Frohe Weihnachten - Merry Christmas!!!

Merry Christmas and all my best wishes for a wonderful happy and bright New Year 2009.
I cannot believe that I have just survived my second Christmas in Australia and my first year here has just flown by!
We had a lovely romantic Christmas eve just with the two of us and Wilson under our teenie tiny Christmas tree and then spend Christmas day out at Rob and Jackie's farm with a massive BBQ, lots of prawns, cold beers and 32C! So hot! It was great fun, 7 adults and 6 dogs! No grey skies, no colds, no rain. I guess we are doing pretty well for ourselves!!
But still.... I will never get into the Christmas spirit in this heat, it is just wrong! I miss being with family, being tucked up inside with comfort food, with Christmas carols and Christmas decorations.... The only way you know that Christmas is happening in Australia is because everybody is on holidays and of course the CRICKETT is on!!! Craig is glued to the TV screen and everytime I look the guys in white are breaking for lunch/tea etc. I don't get it!

We are very well and feeling a lot more settled. We have even been invited to a couple of dinner parties lately! And I am so excited that we will have quite a few visitors from Europe this year!!!
Kicking the New Year off - Audra will come over in early January for a couple of weeks of sun and chill. We are planning a week in Byron and a long weekend in Sydney over Australia Day Weekend. I can't wait!
And then Donna and Tim are flying over in March for a bit of beach and a lot of diving. Hurray!!!! And later in the year my brother is coming out with his family for a bit of a road trip holiday up the coast. Fantastic news!
It means the world to me to have friends and family out here. Even though we feel more and more settled, it still feels like I am lightyears away from the people and things I loved all my life. Thank you guy

We are at the Sunshine Coast at the moment, 2 hrs north of Brisbane to enjoy 10 days of beach and chill. Very relaxing and the coast is beautiful and fairly undeveloped, just the way we like it! I had my first go at trying to surf yesterday, think I am a bit old to learn! All the 5 year olds are looking better than me! But will persevere and report back.

Lots of love and all my best wishes for a good start into 2009.
Tanja xxxxooxxxoxoxoxxx

Meet Mister Wilson!

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This is our lovely new addition to the family - Wilson! We inherited him from the sister of a friend of Craigs who are moving overseas and were looking for a happy home for their baby and we could not resist. He is very very sweet and seems to be smiling a lot, very cute. It is so nice to have a dog around. You might not be aware that I am one of the very few people on Earth how never ever had a pet. Great to finally fix that!
Like most dogs Wilson just LOVES having his bum scratched and driving in the car, he likes running away and being chased, he likes to play ball and his favorite food a raw carrots! Very special dog...

Weekend break in Byron Bay

We had a glorious weekend in Byron Bay with lots of sun, beach and no surf :)
Honestly, the water is so cold after the storms that we really could not face going in for longer than a couple of minutes... But it was beautiful and clear. I cannot believe it took us so long to do a beach weekend! Must do that at least once a month now!



We stayed in my favourite hostel - Anna's, a little guesthouse with only 3 rooms and a swiss hostess.

Cyclone in Brisbane

Some of you might have heard about the CRAZY storm in Brisbane last weekend.
Last Sunday (16 Nov) we were enjoying the 30C heat and sun and sat in the garden, too hot to do anything... very relaxing and then suddenly at 4.30 the sky turned black and a massive storm attacked a selected number of suburbs, including ours! GREAT!
I was totally terrified! Hail the size of golf balls, enormous winds from all directions and of course torrential rain flooding the streets in seconds! AMAZING!!! We have a huge gumtree (about 50m high) in the back of our yard so we hid in the furthest away room hoping for the best! Thunder was deafening and the lighting lit up the black black sky, really scary!
Then an almighty BANG and a big tree branch went through our roof and into the kitchen! Totally shocking.



We are safe, thankfully and damage is limited. Craig (always in calm control) immediately got on the phone to State Emergency Control and we ended up on top of their waiting list. The guys came out about an hour after the storm and climbed on the roof, sawed the tree in pieces and put a big orange tarp over the hole.



Now we are safe and dry again and hopefully the ceiling will dry out in a couple of weeks. It continued to rain like crazy all week but our house thankfully did not get flooded. We were without electricity for about 10 hrs which is much better than many others. The damage to the power lines is substantial, traffic is a nightmare, a lot of the tunnels are flooded, school are closed etc. Incredible.

