Winter in Sydney & We're Coming for a Visit!
Trip Start
Oct 13, 2007
1
12
17
Trip End
??? ??, 2009
Sydney,
New South Wales,
Australia
Thursday, June 12, 2008
So summer has finally arrived for you folks in the midwest as I marked my birthday with the first day of winter! It's been fun having all of our birthdays in opposite seasons. The boys and Jim enjoyed warm temps and I had a cool, rainy, but nice birthday. Some of the moms at school were asking me how I was handling our first winter in Sydney. I said "Hey, if this is as bad as it gets, it's great!" I guess it will get cooler and maybe more windy as we get into July and August, but so far the temps are still getting into the 60s and low 70s during the day. Quite a contrast to the winter you midwesterners had, huh?
Not much new here. Soccer is going okay....Max's team is struggling but Sam's team is doing pretty well. We've had several games rained out. It seems like when it rains here, it goes on for days and days, and the fields are just too mushy to play. But the boys are enjoying their teams.
School seems to be going well too. Sam went on an "excursion" today (i.e., field trip) to Taronga Zoo where they focused on Australian animals. Aside from the long bus ride and two of the kids barfing on the bus, I think he enjoyed it. Max got an A- on a big project that he's been working on since the beginning of school--again, all about Australia. Jim and I were helping at the final hour to get it put together, so we all learned a lot about Australia.
Speaking of Max, he didn't get into the High School that I had hoped for him next year (they go straight from primary to high school here, which is Years 7-12). I wanted him to go to a smaller one outside of our area. Well, as it turns out, he'd rather go to the one in our area, and I just found out that it's about the size of the middle school back home. And it's quite a good school--parents out of area really try to get their kids into it. So I guess I should be grateful that that's where he'll be going. And hey....Elle Macpherson went there, so any school that's good enough for a supermodel is good enough for my son!
Pictures in the blog this time are of a day in Sydney this past weekend. Even though the weather was dreary, we went to a craft fair on one side of the bridge, walked across the bridge to Sydney, and then walked around the Botanical Gardens. Really beautiful--thousands of species of Australian trees and plants. I bet it will really be nice in the spring. Brian, my neighbor back home, would love it!
Okay...so we're coming home for our "just shy of a year" visit. The boys and I arrive on the evening of 7/5 (pray for me travelling alone with the boys on an international flight!). Jim arrives on 7/12. We're in Batavia the entire month with the exception of 7/24-27ish for a trip to MO. Then back to Batavia for a few days before we fly to DC for my niece's wedding on 7/31. We'll fly to Sydney directly from DC. So for friends and family in the area, please save some time for getting together with us! We can't wait!
Guess that's it for now. By the way...you think you have pain at the pump back home???? I converted our $1.50 a litre to gallons and that's $5.67 a gallon! And that was on "cheap Tuesday." It's now up to $6.00 a gallon. And a 6-pack of beer....$15 folks!
Cheers,
Barb, Jim, Max & Sam
Comments
Winter???
Hi Barb,
It sounds like you are going to be spoiled by Sydney winters...they sound pretty good to me. What a beautiful country Australia is, or are other regions not as wonderful. I enjoy seeing all your photos. The boys are really growing.
We've had lots and lots of rain and wind this past couple of weeks. The Fox river has flooded towns in Southern Wisconsin and it will crest around Wednesday in the Tri-Cities. I'm sure the Herrington Inn and the Mill Race Inn are sandbagging right now. The good news is no more rain and in the 70's this week.
I hope our CCS group will be able to get together when you get to Batavia in July.
Take care.
Joyce
Oops! Forgot to answer
Hi, Barb,
I'm thrilled that you are coming back for a month and get to attend a wedding and see your in-laws in MO. I'm going to MO over the 4th, leaving 7/3 and returning 7/6. It will be a very quick trip. I'm hoping all the bridges over the Mississippi River will be re-opened by the time you are going to MO. There's been quite a bit of flooding due to levee's breaking and lot's of rain! Otherwise, I will be home until I go on vacation in August. Call me when you can next week, 630-232-2722 or 630-292-2722(cell) and let's plan a date to get together (at least once! More would be better!) Are you excited to be coming back? Did the boys have to miss some school to come? Safe travels. I'm sure the boys will be fine. They are at a good age to travel!
Love,Crae