populous of Grove Pointe squirrels.

It seems there is so much to learn and understand about living in America (which is so different to Australia – a blog will follow) and I have to say I feel like such an environmental vandal since residing here. I try to be environmentally conscience but the heat stays on 24 hours a day 7 days a week and in summer the air conditioning is the same. Neither is ever turned off. And they don’t recycle. Why not? I have no idea! My ‘green’ bags are a source of mystery and enlightenment to the grocery packers (young teenage boys or very short older Hispanic males) who are almost reluctant to use them. They will however use about 50 plastic bags for 50 items. Seriously, it is almost one item per plastic bag. I will however endeavour to train them to my ways……or just pack my own groceries (but still tip them).

So our rented furniture arrived on the Monday and once the bed was bought inside and made up Steve fell into it and snored and sweated and coughed and snuffled the next few days away in it (although I did have to tazer him out of it around the third day in order to take him to the doctor). Moved out of our temporary accommodation on the Tuesday, the day after that our shipment from Australia arrived (all great on that front with nothing broken or damaged) so I potted about, unpacked, moved furniture, unpacked a bit more, moved some more things about and got very settled and relaxed in order to enjoy my new surroundings (Steve will never find a thing) aaaand, that’s when the flu hit. Therein I have been bed bound for about five days although I am starting to feel (and look) much more human again. I am also up and about today (okay, I am writing this in bed) testing out the new internet and cable connection but up and about in fluey sort of way. I also glanced at my emails this afternoon to find I have quite a bit of catching up to do so thank you for your messages and I will get to them all as soon as I can.

And before I almost forget, Gus and Zoe have also both settled in beautifully and seem to have made themselves very much at home. They are two happy cats so that makes me happy.

Well, I guess this is home now. For the next three years anyway so nothing else: tornadoes, freezing pipes, a ‘Christine’ trash compactor (you will have to read Steven King novels to understand) or the flu really matters because being home is really where a story beings.

Off the beaten track

On January 5, 2014April 11, 2014 By oceangirl63In Uncategorized2 Comments

Happy new year to all xx

New years is that small window in time that speaks potential. Its the start of something new and fresh. It has been a good start to the new year for us. In the second week of this brand new year we move into our new home, our small shipment of chattels arrives from Australia and life starts to get back to some form of normality (as normal as possible anyway). We have been keeping quite busy too. We have been out and about in the state of Georgia and given America is the country of the road trip, that’s exactly what we have been doing.

There are millions and millions of miles (1 mile is equivalent to about 1.60 kilometres) of highways and roads in America. Given those statistics, the road trip has become one of the great American pastimes and there really is no better way to see and experience the country. The tip with a road trip is to get off the interstates. The interstates are congested and very busy large three to five lane highways that link each state. Get off the interstates and venture onto the back roads because that way you will find the true little gems of an area. If you don’t get off the interstates you will miss wonderful things like coconut and peanut butter pies, cotton fields, rattlesnake round-ups, fried green tomatoes, mayhaws, hickory trees, swamp gravy and sweetened iced teas served in old mason jars.

Steve has had time off work. Time off being just over two weeks during Christmas and new years. This time was not taken voluntarily. The section of the US military base Steve now works at ‘closes down’ for a short length of time over the festive season. As a rule, and because we don’t have children, we never ever travel or take time off during the ‘holidays’. This time however, the decision was out of our hands so we decided to make the most of it by doing a few road trips around the state of Georgia. And I am happy to report that after traversing some of Georgia’s lesser known byways, there is still plenty more out there to see.

Road trips are great and one of the best thing about a road trip is the adventure. The expectation, the discovery, the exploration and the surprises be they good or bad are what really make up any great adventure and I have a few tips for a really good road trip:

1) Buy and then use a Navman (or equivalent) and also carry a map. I happen to like maps a lot but beware: some roads in the USA were decommissioned in the 60’s and no longer exist although they may still show up.

2) Take CD’s. The music stations in the south are VERY limited. Its country/gospel/religion/gospel/religion/country and one ‘rock’ station who play Nickleback. Of all the bands in the world (and that’s a big call), I dislike (immensely) Nickelback the most! And, if you are the driver on the said road trip then you get to choose the music being played. That is actually an unwritten driving rule! And yes, you absolutely can listen to Neil Diamond singing ‘Cracklin’ Rosie’ and ‘Forever in Blue Jeans’ as many times as you like.

