February 15th, 2011 - More Beach and barbecue: Rein and Silka's Version

On the 15th, we had
our first visitor
from Canada -
Laura Barkley, a
teacher who coached
volleyball with Tom
back at home. She
was near the end
of her trip in
Australia and Perth
was one of her last
stops. We thought the
best way to
introduce her to
Perth is to
introduce her to
their beach barbecue
culture. I remembered
the camera this time
and got a bunch of
shots of Rein body-
surfing and Silka
playing and performing
pirouettes in the sand.
Rein is getting pretty good
at reading the waves and
knowing when to catch
one for a ride or dive
under if he decides not to.
He still thinks that any
surf is safe to swim in
so we still have him on
a "leash". We are think-
ing of getting both of
them into the "Little
Nippers" program that
they offer here through
the Life-Saving and Surf
Rescue Clubs here. Silka
is still happy to just play
on the beach and race the
waves coming in.
Tom has slipped into the
barbecue culture with
enthusiasm. For those
of you who come visit, you
can be sure that you will
enjoy at least one while
you are here. Did I already
mention that you are
allowed to drink openly
here? Makes the
barbecue that much better.....

Happy Valentine's Day!

Lots of love to our friends and family.....

February 11 - 13th, 2011: Establishing routines....

As we head into our fourth week in Perth, the reality of our holiday being over is starting to sink in. As they get to know their teachers and new school friends, the kids seem to be enjoying school a little more. We had a "Meet the Creature" interview with Rein's teacher Last Thursday night. She said that Rein is well liked by his classmates but very quiet in class. Also, she showed us a sample test that she gave the kids. She wanted to know where the class was at because they do the International testing in Year 3 here. He did OK - he just needs to slow down a bit - she said knowing that Rein is coming from Grade 2 in Canada she thinks he is doing really well. Tom seems to be making some headway with his new students and is being "tested" less often this week by the more challenging students.

Body-surfing at Swanborne Beach

Some of our highlights this past week.....
One evening last week, we enjoyed a delicious meal of Crayfish (lobster without claws) and beef kabobs courtesy of one of Tom's colleagues, Greg Baker, who is an Outdoor Ed. teacher and a skin diver. Tom may be joining him on an Outdoor Ed. Skin Diving trip to Rottnest Island in a few weeks.

I started an Abstract Expressionism" acrylic painting course on Friday morning at the Freemantle Art Centre - loved it. The course is 9 weeks long. i have become a member of the Art Centre and plan on taking courses throughout the year.

Sunset at Swanborne Beach

We continued our new end of the week tradition of a swim and beach barbecue. This past Friday night we met up with two other Canadian exchange families at Swanborne Beach - great body-surfing waves and another fantastic sunset.

Silka "playing piano" -
loves it!

On Saturday night, we enjoyed our first dinner and evening of guitar jamming at Judy, Tony, Dacre (16 yrs old) and Saskia's (Silka's age) place. Tony presented us with a delicious dish of Chicken baked with olives and preserved lemon on a a bed of couscous. Tom and I brought frozen grapes, dark chocolate and Grappa for desert. We were there until about 1:30 a.m. We left Silka behind enveloped in Saskia's arms and weaved home full of wine and Grappa with Rein in our arms. Thank goodness we were only 3 houses away. We immediately fell asleep. At 4 a.m. Judy knocked on our door and passed Silka off who woke up scared and wanting Daddy.

My first attempt at
"Abstract Expressionism"

Silka and Mom's collaborative painting -
Saskia's birthday present 

Silka and other fairies at Saskia's birthday
Party at the Pickled Fairy in Freemantle

The birthday invitations have started rolling in and Sunday Tom and I divided and conquered. Tom took Rein to Joe's birthday party in the morning and I took Silka to Saskia's birthday party in the afternoon. Saskia's party was a fairy party at the 'Pickled Fairy' in Freemantle. Silka had a wonderful time and Saskia kept close to her because she was the only friend she invited that wasn't from her class. The parents sat at the 'Raw Kitchen' nearby and enjoyed (?) Green Mint and Spirulina Smoothies. There were some grumbling about having just a regular coffee. Silka has decided she also wants to have a fairy party for her birthday. After the party, Silka and I headed of to the Fisherman's Wharf and picked up some fish & chips for dinner and then headed home.

