An Aussie Christmas

Christmas weekend was fantastic. Friday we kicked off the weekend with Mark’s birthday, an afternoon at the beach and good ole KFC for dinner! On your birthday in Mark’s family you get to choose what you want for dinner, Mark craving the US cooking opted for Fried Chicken from KFC! Although Mark did get some flack for being so old we had a great celebration with his family.

Saturday was a scorcher, it was over 100 degrees, no breeze and I was sweating just standing still. Mark and I went to Christmas Eve mass at the Catholic church a few blocks away from our new house. In a first for me, the mass was outdoors, we sat in the grass on our picnic blanket. Although much of the service seemed similar to Christmas Eve mass in Seattle, the entire service from start to finish (with about 400 people getting communion) lasted only 45 min. This was the church service of my childhood dreams! The beachy feel of our Northern Beaches community was apparent in the casual atmosphere of the church service and the flip flops and board shorts most people wore to church.

Sunday we exchanged gifts with each other and Marks family and headed up to the central coast to my future brother in-law (Clay) parent’s house. We were treated to a wonderful Christmas lunch, chatted and enjoyed the warm weather. Above is a picture of Mark’s mom and I at Tuggerah lakes on the central coast near Clay’s parents home.


Monday morning we were up early to call the US and wish everyone a Happy Chrissy (Aussie for Merry Christmas). We then took a hike to Barenjoey Lighthouse near Palm Beach. This is a picture of Mark and I at the top of the hike with the Pacific Ocean on the left and Pittwater Inlet on the right. The weather was great and we headed straight to the beach after our hike. Mark taught me some body bashing (Aussie for body surfing) techniques, I was officially the dorkiest girl on the beach in my bikini and swim goggles but I was also having the best time!

Tuesday we walked across the Harbor Bridge and took in all the beautiful sights of Sydney Harbor. We ate lunch at the historic Australian Hotel (Mark’s Great Uncle used to own the Hotel) where we had saltwater crocodile pizza (it wasn’t very good, the meat was super chewy but now I can say I’ve tried it) Here is a picture of Mark outside the Australian Hotel.

We had a wonderful Chrissy weekend filled with good food, family and friends. We miss everyone and wish you all Happy Holidays and all the best in the New Year. -kel

One for my baby and one more for the road ...

It is the season for many things and one of those things is “Top 10” lists. Getting toward the end of the year all the newspapers and TV news programs have them – the top 10 new authors of the year, the top 10 leading news stories of the year, the top 10 local Seattle music releases and The Stranger even had a top 10 places to meet “swingers” in their year end issue for 2004.

So in homage to the city of Seattle, which showed me such a good time and introduced me to many great friends in the years I was there I will introduce you to my top 10 things I miss about Seattle now that I have been gone for a quarter year. A caveat before I start, I miss all of my friends very much and equally and “missing friends” would definitely be #1 on the list – so aside from that here we go ….

1. (Three way tie) Midnight Cuban Sandwich @ Paseo, Blue Cheese and Bacon Burger @ Red Mill and the Dybwad @ Other Coast Café
4. Snowboarding – I know the PNW is having a great snow season and after the disaster of ‘04/’05 I am jealous of having such easy access to good snow
5. Pacifco cerveza – usually a 12 pack for $10 on special at Fred’s every other week. I’m almost ashamed to say it but my days of drinking heavy beers in quantity are behind me, Pacifico and a lime made me feel like I was on a sunny beach in Mexico even if I was actually sitting on the couch in a house with no heat in Wallingford. You can get Carona here but it is a gourmet beer and fifty-odd bucks for a 24 pack – no thanks. Australian beer is good, don’t get me wrong, but after experiencing my first chunder for five or six years just last Thursday I’m a little gun shy right now.
6. My stuff – I mean nearly everything I owned at 3618, clothes, coke bottles, pick axe, Arkie… everything – since it was packed the day before we left we haven’t seen a thing. The good news we received this week was that it has landed in Australia, the bad news was that customs have chosen to inspect every item because of suspicious items included on the packing list – could they have mistaken four boxes of “coke” as meaning something else?
7. Hatties – sometimes just for a beer at the counter and sometimes for chicken fried chicken (with garlic mash potatoes and sweet corn for the “two sides with main”). Some fun times there right through to the end when Kelly and I had a front row seat to see the Radio Nationals do an acoustic set and they used our table to rest their beers on.
8. Mojito’s at El Camino’s – the best cocktail in the city hands down.
9. Rainier on the drive to work – this time of year you don’t get to see it much but when I did I was never any less amazed at how awesome it looked and how crazy it is to be living in a big city with that as a backdrop. A similar feeling was driving home in winter when I was at Amazon in Beacon Hill coming down the hill and seeing the snow capped Olympics – Seattle is beautiful.
10. If this was a “what I most miss about the U.S.” list, #1 would be Popeyes Chicken. A major beef I have against the city of Seattle is that there are no Popeye’s, but I made the drive to Tacoma twice a year and often in winter to have my fill of Popeyes – can’t drive to T-town from here.

