Windy Walks

One of our favourite things to do as a family is to drive down and take a walk along the coast.  It is absolutely beautiful.  You are surrounded by God's gorgeous creation, beautiful ocean, multiple coffee shops to stop at, playgrounds for the kiddos, and usually a nice breeze. 

Some days the breeze can be a little stronger than normal.

Tilly sporting the windblown look.

Here is Nate mesmerised by the big waves coming in.  We are convinced Nate is going to be a daredevil.  We walked into a bookstore the other day and he went right up to the surfing and skateboarding section and didn't want to leave.  

Nate fixated on the waves.

These are those special, yet simple, moments that mean so much to our family. Sometimes it's easy to let things like this slip in the busyness of life.  We schedule in as much as we possibly can with work, sports, kids commitments, and helping others that days can go by without sitting down and having a proper conversation together.  It can become easy to not take the time to just be together enjoying each others company without other distractions.

It's so good for the little people, and big people too, to get outside, get some of that good ole' Vitamin D that so many people are now deficient in, and let their hair down.  How often do we just sit, or walk around, and just absorb the beauty and majesty of this world God created.

Trying not to get blown away.  

The kids love the ocean, watching the waves crash in, spotting surfers, and being on the lookout for animals.  

Now you know where she gets the crazy hair.

Outings like this leave me feeling refreshed.  I don't know whether it's the nice salty air or just spending those precious moments with my favourite people but it bring my focus back to what's important and gives me that peaceful easy feeling :)

In case her hair isn't hard enough to comb out. 

 It is a great way for the whole family to get out, get some fresh air, and enjoy some exercise.  We try to make it a point to have physical activity together as a family on most days, even if it's just a walk around the neighbourhood.  

Not everyone is blessed to have such an amazing ocean so close by, but there is always some beautiful to see if you just get out there to see it.  Go have so quality time with your people, you won't regret it.

What sorts of things do you and yours like doing together?  

Fauna

When most people think of Australian animals there are two that typically pop up first, kangaroos and koalas.  These two, I have to admit are pretty amazing creatures, but Australia  in chock-a-block (another aussie slang word for you) with interesting, unusual animals that you can only find here.


There are animals that you are sure God made just out of left over parts that were lying around.

Animals that look like they must be a direct descendants to dinosaurs.  This is a Cassowary.  We were able to see them in a wildlife park in Cairns, Queensland, which is their native habitat, the rainforest.  Sidenote:  These birds make the strangest drumming vibrations in their chest when they get angry.

 These Gallah's are very common around here and happen to be Tilly's favourite bird, why you ask?  because they are pink of course. :)

Another aussie animal we were able to get up-close and personal with in Cairns were salt water crocs, aka salties.  These monsters kill people.  In northern Australia you don't go swimming in any billabong or river you happen to come across.  These are one of the few creatures on earth that actually hunt people, they see us as potential prey.

Australia's very own turkey, the bush turkey, though I don't think anyone stuffs these for dinner.

Finally. . . .


 No animal post on Australia would be complete without our two Australian icons.

Koalas are one of my absolute favourites.  Their fur is incredibly soft and they smell like Eucalyptus.  They are the only animal I know of that you want to smell their breath.

Then of course there is the Kangaroo.

In Western Australia we see lots of roos.  We see them driving to the shops, when we are out bush-walking, at cemeteries, golf courses, and pretty much anywhere you have open space and grass to eat.  Don't get me wrong they aren't hopping through our neighbourhood, but we don't have to drive very far to get a peak at these Australian icons.

There is also a park that is a few minutes away that is a wildlife centre only for native animals.  It is one of the must see sites when we have visitors because it gives them a true taste of Australia.  You can get up close and personal with the kangaroos, pet a koala, crack a whip, swing a billy, and get to view lots of Aussie wildlife.

Nathan with a wallaby

Australia is chock-full of amazing animals that you can't witness anywhere else.  Come on over and see, we'll put you up.  

Ode to OZ

Aussie Slang 101

A few of you have read  a bit of Aussie slang before with the hubbies website, for you this will be a boost for your memories. :)

I think some of our friends and family are a bit dismayed that we don't have more of an Australian accent, but it's mainly because we revert back when we are home.  In every day life here we have found more and more Australian terminology and rhythm of speaking slipping into our conversations.  The following words are ones that we use here every day.  They are words that have replaced their American counterparts in our vocab.


First tip, if you read Aussies and pronounced it with an S you sound like an American.  If you wanna sound like an Australian pronounce the "ss" as "zz"  like "Ozzie".

1.  Good-on-ya:  One of my favourite Australian sayings, used to tell people, 'good job'.  You say it quickly like one word.  Funny thing is that Aussies often shorten even more to 'On ya, mate!'.

2. Flat out -- the whole phrase is actually "Flat out like a lizard drinking"  but people tend to only say flat out, it's means crazy busy.

3.  Strewth-  a form of exclamation when someone or something surprises you.

4.  Ranga-  a nickname for a redhead

5. Pram -- stroller

6.  Whoop-whoop--  far away, in the south we would say they live out in the sticks

7.  knickies-- short for knickers though they pronounce it more like knickahs, it's really cute when Tilly talks about getting her knickies on.  This lends to the popular saying, 'Don't get your knickies in a twist!'.

8.  brekky-- short for breakfast

9.  arvo- short for afternoon

10. ooroo (also sometimes pronounce hooroo)-- means goodbye or see you later.  This is an example of slang developed in the country areas, so its commonly heard in the outback, but rarely in the city.

11. Ta- Thank you, usually used for just a small thanks

12.  Dummy-- pacifier

13.  Nappies-- Diapers

14.   And last of all (this is not one that I use, but thought it was funny)  :  nurse--

When we had Matilda, I  had one of those experiences you sometimes have while living in a foreign country, where you hear a word you know used completely differently that it takes you a minute to compute.  An older man in our congregation was holding Matilda and one of the ladies came up and said "Isn't it cute seeing Ron giving Tilly a nurse" I stopped short because for me, nurse had always been associated with breastfeeding so to hear it used in this context brought a smile to my face.  Here it is used in the broader sense of holding/cuddling a baby.  I still kind of crack up inside when I hear people use nurse in this way.


Venture forth and add a little Aussie slang to your day, see if anyone notices or gives you strange looks, let me know if you were success.

All things OZ

Australia is an amazing place.  Next week (November 16th)  we will have been here 6 years.  In so many ways it has flown by, and yet it doesn't feel that long ago that my knees were shaking as we were waiting in line at customs to walk through and meet the people and place we were dedicating the next few years of our lives too.

It has been the the most challenging and rewarding adventure of my life.  I remember, at the beginning of our time here,  Eddie and I would look at each other and say we can do anything for two years (which was our initial commitment).  Little did we know then that 6 years would quickly pass and here we would remain.

The next week and a half will be dedicated to our lives here in Australia.   People often ask us what are the things we like about Australia, and what are the major differences we notice.  It is not really the big things that make living here so different, those are the things that you are prepared for, it's more the 1000's of little things that really make you feel like you are living worlds away.

A couple of things I never get tired of seeing:


1.  It still surprises me to see colourful exotic birds flying outside our home, or around us when we are out at the park.

This is a red winged cockatoo

This handsome devil is a rainbow loorikeet

2.  I still find it fascinating that we get to see kangaroos and how plentiful they are around here.  As you drive to the shops you see them out lounging in fields like you would see deer back home.  I never get tired of watching them hop away either.

In all things Oz week what would you like to hear about?  Food?  More on animals?  Aussie slang?  The church here?  What brought us here?