ACEM Interview

On Tuesday Fergus has his interview with the Australia College of Emergency Medicine. It was “uneventful” as he likes to say. No trick questions and they mostly wanted to know what he did at his various hospitals (as if ED’s are that different).  He arranged to visit one of the interviewer’s hospital the next day. They said it could be “as soon” as November for the committee to meet and a decision to us by December. So it looks like we won’t be coming back until after the first of the new year.

It is probably wise that we are taking the kids back to Kansas since it could be as much as six months more before we can get back here. We have been having a nice visit with Helen and Eric. Today they headed off to the Great Barrier Reef for a vacation which was already planned before we knew we were coming. Tonight we will go to Jenny and Gary’s and then Fergus flies back tomorrow. I will be staying for another week. I will pack the kids up and ship them off next week and Fergus will pick them up in Kansas City. I tell you it’s more complicated than flying with children – but probably more relaxing for us than for human parents.

 

While we’ve been here we were able to visit Bill and Sue and their four ‘dales at Wombat Bend. I even got to see my buddie wombat in this burrow. The billabong is full to the brim with all the rain they have been getting and you can barely notice where all the burned vegetation had been for all the green grass and new branches. A much calmer surrounding compared to our last visit.

We’ve had a relaxing visit this time without the stress of leaving the kids and adjusting to returning to the states. I will try to write more in a couple of days.

What was I thinking?

I was so inspired by the movie last weekend and the memory of the delicious dinner at Mary Beth’s, that I decided to try my hand at Sylvia’s Julia Child eggplant dip.

It so happens that Mel (Sylvia’s husband) sells fresh fruit and veggies at the local farmer’s market and he emailed me to see if I was interested in some melon and…eggplant! It was a sign. So this morning I went to the grocery store and picked up the other ingredients, walnuts, garlic, spices, fresh ginger, etc. etc. I passed the humus and olive bar at our local supermarket. I didn’t have to go the easy way this weekend. I have the recipe!!!

I decided that if I made it ahead of time I would have all afternoon to do all my other chores. So at 1 o’clock I put the eggplant in the oven. The recipe said 30 to 35 minutes.  To cut a long story short, I had to call Sylvia to see what I needed to do if the pulp insides didn’t “scoop  out’ easily like the recipe said. More time was her recommendation.

The eggplant got more time – 10 more minutes. Still not soft enough. To hell with this -if microwave ovens had been around in Julia Child’s day she would have popped it in there for a few minutes. So in it went.

Did you know that eggplants have little tiny seeds much like flax seeds? Well, I know it now and anyone who comes into my kitchen might say,”Who threw the wet sticky flax seeds all over the walls, counters and Anne’s T-shirt?” They just fly out of the mixing bowl when you try to “puree the soft pulp” [my editorial addition to the recipe].

Once everything was “combined” and I got the monstrosity in the fridge the real challenge began. THE CLEAN-UP. I had no less that 21 cooking utensils; pot holders (hot eggplant and mushy pulp – you get the picture), bowls, knives, spoons, spatula, blender, mixer (blades and handle), measuring spoons, counters, floor, t-shirt. It was now 4:30 – I am not kidding you. I was exhausted and had to take a nap.

I am tempted to tell Fergus I bought it at the humus bar at our supermarket so that if he hates it I can say, “I won’t buy that one again.” and if he loves it I can say, “They aren’t making it any more.”

I just don’t have the time or the energy to cook.  Julia who?

NEW NEWS!!!

I can’t believe it has been a month since I have added an entry. Most of it has been because one can only talk so much about sitting in a hot garage waiting to sell all the junk we have collected over the years.

But I have news finally. Fergus will be interviewing with the Australian College of Emergency Medicine as the final step (I hope)  in the process of getting back to Oz. Once that happens they can tell him what, if anything, he needs to do to work in Australia, i.e. testing, probation, further training or full privileges. Once he knows what might be required then he can make a decision about making the move.

We don’t have firm date yet but we are hoping (I’m hoping) around the end of September and we will be in Melbourne for at least two weeks. I will keep you informed as we know more.

I have shown the house to a few potential buyers and more than enough “lookie-loos” but I haven’t felt the pressure to sell it until we are sure we are leaving.  I look forward to hearing from my many “fans” out there.

