Tis the Season...

Eight legged swimmer
Originally uploaded by ami_arsenault

...for all things venemous at Orana Avenue. This fellow was fished out of the swimming pool on Saturday. He is a funnel-web spider. A little info on the funnel Web

• They can survive 24-30 hours underwater.
• They are ugly.
• They look mean.
• They are aggressive.
• They are one of the three most dangerous spiders in the world.
  

Ssssnake in My Garden...No More

Well, there haven't been any snake sightings in a nearly a week. I think I liked it better knowing we had a snake in the garden. Now it seems he as moved on to tastier pastures...but perhaps he hasn't...

Sssssnake in My Garden: Day 4

I think I saw him yesterday. He was a few feet from his usual spot. It was a bit like a Loch Ness monster sighting. I could kind of see his head but it might have been a leaf or a bit of wood. When I went back later for a better look he (or the leaf/wood) was gone...

Seymour, Bill "Bubbles"

Bill
Originally uploaded by ami_arsenault

Peacefully in his bowl in Hornsby, NSW on November 24, 2008 of Bill "Bubbles" Seymour. Beloved fish of Ami and Gavin. Lovingly remember by all who knew him. Funeral and flushing took place in the downstairs toilet in Hornsby on November 24, 2008.

Sssssnake in My Garden: Day 3

Despite the cold overcast day yesterday, Severus was still hanging around. His wee little snake head was poking out from under the stairs. Lucky we have friends who are trained snake handlers who just happen to be coming for a visit on Saturday.

Sssssnake in my Garden: Day 2

The lady at Wires figured we wouldn't see our snake again, he'd probably move on by evening if we stomped up and down the steps he was hiding under. Yesterday he was back...in the same spot...not quite so shy and timid. He was all curled up having a lovely nap and sun bathing in the garden. He didn't even notice me walk by...twice. I think he has made himself very much at home. I suspect he'll soon be asking me to apply sunscreen to his back and make him fancy cocktails. We can't have that. If he doesn't move along soon we'll have to have someone in to evict him. In the meantime, we've given him a name, Severus. Severus Snake.

Sssssnake in my Garden: Day 1

Snake in my Garden
Originally uploaded by ami_arsenault

I noticed this fellow in the garden yesterday. He was quite little and very shy. He is a red bellied black snake. Gavin called WIRES and a very informative lady called me back to tell me not to worry about him as he is shy, we don't have a food source and he'll probably move on...oh, and yes he is poisonous...but they rarely bite. Hmmmm....

Ls

LPlate
Originally uploaded by ami_arsenault

Before leaving Australia last December I did what many probably believed I would never do. I got my beginner drivers license, known in Australia as my Learners or Ls (so called because of the yellow "L" plate I have to have on the front and back of the car when I drive). Before I can move of to my P1s (Red "P" plate for front and back of car) I have to log at least 120 hours of supervised driving. Things I have learned after logging 2 hours of driving:

• It is a challenge to remember what side of the road to drive on. Aussies drive on the left?
• I don't like going faster than 30km/h.
• I hate driving.

Rabbitohs V Roosters

Rabbitohs-Logo
Originally uploaded by ami_arsenault

This past weekend Gavin took me to my first Rugby League game. We went to see my team, the Rabbitohs, play the Roosters. Sadly the Rabbitohs lost but it was an exciting game. I'm not a sports commentator so if you want a match report check out this link. Here a few notes about things other than the game:

• I wasn't the only Canadian at the game. Pamela Anderson was also in attendance.
• If you ever own a rugby team don't make them wear white shorts. They just look grubby after about 5 minutes.
• I was pleased not to see anyone in high heels, a skirt or drinking wine. These there very common sights at the AFL and Rugby Union games we have gone to. Who dresses up for a sports game at an outdoor stadium?
• Best chant by the fans during the game was "Russell is a wanker" (referring to Russell Crowe who is part owner of the Rabbitohs).
• Best comment heard outside the stadium (while cutting through the parking lot) "Take a piss between the cars, mate". They do it between the cars, behind, signs, on trees. Everywhere.
• Souths fans have a great passion for the game. The fellow two seats down from me was in tears when the score was somewhere around 14-0 for the Roosters. Ok he was about six years old but still...
  

Oz Observations #4: A Night at the Movies

Last night Gavin and I went to the movies. Here are a few things I noticed:

1. Tickets and concessions are bought from the same person. A bit of a pain if you only want a ticket.
2. They don't have butter for the popcorn. Healthwise, probably a good thing.
3. The popcorn comes in a box which closes at the top. Very convenient when trying to manouver it and a drink and folding down your seat.
4. A popular concession is the choc top. I haven't tried one yet as I am not sure I can handle the cold ice cream in a cold cinema (see observation 5).
5. No heat in the cinema.
6. Seats were assigned.
7. Arms between the seats folded up. Good for stretching out for a nap?

