Here is SImon, another small relative! They really know how to create cute kids here - he is SOOO happy all te time! Even when he banged his chin on the table quite hard, he was laughing again in iabout 2 minutes!

Duckies! This is from our expedition to see the ducklings!

The kindness of strangers...

... Was happily in Amadeus copying out my homework from a textbook today, when those random aussie attracts to aussie powers went into action! I have homework for Deutsch als Fremdsprache, was meant to copy it off someone else from the class, but by the time the teacher had told me this, everyone had disappearesd, and I had no idea where to find them.... Decided that in an attempt to get it, i would jsut go into Amadeus and copy the questions out! Had to buy one text book, didn't really want to have to buy another that I didn't really need! Anyway, was telling this to Bibi, whow was my co-conspirator, ready to copy down the information I gave her, was talking in English, when the employee stacking shelves, giving us suspicious looks suddenly asked if he could help, in English, with a distinct Aussie accent. My first thought was, hey, he's got really good English, no accent (well do you expect to meet a fellow aussie working in a foreign speaking bookshop?)! I replied no, was just copying out my homework, and he replied, 'you are Australian, aren't you?' Of course the following conversation was a where are you from one (Newcastle, with an Aunt/Granny, from Kingston, but Snug before that, anyone know her?)... He came and went three times, obviously trying to work out if we were allowed to do that, making small talk, then offerering to give me his old copies of the text book... Random, and slightly weird, I said 'no thanks, I think this is a one off, but thanks anyway' typüe of thing. Still, there you go, now I know where another Aussie can be found in Linz... I always look out for visitors, and listen to see if they're speakin English... The accenct sounds so strong after a long time of not hearing it, on a stranger, though!!

Went to a zoo today, was lots of fun, and spoke to the wallabies and emus... Yep! i'll stick the phtos up in a minute!

Please pray for me as I go through a tricky patch with my family. I'm thinking I'd maybe like to change host fmilies, have talked to Magdalena, and we're going to talk to the family next week sometime. Variety of reasons, can't really be bothered going into them, but could be a little awkward for a while...

ok, the photos!

...But trust me, your kids are gonna love it...

... Back to the Future I was on last week... (number 3 was on last night, WHERE'S NUMBER 2 GONE???).. I watched it, because they are some of my favourite movies, and was BITTERLY disppointed (well, only mildly amused) when they actuall cut out a line! It was dubbed, as usual, and they actuall jus skipped one line! The scene just ended early! Starting to wonder if maybe I've just imagined it in the normal version... It's at the end of the Dance under to Sea Ball, when Marty's ust finished his musical solo, getting 'how dare you call that music' stares. i'm sure he says something along the lines of 'Maybe you're not quite ready for that yet, but trust me, your kids are gonna love it.' Please tell me if I'm imagining things! I'm sure it wasn't there, because i was interested in how it would be put in german...

Train drivers here are so funny! (speaking of trains, I FINALLY got a vorteils card yesterday, meaning my tickets are half price, hooray! Will be good for summer holidays travel!) Anyway, the drivers. They walk to the train about 5 minutes before departure, always carrying a briefcase. Don't ask me what train drivers need that requires a briefcase, unless it's to hold all their cigarettes or something, but I think all the ones that go from my station (meaning about 3 differnt drivers... it's a small station!!) carry their briefcases...! I just htink it's funny... Maybe the're doing other work, paper work, while driving or something...

Saw the CUTEST thing a few days ago. Well I thought it was, and it was 7 in the morning, so I was feeling rather not awake, but anyway, each to their own! I can't remmber the name of what it was (names of building machinery have been the first to depart my mind - my grip was already VERY loose!) but it was one of those scoopy things, like they have in sandpits, where you sit on them, and operate the scoop and scoop sand from one place to another... I'm sure you know what I mean... i'll call it a scoopy thing for the moment. Anyway, there was some minor work going on on one side of the road, and the workmen stopped the traffic. The Scoopy THing was escorted across the road by other work men on either side, and it reminded me SOOO much of a lollipop crossing! The Scoopy THing even seemed to have the posture of a reluctant student, drooping 'neck' so it was stooped and kinda plod-rolled across the road! I started laughing, but then couldn't explain to Hans was I was laughing about, because I have no idea for the name of lollipop crossings or anything.. The closest I could come to was to say it was like a student, but I don't think he understood... was just one of those moments, that for no apparent reason, is very cute!

