The Good Old GGA

As most of you know, we are back home in Goderich. About 2 weeks ago now, there were a couple of reasons of why it would be a good idea to go back and so, we surprised our families and walked in on Christmas morning. We had a great time and don't regret our decision one bit.

I still haven't slept for a full night but word is that Nic slept until 1 pm this afternoon. I was away having a wedding dress fitting and ordering my bridesmaid dresses. I was way prepared because I thought I'd be in Australia. This was the first day Nic had nothing to do, so he totally took advantage of the sleep. Tomorrow will be my day. This is the first day in 6 months that we haven't been together. He's currently at his parent's house (watching hockey I assume) and I actually kind of miss him. Turns out I also missed driving on the right side of the road. I had to double check that I was in the correct lane about 4 times today.

The last 2 weeks we actually went back towards Brisbane. We sold Herb to an Italian couple who I really liked, but I think they will have mega trouble with the van. The guy emailed Nic asking him how to put up the window. Herb is a touchy fellow and this guy may not have the "touch". Herb ended up paying for our trip AND we didn't have to pay a dollar more to return home at Christmas. We got our flights for the same price, we just had to pay a switching date fee that would have been there no matter what day we changed too. We were very lucky as the first 3 respresentatives told us it would be another 1200 for each of us. We kept getting disconnected which is why we didn't end up paying. It was all meant to be. We stayed in the Gold Coast for the last week before our flight and had great weather. The flight home was TERRIBLE. The 13 hour flight from Auckland to Vancouver, Nic sat adjacent to a man who had a bad cold. He sounded like a Walrus, and coincidentally, he looked like one too. He had a thick, white moustache and hacked away all night. By the end of the flight, I thought Nic was going to shove a sock in his mouth. We maybe slept 2 hours on that flight. Vancouver to Toronto consisted of screaming children and was super cold. We didn't sleep at all. However, we made it home safe and sound.

We walked into my parent's house in the morning and they cried- so I think they were happy. I guess Dad had just finished telling Mom that they were going to have their most boring Christmas yet. The look on Phil's face was priceless. Next, we knew Nic's family was celebrating at his Grandmother's house, so we walked in there. Nic's Mom hands down had the best reaction. She yelled "Nicholas" and we had his parents and Grandmother crying- we were 5 for 5. Since then, we've had stuff on the go everyday. Haven't washed our clothes yet, unpacked or really slept. I am excited for things to settle. My sister and her family are up from Ottawa and Anna is the cutest baby. Easily the happiest baby out of my niece and nephew pool. I've actually been waking her up in the night so I have something to do- which is feeding her. She doesn't mind. Currently, I am watching my nephew Ryan. It's 9:23 pm and he insisted on eating soup which is all over my mother's hardwood floor. I probably should put him into bed soon, but he appears to be having a riveting conversation with Grandpa.

Nic and I will be staying at my parent's farm for the next little bit as his house is rented out. Dad has 6 rounds of chemo and Mom has been supplying round the clock care to him. If you have a cold/flu/anything viral- don't visit- but healthy visitors are welcomed gladly. Nic and I should prove to be a good help around here. I am going to start applying to teach in Ontario and Nic's got a couple of things on the go. Waterloo Board is hiring 50 Occasional Teachers in January- unfortunately, my criminal record check won't be in by the closing date and other than that, no lists are open. So, I'll probably be doing loads of volunteering.

My eyes are getting heavy and I want my sister's kid in bed before she & her husband get home. It doesn't even feel like I was away and I haven't even seen my friends yet. I was so happy to be around my dinner table with my parents, siblings, and nieces and nephews for Christmas- jet lag and all I would do it again. So very glad we moved to Oz, made great friends, memories and got good experience. Depending how long I am unemployed for, we could be off to New Zealand... but I won't be getting on that flight for another 10 months- I'd rather be unemployed.

We're onto a new chapter and don't really know where we'll end up, but we only want each other as van room mates. 2010- it's been a slice.

Merry Christmas To All

Merry Christmas Everyone!

Yep- still doesn't feel like Christmas at all. It's amazing how much the snow affects that. I thought I would be a basket case away from our families- but the sun and booze is actually making me very okay with things.

We finally made it to Cairns and I can't even describe how hot it is here. I managed to get us into our special Christmas room way ahead of check in time by sweet talking Ken at reception. Turns out we're both orphaned at Christmas- his family is in Thailand. Our internet service is shotty- but we're going to try and SKYPE with our families tomorrow morning.

We are not leaving this room until we settle a fairly large dispute between the two of us. Buck & Doe VS. Open Reception. It's actually not a large dispute, I just think neither one of us cares enough to make a decision. I personally will need to be drugged up on Vicoden if we have a Buck and Doe because I have anxiety in large groups... or the other way I combat this is with booze. My friend's can testify. However, I think Nic just wants a party. A giant party. So, I feel like the Grinch. But then I suggested we don't have a buck and doe but we do an open reception instead of closed. However, the downfall to this is that we wouldn't be able to do the open bar.... do you know how much an unemployed teacher makes?? Well, it's not much kids. So, I dunno. That way Nic will still get his giant party but I feel like my parents won't be able to relax because they'd be so worried about someone getting in an accident on the way home. I get the point of buck and does, but I just don't "get" it. I mean, it's like Southwestern Ontario is the only place in the world that has them. How did this come to be?

