Catching up

Hi Gang,
Life is getting busy-again. I spent the weekend with a beautiful boxer named Millie so her owner could go to a wedding. We went for several long walks and I saw another part of this beautiful city. I had brunch on Halifax Street. I have also met the folks from the exchange group-of course there are 2 Spec Ed grads from Acadia and the gal from NB also was at the Mount when I was there. That 6 degrees of separation does not apply to maritimers. Or maybe just me.

Let's see, I have been off exploring the Warrawong Wildlife Sanctuary where I went on the Guided Nocturnal Walk, I saw my first up close Roo's-including an albino Roo. I saw 2 platypus(a rare thing according to the guide) and bettongs, potaroo's, bandicoots, wallaby's and possums. Warrawong is up in the Adelaide hills and so I wore my canoe pants with the Velcro tight at the bottom(so no snakes could slide up my legs) and a long sleeved shirt but stupid me went barefoot. The guide was really good because she stopped me from walking on an ant hill- the walk takes place after 9 in the dark. The ants were inch long, black, biting ants called inch ants(go figure). That would not have been pleasant. I am going off this weekend to buy a pair of hikers.

I had the pleasure of attending a meeting of the Quilter's Guild of South Australia. The guild is set up just like the Common Thread Guild and I met many wonderful ladies. I called the membership secretary looking for someone to drive with as the meeting is across town. She set me up with a lovely gal who is a retired nurse who lives right around the corner from me. She has had me over for dinner and is showing me the local fabric stores and other places of interest. We have even gone walking together and I think we will do the Run to the Bay in Sept together. Move it or lose it right?

I have also continued exploring with my new friend Julia. We were at the SA Museum on Sat. We parked at the University of Adelaide and walked through the campus-stopping to explore the very old and beautiful reading room of the library. The SA Museum has many interesting displays-including some on the aboriginal peoples. They have a new bio diversity exhibit and I got to talk to some experts and see the red backed spider and the white tipped spider up close. I had a spider in my classroom last week and was not sure how dangerous it was. I feel a little better now that I have seen some specimens-I may recognise the deadly sort. I also saw a blue ringed octopus-I was surprised. The critter is smaller than my hand and has enough venom to kill 26 men. These octopus hide in shells, coke cans, rock pools etc. So much for my beach combing. Several staff members have told me they have seen them at the beaches I frequent-YIKES, DRAT, DARN. I guess ignorance may not be bliss.

The fringe festival starts this weekend and I hope to get to the opening night at the Garden of Unearthly Delights-sounds interesting eh? So what have you all been up to? I would like to thank Sue who has decided that in support of my adventure she will be drinking Aussie wine for the rest of the year. So will I Sue, and we can compare notes. I miss and love you all.
G'day eh!
Bern
PS I had so many compliments on the opening of the Olympics that you would swear I organised it. It does make me proud to be Canadian!