WEell that's my news for the moment, just vacuumed a gazilion stairs, dunno if i was supposed to do the very bottom lot, but the shoes were still n them, while Erika had cleared the other flights, so I didn't... Also missed about three stairs at the top of the hosue because the cord wasn't long enough, and for some odd reason I seriously didn't think of drapping it OVER the hand rail, rather than round the bottom... I don't know why, but now that flight is hlf vacuumed... I suppose I could have gone and done them later, but Michi's friend had already stuck his head out the door once suspiciously (well, I thought it was suspicously, that's all he did - head out, say hallo in a 'aha, that's who it is' tone of voice then disappear again...) So I didn't...!

To the people I've sent letters to this week (and anyone else it applies to, for other weeks), sorry about the non-stamps. I don't know how to get them to give me stamps rather than the printed out labels from the computer! Occassionaly they do, but often they just weigh the letter (a lady weighed a postcard once, I thought that was funny) to check it's a normal weight, then stick on the silly white sticker... Maybe could say soemthing, but I don't know if maybe the letters are just always overweight... Need to call in weight watchers or something!

I feel sorry for the stomachs of Austrians. Good food, but so much chewing gum! I wonder if it started with the smokers, chewing ffor their teeth and breath, but now everone chews! i'm sure they're all going to get stomach ulcers, I know quite a few chain chewers...

Deutsch als Fremdsprache

Found a class (finally got aroudn to it) for German for people who don't speak it! Got to half the class on wednesday (the class has independently changed their times, and it's not on the timetable I looked at...!) Looks like it'll be fun in a hard work kind of way! WE got lots of homework, and I was supposed to copy it off someone from the calss, but by the time th e teacher finished telling me that, everyone was gone, and I have no idea where to look for them...! Have bought the text book at least, and I think there's some work in there! The teacher is a bit scary, but i'm sure she's nice... :-s There's about 8 people in the class, moslty Turkish I think, and an African girl... More updates when I know more...!

I'm going to buy an InterRail train ticket for the summer holidays, and will hjopefully be able to travel all over europe with it (within my visa restricions).. I don't know how it works, but my host father tell me it's very useful... Met up with MAgdlena yesterday, and she also gets the definte impression that my family expects me to do all my own thing, including the tourist things, and won't have any problem if I go off for a week or whatever under my own steam! It's funny, there were rules set by the organisation in Australia, but here they don't seem to be kown - I'm supposed to travel with either school, my fmamily or have an over 25 y.o. in the group, but MAgdalena was encouraging me to go to Vienna for a weekend, by myself or with a couple fo school friends. She's even offered me the use of a flat that she used to live in, that her friend now uses... Very hany indeed!

As usual, there were other things I wanted to tell you about, but really can't remember, all the german just pushes 'unimportant' things out I think...!

Oh yeah, i'm used to feeling I can't speak German, but it isn't often I feel I can't speak English. Yesterday I did, in English. The class was looking at 'common' English idioms, and I had to give an example where you'd use each one. Unfortunatly I hadn't heard of a few, and other I've never used in my life. It's really hard to think of examples that can be understood by non-english speakers... Ended up using chocolate to explain lots... Don't really know if they understood though! Not being able to understand the teacher on occassions doesn't help me feel I can speak English either! Gotta run

I've just found out what's wrong here!

... And before you all have crises because there'S something wrong in Austria (I saw a daddy long legs the other day, and for a moment was actually frightened because it was the first vagualy dangerous living thing I've seen since arriving...!) I'll explain!

