Hello 2011

We ended 2010 exactly where we started it... On the Kangaroo Point Cliffs, overlooking downtown Brisbane and the river watching the fireworks!!


What a fantastic night! Before the fireworks display, we invited Howard and Marg over for dinner and drinks. I made a Cold Greek Pasta Salad and Grilled Salmon with a Mango Glaze that I found in an Aussie Holiday Cooking Magazine. WOW! it was not only easy, but also deelish! I think that Mango Glaze will be my new go-to recipe when cooking salmon.

After dinner, we walked along the River to the Kangaroo Point Cliffs. There, we found nice, grassy spot to sit and enjoy a glass of bubbly while the four of us watched the fireworks rain down over Southbank.


Before last night, if anyone had asked me to recall my best New Year's Eve, I probably would have said last year's New Year's Eve was my favorite. I had just moved to Oz a week before and was still glowing with the anticipation of what the next year was going to bring. But, I have to admit, I think last night topped it. We have had such a magical 2010, and 2011 is shaping up to be even better!

Wii Fever!!

This is what the past week has looked like for me. We just got Ryan's Wii back from his sister, Nicole. I've never played Wii before, and I never understood what the craze was about. In fact, I haven't really played any video games since playing Pac Man and Frogger on Atari in the early 80s. Does that age me? Anyways, I now know what the craze is about. I am addicted!!

I would like to say that we spent our first Christmas in Oz, which falls in the middle of summer here, at the beach or having some outdoor adventure in the rain forest. But, that is not the case. We have been having cyclonic storms and going on a road trip just wasn't an option. In fact, walking around town hasn't been an option either. Not unless we want to get stuck in a torrential downpour, which seems to happen every half hour. When there's no pressing reason to leave the apartment, why leave? So, we have been hunkered down enduring this wet season the best way possible...playing games.

I know it must be painful for Ryan to watch me play. I have no clue what I'm doing. Weapons? What weapons? I thought I was just supposed to go fast! But, I'm learning. We've only played a handful of the games the he owns, Mario Kart being my favorite. I have missed riding my dirt bike, and Mario Kart is like a virtual ride on different tracks. I love it!!

Last night, I was complaining about how tired I was of being stuck indoors and how I wanted this never-ending rain to cease so that we could go outside. Later, we watched the News, and we were reminded that town after town has recorded record breaking floods. Many people have lost everything, and the flood waters are still rising. And to think...I was complaining about being stuck indoors. I'm thankful that Ryan and I are safely outside the flood areas. If being safe means being stuck indoors playing Wii for another week I'll take it!

It May Not be a White Christmas

This weekend was the lighting of the Lord Mayor's Christmas Tree in the City Hall Square, downtown Brisbane. Imagine a smaller version of NY City's Rockefeller Center minus the scarfs and mittens and add sundresses and flip flops. That sums it up.

Ryan would tell you that I "dragged" him to the event. But, really, I think he secretly liked the idea of getting out of the apartment to stop by one of our favorite breweries for a cold beer before going to the lighting of the tree.

I should have known that they would drag (understatement) the event out. That there would be choirs singing and dancers dancing... but, I didn't. I, honestly, thought that we'd get there, they'd light the tree, we'd get a few good pictures and then we'd head home for dinner.

(Here is the tree before they lit it and also a picture of the City Hall Clock Tower)







Cut to almost an hour later...we decided to leave even though the tree was still unlit. We had no way of knowing how much longer until they lit it, and the idea of waiting another hour just wasn't an option.

Wouldn't you know... As soon as we crossed the street to leave, the tree lit up! Isn't that how it always works? The lesson is to either be patient and wait OR next year, go 45 minutes after the event starts.

Ryan promised that sometime before Christmas we'll go back to the Square and see the tree lit up. Until then, we'll be happy with the lights and decorations that we've put up in our apartment.













It may not be a white Christmas, but it's Christmas none the less!