In between moving

We signed a lease on a a 3 bedroom apartment on Friday, as I mentioned in my last post. The movers can't come for two more weeks, though. But meanwhile, we can prepare for them by starting to tick items off our nearly endless shopping list.

Because the plug outlets are all different here, and the electricity runs at 220 volts, we sold or donated most of our large and small appliances in the US. Yesterday, Saturday, we did the first of the serious shopping we will need to do to replace those.

We ordered a fridge, a washing machine, and a heat pump dryer. We needed a dryer, because we've lived without and we don't like it. We needed a dryer that didn't vent outside, because our dryer hookup doesn't vent outside. That meant we could get a condenser or heat pump. The heat pump ones are more expensive, but more energy efficient. We had a condenser in England, and it made the house humid and sweaty. So we got the heat pump. I shall report on how it works for my curious faithful readers.

We signed up for internet and power. Both should be connected Wednesday. The appliances are scheduled for delivery Thursday. We also need to buy vacuum, before the movers come, microwave, iron, toaster. We would like another griddle, I think we'll need room fans (no air conditioning, although the walls are really thick). After the movers come, we'll need an assortment of table and bedside lamps. We shall spend a great deal of money! And then we shall buy Jonathan's school uniforms!


On the way to church this morning we passed a tree in which the lorikeets were screaming with the sheer joy of being alive and being in a tree and being lorikeets! I love lorikeets. Upon closer observation, we realized that they were not the usual rainbow lorikeets, however, but musk lorikeets! More green, with bright red rosy cheeks. And the same pure joy of being alive.

I took a picture of the tree. There were lots of musk lorikeets in the tree. Unfortunately, you probably won't be able to see any of them in the picture because first, I don't have a nice zoom on my camera phone, and second the birds wouldn't hold still for me.

And so another week has passed. This next week, I'm hoping to get more work done, around the excitement of almost being able to move but not quite. The weather will be somewhat typical summer Melbourne weather: variable. Today the high is 31 with sunshine (87F). Tomorrow 37 (98F). Then 29 (85F). Then 40 (104F). Then 20 and rain (68F). A difference each day of 15 to 30 degrees Fahrenheit seems about right.

I get to wear all types of summer clothes!