Friday, May 31, 2013

May Activities

So its been a nice autumn in Perth. Slowly days have been getting darker, and now by the time I get home from work its to dark to go out for a run. I have had to do all my running on weekends or early days off work. Its also been slowly getting colder. I convinced Graham to take out the heater just this week. Kit cat remembers his old friend the heater and has taken up his winter residency laying in front of it no matter if its on or off... see you in spring Kit cat!! He will no longer care to sit on my lap at night.

Work and life has been busy as per our usual. Work has run me off my feet. Only catching a bit of a breather this week. Thank goodness. I am so lucky to have such a supportive and kind boss who has been really great the past few months supporting me! We are both really busy!

Graham is busy with school and we have been enjoying a little freedom with the car. I went and had lunch with my friend April from Kentucky the other weekend. I traveled about 45 min from home and met her in the Swan Valley where we ate at a beautiful winery and enjoyed a beautiful fish main and shared a sweet treat in the sunshine.
Graham and I also go out to the Swan Valley earlier in May to meet with some great friends Nicki and Brendan, that same day we visited out favourite organic winery Harris Organic and went to the local honey suppliers and I even got to go to the best local produce road side stand in WA Maggies Place. I love buying locally grown fruit and veggies.. The best part is its always a great price Maggies too! (no cost of travel I guess)

Heres a photo tour of whats been happening at ours lately.


We planted some snow pea seeds in the back garden and took out our tomato and cucumber plants that did so well this summer! I also planted some mixed lettuce seeds so we will see what happens. As long as the snails don't get to them before I do!


I planted some new flowers in the front garden. Just to give us some flower variety over the winter. I am still growing the largest begonia ever known to man. Its not photographed here. But I planted it 1.5 years ago and its still going!!! WOW!


We hung this USA made bird feeder Mom sent us. Its been up almost a week and still no bird visitors. But I hear it can take a couple of weeks. I hope we get some small parrots and wrens soon!! 


Graham has to do some work down in Albany soon and he wanted a travel bag for his bike. He sent it to my work PO Box in the city. I picked it up for him. I didn't realise it was going to be such a big item. This is my office at Buzz, with my lovely boss Pippa in the back. 



Another run on the river shot. Over winter the Black Swans come to stay on our section of the river and they are such beautiful birds. Nothing like the big geese that chase you in the US. These Black Swans don't seem to share the beaches and paths with people. This is the Swan River view from Como our little suburb outside the city. 



We had a show open at work in May. A theatre piece called Goodbye Jamie Boyd. This was from opening night at the State Theatre Centre-Studio Underground. Its a beautiful show and I am so glad Buzz got to work in collaboration with Monkey Baa Theatre in Sydney on this amazing work. This is Ali our Marketing Consultant with me and the Stage Manager Sam. This show is now on tour across Western Australia. 


Hurray!!!! A new American Bar opened in Perth, right next to Graham's University. Its called Varsity Bar and they serve good American food you can't find any place else!!!! Hot Wings, Pulled Pork Sandwhich, Philly Cheese Steak (this I have never seen on a menu in Australia) They also show American sports so Graham and I went and sampled the foods and watched the Pacers get beat by the Heat. Oh well. Still a good time! I suggested they put deep fried pickles on the menu on the Americans in Perth Facebook page and guess what... They are adding it to the menu soon!! YAY!!!!!! 


We are still hanging at the Bowls club. Graham and some of his buddies playing some night time Bowls. This was after the awards ceremony for the club, I helped my friend Sarah put on a big feast for the members. It was a great success. And Graham even won an award!!


Kit cat in the front garden. As I write this Kit is out in the garden now laying in the ferns. We got him a collar just in case he runs away from us. But he can not get out of the front area as its all fenced in and he is a old cat now and is bad a jumping over fences. He just likes to hide and watch dogs walk by.  Oh and eat a few cobwebs.. his favourite past time. 


So thats whats been happening over here in Perth. Hope all is well in your part of the world and all my friends and family in the US are enjoying a wonderful Spring and early Summer!! 

All the best - Mary