House for Sale

This week I was finally feeling that the house was in shape to show it. So I put “For Sale” signs out at the road and in front of the house. I got 2 calls on the first day for two couples to come and look at the house. I know that the times are hard but there are people who want acreage and a “newer” house and we have both.

I am feeling confident that our house will sell. I have priced it competitivelyand the house looks great – I had the carpets cleaned, I have removed all of our personal stuff – like the books tell you to do, and I have most of the boxes removed to storage. Tonight I had one couple come and look at it and they asked lots of good questions. I don’t think they were lookie – loos, I think they really wanted a larger house with more acrage.  Tomorrow the other couple is coming to see the house. Keep your finger’s crossed that  all of  these people are serious.

Oh to be an Airedale

The “kids” have had a more exciting week than we have. I did more garage sale and Fergus worked, so what else is new. Check out the latest letters from the kids  at  “Tales from the ‘dales”.

Computer Skills & Junk

I have been venturing into new areas in the past couple of weeks. I have listed the house on a website called Info Tube. It’s a For Sale by Owner site. I had to enter info about the house etc. I only have one picture on it  so far but once I get everything looking the way I want to show it I will get the next updated package that allows more photos.

I am also trying to sell some things on Ebay. That’s a bit more work than I thought. So far NO ONE has bid on the items – not a good sign. The garage sale is still going strong. I am getting rid of lots of “stuff” things we haven’t used or seen in years. But it is getting old hanging out in the hot garage all weekend long, people moaning about something being a dollar, people rummaging through boxes and leaving a mess. I am ready to call the Junk Boys and have them haul it all away. This week is the city wide yard sale hopefully business will pick up when they compare my junk with other people’s junk.

 

This week however wasn’t all work, I had lunch with Misty on Monday. I have seen her a couple of times since we have been back. She has come to my garage sale and bought some items for her theatre and she brought Storme, her sister by one day and she went book shopping in the basement.

My only other excursions have been to the grocery store and the hardware store – my personal favorite. Have a good week and thanks for keeping in touch. My stats showed that one day over 28 people viewed my blog – I can’t imagine who all is following the continuing saga so drop me a note when you get a chance.

You Have to Watch This

Fergus sent me an email today with this link – you’ll love it!!!  Worst Slide Story.

Latest from Coop & My Reply

“Hi Mom and Dad

Wish I was there to organise your garage sale with all those people coming up the driveway.  I think it would be fun to bark at so many people.  I don’t do alot of barking here except when someone is out in MY street and making a noise.  Fergus and I take it in turns so Aunty Jenny thinks that is good, that way the neighbours think there is only one noisy Airedale.

I helped Jenny in the yard today when she was pulling some weeds out around the little fish pond.  I also, gave her support as she mowed the front lawns, as I could see her from the bedroom window.
Bark Bark Bark  yes that how to do mow the lawns Aunty Jenny.  Gosh I am a good boy!!

I am pooped now so I will have a sleep in a moment to recover.  Daisy come home on Friday night when Aunty Jenny went down to Fosternan’s house in Frankston to collect her.  She was soooooo
happy to be home and I put on my bestest smile and tail wag for her to make her feel welcome.

 Aunty Jenny has had Daisy on a diet for a long time and when she came back from Fosternan’s place she has put all that weight back on in 2 weeks.  Fosternan overfeeds furkids Jenny said. Jenny wasn’t too pleased.   6 months dieting gone in 2 weeks.

Us furkids sort of hang out together sleeping in the same rooms during the day which Aunty Jenny thinks is nice.  Usually in the room where Aunty Jenny is working but Fergus and I sleep up in my BIG bedroom alot.

I have also been a busy boy working on another bunker that Aunty Jenny found this morning.  She wasnt too impressed this time and said that we will hide that one from Uncle Gary.  But don’t worry I didnt do any damage. I just dug up heaps of rocks and stuff that will have to be filled in.

Boys have gone to their Dad’s this weekend, they said they don’t like going there as he doesn’t do anything with them so they get bored.  I am missing them cos they give me heaps of cuddles all the time.

Did you make enough money from the garage sale to buy me some new toys???   Huh  Huhh did you???   I hope so.

Aunty Helen sent Aunty Jenny an email about skye but Aunty Jenny wont be able to do it on her laptop but Uncle Gary is installing it on his laptop so we will see how we go with it.

Jenny will ring Helen one day this week to say hello and see how everyone is doing.  I can’t wait to see BS on Sunday.  

