Saturday, February 27, 2010
Go Canada Go... we're cheering from Australia!
February 27th, 2010
G'Day Mates!! GO CANADA GO!! We have been watching the Olympics and are very proud to be wearing our Canadian Shirts/Jerseys and colors!!! In fact, we have been watching the Games at work. Our Colleagues have been cheering with us too.
We are very anxious for the rain season to be over. They say it should be over by April. We have not done any hikes or major trips due to the inconsistency of dry weather.
This past week has been busy. Wednesday, we went to Townsville to watch the Crocodiles, the basketball team(NBL). The assistant Coach, Lyndon and his wife, Jude, did the exchange back in 2000. They taught at Sacred and Trinity. The Basketball game was "heaps" of fun. The atmosphere is great!!! We then went down to the players and coaches area for a drink. To all of you who know Jude and Lyndon, they say “HELLO.”
Thursday, was 2 for 1 meals at the Forrest Beach Hotel. (Forrest with 2 r's?)
We went for dinner with 3 other couples. This is the usual on Thursday nights now!!!
Friday, I was back in Townsville for a hearing impaired workshop. It was a great workshop and nice to meet others in the school board. I am really enjoying my time working here. I am really proud to be part of the Ottawa Catholic School Board. We are so far ahead. The schools I am at now are just getting their Learning Enhancement Programs up and running.” This is the equivalent to our Resource. High Needs does yet exist.
JC came to Townsville after he was done work. We then went Jude and Lyndon’s for supper and spent the night with them. Lyndon was on the road with the team but it was nice to chat with Jude and hang out with the kids!! Unfortunately, the Crocs lost and their season is over. We hope to see them in the next few weeks.
Saturday, we went to the Reef HQ Aquarium then to the Brewery Pub to watch CANADA beat Hossa, Charra and the Slovaks!! There was another Canadian watching as well!!! What a close game!!!
We made it home just before dark. We had to pull over as the rain was pretty heavy.
This week is another busy week. We are off to Year 8 Camp up at Lake Tinaroo on the Atherton Tablelands. It is supposed to be beautiful there. We are excited. Hiking, canoeing and much more!!!
We will watch Canada take on USA early Monday am here!!!
G'Day Mates!! GO CANADA GO!! We have been watching the Olympics and are very proud to be wearing our Canadian Shirts/Jerseys and colors!!! In fact, we have been watching the Games at work. Our Colleagues have been cheering with us too.
We are very anxious for the rain season to be over. They say it should be over by April. We have not done any hikes or major trips due to the inconsistency of dry weather.
This past week has been busy. Wednesday, we went to Townsville to watch the Crocodiles, the basketball team(NBL). The assistant Coach, Lyndon and his wife, Jude, did the exchange back in 2000. They taught at Sacred and Trinity. The Basketball game was "heaps" of fun. The atmosphere is great!!! We then went down to the players and coaches area for a drink. To all of you who know Jude and Lyndon, they say “HELLO.”
Thursday, was 2 for 1 meals at the Forrest Beach Hotel. (Forrest with 2 r's?)
We went for dinner with 3 other couples. This is the usual on Thursday nights now!!!
Friday, I was back in Townsville for a hearing impaired workshop. It was a great workshop and nice to meet others in the school board. I am really enjoying my time working here. I am really proud to be part of the Ottawa Catholic School Board. We are so far ahead. The schools I am at now are just getting their Learning Enhancement Programs up and running.” This is the equivalent to our Resource. High Needs does yet exist.
JC came to Townsville after he was done work. We then went Jude and Lyndon’s for supper and spent the night with them. Lyndon was on the road with the team but it was nice to chat with Jude and hang out with the kids!! Unfortunately, the Crocs lost and their season is over. We hope to see them in the next few weeks.
Saturday, we went to the Reef HQ Aquarium then to the Brewery Pub to watch CANADA beat Hossa, Charra and the Slovaks!! There was another Canadian watching as well!!! What a close game!!!
We made it home just before dark. We had to pull over as the rain was pretty heavy.
This week is another busy week. We are off to Year 8 Camp up at Lake Tinaroo on the Atherton Tablelands. It is supposed to be beautiful there. We are excited. Hiking, canoeing and much more!!!
We will watch Canada take on USA early Monday am here!!!
Sunday, February 14, 2010
Saturday, February 13, 2010
Adventures Around Northern Queensland feb. 14th, 2010
February 14th, 2010
Happy Valentine’s Day!!!
Another week has flown by and we are still alive. Lynds would be jealous of the fruit and the garden. Every time I go out to the yard I think of her. We have been eating different fruits from our yard.
