Time flies when your having fun

Wow - how has it been almost a month since our last post? I have to start this one by saying "Happy 40th Wedding Anniversary" to my parents. They have been amazing role models for the highs and lows of marriage, I know my brothers feel the same way. We have been lucky to have them as parents. Thanks Mom and Dad!!!

A lot has happened since our last post. First and foremost, we picked up our new car! His name is Ferghal and he is a Nissan X-trail. While not our first choice in color (its Gold/Bronze-ish) he does the job and does it well. Imagine a Honda CR-V and you will have an idea of Ferghal's size and shape. The name comes from the guy who sold us the car - a super nice Irish guy who moved to Australia a few years ago after some roaming of the planet, including time in the US.

Truthfully, aside from picking up the car, life has settled into normalcy (thank goodness). The house is mostly unpacked and we even have art on the walls. I am happy to report that Chez Barbee in Sydney is officially open for business. There is a room and bathroom and we are minutes walk to the train. From there 20 minutes to downtown (or the "CBD" as Aussies call it) which has the famous Opera House and Bridge. Both Bill and I are looking forward to guests as it will offer us a good reason to go out exploring :-)

I spent the last week in Auckland, New Zealand - who's winter weather reminded me of all those days in Seattle where it was cold enough to chill you, but not snow (at least in the city) and the rain fell with relative consistency. Aside from that, it was a great trip. The people I met and spent time with were lovely and it seems the "GFC" skipped NZ in the same way it skipped Australia. I am planning to go back several more times and hope to bring Bill along for one or 2 of those trips. I may stall until the winter ends though ;-)

Bill and I are off to the US this week for some time with my family in Seattle (where it is supposed to rain :-p) and Bill's family on an Alaskan cruise. When we first moved to Sydney, this trip seemed so far away - and now we are packing and getting ready to go. Kind of crazy. It should be a great trip though - I can't wait to see all the friends and family in the great PNW as well as California. Our great friends, Kelley and Jason are hosting a BBQ so we can catch up with everyone in one fell swoop.

I will cut it off with a promise to post more regularly and tell all about our holiday as soon as we get back. Ahoy mateys!