Just read Hannah's latest report on life with the Salvo's in Melbourne, and there was a bit that summed up just what I think I've thoguth before, but has never eally sunk in. Hope it isn't copywrited Hannah, think it's just easier to copy and paste...

I miss the simple things of home like parents paying for things, my own
room to reside in, brothers, young girls and boys in crèche and Kidzown, a
car and knowing people in the street

Now not all these apply to me, but some do especially the knowing peoplei n
the street! I find myself walking down Landstrasse (the main street) keeping
an eye out for people I know, in an unconscious way. If someone gave me a Euro fo everytime I thought 'Hey it's Gablergh, what on Earth are they in Linz for? Should i say hello?' (and yes I often get that far in the thought process), I would have a lot of money to give the beggars (well maybe buy food and then give that to them, so they dont lose their begging spots. Yes, it does bother me!) It's especially people from home I look out for I think, and of course I'm disappointed because I don't see anyone! Never really realised how much it means to be able to smile or say hello to people who you don't really know, just always share the bus with or whatever, they don't do that here...

Read George Orwell's 1984 today (yep, started it in our non-German lesson, and finished it this eveing, reading almost only in my own time). Been wanting to read it for ages and ages, and it was sitting on Bibi's desk, because they study it in English (the poor poor poppets, it's not easy to read) so I thought no time liek the present...! It was really really good, I couldn't put it down! Reminded me of Fahrenheit 451 in many ways - set in the future where people re controlled through fear, ith no privacy etc etc. Reading it, I have no idea what made people think it was a good idea to make it into a tv series. Saw theend coming, but also had the feeling I remembered thebits of the last part, thinking maybe I've heard bits indrama monologues - it would be good! Anyway, suggest reading it, will be doing so again a few tiem s I reckon! Can't believe it was written at the end of WW2, thought it was kinda funny that hte protaganists name was Winston, wonder if there's some significance with Winston Churchill...

Anyway, love the 'recover post' button.. Michi just succeeded in black outing the house twice (and the second time the power was convinced it wanted to come back on in here, but he did warn me there might be the scond time,although I#d just convinced the computer it did want to start again! No blue scren pf death which i thought was funny...!) He says there won't be another time, but not fully trusint, so going to post this and go to bed! Can you tell i'm now writieen very fast? MY keyboard skills have jsut gone overboar I think! Sorry! MAy come back and correct some day when I'm old and grey...! Taaraa!

My five day weekend is nearly over...

...Which is both good and bad...! i'm starting to get a bit bored, so it's good, but mean i have to go back to a whole week of school, which is bad! Anyway,had a nice time...

I've discovered the way into the hearts of my fmaily.. no, not really... well I dunno, but they love my butterscotch slice (made into biscuits because of cooking utensil shortage...)... I cooked a batch on Thursday night, and they were all one by Friday afternoon, then cooked another lot yesterday, almost all gone again.. I think I'd better go and grab some for me soon, before they really are all gone! Mmmmm!

Mother's day today, going to see lots of little baby ducklings at Erika's mother's house soon... Must be off.. there was actually something inteligent I had to write, but can't remember what it was, and was just writing in the vain hope it would come back, but so far no luck... Ah well...

The weather last night was PSYCHO!

AS you can hopefully see fro mthe photos... It was impressive, I was expecting thunder and lightening, none though, but very impressive rain... Didn't last though... died down very fast! Was how rain should be though!

In choir, we're singining What Shall We Do With a Drunken Sailor, and they sing EARLY in the morning, not Er-Lye... although I've converted at least one person... I think it's so much easier to sing er-lye personally, and sounds better, but anyways (as Mr Holz would say...)