3) I’m afraid I have to be blunt with the next one. Flatulence! Even though you may be suffering great physical discomfort do not fart continually! And under no circumstances should you ever eat flatulent inducing foods the night before a road trip washed down with yeasty carbonated ales. It all makes for a very unpleasant environment in the car.

4) Do not comment on the other drivers driving style. This surely tests a relationship AND not in a good way!

5) Don’t eat at any ‘fast-food’ chain stores. I know, its always the easy option but come on, this is an adventure! Oh, and don’t order the grits (trust me) but definitely try the fried chicken, okra and green beans, boiled peanuts, the crab stew, sloppy joes, the frog stew (which ironically does not contain any frog), the pork chops, biscuits, hush puppies and the cobblers at the quirky little old diners dotted around the landscape of small towns in the south.

6) If you want to take photos take them. You may not pass that way again.

7) Accept that things may not always go to plan. It is also okay to admit you are wrong and it is also perfectly okay to change your mind.

8) Pack more underwear than you will ever consider wearing especially for overnight stays and longer.

9) Never ask a local man for directions or information. Even if he doesn’t know the correct answer he will tell you something anyway in order to have polite conversation……… and the information will probably be wrong.

10) And the last and most important tip. Enjoy the journey xx

A beautiful little church (still in use every Sunday)

This really is someone’s lovely little house (which they actually live in)

These are biscuits. I love southern biscuits.

These are biscuits with gravy. I don’t love southern biscuits with gravy. I like my gravy a little different to southern gravy. I like it brown and tasting of meat juices!

I have never seen a pecan described as ‘desirable’- what a wonderful narrative for such an unassuming little nut

Cheese (American style)

I’m really going to need some bigger pants soon!

I just love that there is a ‘cookie’ (not to be confused with a biscuit) called a ‘snickerdoodle’

Rows and rows and rows of perfectly preserved peaches

We’ll take a cup of kindness yet……..and a Martini

On December 29, 2013April 11, 2014 By oceangirl63In Uncategorized4 Comments

Its that odd little week between Christmas and New Years and it will also be my last blog post for 2013. I Know, can you believe it is the end of another year. While writing this I am remembering some good new years of past. Those spent camping at Tallebudgera beach as a child were usually pretty good but maybe that’s because I was seeing it all through the eyes of a child. As a kid on new years you got to stay up late….really, really late (no doubt the adults around us were coerced into staying up) and you got to do things you usually couldn’t do. And just like Christmas, everything seemed a little bit more magical then too. We had a Scottish new years once while camping. I still remember parts of that night even though I was probably only about 8 at the time. Auld Lang Syne, Cold Duck (if your a child of the 60’s you’ll know what that is), bungers and tom thumbs (fireworks were legal in Queensland back then), haggis, sipping alcohol from unattended glasses, coloured paper streamers and the Gold Coast highway. Actually except for the haggis, the above was our usual new years at the coast!

At those same campgrounds (we camped there every year for about 7 weeks from December to January and this was in the 60’s and 70’s), we would also listen to the artists at the ‘Playroom International’ as their voices would filter out of the venue, across the highway and down to the camp ground. The Playroom was a bit like a rock venue which attracted some of the biggest artist around of that era. We would lay in our bunks and listen to Johnny O’Keefe (I know, pinch me – J OK, how lucky were we), Lovelace Watkins (I had a serious girly crush on this man for a very very long time), Frankie Davidson to name a few that I can remember. Thinking of the Playroom has also made me remember Santa Land, The Pink Poodle, Jack Evans, the Burleigh Heads pool, Meter Maids, The Birdwatcher Bar, Surfers Paradise when it was actually a surfers paradise, the Miami ice building, the Queensland Hotel, the Iluka and Ten The Esplanade etc. Talk about showing my age! All this has also made me think of my sister Tracey, Dad (our grandfather) and I driving off into the bush surrounding the Gold Coast (yes it was a very different place back then – there was lots and lots of bushland around……..and we didn’t wear seatbelts either) to find our Christmas tree. Once chosen, Dad would cut it down with his tomahawk which was kept in the car. We would put the slain tree in the boot of the Morris Major and drive back to the tent feeling pretty chuffed then Dad would stick the tree in a bucket of wet sand. We decorated the tree with really lovely old ornaments made of glass, paper chains we hand-made and little paper Chinese lanterns which you could actually put lit candles in – all very beautiful and very dangerous given the tree was also highly flammable. But who cared back then as the tent flap was also left open during the night. I know, it just makes you want to run through your house with a pair of scissors in your hand now doesn’t it.

