Yesterday was our 2nd karate lesson, and there were only 4 people in the class: us 2 n00bs and 2 intermediates. It was enjoyable though, but it's weird for me to be the ABSOLUTE beginner in a class. It's weird to be The Beginner that the teacher is referring to when he says things like 'now this is something that we all will learn and practise a lot, no matter whether you're a Beginner or an Advanced'. I found when doing Scottish dancing that I learnt quite quickly and was able to keep up quite well and wasn't a trailing beginner. This, however, is a totally different kettle of fish and I feel very clumsy and slow. But not in a bad, beat-myself-up-about-it kinda way. There's no feeling of pressure, we're just there to learn, and to have fun of course.
That being said, it's unfortunately undeniable how unfit I am! I feel kaput after the warm up stretching LOL. We started learning our first kata though, which we're going to be practising more today. Today we're also signing up for 6 months and both of us will be getting our gi. I'm very excited.
Another reason for me to be excited, or rather RELIEVED, is that I've cancelled my driving test. Yes, cancelled. No, I haven't chickened out, I just realised a few things and phoned around to get further info.
Firstly, as permanent residents in QLD, we get a 3 month grace period in which we are allowed to drive on our SA licenses. During the 3 months, we're supposed to get QLD licenses by doing the written test and having a lesson (or 2, or 12904), and passing the driving test. If you fail the driving test within the 3 months, you're able to do the test again as many times as you like until you pass.
If you pass the 3 months limit, however, you are no longer allowed to drive unsupervised, you need to get the learner's license issued (by passing the written test you automatically qualify for the learner's license) and then need an 'open license' holder to accompany you whenever you drive (including as you practise) until you pass the driving test (again, you can do the test as often as you like). So in essense, you are a learner driver all over again.
Now, because we have SA licenses, if I fail my driving test and G passes his, I am able to drive with him as my supervisor, which is what I have been doing anyway as I'm inexperienced AND I'm getting used to our car. Also, because I'm over 25, I don't have to complete the learner's logbook (requiring 100 hours driving time to be filled in over the course of 1 year). And, because I currently hold an 'open license' from SA and QLD govt acknowledges it, once I pass the driving test, I get my QLD license instead of getting a P1 or P2 license!
So, I have cancelled my test, and will practise and have lessons and book my driving test when I am good and ready. For someone with as little experience as me, doing the driving test in 3 weeks' time when the 1st driving lesson is only 2 weeks before the test is a little... unrealistic. Not to mention a waste of money if I'm more than likely to fail.
A HUGE load off my mind - I'm so relieved. I just have to go to the traffic dept at SMILLLLLLLLLEEEEEEEEE and have my learner's license issued. Can't wait!
Now we just need our stuff to arrive!! Just not on Thursday as that's when our car is going in for a check-up. But soon!!! It's time now! Quick quick, want our stuff plskthx!!
Tuesday, March 29, 2011
Monday, March 28, 2011
Kit checkin' in
Before I post, lemme check what all I've posted about last - so I don't repeat stuff.
Ok. This evening we're going for our 2nd free introductory karate lesson. We're gonna sign up for 6 months for now.
Yesterday I went for a trundle around in our car - trying to get used to the clutch!! This car's clutch is (according to G, and I agree *grr*) far less forgiving than the Toyota Tazz I learnt in AND the Audi A4 we had, weird huh? So I'm... not doing exceptionally well with clutch control at the moment, to put it euphemistically. It's bad enough pulling away from a stop street, I wonder how I'll do when it comes to 3-point-turns and parallel parking, etc? Remains to be seen. But, I will persevere!
While we were driving off to hand over the import permit paper to the moving company, they emailed saying AQIS has pulled aside 2 items from our stuff - our 2 bar chairs, which have straw seat covers. So, because they're of sentimental value, we forked out $180 to have them treated. Yup, crazy, but they were engagement gifts from G's parents, and *our* bar chairs, man! Special to us. So hopefully we get our stuff soon!
Ok that's all I have time for now - gotta get ready for karate!
Cheeeeeeeeeeeeers!
Ok. This evening we're going for our 2nd free introductory karate lesson. We're gonna sign up for 6 months for now.
