Australia Day!

I have been thoroughly enjoying summer here in Melbourne. It stays light out until 9:00pm, very unlike winter here where it was still dark at 8:00am and again by 5:00pm. I finally made it to the Melbourne Aquarium and have been enjoying the numerous gardens even more now that the weather is nice. Last weekend was a three day weekend for Australia Day, historically this day marks the arrival of the first British Fleet in 1788, but now it is known for an all day radio broadcast of the Hottest 100 tunes of the previous year, BBQs and beach going.

I went back to the peninsula for Sunday and Monday; this is a shot of me relaxing on the beach. For more photos click on the new link, top right. I only have one week left here in Melbourne, it is truly crazy how time flies!

Holidays.

I spent most of my time over the last two long holiday weekends at Jo & Cam Buick's parents house on the Mornington Peninsula.   It was a very beautiful, relaxing and fun getaway outside of the city.  Highlights include the beach, deliciously cooked meals, desserts and drunken pictionary.  

I only have five weeks to go here in Melbourne and have been trying to squeeze in as much recreation as possible around the 40+ hour work week, the weather has been quite encouraging!   I posted a link to a new photo album on the top right....

Festive banana bread. 

Happy 2009!

Fresh Flowers.

Some flowers I "rescued" to brighten up my apartment:

I first fell in love with these flowers in San Sebastian, Spain...

What are they called, Mom?

Happy Holidays to everyone!

Thanksgiving!

Even though Thanksgiving isn't celebrated here in Australia I couldn't just let it pass by when I have so much to be thankful for.  Neal was able to come to Melbourne for a week visit after a work trip to Asia. We were both very happy to have the time together as we didn't think he'd be able to come back down here during my work holiday.  As we both like to cook we decided to prepared Thanksgiving dinner for some of my Aussie friends.

Neal carving our perfectly prepared bird.  It was roughly 13 pounds and it only took an hour to cook!  We found this video for a 45 minute turkey but since we didn't have a meat thermometer we decided to leave it in for and hour to be safe... If you like roast turkey or chicken you must watch this video:

http://video.nytimes.com/video/2008/11/21/dining/1194833563448/roast-turkey-in-45-mintues.html

A beautiful homemade pumpkin pie baked by our hostess, Jo.  This was a first for the Aussies, which is quite surprising because they eat a lot of pumpkin here but just not as a dessert.  

Stuffing my Dad would be proud of! 

Our group getting ready to devour Thanksgiving dinner.  

Visit with Jamie, Elisa, and Mary Beth.

My oldest and dearest girlfriends visit to Melbourne was everything I had hoped it would be and more.  With only one week with Jamie and Elisa, and two with MB, things continue to fly by at an exceedingly speedy pace.  While the girls were here we had a terrific time exploring Melbourne and on our Great Ocean Road trip.  

Striking a pose at Builders Arms.

 

Enjoying the trampoline's on the beach in Lorne after hours...

With friends at the races.

The girls at Erskine Falls in Lorne. 

Mary Beth and Prior at the "best tram stop in Melbourne"

The girls vacation wouldn't have been the same if wasn't for all my wonderful friends who reconfirmed that Aussie's are super friendly and hospitable by showing us an excellent time daily.  

I had the Monday the girls arrived off of work and Tuesday was a state holiday, the Melbourne Cup Day; the race that stops a nation, but I was up bright and early the rest of the week!  I also took a three day weekend for the Lorne trip.  Work has been busy and going really well.  Thankfully they are flexible because Neal arrives on Thursday and they are letting me take a couple of days off for his visit as well.

I posted a couple of photo albums compiled from a sampling of the 900 shots Elisa, Mary Beth and I took during the holiday.

Heading to the Melbourne Cup!

Pictures!

Me and Neal at Bolsa Chica Beach.  

Thanks to Neal and Maaike for some of the California album photos...

Lily, the birthday girl, and me minus our masks...

Had to go into the field for work...

Stopped to pick these from the canal bank :)

Check out the links to the new albums...  122,000 more words.