CBC Bar?

CIMG5446
Originally uploaded by ami_arsenault

On a recent walk in my neighbourhood, just past the House of Fetish, I noticed a bar with a logo suspiciously like the CBC logo. Interesting.

I Won! I Won! I Won...Third.

My horse, Mourilyan, came third. A bit of a surprise. I think I win $6...and third place gloating rights. Not too shabby.

$2 on Mourilyan

Today is Melbourne Cup day. The Melbourne Cup is Australia's big horse race. Everyone watches it. Workplaces have sweeps. My horse is Mourilyan. He isn't the favourite but I have a good feeling about him. I drew his name out of a hat so I have to make the best of it. Goooooo Mourilyan.

Red Dawn

Red Dawn
Originally uploaded by ami_arsenault

I woke up bright and early Tuesday morning. When I peered out the window I wondered if I had been transplanted to Mars. The air was orange. Gavin assured me I was not on another planet, it was was just a dust storm (just a dust storm?).

I went out and took a few pictures. I wasn't out early enough to get the really orange-red sky. I was early enough for there to be very few people noises. It was an eerie feeling being out in the quiet orangeness of the morning. There was an airless quality to the atmosphere. It felt a bit like I might be in a sci-fi movie...one where I might have to defend our house from zombies or a crazy virus.

When the air cleared (without any zombie attacks) there was a fine red dust on everything. Reminded me of home.

Oz Observation #5 - The Restaurant Bathroom

I know I mentioned this in a previous post but thought it deserved a post of its own. So here we go:

1. In many restaurants in Australia you have to go through the kitchen to get to the bathroom.
2. Sometimes that bathroom is indoors - just on the other side of the kitchen. Sometimes it is outdoors -through the kitchen, down the steps, around the corner, past the dumpster, to the left along the short alley (or something like that).
3. When I say you have to go through the kitchen, I mean you have to go through the kitchen. You could actually have a stickybeak in a few of the pots on the stove, perhaps steal a spring roll or chat with the cook about how he gets the sauce just right.
4. Of course I would never do any of the things in point #3 because even though this is the way things are done it still feels wrong. I always ask a waitress permission to go to the toilet (even though no one else seems to and it makes me feel like I am in grade 4 again) and I feel really guilty walking through the kitchen (head down, try not to me seen).
   

Oz Vocabu-slang #2

Stickybeak

1. (noun) a busy body.
2. (verb) to pry or to snoop.

This is one of my favourite pieces of Aussie slang. I don't know why. Perhaps it is the funny image of a person with a long beak that pops into my head when I hear it. Maybe it is the way it pops off the tongue (Say it, you'll see).

Canada Day Down Under

Canadian Club Party
Originally uploaded by ami_arsenault

Canada Day was well celebrated in Sydney. Two pubs had parties that offered caesars, Moosehead beer, and poutine. The odd thing they also advertised was pancakes. I have never thought of pancakes as particularly Canadian. After a little thought I made the maple syrup connection.

Due to other commitments we weren't able to make it to either of the pub parties. We did however make it to the Canadian Club luncheon where about 70 odd people celebrated Canada's birthday. Gavin and I also had a party at our house complete with Nanaimo bars, caesars, and a few other snacks ordered from OCanada.com.au.

I don't think I ever did so much to celebrate Canada Day while living in Canada.