Just missing the list was living in a city where half the locals wear purple and puke around in winter (not) – although I’m sure this eyesore does not start until later in winter as U dub is now a basketball school. (We celebrated Apple Cup in the Kelly-Mark household this year so I didn’t miss that momentous event).

We do miss all of our friends and wish everybody a great time over the holidays and all the best for the new year. A year I am looking forward to very much.

Peace and love. - Mark

The Hoff…

I simply can not understand the attraction. David Hasselhoff (or the Hoff as known in Australia) is a huge hit with the Aussies. Here are the links to two recent articles about him and his singing career in the Sydney Morning Herald. This is no trash mag, it is a very serious newspaper that I read almost every day…One of the articles even references Kit – the talking car from his seriously ancient sitcom Night Rider! Anyone a secret fan of the Hoff, just let me know, I’ll try to snag his autograph for you… -kel

http://www.smh.com.au/news/music/hoff-revved-up-to-record-classic-song/2005/12/10/1134086845003.html

http://www.smh.com.au/news/entertainment/carols-with-the-hoff/2005/12/17/1134703647640.html

And then there was shelter...

It's official we've bought a house! It's a total fixer upper, just down the road from the beach (about 1/4 mile) on a quiet street with a great yard, space for a pool and a cabana. Over the next few months we will be re-modeling hoping to move in before June if possible! In March when everyone comes to visit for the wedding we will be hosting a brunch at our new house so many of you will get to see the work in progress first hand. Look for lot's of before and after photos coming soon as we take on our first renovators delight! -kel

Seoul, Korea Day 2

Today is my second and final day in Korea. We are on the red-eye back to Sydney tonight. Today I had my first Latte since I left Seattle, it was so yummy and it was from Starbucks. The team here in Seoul loves Starbucks, as a thank you for all of their help, I treated them to coffee at Starbucks this afternoon. It was totally crazy, outside, inside right down to the cups and napkins, it looked just like one of the 1000's of Starbucks in Seattle. Even the light fixtures were the same. Since I left Seattle 9 weeks ago, nothing has seemed more like home to me. I am not a big Starbucks person, and I usually prefer to frequent the smaller local coffee shops, but this was one Seattle icon that I just couldn't pass up.

Last night we went to dinner at a Korean BBQ restaurant, the food was excellent. I really have no idea (other than some of the beef) what we ate (to be honest I don't think I want to know either). All the food was cooked on a plate in front of us, the rice wine was being poured constantly and I woke up hang-over free.

Seoul has been fun, a quick trip with really no time to see much or do anything but work. One quick trip for coffee, dinner out and one 20 min. cab ride has pretty much been all I have seen and unfortunately all I will get to see on this trip. It is freezing cold here, -3 degrees, everyone is bundled up, there is snow on the ground and the Christmas decorations have made Seoul look like a winter wonderland.

I am looking forward to getting back to Sydney and even caught myself today saying I was looking forward to getting home... -kel

Seoul, Korea

Today is Day 1 in Seoul Korea. I am here on business at the Microsoft Korea office. Although I haven’t seen much other than the office, the hotel and the walk in between, it has been interesting. Those of you who remember my first trip to India a few years ago, will recall my many attempts to learn to flush the toilet in the office, again…here in Korea I met a toilet I had trouble flushing. The good news is the seats are heated, yes heated! It was the best toilet ever, totally clean, warm and full of fancy buttons, if I had a camera, I would have taken a picture! After pushing many buttons (when I say many I really mean every single one), slight panic began to set in when none of them were actually flushing, then I realized on the other side of the fancy buttons was a good old fashioned flusher just like at home. Disaster avoided and new found respect for Korean toilets still intact.

