Trick or Treat

I suddenly rea lised last week when shopping that it was Halloween in a few days.
Quickly we grabbed some packets of chips and lollies that were done up espeacialy for Halloween.

The last couple of years, the numbers has fallen off but never know how many kids are going to turn up.

No one had been when we sat down to dinner at around six oclock, last year kids started coming about five.

In the space of forty five minutes we had emptied the box of chips, the candy canes and almost all of the lollies. There were groups of kids who came together with a parent or two standing on the roadside, we live in a dead end street so very little traffic.

One little girl about three thanked me for the candy that I gave her and turned to go then she came back and said something which I didnt understand. Her bigger brother was trying to get her to go and told us that she asked for it to be opened. We told her to take it home. "Okay" she said and run off to Mum.

Steam punk

We topped off our flying visit to New Zealand by visiting the headquarters of Steam punk. What an interesting place, it was darkish, it seemed eerie and it was different.

I didnt take my camera so no photos but can goggle it.

At the event, some were dressed in steam punk outfits.

Last weeks project

We talk about things that we want to do in the house and often the projects get parked as,

A we dont have the materials handy to do it.

B run out of time

C cant be bothered at this point.

When we bought the new chairs and curtains for the family area which we use for breakfast, we had discussed putting up a shelf with a few things on it. It hadn't happened and it is incredible to think that the other stuff was done and purchased a year ago. After we got home from holidays, I said that it was something that needed to be done.

I bought the heads and snails for a geo caching thing and they wont be staying there. What we want is some glass bottles in greeny blue colours but we havent seen anything that will suit as yet. One project down now if I can just organize for the water feature to be finished I will be a happy camper.

Body Scan!

Well, I have really stepped up now. Flying out to new Zealand on Friday night and in the line up to have our luggage scanned and guess who gets called thru for a body scan, yep me!

Over the years of flying I have had the wand passed over me several times, pulled aside for a pat down, had my handbag swabbed with the wand. These have not been at the same time.

Leaving Canada last month, both my hands were swabbed and tested. The body scan was the quickest and least hassle.

I just think its funny and have wondered if it is because most people my age dont use a back pack but on Friday I took a small suitcase rather than a back pack. Not for that reason but I thought it may be easier to handle as it has wheels. It was okay but both can be annoying at times. Bag with wheels could be wheeled but from the car park into the hotel the ground was rocky and so it needed to be carried. Used the stairs to the room and needed to be carried, did wheel it to the lift to go down. easier to see what and where things are in rather than digging around in a back pack. At least it only weighed 6 kgs so not much to lift around.

No Phone !

I thought it was only teenagers who were attached to their phones.

Last weekend I had left my phone at work and so I was phoneless all weekend, l neededto use it when out and so had to borrow Warren's "sack of hammers".

His is different to mine and I turned it off a couple of times when I grabbed it. Thank goodness I was able to collect it on Monday.

Weekend just gone I spent in New Zealand and yes, my phone was with me! However for some reason I couldnt switch it over to International roaming so although I had it, I couldnt use it as a phone or gps. It came in handy for seeing the time and a few photos.

Have just spent three hours logging in what I did on the weekend, normally I would do it on the fly as it were.

Cockroaches!

Yuck, I hate the things.Word is that they are full of protein and would be a good food source! i would rather starve than eat one of them.

I was emptying out a drawer the other day in the bedroom and took the drawer out and placed it on the bed. next thing i see is a cockroach run up the side of the drawer, across the bed onto the floor and under a cupboard! Right, I thought as I went to get the bug spray, I think I emptied half a can. Didn't see it again so can only hope that it is no more.

We had only that morning bought cockroach baits to put around the house as when I took the vacuum cleaner out of the cupboards I saw one and realised that it had to be about a year old at least. The new ones were of course still in the packaging and on the bench.  They were placed around that afternoon.

1.  Arent they just the ugliest thing? I remember when we first came to Brisbane, i opened a drawer and one run over my hand, as I had two hands on the drawer, I just threw it across the room (the drawer).  I had never seen a cockroach before then, living south it was too cold for them. I am sure that the one the other day was much bigger than this picture.
2. 
   

Tractor Driving.

I was asked to do a couple of days work last week and one of the class that I went to was an Ag science class with boys that I first met three years ago. The boys were at best what one would call "ratty" then and we had a few run ins where I wanted them to pay attention, stop talking, write notes etc etc, you get the drift. I have had several meetings with them since either through classes or just seeing them around.

On Thursday, I was helping transplant seedlings into bigger pots while some of the class when and drove the tractor for the first time. Apparently only half of the class had driven it before.

