Recipies
 

Hello again Howard

Ada and I love cooking and pride ourselves on the results. However I must take my hat off to you for the ORIGINAL recipies you are posting. Henceforth you should be known as Cookie, the same as I received the handle Salesman Bob. Forget the Camel Stew for Saturday night, it would take up too much of your time. Tequila Christmas Cookies sound better and easier.

Salesman Bob

Re: Re: Camel Stew
 

Gotta love making those cookies, Cookie :D

Thanks for making lots of laughter here Howard,
a side effect of the cookies recipe! :D

Karmen

Re: Passports
 

Good one Keefy ... tempt them all! :D

HERB, thank you for your suggestion of attaching a note to my application stating that I'll need the passport in time for the booked flight to Australia (time and date). Thats a great idea I hadn't thought about and will probably help the passport people to get it processed and back to me in time.

:cheers:

Karmen

Yes, am up yet again :D and not one to be doing nothing in my insomniac moments, I've been reading some forms that came with the passport package ... and found some 1-800 numbers, which I've called. The calls and information on the forms CONTRADICT what I was told about having to send my application to OTTAWA when mailing app's in. Correct place to mail/courier submissions of passport applications is to head PP office at Gatineau, Quebec

SO ... please ignore the previous post I did about the Ottawa area guarantor and PP office, and I really DO apologize :o for firing before I had the right target. In fact, I'm going to go back and edit that post when I'm done this one ... clean up the confusion, as it were ..... and again, I'm sorry.

The fastest passport seems to be to go in to the nearest office that accepts submissions (Calgary for me) ONE of the offices (they've got 2) in Calgary, the DOWNTOWN office, can speed things up to accommodate travel, as I understand it. IF I make it to Calgary for Christmas (iffy still) and have my guarantor all sorted out and properly filled in the forms etc, then its just a matter of dropping off the app's, relaxing, and waiting for them to mail me my passport.

Am NOW trying to think who I might know in Calgary area who would qualify for me (crazy woman can't make up her mind :D ) The people/couple I'm going to ask to be my 2 references, as well as emergency contact, have known me and my kids for about 30 or so years, but they don't fit the list descriptions of qualified guarantors (a social worker and a medical researcher) They live at the Coast.

GEOFF ... I just keep wondering how you came up with the idea that it only takes about 3 days to get a passport when we first discussed "how long"? :D Did you perhaps get one that fast? Or was it actually a renewal or address change for a passport you already had? Because everything I'm finding out is pointing to it takes a long time ... :)

Hi all,

For starters, thank you Keith, for the link for Australia money info ;) I visited it and for the first time saw what Australian money looks like. Next I'll learn what it feels like. Oh what fun! I did skim some info and saw reference to it being "plastic" Does this mean it's fake and useless? Just kidding ... :D :p I assume a little trip to the bank will take care of exchanging Candian for Australian, just like I do when exchanging Canada/USA money. Sounds like the values are basically the same between USA and Aussie and compared to Canadian and that Aussie is about $1.10 to our dollar?

>>>>>>Important :D : How much does a package of tobacco and cigarette papers in Australia cost, and what tobacco brands are available? And does the tobacco taste very different from what I can buy here? I just wonder <<<<<<<

I'm certainly on another learning curve in finding out what I need to know and do, take care of, in prep for this whole thing, before, during, and after.

Many of you have passports and have travelled before, including from Canada to Australia I'm sure ... so you know the ropes. Right? Any travel-wisdom and advice is greatly appreciated from you people. Seriously!

Medical stuff:

1) I have many prescriptions. Who do I talk to make sure all of my meds are okay to take with me to Australia?

2) Medical insurance? I read something about people should buy medical insurance to cover them for the eventuality of "poop happens" Where and how do I go about getting this coverage and what does it cost?

Thats enough questions for this post. I'm sure I'll have more. Remember, I have never been out of the country except to escort my daughter to visit her Dad in San Fransisco or to Spokane to put her on the plane to him or pick her up after a visit. Never needed a passport then. Simple travelling. Australia is more complicated ;) I can't believe that there will literally be OCEANS between me and back home ... something totally fascinating about that idea for someone who has never seen another ocean but the Pacific, from Canada and USA West Coast. And it's just dawning on me that it's going to be absolutely amazing to visit a country that has a totally different environment, plant growth and critters, foreign to me but for "pictures" .

