Mood:
happySo we had big plans on Sunday. We were going to go to Tuggeranong and check out their Annual Indoor Market, taking place from 9:00a to 2:00p. We would then run over to Queanbeyan and check out their Annual Multicultural Festival, going on from 10:00a to 2:00p. After that, if we still had time we would come back to Canberra and check out their Annual Italian Car Show.
That was the plan. Market. Festival. Car Show, if time allowed.
We got to the Tuggeranong Indoor Markets just before 9:00a, and were told that it wouldn’t begin until 10:00. No problem. We walked a block over to the big mall, knowing everything was closed, but figuring we could walk around in there and it would be warm. Finally, at 10:00a, we went back to the market and realized they had nothing. Complete waste of time. We got through the whole thing in about 15 minutes.
No problem, we’d just head over the Multicultural Festival. Canberra’s was awesome. Really. If Queanbeyan’s is anything close, it’d be great! We drove to Queanbeyan and found the market sight. I’m not kidding, nor am I exaggerating when I saw it was two street performers and a lady wrapping hair. That’s it. We didn’t even get out of the car. By now it’s 10:30a, and 2/3 of our daily plan is exhausted.
Not feeling too good about any of this, we headed back to Canberra for the car show. It was there! And there were cars! Actually, it was a neat show, with exotics like Lambos, Ferraris, and Mazeratis, none of which can I spell...We walked around that for a while and then went home.
Kimberly and I finished the day with a quick meal at the Irish Club and listened to some live music. Jacoby stayed home.
The work week went by pretty well for me. Almost all of my work is done, so it was just a matter of participating in the class discussions and waiting for the weekend. We had a social event at the Kingston Pub on Thursday night, which was great (I love that place!), and then a Trivia Night on Friday Night at the school. It was hosted by the Australian Rules Football Club, and went really well. Our table came in Second Place.
The big event of this week, though, was the trip to Mount Kosiuszko, Australia’s highest point. Jo and Peter McKaskill set the whole thing up. We drove out yesterday (Saturday), grabbed a quick lunch, then rode the chair lifts to the trail head. Once on the trail, it was a 7km hike to the summit (Altitude of 2,280 meters), all of which was on a prepared walkway, which was really nice. It was 58 degrees at the base of the Chair Lift. It was 40 degrees at the top, with a below-freezing wind chill factor. Honestly, we didn’t even notice. Most of our cold-weather gear stayed in my backpack the whole time. It was a fantastic walk! Beautiful.
Afterwards, we headed to Lake Jinderbine which is where our cabin was. We showered up, grabbed a bite to eat at the local pub, then played board games until it was time to crash. I’m embarrassed, though not at all surprised to say that Kimberly, Jo, and Jacoby destroyed Peter and me at Cranium. Kimberly won both games of Apples to Apples. Damn!
This morning we drove back, stopping for pancakes and some outlet shopping along the way. Once back, we went to the Hall Markets and wandered around for little while. Then we came home. I suspect that Kimberly and I will end up at the Irish Club again tonight, but I’m not sure, yet.
Next weekend is the International Day at the school. It should be a good event! As for work, we are doing our Group Project this week. Strategic Studies is winding down. Our electives will start soon (two weeks, I think), so I’ve begun reading the US Counter-Insurgency manual. The Aussies don’t have any doctrine, yet, so we are expected to write some. No kidding, their Chief of the Defence Force (SECDEF, for us) heard we were doing this and told the school that he wanted us to write the Aussie doctrine for CoIN. We will present him with our work following the third term.
Anyway, enjoy your week!
- Ryan
