My apologies for the lack of posts. I’ve been quite unwell from my big trip and also doing boring things for the business. Added to those woes, the weather has been overcast and rainy and looks like being that way for the next week. It’s nice as the rain brings the temperature down (we’re going to be 30 tomorrow – cool!).

Here’s a merry christmas scene from Newman town. Enjoy!

Upon suggestion of my very “unarty” husband, I’ve tried the arty approach on the red ribbon image. Which one do people prefer?

Well, I finally returned to Chris, the dogs and the red dirt of Newman. The trip to China was fabulous but I’m also very happy to be home. I find I experience culture shock in small details. I expect another country (like China) to be different. I expected Beijing to be busy and more polluted than Newman (even Perth is more polluted than Newman!!). I expected most people not to speak English and the food to not always agree with me (infact I didn’t have a funny tummy at all and loved the food).

I expected that people might have different values to me and that my boisterous Aussie persona might offend (although I tried very hard not to offend anyone). I expected the squat toilets to be problematic for my knees and ankles. But my biggest culture shock came in an unexpected way and place.

I was having dinner at a Japanese restaurant and had to go to the toilet. When I opened the door, I was faced with a sight that tickled my funny bone and left me in a fit of giggles (perhaps other people won’t find this funny). The actual toilet seat, where you sit, had a bright green and pink fluffy toilet seat cover. Michelle thought I was crazy as I giggled for the next half an hour. The joy of culture shock!

Readers of this blog might remember I entered a national photographic competition (Waltzing Matilda) in September and was extremely excited to win fourth place with “The Story of Time”. All entries to the competition have also been exhibited and available for sale. I was very surprised and delighted to find that my second entry (On The Road to Nullagine) to the comp/exhibit has been bought by someone. I don’t know who it was, but wherever you are, thank you very much. Selling a print at an exhibit (and particularly one NOT held in the Pilbara) is a dream come true!