Update

Just wanted to let you know that I haven't disappeared completely....just moved a long way from Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada!! A quick update on my whereabouts...I moved to Lismore, New South Wales, Australia the end of April. I have a working holiday visa which allows me to stay for a year.

I am living with my boyfriend Rick in a house on a hill overlooking the valley (towards the country not the city). http://www.liscity.nsw.gov.au/view_doc.asp?id=363&cat=134
Pictures to follow when I get them downloaded and posted...

My first three weeks here have been a whirlwind of mini trips places, pigeon shows, setting up house, moving things and meeting people! And the best thing is, neither of us had to work immediately. Although, I am now starting to job hunt and Rick has gone back to work.

The places I have toured are all within driving distance and the town names are different to say the least. For you atlas fiends have fun!!

• We went to Murwillumbah via the infamous town of Nimbin (no we didn't stop to sample) and stayed at a lodge at the base of Mt. Warning (an old volcano now rainforest) Weather prohibited us from climbing to the top of the mountain however, I will do it sometime although it is 8 hours of hiking round trip. The King's Lodge was awesome and if you are interested in checking it out...fell free: http://www.wollumbinpalms.com.au/
• On our trip home again, Rick indulged my fascination with the ocean and we visited a smaller town on the coast called Brunswick Heads for a beach picnic.
• Following that we visited the eastern most point of Australia - Byron Bay went for a look past the lighthouse and took some great pics! Home via Lennox Head (great surfing spot), Ballina then through some smaller villages or suburbs of Lismore Alstonville and Gonnellabah.
• We've had people over for weekend BBQ's or dinners every weekend so am cracking out many different recipes...who knew - you move to a new country and become a famous chef (haha)
• The next trip involved more ocean viewing...we headed south to the fishing towns of Iluka and Yamba (they are on either side of a big river called the Clarence River. We were going to fish off the rocks but it was too windy and dangerous to attempt so we opted for a bit of beach fishing. I have now become a master angler having caught 2 sand whiting. Rick caught an eel (not good) and I also caught a toad fish (poisonous) also not good! It was fun although we should have removed clothing (we were wearing bathing suits underneath) before we got wet – oops! All in good fun. We ate some fresh seafood and stayed overnight in a motel right on the ocean. In the morning whilst enjoying breaky, I saw a couple of dolphins playing in the surf – I was pretty excited!! From now until September, the whales are migrating so there should be lots of spotting to do. I can’t wait to check them out too!
• home via Evans Head (more fishing and beer drinking by me) and stopping in Broadwater visiting Rick’s Granny who lives on a River (maybe called Broadwater) which is quite beautiful although mosquito prone…
• have been watching footie aka Rugby League although not sure if I understand it yet. The jury is out on whether or not I really like to BUT I know I like to drink beer! What a surprise! We may go up to a game on Friday to see the Bulldogs play. If anyone asks – that’s who I go for!!
  

WEATHER

• It is winter here and the days are getting a bit shorter although if the sun is shining is still pretty nice. Min temp 7 C and Max 18-25 C. Not bad for winter eh? The only thing is when the sun goes down, it cools off really quick.
• The farmers are having a drought package put together by the government as inland has been really dry country wide according to the news.
• It is beef week in a town not far from Lismore this week and next – perhaps I’ll check it out. There is an agricultural day with booths etc in Lismore tomorrow so will go there for sure. Can’t wait to see what wild and wonderful things are on display. Will have to charge the camera for sure!!

THANK YOU
To everyone who came to my going away party. I have now purchased a little digital camera and am getting the hang of it taking pictures of lots of things. Now I have to work out the other side…downloading the pics to the computer etc. Good thing I have a bit of time to work on these things…

WEIRD AUSSIE THINGS
This is the part where I tell you about the strange things I have witnessed thus far that are apparently quite normal for this part of the world…

• Streets are not straight nor square…have a look at the town map and you’ll see what I mean. As there are a lot of hills around, the builders (planners?) just built wherever. Let me tell you some of the windiest bits of roads and streets I have ever come across. All in good fun I guess – it keeps you on your toes driving on the wrong side of the road!!
• the mailman rides a little motorbike around and drives over your front lawn to deposit mail in the little box (the mailboxes are not on the door but near the street). Unusual – YES I thought so.
• the garbage collection is weekly for green garbage (food scraps and cardboard – anything biodegradable) and every second week for everything else. There are no blue boxes for recycling pick up at your house only a few collection points around town. So have to re-learn how to sort the trash…who knew?!
• There is only one traffic light in town (of 45,000 people) – instead there are round-abouts. They take some getting used to for sure. As does driving on the wrong side of the road. I have to be honest, I have not tried to drive ‘Canadian’ as Rick calls it but I am guilty of using the windshield wipers instead of the turning signal sometimes…