Off to Sydney

Well we're off to Sydney tomorrow (Sat) bright and early, and will be flying home Tuesday night.

Hope you all have a good New Years - and expect lots of updates and pictures after that!

xoxo

Rain!

Wowsers, we had torrential rain today, and more to come in the next 24 hours

and Dan is on his way! yay

Dan comes Friday...yay!

I haven't updated in awhile...not much has happened.

We're looking forward to my brother Dan coming...he gets here on Friday!

And I'm looking forward to working less! haha...I like the extra money, but with the wages I'm making it's completely not necessary to work 6 days a week...so this week I will work 5 days, then I work just work 3 times while Dan is here...and then for a few weeks I'll just work 4 days, so that will be really really nice!

Lately this is what we've been up to:

A couple of friends are moving to Brisbane, one left on Saterday, so Friday night we went out for drinks. It will be weird to have her gone...for the past few months, her roommate and her have been coming over to watch "the office" so we'll have to recruit a new person in the new year :)

I had my Christmas dinner for the bookshop - that was really nice...I love my jobs, and I most of my co-workers are super great! The other's are just ok - hehe, just joking! It was a good night, lots of laughs.

What else....We met up with some of the youth who we will be going to world youth day with, hopefully we'll get more chance to get to know them before July otherwise that might be a bit weird. But we are all taking a bus from Melbourne to Sydney, so I'm sure we'll get to know them on the way!

Ummmm, okay I think that's all!!

I'll post more when Dan gets here and we have some fun!

Bite Christmas Party!

Last night (Friday) we had our christmas party for the cafe, Bite, that I work at.

It was great fun...we went to this restaurant/club called Hoo Haa!

There were 9 of us, and we're a good bunch! Paul, our boss, had been telling us about Hoo Haas amazing parma for the last 2 months!! Oh, parma is like breaded chicken schnitzel with melted cheese on top, and I think it had tomato sauce as well.

All of us, except for the two vegitarians, had the parma...it was sooooo big!! The four of us girls that were at my end of the table probably should have just shared one between all of us, because most of us ate about a quarter of ours!...but it was really yummy.

The gang: (left to right)

Rachel, Matt, Alice, Jess, Jo, Ivy, Me, David and the boss, Paul

THE HOO HAA SUPER PARMA!

Spreading the love :)
Awww, the girls
The loving couple
Ivy and Jo
What a weirdo! haha, but alot of fun

Too much to update, so little time

I guess I should finish my stories from last weekend.

On Sunday Conor went to the schools and of year mass and barbeque. They had a really nice day, perfect for bbq.

Then when I was done work we went to our poker friends house for our money poker game and also a bbq - Conor had kangaroo! hehe..he said it tasted realy good.

And then Conor won poker!!! Yay!!!

Okay, that was a really lame post...sorry, it's hard to write about it a week later!!

The calm before the storm

So, I love having friends here and things to do...but do we really have to go MONTHS without having weekend plans to having 3 FULL weekends in a row!!



Our friend Bernard was here visiting from Sydney (a co-worker of mine got married on Saterday, he came down for that) so we went out for dinner with him on Friday night. It was a great night. Melbourne has all these 'lanes' in the city where they have restaurants with outdoor tables all the way down the lane, restaurant after restaurant with just a small pathway down the middle. It's crazy competition as well, each restaurant you walk past there is at least one person outside trying to talk to you as you go "What do you feel like eating today? Italian? Free bottle of wine when you dine here" and so on. Anyways we found a place with room for 9 or so of us...and had a great meal!



Then we walked over to a gelati shop and had some gelati - it was a really nice night, so we went for a walk afterwards...it was great to see Bernard again. He is the one who's job I got at the bookshop when he moved to Sydney...and when Conor, Dan and I go to Sydney for New Years, we will be staying with him...THANKS AGAIN BERNO!



So that was Friday. Normally I don't work Saterdays, but as it was my co-workers wedding day, there were only a few of us NOT going that I had to work...and it was crazy busy with Christmas coming! Conor was helping out at a symposium in the city,Right afterwork Conor met me in the city and we hopped on the train to go to a trivia night fundraiser for World Youth Day.