See ... this is all still sinking in, little bits at a time :D

Maybe I'll get to tie a Kangaroo down, mate? (I'd like to try. PUT UP YOUR DUKES YOU ROO ... meet my frying pan! :D )

Bye for now.

Karmen

Karman talk to your doctor about your meds and tell him of your trip to Oz he should be able to help you there.

the baccy and papers cost now about 18 Oz dollars. Most brands like Winfield, Pall Mall Rothmans are availiable here. I do not smoke now but I remember when I first came to Australia I felt the Cigarettes drew to quick. A couple of puffs and it was gone. My Daughters partner did not like my New Zealand Cigarettes as he had to really suck on them.

Talk to a travel agent about insurance. They should be able to point you in the right direction.

Cheers
Cliff :)

"meds"
 

If you a have a quantity of drugs with you, bring your prescriptions and a letter from your Doctor, so customs know they are for your use for the duration of your stay. There are lots of travellers who rely on large quantites of medicine so you will not be seen as unusual as long as you can prove they are for your use.
We all look forward to seeing you here next year, so enjoy the adventure of organising yourself to the other side of the globe.
Rule of thumb with international travel "Hurry Up and Wait"
Regards
Grant Fincher

Thanks a lot Cliff. I will, for sure. I had planned on talking with him anyways regards being so far away for so long and about making sure that I have more than I expect to need for my time there just to be on the safe side of unexpected turns of events with changed plans. I don't expect them to change but life has a way of unexpectedly tossing in kinks sometimes. Best to rather be safe than sorry is my usual way of doing things, based on having learned the hard way through experience :) Poop, like good stuff, really does often happen out of the blue. This Oz turn of events a prime example of that!

Tobacco ... I've heard of all those brands and had them, but Winfield I don't think I've tried. I know for sure we have Rothmans and have bought that often. The price sounds the same as here too, if you're talking 50gm packages.

Insurance: Good plan. I'll talk to a travel agent then and go from there. Like with the meds, I don't expect problems though but it's good to have the safety net in place.

:) Karmen

Re: "meds"
 

Hi Grant, thank you as well for the great idea regards the docs letter explaining. I'll ask about that when I talk to him as well.

I understand that meds can be a problem if they're approved at home country, but not approved in the country visited. I hope all of my meds are a non-issue. I'm on a few different meds, one for sure that I can't abruptly stop, so can't be without them, short of them, or lose them :eek: Could cause a serious health crisis for me. (yes the prednisone. Been on it too long now to not be gently tapered off, which would likely take months to do it safely)

I'm totally enjoying myself with all of this already. Everything about this is totally novel and new to me ... just think of how much more interesting and fun it will be once my plane has touched down in the land of OZ :D

I really try not to count my chickens before they're hatched ... I think I maybe won't even ever really believe this is happening until I'm in the air enroute to you all, in spite of the preparations :D still, I "hurry up and wait ... " ;)

Yes, I'm very much looking forward to meeting everyone in person.

Well, my heat pad is ready for me now. I got up to do the old uncooked rice in the tied off sock, and into the microwave for a minute bit ... to apply heat to an aggravated collarbone thats been a big "pain" all day. If any of you have never tried it, it works, and a sock is perfect ... placing it it molds to your shape and is quite effective as heating pads go. WAY better than the $30 heating pad I bought and ended up taking back cuz it was almost useless ;) The old sock trick is great for arthritis troubles.

Back soon.

Karmen

Hello folks. I hope you're all happy and good today :)

I'm curious about the guarantor part of the passport application that says gurantors are NOT allowed to charge for doing this. Intersting. Maybe Passport Canada figures this will cut down on the possibility of people lieing that they've known you at least 2 years in exchange for making some cash on the side?

BTW ... am just waiting for a call back from my old doc in Nelson to find out if she's into being my guarantor. I hope I hear one way or another today so I can get in gear with her on this if she says yes, before she's away for holidays from the 22nd. :D

Back soon, I'm sure.

Karmen (2 more MLU-er Christmas Cards arrived today! :) )

Most International brands are available, but to improve the health of Aussies, tobacco is TAXED HEAVILY. Duty-Free is definately the way to buy it, and I'm sure you'll take that opportunity. But BE WARNED, if you exceed the tax free allowance for any category of item, you will pay tax on everything in that category. For example, Duty-Free Ciggies are Approx AU$32 for a carton of 250. Should you decide to buy 2 ctns, you will pay tax ON BOTH, making them app AU$72 ea!
And the Taste?

