The Eagle has Landed!

It wasn't quite as exciting as 1969 when Neil Armstrong uttered those immortal words, "Houston, Tranquility Base here. The Eagle has landed".

But it is important to us that, "Our container has landed!" It arrived yesterday after that long voyage from Al Ain to our front door as the following photos show. Here's the Allied Pickford trucks parked outside our place being unloaded.

We were pleased that all 125 boxes arrived in good order and condition and nothing we've unpacked so far has been damaged.

The photos below are self-explanatory. We now have quite a bit of work to do to unpack, separate the stuff we are giving to Meredith and Dale and decide what we are going to sell or throw out.

It's a good opportunity for us to replace some of the cookware and other stuff we've had for years, with newer, shinier, better quality gear we bought while overseas.

I've got to change the three pin electrical plugs from English and UAE types to the Australian standard electrical plugs.

Then there are the computer desks to be reassembled screw by screw, wall hangings to install ... and much more.

Meredith will want some curtain rails installed and on it goes. You can understand why I say I'm too busy to work. I've already been contacted about doing some scribing work ie, recording job interviews and then typing up the reports for presentation to delegates for approval. It's lucrative work and will give me something to do without getting too busy. Last thing I want is a full week's work.

During October here we hold the Honda Master's Games (bienial) and Christina and I have volunteered to assist with some of the activities.

Also, we have October Business Month during which the Northern Territory Government provides a number of subsidised seminars. Those that involved entrepreneurs telling us how they went from selling two widgets per month to a business with an annual turnover of 7.3 million appeal to me, so I usually take time out to attend a few.

It's also a good place to meet potential joint venture partners or those who might need my services.

So much for this issue. Goodbye, I have to totter off and open some more boxes.

Stay well.

Robin

Todd Mall Sunday Markets

Todd Street was the first main street in The Alice and turned into a mall in the Seventies. Now it's home for the Todd Mall Markets held every second Sunday during the cooler months operating between 9 am and 2 pm. Several evening markets are held on special occasions during the summer.

Tourists from all over the world flock to the markets mainly to try the variety of Asian, German, Indian and other foods on offer and to buy cheaper dot paintings and local crafts.

It's a great place to people watch ... the variety of hats, dresses, adornments etc is always interesting and usually colourful. A few tourists get kitted out in what they see as the Aussie bushie style with cowboy boots and Akubra brand hats. Trouble is, you never see a real bushie with a clean, crisp new hat and boots ... for some reason they always look weather worn and work beaten. (Is there an art to that .... hmmmmm?)

If people watching isn't your thing (what are you strange or something?), the Mall also has some great al fresco cafes and restaurants so you can enjoy breakfast, lunch or just a cup of coffee.

Chris and I usually have breakfast or lunch and this visit tried the QA Restaurant, which is new since we were last at home. We always run into people we know and have a chat and it's a good opportunity to meet local stall keepers whom we don't know and to chat with some of those visiting town.

The photos show a small part of the whole. (Double click the strip for a larger view)

Best wishes

Robin

PS: Our container is being processed by Customs in Adelaide. Provided they don't find my cache of drugs, guns and smuggled women, it should be here this coming week or next.

Waiting for Our Container to Arrive

Today when I woke I realised that if I had stayed at the HCT, I would be going to work for the first day of the new academic year. I'd meet and chat with my work colleagues and we'd share each others' summer vacation travelogs. I'd have a chance to get organised for the next round of students and the holidays would eventually fade behind me.

Not today. Not for me.

Today I have to continue sorting through "stuff" we have stored on the shelves and floor of our two-car garage. Much of it belongs to daughter Meredith who is "between" houses while getting settled-in to her new house a few kilometres away.

I also have to do some tree lopping. We have several trees that have died and need cutting back so we can dispose of them. I cut part of one with an axe a few days ago, but it was so hard, I've decided to do it the easy way ... I bought a new electric power saw with 115 mm of hardened steel. It has three different blades and can cut wood, plastic and steel, so it will come in handy for more than just tree lopping.

The container we sent from Al Ain with our furniture, clothes, lazer printer, carpets and other stuff we had gathered during our three years overseas was due on 13 August but apparently missed the intended ship because it was fully loaded and is now due to arrive in early September.

Maybe it will arrive on Father's Day. That would be nice.

In the mean time, we have been busy micro cleaning every square foot of our house and doing a bit of gardening most days. We've had three airconditioners installed to heat the place up because we were freezing. They'll also cool the place in summer and complement the evaporative cooler we have sticking out of our roof.

Evaporatives, or "old swampys" as they are known are losing popularity now because of their high water consumption.

Christina has signed-on at the Alice Springs Hospital and starts work on Thursday 21 August 2008. Thursday is the beginning of the roster period.

On Saturday there is a Wine Festival at the Alice Springs Convention Centre. Naturally, I will attend and partake of some (or perhaps a lot) of the lovely wines the organisers promise will be there.

Until next time, stay well.

Robin

"There is only one success - to be able to spend your life in your own way."- Christopher Morley