Yesterday I went for a trundle around in our car - trying to get used to the clutch!! This car's clutch is (according to G, and I agree *grr*) far less forgiving than the Toyota Tazz I learnt in AND the Audi A4 we had, weird huh? So I'm... not doing exceptionally well with clutch control at the moment, to put it euphemistically. It's bad enough pulling away from a stop street, I wonder how I'll do when it comes to 3-point-turns and parallel parking, etc? Remains to be seen. But, I will persevere!
While we were driving off to hand over the import permit paper to the moving company, they emailed saying AQIS has pulled aside 2 items from our stuff - our 2 bar chairs, which have straw seat covers. So, because they're of sentimental value, we forked out $180 to have them treated. Yup, crazy, but they were engagement gifts from G's parents, and *our* bar chairs, man! Special to us. So hopefully we get our stuff soon!
Ok that's all I have time for now - gotta get ready for karate!
Cheeeeeeeeeeeeers!
Thursday, March 24, 2011
Wunderbar!
Monday was the day that G and I toddled on down to the traffic department to do our written test. It is the same test that people do to get their learner's license, and it was very easy. I read that road rules booklet quite a few times so it was straightforward. I got 30/30, luckily!
Today, I phoned the traffic department to book my driving test. The earliest I could get was 20th April, so I booked that one, G only got one on 29th. Then I phoned a driving school to find out about lessons, and managed to get a test date for G on the 15th as I had booked a 'refresher' lesson for him. The traffic department he's going to do his test at is far closer than the one I'm going to do mine at. Because his new test date was booked through the driving school, he's not-obliged-to-but-should use the school's car to do the test otherwise the examiner might raise an eyebrow as the test booking is a 'driving school reserved' timeslot.
My first proper lesson is on the 8th, but I'm hoping to get one before that as time is really limited and I need to learn as much as possible and practise like mad. I'm going to try go for a drive every day before the test, or at least every day when it's possible/practical. I just need to make up for lost time.
This evening was my first ever karate lesson. G used to do karate years ago and got up to green-belt level. He's been keen to resume karate for a while now, and signed us up for 2 free introductory lessons, to pique my interest before signing us up for either 6 months or 12 months of karate. For now I'm keen too... watch this space for more details LOL.
Bird has been relaxing more and more into the household, and doesn't scream every morning like he/she used to. I'm not sure if it's because Bird is growing accustomed to the house or the wild birds flying around lately just aren't the type that set him/her off, but it's a nice change.
Bird is also learning what we're about and is calmer with us around than before. I've been taking Bird out of the cage every few days or so, and even got Bird to sit on the windowsill calmly without trying to fly through the window - something I've been afraid he/she might try and hurt him/herself. The window was a gauzed-window, so maybe Bird can get used to the big wide open world out there withOUT flying into the 'invisible force field' that is glass.
Another thing Bird is quite understanding with is the scaly-face drops that we've had to apply every Thursday for the past 2 weeks (the vet did the first one, and there's one more to go). I've had Bird on my hand, and persistently tried to stroke Bird's neck feathers 'open' (so that the drop can be applied to the skin), and at first Bird wasn't very keen and kept fiddling and trying to get away, but eventually seemed to understand what I was trying to do and today Bird just resigned him/herself to having a faux neck-scratch and a ghastly-tasting drop applied. Bird sulked for a long time once he/she'd preened and tasted it - there's something inconsolable about a sulking budgie.
The only other news for now is that customs/quarantine has asked for the original import permit for the katana swords/African knife, which hopefully means we'll get our stuff soon. I'm dying to sleep on a proper bed again, I'm tired of using laundromat washmachines (bleh), and using plastic cutlery + crockery for this long makes me feel like I'm in rehab or something...
Ok, that's all for now folks!
Oh, wait, one more thing: I can't seem to comment on any blogposts now... J I wanted to comment on your 'what makes you want to stitch something' post but couldn't (can't sum it up here LOL), and Andie, I wanted to comment and say Sophias Mirabilia is looking gorgeous! Hope Blogger sorts itself out soon.
Cheers for now :-P
Today, I phoned the traffic department to book my driving test. The earliest I could get was 20th April, so I booked that one, G only got one on 29th. Then I phoned a driving school to find out about lessons, and managed to get a test date for G on the 15th as I had booked a 'refresher' lesson for him. The traffic department he's going to do his test at is far closer than the one I'm going to do mine at. Because his new test date was booked through the driving school, he's not-obliged-to-but-should use the school's car to do the test otherwise the examiner might raise an eyebrow as the test booking is a 'driving school reserved' timeslot.