My New boots

New boots
Originally uploaded by ami_arsenault

I left a not so hot Ottawa summer for an even colder Aussie winter. I don't think I have been warm since I arrived. While winter here is more like autumn in Canada (which is my favourite season) there is one factor that makes all the difference - heating and insulation. Or more correctly lack of these things. Getting out of bed when it is 6C in a house with no heat or insulation is very unpleasant. Gavin has bought me Ugg boots to make mornings (and evenings) a bit more bearable. Ugg boots are Aussie, cozy, very ugly, and not meant to be worn out of the house.

Nightmare in the Skies

My Top 3 most hated (make me gag) foods:

1. Potatoes. Particularly if they are mashed and creamy.
2. Canned vegetables. Particularly canned peas.
3. Mayonnaise.

After a 5ish hour flight to Vancouver and a 4 hour wait for my flight to Australia, I boarded the plane at 3am (Ottawa time). I was tired and hungry. The supper served at the start of my 15 hour flight: Some sort of very salty beef with a side of extra creamy mashed potatoes and canned peas. Seriously, a dollop of mayo was all it needed to make it my worst meal ever. On the plus side, if the side dishes had of been even tolerable I probably would have thought the beef was disgusting. As it was, the beef was delicious.

Last Day in the Capital

I had one day off between finishing work and returning to Australia. Here is what I did on the day:

• 
  
  9am - Visited Laurier House, former home of Sir Wilfred Laurier and William Lyon Mackenzie King. No, they weren't roomies. Laurier willed it to Mackenzie King who in turn willed it to the people of Canada. I recommend it to anyone visiting Ottawa. It is tucked away on Laurier Street and costs only $3.90 to enter. As I was the first visitor of the day, I had a tour guide all to myself. Interesting thing I learned - Mackenzie King collected chairs.
• 
  
  10:15am - Went to 1930: The Making of the "New Man" at the National Gallery. An interesting exhibition but quite dark. I also popped into the Contemporary Gallery. I unintentionally scared the heck out of some girls while viewing BGL: The Discourse of Elements. Quite funny. Finally, I zipped through the Canadian Collection to see some of my favourite pieces.
• 
  
  1:00pm - Met my roommate Rob for lunch. We went to the Pour House in the Market. A great place to people watch.
• 
  
  3:10pm - Went to the movies at the World Exchange. I had grand plans to see a movie that I figured wouldn't be released in Australia for a while. Sadly nothing I wanted to see was on so I went to Bride's Head Revisited. A bit long and quite depressing.
• 
  
  5:30pm - Arrived home and attempted to finish packing. All my bags were far over the limit. Got stressed. Had a glass of wine.
• 
  
  6:30pm - Friends arrive to say goodbyes. Ate, drank, and was merry.
• 
  
  11:50pm - Went to bed.

A Few of My Favorite Things

Some of the things I miss about Australia (people not included):

1. The rice crackers. They aren't like anything I have ever found in Canada. They come in yummy flavours. If you leave them out over night they taste stale. The Canadian ones taste stale to begin with. They go very well with Copper Pot Chunky Dip.
2. Mangoes. Better than candy.
3. The restaurants along the Jetty in Coffs Harbour. Butter chicken from Oberoi's and spicy pepper squid from the Golden Crown.
4. The smell of the air. I don't know if it is the eucalyptus trees but the air smells different.
5. A few TV shows. Kath and Kim, Spicks and Specks and Rove.

Ok, I figured I better add the last two as the list was quickly becoming all about food. No wonder I put on a few pounds when I was there.

Visa Visa Visa

I am now the proud possessor of a visa for Australia. Gavin and I decided I would complete my work contract before returning so I will be in Ottawa until August. That means I get to spend summer in Ottawa and thus miss out on most of the Aussie winter.

Pop Goes the Question

The Ring
Originally uploaded by ami_arsenault

On a Thursday night at the end of January I returned home to find a letter from Gavin. In that letter he asked me to marry him. Yes, was my answer. No, I didn't write back. I called. I figured he'd been waiting long enough while the letter crossed the world.

As he is on the other side of the world he offered to let me pick out my own ring. This is what I chose. I wanted something a little different so I chose a ruby. It took a while but I am starting to get used to having a ring on all the time.
The past two years have been pretty wonderful. I am pretty excited to get to spend my life with Gavin.