Better go now as I am pooped from gardening and landscaping.

love you Mom and Dad
your boy Cooper
xxxxxxx”

My reply:

Dear Coop,
 
I am getting to know all the neighbors because they see the sign at the mailbox and then come down the driveway to check it out. I made a few dollars. I may need to send it to Aunt Jenny so she can restock the supply of treats for you, Fergus and especially Daisy.
 
I have found boxes and boxes of stuff we haven’t seen in years. I am packing your favorite bowl and the stand for it, I found Bean Sidhe’s Living room bed – the elegant blue one that she loves so much. I have one big box of all your special toys. On one of the shelves I found an old picture of your big brother, Galen. I had a little cry because I miss him so much (and probably because I’m missing you and Bean Sidhe so much).
 
The neighbors all ask about you two and are excited to hear about your adventures in Australia. I don’t think the mailman is missing you for some reason.
 
You should have Bean Sidhe tell Daisy about how hard it is for a girl to maintain her figure. I’m sure they could share tales of their favorite meals – and grandparents who spoil them. I sure Aunt Helen is making sure she doesn’t take Emma or Teddy’s dinners.
 
I know how much you enjoy working in the garden – you always ran into the house once Dad started the mower – but you are a good supervisor from the window. All these years I have been accusing BS of digging holes in my flower beds – hmmm now I know who really did it – bad boy. I hope you aren’t telling Aunt Jenny that  Fergus or Daisy are doing it.
 
I’m sure Bansch is as excited as you are to see each other. Now don’t play too rough – remember your leg and her arthritis is bothering her. Emma is probably able to handle your rough-housing.
 
Have a wonderful week and keep writing – you are such a joy in my life even though you are so far away,
 
Love, Mom

A New Page

I learned how to add a page to my blog, and I have called it “Tales from the ‘dales”. This will be the blog about the kids, what they are doing, how they are getting along and what they think about being in Australia without us. Check it out when you want to know what is new with the “kids”.

Profitable Day in the Driveway

I didn’t have as heavy of traffic today at the garage sale but it was more profitable: I sold the extra fridge, washer and dryer set and a ton of children’s books I had left over from Pages.

It kind of reminded me of the days at the bookstore. All day long I cleaned, unboxed merchandise (in this case it was boxes from the basement or the storage shed), I arranged and rearranged shelves for the best “look”, I grouped similar items areas, I priced merchandise but mostly I reminisced about where an item from a box or plastic tote came from and decided what to sell and which to box back up to take with us.

I found a box of 45RPM  records that Danny and I had as kids. I remember the last time I saw them was during “Cruise Night” in Emmett and I decorated the store with records hanging in the window. I even found  “Rock n’Roll” Trivia questions for the contest I was sponsoring at the store. Those were great times.

Most of I all I visited with new people I had never met. Some people just wanted to browse and pick up a cheap rake or a candle or two. Others sat down and really visited for “hours” no kidding!! I met Amy from down the road and we had a really long visit. When she left she said, “I can’t believe after all these years of you living here I finally met you and you are going to leave. I’m going make the most of the time we have before you move.”  I was almost in tears when she drove away.

A really nice family came by because they saw the “Yard Sale” signs I posted on the road. They said they also heard about it from some other friends who came by yesterday. They said they had to stop for sure when they saw the sign at our driveway – here it is;

The road to our house.

They have an Airedale named Chester!  We had lots to talk about. They wanted to hear all about the kids and they told me how they got Chester – not quite a rescue dog but close – a dog in need of a family and a family in need of an Airedale.  Another happy Airedale-ever-after ending!

The best part is that I had THREE people talk to me about buying the house. These people are serious, too. I haven’t even placed a “for sale by owner” ad or post a sign. One man came back and brought his wife  back (you know they are serious when they do that). One lady said that they would be interested in buying some acreage from us if we find someone who only wants the house and some yard. Wow, I can’t believe it.

Fergus worked a 24 hour shift (that’s one reason I want us to go back to OZ – no 24 hour shifts) when he got home in the morning he slept for a few hours and then helped by bringing more boxes up from the basement. He fixed me lunch, went grocery shopping and at “wine o’clock” brought me a glass of wine while my last customer was loading the fridge, washer and dryer into his pick-up truck. What a day. Tomorrow is Memorial Day and the sale continues.