My first proper lesson is on the 8th, but I'm hoping to get one before that as time is really limited and I need to learn as much as possible and practise like mad. I'm going to try go for a drive every day before the test, or at least every day when it's possible/practical. I just need to make up for lost time.
This evening was my first ever karate lesson. G used to do karate years ago and got up to green-belt level. He's been keen to resume karate for a while now, and signed us up for 2 free introductory lessons, to pique my interest before signing us up for either 6 months or 12 months of karate. For now I'm keen too... watch this space for more details LOL.
Bird has been relaxing more and more into the household, and doesn't scream every morning like he/she used to. I'm not sure if it's because Bird is growing accustomed to the house or the wild birds flying around lately just aren't the type that set him/her off, but it's a nice change.
Bird is also learning what we're about and is calmer with us around than before. I've been taking Bird out of the cage every few days or so, and even got Bird to sit on the windowsill calmly without trying to fly through the window - something I've been afraid he/she might try and hurt him/herself. The window was a gauzed-window, so maybe Bird can get used to the big wide open world out there withOUT flying into the 'invisible force field' that is glass.
Another thing Bird is quite understanding with is the scaly-face drops that we've had to apply every Thursday for the past 2 weeks (the vet did the first one, and there's one more to go). I've had Bird on my hand, and persistently tried to stroke Bird's neck feathers 'open' (so that the drop can be applied to the skin), and at first Bird wasn't very keen and kept fiddling and trying to get away, but eventually seemed to understand what I was trying to do and today Bird just resigned him/herself to having a faux neck-scratch and a ghastly-tasting drop applied. Bird sulked for a long time once he/she'd preened and tasted it - there's something inconsolable about a sulking budgie.
The only other news for now is that customs/quarantine has asked for the original import permit for the katana swords/African knife, which hopefully means we'll get our stuff soon. I'm dying to sleep on a proper bed again, I'm tired of using laundromat washmachines (bleh), and using plastic cutlery + crockery for this long makes me feel like I'm in rehab or something...
Ok, that's all for now folks!
Oh, wait, one more thing: I can't seem to comment on any blogposts now... J I wanted to comment on your 'what makes you want to stitch something' post but couldn't (can't sum it up here LOL), and Andie, I wanted to comment and say Sophias Mirabilia is looking gorgeous! Hope Blogger sorts itself out soon.
Cheers for now :-P
Friday, March 18, 2011
The good old days
Since I'm in the process of reading/learning the road rules booklet, and I recently paged through the user manual of our car, I decided to take a peek under the bonnet.
This car has got such a cute little bonnet, with a compact, tidy engine. Spotlessly clean, no evidence of dirt apart from dust which is to be expected as the car is under 3 years old.
Fiddling around in there, with G's help when checking the battery water level, reminded me of when I was small and I spent a lot of time playing in the garage while Dad worked on the Merc.
He would spend the better part of a lot of days bent over the engine, his hands covered in that unshiftable black that becomes part of your life the moment you touch an engine. He was always wearing 'working clothes': a scruffy, well-worn jersey over a faded, almost see-through shirt and dated, unfashionable trousers from the 70s.
I was always fascinated by what he was doing. Just looking at the engine, knowing what was what, and how the different parts worked, referring to the detailed circuit diagrams in his bible, 'the Merc book' as it was known in our family.
It was a book I loved looking through, despite it not having many pictures that were satisfying to look at - it was mostly engine and parts photos, with how-to series' of photos of boring detail - because it had pictures of Our Car. Not specifically our car, of course, but our car's siblings who had had a successful career in modelling.
The knowledge Dad had of that car was immeasurable, and yet he still wasn't able to know everything. He struggled for days on end, trying to take something apart, or put something back together, or getting a specific part out of the car, so that he could order a replacement. More often than not, he'd take the part to the spares shop, they'd order one for him, he'd bring it home only to find "bugger it, it's the wrong part!!".
The poor car was a W123 series 240D, a supposedly stable, faultless, troublefree edition of Mercedes Benz, but we suspected that our one was the scapegoat, bearing all the problems that normally would have been distributed fairly between all the cars of its pedigree. Eventually, as the car aged, Dad (who was the usual driver) had to get used to so many oddities of the car.
