Mid-April

April 15 has been significant for us over the past two years.  In 2010 we left on a two month trip to Europe, fulfilling a long held dream for both of us.  It was truly the trip of a lifetime and we saw the initial phases of the Euro zone crisis, with massive protests in Greece, the global flight crisis from the eruption of the Icelandic volcano (Eyjafallajokuls...or something like that) and we made the decision to move to Australia.  On April 15 2011 we closed the deal to sell our house in Calgary, closing out a pressure filled 9 stressful months with realtors, house showings and all the maintenance that had to be done while we were so far away.  Looking back and comparing our experience to the Canadian expats that we know here who have held onto their houses and rented them out, we don't regret selling our house in Calgary.  As bad are realtors are to deal with, renters are far worse!  (We are the best tenants ever, of course, but we're the exception.)

This year we are trying to get back to normal after our harrowing trip back to Canada for a funeral, then coming back to Brisbane and flying to Melbourne only 5 days later.  This week and weekend we have really tried to just relax and enjoy some down time.  We are in the midst of a nice run of public holidays.  We have a four day weekend for Easter last week, then we get April 25 off for Anzac Day, then May 7 for Labour Day.  The multiple breaks so close together will really help us get some much needed rest.

University of Queensland campus, St. Lucia

Now that it is getting a bit cooler, we have been able to get out for some nice walks that take us a bit further out of our neighbourhood.  Recently we went to the University of Queensland campus in St Lucia, a suburb that is about an hour's walk south-ish of our suburb (Milton).  The campus is very nicely laid out and has a beautiful quadrangle, called the Great Court, surrounded by a passageway leading to the different schools (or colleges) that are part of the university.  

Passageway around the Great Court

Carved column

The passageway is supported by intricately carved sandstone columns and we easily could have spent most of the day examining the carvings.  We will definitely go back for a second look and to take the pathway along the river.  It is probably a nice winter walk for us...it is amazing that we now consider anything below 22ºC to be a brisk winter day!