Adventures Abound: Planes, trains and automobiles...

So glad to be home and in the routine - it is comfort. Having been away for about 3 weeks being in the throes of loads of laundry, bare pantry, spider webs, kids on bikes, neighbors popping in to say hey, finding chargers and electronics, GLORY. Love the travel, really. I long for it when we are here but I am so glad to come back to base.

We left for Sydney - what a great city - vibrant, busy, handsome gents and scantily clad women - something for everyone! Did all the tourist things - the opera house, ferry to Manly (named because the men there were manly!!), too scared to do the bridge walk. Darling Harbor with the largest rubber duck art exhibit just for FUN! Enjoyed an afternoon at Fort Dennison with a re-enactment of a battle with those ugly Americans. This is my new favorite city! You are right Jeff!

brush fire from the train

Indian Pacific train to Adelaide for some really hot weather - the hottest we have been since August in Nashville 18 months ago! The train ride was special - dining car, seeing emus and kangaroos grazing in the outback, rocking during sleep (or trying to sleep). Stopped at Broken Hill and went to the mines. Great experience. We saw a brush fire from the train and cried for all those affected - what a tragedy.

Adelaide was nice - slower and easier - then to Melbourne via the Great Ocean Road. Three sisters, 12 apostles (only 9 showing we reckon). Robe was a stop on the way and was one of the highest points of the trip. We met the nicest couple where we stayed in the basement (with a veranda and path to a private beach, lovely antique furniture, wine and snacks and all the fixins for breakfast) of their home. They are retired farmers (cattle, merino sheep, etc.). Spectacular home and we wish we had been there for a week. They invited us for wine and had an incredible view of the sea from their deck - what an amazing night. The second woman we know named Tessa, and her husband Chips - fine folks!

On the way enjoyed a winery visit in the McLaren Vale, a market for bread, fresh fruit, olive oil and olives, cheese - nice picnic! Saw lots of folks biking along the GOR - I have great respect for them, what a workout.

Finally to Melbourne for a bit of tennis, Australian Open - saw Serena's defeat, heard Azarenka (irritating!), was surprised by Andy Murray. Melbourne Cricket Ground for Sri Lanka's defeat of Australia in the cricket - I am trying to understand the rules but it was really fun - high energy fans doing the wave, hitting around the beach ball. The Melbourne museum and scienceworks were terrific with a surprise Hot Rod Car show thrown in. Let me not forget the Australia day parade. It was called the parade of people and lots of different people there were. FUN! Accepting bunch, those Aussies. It seemed to us that there was very little bigotry and that people were just accepted. Live and let live. We really like that. The children are seeing people of the same sex, of different colours, of very different ways living life. Accepting and loving, that is the way to do it I reckon.

Adrian had a very successful conference, learned a lot, saw some friends, made new friends, crossed off a few things on his list of to do's. The floods came to Brisbane and then Sydney just before we left - what a country of extremes! Crazy stuff... Sturdy folk...

Home we are to the same and nice surprises. We have a new path to Jan and Jenny where we like to have coffee or wine and a good long chat, through the back garden so we can sneak back and forth at our leisure. There are new ducks - a mama and five babies - hanging out in the yard. We came home to a lovely birth announcement - Welcome gorgeous Sutton McCoy! We are sending our best thoughts to a friend and colleague in Nashville - Chris B. we are thinking of you... So glad that Amy J. and new baby are doing well, welcome beautiful Alexander. Congratulations Hayden!

Dinners with kids, meals with parents, wine with friends, dancing with the girls, chatting in the break room, conversation and banter with colleagues, these are the things we miss. We are starting to develop those things here but it does take time.

Tell the person you are closest to how much you love them. Share your sweetest thoughts and curb the others. Life is short and precious and full of many wonders. Watch for them...

Adventures abound no matter where you are...