Every morning before taking us to school, he'd sit in the car, counting. The glowplug-ready light on the dashboard broke at some stage, so he'd have to turn the ignition, count a certain number of seconds and then turn the key, otherwise the car simply would not start.
Another odd thing we got used to for a while was the car not switching off at the ignition. Seeing how much trouble it took to replace the thing, it's no wonder Dad delayed fixing it for a while and during that time, the only way to switch the car off was to force it to stall. It made for amusing stops!
One last quirk I'd like to mention (rather than bore you with every single one), was the car's dislike for cold nights. It would refuse to start the next morning, so Dad took to covering up the bonnet with blankets! I forget what the fault was, and I do remember the car not doing that permanently, so it must have been one of the many things Dad fixed.
I guess this blog post is a sentimental ramble, and I think ultimately this post is to say that I miss him a lot. The stability, growing up, of Dad working in the garage most days, of me wandering in and out of the garage, helping by holding the reading lamp at a useful angle so he could see, and asking him questions. He did seem to like answering them, so I can only hope (assume is too presumptious) that they were intelligent questions - I do think I learnt a few things but not enough to be predestined to be a mechanic LOL.
I feel sad, knowing that I had and still have no clue just how much he knew, feel sad knowing that if he were still around, he'd enjoy so many things still. I'm sure he'd be blown away by how incredible computers are now; seeing how he enjoyed circuit diagrams so much, it seems an obvious progression that he'd learn about how computers work.
Ok this post is getting off-track, but still. The child in me fierily wishes I could learn everything electrical/mechanical/engine-related, so that I could know what I see when I look in the engine. The grown-up in me understands and just feels sad.
This car has got such a cute little bonnet, with a compact, tidy engine. Spotlessly clean, no evidence of dirt apart from dust which is to be expected as the car is under 3 years old.
Fiddling around in there, with G's help when checking the battery water level, reminded me of when I was small and I spent a lot of time playing in the garage while Dad worked on the Merc.
He would spend the better part of a lot of days bent over the engine, his hands covered in that unshiftable black that becomes part of your life the moment you touch an engine. He was always wearing 'working clothes': a scruffy, well-worn jersey over a faded, almost see-through shirt and dated, unfashionable trousers from the 70s.
I was always fascinated by what he was doing. Just looking at the engine, knowing what was what, and how the different parts worked, referring to the detailed circuit diagrams in his bible, 'the Merc book' as it was known in our family.
It was a book I loved looking through, despite it not having many pictures that were satisfying to look at - it was mostly engine and parts photos, with how-to series' of photos of boring detail - because it had pictures of Our Car. Not specifically our car, of course, but our car's siblings who had had a successful career in modelling.
The knowledge Dad had of that car was immeasurable, and yet he still wasn't able to know everything. He struggled for days on end, trying to take something apart, or put something back together, or getting a specific part out of the car, so that he could order a replacement. More often than not, he'd take the part to the spares shop, they'd order one for him, he'd bring it home only to find "bugger it, it's the wrong part!!".
The poor car was a W123 series 240D, a supposedly stable, faultless, troublefree edition of Mercedes Benz, but we suspected that our one was the scapegoat, bearing all the problems that normally would have been distributed fairly between all the cars of its pedigree. Eventually, as the car aged, Dad (who was the usual driver) had to get used to so many oddities of the car.
Every morning before taking us to school, he'd sit in the car, counting. The glowplug-ready light on the dashboard broke at some stage, so he'd have to turn the ignition, count a certain number of seconds and then turn the key, otherwise the car simply would not start.
Another odd thing we got used to for a while was the car not switching off at the ignition. Seeing how much trouble it took to replace the thing, it's no wonder Dad delayed fixing it for a while and during that time, the only way to switch the car off was to force it to stall. It made for amusing stops!
One last quirk I'd like to mention (rather than bore you with every single one), was the car's dislike for cold nights. It would refuse to start the next morning, so Dad took to covering up the bonnet with blankets! I forget what the fault was, and I do remember the car not doing that permanently, so it must have been one of the many things Dad fixed.
I guess this blog post is a sentimental ramble, and I think ultimately this post is to say that I miss him a lot. The stability, growing up, of Dad working in the garage most days, of me wandering in and out of the garage, helping by holding the reading lamp at a useful angle so he could see, and asking him questions. He did seem to like answering them, so I can only hope (assume is too presumptious) that they were intelligent questions - I do think I learnt a few things but not enough to be predestined to be a mechanic LOL.