I'm getting addicted to terrible tv here, Spongebob Schwammkopf (you work it out) is on everyday, and is actually surprisingly funny... The worst show I've strated to watch is Sex and the City, only because the rest of hte family watches it (well Erika and Erika), and I don't like to appear anit-social in the evenings... After it is Desperate Housewives which is worth the pain...

i'm reading this weird but good book at the mo called Mount Misery, about a first year psychiatric resident doctor. I got so confused reading the reviews stuck all over it, on the cover was one saying it was hilariously funny, and inside another saying it presented a serious and important wake up call to insitutions all over the world... All the reivews sort of contradict easch other! But it is funny, but scary at the same time. Only shoce it because the library I was at only has about 6 English books (the better on was too far away at the time!)... But I'm really enjoying it... Here'sa NY Times review ... Also just bought Hitchikers Guide in German, will start it soon... I think I have to finish this one first though - I can hear it calling me, which is rare for a book that is not crime or thriller....

well yes, must be off, actually just came online to look for some song lyrics, for an art project... *nose tap*.. If anyone wants to gvie me some good movie quotes please do- Suse i'm sure you'll give me some good ones... hint hint nudge nudge wink wink!

And looking at the view from my favourite sunny window (same window as last pic)... Without the flash because that lights up the foreground, and darkens the background, but it was almost this dark over there anyway!

About 8:45, from another bedroom window...

From the verandah, 8:20pm, buckets of rain started moments after - the kind that soaks you when you just step out the front door

Here's the same place tiem etc without the flash...

Here's some crazy weather phtoos from last night! This was from my bedroom window at about 8:15 last night, with the flash...

My list is washing off...

...I've written a lovely list of stuff to write about, again, on my hand, but having washed my hari this morning, so it's started to wash off... This post will therefore involve a lot of squinting and hand twisting...!!

Rather funny in music yesterday, we've got a concer coming up, and some of the guys were given the job of stiking up posters for it. The teacher wasn't too impressed with the fact they managed to stick one on a wall with wet paint... Ooops...! He then gave the job to a couple of other people, and was asking for tape, but everyone's tape seemed to have disappeared... Can't think why (remember this is the teacher who also teaches english, and doesn't know the difference between less and fewer)... eventually some was rusteld up... was quite funny though... ma have needed to be there....

Lord of the Dance is on next week in Linz... ther's posters advertising 'Michael Flatley's Lord othe Dance'... I thought it had died personally... but apparently not!

My German is getting better at a steady rate now I think, although in class I can't take notes by myself still because I don't know how to contract it to note taking lengths! Instead I just copy whoever I'm sitting next too (althoug htey've all got such silly handwriting this is almost as hard!)... I don't get jokes though, which is one of the hardest thigs - it's very hard when everyone else is laughing, and you have no idea why, is often tempting to just laugh anyway, but then you fel almost as stupid... When it's with people who know I don't understand it's ok, but when its with strangers is terrible - on the bus from train to home the bus driver made some comment about this grumpy old man, which was apparentlyt very funny (eve nteh old man was laughing) and I felt very out of it... I could imagine what he said, but it's hard to laugh at what you imagine people say....!

Now there's only one note left, can't work it out, plus Baby shark, but that'S been answered already (tahnks Kate!) so don't have to ask...! Ahhh... Weasther! The weather here is almost as god as tassie weather at the mo... On Monday it was 30 degrees across the country (I think it got to more than that here, was 28 at 6pm on my way to the train) with lots of blue sky (althoug hte sky isn't as blue here as in tassie - not that really nice deep blue, I think it's pollution....) and today the mximum for the country was predited at 15 or 16, with storms predicte for the next few days... Yesterday there was the first proper rain though -a real downpour, was fnatastic, short but great!

Anyway, now that you know it all... I must be off... Hooroo!

Classroom door, looking up into the common room...

Simone and (other) Melanie's desk...

A random person who I think could be Melanie's brother, but no entirely sure... often comes and talks to us though! Quite funny... Wearing the ominous sunnies!

Melanie looking ominous... (there's two melanies)

Melanie's sungalsses looking ominous....

