Little Aussie Things

Not much exciting has been occurring in my life lately. Last week on Friday Ash and I went to RMIT (the residence all of my friends from Cairns are staying in) to celebrate one month in Australia! We had a potluck, I made a really good greek pasta salad - it was a hit!

So Ash has put me on a serious fitness regime for the half marathon I'm running in October. I ran 10.32 km this morning around Carlton Gardens. Literally right across the street from me is this massive garden with the museum in the centre and tons of paths and fountains and trees. It's a little over 2 km around and so beautiful to run through. I've been finding the first few k's of my runs really difficult but once I'm past the 5/6 k mark I feel so much better. My time hasn't been very good. I'm working on putting the k's in my legs first and then improving on time. I get scared to increase my pace too much if I'm doing a long run because I don't want to lose stamina. Ash and I watched the movie Run Fatboy Run the other night and it has served as my motivation for the race. Ash has challenged me to 30 k's by Friday and I am determined to make it. My garmin has been a lifesaver and I'm really starting to figure it out. Yesterday I uploaded all my runs to this online program and you can see your pace, distance, time, day, heartrate and everything, it's such a great training tool.

BIG problem here with running is that the cars go the other way! When I'm crossing the road I'm always looking down the wrong way, I've had a couple close calls so now I just run around the gardens to save myself any street crossing. It's funny, I've noticed it's not just the traffic on the roads that goes on the left. People walk on the left side going up the stairs, the escalators in shopping malls and department stores are on the left going down and up, it's interesting!

I'm loving our house here more and more. It's so close to little shops and restaurants and cafes. I just heard on the news that Melbourne has more cafes and restaurants per square meter than anywhere else in the world. It is also the worlds 3rd most liveable city and used to be the first. It may have dropped because of the shootings!!! News: on the street behind my house literally 30 seconds from my doorstep two men were shot to death in an arcade! Ash and I went out and saw the ambulance and the search lights but then we had coffee out on the street at a little cafe, I figured there's such a police presence it cant happen twice. So that was a little madness! I've taken a few pictures of our house/our room that I will post so you can check it out. It's cozy!

Lots of love,

Sarah

Campfire, Kangaroos & quite the shock!

This past weekend was so much fun I don't even know where to start. We went to Andy and Janina's (Ash's parents) place in Chiltern. It's three hours inland from Melbourne in the country. We arrived Thursday night after dark and I had no idea what to expect. We pulled up to this long gate and a sign that said "Jandroo's" I got out of the car to open the gate but couldn't figure it out, a good start to un-farmilar Sarah. When we went through the gate there was a beautiful long bungalow style house with pillars at the front. We parked in the car and got out to meet Janina and Andy inside. It was late but Janina still had the most amazing homemade pumpkin soup waiting for us. I'm not talking like bought the ingredients and made it herself. I'm talking like, grew the vegetables and made it herself. It was so good. The house is made entirely of exposed brick and it's beautiful with tall ceilings in the kitchen and den and a wooden stove that heats the entire house.

When we woke up the next day Ash and I had the day to explore because his parents had to go into work. I asked if his yard ended where the gate was and he laughed. No, his property is more than 3km around and ENORMOUS. They have tons of 'paddocks' and sheep and a ram and goats and chickens and doves and PEACOCKS!!! First we went out front to see the ram Reuben who is by himself or he'll have sex with all the sheep and get them pregnant too soon. Reuben was excited and was jumping up on the gate, it freaked me out, so Ash encouraged me it was fine and told me to go in the paddock with Reuben. He opened the gate and his two dogs a little guy Cranky and a big dog Boofy rushed in and surprised me and I got scared and backed up into the fence... but it was an ELECTRIC FENCE! I felt a huge shock and was so surprised. Ash felt bad but thought it was SO funny and I was laughing and crying at the same time. It was so funny but so shocking. Then we went for a walk through the bush and looked at the entire property which was beautiful.

The next day Andy and Janina took us into Beechworth, a town near their house for this special event weekend called "Ned Kelly Weekend". Ned Kelly was an Australian hero kind of like Robinson Crusoe or something. He fought against the police for Australia ect. In Beechworth they have a re-enaction with people dressed as old police officers on horses and law officials and they simulate the trial of Ned Kelly and we saw him captured in a horse drawn carriage being brought by horses to trial and he was yelling things and dressed old fashioned and it was really entertaining! Then Ash and I had sandwiches at this famous Beechworth Bakery which was amazing. We walked through the old town which is preserved just like an old mining town it's beautiful. We went to the Beechworth Honey store and they had over 25 different kinds of honey you could try. We watched a presentation on how the make the honey and then Janina bought us these amazing bubbly honey/lemon drinks, SO GOOD. Then we headed home. That evening was particular fun! We went out into the middle of the woods where there was a clearing and Ash's dad had constructed a little house out of old aluminum and wood. It had an old working stove inside and a table and little shelving unit. Outside he had built a picnic table and a swing and fire pits. We had two fires going and in the coals Ash's mom had cooked wrapped in tin foil pumpkin, squash, potatoes and mushrooms and on the other fire Ash's dad was cooking chicken, steak and sausages. Surrounding the property where these enormous rocks and it was just beautiful.

Then Ash's dad said is someone on our property can you hear that? Ash started getting annoyed because someone was riding some sort of vehicle on the property in the distance, it got closer and closer and it was his mom on a brand new four wheeler!!! Ash obviously was beyond excited and took me for the ride of my life around the property. One of the most beautiful moments was riding along the edge of his property and there are these beautiful sloping mountains, one is Mt.Pilot where Ash's brother Adam proposed to his wife Laurie. And looking as the sun was setting we saw these wild kangaroos just jumping along the horizon. It was breathtaking and something I'm sure I'll remember for the rest of my life. When we got back to the camp we ate the delicious food inside the shelter and when we came out we saw possums eating the food Andy had left out for them. The next day we had a campfire during the day at another part of the property and slow-cooked dinner which was again DELICIOUS before bringing it back and eating it at the house. Janina took care of us big time giving us homecooked meals to bring back and making us lunch for the ride home and dozens of eggs. Oh also I got to bottle feed a baby goat!!!

I had such a good weekend and it's weird to be back - but good! I was telling Ash at his parents place we are 100% kids and so spoiled and back in Melbourne we have to be adults again haha. I am just so happy, I don't think I've ever felt so just content with my life. Everything is working out so well and I'm having an amazing time. Don't worry mom, not such a good time that I don't want to come back just a genuinely great time and I'm so appreciative of the experience I'm able to have.

Miss you all but really loving Australia,

xo

Sarah

ps. The photos added are the before and after of the Reuben/Electric Fence incident!!