Outdoor Film Festival

Last night we went to outdoor film festival on the University grounds. What a beautiful setting amongst the trees. Perfect evening for it: 22 degrees and no wind. Jamie went there straight from work around 6, so he could reserve some seats at the front. Matthew, our 16 year old Dutch baby sitter who lives around the corner, came and joined us for a pizza. He put the boys to bed which apparently all went very well. So I arrived around 6.45. It's so lovely. Everyone is having a picnic on the grass, some wine or beer. Really relaxed. At 8 o'clock you move to your chair (you're also allowed just to lie on the grass and watch it. Some romantic souls were doing that). It was a Chinese re-make of "blood simple" a film from the famous Coen Brothers, called A woman a gun and a noodle shop. It was very off beat and we wondered if this film would appeal to Chinese people at all. Beautifully shot, scenery, costumes. A bit of slapstick humour, cruel and  entertaining. We've got more tickets and there's plenty more interesting films to come. Most of them are foreign, from Russia or the Czech republic, France, Italy etc. Also got tickets for a band called Cat Power who will play in January at the Quarry Amphitheatre which is just 5 minutes from here. So all good!
Soon we're flying to the Netherlands for Christmas and New Year in England. It'll be cold but am looking forward to seeing everyone again!

Big City

All these fantastic bands are coming to Perth! Not used to this at all as Aberdeen was always ignored. Glasgow was the place to be for bands..
Now U2 (can't go as we're flying that weekend) is coming, Bon Jovi (didn't get a chance to get tickets) are here soon. Sting and the symphonic orchestra are here in January, but I will only just be back from Europe and don't think Jamie will appreciate it if I disappear straight away, jet lagged and all.. Ben Folds, Indigo Girls, Kings of Leon just to mention a few... open air film festival has started as well... hopefully we get to see a couple of films. It's just so expensive. The U2 tickets we could get were $300 (per ticket!) and then add up a babysitter...there's just so much to do here...

update

Just got back from my new doctor and she's lovely.  Boys had the 1st of their 3 Hep B vaccinations and they were sooo brave. I was a bit worried after the swine flu jab disaster last year. Jamie got his second speeding ticket of his life. His first one was in Australia in 2005 when we were on holiday here and this last one is from when my parents were here. Only 10 k over the limit and $150 lighter... boohoo.
It's warming up again.. 25 today but will be around 30 in the weekend. That's good as we're going to Adventure World ( Woodside organises a family fun day). It looks like a massive park with water slides and much more. Went to the gym again this morning, tonight out for dinner with Urmila and Tamar, Thursday a coffee morning (that sounds soo "expat") at Noor's house. Only met her a few times. Will be nice as I will hopefully meet some new people. Thursday night out with the mums from Willem's kindy and that's how the days fly by now...

Party, party party

A lovely weekend full of parties. It started with an "away day" for Jamie with work, then a party at ours. It was really relaxed as I managed to get the house and the food ready before everyone arrived so I got to enjoy it too. About 25 people turned up, mingled very well on our balcony. It was fun! The boys were brilliant and just went to bed at 7, didn't wake us up till 8 (we agreed, I put breakfast out for them already). Then Willem and Frank were invited for a birthday party from one of Willem's classmates. It's a pity I now finally get to know the mums a little (and some of them are really nice) and then Willem will change school.. but hopefully the new school will have some nice mums too! In the afternoon we all went down to the Swan river. Jamie and Johannes were going to sail the Catamaran and Tamar and the kids just enjoyed chatting and playing at the riverside. The wind was quite gusty and the boat capsized once and it took quite a bit of effort to get it back up!

Today, Sunday, the whole day was about Sinterklaas. He arrived around 9.30 at the jetty in Claremont (on the river) on a flash cruiser boat. Then there was a very well organised party by the Dutch School. In the afternoon Sinterklaas dropped off two bags of presents at our house too! The boys got a waterslide, some super soakers and surfboards. I got a hat, a book and a new sheet. Jamie got some shorts, a rash vest and a bottle of port. It was a lovely weekend. Curious for some photos? Follow the link:

http://picasaweb.google.com/Machteld.Irons/PartyWeekend#

Party, party party

A lovely weekend full of parties. It started with an "away day" for Jamie with work, then a party at ours. It was really relaxed as I managed to get the house and the food ready before everyone arrived so I got to enjoy it too. About 25 people turned up, mingled very well on our balcony. It was fun! The boys were brilliant and just went to bed at 7, didn't wake us up till 8 (we agreed, I put breakfast out for them already). Then Willem and Frank were invited for a birthday party from one of Willem's classmates. It's a pity I now finally get to know the mums a little (and some of them are really nice) and then Willem will change school.. but hopefully the new school will have some nice mums too! In the afternoon we all went down to the Swan river. Jamie and Johannes were going to sail the Catamaran and Tamar and the kids just enjoyed chatting and playing at the riverside. The wind was quite gusty and the boat capsized once and it took quite a bit of effort to get it back up!

Today, Sunday, the whole day was about Sinterklaas. He arrived around 9.30 at the jetty in Claremont (on the river) on a flash cruiser boat. Then there was a very well organised party by the Dutch School. In the afternoon Sinterklaas dropped off two bags of presents at our house too! The boys got a waterslide, some super soakers and surfboards. I got a hat, a book and a new sheet. Jamie got some shorts, a rash vest and a bottle of port. It was a lovely weekend. Curious for some photos? Follow the link:

http://picasaweb.google.com/Machteld.Irons/PartyWeekend#

thoughts

Hello all
It's been hot here and it is very cold back in Europe. Sinterklaas arrives here on Sunday by boat on the river. This Friday we're hosting a party, 25 people are coming. We had a successful weekend camping with friends on the coast. Time flies by. Only 3 and half weeks and we're flying home. Jut got some good news from a friend in Aberdeen who is having her second baby. And some not so good news of a friend in the US who is pregnant with complications and it makes me realise (again) how different life is for everyone and how I miss being close to people that I care about.

camping trip photos

http://picasaweb.google.com/machteld.irons/moreoz