So, our plans include the Great Barrier Reef on the 26th. Basically, that's all we've planned. Nicki's birthday is on, well I actually don't know what day it falls on, but it's the 30th. We've been to many a shopping centres but I still haven't got him anything. FUN FACT: Did you know Nic and I are complete and total opposites according to the cosmos? Yes, June 30 & Dec. 30 are two different tropics and the furthest apart. Yea yea, I read a lot in my spare time. It's something I see between us everyday. I went to great lengths for his birthday last year.... so maybe I can just have a pass. Like, I can't even bake the kid a cake. I miss having an oven, bath tub....mixing bowls. It's the little things. My mom always went WAY out for our birthdays, I think that's why I think they are such a big deal. I make them huge events in the classroom too. In fact, I make every holiday a huge event- my mom sent something in my lunch box for every holiday. Especially Valentine's Day- which is her birthday.... Nurture over nature.

Well kids, this is all I have to report. We are well, healthy and tanned. ANNND for the first time ever in my whole life- I have saved money. It's one of my proudest moments. I actually have a small little amount of savings.... which I must credit to Nic for teaching me how to save & make it grow. I am actually really proud of it... and sad that I'll be handing it all over to my parents when we get home.

Herb has been a darling boy and has become the apple of Nic's eye. There are a lot of overseas people traveling this close to Christmas, so we meet some interesting characters most places we go. I think we met the biggest hillbillies in Australia... yes, I got to sit with them while Nic was absent and they discussed every under cover police car and how to get drunk and avoid them leaving the bar. I held my tongue back for fear of them cutting it out and turning my head into a lamp.

I hope that you all get to spend quality time with your families this Holiday season, because as a girl who can attest to being half the world away- our friends and family is what makes it. We only get out of this life what we put into it.

So Merry Christmas to my family, my soon to be family, and to all of our friends. There are many days where we see something that reminds us of you... or we exchange stories that make mecringe with disapointment over what he's done with his friends. You Clinton/Varna/Bayfield Boys---- you are lucky to be alive.

Herb's Hiccups

So today wasn't the best day we've had. I had a pretty good day... but Nic had a lot of issues with Herb. Oh yeah, and I started up a love affair with my other boy toy, Facebook. Nic gets somewhat ignored in the morning when I have Facebook and he hasn't said anything yet, but I know he hates that I readded it. I had no choice, the threat of him deleting his was looming large and he doesn't really care for the blog much anymore either. He's gone on some total privacy kick.

So the update on the update is that yes, we are living in a van. I got some messages about people not believing this. Today is the first day we've set up the tent. We live in Caravan Parks. It's a bit expensive though. Usually 30 dollars a night. I love it. I really like the park we are currently at. We got here yesterday and because we'd done so much driving, we decided to have a relax day and stay one more. Nic barely relaxed at all though. We don't have good reception for the radio and Nic set out to fix that today while I read by the pool. He was taking a seriously long time and when he got back, he looked frustrated. I guess while he was driving down the highway, Herb's steering decided to lock and Nic couldn't move the steering wheel. While Nic was fixing this, I fell asleep. The sun just kills me. Apparently it's all fixed now though. Again, Nic's a handy person to have around. Why would a girl ever want to date a guy that couldn't fix things? I am pro women's lib- but come on. As the days pass on, I realize I am dating my father. Aside from the LL BEAN shirts (which I am certain Nic would wear if I let him), he thinks and acts like Phil. I think my Dad is pretty cool though, so it doesn't bother me.

Anyhow, I spent the entire day pool side. We are in Rockhampton, Queensland and it is the first time we've had heat that I find unbearable. It was hot from the moment we woke up (which is 5 am for me). I am seriously questioning us going to Cairns, but we need to sell Herbert and want to see the Great Barrier Reef. Nicholas and I were forced to have the finances talk today. By forced, I mean Nic forced me. I usually like to get to the last dollar and make a plan, but Armstrong doesn't work that way. So, after tabulating and planning, we think we'll probably be home 2 months earlier than expected. Which makes sense considering we quit our jobs 2 months early. That's okay, because we'll still have seen everything we wanted too.

So far we've done the Byron Bay, Gold Coast, the Sunshine Coast, Fraser Island and now I believe we are on what is called the Capricorn Coast. I was expecting more from Fraser Island. We were constantly going back and forth about whether we should rent our own 4WD, go on a 2 day camping trip or the 1 day and I am really happy we did the one day. Aside from our tour guide, Mark, being completely sexually frustrated and letting everyone know, my favourite thing was Lake McKenzie. It was so gorgeous. The water was tourquoise and the sand so white. We were told to exfoliate our skin and clean our jewelry because the sand was so good. Some people even brushed their teeth with it.