We finished the plantings in double quick time and then went and watched. Each kid had to get onto the tractor, start it, lower the bucket, move it forward and then return to the starting spot. They only used one forward gear and then reverse gear and moved it about five metres before handing over to the next student.



Friday, I was with them again and the tractor was driven down into a paddock and the teacher set up a track for them. he showed them first what they needed to do. Start, raise bucket and go around witches hats in a figure of eight and then back it up between two others hats, which only had a clearance of about ten cms each side.

The above picture is as close as I could find, the size and bucket is about the same but there was nothing on the back.

I was so impressed with these kids, they have certainly matured, there was no silliness and all that drove, before the end of class, managed to complete the task. The teacher did have a portable kill devise should he need it but it was not used. a couple forgot to put the bucket down on the ground before turning off but the actual driving, figure eight and backing couldn't be faulted.

Chinese Dishes

We saw some photos of our canteen food from when we were in China.

Warren said to me that he had forgotten how good it was. he favourite dish was Egg and Tomato over rice and another one was called Twice cooked pork. I have never tried to make that one but I can do the egg and tomato one.

This was our dinner the other night.

There were three of us for dinner that night, I had an omelette with just a bit of egg and tomato as I am not eating rice at the moment.

He said it was good but not as good as he remembered from China.

First trip to the beach

Feeling a bit blah the other day so decided to visit the beach with Lucy. It had been raining and she had not been able to go for her usual walk.

She had been here before about this time last year and Warren had carried her down the steps to the sand but the tide was in and we couldnt go any further.

Saturday she bounded down the steps with no problems and there was between one and metres of sand before the sea water. I had not noticed before how noisy the sea is, Lucy did and she was not that happy about the noise.

She kept very close to us and the rock wall.

After a walk along the beach, either way, as the tide was coming in we couldnt go too far, we bought fish and chips and sat up on the lawned area.

Warren threw our excess chips to the seagulls.
It was a very grey day, we were lucky not to have been rained on as it came down quite heavy as we were driving home and two days later it is still raining on and off.

Ketichan Alaska

This was my favourite place to stop on our cruise. It rains 360 days of the year. we had booked to see Lumberjack show as we both love seeing men with axes at shows etc and this seemed to be similar.

we were able to walk off the ship and were directed to the show by agents on the wharf. We had to walk one block down and then two blocks up and we were there.

The arena was under cover but still open, the loggers were in the open, seats were tiered so everyone got a good view. The spruker came out and introduced himself and then told us about the weather, it was spitting rain at the time. He announced that was 'Ketichan Sprinkles" and not really rain at all.

The audience was divided into two camps, America and Canadian, we were on the side of the Canadians and our two guys were the ones on the right. They completed against each other either one from each team or they combined.

Each time a side won they placed a flag up, I think it was a draw of five each.

The last one was a log roll in water and of course they fell into the water and then one was pushed. It was a good show and even though it was for entertainment, they were very skilled at what they did with the axes and chainsaws.

The sun came out and it stayed clear all day, even the locals were out taking photos.

A Furry thing

A friend runs a store in Canada, she calls it a junk shop but it is very well laid out and she has done quite well with it.

We had visited them on a Sunday when she wasn't working and as it was forecast to rain she wasn't going out buying so it was a good time to visit. She buys things at garage sales and auction sales to stock her store.

When we decided to go down island again and would be passing her store, we dropped in for a quick visit and a tour of her store. She gave me this, a friend makes them, they are all different and are a protective lucky charm.

She was keen to give me one and I didn't like to refuse it but I didn't know if it would get through customs. We decided to try and if it was taken off us, so be it. We marked on our form that we had it, we also had maple syrup that had been a gift from our tour director. Customs officer asked us a couple of things and said that it was no problem. So glad that we decided to try.

Little Big Shots

This is a new TV program that started just as we were leaving for Canada. We watchedfor the first time on Sunday night.

As they advertise, it is not a competition more a showing of talent from kids.

Sunday night there was a nine year violinist who was very good, Shane Jacobson is the compere and he chats to the kids.   After the nine year old played, they brought out his five year old brother and they played a duet.

Next was a family of wrestlers aged between five and fourteen, they had a host of medals and grophies between the five of them. They have an older brother who also wrestles and he referred themwhen they went head to head with each other.

The last boy to come on was a twelve year old who made teddy bears. When he was nine, he wanted to do something for sick kid's so he decided to make these teddy bears. Then he had the idea of making one each day!  He had brought some bears to show and he completed one bear on the show. He said ittook him about an hour to make one. Good grief, I know it would take me much longer than an hour and the bearslooked really good.

