January started off with Schutzenfest. A true German beer drinking festival. Now I'm not one to turn down a festival (or a beer) so of course we headed to the parklands for a good night. We were a bit disappointed that there were no yodelers (as the program seemed to indicate) but ended up dancing to some live music (made me a bit home sick for the Kahuna Beach Party).
Next off was Australia Day - pretty much exactly like our 4th of July. Get together with friends and family have a huge BBQ, drink some beers and have a good time. We were fortunate enough to be invited to our good friend, Emma's place which comes inclusive of a nice swimming pool and tennis court. There was some pool volleyball, some tennis, lots of food (true Italian style) and good fun.
At the end of the month was the Tour Down Under. Man was Mark not paying attention to me this week. But I guess that is what happens when your other love comes into town. I'm pretty sure the entire week he thought good thoughts about meeting Lance. Well Lance ended up going into the cycling shop Mark works at and wouldn't you know, Mark is being the good sales man he is and is out back helping a family try out some new bikes and misses his big chance. Mark must be a really good kid, because not two days later he was riding with some friends and here comes Lance (and all the other pros) right behind them. Of course they slowed down enough to get caught in the group and enjoyed the ride back into town.
February started off with a bang. My good friend Natalie and I spent the first two weekends getting our PADI Open Water Diving License. Awesome time...it is quite a bit of hard work to carry the tanks all the way down the jetty to finally get into the water, but once we were in the ocean and doing our dives everything just felt normal. Maybe its because I'm a Pisces and am a fish symbol but there is something about being in the water that calms me and I feel very comfortable there. Glad that we did this early in our time here so we can explore another part of Australia.
The weekend after we completed our license Mark and I were in moving mode. We were asked by the owner of our old apartment if we wouldn't mind moving out early so that he could move back in...what move out of an overpriced, tiny apartment with no balcony early? Where do I sign up? Yep, didn't take too much convincing - although applying for other places and being rejected did take a toll on my confidence. I know we are American but people really shouldn't hold that against Mark and I until they meet us (then they are free to judge) - but it happens and we applied to over 6 different places before we found one that actually accepted our application. And I must say that in the end everything works out.
The place is amazing!!!!! It is a two bedroom townhouse (what I call my first big-girl place). Has a nice front courtyard just waiting for some patio funiture, an old school kitchen (like so old school the gas oven is lit by a spark), a nice family room and 1.5 baths. The best part is that there is a spiral staircase up to the second level. Did I mention it is cheaper than our old apartment??!! It is unfurnished (which means no washer - no refrigerator) but that was easily purchased from the Good Guys (who are actually pretty good guys). We also purchased a new bed as I couldn't imagine sleeping on one from say Salvos. The rest of it is coming in slowly. Have some great co-workers who are letting us take some old furniture off their hands. I can't wait till it is all set up and we'll be able to have a house warming party - its going to be good.
Now we are constantly working on getting Mark on my visa as a de facto relationship. Yeah this is more complicated than us getting married. We have had to prove to some government official that we are a bonifide couple...and how do you do that? Well we are still not sure, we have proven that we have been living together for awhile, sent in every document we can find that has both of our names on it, and sent past emails between us. So far that has not satisfied, what they refer to as, my case worker. Next step? Well that involves two people on my side and two people on Mark's side writing personal statements about why they believe our relationship is genuine. Additionally, we have to get two Australian's to fill out an official govt. document about our relationship and have it witnessed by an official signatory. Talk about complicated. We are really hoping that our case worker gets the drift and accepts that Mark and I are...well - Mark&Hillary and that its not going to be changing.
So that's the catch up (or Ketchup) however you want to spell it. Next up we try and survive the Adelaide Festival, Fringe Festival, French Film Festival, and all the other festivals I can't think of right now.
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