Roo sans Poo

As promised, here is a picture of Bella, Jackie and Jamie's baby kangaroo. She's cute. She poops. She hops and she's a beaut. In this photo bella is sucking on her toe. She sleeps in a soft, little cooler bag (or "esky" as they are called in Australia). 

Lake Macquarie Monster

Last weekend Edith and I had dinner with our Friends, Jackie and Jamie (J+J), who live close to Lake Macquarie. It's the largest inland lake in the southern hemisphere. We went for a nice sunset walk and watched Jamie throw rocks into the water for their doggy (right now her name eludes me so I will call her Lady) to chase after. I took many photos of Lady chasing after the rocks and I like this one the best, just because the doggy looks like a surfacing Lake monster.

We had a lot of fun at J+J's. Jamie cooked some wonderful BBQ, including steak, sausages, zuchinni and peppers. There was lots of wonderful conversation and we ended the evening by smoking some apple tobacco on their Hookah Pipe. Also, I can't forget to mention, we got to play with their baby kangaroo, Bella (I remembered her name. I hope Lady doesnt take this personally). She's very cute and poops a lot. I will try to find a picture to post for you - of the kangaroo, not the poop. 

Cloud Burst

Being here in Australia I am missing the perpetual rains of Vancouver. In Newcastle, we have had some rain, but nothing that compares to what you get at home. These photos are from the week before last. This is what I consider to be a typical Newcastle storm.


In Newcastle, the rain is very busy. It doesn't have time to hang around all day. Clouds quickly roll in and all of a sudden you are caught in a huge downpour. The water falls so fast that it feels like you are in the bathroom shower.


The water accumulates so quickly that in a lot of places the water on the road comes up above your ankles.


Then, sometimes as quick as 5-10 minutes later, the rain stops and the sun comes out. Most of the time, the rain bursts are quick, but you get just as much rain as in a day in Vancouver - or at least it feels that way.

I know you have been having rain for weeks on end, back at home. I thought these photos would show that the sun doesn't always shine in Australia. In fact, we had a big hail storm a few weeks back. Some of the hail stones were as big as golf balls (no joke). The cars out on the street had a lot of hail damage. Some had broken windsheilds and all had body damage. Car dealerships have been having "Hail today, gone tomorrow" Sales. On some cars you can get up to $9,000 off the tag price, just because of the hail damage done to the body.

Also, just so you know, Yesterday the temperature was 38 degrees celsius. And at 9:00pm, when Edith and I were coming home from work, the temperature was still 30. At home, in our apartment, it is really hot. Our landlord took our bug screens to be fixed - they had holes in them from the hail storm - so our windows are closed. There are too many bugs to even consider opening them. We should have the screens back in a couple weeks. Til then we will just sweat it out. 

Federal Bikers

This is another pic for Kendall. A while ago I requested a photo of mail to see on his website. I told him about the postal services here. The letter carriers deliver mail on motorbikes. A few times I have seen them travel in a pack, like the hell's angels, but with dental. Kendall, asked me to take a picture of the mailmen/women on mopeds and post it. But, since he asked, I haven't seen them together, just like public toilets and the police, they're everywhere til you need one.

I figured I would put this one up, until I snap a picture of them in a pack. I took the photo from my bedroom window - notice the window ledge in the bottom right of the photo. I crouched down in the corner and tried not to draw attention to myself. I felt like a secret-agent; it was so exciting. Anyway, this is the resulting photo.

Also, notice the piece of fabric hanging from the back of his helmet? That is so his neck doesn't get burned in the summer. Obviously it gets really hot, and the sun is very harsh here. They all wear them. 

Night Traffic

I realize this photo doesn't have any technical merit, but I am putting it up anyway. Mainly for the simple fact that I like the lights from the cars in it. When I was taking the photo a car came down the street and decided to turn right (notice how the light starts in the left lane - that's Australia). Then another car started coming from the side street. So, the camera captured the lights, and not the cars. I think that's neat. Plus, to me, it looks like a scene from Tron was put into the photo. That's why I like it.

Actually, I just wanted an excuse to tell everyone to go look at Kendall's way better, and so much more professional night-time photo. So, go look at it, and see how night photos are supposed to look.

Just so ya know. This was taken on my street. Our apartment is on the corner, where the headlights begin on the right. I took it on the way home from work tonight.