Arrgghh! Visas.

Today, being the first day available we travelled into Brisbane to get our visa application started for China. as I had an appointment this morning already, it was around lunch time that we arrived at the  office.

I couldnt believe it, the office was wall to wall people and people were even out in the corridor! What was going on? Then we realised, last week was Golden week in China and of course the office here had been closed, today was the first day back.

We went for lunch, tossing up maybe going back after lunch or another day. Warren thought that it would take hours for everyone to be seen so he is going to go in tomorrow ready for their opening. may still be busy but at least he would be there.

We went to a discount souvenir place and bought an Australian koala to take over for a Chinese friends new baby, yes, it is made in China but they would not have access to anything like that. We were also able to get some resources that we will be able to use with our teaching so not a lost day.

Home, James!

For our last meal with J & S before leaving, we went to an English style pub called The Crow and Gate. Yum, great meal, I had the Stilton plate, like a ploughmans lunch but of course with stilton cheese.

Then it was off to the ferry which would take us back to the mainland and Vancouver. We had a leisurely dinner and then made our way thru to customs and immigration.

I had put my handbag into my back pack to make what I was carrying less. My new jacket has a zip up pocket on each side, so passport and pen in one, phone with travel card in the other. Took the tablet out and put into the tray, lady tells me that I need  to take my jacket off and add that to the tray.

Not a problem, followed another traveller who set off the bleeper when she went thru the doorway. The offical held his hand up to me while he indicated to her to take off her shoes and she had to go thru again, that time was okay.

My turn and it beeps, what!, no metal on me at all. Opps, I get both hands swabbed and had to wait over to the side while they went thru the machine. I was then waved thru, obviously I look sus. It is quite common for me to be called over to the side and either be patted down or a swab go over my carry on, but the hands being swabbed was a new one.

I didnt see anyone else getting that but it is pretty quick to go thru so it could be a regular thing.

Qualicum Beach

Strolling thru town today, it is small but everything is here

Lunch at Baileys, there are several places to lunch or do coffee but we discovered this place and have had a couple of lunches there. It is by the library and some great places to sit outside if the weather is good or there are plenty of seats inside.

Five minutes or so away from town are walking trails.

A block or so from Baileys is an art gallery in the old school house.

Today there was a rabbit feeding on the lawns.

Across from the art gallery is QF which doesnt stand for Qualicum foods like I first thought but Quality Foods. It looks like an ordinary supermarket but it does have lots of to go foods, tonight we had ribs (oh my goodness, they were good!) With Chinese vegetables. Upstairs was like a Wonderland with lots of very upmarket home goodies, there were also several areas to sit and have coffee and or lunch.

We had visited the Thrift store and a second hand book store, there is also a store that sells clothes on consignment. 

Back into Canada.

Border crossing was very painless, there was a bit of a wait but then it was just hand over our passports, couple of questions and we were through.

Stayed the night near the ferry and went across to Vancouver Island in the morning, stopping for home made crab quiche followed by apple crumble, yum.

The scenery from Victoria was stunning and we did a couple of stops at rest areas.

Opps a sideways photo.

Argh, thats better. Winter is coming and can feel the air getting cooler.

A totem pole at the rest area that is on the top of the Mahatma range.

The information board explaining about the totem.

The scene across the valley which was stunning, photo does not do it justice.

Elevation was 1155 feet.

  

Geo caching hq!

Woo hoo, we took atrip to Seattle to visit the head quarters. When we were planning to come to Canada, we were not into geo caching at all, didnt know anything about it.

It has become part of our lives and it is a fun thing to do.

Seattle is so close to where we are staying so of course we would go.

On our way, we had to advise them that we were coming, day and approx time. The building is behind Warren's shoulder.

Here is shaoxingman with waz and vik (ourcaching names) about to enter the office.

We were greeted by Sven who gave us a HQ trackable each and a quick rundown of what is there.

The goodies to buy were on one side and history type stuff are around. There was a photo booth withprops to record our visit. One copy went into the hall of fame there and one was for us to keep. We did a photo of the two of us holding a large round map of the world pointing to Qld.

There was a cache of course with 258 trackables tlsend on their way, one of the first I picked up was a koala so I left that and took another. Bought some goodies, including a jacket which has the logo on it. Warren bought a cap.

Later we visited the Boeing place and we split up the girls and guys going different areas. S and I went thru the space shuttle and were at the cafe first . When the guys caught up they told us that the lady in the space place asked them

if there was a geo caching event happening as it was the second piece of apparel she had seen. Warren told her that no it would have been his wife in a blue jacket.