Colours.

Standing in the cold.  Feeling the rush of energy.  Being aware that I am one in a crowd.  Feeling cold.  Sensing the novelty.  Walking around and around to establish a memory.  Feeling cold.  Wondering about each stand as I pass.  Stopping only to linger in thought.  Thinking about what is different about this place.  Singing along with the music.  Relaying my findings to my friends.  Wandering contentedly.

This was the Brisbane market on Saturday morning at 7:30 am.

Such beautiful sights and sounds.
We did have an agenda, as Beth needed to find her flowers for next weekend and she wanted us bridesmaids to gain ideas for our own.

This was just one outing of many the past couple of days.
This morning, Sunday, we went to Hillsong Brisbane for church.  Another experience in itself.
Today we also went to the Gold Coast... saw Surfer's Paradise.  Gorgeous beach, chilly weather.

Through all the novelty, I am very much enjoying being with Beth and Jeni.  We are reconnecting, as we do each time we see each other after long sabbaticals.  I am finally in Beth's world, the beautiful world down under.

I'm getting used to wearing sweaters and housecoats and Uggs (which make SO much more sense here... as slippers!) as soon as I get inside the house.  Lots of great conversations happen in this house, with richness of thought and frequent bursts of laughter.  It is refreshing.

Five more days until Jon can join me here in this beautiful Brisbane.  I cannot wait to continue to discover what is this diverse continent!

Aimee

At the Brisbane Flower Market

Such different-looking bouquets...

Gorgeous exotic-looking flowers were everywhere!

Lush green, even in winter.

Not sure what kind of bird this is, but it walks around freely.

Beth's little house (for a few more days) in Red Hill

PS> I did drive today and made it pretty well if I do say so myself.  Beth's car is manual (translation: the clutch is on the same side (L) but the actual stick shifter is on the left and the light signal is on the right).  The hills in Brisbane are something else.  Had to use the old e-brake trick at the lights on a massive hill, and my Dad would have been proud!