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Published: January 17th 2010
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Hello my trusty readers!
2010 which means a new decade, and, more importantly for someone living in Vancouver, Winter Olympics time.
The February 2010 Winter Olympics seemed so far away when I first arrived in Vancouver in June 2007, but time seems to have flown by and there are now less than four weeks until the big event.
You wouldn’t know it, though. All the expected road closures and pavilions have not yet materialised, but I presume these will start popping up soon.
Also, with a mild winter (little or no snow since mid-December), the idea that we will be hosting the Winter Olympics doesn’t really compute.
Still, Vancouver’s weather can change with little warning, so maybe we will get some much needed snow in time. Otherwise, I hope they have enough snow stockpiled!
Perth! It was sooooo good coming home for Christmas. Little old Perth is, well, still the Perth I remember. This is both good and bad.
I spent a bit of time going to my old haunts - my primary school, my high school, the home I spent the first 18 years of my life, my little unit in Maylands and
my flat on Hay Street.
Things have sure got expensive! $9 for a coffee and muffin, $10 pints, $20 beers - c’mon guys, get serious!
I loved the new bars and venues opened in the city centre. Lots of new cafes and restaurants too. A pity I didn’t have time to visit them all!
Of course, the best thing was seeing family and friends!
Thanks to everyone who came to my get-together at the Windsor. It was great seeing you all, despite the oppressive heat and those $10 beers!!!
Seeing Maria and her shop (Plush on George Street, East Fremantle - great shoes and handbags for the ladies - hint, hint!) as well as Jean, Nicky and baby Ruby, and Robby and baby Charlotte was another highlight.
I’m also glad I went to Mallies and got to see some old friends as I waked around the office (gotta love the new fit out!).
Most of the rest of my time was devoted to family.
Christmas was spent at my mum’s and then Boxing Day we headed down to Bunbury to see my mum’s side of the family. Great to see all my
second-cousins, two of whom I’ve never met.
For New Year’s, Mum and I headed to Canberra to catch up with my sisters Linda and Julie. From Canberra we headed to Bergalia on the NSW coast where Linda (who is three months pregnant! YAY!) lives with her husband Craig.
The whole area (Bateman’s Bay is the best known place around) surprised me with its beauty - spectacular views of the ocean as well as many beautiful rivers, creeks, bays and lakes.
New Year’s Eve was spent at Julie and Len’s holiday home in nearby Narooma. Pizza and a few drinks with fireworks at the local golf club at midnight.
After our relaxing two days on the coast, we headed back to Canberra, had a nice dinner and did some shopping before it was time to head back to Perth where I had one day for some last-minute catch-ups with friends, a quick dip into the water at Cottesloe Beach (my first time in the ocean since I was a teenager), a farewell dinner with Mum and my other sister Diane and then it was time to leave Perth, again!
I had an overnight stop in Singapore
(humid and rainy and, well, not really me) then headed back to Dane and to Vancouver and it was straight back to work.
Now back in Vancouver, I’ve started the application for residency. More forms than you could imagine, police checks, medical checks and lots of fees - but it will be worth it in the long run, I hope!
Love to you all. I hope you watch some of the Olympics on Channel Nine and think of me.
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