On the back of our car we have a sticker of a Lion Rampant and the Saltire. As well as showing how proud we are of our heritage, the yellow and red sticker helps us find our car in a car park (which reminds me of the many times we had trying to find the car in the huge theme parks in Florida - remember that Ian and Anne?).
Other people have 'My other car is a Porsche', or 'My other car is a Lamborghini'.
Well, today I was driving up the highway on the way to work behind a car who's sticker said 'My other car is a VW Kombe'. Now I know I'm in Australia!
Friday, October 22, 2010
Friday, September 17, 2010
Crocs and Dragons
Today at work, we had a visit from some scaley creatures.
First we met Alistair, the Bearded Dragon. He was a very friendly chap and decided to hang onto my shirt.
Unfortunately I have forgotten the rest of the gang's names - Alistair must have made a big impression on me.
Next, we met a Blue Tongue Lizard. I'm sure I ran over one of these in our drive :o(
We also met a Shingleback Lizard. He looks like he has a head at both ends. When he gets a fright he curls up so his head and his tail (which looks like a head) are together. This confuses anyone who wants to eat him and they leave him alone. Very clever.
Next came a Long Neck Turtle. She was very cute and very bendy!
Then we met a Carpet Snake. The audience were not quite so happy to meet him though but he won them over in the end. One of the ladies was adamant that it wasn't to go anywhere near her. The photo's to follow will show that she changed her mind!
And last came the Salt Water Crocodile who's jaws were firmly held together thank goodness. Otherwise we would have had a few residents with fingers and a few more appendages missing. He was very lively and very popular. Hopefully we'll get to meet some of his mates in the wild next week when we're on our holidays.
A very interesting morning. Who said office work was boring?!!!!! I never had this type of entertainment when I was working for Fife Council!
Photo's to follow .....
First we met Alistair, the Bearded Dragon. He was a very friendly chap and decided to hang onto my shirt.
Unfortunately I have forgotten the rest of the gang's names - Alistair must have made a big impression on me.
Next, we met a Blue Tongue Lizard. I'm sure I ran over one of these in our drive :o(
We also met a Shingleback Lizard. He looks like he has a head at both ends. When he gets a fright he curls up so his head and his tail (which looks like a head) are together. This confuses anyone who wants to eat him and they leave him alone. Very clever.
Next came a Long Neck Turtle. She was very cute and very bendy!
Then we met a Carpet Snake. The audience were not quite so happy to meet him though but he won them over in the end. One of the ladies was adamant that it wasn't to go anywhere near her. The photo's to follow will show that she changed her mind!
And last came the Salt Water Crocodile who's jaws were firmly held together thank goodness. Otherwise we would have had a few residents with fingers and a few more appendages missing. He was very lively and very popular. Hopefully we'll get to meet some of his mates in the wild next week when we're on our holidays.
A very interesting morning. Who said office work was boring?!!!!! I never had this type of entertainment when I was working for Fife Council!
Photo's to follow .....
Sunday, July 18, 2010
I Survived!
After 10 kilometres of pure hell I crossed the finish line at 1 hour 11 minutes. I won't ever break any records but at least I finished! One thing I do miss about running in Scotland is the support from the public. In Scotland we used to be spirited on by the locals and a piper at the end of each kilometre. It's a bit hard to keep track of where you are without the piper. I remember running in a 10k in Glasgow and hearing the piper in the distance and thinking thank god that's another one gone. Not sure if I'm up for doing another 10k but at least I've got the medal and tshirt to show for my hard work ;o)
Friday, July 2, 2010
Friday, June 25, 2010
Another 10k - I'm getting too old for this game!
On Saturday, 3rd July I'll be running in the Gold Coast 10k again.
Every time I enter these 10k's I wonder why the heck I'm doing it. It's no different this time except that I'm thinking it might be my last.
Maybe it's something to do with joining a gym. Running on a treadmill for an hour is not my idea of fun. I stopped running outside as a jogger had been attacked near my work a few weeks ago so I thought it would be sensible to join a gym. I just can't get motivated! I've even tried drinking whey powder drinks to get my energy up but they don't work on me.
I can guarantee though that next Saturday when I'm running along side the beach at Paradise Point I'll know it's all been worth it. Let's hope!
Wish me luck. x
Every time I enter these 10k's I wonder why the heck I'm doing it. It's no different this time except that I'm thinking it might be my last.