This week we ventured out a little. Tuesday, we drove into Townsville, about an hour from here and the closest major city. We went for dinner at Cactus Jacks, a well known Mexican restaurant then to a movie. We went to see Invicus. A Rugby movie with Matt Damon and Morgan Freeman who plays Nelson Mandela. It was a good intro to Rugby.
On Wednesday at Gilroy there was a launch of the Indigenous Heritage Project. The project recognizes the Warrgamaygan, Nywaigi and Banjin people as the traditional owners of the Great Herbert River. This project is taking place across the school board here.
On Thursday at Abergowire it was the induction of the leaders of the college. It was very moving, powerful and an experience to watch and listen to the boys.
We were supposed to go out for dinner in Forest Beach, about 25 minutes from our house with 2 other couples from Abergowrie and Gilroy but it had been raining all day and the rivers were getting high. We were scared we wouldn’t make it back in. The other 2 couples live in Forest Beach so they still went. At the hotel in Forest Beach it is 2 for 1 dinners and it is delicious. Next week!!! I have a feeling it will become a Thursday evening outing!!
JC and I also made the Herbert River Express. It is the local newspaper. It’s thin and cost about one dollar. Our pictures were in the paper as new teachers to Gilroy and because we are on the exchange. Annette is famous here and we are too because of her!!
Friday night we went to Forest Beach for a walk and to have fish and chips. The best fish and chips ever. Dad, Chantal and Yannick would love them. Of course, we ate on the beach!! Chantal would like that part too!!!
Saturday we were supposed to go to Magnetic Island for the night but the weather was rain all weekend. We were able to cancel and have 6 months to use our reservation. So, we got up early, spoke to Pauline and off we went into Townsville. We went to the local Mall and shopped around. Bought a few things we needed, such as sun hats, good coffee and a GPS that is easy to use. We went for lunch at a little Pasta Eatery; it seems to be that at small unique restaurants you order and pay at the same time. There is no tipping here. It seems expensive when you pay but you aren’t leaving a tip. We had a great lunch then went to see Avatar in 3D, it was a great movie. Afterwards we went to the Strand, a big beach area with hotels, restaurants, a casino and much, much more. On Fridays, they have a market as well. We walked about 5km’s checking it out. It was very pretty and lots to explore. Lots of tourist go there as well. Un Gros Bonne Fete to Sebastien in Sudbury. Go Sens Go et Pittsburgh!
Sunday, JC made me breaky and off we went again, exploring. We went up to Wallaman Falls. It is about an hour from here. A big, winding road up to the mountains and to see the Falls. See pictures on blog.
We then went to Forest Beach for lunch and a walk on the beach. It was great!! Yes, we celebrated the fact that I am 30!!! We came home and about 10 minutes later there was another huge thunder storm!!! That tops off the week!!!
We have managed to see the Opening Ceremonies of the Olympics and trying to catch the events. GO CANADA GO!!!
Bye for Now,
Lots of Love from the Land Down Under,
Melissa & JC
Happy Valentine’s Day!!!
Another week has flown by and we are still alive. Lynds would be jealous of the fruit and the garden. Every time I go out to the yard I think of her. We have been eating different fruits from our yard.
This week we ventured out a little. Tuesday, we drove into Townsville, about an hour from here and the closest major city. We went for dinner at Cactus Jacks, a well known Mexican restaurant then to a movie. We went to see Invicus. A Rugby movie with Matt Damon and Morgan Freeman who plays Nelson Mandela. It was a good intro to Rugby.
On Wednesday at Gilroy there was a launch of the Indigenous Heritage Project. The project recognizes the Warrgamaygan, Nywaigi and Banjin people as the traditional owners of the Great Herbert River. This project is taking place across the school board here.
On Thursday at Abergowire it was the induction of the leaders of the college. It was very moving, powerful and an experience to watch and listen to the boys.
We were supposed to go out for dinner in Forest Beach, about 25 minutes from our house with 2 other couples from Abergowrie and Gilroy but it had been raining all day and the rivers were getting high. We were scared we wouldn’t make it back in. The other 2 couples live in Forest Beach so they still went. At the hotel in Forest Beach it is 2 for 1 dinners and it is delicious. Next week!!! I have a feeling it will become a Thursday evening outing!!
JC and I also made the Herbert River Express. It is the local newspaper. It’s thin and cost about one dollar. Our pictures were in the paper as new teachers to Gilroy and because we are on the exchange. Annette is famous here and we are too because of her!!
Friday night we went to Forest Beach for a walk and to have fish and chips. The best fish and chips ever. Dad, Chantal and Yannick would love them. Of course, we ate on the beach!! Chantal would like that part too!!!