:confused

YESSSSSSSSSS! Guarantor taken care of. I just got a call from my Old docs office in Nelson. Tandi will be very happy to be my guarantor :) All thats left is getting the photos done and getting everything to her before she's away for holidays. By the way, it was great to hear that she misses me too, like I do her. Thats nice to hear :)

One step closer ;)

TONY, thank you for the information. Also thanks for that link! I visited it. I'll be visiting it more to learn whats what.

Regards smoking, I figure I'll just travel with enough to last me between here and there and will just buy some tobacco or cigarettes when I arrive there, and not necessary to bring back more than I need between there and here and the stores to buy more :) Besides, your tobacco prices look the same as ours and wouldn't benefit me personally to stock up unless I'd just be too lazy to walk to the nearest corner store :) Handling all the time on plane without smoking ... ? ... I have more than a couple of months to get used to and prepare for that idea EEK

:cheers:

Karmen

Smoke free
 

:idea:Great opportunity to go smoke free from now on :p

Re: Smoke free
 

Well, HELLO there Keefy. I WAS EXPECTING you and a cheeky remark :D

:p yourself!

Ma Yappy

Re: Smoke free
 

.... MA :yappy: off cigarettes forever...... :eek: :eek:... think of it..

...she would become MA :mad: or worse ..... :eek:

:fry: ....BAD KEEFY....... for making such a suggestion..... :p

Re: Re: Smoke free
 

What? Did I hear something?

Did any of you hear something too?

No? :confused:

Hmmmmm ... I thought I heard something?

HARK ... shhhh, listen!

Hear anything now?

No? Oh ... wait .... HARK ...

Oh. Nope. Guess I'm hearing things :rolleyes:

:idea: Maybe it's the ghost of Christmas present?

:smoker: :D :p

smokin
 

we have a total fire ban around here today,...... one who smokes must be careful :D

Max

Re: Re: Smoke free
 

Hey Marko the Ma imitator!!!??? I reckon the Yapster has stolen your identity for this post... :p

Ma wouldn't get mad, she'd be able to taste the Kangaroo and smell the Aussie flowers when she comes here. ;)

Re: smokin
 

Hi Max,

Well, you all be sure and get that under control by the time I get there will you now, there's a good chap :D

It really is a scarey to think about careless smokers around drought areas!!!

Just find me a TANK I can climb in and pull the top closed ... and have a supply of water in it to douse my cigarettes in to make sure they're out then :D

Ma Yappy :smoker:

Re: Re: Re: Smoke free
 

......that's what I thought, YOU NEED A BLOODY HEARING AID YOU OLD @#$%^&* !!!!! and stronger glasses to boot ...the nerve of some people's children

....... I wonder if the land of Oz knows what they've gotten themselves into

...... Poor bloody Diggers...... MA :yappy: down under trying to get a dead horse to listen = :dh:

Re: Re: Re: Re: Smoke free
 

EH???????????

Oh lordy, I KNEW I heard something. HE"S STILL KICKING .... ME! Ouch

You're sneaking back just to pick on me. Shows you must have missed me A LOT! :yappy: :D

Re: Re: Re: Re: Smoke free
 

:drunk: :smoker: :yappy: :sheep: :dh:

Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Smoke free
 

..I'm :confused ..... have you been away somewhere ???? .... :p or is it because of your wee itty bitty self, I just never noticed you here the whole time..... :D

... and Mark said: "Stand Up! Karmen"

.... to which Karmen replied: "I am Standing" ............


:D :D

Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Smoke free
 

Oh. You missed me MORE than a lot, you almost missed me COMPLETELY then! :D

Re: Re: Re: Smoke free
 

..... Psst.... MA :yappy: ... the Kangaroo Keefy is referring to are the flesh and blood type....not one of these:

Yappy:

Visit your local MP's constituent office for assistance with passport processing. That's one of the reasons that he/she is there for. They are required by law to render every possible help in order for you to get your passport in a timely manner.

Helluva a price, though, and only good for 5 years!

Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Smoke free
 

Mark...kindly give accredition to Toulouse Lautrec...
:D :teach:

Re: Re: Re: Re: Smoke free
 

Well, I want one of THESE Kangaroos. MY SMOKING ROOM?! Does it come with the Soldiers too? That'd be fun! :smoker: :D

Jon, Hi you! Thanks for letting me know about this possibility too!!!

Helluva a price because they CHARGE? :mad:
or because they're politicians :devil:

COROWA KARMEN :D