Celebrating Australia Day

On Australia Day we did what all good Aussies in Kazakhstan would do. We went to the local supermarket and bought a pile of meat and some Kazakh local beer and had a good old fashioned Aussie BBQ. Our BBQ may have looked a little different to what it would look like in Australia. We stayed indoors and cooked the meat in a fry pan, but for all intents and purposes it was an Aussie BBQ.
It was a great time as we indulged in fine food, great company and watched the very Australian "Danny Deckchair" together while eating some home made lamingtons. Go Aussie!

My Shopkeeper

After checking out all of the local general stores we have chosen our favourite. It's easy to find what you're looking for and our shop keeper is really patient with us and our lack of the local language. A fortnight ago I was rebuked by our friendly shop keeper for buying bread from somebody else, and a few days ago I noticed her wrathful gaze as I walked past her shop with products from another shop. It kind of made me feel like I was in an episode of Seinfeld.
She knows we still love her though.

Note: The accessory under my right arm is not a sign of my insecurity living here. It belongs to my little boy Jack and I was holding it for him. I promise!!!

A change of temperature

While people in Australia have been sweltering in the +40 degree temperatures, we have been enjoying a little bit of show. The winter has been very mild so far and most days we get up to about 6 degrees C.
Over the last week we were fortunate enough to have a couple of days of snow. It meant that we were able to go outside and enjoy playing. Before coming to Kazakhstan neither of our kids had seen or touched snow. Playing in the snow is definitely something they enjoy. After a bit of rain on the weekend all of the snow has gone. Hopefully it's not the last snow we get this winter.

Something a little bit gross

As you'd expect when you're overseas, here in Kazakhstan toileting is done a little differently.
Apparently their sewerage system isn't as capable as ours in Australia and it is not customary for people to flush their toilet paper down the toilet. What do they do? They wipe and then put it in the bin. Yuck!
Usually this doesn't affect us. We're a bit naughty and insist on the conventional flush after you use rule. Where our plan begins to fall apart is when people come to our house and go by the Kazakh rule instead of the Cameron rule. We had a heap of people over last night and this morning when I went to put something in the bin I was greeted by evidence that I did not really want to see. Gross!