We were lucky and very grateful that the big tree did not snap off like many others. Some people have lost absolutely everything. Thankfully we are well and all the other Millis Clan members are safe and well also. Very lucky.

Have a look at the link for some pictures of the drama:

BRISBANE has been officially declared a natural disaster area, as soldiers help to repair damage caused by one of the biggest storms to hit the city in 20 years. More than 32,000 properties across Brisbane, Redcliffe and the Gold Coast were without power this afternoon after yesterday's storm brought hail and wind gusts of up to 130km/h, ripped roofs from houses and toppled power lines and trees.

This is a photo that made all the front pages - storm gathering over the CBD.

Some Groove and some Grape

Last weekend we had a great time at the Groove and Grape festival in Brisbane, sponsored by the casino and a vast number of Queensland vinemakers. Match made in heaven. Delicious local wines and yummie food combined with really good groovy bands all afternoon and late into the night.

Vanessa Amorosi was playing which was a great surprise!


Soaking up the sun in the afternoon....


And this was much much later in the night....

Australias scary wildlife

Not so magical all the scary wildlife!

I have to say I am terrified of camping in a national park. The number of deathly animals you come across by just walking along without looking out for any is quite mind blowing for a European person.

On the first day we were trying to climb up to the top of a mountain ridge and then to the end of the ridge. Half way along it with not way to escape right or left we came across a friendly Death Adder - Craig almost stepped on it as it was lying in the sun in the middle of the footpath. They are among the most venomous snakes in the world. A bite from a death adder causes paralysis. While this paralysis is very minor at first, it can cause death from a complete respiratory shutdown in as little as six hours. Symptoms peak in 24 – 48 hours. I was just glad I did not know all this when we saw it because I would probably have fainted instead of giggled nervously! At least I was too scared to get the camera out!

The next day we saw this beauty, a Red Bellied Black , a venomous species of elapid snake native to eastern Australia. Though its venom is capable of causing significant morbidity, it is not generally fatal and less venomous than other deadly Australian snakes. Great!



And while Craig was looking for a private place behind a tree he came across this HUGE carpet snake.... apparently they are harmless. They only strangle their prey...



Can you imagine pitching up your tent!!! NO WAY JOSE!

A weekend in paradise

We had a very outdoorsy long weekend in Lamington National Park last weekend. It was a surprise present for Craig's birthday - very unselfish of me I know!
We stayed at O Reilly's - a luxury mountain retreat.
A small number of villas have been built on the side of a hill overlooking the stunning valley of Lamington Park. They are all self contained with fantastic kitchens, outdoor spa and BBQ area, fireplace etc. Perfect hideaway for a romantic weekend in the wilderness.


Our favourite bit was getting back from a long walk and sinking into a hot bubbly spa watching the sunset with cold beer in hand. Fantastic! I wish I could afford to move in...



We did some great walks around the national park and saw lots and lots of beautiful fern trees, big palm trees and general rainforest vegetation in lushest green, lots of waterfalls and birds... just beautiful.



And I am always so amazed by those strangler fig trees. They start their life in the tree tops as a seed getting dropped by a bird and then grow these huge long arms down to the ground when they wrap around existing trees and slowly squeeze them to death. The process takes about 150 years and at the end the original tree decays and disappears. Totally amazing! So cruel. They look quite scary don't you think?



This is the view from our balcony - miles and miles of protected rainforest with the Flinders Range in the background. It really is a magical place.

Weekend break in SYDNEY!

We finally spent a weekend in Sydney - long overdue if you ask me! We flew down Thursday night and stayed with our friends Isla and Mark in Millons Point, right next to the Harbour Bridge. Glorious views! They just moved into a totally decadent minimalist apartment with harbour views. Unfortunately, it rained like crazy most of the weekend!



But we enjoyed ourselves anyway, driving to the Northern beaches in the rain, admiring brave surfers who braced the elements while we were sitting nice and cosy in beachside cafes and bars. On Friday night we saw Craig's niece and her two daughters Hannah and Grace in a modern dance performance which was amazing! The girls are just teens, but they danced beautifully. Very cool. We were impressed!
Nice to finally catch up with this branch of the Millis family, I like them a lot! It is beyond me how you can have 4 kids and still maintain a dignified and relaxed household. A true inspiration!