I feel sad, knowing that I had and still have no clue just how much he knew, feel sad knowing that if he were still around, he'd enjoy so many things still. I'm sure he'd be blown away by how incredible computers are now; seeing how he enjoyed circuit diagrams so much, it seems an obvious progression that he'd learn about how computers work.
Ok this post is getting off-track, but still. The child in me fierily wishes I could learn everything electrical/mechanical/engine-related, so that I could know what I see when I look in the engine. The grown-up in me understands and just feels sad.
Ok how dumb
Somehow Blogger's acting up and I can't comment on my post *rolls eyes*. So, below are my replies to the comments on my last post.
haha sis Boye! I've had my license for 3 years now *huff*
Thanks J! I'm just dreading the driving test so of course everything is more appealing than thinking about it LOL
haha sis Boye! I've had my license for 3 years now *huff*
Thanks J! I'm just dreading the driving test so of course everything is more appealing than thinking about it LOL
Thursday, March 17, 2011
My birthday present
This year my birthday passed a bit unceremoniously, which is to be expected with how much we've been busy with lately. G's gift was an IOU, which I redeemed a day or 2 ago:
I saw this quite a while ago, and secretly fell in love with it but put it out of my mind as I have a long up-next list already. But then I realised, by the time I actually finish those, this one will probably be out of print already and I'll have missed out on it.
PLUS, we now have beautiful, plain off-white couches now, which are just crying out for at least one cushion!!
This is called Spirit Horses, it's a JCA kit and the pillow is 14" x 14". Black fabric (so I don't have to stitch every single square inch!), cording, backing fabric etc. I'm so excited and can't wait to get my hands on it :D
I just wonder which will arrive first, this kit or our container stuffs LOL. I've hit a bit of a lull with the Wedding Blessing, plus I feel pressed to avoid stitching because there's this unshakeable feeling of 'I should rather be doing... '. Like learn the road rules for Queensland, for example, as we've gotta get our licenses before end of April. I'm dreading it. I know I just have to practise, and practise a lot, but I still feel anxious and apprehensive. At least I understand now how the indicating (blinkers) at a circle (roundabout) works lol. There just was no clear, enforced system in SA and circles were always scary/just-gonna-do-my-best-to-try-survive-y to me.
So, stitching has taken a backseat, and once I press 'post' on this, I'll go back to the couch and pick up the road rules booklet and read it again. *sigh*
PLUS, we now have beautiful, plain off-white couches now, which are just crying out for at least one cushion!!
This is called Spirit Horses, it's a JCA kit and the pillow is 14" x 14". Black fabric (so I don't have to stitch every single square inch!), cording, backing fabric etc. I'm so excited and can't wait to get my hands on it :D
I just wonder which will arrive first, this kit or our container stuffs LOL. I've hit a bit of a lull with the Wedding Blessing, plus I feel pressed to avoid stitching because there's this unshakeable feeling of 'I should rather be doing... '. Like learn the road rules for Queensland, for example, as we've gotta get our licenses before end of April. I'm dreading it. I know I just have to practise, and practise a lot, but I still feel anxious and apprehensive. At least I understand now how the indicating (blinkers) at a circle (roundabout) works lol. There just was no clear, enforced system in SA and circles were always scary/just-gonna-do-my-best-to-try-survive-y to me.
So, stitching has taken a backseat, and once I press 'post' on this, I'll go back to the couch and pick up the road rules booklet and read it again. *sigh*
Sunday, March 13, 2011
What an update!
It's been a long time indeed since I blogged last. So much has happened.
Firstly, we moved in on the Monday after I blogged. It was an incredibly hot, humid day, and there was no electricity. The house was UNBEARABLY hot inside, and what made it worse was the presence of ceiling fans and an aircon, tauntingly sitting motionless while we melted. Thankfully the electricity guy arrived in the early hours of the afternoon, so we were hooked up and relieved almost instantly.
Afterwards, we went back to G&E&E's place to fetch our stuff (we'd gone straight to the house without any bags/etc after signing the lease so the electricity could be hooked up), and we were caught in the beginning of a thunderstorm. We managed to get to our place ok, and into the garage (I see now why people have remote-controlled garage doors!!!), we were home, safe and dry. And more than a little relieved: peace, quiet, our own space.