Here'S the view from the front door! My bedroom is just off to the right, at the bottom of those curtained stairs (up to MIchi's lair) and the study is to the left. At the bottom is the main family area.... but there are many more levels...

Here's my bed now.. Look at that beautiful fitted sheet... (the funny patch is in the sheet, not my fault!) That#s the widnwo tht gets lovely sun between 1 and 4:30ish everyday.. I sit o nteh windowsill and read...! Ahhh! Lovely!

Here's my classroom (was first thing, so all the chairs were still up! They only believe in taking down their own chair, not anyone elses, even if it means great pains to get to their desks!

Here'S the view out teh window from my desk, I spend a fair amount of time staring at that...!

I got a little bored... But there'S my creative side on the back of my notepad...!

Well Sarah was annoyed....

... but now she kinda likes me again... Kinda... On Thursday afternoon I was kinda babysitting her (otherwise known as watching tv with her) and her bedtime was 7pm, after the Sandman... So at 7pm I said, alright Sarah ,time for bed. She did the whole 'I'm not sleepy' thing, lots of me encouraging, lots of her crying and being stubborn. Eventually I just picked her up wit hthe intention of carrying her downstairs, and she was kicking my knees (quite hard for a 3 year with bare feet, it almost hurt!) and SCREAMING! She has good lungs...! She ran UP the stairs, and was sitting at the top wailing and insisting she wasn't tired. THen Michi's friend arrived, needed the door opened, as I did it, I was saying, 'but you ARE tired'.. He gave em a very strange look, and almost ran up the stairs to get away...!! Then Simone came up, having heard Sarah's screasm, and tried to calm the situation. Sarah refused to look at me, SImone gave me lots of sympathetic looks (phew!) and then Sarah claimed she wouldn't play with me anymore (which in itself was quite funny, like I'm the one that needs entertaining by her..!) I replied that my heart was broken (or it hurt in German) and she said hers was too... I'm still smiling over this episode... It wasn't until I said I was going to bed, and we made it a favour for her to go to bed, so that I could sleep that she finally calmed down enough to depart! Hadn't spoken to me since, until this afternoon, when she ,made me play lego, otherwise known as her taking all the pieces I needed.... I nthe end I just snuck away while she was distracted...

Should be at a Flohmarkt today (flea market, massive junk sale), but money a little short. OTherwise known as having 10cents until I get to a Bankomat tomorrow. (Bankomat being ATM)... Very disappointed, today being absolutely BEAUTIFUL (so why am I inside you may ask.. I'm going to go and sit on my wide window sill i nthe sun soon)... WEll actually it's doing the Blue sky, cloud over, cxlear up again thing... Suposed to be thunder, but doubt it somehow...

Watched Star Wars last night, they've done the horrible new ones, so now they're doing the old proper ones, hooray! Empire trikes back in on Thursday, and Return of hte Jedi should be on frieday or saturday!! What's more, I had the tv to myself, so I could watch it without fear of someone else wning to watch something different! I've been needing a Star Wars fix (sad iknow..!) Oh my typiing has just gone down another hill....

Thanks for all the offerers on music (well, all 2)... I'm starting to be in desperate need of new music, may actually have to buy something (ahhhh!)... Cleaned my room yesterday, can't claen without music, but was having issues finding something.... Settled for Choc Cake in the end, but wasn't entirely happy...! On the room cleaning matter, it looks very spiffy now, and I even changed my bed (sounds disgusting I know... actually is a bit wrong, 2 months wihout changing my bed, but I have a fear of fitted sheets...!) and put on a fitted sheet, and it worked! And this is big bed, maybe it's just little beds I can't get them to work with... I'll give yo ua photo in a minute! Will also do a pic tour of the house, will take the photos today, stick them on at some stage, maybe later...

Not much news apart from that... All very non happening... Did I tel you about my THREE days off school next week? Oh I did? I just thought you'd like to know that I have THREE days off... Ones for Mother's day, which is a sunday anyway, which I thought was rather funny!