I don’t know if the Playroom is still there. I am hoping with all my heart that it is but I am afraid to google it just in case! Just in case meaning I’m afraid it may have been demolished by now to make way for some god awful food chain or worse! If it has been demolished please don’t email me or leave a comment to break the bad news. Just let me live with the idea of it still being there. It’s all I ask……..well that and world peace!

Anyway, back to new years which is what my blog was originally going to be about. As I got older I spent less time with family and more doing my own thing. My own thing over the years has involved a very dodgy taxi ride, a kebab and a bathtub! A Village People Policeman look a like, a park bench and a kebab in King George Square (is there a theme happening here!). Illegal fire works in Canberra, a monkey in Hatton Vale, a fire extinguisher (nothing to do with fire works or the monkey), Champagne, a priest and unattainable new years eve resolutions made and broken within two to three days……..ah, happy memories.

This new years I am surmising the night will also involve some form of time travel. Travelling back in time is not for the faint of heart and it should come with a warning label due to the unwanted sided effects:

1) One may lose consciousness

2) One may suffer temporary memory loss

3) One may suffer a headache

You see my time travel comes courtesy of Gin and did you know more classic cocktails are made of gin than any other spirit. And by the way, London Gin is not necessarily always made in London. I know, I was as shocked as you when I found that out! Anyway, my evening will begin with my usual Martini’s (it makes me feel very ‘Rat Packy’) and I am after all living in the USA now. And it is not a correct statement either that you must be a melancholic 55 year old with bad bed hair sitting on the stairs in a semi dark house with mascara stains down your face or a sultry smoker voiced jazz singer to drink gin. That’s all just a big myth! As is the other big myth about gin – it makes you depressed! No studies have ever proven that gin is more of a depressant than any other spirit so stop sulking (because quite frankly a little self deprecation is good but self pity is just plain annoying) and go make yourself a Martini. You don’t know how! Well here is my recipe:

4 x 25ml of gin (I prefer Bombay Sapphire), 1 x 25ml of dry vermouth and a strip of lemon peel (I like mine with a twist rather than an olive). Add ice to a shaker and add wet ingredients then stir (I also like mine stirred and not shaken) then strain into a chilled glass. Twist the lemon peel until it leaves ‘a slick’ of oil on the top of the martini.

Here’s one I prepared earlier…….cheers xx

Around the stroke of midnight and at the start of a brand new wonderful year I will raise my glass once again. Have a wonderful safe and very happy new year. Thank you for reading the blog. See you all next year xx

Seasons greetings from America

On December 23, 2013April 11, 2014 By oceangirl63In Uncategorized4 Comments

‘Merry Christmas everyone’

This really is one of the best times to be in America. The festive cheer is just so infectious and I can’t believe Christmas is so close…..only a couple of days away now. Having said that, I am dealing with it quite adequately. I’m eating lots of American Christmas food (sugar, fat and cinnamon laden – these Americans really know how to celebrate) and I am washing it all down with a little Christmas ‘cheer’ and eggnog. I will admit I’m still acquiring a taste for eggnog though. Who ever thought to put cream, sugar, whipped eggs, nutmeg and alcohol together! Probably the same person who came up with the marshmallow loaded baked potato recipe.

I hope everyone reading this latest blog can look back on the past year and reflect on something really lovely or special that has happened for them, think of those less fortunate – especially those of the animal world, think of those no longer with us and look forward to a wonderful brand new year ahead. And of course to everyone back in Australia (and other parts of the world) please accept my ‘wishing you a wonderful and very safe and happy Christmas’………….via a blog post. Okay, its a cheap way to get out of sending cards and making phone calls but hey, its the thought that counts.