And boy do we have space now. I'm going to attach a couple of pics (they are from the rental agents' listing hence the emptiness of the house), just to give you a view into our as yet not fully furnished world.
Above is a different pic of the front of the house. On the other side of the fence you can see is a bicycle path - this place is a maze of walking/cycle tracks, so G and I are going to get nice and fit I'm sure!
This is a view of the back garden. It's half grass, half weeds, and G has taken on the task of weeding it over the months. The grass that is growing there is very nice though, so it should be rewarding once it's done. I just hope the rental agency doesn't restrict us to a '6 months lease only' so we'd have to move out!
This is a view of from the front of the lounge looking towards the back of the house. You can see the patio, half-circled by the windows/sliding door, and to the left is the dining area and the passageway into the bedrooms/bathroom/loo area. Off the left of the picture are the garage door and the main bedroom (which has an en-suite).
This is what you see if you walk across the lounge and stand where the carpet and tiles meet. The semi-circle windows/sliding door onto the patio are on the right. This is the kitchen (and you can just see the laundry through there), plus the passageway and bedroom 2.
This is the dining area, with the semi-circle windows/sliding door onto the patio on the right (you can just see one of them).
This is the view from the windows/sliding door, across the patio. That's the same fence seen in the first pic - bike track on the other side.
This is the view looking back towards the house - in the direction of the lounge/to the front of the house. I'm looking forward to having a set of outdoor chairs + table to have evening drinks out there!
The kitchen, across from the semi-circle windows/sliding door. The place came with the dishwasher + oven/stove, plus the blind + faded curtain LOL.
Another view of the kitchen.
The view back down the side of the house, if you step out the laundry door. The window down there is the en-suite.
And lastly, 'my' bathroom. Mine, by virtue of having a bath shower, not simply a shower!
Ok, so that's the house. I really love it, it's so spacious and new (obviously not brand new but that makes it cosier). It's just... tempting to buy all new things to complete it, even though WE HAVE stuff which is arriving any day now! But it's not NEW shiny stuff... such a compulsion!
We so far have a pet spider, who I've named Hurry-Scurry. I've watched this thing move around the house, it obviously moves mostly during the night cos every morning I do a head count and try find it and it's always somewhere totally different from where it was the previous night. I've grown 'accustomed' to it being here, because it doesn't run like hell now. I don't know if it's sickly or what, but it doesn't run away anymore... I've decided I am going to try become acquainted with it, because apparently they live 2 years and grow huge (10cm leg-span), so by the time this thing gets that big I'll be used to it... here's hoping! I've just been thrown a wobbly though as ANOTHER one has come into the house (from the garage, I think), and this one is NOT used to us and runs like hell and generally acts scarily! Watch this space.
Here is a pic of Hurry-Scurry:
Apart from these happenings, so far we have also: received a speeding fine which isn't actually for us (the system is obviously automated, and linked to the numberplate, because the transgression occurred before we even testdrove the car!), had a smelly car cos it rained in the day we moved in (gotta get that seen to, luckily it's covered by both statutory and manufacturer's warranty), bought couches, bought a dining room table + chairs, and also, fallen in love.
While window shopping and finding our way around G&E&E's neighbouring suburbs (which contain a good-sized mall), we of COURSE had to pop into any pet stores we found. In one was a batch of cute budgies, one particular one unbearably cute. Needless to say I fell hugely in love, but couldn't buy the bird because we didn't have a home of our own at that stage, and once we did we had to wait to hear from the rental agents whether it was ok for us to have a budgie. In the interim, I bought a birdcage+accessories, for 'in case' we got the go ahead - it's not like the bird cage would pass an expiry date or anything!
Finally, we got a 'yes', and almost race through to buy the bird but had too many things to do before we could go to the petshop. Eventually we got there and YIPPEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE, the birdie was still there!
She/he came home in a small little box:
As soon as we got home, the cage was set up and the little fluffball was released into the cage. A sleepy little budgie after the strangeness of a car drive in the dark!
The next morning, someone was looking a lot more perky:
So far he/she doesn't have a name yet, nor are we sure of his/her gender. For now, the name is Bird (or Birdalird, or Pie Pie, or Piebird, etc), and it's possibly a boy. With this colour combination, it might be that if it's a boy the cere won't go blue but will stay mauve, and it'd go whitish-pink/brown if it's a female. We will have to wait and see.