Maybe it's something to do with joining a gym. Running on a treadmill for an hour is not my idea of fun. I stopped running outside as a jogger had been attacked near my work a few weeks ago so I thought it would be sensible to join a gym. I just can't get motivated! I've even tried drinking whey powder drinks to get my energy up but they don't work on me.
I can guarantee though that next Saturday when I'm running along side the beach at Paradise Point I'll know it's all been worth it. Let's hope!
Wish me luck. x
Friday, June 11, 2010
Little Fluffy Chicks
Every Easter at work we have a delivery of very special eggs. With a bit of luck and tender care, not to mention temperature control, we end up with a cute little batch of fluffy chicks. It's all about 'the circle of life'. The residents enjoy them and so do I. Here are some pics.
Friday, May 14, 2010
It's Funny The Things You Miss
After spending 27 years of trying to move to Australia you wouldn't expect to miss the Scottish accent now would you? Apart from the obvious things ie friends and family, I really miss having a good blether with another Scot (immediate family excepted).
It would be sooooooooooo good not to have to speak slooooowwwllllyyyyy to be understood, and I would be forever grateful not to have to spell words using the phonetic alphabet over the phone in order to be understood.
We have an 'awfy joab' being understood on these pre-recorded phone messages and it frustrates the hell out of us.
Imagine if we could meet up with some fellow Scots and use phrases like jafancya or couldjaegoa? It would be heaven. We could bide at hame fur a dram or go oot fur a bevvy, hae some denner or go oot fur a swallay.
It's weird that I didn't actually use these sentences 'at home', but here in Australia I really want to use them AND be understood.
When we eventually get around to going back home (and yes we still consider Scotland as being home, well you can't live in a country for 40 odd years and not consider it home) it will be so weird to hear everyone talking with Scottish accents. That was one thing that Chloe noticed when she went back to Scotland.
After 2 years of living in Oz our accents haven't changed a bit but I do notice, that to be understood, I adapt mine when at work, especially when I answer the phone. It's either adapt or be so frustrated that you end up shouting down the phone at the idiot on the other end of the line. I mean, for god's sake, we speak the same language don't we?!!!!!! I feel like saying to them you're ancestor was probably a Wegie!
I've even had people saying to me 'I have a cousin who lives in Glasgow. His name is John McTavish. Do you know him?' Oh aye, he's the boy with the straight hair and curly teeth isn't he? FFS.
On the other hand we do get people saying 'I love your accent. Say that again' I even had someone tell me the other day that my accent was sexy! That was a first .....and last!
Unfortunately, or fortunately (if you're Paul) we won't lose our accents and we will just have to learn to live with all the comments we get on a day to day basis.
We wouldn't change it for the world :o)
It would be sooooooooooo good not to have to speak slooooowwwllllyyyyy to be understood, and I would be forever grateful not to have to spell words using the phonetic alphabet over the phone in order to be understood.
We have an 'awfy joab' being understood on these pre-recorded phone messages and it frustrates the hell out of us.
Imagine if we could meet up with some fellow Scots and use phrases like jafancya or couldjaegoa? It would be heaven. We could bide at hame fur a dram or go oot fur a bevvy, hae some denner or go oot fur a swallay.
It's weird that I didn't actually use these sentences 'at home', but here in Australia I really want to use them AND be understood.
When we eventually get around to going back home (and yes we still consider Scotland as being home, well you can't live in a country for 40 odd years and not consider it home) it will be so weird to hear everyone talking with Scottish accents. That was one thing that Chloe noticed when she went back to Scotland.
After 2 years of living in Oz our accents haven't changed a bit but I do notice, that to be understood, I adapt mine when at work, especially when I answer the phone. It's either adapt or be so frustrated that you end up shouting down the phone at the idiot on the other end of the line. I mean, for god's sake, we speak the same language don't we?!!!!!! I feel like saying to them you're ancestor was probably a Wegie!
I've even had people saying to me 'I have a cousin who lives in Glasgow. His name is John McTavish. Do you know him?' Oh aye, he's the boy with the straight hair and curly teeth isn't he? FFS.
On the other hand we do get people saying 'I love your accent. Say that again' I even had someone tell me the other day that my accent was sexy! That was a first .....and last!
Unfortunately, or fortunately (if you're Paul) we won't lose our accents and we will just have to learn to live with all the comments we get on a day to day basis.
We wouldn't change it for the world :o)
Thursday, April 1, 2010
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