I think my most favourite day is the day we spent in Tin Can Bay. This was the day that was super cheap because we lived like hobos. We didn't do anything overly exciting. I was going to feed the dolphins but when I saw them, they looked really gnarly and were pink and grey. They did not look like Flipper at all. There were a lot of kids, so I saved my 5 bucks.

The East Coast has been good to us weather wise. We maybe had 4 days of rain. We do mainly cheap things, like go to the beach or inexpensive day tours... OR national parks. We've done a couple water activities... but it turns out my fear of sharks was greater than I expected. Apparently from now on we can't go swimming in the ocean just anywhere because we need stinger suits to protect us from jelly fish. This whole "camping" thing though has made me want to get a kayak for our home (wherever that may be) and I want a trailer when we're older... Nic a cottage, I say his current house is like a cottage.

Other than that, the highlight of my day was finding out that this park had a book exchange...and now I am reading James Patterson crime novels which are a far cry from my lighter-than-tofutti chick lit books. Oh, and I got a zit. I rarely get them.. I remember when I got one in Grade 8 on my forehead and Dean went on about my "Paki Dot". Don't think I've forgotten about that Dean. Anyhow, I haven't worn make up in like a month and I've tried to cover my face for almost the whole day so people can't see it. Casually holding lettuce to my chin at the supermarket. Life is pretty good right now.

Our next stop is Airlie Beach. We leave tomorrow. Hopefully Herb holds out and I don't spontaneously bust due to heat. I am officially known as Sharna here. Everyone thinks I am saying Sharna. How they get the R sound is beyond me. Nic's friends even asked after we'd been there for 3 days if there was an R. Nic seems pretty agitated right now, so I better get off the computer. He did cook dinner (stir fry) and cleaned up since I've been on here. We don't have any anniversaries but tomorrow is the day we had our first official, not a date, but a planned outing. It may have been 4 months after it was originally scheduled and 8 months after asking but it still happened none the less. I couldn't avoid it for forever. Turns out going against my better judgement was my best decision to date. I am so happy some days I could cry... annnnd I just started right now. Good lord, I am going to be a mess at the wedding.

Keep Warm Mates. (I so love this, we are everyones mate here).

Special shout out to my Dad as his last round of chemo is coming up. You're a tough cookie Phil. While it sucks, you have taught me more about important things in life than you'll ever know. I am so proud of how you've handled what life threw at you and love you so much.

Ahh, also a very happy birthday to the handsome Ryan MacIntyre as he celebrates his 5th birthday on the 17th. Since I've been here, you've turned into a little boy. I am so excited to see you! xo

sunshine, lollie pops and rainbows

Nic and I are in Rainbow Beach and have very poor internet and cell phone connection. Nic desperately wants to delete Facebook and I am begging him to privatize it to our family and close friends or else I may die of withdrawl.

It's been a busy 3 days. We just got back from Fraser Island. Lake McKenzie was the most gorgeous place I've ever been in my life. It was a big day. I have a huge headache from the 4WD on the beach (super bumpy) and from being in the sun. Nic also conned me into a plane ride of the Island which I am pretty sure the plane was wind-up.

Yesterday we went Dolphin Sea Kayaking and I almost had a heart attack. It was no leisurely paddle. We saw a Mama Dolphin and her baby--- other than that the highlight was riding the waves in. We were the only group who didn't capsize. Our instructor "Gaz" (picture a 40 year old man who looks about 29- and definitely does hard drugs)- very nice guy- took us out for the afternoon and tomorrow morning he's starting to teach us surf (a gift for the lack of dolphin viewing).

We're staying in a Campervan Park. We only haven't one night and I woke up like 25 times sure that the police were coming to bust us. That was the day I felt like a beggar. We cooked on the BBQs, swam in the public pool for 2 dollars (so that we could shower) and slept in a park. All in all, it's been great. We've got friends at this park- a family of 5 whose 4 year old daughter runs the park- and people from England and South Africa that are our age. They've all already been to Cairns- so they're getting us pumped.

I have a massive headache and need to shower before dinner. Everything is well with us. It's the Christmas Parade here on Saturday and Nic and I are not in the festive spirit at all. I am also dreading his birthday. We aren't doing Christmas gifts, but I can't possibly cop out on his birthday too. When you're together 24 hours, it makes it difficult to surprise each other. Although, I did get him a coffee after my run and he surprised me with wine after my shower last night--- so small surprises I guess.

There's been a tonne happening, but I can't write because of the crappy service- so I guess our families will just have to wait until we get home. Speaking of which- I mailed the Christmas presents this week and am hoping we can arrange to SKYPE on Christmas morning.

Hope everyone is keeping safe from the cold. The people here have NO conception of a snow storm back home. This trip has made me appreciate Canada- and on a smaller scale- Goderich so much more.

Night Folks.