I've been taking Bird out of the cage every now and then, getting it used to hands/sitting on a finger, and he/she is very timid, much like Tsiek. I think it's a trait of this colour combination (recessed pied), but hopefully I can show Bird over time that NOT EVERYTHING IS SCARY! At least he/she is happy enough for now, and sings away merrily when we play music.
And finally, a pic of Bird, on finger:
Other exciting things that are exciting here:
We have free TV which we can watch on my laptop by plugging into the jack in the wall (26 stations!)
Delivery people phone the day before, the morning before and 20mins before delivery to confirm... so refreshing after SA delivery people's absolute disinterest and slackness.
Self-service checkouts ROCK!
The dirt trucks here are automatic. There's just one person - the driver - and he manoeuvres the truck so that he can activate the 'arm' which picks up and tips the bin and puts it back. None of SA's dirty, noisy trucks squealing to a stop by a pile of bins, with about 7 guys jumping off the back, wrangling the bins into position so the truck can tip them, then wheeling them back quickly, jumping back up and clinging to the truck and whistling to let the driver know he can drive off. No neighbourhoodfuls of dogs barking their heads off at the commotion, just one single, quiet truck going about its business. Ahhhhhh! First world!
On every second bin-day, they pick up recycling... yes, recycling is established and functioning here, and I'm amazed daily by just how much packaging is used for things and just discarded. We've had an extra share though, what with new furniture etc!
Apart from infrastructure stuff, I'm loving it here because the weather is lovely. It can get humid and muggy, but it's such a welcome change from the CT weather where the second the Southeaster blows you need to pull on a poloneck etc. And because they have fly-screen gauze over the windows, you can have the windows open and not get munched to death by mosquitoes! Yippee!!
Ok lemme sign off for now, this blogpost is plenty long enough!!
Ciao!
Firstly, we moved in on the Monday after I blogged. It was an incredibly hot, humid day, and there was no electricity. The house was UNBEARABLY hot inside, and what made it worse was the presence of ceiling fans and an aircon, tauntingly sitting motionless while we melted. Thankfully the electricity guy arrived in the early hours of the afternoon, so we were hooked up and relieved almost instantly.
Afterwards, we went back to G&E&E's place to fetch our stuff (we'd gone straight to the house without any bags/etc after signing the lease so the electricity could be hooked up), and we were caught in the beginning of a thunderstorm. We managed to get to our place ok, and into the garage (I see now why people have remote-controlled garage doors!!!), we were home, safe and dry. And more than a little relieved: peace, quiet, our own space.
And boy do we have space now. I'm going to attach a couple of pics (they are from the rental agents' listing hence the emptiness of the house), just to give you a view into our as yet not fully furnished world.
Above is a different pic of the front of the house. On the other side of the fence you can see is a bicycle path - this place is a maze of walking/cycle tracks, so G and I are going to get nice and fit I'm sure!
This is a view of the back garden. It's half grass, half weeds, and G has taken on the task of weeding it over the months. The grass that is growing there is very nice though, so it should be rewarding once it's done. I just hope the rental agency doesn't restrict us to a '6 months lease only' so we'd have to move out!
This is a view of from the front of the lounge looking towards the back of the house. You can see the patio, half-circled by the windows/sliding door, and to the left is the dining area and the passageway into the bedrooms/bathroom/loo area. Off the left of the picture are the garage door and the main bedroom (which has an en-suite).
This is what you see if you walk across the lounge and stand where the carpet and tiles meet. The semi-circle windows/sliding door onto the patio are on the right. This is the kitchen (and you can just see the laundry through there), plus the passageway and bedroom 2.
This is the dining area, with the semi-circle windows/sliding door onto the patio on the right (you can just see one of them).
This is the view from the windows/sliding door, across the patio. That's the same fence seen in the first pic - bike track on the other side.
This is the view looking back towards the house - in the direction of the lounge/to the front of the house. I'm looking forward to having a set of outdoor chairs + table to have evening drinks out there!
The kitchen, across from the semi-circle windows/sliding door. The place came with the dishwasher + oven/stove, plus the blind + faded curtain LOL.
Another view of the kitchen.
The view back down the side of the house, if you step out the laundry door. The window down there is the en-suite.
And lastly, 'my' bathroom. Mine, by virtue of having a bath shower, not simply a shower!
