It's May, there are protests in Greece over austerity measures, an ash cloud is rising up from Iceland and our bags are packed for a trip half way across the globe. Next stop the northern hemisphere.

I don't remember much from the first exhibit except that it was about birds and had some cool dress up options. Here is Jean doing her best parakeet impersonation. The rainbow serpent is a common theme in Aboriginal art and mythology. A descendent from the heavens the serpent lives in the deepest regions of Australian waterways. The neat placard explained that because the boomerang was inscribed with the phrase "Sunny Australia" it was probably made with tourists in mind rather than hunting.  Some Modern Aboriginal Art Aboriginal art inspired from the stolen generation. From the late 1860s until the 1970s there were federal programs in place to remove aboriginal children from their families in an effort to lessen the influence of Aboriginal culture. The prehistoric cave bear's marsupial brother. His closet living relative is a Koala. Steggie Even holographic crocs are little intimidating

After walking up and down the road I eventually found the building where orientation was being held. I couldn't help but think it was somewhat ironic that it was in a difficult place to find. I entered the reception area and noticed at least ten other people sitting on various couches dotted around the room. At first I was a little apprehensive about not knowing anyone there or what the morning would include. I noticed that most people in the room were sat slightly apart and not talking to each other. However I guessed most people were waiting for the same seminar as me and since a lot of us were there to meet new people I tried to overcome my nervousness. I introduced myself to a lady with a friendly appearance, she appeared pleased I initiated a conversation. After a short while we were ushered into the training room and directed to take seats clustered in small groups around tables. When the first ice-breaker was introduced I almost groaned thinking, oh how clinched. We were g...

I thought the enchiladas I made for dinner were pretty good. Then Shirley brought out the big guns for her dessert. Here she is torching the crème brûlée . I'm afraid that I have to bow to her kitchen arsenal.

View Larger Map For our anniversary/my birthday Jean and I ventured out west for a weekend in the Blue Mountains. It was a hiking extravaganza. Check out the slideshow below.

Since arriving in Sydney a few months ago the weather has been amazingly temperate. Apart from the first blazing week in February temperatures have been in a Goldilockistan just right state of not too hot and not too cold. On sunny days it's been comfortable enough to swim yet even in the heat of the day there's respite in the shade. Blackheath in the Blue Mountains As we marched into May I begin picking up tell tale signs that the state was beginning to change. An excursion to the Blue Mountains just west of Sydney in mid April brought us a preview of fall colors and brisk climate. Autumn soon followed us out of the mountains and settled in the lowlands. The early morning cool has become crisp. The refreshing bay breezes have turned bracing. The tank tops so prevalent a few weeks ago have been replaced with hoodies and cardigans. Even though I'm fully aware that the seasons in the southern hemisphere run counter to those in the northern hemisphere there was this lit...