And yes Virginia, there really is a Santa Claus as my Christmas wish came true. Gus and Zoe (our two much loved and much missed cats) have arrived safely in America, albeit a little thinner than when last seen just over a month ago. Thank you Jetpets for such a great job and a huge thank you to everyone else involved in their safe delivery. Gus and Zoe are still adjusting to the changes of the past month which could not have been easy for them. I mean it was certainly no picnic for us so I just can’t imagine how they must have felt during the whole process. And no doubt jetlag has played enormous havoc with their little feline systems too but given all that, we are just so happy to have them with us again……and just quietly, I think they are very happy to be with us again too. Their arrival in America has been the best present ever. Except for that one present………oh, never mind! This really is the best gift ever.

Now, as you will see from the following photos, nobody does Christmas quite like the Americans. Several hundreds of thousands of lights have given their lives for some of the most wonderful and often inexplicable offerings of Christmas joy. Some of the Christmas displays around here are quite elaborate and very beautiful, some are rich in kitch, some show great imagination and some are just down right tacky but who cares, it’s Christmas. Plus in America they have ‘ugly Christmas sweater (sweater is the American equivalent to an Australian jumper) parties’. Secretly, its my favourite part of the American Christmas tradition so far. Have I convinced you yet that no one does Christmas like the Yanks!

Just about to put my order in for next year. I love Amazon.com !!!

No sheep (nothing here is made from wool) or cheap synthetic Christmas trees were harmed in the making of these party jumpers

There are obviously some people out there with incredibly imaginative and creative minds and their holiday spirit shows this to the hilt. Almost every home here has a display of some kind be it big, small or enormous. The absolute heart and soul which people put into these displays is amazing. I mean, have you ever done something so wonderful that you have actually stood back and admired it and thought to yourself ‘wow, I think this is what I am really meant to do on this earth. I have finally found my calling’. Well I haven’t, but I have witnessed some pretty unbelievable displays although it does beg the question: is this what they are truly meant to do or do they just have too much time (and beer) on their hands?? But what does it matter because I’m LOVING it and its Christmas.

Enjoy the light show.

Holy Holidays Batman!!

When too many lights just aren’t enough

There is a house underneath…….somewhere

I saved the very best display until last. I like to call it ‘the less is more look’……..

Christmas day will raise my glass in a silent toast to all but for now………Merry Christmas to all and to all a good night xxx

Guess who’s coming to dinner!

On December 18, 2013December 19, 2013 By oceangirl63In UncategorizedLeave a comment

Actually I don’t know who is coming to dinner and more to the point who I should be expecting however in order to furnish our rental home we are required to fill it with rented ‘show room quality’ furniture. Hmmm!!

Now, some of the furniture I have looked at (there is a web site which we must order from) is well, lets just say, a little different from what I would normally choose but hey, its not ours forever and sometimes a change is as good as a holiday. Although I am still not really sure about the ‘Aristotle Onassis’ themed décor. Probably not the person I would be taking decorating tips from!

‘This quirky thing is a lamp – this is also one of the items I am actually hoping is available’

We have finally found a home to rent. I won’t bore you with the ridiculous lengths you need to go to in order to find a rental house here in America. Well, Georgia anyway. Lets just say it is a very different and somewhat strange – and by strange I mean really odd, peculiar, bizarre, perplexing, ‘you cannot be serious’ and ‘laugh otherwise you really will cry’ process. It also included door knocking (something one does not want to do unless one is a Mormon), a holstered pistol and a hit run driver. The hit and run driver was a water retentive soccer ‘mom’ with bad hair and two unattractive children on board – I hope she reads this and gets a serious case of the guilts or at least is completely crushed by the fact I said she has a really bad do! Oddly, I cannot remember much about the pistol guy but bad hair…..well!! And all of this takes an awful lot of your time and patience and sanity and time!!!!

Having said that, we have however finally found a home which we are very happy with in a nice subdivision. And the house is somewhat swankier than the one I left behind in Gawler. This isn’t a photo of the actual house we will be renting. I didn’t put the real one up just in case – there are some really scary people out there who are quite clever and I thought they may find the house then sneak in and steal my camel lamp. Stranger things have been know to happen although they usually include basements and duct tape!

The ‘doppelganger’ house. Our home for the next three years. I just hope I don’t get too snobby living there….well I would if I were actually living in this house!

We won’t be able to move in until the new year…..again its the process!!!! but YIPEEEE home at last.

