The excitng news is that I applied for an in country program, after being accepted into UTAS to do a diploma of Languages to learn Indonesian and have been accepted. I have now booked flights and leave on the morning of December 31st from Hobart to Melbourne bound for Denpasar. Once there I wait awhile before getting on a plane for a short half hour flight to the island of Lombok. I arrive in Lombok in the evening so I imagine I will be having a rather quiet New Years Eve!
The course starts at the University in Mataram on January 2nd. I am doing 2 units of study so will finish the second unit on Feb 17th, flying overnight to Australia on the 18th and arriving in Hobart around lunch time on the 19th Feb. I have to take a few days of unpaid leave from work as the school year starts in Tasmania before I return home. Although I will miss my family, fur family and friends I am excited about the prospect of a new challenge. The study process will include 2 field trips per week which will be paid for by the host university. Hopefully, I will find the language relatively easy to learn. Part of the reason is just because I love the place, its culture and people and partly because as a teacher I would like to branch out into a different area. I am currently waiting for my passport to be returned complete with social visa from the consulate in Darwin. The admin for the program is being handed by the Charles Darwin University in Darwin, NT.
Late October we took four of our young alpacas to the show and have sold three of them. We picked up a couple of second place ribbons but were really there for some of my students who came along to help and learn about handing alpacas. We also met a lovely chap who has toggenburg goats so students helped to feed and walk them. I also bought hand made goat soap. I believe it helps those with skin rashes and as my 3yr old grand daughter Lily suffers from a form of eczema thought I could see if the goat soap will help. Unfortunatlely I picked up a bug at the show and ended up havng two days off work sick. I went back still a little under the weather.
The week prior to the show I had a big week at work which included workng at school on a Saturday. This was to celebrate or schools 50th anniversary. My option classes (Animal Studies for grades 9 and 10)had a terrific display which included student posters and booklets on units of study we have done. We also had model animals and habitats as well as chickens in incubator and brooder. The rabbits which are dwarf mini lop were a hit and the fish tanks looked great. One tank is cold water and one tropical which were set up by some grade ten boys who have an interest in this area.
Halloween has been and gone. Lily's older sister turned 9 and had a halloween themed party. I went as a black fairy, Jasmine and her mum (my daughter Melanie) were both witches as was Jasmine's other grandmother. Lily was the cutest little pumpkin! This was Saturday of last week and so the weather decided to let us down and rain, meaning the children's party had to be inside. It went well and then it was a dash off to get ready for the grown ups halloween party in the evening.
The grown up party was a great deal of fun. I was dressed as the Devil's Mistress!
Eating Out:
Last night Kim (my husband) and I ,along with friends, Thel and Rog and a couple of their friends went to the Queens Head for dinner in North Hobart. The food was excellent.., I had battered ling, with delicious vegetables, cooked just the way I like them. Must take a pic next time. Kim enjoyed his chicken snitzel. Food was excellent value though I found the drinks expensive. I had a black smirnoff and Kim had a large light beer. Those two drinks cost around $18. Needless to say we sipped the drinks! We then headed off to help a friend celebrate his birthday at home with he and his wife and a small group of friends. Very pleasant evening!
It has been a month since we have eaten at The Queens Head in Nth Hobart. Last time was with a group of friends before heading to the Polish Club to help a friend celebrate the big 50!
The Melbourne Cup was run as usual on the first Tuesday in November. As usual I dressed up though instead of a hat wore a balck and red fascinator this year. Ok I have to work but why cant everyone dress up! Most at work did not which I always find disappointing! I won the $1 sweep which made me the princely sum of $11. One of my work colleagues organised that but instead of takng a few mins out to watch the cup I was stuck in a subject meeting. Despite the fact I recognise and acknowledge the importance of work I also think morale in the work place canbe fostered by small things,such as a few minutes to watch the cup. Perhaps, as time moves on the race no longer stops a nation! As a child when the race was run a bit earlier all classes at school (in NSW) stopped to watch it. Traditions were discussed and I always enjoyed that and still do! Mind yu, I do not bet and am not fan of horseracing per se but I do like some Australian traditions! Why not, life is here to be enjoyed. Stop and smell the roses as one day that opportunity will be gone whe either I am too incapacitated (lets hope that does not happen) or I am dead.
My friends Marion and Tony return today from a trip to Vietnam. I have yet to visit there. Have enjoyed reading their emails which have provided interesting information on the people, sights, culture etc. Matiion just rangme so am lookng forwrd to seeing the pictures and hearing all about their travel tales. I love hearing about travel stories and looking at photos. If I have been there I can share a deeper understanding of the experience with friends and If I havent been there I can put iit on my bucket list!
Until next time take care and Live! Love! Laugh!
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