World Youth Day is a huge Catholic event that happens every three years. Last time it was in Cologne Germany, and the year before that it was in Toronto. Anyways, July 2008 World Youth Day is going to be in Sydney. Conor is done classes in June, but we've decided to stay for world youth day, then we'll come back to Melbourne and after that some time we'll head back home to Canada! yay! Our friend Monica is leading a group of youth to go to WYD and she needed some more leaders as there are about 50ish teens coming...and mainly she needs a guy leader, Conor...so we're looking forward to that.



The fundraiser that we went to wasn't for our group though, but a friends. It was alot of fun...we came in 3rd but just 5 points...but that's okay. Our table won 4 or the dozen-or-so door prizes (between two people), so that was exciting! haha I don't think the other tables were very impressed.



too be continued...

December

They say it's December, but I don't believe them

December

NOT december!

Rent

So renting in Melbourne at the moment is a little crazy!

I heard that when we got here last year, rental vacancy was at a low 3% - now its 1%

And prices are going up and up and up.

There were a few things/repairs that I wanted done to the apartment, but since our one year contract was up, I was afraid to make contact lest they should decide to raise our rent....I wanted them to just forget about us.

We pay $165 per week ($715 per month) and there's a unit in our building up for lease...I looked online and it's going for $210 a week!

Then I really got scared! But we heard they have to give you 3 months notice to raise the rent.

We got a letter in the mail yesterday that they are raising our rent...but thankfully it's only being raise $15 a week....but the poor suckers who will be paying $130 more than us a month!

AND it doesn't start til February - so we won't have to pay too many months after that. Now I can get our bedroom door fixed!! And not stress everyday about a letter coming saying we'll be paying $200 a week!

Boo CRA

I'm in DIS-like with Canada Revenue Agency.

Conor's dad did our taxed for us, and Conor got his money months and months and months ago - but I was still waiting on mine.

After being told that I had to sign something to make Conor's dad a representative, they finally would talk to him about why I didn't have my money yet...but they actually didn't know.

This was awhile ago - then I got a letter saying that I needed to send some extra documents to them so that I could claim Conor's tuition. But still no word.

In the mean time, Conor got a bill for the GST checks that he recieved while we were here. Apparently you have to be a resident to get those, so he had to pay it back. I did pay it, and then we got two more of the same bills in the mail - so Conor's dad tried to call them about that, but the CONOR had to sign something to give his dad authority.

THEN! I get a letter in the mail saying that they aren't allowing me to use Conor tuition and instead of me getting $800 or whatever it was, I OWE $300! How terribly terribly sad.

Not to mention that I will be expecting another bill the same as Conor's for the GST that I got.

I can't wait til this is sorted out!

My 25th and More!

So my birthday was Monday the 19th, but we had my bowling birthday party on Saterday the 17th.

There were about 10 of us bowling and it was great fun! I did horribly, haha, but it was still fun! And I did beat a couple of the girls, so that was good.

Conor killed the competition by getting over 120, where the person in second got around 100 if I remember correctly. I've repressed my score so as not to be totally depressed, but it was pretty bad!

After bowling we went to this beergarden which was nice. It was this big outdoor place with lots of picnic tables, and then there were two canteen-type places: one for beer/drinks and one food. So all of us were able to sit together, and there was no pressure to get out or anything.

Really nice night as well, not blistering hot, but not cold either.

Conor and I waiting for the tram

Monica in her bowling pose

Bowling/space shoes!

Me and Monica

The gang!

Oh, it's "MOHvember" here...all the guys grow mustaches (handle bars are acceptable)

It's supposed to be supporting mens health, and some guys get pledged etc...Conor just wanted any excuse to grow a mustache.

It's really quite creepy seeing all these guys in mustaches!

My awesome new skirt!!

The scary possum living in the tree!

For my actual birthday, our friend that moved to Bendigo came out, and we had pizza and cake and just hung out. Thankfully it wasn't as blistering hot as last year! So far we haven't had as many hot hot days as this time last year, but word is that this summer in general will be hotter? Who knows!

Thank you to everyone for keeping my family in your prayers with the passing of my Aunt Margaret. My mom told me that there were around 800 people at her funeral! She definitely was a great person and very well loved.

