September in Oz

Sunset from George's apartment

That was just to make you jealous.  Most of september was actually spent in Melbourne.  Photos can be found at http://www.flickr.com/photos/tamgh654/sets/72157624974947089/.

Happy Spring/Fall.  Got to love the change of seasons whatever they are.

Love, Tamara

Friends!

ps

the rest of the photos can be found here:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/tamgh654/sets/72157624369927881/

i'll update it with more once i've finished my trip.

I think I'm no longer a summer person

It has been terrific visiting the US.  I love being back in the vibrancy of NY, seeing friends and family, hiking and swimming my way through the state of Maine, talking all day in Philly cafes, and having the chance to explore new cities (San Fran, here I come!).  Aside from the oppressive heat and humidity, it's been a great trip.  When it's 90+ degrees in Northern Maine, you know there's a problem.  I have to say, I'm looking forward to no longer sweating like a whore in church (shout out to Jules!), feeling lethargic and heat tired.  I'm so so so looking forward to being back in the winter of Sydney.

Thank you all for a great trip to the US.  PLEASE come visit in Sydney.  I'd love to show you around the city.

and hellooooooooo sydney!  I'm looking forward to seeing you again.

ps some photos...

3100 feet up in Baxter State Park

Maggie, Brooke, and I on our hike in Baxter

Di, looking out at the view from Jonathan's apt in NYC

an oldie, but goodie.  George and I tying up the dinghy in Sydney.  

(actually George is tying it up.  I'm probably just watching and being unhelpful.)

 

photos...

some somewhat recent photos up on flickr....
http://www.flickr.com/photos/tamgh654/sets/72157624264493673/

pressies...

Blanket for Alex!!

Alex is 6 months old and the newest member of the Goulston clan.  She has the chubbiest cheeks and most gorgeous smile you can imagine.  It's so hard being so far away from her and not getting to see her grow up.  Lucky for me then that Molly decided to brave a 20 hour plane trip and come to visit.  

For the past 6 months, Lucie and I have been working on a project for our newest cousin.  Lucie is an artist who works with graphic shapes and she designed an abstract bird pattern for me to knit into a blanket.  I did the knitting and then sent it back to Luc who sewed on the border and backing.  The result seems to be a hit.  Alex, we hope you enjoy it!   

In other news, I leave on Sunday for the US.  I'm looking forward to 3 weeks of family and friends in NY, Maine, Philly, and San Fran.  If you'll be around in any of those locations, let me know.  I'd love to see you.  

The Super Secret Plottings of the Balderdash Teams

Some people go to the Hunter Valley to drink wine, eat cheese, and see beautiful scenery.  We had more important things to do.  

ahhh Balderdash.

Time flies.

How oh how is it already mid-April???  I seriously feel like it was just December.

So what I have I been up to?

A bit of this...

(easter weekend sailing trip)

A bit of this....

 (5 days in Hawaii with Dina and Christine)

and a lot of time in the university library reading about funding infrastructure, urban economics, and environmental law.  papers, papers, everywhere.

And in between all that- Denise and James got married and put on the most kick ass wedding weekend ever seen in Sydney (seriously, it was awesome), Passover came and went, providing some good family time and more yummy food than you can imagine (and that's impressive if you know anything about passover food), and I made significant progress in my super secret current knitting project.  

Life is good.

The weather here has taken a turn.  Autumn is on it's way, and I'm loving it.  I was getting mighty sick of being soaked in sweat every time I left the house.  If it's sunny again today, I'm off to write a paper in the park and pop in for a last chance swim at the Boy Charlton pool.

Love to you all,

Tamara

slowly but surely...

...i'm posting my photos from this summer's trips.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/tamgh654/sets/72157623622214572/
These are photos from my December trip around the state of Victoria (that's the state that Melbourne is in...) with my cousin Lucie.  Highlights included meeting a friendly wallaby, getting bogged in the sand and having to literally crawl under the car in order to dig out (and then realizing that all we really had to do was use our mobile phones and call a ranger), and rocking out at Meredith Music Festival.  There was also plenty of hiking, camping, and darning of sweaters.  It was a great trip.

Enjoy!

Love, Tamara

The Wing Off

What's that saying?  If you can't bring the mountain to Mohammad, you gotta bring Mohammad to the mountain.  Or something like that... Well, in Australia they don't have buffalo wings.  "What???", you say, "How can this be?"  Well, I and some fellow Americans said the same thing.  And from there grew the Bourke Street Buffalo Wing and Board Game Belated Birthday Bash- a chance to celebrate a new home, a belated birthday, play some balderdash, and take part in the infamous Wing Off.  Who can make the best wings in country that has never heard of Franks hot sauce??

I won't reveal my secret recipe, but it looks something like this:

My wings didn't take home the top prize (even if they were the best), but the party was such a success that I think I'm going to host it on a monthly basis.  Before you know it, buffalo wings will be in every household in Australia!

January 28th

This is Tillie in her favorite spot in the house, looking out the window, keeping tabs on the world.  Tillie barked a lot, growled a lot, and scared a lot of my friends.  She was also so smart that she could open a lock and jump a 5 foot fence.  She loved long walks, only liked to swim in the scummiest, dirtiest water, and was a master at getting all the peanut butter out of the kong toy.  She and her friend Oliver used to patrol the neighborhood together.  Sometimes they'd pretend to go for a drive in the car, Oliver in the drivers seat, Tillie navigating from the passenger seat.  Tillie gave lots and lots of love to the people she loved.  No dog could have been more loyal.  Tillie, we miss you.  

This is a glacier at the top of Avalanche Peak in Arthurs Pass, New Zealand.  You can see it after hiking up 1800 meters of the steepest, most difficult walk I have ever done.  So.  Friggin.  Awesome.  As was spending the following day relaxing in a waterfall, reading my book, and going swimming.  It might just have been the best birthday ever.  (Ok I take it back.  Maggie and Kai and Leigh decorating my house and putting balloons in the toilet was still and probably will always be the best birthday ever).  

This is what I have been up to lately.  You?  

one more thing

I forgot to add that if you want to check out Jen's photography, this is her blog.

maine love

I came home from my travels in Tasmania (more on that later- I LOVED tassie) to find this book waiting for me.  It's 60+ pages of photographs taken by Jen of my last 3 years in Maine.  It's called "the why you should come home book."  That's me and Charlie at the Lake on the cover.  Suffice it to say, I've been reminiscing a lot lately.  Tons of love to everyone back home.  I miss you!