Saturday we were supposed to go to Magnetic Island for the night but the weather was rain all weekend. We were able to cancel and have 6 months to use our reservation. So, we got up early, spoke to Pauline and off we went into Townsville. We went to the local Mall and shopped around. Bought a few things we needed, such as sun hats, good coffee and a GPS that is easy to use. We went for lunch at a little Pasta Eatery; it seems to be that at small unique restaurants you order and pay at the same time. There is no tipping here. It seems expensive when you pay but you aren’t leaving a tip. We had a great lunch then went to see Avatar in 3D, it was a great movie. Afterwards we went to the Strand, a big beach area with hotels, restaurants, a casino and much, much more. On Fridays, they have a market as well. We walked about 5km’s checking it out. It was very pretty and lots to explore. Lots of tourist go there as well. Un Gros Bonne Fete to Sebastien in Sudbury. Go Sens Go et Pittsburgh!
Sunday, JC made me breaky and off we went again, exploring. We went up to Wallaman Falls. It is about an hour from here. A big, winding road up to the mountains and to see the Falls. See pictures on blog.
We then went to Forest Beach for lunch and a walk on the beach. It was great!! Yes, we celebrated the fact that I am 30!!! We came home and about 10 minutes later there was another huge thunder storm!!! That tops off the week!!!
We have managed to see the Opening Ceremonies of the Olympics and trying to catch the events. GO CANADA GO!!!
Bye for Now,
Lots of Love from the Land Down Under,
Melissa & JC
Sunday, February 7, 2010
Hinchinbrook Island, we live 5 minutes from this scenic view. We will travel to Hinchinbrook at one point.
Over looking Hinchinbrook Island
Broadwater National Park
Our '95 Holden
The Jetty...look out...Crocs
Weekend #2 in Ingham, Australia is almost over! We were able to do a little more exploring this weekend. Friday, we picked up our car and went to Lucinda for a drive. It is about 20 minutes from us. There is a Jetty and a beach there. No swimming though due to Crocs. We got home just in time for a BBQ and a massive thunder storm. We have never heard thunder like we heard it on Friday. I was actually scared.
Saturday, we went to Broadwater National Park. We went with Kristina Cerroni and her boyfriend Graham. The swimming was very refreshing and the water was clear, clear. Lots of people swimming. Very hot. The grade 9's from Abergowrie were there on an outing. Already running into students!! We spent the entire afternoon there.
Sunday, did yard work and the usual house chores, except it is is summer chores. I actually went to read my book on the porch and fell asleep on the lounger!! It was great!!
We managed to book 2 trips. One next weekend. We are going to Magnetic Island. It is a ferry ride out of Townsville. Townsville is about an hour from here. In April, our break, we booked a trip to Tasmania and we will stay in Sydney on the way back for the weekend.
Until next time.......
Thursday, February 4, 2010
Feelin' HOT, HOT, HOT!!!
Thursday, February 4th, 2010
We are almost at the end of week 2. It has been sunny and hot here. No rain. It has been a busy week. We bought a car, 1995 Holden. It has 140,000 km’s and had A/C. Runs great and the best part it was only $ 2,800. The insurance was easy to get as well. We are set and can start touring around the cute little places around us. People either buy expensive cars or cheap ones. They also run longer. We are happy and got good advice on the car from colleagues at work. Tuesday and Wednesday we were out both nights. Info night at Gilroy and my principal from Abergowrie took us out for a nice dinner. I can’t even begin to explain Abergowrie. I love it and it is a great experience, way too much to write in an email but when I get permission I will send pictures. Ask Annette if you’re really keen to know details for now this is a little intro..... It is a boarding school for all boys. The boys come from various Islands and live there. Some of them never had primary school so they are very low and behavioural. Look the school up to give yourself a better outlook. The website is www.abergowrie.qld.edu.au
Our bodies have adjusted and we have had a BBQ every night with fresh fruit and vegetables. This weekend we plan to do a day trip with Kristina and Graham. We are planning on my birthday weekend to head to Magnetic Island, it’s not far and our first break in April we are planning on going to Tasmania.
We watched the Sens with our students on the web. Mine loved it and I also showed them the snow and our ski pictures. You could hear a pin drop in the class. They loved the stories and looking at the pictures. JC’s kids well....I think he was more excited than they were. Go Sens Go!!! Wow, we leave the country and they start winning!!! That’s it for now!! I am sweating just sitting here. We have a/c in our room and there are ceiling fans but it is hot!!! Hope all is well in the cold!!! J
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