May you rest in peace

My Aunt Margaret Stobbe passed away in a car accident on November 12.

My prayers go out to my Uncle Victor, cousins David and Colleen, and their families.

STOBBE _ Margaret Esther 1946 - 2007 On the evening of November 12, 2007, Margaret's Heavenly Father called her to her eternal home. Margaret was born to Roy and Laura Peterson on August 19, 1946 in Battle River (now Manning), Alberta. Margaret's early years were happy ones, spent on a farm near Manning with her sister Julie Ann and her brother David. It was during this time that she made a personal commitment to Jesus Christ, accepting him as her Lord and Saviour. After completing her high school education, Margaret moved to Calgary where in 1966 she met her future husband and best friend, Victor. At the time, Victor was busy pursuing a professional career and so, was somewhat slow in developing his personal relationships. Margaret and Victor started dating in the summer of 1971, were engaged in October of that year, and were married on December 27, 1971. In 1973 they were blessed with the birth of a son, David Victor. A few years later, in 1977 the couple celebrated another happy occasion when a daughter, Colleen Elizabeth, was born. While in high school, both David and Colleen met their future loves. Margaret and Victor were so happy when, in the summer of 1999, Karly Gordon joined the family as David's wife. The following summer, they were thrilled to welcome Glen Hoare into the family, as Colleen's husband. It was not long for the grandchildren to arrive, Mariah, Hannah, Holly, Abbigail, and Micah. Each one was a special joy and blessing to Margaret. Margaret's life was marked by two special attributes - love and service. As an expression of Christ's love, she dedicated her life to serving the underprivileged and those in need at times of bereavement. Margaret loved to sing and spent many years as a member of the First Alliance Sanctuary Choir. Margaret is survived by her husband Victor, her son David and his wife Karly, her daughter Colleen and her husband Glen, and five precious grandchildren. She is also survived by her mother Laura Peterson; her sister Julie Ann and her family; her brother David, his wife Barbara and their family; Victor's mother Katie Stobbe; Victor's siblings and their families; together with numerous aunts, uncles, nieces and nephews. She was predeceased by her father Roy Peterson and her father-in-law William Stobbe. Those wishing to pay their respects may do so at First Alliance Church (12345 - 40 Street S.E.) on Sunday, November 18, 2007 from 7:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. A Celebration of Margaret's life will be at First Alliance Church, (12345 - 40 Street S.E.) on Monday, November 19, 2007 at 2:00 p.m. Condolences may be forwarded through http://www.commemorativeservices.ca/ . If friends so desire, in lieu of flowers, memorial tributes may be made directly to the Inn from the Cold Society, No. 106, 110 - 11 Avenue S.E. (Centre 110) Calgary, AB T2G OX5. Arrangements in care of COMMEMORATIVE SERVICES FUNERAL DIRECTORS. Telephone: 265-1199. Calgary Family Owned and Operated http://www.commemorativeservices.ca/

Christmas Cards

Well I've started on Christmas Cards today...might be a bit early, but better than being late!

Now don't be upset if we don't send you all a card...it's hard to keep up with everyone...but if you so desire to send us a card, here's our address:

13/11 Findon St
Hawthorn, VIC
3122
Australia

Baby Lily

I finally got to meet my boss's baby, Lily, today...her mom brought her into to work so I got to hold her too!

She's adorable - and I've volunteered to babysit sometime so they can go see a movie or something :)

Same ol' Same ol'

Hello all - sorry I haven't updated in awhile but nothing really has been happening :) (which isn't a bad thing really)

We had a fellow Canadian over for Thanksgiving - Conor got to make another pumpkin pie!

We've attended a few birthday party's and went out to the pub with some friends last night.

It's starting to warm up which is good and bad! Since Conor's school had wireless now he will probably be coming to school everyday with the laptop and just working here in the "reading room" - and the bookshop is nice and air conditioned so hopefully this summer will be more bearable than last, although the nights did get really hot last year.

