So, the walk downtown to Orange is just over half an hour and I do it every day – no worries! However, it does take a chunk out of my day, so I decided to buy a bike. Nothing second hand available that was rideable, but Big W (Woolworths) had some on sale. I bought a demo youth’s bike, already put together, for $100 AU (about $85 US) and am borrowing a helmet from Ro’s niece. The bike is a little small, but will work. I hope to sell it again before I leave. When I get a picture of me on it, I will post it. I have my own cell phone here too. Keith (Ro’s husband) lent me his old one and I put a $20 pre-paid card in it. The good news is that you only use your minutes for outgoing calls – not incoming ones! The US is the only country that deducts for both – what a crock. The nice salesman also showed me how to text because it is much cheaper. I pay 38c for 30 seconds on a call, but can text as long a message as I like for 25c.
Meanwhile, it was time to do my laundry today. Ro has a washing machine and dryer. There is also a drought. So, the first thing to do is unhook the drain hose from the washing machine and hook it up to a hose outside so the grey water can go into the garden. Clever, huh? (They use a biodegradeable soap powder.) Because they try to save energy, the clothes are then hung out on the washing line in the garden. I did manage to sneak my jeans into the dryer for five minutes first to clear the wrinkles though, since I don’t iron stuff anymore, and then hung them out to dry. It’s kind of fun to feel like a pioneer again! Actually, it makes a whole lot of sense and is much more fun, in a way. The air is often pretty cold, but the sun shines during the day for drying. It does take a bit longer, so you have to gauge the clean underwear you have left to wear!
Our meeting last night for Isagenix was a complete success – from Ro’s point of view. She got lots of sign ups. None of the five people I had spoken to showed up though! Not surprising, but I will go downtown and hook up with them one on one now. Everyone was really enthusiastic and quite amazed at the results people are having. There are a LOT of overweight people walking around Orange, but the economy is tight and so they are busy buying a lot of fast food and junk food – same as in the US. However, I don’t think their local cows and vegetables and fruit are pumped full of hormones and antibiotics, as in the US, so the meat here looks and tastes wonderful. Ro gets raw milk and eggs from one of her employees who has a farm, so that is very healthy. There’s only one health food store (no fresh organic produce though) and I have already bought some stuff there. A couple of the local supermarkets do have organic fruit and veg, but nothing like a Whole Foods in the US. You have to go to Sydney for those.
The air is much cleaner here and the countryside is pretty. Yes, I will take some picture on my US cell phone and download them soon. There are parrots and magpies and blackbirds and sparrows in the garden. I saw a mob of kangaroo grazing by the side of the road on the bus coming here. They don’t have squirrels in Australia, which is why Ro’s daughter Pippa went bananas when she stayed with me in my Kent condo several years ago on looking out the window at all the squirrels trying to eat my bird food. I suppose I would feel the same on looking out and seeing koala bears. Not likely here, though.
No worries, mates. Be back this weekend, maybe.
