My "New" Ride

After 3 long months without my minivan (and nicknamed "Handy Dart" by Tara), I now have a "new-to-me" 1999 Dodge Caravan!

On my way to visit my mom in Hope, (just before they moved abroad), nearly at the Dinotown exit, my transmission decided to "give up the ghost". Crap, I'm on a VERY busy part of the #1 Hwy! A call to Harry (who hadn't left for work yet) and another to BCAA...

Harry, being the wonder-mechanic he is (no, seriously), took my old transmission out and installed a used one from the wreckers. Not an easy feat, lemme tell ya! Nope, no good, this transmission is hooped too. Ok, do we spend the $1000+ to have my original tranny repaired or look for another van?

It's Saturday night. Shenna is on her way to babysit while we meet up with friends. Games nite is postponed. Change of plans... let's head to North Burnaby and look at a Carvan. Not the most romantic way to spend an evening alone, but... let's go! $1300 later...

Tranny's already been done, fully loaded (including alarm), so immaculate you can practically eat off the uphostery, a few minor dents. We're sold!

I'm back in the saddle again!

Anyone in need of a 1995 Dodge Caravan without a transmission? LOL

Letter from Oz - Volume 2

Lorikeet

Hello from the Land of Oz,

How do you know when you’ve started to settle in a new location? I pulled out the ice-cream the other day and found protective ice! Then I realized that it was time to get a new tube of toothpaste. Since I hang out the washing here, there’s always lint on my clothes but lately I’m using the lint brush and duct tape less as the new linens have now been washed a few times and there’s less lint debris to deal with. I went into my pantry cupboard and pulled out an elastic band that now had numerous other fasteners attached to it . . . twist ties, bits of string. And oh, my rubber spatula is tomato stained.

I can’t believe how quickly the time has passed since moving out of our condo in Hope and the painful parting from family and friends on July 4. I will always wear the special neck pillow that one daughter made out of bits of fabric that I used to make blankets for the grandchildren. I carry my “nana bag” that the other daughter mailed around the country so each grandchild could put their little (and not so little) foot and hand prints there to be lovingly preserved and carried with pride. I have scanned pictures of gifts from my son, too heavy to have made it into my luggage. Photos of family are soon to grace our entrance as I have waited to get my computer up and running to accomplish that. My family picture wall is a must, no matter where I am.

This is the last day before spring break down here. In Canada the children have returned to school, the leaves are beginning to fall and some to change colour. Here it’s getting warmer as we approach summer and you are digger deeper into your closets for warmer clothing as the nights become cooler. I was online today looking at purchasing posters that I can frame, missing the brilliant colours of fall but also anticipating seeing signs of new growth where I now reside.

Tom has been working quite a bit at various schools and enjoying the change. The children here have been polite and enthusiastic when they find the substitute teacher is from Canada. There are always lots of questions and genuine interest in finding out how things are half way around the world, that we live a bit differently but are mostly very much the same. The schools here have a much more relaxed policy in many ways. Principals rarely, if at all, visit the classrooms and Friday afternoons the staff debriefs on the veranda with a beer from a well stocked fridge in the staffroom. This is even while students are still milling about! Can you picture that in Canada?

Then there are the breaks: a short one at 10:00 a.m. , little lunch at 11:00, big lunch from 12:00 to 12:45 and then a short one mid afternoon as the finish around 2:30. Tough to get teaching time in! Most of the schools have exercise equipment cemented into the playground and the students’ P.E. classes consist of things like golfing and surfing, depending on the location and taught by a specialist of that particular subject. The school grounds are immaculately maintained and the private schools look like holiday resorts. I still don’t know how school funding is determined but since there is only one head office for the state, there is a great deal more taxpayer money going directly into the schools. Much of the equipment money is raised through school fairs (fetes) and they expect to raise at least $30,000 (thirty thousand) in a morning. Stalls are set up by staff, parents and community members who sell a variety of things like jewellery, plants, handcrafted items, etc. Office staff goes to the bank about every hour to avoid a build up of funds.

I still have not actively sought employment, choosing to get us settled first and enjoy spring break with Tom. After that, it will be pounding the proverbial pavement as we’ve used up our seed money and I’m feeling a need to get out and meet some new folks and get into a routine of sorts. The kids in Brisbane settled back into their own work lives but one daughter nearby has made it her mission to introduce me to the local shopping centre and a fine job she has done! I am on a first name basis with some of the shopkeepers and get nods of recognition from others. What does that tell you about how much I’ve frequented the Sunshine Plaza in Maroochydore?

You know how important The Home Depot is? WELL! Here it’s Bunnings, sister to Home Depot. Tom still stops there almost daily to get his “fix”. If ever I can’t find him . . . . I know where to look.

It’s getting close to dusk now and the lorikeets are starting their end-of-day migration to the treetops along the river across the street from our place. They are so hyper after a day of sucking nectar on every far away tree that it takes about an hour to settle, then they awaken before dawn to stretch their wings and get ready to venture out for yet another day. Of course, that means we wake up at 3:38 a.m. as well . . . . yawn.

It’s time to get the salad made, prepare the steaks and prawns so Tom can throw them on the barbie. We’re really enjoying the seafood and of course the wine. Oh, the wine. We were given good inside information that you could buy “clean skins” which are wine bottles that are not branded, for $2.90/bottle. Lo and behold, it’s true. Wine prices vary from an average of $10, up to $300 or more, a bottle with a huge variety to choose from but we are now reluctant to spend more and have developed a taste for the more affordable products.

So for now, I wish you a good weekend and hope this finds you all in good health and spirits. G’day and cheers from down under.

Marilyn