It's crazy because the weather can change so quickly here that our apartment will end up hotter then outside! It was a hot day/evening yesterday (good night to go to the pub and sit outside) so when I went to leave this morning I had on shorts and a tanktop, only to find it cold and drizzly outside...so I changed. But then by the time I got home it was sunny and hot again...but by 1 it was cold again (and is still chilly now, looks like rain)

Anyways, work is going really good. They asked me to work last saterday at the bookshop awhile ago to which I agreed, but then someone quit and forgetting that I was working Saterday I offered to work Monday, which meant I ended up having an 11 day work week! I was pretty tired but then I had Saterday off and it was a Beautiful day and I got well rested. I went to the library and then read in the park - very relaxing!

Anyways, side note: if you can all pray for us as we start thinking about next year and what we will be doing. Conor will be done courses in June and we hope to end up in BC but who knows what God has in store - so please keep us in your prayers as we discern what God has planned for us.

Bendigo

I got Friday off this week to help our friend Ally move to Bendigo.

Huge Cathedral for a town smaller than Abbotsford

Bendigo is a "country" town about 2 hours north of Melbourne and is a little bit smaller than Abbotsford. But it's a much older city and started around gold rush time, so alot of the old buildings are really cool! And the Cathedral for this town is bigger than our Cathedral in Vancouver! (due to the gold rush money)




On Friday morning her uncle drove from Bendigo with a trailer and we loaded it up in a couple hours and I think around 230ish we were on our way to Bendigo. We went to her aunt and uncles house first and then went to a Malaysian restaurant for dinner - it was about this time that I started sneezing alot!



I guess the city has been good to me in that I didn't get hayfever here - but within a few hours of being in Bendigo it sprung into action!



I had the worst sleep that night as my nose was stuffed and my throat very irritated - and an itchy tongue! I get an itchy tongue with hayfever and trust me, it is very uncomfortable!



But on with the moving...the next morning Ally, Conor and I headed to the agent to get the keys to her unit where she will be living for the next year (she's bought a block of land and will be building a house there in the next year)...but the agent said the owner at the keys and she couldn't get ahold of him! In the meantime Ally's uncle had driven the trailer to the unit and was waiting for us, so we decided to go there and told to agent to have the owner bring the keys there. When we got there Ally's uncle had the keys - the owner had just dropped them off...crisis diverted! haha



Her unit is very nice - 3 bedroom, just a few years old, and very spacious - so we loaded everything in and then went and got some lunch.




We walked around downtown a bit, but my hayfever was bothering me so we didn't stay out too long and then headed back to Allys had some tea and then Conor and I took the train back into town.

Next time I go, I'll be sure to bring some anti-histamines.

more pics here

Bye Bye Hair!

Monica's Birthday

We weren't trying to go for the christmas green and red thing

I guess we're just festive girls at heart!

Friday was our good friend, Monica's, birthday party!!

Me and Monica

Conor Monica and I

Other party-goers

Annaliese and Lousia

(she plays poker with us at the Meeses - and she helped us with our taxes!)

Perfect Clare picture with her beer!

Monica Me and Robert

(Robert also plays poker with us)

We went to a restaurant/bar called Mosquitos and then headed to her house afterwards...I took alot of fun pictures :D

Monica, Robert and Maddy Meese

(I love the look that Maddy's making

- all because Monica's a little crazy...but I didn't say that)

Me and Olivia Meese

Mmmmm....toblerone

Monica and Nick (a seminarian that likes to play poker :D )

Unfortunately Conor likes the drink too!

Some seminarian, Mads and Me

Confusion

There seems to be some confusion about my work situtation, as I've noticed from having to explain to three people today:

Two jobs
- Catholic bookshop (Tues, Wed, Fri [1-7pm] and Sun)
- Bite Cafe (Monday and Thursday Mornings)

:)

But I'll stop working Mondays at the start of November

It's a Girl!!

My boss at the cafe had a baby!!

Two weeks early but still 1o POUNDS!!

*In the tired state that Dad, Paul, was in - he calculated 3 kilos as 10 pounds...so the baby is really just over 6 pounds - not 10

I can't wait to babysit....anyways, since Rachel had the baby at 6am this morning, Paul didn't come into work, so we did a sign and got a BIG card for customers to sign and I took some pics.

The big card

Bite from the front (Alice and Jo)

This is Sumo where I used to work

View point of me from behind the bite counter

Alice and I

Me and Jo