On Sunday the weather cleared up and I was able to take some nice photos as you can see. It was brilliant to get out of town and have a change of scenery. I really really like Sydney! But.. Brisbane is not so bad either :)



Craig's mate David is staying with us at the moment. He has survived his great Australian adventure and cirumnavigated the continent in his van in 6 months. I cannot wait to see his photos! It is great to have company and especially company that knows how to cook really well! We had a classic British Sunday roast waiting for us on our return from Sydney! How great is that?

River Fire in Brisbane

Last weekend was the famous River Fire Festival in Brisbane and it was really cool! HUGE fireworks all along the river and fighter jets and millions of people about everywhere. We loved it!

Thankfully we did not have to face the enormous crowds along the riverbank as we were allowed to come into the offices. Prime view from the 29th floor!!

What a life! Do we really all have to work???

I have survived the first half of my probation period and submitted two tenders just on time (four minutes to spare) and am totally exhausted! What a feat to try and understand a business in record time and write a submission involving all practice groups and all lawyers. Nightmare! I must have done ten days of 16 hrs in the office trying to get my head around it all. Not happy! But hopefully it will be worth it.
Even though it all feels very random and chaotic, I do feel quietly positive about the role. There are some very nice and talented people in the office... It will hopefully only get easier now.

This is my office building and the fantastic view from my desk...

The Pink Ball!

Last weekend an old school friend of Craig's invited us along to the Think Pink Charity Ball for breast cancer which was of course themed PINK and we made every effort to fit into the theme!! It was a really good night with lots of cheesy dancing and great food and way too much champagne. We even made it into the local City News Magazine! How funny!

Heading was: Pink is the new black: Forget boring black tie, the Think Pink Think Choices Charity Ball saw the CITY's ELITE don a kaleidoscope of brilliant colour at the Thai-themed event.... Hee hee!! THen it is followed by picture of us -they must have been really impressed with Criag's lovely pink bowtie!

Apart from that nothing much else to report, sorry! We are just working away and not doing much else. It is time we organised a weekend getaway!

I am working on it!

Tanja back at work!!!

It is unbelievable but after 18 months of travel and exploring I am finally back in the real life with a proper job and having to get ready in the morning, suited and flipflopped to commute into the city center to go to an airconditinoned office until it is dark. BIG SIGH!!!

I had almost a dozen interviews with 6 different firms, some of them with 5 people questioning me at once and usually with some more on Video Conference, very daunting! But I finally got an offer I could not resist from DLA Phillips Fox, the Australian arm of DLA Piper. The BD team in Brisbane is tiny, only 3 people with one events person, one Manager and little me! I am so excited! Especially because of my gorgeous office with postcard view of Brisbane's story bridge and miles and miles beyond that as we are on the 30th floor. On a clear day I can see the ocean and the white beaches... if that does not get you daydreaming then I don't know what will! These pictures are taken with my phone and do not really do the view justice but you get the idea. It is brilliant!



I had my third interview with DLA on Friday and got a job offer after half an hour, then went into the offices Monday to Wed for handover as the girl in the job is leaving this week and my induction starts on Monday! AMAZING!

I will report back on how it feels to be back in the hamsterwheel.
Lots of love,
Txxx

Going to the Races!

Last weekend I went to the Doomben Races with Vanessa. Can you believe I have never managed to go to any races in England! Now my first races in Australia and I did not have a suitable hat or fascinator! But there were many many others to admire. We had a great sunny day sipping champagne and admiring beautiful horses, tiny jockeys and major fashion desasters....

News from the Department of Immigration!

Today finally, exactly 6 months after we lodged my application for Partner visa and subsequent citizenship a lovely man on a motorbike hand delivered the most important letter of the year. The Australian Government has finally granted me a Partner Visa which means that I cannot get kicked out of the country anymore! HURRAH!
We are very happy and pleased we did not have to do any interviews or intergration tests etc. Just a waiting game. In two years time I should then get my citizenship and become Australian!
Apparently, my accent is beginning to reflect those changes already :-{

Now I have unlimited permission to work, get health benefits, free English classes and I am allowed to leave the country as well. What a relief! Not that I have any plans to do so...

