Life and Times of M&G: Happenings March April

Hey there,

Well life has slowed down just a touch. Thank goodness the start of 2013 was a busy one. I am trying harder not to take on extra projects and have quieter weekends at home. We normally spend our weekend evenings down at the local bowls club and I love chatting with our friends and bowls family. People of all walks of life young and old gather there and its great to know such a variety of loving and caring people in our area.

I am busy at work with our last show for the year opening in mid May. After that we have our annual Big Stretch Tour. So there is always something on the horizon. I helping to Stage Manager a show in Perth next month called Migrant Got Talent so I am looking forward to that. Its a contest for new migrants in Perth to show off their talents. Lots of teens and young people competing. I am looking into a get away holiday down south to Pemberton in June (as we always do) for Graham and myself. Go fishing, do some bush walks, cook some great foods, enjoy the wine country and the local wildlife. The birds in Pemberton are just amazing. Last year when we down there was a big storm adding to the excitement of the trip!! But we love hanging out in the forrest in a little mud brick cottage and lighting the fireplace every night. Something we don't get to do much in sunny Australia.
To read about our Pemberton adventure last year check out this blog post: Pemberton Trip 2012

Graham is super busy at school but doing well. Not much longer to go till he graduates. I can't wait.
My old Boss now friend gave us a car for a good price in March so we now have wheels! Cadi was so generous to give us "Sardine" car at an extreme discount. Sardine is a Mazda Metro. She has some miles on her but she gets us around no worries. To get her registered in WA I spent a morning learning about headlight restoration and doing it myself. Easy! Then Sardine passed inspection and now has a WA licence plate. So exciting. We can go fishing, to the beach, out to the swan valley for local produce on the weekends! Its so amazing having a car when you have not have one for a long long time.
We don't drive her every day, we still either ride out bikes or take public transport, but I love not having to walk in the rain with bags of groceries any more. I once told Graham that when we finally make it I wanted to be able to take a cab whenever it was raining and windy.. lol guess I an drive myself now.

Next step.. dish washer.. can't wait till we get to have one of those again. All my American friends have all the gizmos and gadgets. While I am still washing up by hand, hanging my laundry out to dry (will always do that) and walking to and from the shops for the things we need. I will say this lifestyle is a good way to stay fit and healthy!! I still dream about having some of the American common luxuries though, like central air in the winter, drive through banking, (we have drive through liquor stores) good clothes dryers with more then two settings (Hot or Air Temperature) that can make your towels fluffy and soft.. thats what I want a clothes dryer for mainly.. towels and sheets. But I guess you got to trade something for Australia's many wonderful things like nearly all year summertime, amazing beaches, fresh foods a plenty, and healthy work/life balance (4 weeks holiday heck yes, plus tons of public holidays!) So when I think about that dish washer.. next time I am on my 3rd water change and still washing up.. I will think about all the good things I get in return. That should help.. at least long enough to get through the next load of pots and pans, dishes and bowls.

A few pics as of late.