It’s very cold here, about 32 degrees, snow and ice on the ground. Mark and I have yet to receive our container from America, so I had to borrow a jacket from Mark’s sister so I didn’t freeze. The city is very crowded, it’s the 5th largest city in the world (10.3 million people living in 36sq KM), all of the people I have met have been very hospitable, warm and friendly. We have a very full schedule for the two days we are here, unfortunately I don’t think I will have much time to get out and see the city or do any shopping. Maybe on my next visit… -kel

Long Time Gone

“ Been a long time gone, no I ain't hoed a row since I don't know when”

I’ve never actually hoed a row or rode … (good time to stop that thought) – but I have been gone from this fair city for a good while. While I’m overjoyed to be back in Sydney town with Kel and the city has dolled itself up and put on a good smile for us it still has taken some retribution for my lack of attention to it over the past ten years.

Case in point #1:
Having packed all our worldly possessions in a 20 ft container and jumping a plane with a single suitcase I thought I had a slight reprieve because I still had some clothing here in Sydney. 10 years is a long time and you know you get a bit lazy, eat a few too many Dick’s Deluxes and those old pants and your favourite Speedo don’t hide as much as they used to. Just in case denial got the better of me Kelly has taken the initiative and cut up most of my old getups telling me that she is going to make a quilt out of them – which is a nice way for her to tell me that she would rather stay in and watch cricket on the tele than go out in public with me wearing those old clothes.

Case in point #2:
Not too many things are tougher on a bloke than the voice that wafts over from the passenger seat from your fiancée (sub: wife/girlfriend) telling you that you need to go this way or you are going the wrong way. When you grew up in a city and your S.O. has been here for all of two mins. taking those directions is even harder. So when Kelly tells me I am trying to cross the Harbour Bridge in a lane that is reserved for “electronic tag” holders I laughed her off knowing there was no such thing – WRONG and that will be $80 to the state govt. thank you. Sorry Kel.

Case in point #3:
No silly little stories to tell in illustrating this point – but if this is retribution for leaving I may never leave the County of Cumberland again for fear of what might happen. On one of our little jaunts around the city I went to show Kelly my favourite pub – The Harold Park Hotel – well it used to be Harold in any case, it’s now a vegetarian restaurant with a housing development above it. It was there for 100 odd years, I duck out for a couple of years and they do this - R.I.P. Harold.

We live in a land down under where women glow and men thunder.

Cheers.

Birthday Weekend

Although the mighty Huskies lost to the Cougs, last week was my Birthday weekend and I had a great time. The weather did not cooperate, it was a cold and rainy spring day here in Sydney, so I'll have to wait until next year for a warm weather birthday. Mark and I took the ferry into the city, did some shopping and exploring. Here are a few pictures from our trip, the Christmas decorations are up and Sydney looks beautiful. All and all it was a fabulous birthday weekend!

Apple Cup 2005

It was a tough day for the Dawgs…a sad defeat. All that being said, the Apple Cup spirit was running strong in Australia…Mark and I made a bet on the game, I will be cleaning the new car in my Bikini later this week (thank goodness I am in Australia and it’s actually warm outside). Upon arrival at work this morning my cube was decorate in Coug colors with streamers and balloons thanks to my cube-mate an Aussie who apparently has decided to become a Coug fan (as of today, I am working on changing this). One of the joys of Mark and I working in the same building on the same floor is that he got to see this sight in person and laugh out loud. The cube decorating didn’t stop there…my old rival in Seattle, Colin White, was treated to some good old fashioned Husky décor courtesy of yours truly all the way from Australia. Australians take their sport seriously, I might not understand all of the sports here (netball, rugby league, rugby union, aussie rules football, field hockey…the list goes on) but I am taking my sport seriously. – You’re never too far away to be a Husky Fan - kel

Aussie Lingo Lesson #4

Tablet – Pill
Heaps – Lots
Athletics – Track and Field
Canteen – Cafeteria
Lift – Elevator
Winging – Complaining
Tip – Garbage Dump
Water Closet – Room with just a toilet
Good on you – Good for you

I am starting to master the lingo, well maybe not, but I am starting to understand what the heck people are saying to me…they really do speak English here. -kel

Save the Date

Save the Date for
Mark and Kelly's Wedding
Thursday March 16 2006
Sydney Australia

