Tennis is tennis is tennis

So I was asked to be part of a Bundaberg Tennis Team that was traveling about 3 1/2 hours away to play a tournament in Biloela, (pronounced Bill-o-wheel-a)Queensland. I was really happy to be asked. Since returning from Wisconsin 3 weeks ago I haven't played much so I was nervous. The team consisted of 4 gals plus me, all Bundabergians, who all had nice games. We were playing as the Bundaberg Berries.

Yes every team  had a theme and we were berries, complete with mulberry colored shirts and socks. Even the men's teams had outfits,

which as any Wisconsin tennis player knows is very unusual. I personally liked the boys who played in button down shirts and ties. We haven't seen any guy in a tie since we landed here last January, not in a restaurant or in an office, but to see them wearing them to play tennis was a riot. And they looked really good.

They even gave me a tie so I could be an honorary member.

This gal was on the "Highlighters" and yes they played a few games in the wigs!

The weather is very wintery here and it was cool and windy when we started play at 8:30am. It was 70 degrees and blowing about 15mph. It actually was cold playing. But not Wisconsin cold. The play was fun and challenging, those Fairies kicked our a*#! We ended up right on the other side of being in the finals, 3rd place, which was fine because the ride back to Bundaberg was 3 1/2 hours and we didn't want to drive back in the dark, that's when you hit kangaroos. So we left Biloela at 1:30p and returned to Bundy with plenty of daylight left.

One of the real adjustments here is the disconnect for a midwesterner is the opposite season thing. Maybe if we were in New South Wales where the weather is more seasonal for winter I wouldn't be so confused, but because we're in sunny Queensland, it doesn't feel like the brutal winter.

I actually don't understand this chart but I think the gist of it is......we're warmer.

It is actually snowy in far southern Australia, see that's another thing, north is warm and sunny, south is cold and wintery. You would think we were on the other side of the world. Oh yea, we are.....

John is at the half way point in his employment. He's been here 6 months working and has 6 months left. It has gone really fast for both of us. His blogs have documented how medicine is different here. We (the US) have a great healthcare system which this experience has clarified for us. The grass isn't always greener and as much as we think there are things that need to change, we do an awful lot of things right. We are looking forward to more travel and visits from friends and family this 6 months, and hopefully less work for John. This may also be may be the best time for us to travel. We are so looking forward to seeing the family over Christmas and have booked their flights! We will all be together at one table over the holidays.

COMING ATTRACTIONS!!!

Look for a blog on some of the interesting places we've ventured to AND FROM!!!