Question and answer time………

On February 12, 2014February 12, 2014 By oceangirl63In UncategorizedLeave a comment

Americans love an Australian accent. Personally, I don’t believe we have an accent however the Americans, well they are definitely the ones with the accents! And American accents differ from state to state. You can tell a Southern accent from say, someone who comes from Jersey or Brooklyn just as you can spot a Texan accent from a Milwaukee accent. And just as they love the Australian accent they also love Australians………..which I have to say is very fortunate given we live here now.

Americans also have an almost insatiable quest for knowledge about Australia and you will be asked many random questions about it. Such as:

‘Did you have a koala or kangaroo as a pet?’
‘Your wildlife is really dangerous!’ (statement). ‘Pretty much everything there will kill you right!’ (another statement). ‘I want to go there but you have really poisonous animals there and the shit in the water will kill you then eat you right?’ (question and statement).
‘What is the one best thing to see in Australia if I go there?’ – far too difficult a question to answer.
‘Do they drink coffee in Australia?’ ‘Yes’ is the answer and try not to look puzzled by the question however continue with the reply ‘but not as much filtered or drip coffee as you drink here in the states’.
‘Can you buy instant?’ (coffee) ‘Yes’ is the answer along with ‘And the instant coffee is very good in Australia unless the label reads Pablo or International Roast! If someone tries to serve you either of those brands throw down the gauntlet as a challenge to this lack of hospitality’………..its the Australian thing to do.
‘How come ya’ll don’t get tips in Australia?’
‘I loved my visit there but it was very expensive and the food is minimal when served. How do you live in such an expensive country?’

Whilst skulking about in a second hand book shop yesterday the owner struck up a conversation and therein asked a couple of questions such as ‘what is the main thing you found different between the two countries and what has been the hardest thing to adjust to’. My answer wasn’t very interesting or well thought out however it was quick. ‘Driving!’ He laughed then said ‘yeah, ya’all drive on the wrong side of the road down there’.

His questions and our conversation got me to later thinking about the many differences we have encountered since moving here so I have listed a few:

1) Gun ownership: I have never believed that guns kill people. Usually very stupid or completely deranged people with guns kill people! The gun figures in America are startling. There is no gun register to speak of here so it is almost impossible to pin point how many guns there actually are but estimates put it at around 270 million. That figure would probably make America the best armed civilian population in the world. Does that make me feel safe? Absolutely not! Every year just over 39,000 people die from gunshot wounds and over 200 people per week attend a medical facility with non fatal gunshot wounds. Almost everyone carries a gun and you can buy them in the most obscure places such as Wal-Mart, pawn shops etc. There are guns for children, pink or purple guns for women and crazy guns for everyone else. And did you know that ‘during your driving test no firearms are permitted in the vehicle’. I like our Australian gun laws and I thank you former Prime Minister Howard for your strong stance and foresight on the issue.

2) Drive thru’s: America has an awful lot of drive thru’s and I’m not just talking take-away food. There are drive thru’s for banks and atm’s, drive thru’s for chemists/pharmacy’s (drug stores), drive thru goodwill/op shop drop off centres. Drive thru coffee/bread/milk etc……..almost everything has a drive thru therein, once in your vehicle you never have to get out again during your journey.

Drive thru bank and ATM’s

3) Clipping coupons: A national pastime.

4) People: The people are incredibly friendly. In America people talk to you and they want to talk to you. They are open and friendly and are great to be around. Sure, occasionally (and this is rare) you will run into the stereotypical brash outspoken yank but the rest of the population more than make up for those small few.

5) Cheques: Americans still use cheques (they spell it checks). And the cheques are required to be written in a certain way otherwise they are invalid. For example: a cheque for $25.22 is written like this – twenty five dollars and 22/100. Dates are also different: today it is the 11th of February which in Australia we would write as 11/02/2014 however here it will be written 02/11/2014. We haven’t had a cheque book for about 20 years in Australia but here cheques are currency. You buy your groceries, pay bills such as rent and utilities and buy clothing etc. with cheques. Most companies such as real estates and utility companies only take cash or cheques and most times you are required to mail the cheques. Internet banking is pretty much obsolete here. For a country with such seemingly high tech expertise (this is the country that bought you the ipad and iphone) their banking practises seem a little archaic.

6) Driving: see previous blog!

7) Wall Switches: The light switches etc. are upside down and power points are completely different. You will also find that in some rooms there is no over-head lighting at all as lamps (lots and lots of lamps) are used.