Nordstrom is 7737 Miles Away

Today I got an email from Tiffany and here is what she said:
“today was a really tough day for me, i tried to rally my spirits, i tried to pray for some sunshine, i tried to dress cute and have nice hair (usually helps), i tried to forget about the little things in life, i tried to think happy songs, and hum 80's love songs, but no matter what i did, said, wore, thought, hummed, i just couldn't get past the thought..... there is a nordstrom sale & i don't get to shop it with kelly. it is a sad day... a sad day i tell ya sister. but have faith! it was only the half-yearly.”
There are some things that Sydney just can’t compete with. Shopping at the Nordstrom Sale with Mom and Tiff and going for drinks and gorgonzola fries after at Palomino. Today...for me...shop at the Nordstrom Sale (send pics of what you buy) have a cosmo and some very good cheesy fries! Cheers! -kel

Little Narrabeen

Mark and I took a walk along Little Narrabeen beach after work last week. The sun was setting and the beach was empty, other than a few surfers in the water we had the entire beach to ourselves. This is about 5 min. from Marks parent's house. -kel

Lord of the Flies

The Flies have come out strong this spring, they are everywhere. Apparently it's fly season in Sydney. On a recent beach walk, Mark and I were covered in flies. They look pretty freaky (see photo above) but they are harmless and didn't really bother you unless you tried to swat them away! Check out this article in the Sydney Morning Hearld about the flies...I am sure this makes you all want to come and visit! -kel
http://www.smh.com.au/news/national/wellkept-lawns-responsible-for-fly-plague/2005/10/27/1130400311105.html

Aussie Lingo Lesson #3

Cossie – Swimming Suit (short for Swim Costume)
Mobile – Cell phone
Boot – Trunk
Jumper – Sweater
Beggers – Beg your pardon
Chunder – Vomit
Telly – Television
Maths - Math or numbers

I hate to admit this, and I know Tiffany is going to give me a hard time, but I’ve started to use the Aussie Lingo here and there. It’s either that or Mark has to do all of the talking…
-kel

You have to laugh, you'd cry your eyes out if you didn't

These are the things that have kept me giggling the last few weeks, through home sickness, and funky food…Australia is a funny place to live:
1. David Hasselfhof was a headliner on the Australian version of the Grammys.
2. People really say “Barbie” when talking about a BBQ
3. Knowing that I was from the US, out of the blue a co-worker, slowly explained to me in tons of detail what a BLT sandwich was. It wasn’t lunch time and I didn’t ask.
4. 1 out of every 3 times Mark hits the blinker to turn he hits the windshield wipers instead.
5. K-E-Double L-Y see Aussie Lingo Lesson #2
6. Public toilets have no seat covers, every time I use a public restroom it is a lesson in gymnastics.
7. Everyone swears tons, I am usually totally taken aback and surprised by the onslaught of very bad words used, but then when I repeat to Mark it’s hilarious. Passion and extremely prolific words are used to describe the most simple things.
8. Cory and Emily – Mark’s niece and nephew they tease Mark constantly and keep me laughing all the time. (pictured here with Mark)- kel

Sunday Morning Coming Down

The song that I stole the blog title from may be about recovering from a big night out but on this Sunday we were up early to help clear up a 50ft tree that had come down in my sisters front yard. Too much competition for the chain saw, so I did my small part and headed out for some exploring with Kelly.

Stop one: Warringah Mall to get the heel on Kelly's shoe fixed. Noteworthy only because we asked a shop lady from a shoe shop were we could find a shoe repairer in the mall - she went off, a 10 minute profanity ladden tirade on why we should not use the repairer in this mall - it was great. Shoe shopping, it's the new construction site - I'm saving up my dirty jokes and begging Kelly to let me go with her next time. Who would have thought!

On to the adventure of the day. We headed across the city and slightly west to a region of Sydney know as the "inner west" and specifically to King St, Newtown. King St. is a like the Freemont Fair 365 days a year, plenty of funky, some bizzarro and some I don't want to know about. In the first ten minutes that we were there we made our way through a throng of elderly women clad in black and men with serious B.O. issues coming out of a Greek Orthodox service, we were seated curbside for brunch next to a tranny and a couple of lesbians and watched five people ride by in full body paint and not much else (and there wasn't even a parade on). The food at brunch was great, the people watching even better. We hit the stores for a couple of hours, but left without buying anything - a successful day of shopping I'd say.

Great weather so one last stop before heading home. We are working out way south on the beach visits, today was the turn of Freshwater Beach (Freshie). It's a short beach so we took a short walk.

Kelly has decided the bacon is better in Australia so she doubled down on bacon meals today - she's becoming more Australian by the minute.

