A nice walk, and a family celebration

Today was a bit more low key, but with plenty of fun (photos here). I started the morning, while Ann and Arnold went to appointments, taking a walk with Rupert. We covered the nearby trail and nature reserve. No kangaroos spotted, but several types of parrots. I really love seeing cockatoos flying overhead and the various colors of parrots in the trees.

Flying cockatoo:


Galah cockatoo:


Lorikeet:


It was a lovely view when I got to the top of the hill, and I really love the eucalyptus forests everywhere. They smell so nice and the varieties of gum trees are all very beautiful. The locals are sad that the dry heat has made it less green around here, but I still think it's lovely!



Here's me at the top of the hill:


After everyone was back, we went off to St Francis Xavier's year 10 graduation ceremony. Here in Oz, students can choose to leave school after their 10th grade. Most, I suspect, will go on to do years 11 and 12 in prep for university, but some go on to trade schools and the like. It was fun to see a bit of the local culture in the form of such a ceremony, and I was honored to be sitting with Shaun's immediate family to watch him graduate.

Shaun (tallest) ready to get his certificate:


Shaun's class (just his one teacher, not the class of 200 who graduated!):


Me, Ann, and Arnold:


Proud parents, Jackie and Stephen, with Shaun:


I did have to take notice of the young fashions today, I must say. They're all in uniforms, so it was really just the hair. Most popular for 16 year-old girls is long hair with long side-swept bangs almost covering one eye. Sometimes there's a hairband or barrette involved. For the most part the boys divided into three main groups: First was the shaggy 'do, which I've seen in every country I've been in on this trip. Next up is the short and spikey, a la "punk". And as a variation of that is the short and spikey back with a long side-swept bangs in front. And of course there's the fourth more traditional clean-cut look, which isn't exactly going out of style, either!

After snacks and visiting with the family and waiting to congratulate Shaun, we did some errands and came home for lunch and a relaxed afternoon. We finished up the evening with a spectacular Chinese dinner (best fried flounder ever!) and soon I'll be hitting the hay so I can get up early to catch the bus back to Sydney.

It's been lovely visiting Canberra, and particularly the family, again. There's never enough time in any place, but I did get to see everyone and that's the most important bit!

It's actually been downright chilly here at night and in the morning (really, not that much warmer than NH!), but the days have warmed up nicely, and tomorrow for my trip back it should be gorgeous. Mostly tomorrow I'm looking forward to climbing up the Sydney Harbor Bridge. Eeeee! So excited!