8) Toilets (restrooms): bare with me! Firstly, don’t use the toilet here without having a dollar bill or three in your pocket. The reason for this is often there will be a restroom attendant in there. Once your job is done, theirs begins. Once you wash your hands they will offer you a handtowel. You may even be offered gum, mints, a squirt of perfume or hand lotion. In some towns you may even be offered cigarettes. When you leave, thank them and tip them. Another thing with the toilets here is that they are full of water. Really, really full of water but amazingly it all disappears in a huge swirling whirlpool when you flush. It is quite fascinating. Oh, and no push buttons here, it is all little handles for flushing too.

8) Food: I think America may have a food obsession. Everything comes super-sized and there are no huge white plates with a tiny garnish sitting prettily in the centre which the waiter refers to as ‘your main meal’. Nooooo sir. Here you get what you pay for and a whole lot more. With your meal comes salads or soups and bread rolls or sticks all at no extra cost. Iced tea/soft drink (soda’s) or iced water are constantly refilled – again at no extra cost although you really don’t need a refill as the first glass of your chosen beverage is HUGE. And sure, there is some artery clogging food available (and the Americans do love to deep fry) but on the whole it has all been very good and very cheap. You just need to be a bit adventurous. All salads come with a huge selection of sauces too. And just a tip: always ask for the dressing on the side otherwise your salad will be swimming. And marinara pasta sauce does not contain seafood – it is just a tomato based pasta sauce. An entrée here is actually the main course, it is very hard to find bread without some sort of heavy sweetener added and they also manage to mix sweet cinnamon sugar into a main meal be it either sprinkled on top of a sweet potato or on savoury hush puppies. It’s either that or the meal will come with marshmallows and caramel sauce. You also get pickles with everything (as in a whole pickle) and at KFC, which does taste very different to Australian KFC, they will ask if you want dark or white meat! And always ask for fries and not chips as you will actually be given a small packet of chips.

9) Post: Your letter box (post box) has a neat little red flag on it. It is up when you have mail and down when you don’t. You can also post mail from your letter box. Before the delivery person comes, you can put your stamped letter into your letter box, put your red flag up and they will take your post away for you. How’s that for service and they deliver on Saturdays as well as through snow, sleet, rain, hail and shine.

10) Deadly animals: Americans are infatuated with our seemingly deadly and dangerous species in Australia although I have never thought of them in that light. Given Grizzly bears, mountain lions, cougars, coyotes, bobcats, killer bees, bears, deadly snakes, bison and white tail deer – deer kill about 130 Americans per year but don’t panic, it is due to the road accidents the deer cause and nothing else more sinister – roaming about I am charmed they are so obsessed with our ‘dangerous wildlife’.

A beautiful Grizzly bear

11) Dryers: Almost every home has a dryer right next to the washing machine. There is not a hills hoist, washing line or peg to be found.

12) Tipping: Tipping in the US is ‘compulsory’ and not that we mind given most people are on below minimum wages and tips are meant to make up the difference. Such things as hairdressing, grocery bagging, wait staff, hotel staff, bar staff etc. etc. etc. require tips. Generally it is $1 to $2 for skycaps, bellhops and valets. Around $1 per grocery bag and around 15-20% of the total bill at restaurants or on bar tabs. I don’t like people who don’t tip especially when you are a guest in the US. Its disrespectful and rude. You may think it is un-Australian or un-British or un-where ever it is you come from, but your not in your home country now so when in Rome eat spaghetti and when in the USA tip!!! Oh, and apart from tipping you also pay taxes on everything. Here’s an example – a coffee will be advertised as $2.25 however when you pay for it, it will actually cost around $2.75. Also don’t go to a ‘dollar store’ with only one dollar in your pocket because the item will cost you over a dollar due to the tax.

13) Australia is completely metric. We don’t use Farenheit for temperature, gallons, pounds, miles, yards etc. It takes a little while to convert and sometimes my maths have been a little off in a recipe but all in all its quite good fun.

14) Our seasons are opposite. Winter in America officially starts December 21, Spring is March 21, Summer is June 21 and Fall (which is Autumn) starts September 21. Your summer is our winter so when you are baking in the summer heat of December, January and February we are in much colder temperatures. We are also due for another winter storm toward the end of this week and snow is expected………yipeeeee 🙂

15) Americans dislike Vegemite IMMENSLY!!!!

Well, I guess these are but a few of the small differences that I can think of at present. No doubt as time goes on I will think of and happily encounter many more differences. I will close in saying, with hand on heart, that I love living in America. I am so lucky and I thank you USA for having us in your home and for making us feel so welcome xx

Australian gothic

Footnote: updated 7 hours after posting – in number 14 (the seasons) I was happy another winter storm was brewing however the state has now been placed on a catastrophic weather alert. This is due to the amount of damaging ice predicted to be received, so I will admit I may have been somewhat overzealous (okay, selfish) with the thought of more snow coming. Fingers crossed all will be safe and well and that the beautiful state of Georgia comes through the storm with very little to no damage.