Workwise, nothing much has changed. All moving very slowly here. I am expecting a third interview with a firm I would really like to work for and hope it will all go ahead. Wish me luck!

My parents have left again :-(

It was great fun to have my parents visit and I am very pleased that they enjoyed Australia as much as they did. They could not get over how friendly everyone is and how relaxed, how un-German I guess. And how clean Australia is and how blue the sky is every day and how delicious the lamb tastes and how this culture was able to develop in just a few centuries. And I can tell you that my parents dont give a thumbs up easily!

We had a really nice time together and the beautiful steps dad build in the garden will remind me every day that they were here.

I am sure they will be back soon!

Our little Blue Tongue

This gorgeous Blue Tongue Lizard lives in our garden and we finally made friends and had a drink of water together. Am very pleased. He is about as long as my lower arm and his tongue is blue as blue can be (as you can see).

See? Am getting used to animalis australianis. :-)

Kangaroos and Koalas

It is amazing how quickly the three weeks with my parents have passed. We had a wonderful time and while Karlheinz worked away at our little neglected garden, mum and I went to see the Koalas and Roos in Lone Pine. They are so cute!!!
We had great fun watching the Koalas eat and sleep (that is all they seem to do in life) and run after Kangaroos pretending we have food for them. The little Wallabies seem a bit friendlier than the big ones! Even after 5 months in Australia I still laugh out loud when I see them skip along! What a fantastic country!

Quality time with my parents

My parents are visiting at the moment and I can finally do all the sightseeing things I have been wanting to do with them. We found a nice apartment on the 11th floor in Broadbeach on the Goldcoast where we now all get to enjoy some beautiful autumn days with blue skies and endless beaches. Bliss! This is the view from their balcony. I could sit there for hours and listen to the waves...



Last Monday we celebrated my dad's 70th birthday! Wow! I cannot believe he really hit the 70 mark but he keeps assuring me it is true. We took them to the Outback Spectacular Show for some true Oz spirit. It was great fun.



Craig had to participate in one of the silly competitions and was running through the arena is a little boat with a few other lucky winners. God we laughed so much! It looked so silly! Thankfully the competing team had a little accident and his boat won! HURRAH!



Afterwards we went to a cocktail bar for mojitos. I don't know a lot of people who celebrate into their 70th in a trendy cocktail bar, am very proud of my dad!

Next Sunday my parents will come over to ours and stay with us for a week. Karlheinz has got quite a few projects for garden landscaping and my mum is on a mission to teach me a thing or two about baking. Hee hee. Excellent.

Oh yes and inbetween Craig is working in Canberra and I am doing job interview after job interview so its not all fun and games, in case you were getting too jealous!

One week in Melbourne

I just came back from a wonderfully exciting week in beautiful Melbourne in the far South of Australia. What an amazingly European-style city, full of people from all over the world, zillions of students and foreign travellers, museums and parks and galleries and little boutique shops everywhere, sunny squares and modern architecture, sculptures on every corner, big impressive facades and churches and a big river running through the middle of it and so much to do!



The famous International Melbourne Comedy Festival was on and we saw a couple of very good comedians and giggled lots. I especially like Stephen K. Amos from the UK. I always wish I could remember more of their jokes to use them myself but… it does not seem possible!


We stayed with Craig’s friend Leisa in her lovely house in Carlton which is very close to town. While Craig and Leisa were working hard all day I explored the city, visited the Melbourne Museum and the National Art Gallery, the Aboriginal Art Museum, the State Library (see picture) and of course some of the spectacular shopping districts. Many people have warned me that the shopping in Melbourne is outstanding and I have to say I was really really impressed. There are so many small local labels with really different approaches to fashion and materials, I loved it! There are shops with DJs doing their magic, shops with graffitied walls, shops with a bar in them, anything! I am very proud to confirm that I have resisted buying any shoes or fancy clothes (apart from a fleece and some socks cause it is freezing 15C only and we got here with a subtropical Queensland wardrobe!) and vowed to come back once I have received my first pay check!
Well. As you can see I had a wonderful week of me time and am very very happy.



This morning Craig flew back to Canberra for work and I flew back to Brisbane. There is quite a bit of work to do in the house before my parents arrive on Friday. At the moment our spare room is so crammed with boxes and other stuff that I cannot even pull out the sofabed!