The Cockroach Motel

Cockroach IPod
Originally uploaded by ami_arsenault.

I considered changing my name for our house from the "Wee Banana" to the "Cockroach Motel" after I found a few of these guys. Luckily they have all been belly up.
Funnily enough, belly up in no way means they are dead yet. They still move their legs a bit. I covered one with a glass when I saw his legs move (too chicken to stomp on something so big and crunchy looking). While shifting the glass (so I wouldn't trip over it) he flipped right side up. I checked him again in an hour and he was belly up again. What is the deal with that?
I haven't found any smaller than the one pictured. Gavin assures me they are all coming out as a result of the exterminator's visit just before we moved in. I bought a huge can of Raid just in case.

The "Wee Banana"

Coffs-Wee Banana
Originally uploaded by ami_arsenault.

After a bit of searching Gavin and I have found a place to live. It is a little yellow house, which I have named the "Wee Banana". It is a cute little place in a prime location. We are less than five minutes walk from the grocery store, many pubs and restaurants, and the beach. What more could we ask for? Oh, the local brothel is a two minute walk.

Gone Bananas

Sapphire Beach-Clancy8
Originally uploaded by ami_arsenault.

Gavin and I have been in Coffs Harbour for two weeks. It is a small coastal town famous for being home of the "Big Banana", a large fibre glass banana, and a few banana farms. We have been lucky to be staying with a friend of Gavin's family at Sapphire Beach while looking for our own place. The house is pretty much on the beach. While Gavin went to work each day I had the tough job of hanging out at the beach with Clancy, possibly the world's friendliest dog.

Oz Observations #1: A visit to the grocery store

1. Stores don't refrigerate eggs. At our local store eggs are to be found sitting on a shelf next to sweet and sour sauce.
2. They sell McCain products here. If I get a hankering for Superfries or frozen pizza I am all set. Sadly no Deep 'n Delicious cakes.
3. Kiwi fruit are more expensive here than in Canada.
4. They still sell decorative toilet paper here. You can get rolls with dogs, sea shells, flowers, frogs and much more. Perhaps it is still available in Canada but I haven't seen any since the light blue and pink rolls at my friends Danielle and Sarah's house in the early 80s.

Cucina Italiana

Last night Kim, Gavin's sister, and I went to a cooking class at Cucina Italiana. I wasn't sure what to expect. I didn't really think it would be very involved or that I would learn anything I could do at home. Much to my surprise it was quite the opposite. It was a lot of fun too. Most of the dishes were made in front of us by the instructor. Her demonstrations were excellent and she was quick to answer any questions. She showed us how to make Tuscan Antipasti, a simple pasta sauce, scaloppine with herbs and smemifreddo al caffe.

The one thing we actually got to make ourselves was fresh pasta. We made ravioli stuffed with pumpkin. It was a lot of work but worth it in the end. Mmmmm.

The instructor, Luciana Sampogna, was what really made the evening. She was a small Italian lady with a big personality and a real passion for cooking. She gave great demonstrations, told intersting stories, and even scolded us if we didn't take proper care of our pasta dough.

Over the course of the evening we had a lovely dinner. Every thing was very tasty. We were giving copies of the recipes. I think I could manage to make most of it at home with a little practice. All in all a fabulous evening.

Birds at the Koala Park

Koala Park - Shake a claw
Originally uploaded by ami_arsenault.

Ok, as I admitted before, I am becoming a bit of a crazy bird lady. I am only going to reinforce that with the next statement...the birds of the Koala Park are so cool they are getting their own post. Admittedly when we headed to the cockatoo cage I didn't think it would be very exciting. I see them flying around the house every day. While they are pretty they are the noisiest birds I have ever come across. The Koala Park ones were different. They were friendly and chatty. Here is what they could say:

• 'ello
• 'ave a crackah (Interestingly, not "want a cracker" as per Polly)
• bye bye
• There was one who must have been a construction worker in a former life. He would spread his yellow crest like a mohawk, bop his head side to side, and then whistle the perfect "hey baby" whistle (I have no idea how to write that whistle sound).

There was also a corella in the cage who, when you say "shake hands", would stick his claw out and shake your finger.
See what I mean cool birds. Perhaps you had to be there.

Koala Park

Koala Park - Ami and Chocca
Originally uploaded by ami_arsenault.

Last week Gavin took me to the Koala Park. It is one place I have been waiting to visit since I arrived in Australia. I was not disappointed. It is a small zoo in Sydney containing mostly animals native to Australia. The main attraction, as the name implies, is the koalas. I was able to pet one at feeding time. Her name is Chocca and she is 11 years old. Some things I learned about Koalas:

• They sleep 18-20 hours per day. This is not because they are drugged by the eucalyptus leaves they eat. They are just sleepyheads.
• When they are asleep they look like they were taxidermied and stuck in a tree several decades ago.
• While their fur is a bit bristly it is stiff quite soft.
• They are kind of smelly.

The other animals we were allowed to pet were the grey kangaroos. We were able to go into their enclosure and feed them cheerios. Some observations about kangaroos:

• They are soft.
• They like cheerios.
• It hurts if they accidentally bite you while you feed them.

There were a lot of other animals including a wombat, wallabies, emus, cassowaries, a dingo, penguins, an echidna, peacocks, and sheep. Check out the website and see what good celebrity company I am in having visited the place.