Enchanting Savannah

On February 5, 2014April 11, 2014 By oceangirl63In UncategorizedLeave a comment

Another road trip and this time we headed to the beautiful historic township of Savannah. And the best thing about this road trip – we were fortunate enough to spend two nights here.

Our accommodation was an incredibly beautiful Inn, The Ballastone, which was built in 1773 and is located in the heart of the historic district and comes complete with its own ghost. The Ballastone is one of many B & B’s of the district and they host an afternoon tea for their guests every afternoon at 4pm sharp.

The Ballastone Inn

The Ballastone’s sitting room

The beautiful southern belle town of Savannah has a reputation (thank goodness for that) and it is all courtesy of her beauty, history and charm. Once in Savannah you will find there are two types of people: those who are true Southerners’ and those who wished they were. This is a lovely town that has been settled along the Savannah river about 32 km upriver from the Atlantic ocean. Savannah is surrounded by swamps and it is one of the oldest townships in America. It is full of stunning Antebellum architecture, beautiful mansions, avenues of live oaks dripping with Spanish moss, incredible history, antiques, ghosts – Savannah is one of the most haunted towns in America and original cobblestone and oyster shell streets and lanes.

We visited in winter and it was cold. Very,very cold in fact which was possibly due to the remnants of the polar vortex. Given that, Savannah also experiences equally hot humid summers. One old local told us ‘summers are so hot an’ sticky that walkin’ around is like wadin’ through quick sand. You have to go real slow ’cause if you go any faster than an old turtle you’ll just die’.

Things to do in Savannah:

1) Walk! Savannah is a great walking destination and her charm lies in the ‘historic district’. And the best way to see it is on foot. Walk and you will see so much more. Walk and you can take in and appreciate the true splendour of Savannah’s historic mansions and Antebellum homes.

2) After the historic district, stroll the waterfront on tabby streets. Tabby streets are the old streets made of old primitive concrete and oyster shells and River Street is where you will find the old cotton warehouses which now accommodate restaurants and galleries.

3) If you are unable to or don’t want to walk, take a trolley tour. This is a great way to get around Savannah to see and hear about her history. The Oglethorpe Trolley Tours (they are the blue trolleys) are the only company endorsed by the Savannah Historical Society.

3) Walk the squares. Around the historic district are Savannah’s squares. These squares are like little parklands with a fountain or monument in the centre surrounded by lush green magnolia trees or oaks and grass and plants. Each square varies, some are more glamorous than others and all are encompassed by beautiful houses and buildings. There are about 22 in all to experience.

4) Eat! See below.

5) Food – some of these I can personally recommend, others come courtesy of the locals. Here’s mine: *Dine out at Vic’s – great wine list, great cocktails and really really lovely food (definitely try the lump crab cakes) plus you get a wonderful view of the Savannah River with its passing cargo ships. *Leopold’s Ice Creamery – pretty darn good ice cream and do try the butter pecan…..although the rum bisque is right up there as well. *Zunzi’s – a fab little ‘hole in the wall place’ with great food and absolutely try their ‘conquistador’. *Green Truck Pub for the best burgers this side of I have no idea where!

The locals recommendations: *Goose Feathers café – get in early though and don’t be put off by the line as we were. Americans will happily line up for pretty much anything. *The Olde Pink House – built in 1771 and swathed in pink stucco this is the restaurant the locals love to dine at and recommend. We tried it but were very disappointed. It is overpriced and over-rated and the food was rather average for such a sophisticated (and expensive) dining facility. *Paula Deens ‘Lady and Sons’ restaurant (I’m not a fan of commercialised ‘celebrity’ places such as these), *Papillote (French food to go) and *Sweet Spice (Jamaican).

6) See the churches – just beautiful and very serene

7) Walk through the cemetery – not a spooky as it sounds with plots dating back to 1700.

8) Visit Forsyth Park – a stunning park where the line of oak trees forms a tunnel that leads to the parks magnificent 1858 fountain. On a very cold winters day we sat on a park bench, our hands warmed with a steaming cup of coffee and watched the world pass by.

We were out day and night in Savannah and fear we only scratched the surface of this lovely town.

Scenes of Savannah:

The streets of Savannah are lined with beautiful arching live oaks that drip with Spanish moss. It is a hauntingly beautiful sight but don’t touch the moss – chiggers live in it!

Afternoon Tea

Forsyth Parks’ 1858 fountain

In one of the many Savannah squares

Cocktails at Vic’s

This is an outlet for a drainpipe – one of the loveliest I have ever seen

Footnote: Chiggers are the larvae of harvest mites and they feast on human skin cells.

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.