#51 Three weeks left in Australia

Hi again everyone. We spent our week in Dongara on the beach. The cabin was nice but a little small, and it was hot for my brother and sister-in-law so they had the air conditioning going all the time. It would get too cold for me inside but outside it was gale force wind. I can take the heat but I really don't like wind. Since the wind never stopped I asked the woman in the grocery store if there is always wind in that part of the country and she said yes, but if it wasn't for the wind, "it would be stinkin hot!" I love the way she said that. It has been warm but not as hot as India, I can assure you. At least not where we are, maybe in the center of the country. I will be going to Bunbury 2 hours south of Perth this Friday. I'll be staying with dear friends of mine that we met back in 1988. That was before they had children and the oldest boy has finished college now. Time definitely marches on. I really look forward to seeing them again. I Skyped with my two friends in India this evening. It was really nice seeing them and hearing all the news at the medical center. Only problem was I had video for only a few minutes at the beginning and then it stopped so I could see them, but they couldn't see me. Take care everyone. Talk to you later. Love Marie

#50 Relaxing In Australia

Hi Everyone, It's only been two weeks since the last time I posted so not too bad. I'm still in Australia but moving around a bit. My brother's family all got together for a post Christmas party and then we opened gifts at a park in Perth. Walter is around 20 miles East of Perth. The weather was a little warm for the Aussies but for me it was perfect. We went to Rockingham Beach for New Year's Eve which happens to be my great-nephew's birthday. Again it was considered very hot for the Aussies, in fact lately they had to reconfigure the weather maps that the heat has surpassed all their charts, registering 52 Degrees Centigrade. That is 125 degrees Fahrenheit! Not where we are but in the center of the country. So that is why there are all those terrible fires. No rain and outrageous heat and it was prime for a tinderbox effect. I went to visit my nephew's family in Carine, outside Perth and that was nice. I will be staying at his home this weekend while he is on holiday. Then I come home and my brother, his wife and I will be going to Dongara, just outside Geraldton, for a week. They reserved a cabin for us. It is right on the beach and should be nice. When we return I want to visit my friends in Bunbury which is 2 hours south of Perth. So time is passing and I look forward to returning to India. I will try to get a photo of me with my brother and sister-in-law and I'll post that. We should be able to take a picture on our holiday. For my family, Walter and I did get to talk to Ben one morning. It was a surprise, that we actually got in touch with him. He appears to be doing ok. That's all the news here. I am resting and eating well so I will be ready to face another 3 months in India, I think. Enjoy every moment of your life. We got past the end of the world on 12/21/2012. Love Marie