I drove it like I stole it (oh, and it was completely unintentional)

On December 14, 2013April 11, 2014 By oceangirl63In Uncategorized7 Comments

There are many things that I aspire to. Being less oc, being able to play a musical instrument properly (I have absolutely no sense of rhythm – I can’t even clap in time to music), being able to understand contemporary dance, not knowing all the words to every Meatloaf song and eating my weight in crab (see, it really doesn’t take a lot to make me happy). What I don’t aspire to however, is driving in America!

It’s a little bit like my ‘to-do-list’. I have a list (which I have had for years) of what I call my ‘top 5 fabo jobs to achieve’ and I have just double checked it and guess what. Driving in America was definitely not written on it ANYWHERE!! Actually there are only two things left on my list. One is side-car racing (me being the monkey not the driver) and the other is storm chaser. Now both of these I haven’t achieved……..yet!

Driving here in America is a skill and I did receive some very sage advice from Grasshopper before I left Australia. Grasshopper’s advice: Right is tight. Left is long and keep up with the traffic otherwise you will get booked for driving too slowly.

That advice was great and in hindsight, very helpful. Well in theory it was great. Actually doing it, driving here, is something else again. Now I know that in Australia I am considered a good driver. Cautious and capable and considerate. That’s my driving in a nut shell (plus I always drive little cars: cute, turn on a penny, zip about, economical little cars) NOT hulking great cars as per sold and driven here in the states. Why is everything so BIG in America! Therein my driving today was not what I would consider my finest hour!

Everything is bigger in America!

Ditto!

Anyway, back to my good driving habits for just a moment. I like to drive (in Australia) and I tend to take more of a gentle approach when behind the wheel. Music on and off I toddle. Nice, happy and relaxed as all drivers should be! I give way, I’m as happy as a clam, I don’t road rage, I sing along (badly) to the music on the stereo and all is good with the world. My hand will gesture ‘after you’ as I let someone in then the other driver smiles and gives a ‘thank you’ wave. Look at that, I’ve made someone’s day just by being courteous. See, happy happy!! And may I point out I have been driving for years.

Today however, that all changed. It was horrific. Today I was like the get away driver in a bad D grade British movie. Here’s how it went: Me behind the wheel…on the other side of the car which was on the other side of the road!!! Both hands on the wheel, swerve, swerve (insert expletive!!), swerve, brake (insert expletive!!!). Indicate – the windscreen wipers come on – turn wipes off and they go faster…..after the third time insert looooong expletive. And may I state I also have one of the cleanest windscreen’s in Georgia! Frown. Scowl. I am not my happy driving self. Swerve, dodge other ‘crazy, what the hell were they thinking’ drivers who DO NOT indicate (that is correct – I also have to be a mind reader). These people drive like they are on steroids, no doze and moonshine while TALKING on their cell’s. And yes! It is legal to talk on your cell (mobile) here while driving. What a stupid and puzzling law. Scowl more…now I have a permanent frown line!! Brake, but actually go through a red light to yield to the right (another strange law and there are plenty of them here: fireworks are illegal but sure carry a gun or three and that’s just the children!!! ), remember right is tight and left is long. KEEP DRIVING ON THE OTHER SIDE OF THE BLOODY ROAD!!!

Now I’m not good with change and I will be very truthful in stating that I can be a little unpleasant when change occurs that I have no control over…..plus I like driving in Australia VERY much…did I say that earlier!!! And America is LARGE, you need to drive to get around. There is no way out of this. I can’t just ignore it. I have to drive!!! The town we now live in is spread out. You need a car to get around – there is no public transport/and you just don’t just walk around here. Plus to get my Georgian licence (in order to drive and get insurance) I will also be required to do a written test in two parts/eye test/and driving test which consists of a reverse parallel park AND I am going to be doing this in a car much larger than I have ever driven before (in my lifetime!!!).

And trust me when I say the cars here are big.

Big truck, little…….man!

Even the law like em big!

The locals! Please don’t ask!

Just big…too big for me anyway

Seriously, today I drove like a psychotic hillbilly on crack! Was it traumatic – YES!! Was it enjoyable – NO!! What was the stress factor – OFF THE FREAKING RICHTER SCALE!!! It would also be safe to say I have hung up my driving gloves……only momentarily though because I’m no quitter.

Will I master the art of driving safely in America? Probably, but it will also probably take about three years which also happens to be the length of time we are posted to Georgia for.

Trouble is, when I get back home I will have to learn to drive all over again…….on the ‘right’ side of the road in a nice little car!

oceangirl – these are my stories

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