 When we arrived back, Steven Satchell (we haved dubbed him the Wine Professor) was there and giving Tom another lesson on Australia's wines. He had brought 3 white wines and they were enjoying a tasting of the second one when I joined in. We had a lovely time sipping and listening to his stories.

Diana,Trish and I overlooking the Swan River at
Kings Park

750 year old Boab Tree in Kings Park

Kings Park looking towards downtown

Yesterday, I walked the kids to school and then headed off to Kings Park to go for a walk and have a picnic lunch with Diana and Trish, the partners of the other two Canadian exchange teachers that joined us at the beach on Friday night. The park is absolutely beautiful and it was a gorgeous day. There is a Boab Tree there that is about 750 years old and was transported about 3200 km to the park to save it from destruction during a road widening project. It was brought to the park on a transport truck with a police escort. It was in its dormant stage during the tropical dry season so it faired the trip rather well and is continuing to thrive in Kings Park. It played a significant role in the traditions of the local Gija people hence the huge effort to save it - it is spectacular and they hope it will live at least another 750 years.

Stand of Eucalyptus Trees in Kings Park

February 2 - 6th, 2011: First week at School and More Beach Time....

Fisherman's Wharf, Freemantle

Well, I am happy to report that the kids' and Tom's first week back at school and work went fairly well. The kids were excited about school the first day and then reality set in a bit. It is all new to them. Rein thinks his new teacher is quite strict but by the end of the week he seemed happy with his new classmates and feels that his new teacher will be alright. Rein still rates you # 1, Mr. Lloyd! AND he still misses his buddies back home.
Silka enjoyed her first few days with just a minor hiccup on Friday morning. She didn't want mom to go and I carefully extracted myself from her vise grip arms and shed a few tears walking home. I had a moment of wondering what we were doing here but that quickly faded as I went about my day. Apparently, Silka was fine within 5 minutes of my departure. She made her own "rest-time" pillow with her class that I helped her finish sewing on Friday evening.

Kaili's Fish Market

We headed to Floreat beach on Friday evening after Tom got home and the kids and I got back from the neighbourhood park. I had prepared everything for a picnic dinner earlier in the day. Tom and the kids enjoyed a swim while I read the paper - I still wasn't feeling all that well recovering from a flu I had a few days before. Some Aussies were barbecuing and told Tom to "jump right in" with his steaks. We enjoyed a great meal as the sun went down with a bottle of wine (yes, Canadian friends and family, you can bring beer and wine to the beach barbecues here!). The kids played soccer and ate ice cream while Tom and I talked with an Australian teacher and his buddy. We left that night with an offer to go fishing with them one weekend. We have decided to make the beach barbecue a Friday night ritual.

Little Creatures Brewery, Fisherman's
Wharf, Freemantle

We enjoyed a quiet day Saturday and then met up with two other Canadian families on exchange at South Beach for a swim and a picnic. The water was quiet and we all swam out to a pontoon together and sat and talked while the kids jumped off and swam around us. We hit the Freemantle markets just before they closed to stock up on our fruit supplies and share a delicious organic donut. We then headed to the fisherman's wharf and picked up 2 kilos of Mussels for dinner which we enjoyed on our back patio. Cheers everyone!

February 2nd, 2011 - The Kids' First Day at Aussie School

Too excited to sleep any longer, Rein was up at 6 a.m. ready to go. He was able to refrain from waking his sister up until about 7 a.m. Silka came out of her bedroom all dressed up in her school uniform. She was so excited that she refused to eat breakfast. I knew that they were going to have a snack shortly after school started so I didn't push it. Here they are in front of their school - Kyilla Primary School. I took Rein to his classroom first and made sure that he was settled before I took Silka to hers. I stayed a bit with her until her teacher kicked us parents out. Tom also headed off today for his first day of teaching students. I will be thinking of them all as I nurse this bad cold that I caught from Silka, I think. 

On their last day of no school yesterday, I took the kids to Whiteman Park where they could pet koalas and pet and feed Kangaroos. Sorry everyone, I forgot the camera so no pictures unfortunately.