Ok, so that's the house. I really love it, it's so spacious and new (obviously not brand new but that makes it cosier). It's just... tempting to buy all new things to complete it, even though WE HAVE stuff which is arriving any day now! But it's not NEW shiny stuff... such a compulsion!
We so far have a pet spider, who I've named Hurry-Scurry. I've watched this thing move around the house, it obviously moves mostly during the night cos every morning I do a head count and try find it and it's always somewhere totally different from where it was the previous night. I've grown 'accustomed' to it being here, because it doesn't run like hell now. I don't know if it's sickly or what, but it doesn't run away anymore... I've decided I am going to try become acquainted with it, because apparently they live 2 years and grow huge (10cm leg-span), so by the time this thing gets that big I'll be used to it... here's hoping! I've just been thrown a wobbly though as ANOTHER one has come into the house (from the garage, I think), and this one is NOT used to us and runs like hell and generally acts scarily! Watch this space.
Here is a pic of Hurry-Scurry:
Apart from these happenings, so far we have also: received a speeding fine which isn't actually for us (the system is obviously automated, and linked to the numberplate, because the transgression occurred before we even testdrove the car!), had a smelly car cos it rained in the day we moved in (gotta get that seen to, luckily it's covered by both statutory and manufacturer's warranty), bought couches, bought a dining room table + chairs, and also, fallen in love.
While window shopping and finding our way around G&E&E's neighbouring suburbs (which contain a good-sized mall), we of COURSE had to pop into any pet stores we found. In one was a batch of cute budgies, one particular one unbearably cute. Needless to say I fell hugely in love, but couldn't buy the bird because we didn't have a home of our own at that stage, and once we did we had to wait to hear from the rental agents whether it was ok for us to have a budgie. In the interim, I bought a birdcage+accessories, for 'in case' we got the go ahead - it's not like the bird cage would pass an expiry date or anything!
Finally, we got a 'yes', and almost race through to buy the bird but had too many things to do before we could go to the petshop. Eventually we got there and YIPPEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE, the birdie was still there!
She/he came home in a small little box:
As soon as we got home, the cage was set up and the little fluffball was released into the cage. A sleepy little budgie after the strangeness of a car drive in the dark!
The next morning, someone was looking a lot more perky:
So far he/she doesn't have a name yet, nor are we sure of his/her gender. For now, the name is Bird (or Birdalird, or Pie Pie, or Piebird, etc), and it's possibly a boy. With this colour combination, it might be that if it's a boy the cere won't go blue but will stay mauve, and it'd go whitish-pink/brown if it's a female. We will have to wait and see.
I've been taking Bird out of the cage every now and then, getting it used to hands/sitting on a finger, and he/she is very timid, much like Tsiek. I think it's a trait of this colour combination (recessed pied), but hopefully I can show Bird over time that NOT EVERYTHING IS SCARY! At least he/she is happy enough for now, and sings away merrily when we play music.
And finally, a pic of Bird, on finger:
Other exciting things that are exciting here:
We have free TV which we can watch on my laptop by plugging into the jack in the wall (26 stations!)
Delivery people phone the day before, the morning before and 20mins before delivery to confirm... so refreshing after SA delivery people's absolute disinterest and slackness.
Self-service checkouts ROCK!
The dirt trucks here are automatic. There's just one person - the driver - and he manoeuvres the truck so that he can activate the 'arm' which picks up and tips the bin and puts it back. None of SA's dirty, noisy trucks squealing to a stop by a pile of bins, with about 7 guys jumping off the back, wrangling the bins into position so the truck can tip them, then wheeling them back quickly, jumping back up and clinging to the truck and whistling to let the driver know he can drive off. No neighbourhoodfuls of dogs barking their heads off at the commotion, just one single, quiet truck going about its business. Ahhhhhh! First world!
On every second bin-day, they pick up recycling... yes, recycling is established and functioning here, and I'm amazed daily by just how much packaging is used for things and just discarded. We've had an extra share though, what with new furniture etc!
Apart from infrastructure stuff, I'm loving it here because the weather is lovely. It can get humid and muggy, but it's such a welcome change from the CT weather where the second the Southeaster blows you need to pull on a poloneck etc. And because they have fly-screen gauze over the windows, you can have the windows open and not get munched to death by mosquitoes! Yippee!!
Ok lemme sign off for now, this blogpost is plenty long enough!!
Ciao!
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