We live in a land down under where woman glow and men plunder! All the best,

- Mark

Mark and I took a walk along Long Reef tonight after work. This is about 5 min. away from home.

Aussie Lingo Lesson #2

As my good friend Andrea said in a recent email to me, “they love their doubles”. When spelling my name (I seem to be doing this all the time with the mass quantities of forms I am having to complete for everything from health coverage to tax forms) I am confusing people by spelling my name as K-E-L-L-Y P-I-T-T, people are like huh? K-E-L what? They use the doubles for phone numbers too; really it’s anything with doubles, instead of saying a number or a letter twice most Aussies seem to say double. It is actually very convenient to use the doubles, I have become a user not only to avoid the whats and huhs, but it makes every spelling quite quick. I am beginning to think I should have moved to Sydney a long time ago, they spell my name like they are yelling a cheer and they have a shopping mall named after me, things could only get better from here…- K-E-double L-Y P-I-double T

Bring on the Apple Cup - ASAP

We may be an ocean away but through the marvels of the internet we are keeping tabs on the important stuff Stateside - we are eagerly awaiting a conference win by either the mighty Cougs or mangy Huskies so we can poke a bit of fun at each other - the way things are going we will be waiting until Apple Cup to get there!

Kelly had her introduction to serious shopping Sydney style over the weekend, we visited Paddington on Friday arvo (see "Aussie Lingo Lesson #1"), and the city center (CBD) on Saturday. Kelly took the fact that the epi-center of CBD shopping is around PITT Street Mall as a mark of welcoming and respect and vowed to payback the gesture with numerous return visits. I have taken the threat seriously and have both stopped letting Kelly know where we are in the city and started feeding her erroneous directions so that it will take her at least six months to find her way back there.

We also went to our first property auction over the weekend, purely as spectators at this stage. Kelly loved the auction and is already plotting strategies that will allow us to get the psychological advantage over other bidders when we hit ceneter stage ourselves. A funny note from the auction - taking advantage of the good Sydney weather many auctions are held on the front lawn of the proprty being sold, the one we attended was held in this fashion - after a slow start the action is heating up and two bidders are going back and forth exchanging bids, the price is steadily rising and the crowd are intently focussed on who will crack first - just then a couple of young blokes on the way back from a surf are driving past in an old beater and as they pass the auction house one yells out "5 million" and the crowd totally broke out laughing.

We live in a land down under, where women glow and men chunder - cheers, Mark.

Drivers be warned…

With very little effort and best of all no test, I was granted a New South Whales Drivers License. I am now officially licensed to drive on the other side of the road. Mark has been an incredibly patient teacher, and thankfully the Aussie drivers have been cooperative; even if I tend to hit the windshield wipers instead of the turn signal on a regular basis. - kel

Aussie Lingo Lesson #1

After my first week I am starting to understand and decipher the Aussie speak. Since I plan on living here for quite a long time, I thought I should teach all of you what I am learning so that when you do speak with me on the phone or when I visit the States, you know exactly what the heck I am talking about. Here is Aussie Lingo Lesson #1:

Servo – Gas Station
Cuppa – Cup of Tea
Avo – Afternoon
Full on – Intense
Footie – Rugby

We’ll keep it at only a few words for now…but look for more soon… - kel

First Impressions

Today is day 5, and it has been a crazy 5 days. We got my bank account set up, finalized on a wedding site and reception location, looked at cars and houses, practiced driving on the other side, unpacked, un-jet lagged ourselves and enjoyed the lovely spring weather.

Sydney is a beautiful city, we are staying with Mark's parents in a Northern Beach Suburb called Cromer. We are looking at houses in suburbs all along the Northern Beaches, all of the houses are close to the beautiful long beaches. We've seen a few fixer-uppers we like, so look for updates soon on our next big project!

I am slowly getting used to hearing the Aussie speak, everything seems to be shortened into slang words. Pretty soon I am sure I'll be using them myself.

Here is a picture of me on Dee Why beach, enjoying the sun and the surf!

Photo Pitt

Robin's website is up and you can view his pictures. Check out www.photopitt.com

Goodbye Seattle, Hello Sydney

It's official, we leave for Sydney 6:30 PM on Monday the 26th!

Westport

Our final weekend get-away was spent in Westport with Pat and Katie Perkins. We had a wonderful time and Mark especially loved the grasses!

On our way to Westport we also stopped by my Grandma Pitt's house. It was Marks first time meeting her, and although a bit tired we had a great time catching up with her.